Corkey's Plane Talk

It’s that time of the year once again, our 2010 event season starting with the LSA Show in Sebring, FL. After a separation from the Fury of six weeks, I couldn’t wait to see and fly my baby again. I still can’t believe that after our Dec. 5th open house there wasn’t decent weather to return the Fury to Dallas. I had no choice but to leave the Fury in FL and fly the airlines back home. Yes, from the time I left Sebastian, FL, driving to the Orlando airport, returning my rental car, going through security, being herded onboard, finally taking off and to the time I collected my bag – I kept thinking “hummm I would have been home two hours ago if I were flying the Fury!” OK, fair question, why don’t I fly the Fury IFR? Well I would if it weren’t the prototype and only one. We’re solving that problem now with our three conformity Furies.

I had several things to do before we left for the LSA show, one demo flight and an interview with an excellent French magazine, “Info-Pilote”. The demo flight was a blast; in the right seat was an engineer from Piper who won the ride at our Dec. 5th LoPresti First Saturday event. Jerry is a pilot and the Fury was made for him. He had taken a few aerobatic lessons so, naturally, he wanted to “rock and roll” with the Fury. Over the beautiful blue water, in clear sunny skies I saw the satisfying Fury smile on his face. First I would do a maneuver then he would. It’s funny what you think of as you see the world going around. That day I thought, “Fornof, how many rolls have you done in the Fury?” The answer flashed in my mind, “Never enough!” Yes, I must be crazy. I do talk to myself. Hey, I’m a party all by myself, hahahaha. Jerry and I had no sooner shut down and said good-bye, when the interview with the French magazine began.

The writer, Jean Marie, and I decided the best place to do this interview and pilot report flight was at our facility. This gave them the opportunity to do an in-depth story covering the facility, management, flying the Fury and a story on yours truly. They did the interview concerning the LoPresti history, facility viewing the building, Fury jigs and fixtures and future with Curt and RJ. We did my story and impressions of the Fury first. He really went into detail as to what I liked and didn’t like concerning the Fury, then into my history. He had done his research on me and had some intriguing questions. We’ll just have to wait and see what the article has to say. I’m sure David will include some of it in his LoPresti newsletters. If you don’t get his newsletters, sign up. You can email him at David@loprestiaviation.com.

David is a great guy and the one that sends out all the Fury news blasts of where the Fury will be flying and updates. With the interview out of the way, it was time to do the Fury pilot report. The magazine had hired a test pilot to come over and do the pilot report. Their test pilot, Willy Gruhier, has an interesting back ground. He was a Czech fighter pilot now working in France at a prominent aviation establishment and instructing/competing in European aerobatic competitions. We got along well. He’s an excellent pilot; he got right into it. We were upside down, right side up, sideways and there it was, the Fury laughing smile. He did some stability tests, high-speed stalls and lots of acro. His comments were ones I had heard many times before, the balance of the controls, the speed, the visibility and pure excitement of flight. Back on the ground Jean interviewed Willy asking what he didn’t like. Willy replied, “I don’t have one. It’s so sexy, I want one!” Jean said this was the most enjoyable interview he had done in a long time, that Mimi had given him what he needed and thanked her for her hospitality. Willy told me, “Next week, in France, I fly the Mirage 2000 for a report and hope I have half as much fun as I did today, “Corkey, you are the smoothest pilot I have ever flown with.”

It was now time to head to Sebring for the LSA event. For the last four years we have watched this event grow in size and attendance. It is the Sun-N-Fun and OSH of the LSA world. It’s number one in hospitality for sure. I was directed to our booth, taxied right into position and shut down. Before I could get out of the Fury I was asked if I needed water and told that the tie-down guy would be right over. Within 20 minutes, tie-downs were anchored into the concrete and the Fury was secured for the event. We had decided on a rotating crew from LoPresti so everyone got to see the show and since we had Curt’s RV camper I stayed in the campgrounds right next to the pit area of the famous Sebring Race Track.

Now I really get off on precision machines whether they fly, float, or run around on wheels. Anyway, after a day of talking aviation I would stand by the fenced pit area and watch night time tests of race cars. One night Ferrari was testing and, ohhhhhh, what is loud noise to some was a concert of well-conducted music to me. This is a worthwhile show to attend; it runs the gamut of ages from the beginners to the mature, all with a love of affordable flight. The crowds were big and on Friday and Saturday the airport was completely full of fly-in airplanes. They were everywhere and shuttles were used to collect them from the far side of the airport. To me it is like watching the rebirth of aviation. That is, few restrictions and aircraft that fly for fun. Asking many there what they thought of LSAs brought a consensus of thoughts. Many told me that at first they had negative thoughts about LSAs, that they weren’t real airplanes but ultra lights renamed. They went on that upon investigation they realized they -were- real airplanes and fun to fly. I concur, they are real airplanes and fun. I also see this revolution of aviation following the first aviation wave of the 20’s. Following several LSA sites, I’m beginning to see the same trend and that is, “OK, they fly great, now are there any you can do aerobatics in?” Hummm, yes I knew that question would soon appear in print and I believe LoPresti will have some surprises for you in the future. Remember LoPresti Aviation is the point of the spear in aviation advances, with efficient, cost effective, fun projects. Well I hope I don’t get in trouble but I have seen the future in LSAs and it will probably have LoPresti’s name on it.

As always and one of the great things about aviation conventions is seeing friends. I spent pleasant time with Gretchen Jahn, a remarkable lady of aviation, and Howie Kief and his gracious wife of Mrs. America P-51 racing fame. My ol’ buddy, Wayne Boggs, who is the Air-Boss of SNF and OSH was there to run the temp tower. When I taxied out to fly back to Sebastian, he had checked the restricted areas between Sebring and Sebastian, told me they were clear and I could fly the 50 miles straight home. From throttle forward, seven rolls and the squeak of the tires at Sebastian was 16 minutes. OH I LOVE THE FURY, WHAT A FLYING MACHINE!

Where to next? The Fury and I will be flying the Valkaria, FL, air show along with Patty and Freddie on 2-20-10. If you make it there, yell at me.

Check 6,
“Corkey”