WILDCAT CHECK FLIGHT
One of the memorable 'uplifting' moments of last year's Reno '08 NCAR, was watching young Steven Hinton, Jr.'s sunset check flight takeoff Thurs. evening (9/11/08)- flying Tom Camp's Grumman FM-2 Wildcat - Race#2 Air Biscuit. 
A grinning ramprat buddy spontaneously clued me what was transpiring just then, w/a nudge & finger-point at the climbing Cat flying into the soft pastel sky. I watched transfixed, (along w/everyone else there out on the settled-down Stead Field ramp) -enjoying the sight of seeing Stevo in the cockpit (w/canopy slid back open) & the sound of the chugging vintage radial at work. There was a genuine feeling of witnessing 'history in the making' & coming full-circle at the same time - recalling & replaying the original WW2-Era scenario, when guys his age were training back then to fly & fight for Freedom.
I was done taking pictures for the day, and was able to simply savor the brief, but special, experience. But it was so neat- afterwards, I regretted not having a picture to remember it by. Fortunately, my daughter- Destiny, was paying attention too & was on the shot. Here's a couple of her pics to share... (Thx, DD!).
DBD
A grinning ramprat buddy spontaneously clued me what was transpiring just then, w/a nudge & finger-point at the climbing Cat flying into the soft pastel sky. I watched transfixed, (along w/everyone else there out on the settled-down Stead Field ramp) -enjoying the sight of seeing Stevo in the cockpit (w/canopy slid back open) & the sound of the chugging vintage radial at work. There was a genuine feeling of witnessing 'history in the making' & coming full-circle at the same time - recalling & replaying the original WW2-Era scenario, when guys his age were training back then to fly & fight for Freedom.
I was done taking pictures for the day, and was able to simply savor the brief, but special, experience. But it was so neat- afterwards, I regretted not having a picture to remember it by. Fortunately, my daughter- Destiny, was paying attention too & was on the shot. Here's a couple of her pics to share... (Thx, DD!).
DBD
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