At 00:22 21 March 2014, wrote:
Hey! That's my Dad Dick O'Neal hanging out under the wing of
his K6br after
landing out on a road. We sure had a good time in Marfa back
in those days.


Thanks for posting.

Bob O

Bob...thanks for the info. I made the mistake of labeling it Bill
Snead who flew the ship at Marfa '69. Apologize, and have noted
corrections to your Dad and a few others. Great memories of
your Dad and all those fine folks of the era! And the times at
Marfa...should we ever tell the "real" stories?!

The photos, as noted, are from the generosity of Andre Volant,
from the West Coast. Andre attended Marfa '67, '69 and '70, in
love of sport and support of his home country's
team...Poland...before and during the World Championships.
Please do not use the photos for commercial use or profit.

BY THE WAY...TO ALL OUT THERE...IF YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO
HAS SOARING PHOTOS FROM THOSE ERAS LONG PAST, PLEASE
CONSIDER MAKING THEM AVAILABLE. ALSO, CONSIDER
CONTACTING THE "NSM" (NATIONAL SOARING MUSEUM) IN
ELMIRA WITH SUCH MEMORIES...AND THINK ABOUT THOSE
ORAL HISTORIES! TIME IS MOVING TOO FAST.

Noticed quite a few comments a few threads back on flying back
then, especially as to no fancy instruments, etc. Starting in a 1-
23 at Marfa '67, then a Libelle the next year and on until 1973,
really look back at how marvelous was the simplicity. With the
Libelle, assembly was in minutes. Cockpit equipment was a map,
wiz wheel, plug in a simple battery, sunglasses and hat with a
thermos. On a grass airport one could pick up the Libelle by the
tail, roll it along it's wing wheel to the takeoff line, plunk it down,
climb in and go. (Being 20 years old also helped and our Libelle
with everything before water bags weighed about 435#.)

Flying was...well...occasionally "referencing" the one instrument
you liked, ours a PZL vario, usually just to verify what one's
derriere told you. Mostly eye's outside, looking at terrain and
sky, with glances to the map, depending if you knew the area or
not. Marfa, after a few rounds of the turnpoints, was home
country. Loved the Free Distance...now realizing I was more of
young adventure than competitor. (Also respecting I only had to
drive the retrieve one way!)

Mind you, I claim nothing special...everyone did it because, as
the saying goes: "What ya don't know won't hurt ya." Now,
decades later, the then lousy contest placings from dumb
decisions are of little regret...instead , just thankfulness for
having seen flying so simply, and got to know such diverse and
fascinating people. Actually, that simple era carried over into a
career with the airlines...if the fancy gadgets broke, it was not a
panic.

Indeed, very fortunate times!

Rob Buck