Annual Flight to the Phantom Factory

        Words and Pictures by Brian Gilomen
 

You heard me and Rickey talk a little about this flight during the July meeting, and -- even though Rickey promised -- yet failed -- to write-up our adventures, I've decided to post this quick synopsis.

Two years ago, the Phantom owners at FVFC started a fun tradition:  flying to Eric Pederson's Phantom Factory at Three Rivers, Michigan (near Kalamazoo).  That first trip was great, and during it I enjoyed my longest-ever solo, non-stop flight in the Challenger II I had at the time.  Last year, me, Rickey, Barry and Mick recreated the first trip, and enjoyed it immensely.  This year all bets were off.  Eric changed the date from late September to mid June.  Barry didn't want to go then because he had only just retrieved his Phantom from that exact location.  Mick didn't yet have his time flown off.  Kevin, I think, had to work.  So, that left me and Rickey to carry on the tradition.

Rickey and I had a great time flying up there, actually first going to a field North of our ultimate destination, where all assembled were competing at bomb drops, torpedo runs and spot-landings.  The group then made the short 10-mile hop back to the Factory Field, where we were treated to a fine pig roast. 

Because I had to be back in Chicago the next day without fail, and because the forecast for the evening and following morning looked pretty brutal, Rickey and I turned around and headed back home.  After an earlier fuel stop, we ducked into Lansing to avoid a passing storm front.  The worst of the front passed over us, and we returned to the air and made it the rest of the way to Clow, a little rattled but overall safe and sound.  It was an impressive day of flying, both in terms of miles covered, and excellent weather avoidance.