Long flight…. Up at 2:45 a.m. on Monday, July 21st, for an airline flight from Orlando, Florida to Spokane, Washington – I guess Laurie and I should have limited the festivities the night before. But, it was a great send off by our aerobatic friends at Leeward Air Ranch in Ocala, Florida – Pendleton here we come!
The evening of arrival we were met in Spokane by Doug and Pat Sowder. We had a great dinner on the river and walk through the beautiful town park. The next morning, Doug and I met at his hangar where he entrusted his Extra 300L to my care. Doug’s level of enthusiasm and support for aerobatics is amazing! I hope there will be a time that I can repay his generosity.
Hector Ramirez and Doug Sowder
It was a short flight in the Extra 300L to the US Team practice site in Ephrata, Washington, on Tuesday. The view from the air was, well a lot different than central Florida – desolate hills, high volcanic desert, ravines, distant mountains – and not a whole lot of places to let down.
The advanced team was already assembling when I arrived. Todd, Norm and Rob were getting into a practice routine. The two South Africans using Rob’s MX2 were there – “Cocky” and “Bugs” – I wonder what my nickname would be in South Africa? Later in the day the two European pilots I was sharing the airplane with also arrived, Gerrit Nijs and Didier Amelinckx from Luxembourg and Belgium respectively.
Time to start practicing.
…Hector
7/22/08
