The Wright Stuff

After a few more rides in cousin Bert's plane, my brother Frank was determined he would become an aviator. After running the gamut of model planes, he decided he would build one himself and fly it.

He was soon set up in the big barn back of our house, with lumber and dad's carpentry tools. He did indeed build a plane. It had 2x4's for a body, and plywood for wings. He fastened skis to the underside.

It was wintertime, we had lots of snow. We had a ski slope just a short distance from home, and there was a small "jump" at the bottom where we could take off for a couple of yards. With help from Eddy and Norman (neighborhood friends), some ropes, and (yes, a few pushes from me!) the plane arrived at the top of the hill. We held our breath as the plane (with Frank carefully balanced on the 2x4 body) started down the icy ski tracks. It picked up enough speed near the bottom of the slope to go up over the ski jump, and out into the air.

Unfortunately, the weight of the front end of the craft was a little too much for the speed. It tilted up on the front end, flipped over and landed upside down.

He wasn't hurt, but he was a very crestfallen aviator as he dragged the still intact "plane" back to the barn for dismantling.

I asked him if he was going to try again. "No," he said, "I just didn't have the right stuff. But I'll do it someday."

And he did. After receiving a Purple Heart in World War II and marrying Betty, he built experimental gliders and a beautiful little monoplane and flew in them himself. Our cousin Ticky persuaded Frank to teach him to fly the plane and, when Frank's family came along, Frank decided he should give up experimental flying. He sold the plane to Ticky and confined himself to attending regional air shows.