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October 1997
Fall has finally arrived and the leaves are falling over the Fox Valley
faster than the value of Kevin's MCI stock. However, this past summer has
provided plenty of opportunities for the intrepid airmen of the Fox Valley
Flying Club to test their flying skills and the very limits of the frail
craft they use to cruise the skies. In the middle of August, Mick, Chuck
and Kevin flew down to Tommy's Holiday Camp south of Springfield for the
annual TEAM fly-in. The fly-in was well attended with up to 40 aircraft
having flown in. Later in the afternoon, the assembled throngs gasped in
amazement as a lone aircraft appeared on the horizon. As the craft prepared
to land, spontaneous applause and cheers erupted from the crowd as they
realized this brave and daring pilot had flown the entire 160-mile distance
from Bolingbrook alone. Who could it be? Of course it was Vance Lorenzana!
Only he has the courage to undertake so hazardous a feat! The entire trip
was only marred by the fact that the coveted farthest distance flown trophy
was ripped from his grasp by a jealous fellow club member who shall remain
nameless (but his name starts with K and ends with N).
In September, members of Fox Valley attended the Heart of Illinois Fly-in in Lincoln. On Friday, Kevin and Vance took off from Clow Airport in Bolingbrook and Joe and Don W. departed from Cushing Airfield in Newark. After successfully completing a tricky and therefore seldom attempted mid-air link-up they continued on down to Lincoln. The flight was absolutely beautiful! The sky was cloudless and the winds were calm. We skimmed low above endless miles of farm fields and frolicked in the heavens as the sun hung low on the horizon. We finally arrived at Lincoln just before sunset. The next day, fellow club members Jim, Mick, Chuck and the brothers Guy and Dennis flew in. Joe, Don, Guy and Dennis decided to stay another evening in Lincoln but Kevin, Vance, Chuck and Mick elected to return Saturday afternoon. As we prepared to depart, Kevin found that his radiator was ready to fall off of his plane because of the flimsy and fundamentally unsound brackets he has used to secure it. Vance again stepped to the forefront and volunteered to construct another set of brackets at the airport workshop as Chuck and Mick quickly departed for home like rats leaving a sinking ship. The day would have been lost had it not been for Vance's skilled hands and sound engineering judgment even though Kevin's incessant whining and failure to follow directions slowed progress. Soon, Kevin and Vance were on there way northward and an uneventful trip ensued as they followed an advancing storm front home. Kevin and Vance were delighted to hear upon landing that Chuck and Mick encountered heavy rains by leaving early and practically drowned in their cockpits.
Later in September, 8 members of Fox Valley East and West enjoyed a daylong flight around central Illinois with a stop at the Air Force museum at Rantoul. The flight was highlighted by a morning departure and flight above, under and through low lying broken clouds. What fun! I can honestly say that I enjoy nothing more than flying amongst the clouds. We stopped for breakfast at Chenowa and landed on old route 66 to the welcoming arms of the local populace who were obviously overjoyed just to be able to shake the hands of such dashing adventurists!"
The beginning of October has already produced a memorable flight to
Erie Illinois for the benefit fund- raiser for Alan Earl who was hurt in
a motorcycle accident. We left Erie a little late due to the non-stop festivities
and the adulation of the appreciative public and flew home in the gathering
darkness. The trip home was exciting and breathtakingly beautiful and the
city lights greeted us when we turned final that night. Needless to say,
several of us are equipping our aircraft with lights should we, by some
strange chance, find ourselves out again at night. Vance Lorenzana