On Monday, August 4, 2014 at 11:46:04 AM UTC-6, Steve Leonard wrote:
On Saturday, August 2, 2014 1:12:15 PM UTC-5, Roy Clark, "B6" wrote:
For many years, I enjoyed tales about Al Parker and the Odessa gang from Harry Miltner (he's the guy who built the motor Mosquito using a salvaged Pik-20E system). I hope Diane and Steve would produce a book about Al in the style of that about Wally Scott.

Soaring Lore is made up of fact and enhanced fact. Let me see if I can "enhance" or maybe just not remember some correctly, as I wasn't there.

Bob Bowden told the tale of one of Al's retreives in which Al was surprised by his crew getting to his motel and waking him up in the middle of the night (3 or 4 AM, as I recall the story). They (pilot and crew) had agreed that crew would stop and spend the night somewhere in route. But, the crew was too young to be permitted to sign in as a guest at any motel along the route, so they just kept driving until they got there.

How about some more stories here?

Steve Leonard

This is a little late, I realize but just need to let it out. Since I am a little older than steve. I remember when Al put home made rudder pedal extensions in the Schwietzer 222 so that steve could reach them. I got my first and second glider ride at the courtesy of Al Parker. I took my third today in Moriarity new mexico. As I plaxed my feet on the rudder pedals I found that rhey trembled just as they did over 50 years ago. (I wish I had remembered the 1000 km record flight flight last year and had done it then.) It was an awesome flight. My instructor who knew not hing of Al Parker, Wally Scott and Red Wright had so much fun that my 30 minute ride extended to over an hour, and we had to use the spoilers to get down for his next student, even with my inept technique on the controls. After many years of powered flight, It brought back the memory of that first birdlike flight over 50 years ago. I attempted to spark an interest in the History that Al and Wally ands Red were so much a part of, in this young man. I was on the airport the day Al left on his 1000 km record flight. I didn't recognize its signicigance then, so today I must express my congratulations for the accomplishment/post humously, and my gratitude for the experience that made today so very exciting; An experience that began 51 years ago. Thanks, Al.