MY AIRPLANE

Up until now, I rented a plane when I felt like flying.  I had taken training and receiced my pilot's license and flew quite abit until my business became so demanding.  Now that I have decided to retire and met Blythe, the thought of driving to Sacramento seemed like more than I was up to in terms of driving.  I rented a plane for a day and flew to Lake Tahoe and back to Frisco.  I practiced a few touch and goes and performed a Chandelle or two.  I decided I needed my own plane for trips to Sacramento and also to take Blythe for trips.  I decided on a good used Beech 35.  Great airplane and it had one of those V tails like the old Avions.  I practiced alot before taking Blythe somewhere.  I practiced my stalls and purposely got myself into demanding situations like flying over the Sierras.  I was not afraid of dying itself, it was how I died.  I made it a point to double check my flight path and look at the topography I would fly over.  Clear Air Turbulance was a great concern..lenticular clouds was a good indicator.  Carole Lombard, the beautiful actress in the 40's was a good reason to double check your flight plan.  The pilot of that ill fated DC-3 had to land at Vegas instead of a field further South.  He failed to revise his plight plan and flew into a mountain that was not in the way on the original plan.  Searchers did find her body..decapitated..and could only ID her because of a small shred of hair that had not beem burned off.  Her left hand with a huge Diamond Wedding Ring from her Husband Clark Gable was also missing and has never been found. To this day, much wreckage remains on Mt. Potosi, and searchers also found the cracks in the sheer rock face they hit  are filled with rivets that popped off from the collision.  I shy away from that and that is why I practiced every thing including checking the gas and oil levels.  When I was confident I could still fly an airplane, I called Blythe and asked her...up...She knew I had bought an airplane and knew what I meant....."Bob, you give me a high every time...sure".  I would fly into Sacramento and meet her at the specified field at 9 A,M,   Then, we would fly to Tahoe and try our hand at skiing....To which, I heard her contagious giggle...OK....(to be continued)