Oct 21, 2020 – Things started out looking really bad. At 0900 the visibility at Eagle Crest was about one-fourth of a mile. The closest forecast at Dover AFB 50NM North did not look great until mid-afternoon. Areas of VA, MD, PA, NJ, DE and WV were also socked in. John Chirtea postponed the start time to 1300 and the weather started to clear by about 1030. Only 6 of the scheduled 13 aircraft made it in, and most of them had to depart their home base IFR. A West Virginia member, Jim Newton was unable to make it in his Super Cub because of weather. However, his drive to Rehoboth Beach the next day took him right by Eagles Crest-Hudson Airport, so he and his wife Alice stopped by and received an hour and a half tour of John’s hanger.

Eagle Crest is a great residential airport that was founded in 1952 and took many years to develop to its current state. It was a field of all large pine trees when Joe Hudson started the development. It is also the home of two energetic UFO members, John Chirtea and Ronal Smith.

The event was held at John Chirtea’s (DE Area Rep) facility. He has a large hangar full of 4 flyable airplanes; other planes are hanging from the ceiling and all sorts of other collectables abound. More details can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrDDjKz86b4. It is a truly unique facility. John was assisted by his wife Cindy and pilot daughter Heather as well as by Ron Smith and his wife Nancy.

We had a total of 16 members and guests. Because of the COVID environment, we did not do a sit-down lunch. John and family served pizza, drinks and desserts that could be hand-held, and you could stay as far away from others as you wished. The open-air environment helped contribute to the safety of the event.

 

Posted in 2020 Events