The Week That Was – May 25 to May 31 | Abe Lincoln's Air Force

Sun, May 25 — In at 7:55, cool, calm & overcast. Worked on IPA/SPI newsletter. Sent it in at 11:30. Spent the rest of the day photographing airplanes and processing pictures. Departed for home at 6:30.

Beech King Air

Canadair Challenger 300

Challenger 300 departs Springfield

Canadair CRJ with United Express

Eurocopter

Piper Comanche 180

Piper Malibu Mirage

Piper Navaho, Panther mod

Monday, May 26 — Slept well, up about 7:45 – very late for me — and picked up around the house. Recorded, with the camera cam, my first movie for Facebook posting: me sitting in front of the screen, singing my song “Sue D.” It took more than an hour and a half to upload to Facebook and I piddled around waiting, read some aviation magazines. CONSIDERED not coming out to the airport, but I’m glad I got ambitions because when I parked, I was 50 feet from a restored Cessna 182 with no swept tail or 360-vision cabin. I talked to the owner through the fence and asked if I could photo it. SURE! YAY! So I did, came in and went to work after downloading the pictures.

The fellows – pilot Todd, friend, John & John’s son Luke visited the office later and we had a fine time. Discovered not all of my song posted on Fb; file was too large. I’ll try YouTube later. Processed pictures and improved how Corel works. Worked upstairs on models — the Revell Stearman and Gloster Javelin mostly — until 7:50. Departed for home at 8. A good day.

Tuesday, May 27 — Deposited pay at bank and into AKM at 8:35. Warm, overcast and still outside. Stated a new post about a new song I wrote, at personal blog. Work was warm but okay. FINISHED clipping and scrap project as far as I could take things. Now I must fine tune the sorting and distribution. Worked on AAHS project back at AKM. Then upstairs to Process Room to work on the models PT-17 and restoration of an Aurora P-51H donated years ago. Went home at 8:00. An “A” day.

Wednesday, May 28 — In at 6:45, sunny & calm, rain predicted. Worked on AK website and receipts. Accomplished a LOT for AKM at employer! Took the sorting scraps as far as I could there. Will have to engage AKM tasks at home AFTER leaving the airport because I need space spreading out the sorting and there are more important priorities here at the airport. I am NOT going to be as obsessed at home as I am at airport and employer. What needs to be done with the smaller and smallest clippings is strictly “back burner.” I also indexed the last of several recently donated British aviation magazines. I left for the airport with all of it. There’s nothing aviation history-related at employer now, though I’ll take some more AKM work to do Thurs morn. It was significantly HOT in the showroom. No air conditioning . Tomorrow I’m going to get out a floor-type fan to supplement the nearby ceiling fan. Started looking for a B-25 pic requested by Mike G. for his museum’s tribute to a mutual friend dying of cancer, but the model club meeting started early and I’ll catch up Thurs. The Central Illinois Plastic Modelers club meet went very well. Phot’d a DA-42NG from the club meeting room window.

Diamond DA-42NG

Was home and eating dinner about 9:30. — UPDATE: I found away to sort the small scraps at EMPLOYER because I need something productive to do for AKM while at work AND I don’t intend to touch aviation at home.

Thursday, May 29 — In at 6:45. Hazy and calm. Looked for and processed a few pics of a B-25 that was based in Springfield at Mike G’s hangar. It took longer than expected and I was an hour late getting to employer. No problems, he was okay with that because I called ahead when I knew I’d be late. Accomplished a HECKOVALOT of scrap sorting during the day, had a fine day. Back to AKM and processed a SOLITARY picture I had taken of an Aviat Pitts S-2C this morning. There wasn’t a PRIME picture in the EIGHT I took. He really taxied very fast and my timing was way off. Pretty much trashed an ultra fast photo op. Went home via grocer at 7:05, tired.

Friday, May 30 — Mowed the grass in the front yard before coming out to the airport. I knew I HAD to do it this morning beause the City of S’field might ticket me for neglect if I didn’t. Into AKM at 9:00. Phot’d a Challenger and Phenom 100 on the ground.

Canadair Challenger of the FAA

Delivered IPA/SPI newsletters to terminal. Went for an enjoyable flight with Trevor and Gillian Marshall, visiting from Doncaster, United Kingdom. Later posted a Honey & Quinine two-part blog about their visit with many photographs. Read them — “Around the Pea Patch With an Englishman — Parts 1 & 2” posted earlier right here at this blog. Work went fine, more sorting of scraps. Returned to AKM and processed pictures until leaving for home at 8:40.

Saturday, May 31 — In at 6:45, walked straight to office, grabbed Cyber-shot & phot’d Sun Country 737 at terminal and taxiing away. Returned to office, grabbed Canon with long lens and phot’d the airplane taking off from Runway 22. Returned to office and processed pictures until 8. Worked upstairs in Research and Process Rooms until leaving for work at 9:50. Visited the new hobby shop before returning to airport, phot’d a Beech T-6, Diamond DA-40, Bonanza and processed a BUNCH of pictures until going home tired at 6:10