I am very much indebted to the Manwarings at Mentone. Their fine landing strip on the edge of town enabled me to take my 85-year-old grandfather for his first airplane ride Sunday. Following him were four generations of the Mollenhour tribe--most of them riding for the first time, also.

Couldn't tell a thing about granddad's reactions to the ride until we got back on the ground. Then his ear-to-ear smile told the whole story. His first comment was "I should have tried that 50 years ago!"

The Manwaring landing strip runs east and west, is one-half mile ong. Its east end comes right up to the west edge of Mentone. Dick and Charley Manwaring were puttering around their slick-Piper Cruiser during the afternoon, took it out for a spin and flew formation with us for a while.

Rough grading for the new U.S. road 30 is clearly visible now from the air. You can see the long, brown ribbon of the road-bed coming toward Warsaw, faithfully following the path of the Pennsylvania railroad as it nears town from the east. It leaves the Pennsy just east of town and now touches old road 30 at a point just west of Gilliam's pond and east of Howard Thompson's house and barn. The $64 question: Where does it go from there?

 

Sunday we spent the last hour of daylight in the air. The sun coyly tucked itself into a purple comforter long before it dropped to the horizon. Like a kid on the other end of a teeter-totter, the moon came up in the opposite sky, balefully blinking a blood-shot eye. Maybe it didn't like what it saw, but we did. Warsaw darkens fast when the sun goes down. Our tree-lined streets resembled dark tunnels, but as the multi-colored neon lights flashed on, the neat, geometrical pattern of the town again is made plain. The three lakes-Center, Pike and Winona--reflect the very long rays of light, similar to polished mirrors in a semi-darkened room.

Monday is the first real day of summer and we may have some weather to convince us this is true. There is a huge mass of hot gulf air trying to punch its way north, from the south, bucking several little cold fronts which persistently linger near the great lakes. Next week should bring some corn-growing weather.

Bob Murchie, United Telephone's dark-whistling Scotsman, joines the ranks of solo airmen; flew his first full hour of solo Sunday.

State police have received an increasing number of complaints these last few days about low-flying aircraft over both land and water. Before something happens we'll regret, or some birdman gets his tail-feathers clipped, let's take another look at the law which says: "Flying within 500 feet of any person, object or structure is reckless flying." Buzzing is a temptation. It is also a hang-over from the diaper stage of flying, shouldn't be indulged in by responsible pilots. Folks on the ground sometimes think a plane is lower than it is, though. Actually to be too low, a plane must be close enough to read his registration numbers, and that is a very general rule. The 500-foot rule applies both vertically and horizontally. Let's be careful, pilots!

One of the Bell helicopters is going after black-flies, in New England. In a well-known resort area, the season is shortened by months because of the quick-nipping pest. Now a helicopter is flying back and forth over the area, three feet above the tree tops and ten miles per hour forward speed. The downward wash of its powerful rotor forces 1,800,000 cubic feet of air a minute, 300 feet wide, into the surrounding foliage. A fine fog, which actually contains only one-half pound of DDT to an acre is spread from the ship. Scientists are elated at the result of the tests, claiming virtually a 100 per cent kill within 10 to 20 minutes with no apparent damage to plant life or animal life, due to the lightness of the DDT coverage.

Here is a rough breakdown of how some of the 70-group air force money will be spent: 162 B-50 Superforts; 768 North American jet fighters, trainers and bombers; 585 F-80 Shooting Stars; 82 naval patrol planes; 409 F-84 Thunderjets; 88 F-87 multi-jet fighters. Northrop will build 30 of the queer-looking Flying Wings which they have pioneered.

Speaking of jets, have you ever wondered what happens close behind the jet? How hot does it get? Here is the dope: at the rear of the center of the tail pipe nozzle, the heat is 400 degrees Centigrade. Only two feet above or below this point the temperature is only 50 degrees. The heat declines rapidly to the rear also. At 50 feet down the blast measures only 80 degrees Centigrade. No jet flashing by is apt to bring you any blisters.

National Air Races will be held at Cleveland, Sept. 4, 5 and 6, and an exhibition team of 15 crack pilots from the famed 155th Squadron will participate.

Dont forget that the big air event of the year for northern Indiana will be the dedication of Warsaw Municipal Airport, complete with stunts, balloon ascension, parachute drop, helicopter flying, crop dusting. The date is Sunday, July 25.

Judges in the big contest to secure an emblem for the Warsaw Aero Club are really scratching their noggins. There are an even dozen artists competing for the fifty dollars Stan Arnolt has offered for the winning design.

The following hopefuls have submitted swellegant drawings: Billie June Mikesell, Roy Bowen, Kenny Linn, Pete Jobe, Mrs. Esther Miller, Margaret E. Thomas, Frank Valentine, Wilbur Smith, H. A. Derry, E. Kaye-Smith, Mrs. E. Kaye-Smith, Zane Cannon. The Winner will be announced next week. Who gets the 50?

Warsaw Daily Times June 21, 1948

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