Maybe you've wondered what an average citizen would do with an airplane if he owned one? As you already know, Frank Hartsock, progressive auto dealer of Warsaw, owns an Ercoupe, has a private certificate. His son-in-law, Carl Broughton, is a pilot, too.

This little yarn is told to show you the pleasant and practical things that can be done with a sky-buggy. To cut you in on one of those unusual situations that can happen only to an airman:

Frank and Carl wanted to visit famous Greenfield Village and the Ford museum, had the urge to get into Canada on the same day. Last Sunday they tried it.

Lifting their small ship from the runway of Smith Field, north of Warsaw, at 7 a.m. on a pleasant Sunday morning, they shortly found themselves approaching Detroit.

Checking Michigan air-maps, disclosed Ford airport, a beautiful 500 acres near Greenfield Village. Switching on their radio, they heard an operator say: "Land on Runway 120." That they did with ease.

Taxiing up to a modern control tower, they found it unoccupied, the field deserted. They had been tuned in on the Wayne county airport, a few miles away!

Ford airport had been closed to the public and turned into a proving ground for the Ford Motor company. (And here was a Studebaker dealer and his airplane, trespassing.)

Now an airman just naturally brings out the hospitality in strangers. A watchman phoned his superior and the superior sent a station wagon to the field to get Frank and Carl, escorted them to the Village in style, later picked them up and delivered them back to the airport and airplane. Nice, wasn't it?

Winging their way from Greenfield Village to Canada, curiosity got them. They had to land at Detroit City port, watch fascinated while 10 or 12 planes landed and took-off continuously. Right in the middle of this great airport is a water tank 100 feet high and 50 feet in diameter.

Following a short hop, drifting lazily over the river into Canada, getting a short peek at our sister nation, the pair of airmen pointed the nose of the Ercoupe toward Warsaw. They landed at Smith Field at 3:30 Sunday afternoon. Try that schedule any way except by air.

State-Wide Breezes
Upcoming is a state-wide aviation clinic at Purdue, date to be set later. Indiana's reckless-flying law became a matter for the record when Clarence Cornish, state director, informed the board that several pilots have been prosecuted successfully under the statute. Fines run from $1 to $250, imprisonment for up to six months. 'Tain't worth it. Fly safely.

While speaking of the aeronautics board, they have now published their new up-to-date map of Indiana airports. Eery pilot should have one. You can get yours by writing to Aeronautics Board, 306 Board of Trade Building, Indianapolis.

Fall-time is flying-time for Indiana pilots and Flying Farmers. This coming Sunday, Flying Farmers are invited to assemble at the giant Bunker Hill airport (former naval base) for a picnic dinner. Bring a basket. If you are not a Flying Farmer, the conversion only costs $1.00 and you will be.

For everyone, is the swell weekend planned at Turkey Run and Brown county state parks. Remember the dates, October 18 and 19.

Civil Air Patrol, air force auxiliary, gets a new national commander, General Lucas V. Beau Jr. This may be significant, planting a general to command the peace-time C.A.P. Perhaps busy days are ahead for this war-born group. I remember when the national commander was a major, then a colonel, now a general.

During the war, CAP pilots spotted 173 enemy submarines, attacked 57, found 17 floating mines, flew more than 24,000 hours on official search missions, 46,000 hours towing aerial gunnery targets and tracking for guns and searchlights, flew more than 20,000 a day on courier missions. Gave preliminary examinations to thousands of air-cadets.

Maybe someday soon, we can reactivate the Warsaw flight, which is part of a squadron still doing business at North Manchester and Rochester.

Warsaw Daily Times, Fri. Oct. 3, 1947