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The Pol · 01-29-2009, 09:01 PM

No, it is nothing brewing related at all.

My grandfather passed away when about 23 years ago, and he had a pretty hard hitting impact on my life. Through the years I spent with him as a kid, and the stories I have heard about him, I have adopted the type of man he was in essence.

He was the one that gave me the bug to fly... he was a dairy farmer from Michigan, saved for years to buy his first plane with cash back in 1948. Over the years he upgraded twice to larger and faster planes, all paid with cash he earned from the sweat of his brow and in the dust of the fields of Shepherd, MI.

As I said, he passed away 23 years ago, his wife, my grandmother, passed in November after living years and years with stroke related disabilities. So my grandmothers home is being cleaned out, items divided up, and in my package today I found:

Cast iron WWI aircraft plaques that adorned the walls of my grandfathers office from the 1940s in immaculate condition.

Wall plaques from his presidency and member of the year awards in the International Flying Farmers Assoc.

His pilot log book that encompassed his entire piloting career. From private to commercially rated pilot. From 1948-1986 just prior to his death.

He learned to fly in 1948 in a C-120... they actually did spin training in his 8th hour of flight time (not even required today unless you are a CFI candidate). He soloed with 9 hours in a C-120... at the same airfiled where I soloed. When he passed on he had accumulated nearly 2,000 hours flying off a grass strip at his farm in Shepherd, MI. The name of the strip was Bonanza Lane... after his dream aircraft, the last he owned, the V35-A Beechcraft. He logged thier family Xmas trips to Florida... even the flight where he went to pick up my uncle after he returned from Vietnam. Logbooks are not just cities and dates, they encompass a families history in this case.

I have three logbooks detailing the 7,000 hours that I have accumulated... many seemingly empty hours criss crossing the US. Maybe someday my grandkids will recieve a package like this and look back with some nostalgia at what grandpa accomplished in his lifetime and what sort of family man he was, and how he lived.

I am going to try to search records and find out where his aircraft is... who owns it, via the registration #. I want that plane back... maybe not today, but the next time it is sold, I want to bring it home. Anyone have experience with this?

I have had one hell of a great week at home.

Zul'jin · 01-29-2009, 09:04 PM

Someone was thinking of you when they set those aside. Sweet.

**BierMuncher** · 01-29-2009, 09:06 PM

That is so cool.

**HBHoss** · 01-29-2009, 09:10 PM

That is just totally awesome Pol. Gives me goosebumps thinking about how cool that would be to get a package like that. Thanks for sharing.

Hugh_Jass · 01-29-2009, 09:37 PM

Cool, Pol

Congratulations! That's awsome

hopdog · 01-29-2009, 09:37 PM

That is fantastic. Congratulations and I hope you get his old plane!

**olllllo** · 01-29-2009, 09:40 PM

We are all anxiously awaiting the photos, once you have take it in.

Quote:

I have adopted the type of man he was in essence.

I had a similar relationship with my Grandfather.

mnadamn · 01-29-2009, 10:00 PM

Very nice package indeed, keep us update with the plane!

Good luck finding the plane. The registration number is a good thing to have but with my experiance (motorcycle) the only way to get the name and contact info on title is court order. For me that was a 4 month process and cost about $450.

Brewiz · 01-29-2009, 11:07 PM

That's just too cool!! Have you tried a google search on the registration number?

BuffaloSabresBrewer · 01-29-2009, 11:13 PM

That is freakin sweet. We wont expect any posts for awhile.