Having Been Rained Out . . .

          Mary Latimer conceived the idea that with the rain -- the lovely rain -- we would switch to a "virtual" poker fun run. She treated the hardy and supportive souls who arrived (by car, not plane) to Wichita Valley airport to videos that highlighted each stop of the fun run. We watched videos and slideshows about the parachutists at Frederik, and about the GIFT and the Jenny, organizations which the poker fun runners would have visited in clear weather. Between videos we handed cards to the players.

     One of our prizes, a trophy created and donated by Lazerwerks, showed a poker hand, a propeller engraved with Girls in Flight Training, and the hosting organization, our chapter of the Ninety-nines. Other prizes included the new stamp of the inverted airplane by the US Postal Service, two rides in the DC-3 at Frederik, and a ride in a Stearman in Fort Worth. 

The rain that grounded our airplanes fell hard and for long, bringing respite to a three-year drought.

It poured. Young Niki shows her mock despair at her task of mopping the floor after heavy rains.

Rain splattered on the window of the FBO of F14.

The GIFT box ready to receive donations. 

After the clouds lifted a bit, the GIFT plane arrived.

     Civil Air Patrol Master Sergeant Chris Crissom piloted the GIFT plane from Frederik to Wichita Valley airport.

     Another hardy pilot, this one from Altus, Oklahoma, cruised in with 3,800 feet cloud ceiling, to support the event.

     The event raised modest funds for the GIFT, the Girls in Flight Training school, a two-year old non-profit already highly successful in assisting women to accomplish their goals in aviation.

     In only one week, the GIFT provided 200 hours of flight time, five medicals, five passed written exams, four solos, and two private licenses, all at no cost, except for fuel. This is an enormous altruistic assistance provided by the GIFT for many struggling pilots.

Harriet and Amanda prepare the computer and screen.

Baxter, who spends a lot of time at the airport, stopped by for some scratching behind his ear.

Federal Aviation Administration's representative John Boatwright gave a presentation after lunch. 

Emphasis is on aviation safety. 

     Boatwright gave his presentation a poker theme. "In flying, we are betting our life on being able to recognize 'a good hand,' and 'holdin' or foldin', walkin' or runnin', as the case may be. The good news is we get to look at the cards as they are dealt." 

Use your brain when planning to fly.

      The Four Aces of Decision Making (before you fly an airplane): Aircraft (Is it airworthy?);

Airmanship (Do you know your route?); Atmosphere (Is it safe?); Aviator: (Are you healthy and skilled?). 

       Attendance was not bad for a stormy day at an airport. The FAA Safety Team reached new pilots and between all, we raised some funds for the GIFT. 

     Amanda, GIFT instructor, and Patya, student pilot, check the oil on the GIFT plane as part of pre-flight. Those smiling faces on women pilots, that's part of what it's all about.

An Aerobat on Cross-country

   Mission: Deliver playing cards.
   Aircraft of choice: Cessna 150 Aerobat.
   In preparation for our chapter of the Ninety-nines' flyin' poker fun run, MyMrMallory and I flew to Frederik, Oklahoma, and Vernon, Texas, two of the run stops, to deliver cards. We took off from Wichita Valley airport.
 

    Both navigation radios in our little aerobat Cessna were inoperative, with Bobby unable to repair them until next week, but we did not worry, for we carried with us other navigational technology.

    MyMrMallory expertly inputted frequencies into the portable GPS, a Garmin 296. Just after takeoff, though, the portable Garmin ceased to function. Not to worry! We brought along, not one iPad, but two. So I reached behind my seat and brought up my mini iPad, which did not show any data. I must have missed paying my bill. Not to worry! I reached behind MyMrMallory's seat and brought out his iPad, the battery of which ran low and shut it down. So, where is that ol' timey sectional? Oh, it's blowing around in the back.

      Dangerous picture-taking. I wrapped my camera strap around my wrist, then poked it out my window to take this image of the Red River below the empennage and tail of the aircraft.

A homestead and grain silos at the corner of plowed fields near Frederik, Oklahoma.

