And so our adventure ends. They really made a fuss about
it the day I returned. It was nice. I thought the only ride
I would get with a police escort would be for my funeral. We were
even on the NBC local news, in the Indianapolis Star, and the front page
of the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette. Mike Scott of OLDIES 106 read
our dispatches on the air daily, and helped arrange the festivities when
I returned. For some reason, our project and flight seemed
to capture the imaginations of a lot of people.
But it isn't over. Tune in again, same time, same place, next
year, because on the flight home from San Diego, the pressure was off,
and I had time to think. I already have 2 or 3 ideas for Internet
adventures for next year. Of course, don't tell my boss, I'll wait
for the right
moment for that.
This project would not have been possible without the enthusiasm of
my boss, the principal, Mrs. Shoemaker. I remember when I first approached
her with the idea, I thought she might think, oh boy, here's another one
of Mr. Beamer's odd-ball ideas. Instead she encouraged us.
When Mrs. Shoemaker and I approached Dr. Peigh, our superintendent,
I worried that he would have concerns about the risks and dangers and liabilities
but he was at least as enthusiastic as we were, and contributed several
ideas. It was his idea to take a short, 4 day practice flight
around Indiana last year. That was invaluable for Mrs. Chakko,
the computer lab teacher, and I. We learned a lot in preparation
for the California flight.
Mrs. Chakko got none of the glory, but did most of the technical work
that was at the heart of our project. She was involved with the grant
writing, the practice flight, the school board meetings, everything (except
actually flying over the mountains and sleeping on lumpy airport
couches).
The last unsung woman behind the man is Susie. She left a week
after I did. No hoopla, just a pick-up truck with a spare engine,
some other spare parts, and tools. She drove clear across the country.
No fun. She caught up with us in California.
Finally, the main focus of the flight was the Southwood Elementary kids,
especially the 6th and 5th graders. They did all the planning, organizing,
calculations, and preparation for the project. It was their project.
I was just the pilot.
Boy, the flight was more exciting and fun than I even anticipated.
I can't wait until next year.
Thanks for following along and participating.
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