Nostalgia
Hughes Aircraft (Cessna Dealer) located at Capitol City Airport in Lansing, Michigan is no more. Memories linger long after the facilities disappear.
Hughes Aircraft (Cessna Dealer) located at Capitol City Airport in Lansing, Michigan is no more. Memories linger long after the facilities disappear.
In the 40s and 50s Hughes Flying Service was the local hangout for all interested in flying. Heated discussions about planes, on a long leather coach facing out to a large apron that contained a variety of planes, was always underway.
Harvey Hughes and Dick Marsh (Chief Pilot) were available to keep the discussions under control. Of course, selling new and used planes was a business and prospective customers were always in attendance.
One day a customer wanted to fly the old "Bamboo Bomber" parked out on the apron. It was still certified to fly. Harvey, a WWII aviator was more than willing. He asked my Dad and me to come along. The prospect was a friend of my Dad.
This was a transition time from tail-draggers to tricycle landing gear aircraft. The twin engine "Bamboo Bomber"was one of the last veterans of WWII used in training. The Cessna 190 and 195 evolved after WWII.
The taxi out to the active runway was uneventful and the client was in the left seat with Harvey in the role of instructor. On take off the fun began. The client was over-controlling and the twin engined Bomber was zigzagging down the runway before the tail lifted and we managed to get airborne. I was pretty sure, as a 13 year old, that a crash was imminent and my young life snuffed out. Relieved, I turned to my Dad and remarked, "Pop, that was pretty scary!" My Dad just looked at me and said, " Son, don't forget we still have to land!"
You can visit a web-site that is dedicated to the "Bamboo Bomber" by using the Search Function on your computer. It was a great era in flying, the 50s, when servicemen were returning to civilian life and they faced bright future. This was just a little journey into the nostalgia...
