|
I
Remember
**Memoirs of
a true Mentor: Reading the recollections of
"Anonymous", flashed... er BROUGHT
back
similar memories of my "Freshman experience".
The year was 1975 and I too had obtained my
private ticket prior to entering the Institute.
I also Harry Anderson as my first instructor.
I knew something was "up" when they
called my name, assigned me to Harry and all
the students in the ready room heaved a big
sigh... he was not a man to be trifled with.
My first act of endearment came after I'd
been checked out in my stilted Musketeer.
As always it was a mad house trying to take
off at 8:00AM. While taxiing out the tower
asked me if I'd accept "Sod Right"
of 22. Having flown off of sod strips all
my flying life, I accepted. Just then Harry
came over the radio: "Did I just hear
10 Romeo just accept sod right of 22?!".
The tower responded "Affirmative",
and I took off. When I landed he was waiting
on the ramp with a look on his face that ANYONE
who knows him knows. After giving me the obligatory
military chewing out, I told him I never received
the handbook when I entered the School, had
always flown off of sod fields, didn't know
I had to have him check me out first and that
NO ONE can screw up a landing on a sod strip!
Over the years I have talked to a great number
of pilots, and because of the six degrees
of separation law, have run into a few (some
in taverns) who had him as an instructor.
No one will deny that he was one of the best
teachers if not the one most memorable people
they'd ever met and had their own story to
tell. I wonder just how many "Harry Anderson"
stories are out there floating around? The
next time we went up, of course, I was glad
the FAA took spin recovery out of the training
program.......Scott Braukhoff
**I
remember my first flight in Aeronca N83430
on Sept. 25, 1946 because it was big step
down from my last flight as a B-29 pilot.
It was my first flight for my instructor rating.
I passed my flight instructor test in Aeronca
N1540E on Dec. 11. 1946 and flew my first
student as a part time instructor on Feb.
10, 1947 in Aeronca N83429. I soloed my first
student on March 5th, 1947 in Aeronca N1539E.
I beleive I had 3 students per semester. I
do remember what some students had for lunch.
When a student turned green it was the practice
to slide the left window open and have the
student let it fly. One student had beer and
baloney sandwiches on a regular basis. I do
have the following records in my log book
when I soloed the following: John Compton
on Oct. 15, 1947 in Aeronca N83428-Mr. Stewart
and Mr. Halterman on Nov. 6th,1947 in Aeronca
N82997. I recommended John Compton for his
Private Pilot test on Dec. 18, 1947 and have
a note that he was awarded his Private Pilot
Rating.... Les.Zinser 164199 ATP-CFI&I-Advanced
Ground Instructor
**It was 1948--Most of our instructors
were ex-military, many with extensive combat
hours in WWII. We students found it great
to be flying with these Vets. Our aerobatic
craft in those days was the dependable Stearman.
Flying an open cockpit at Willard in January
soon decided whether you were serious about
the program.
The most first and most important instruction
we received was "don't fly over the turkey
farm--at 1000' or 10000'. Seems that airplanes
frighten turkeys and they stampeded. Apparently
someone was a little low going over the farm
one day and the University had to pay the
farmer for a bunch of dead turkeys.
Great days--a bare-bones start up operation,
but we were all glad we saw it "when"..
John Cairns '49
**I
remember when Jeri Alles and Frank Foster
discussed pulling a prank on Omer Benn. They
wanted to have all of the Beech Sundowners
moved to the satellite grass strips, when
Omer arrived at 8AM. What happened to the
Fleet? If it would have happened, I'm sure
that Omer would have laughed (after the initial
shock).. Stu Moment, Class of 73.5.
**It was 1972
and I just came to the Institute (already
a private pilot). My first flight instructor
was Harry Anderson. When he though that my
aircraft control was sloppy, he'd snap the
Champ into a spin. I think that calmed Harry.
I often though that Harry had lit his cigar
while flying but I'd look back and it was
in his mouth, unlit but smelling. PS; Harry,
I didn't get my private license in a Cracker
Jack box. PS2; Harry, thanks for giving me
great aircraft control.. Anonymous |
