The Over The Hill Gang: Aerobatic Demonstration

I received an email from Andy Darlington (Marion Airport manager) that there would be an Aerobatic Demonstration at Marion Airport, and the airport would be closed from 9:30AM until 10:30AM Saturday, 15, 2012. I emailed some of the riders and told them what was going on, and that they might like to go to the airport and see the demonstration. Merle Combs and Larry Miller were at the airport when I got there. We had to wait awhile, and then the demonstration started. A WW2 Stearman trainer airplane put on an aerobatic demonstration and then the airplane, and a fellow on a motorcycle raced each other down the 6008-foot runway. The motorcycle was traveling approximately 180mph, at the end, and easily passed the airplane, which was flying at approximately 140mph. Then the motorcycle raced down the runway, and the pilot dipped his wing so the motorcycle rider could touch the wingtip of the airplane. It was pretty exciting and a nice show.

(Click pictures to enlarge)

Boeing Stearman PT-17

(Click to see movie)

After the demonstration, we rode to Fairmount to pick up Jon Nave, as we were still early to meet at Gabriel's for Saturday's ride. The four of us rode back to Marion and were joined by Art Adrianson and David Payne. Merle led us up north to the junction of IN 15 and IN 14, the home of The Red Rose Pancake House where we ate lunch. After lunch, we rode east to IN 13 and rode north to Syracuse and Lake Wawasee. We had ice cream at McDonald's and then, rode around the lake. After the lake circuit, we headed home.

I rode 176 miles. The weather started out a little chilly (low 60s), but warmed up to 76F.