      Clouds that portend rain started to pop up over a parched land. Relentlessly, we flew to complete our mission just in case the storm promised by the weatherman would not interfere with the flyin' poker run.

          On short final to runway 17 at the airport in Frederik, our eyes open wide for fighter traffic from nearby Shepard Air Force Base. The jet fighters come in to Frederik airport to do touch-n-goes as practice. What a sight that must be.

Our little aerobat's shadow on the runway at Frederik.

Frederik is home of the WWII Airborne Demonstration Team.

       Parachuter Sharon met us at the airport to take our playing cards. She also handed us a packet containing a video and a certificate for a "buy one, get one free" ride in the DC-3. What a delight to shake the hand of a parachuter.

      On short final into Wilbarger County airport. Just to remain steady with theme, the battery to my nifty Nikon P7700 was too low, so I had to switch to my iPhone camera, which I use with just as much delight. 

Here we are in the prairie, a prairie as long as the eye can see! Clouds have turned darker and thicker.

       Walking into the FBO at Wilbarger County airport, Harlan, to the left in the image, said hello, and followed it up with "Coffee's that way. Restrooms are that way," he said, as he pointed toward the back and toward my right. Lawrence, right, walked up to say hello. "You want some popcorn? Help yourself."

      "I'm a wore out crop-duster," Kirk said to me.

      "What do you fly?" I asked him. 

      "I fly an Air Tractor, an ancient one, ancient like me." 

      "I'd love to fly an Air Tractor. You are lucky to have one." 

      "Yes, I am."

      "Do you know Amanda?" I asked.

      "You bet. She's a good ag pilot."

       Our mission accomplished, we took off on our return to Wichita Valley airport with 15-knot headwinds, quite strong for a little airplane. With my window open, I breathed the fresh country air of a lovely autumn day before a much needed rain fall, one that would ground our flyin' poker fun run, probably, but I wouldn't mind at all.

Barred Owl Waiting

      The barred owl released by a dear friend sits in her crate waiting for the moment she will fly to follow her destiny in nature. Raised lovingly and released with joy by Wild Bird Rescue. A remarkable creature of God, she is.

Monarch on a Sunflower

      In my garden. What a delight! 

Dashing Hogs

       The difference between the fellas and me is that I have a modicum of guilt chasing around wild hogs while flying in the helicopter. I don't like to terrorize them or stress them, or worse, let them become accustomed to the helicopter, for someday there may be mass shooting, not from a camera, but from a gun. Eek. Even so, I could not resist myself and asked Gary to turn toward them, just for a short while, to look at them closer, and to grab a few images of a most adaptable and strong creature of God.

Horsing Around

Releasing Barred Owl

       Even though I will sound absolutistic, I will say it anyway: All releases are special. With this one, though, I learned of the different levels of delight. To photograph a dear friend releasing, and to photograph a barred owl, one of a species of educational bird at Wild Bird Rescue that Ms. Lila gave me the honor to name, combined to make this release one of the most special to me.

      Katie, executive director of Wild Bird Rescue, brings "Catness," the barred owl, out of her crate. Catness was rescued as a nestling and taken to Wild Bird Rescue, where she survived and grew. In the background, my friend's husband is ready with his camera.

      Katie hands Catness to my friend, whose lovely face shows delight at the opportunity to release a wild owl, raised by Wild Bird Rescue, back to nature. 

My friend releases the barred owl.

Rain Drops on a Moonflower

Promise of Rain

In the distance, a promise of rain.

Moon Set over Bonanza

      As I prepared my plane to fly, the moon set behind the clouds. 

MissusParkey's Trees

     Meanwhile, at MissusParkey's house, I noted the remarkable cloud formations that promised scattered showers forming over the house. The once upon a time lovely garden (so I hear), with trees now dead, provides a contrasting foreground for the clouds. This sort of contrast often makes me reminisce of the sweet times that might have passed there, at the home on the grasslands of North Texas.

Mud Dauber Nests

Hanging in an old barn.

Gulf Fritillary on a Sunflower

Saddles in a Barn