Airparks; Living On The Beaten Path?

Todd W. Deckard wrote:
Many years ago I had a '170 based at the Waunakee Wisconsin airpark. I was
coming in to land and a little
fellow cuts towards the runway on his bike. As I overfly he drops it right
on the centerline and bolts.
Now there was enough runway left in the denominator and with careful
attention to any more animal crossings I land and scoop up the offending
bicycle.

Pretty soon his lawyer shows up with some sort of explaination I cannot
remember in an effort to get the bike back -- and I get a good chance to
give the Airport Safety Lecture. I suggest that if he would like to sit in
the plane and put the headphones on that is fine. Now the rest of The
Little Rascals are hiding behind rocks and bushes nearby watching to see
what happens. I suggest that if someone can produce a responsible parent
there might be enough daylight for a ride or two. Eventually some parents
are located and it is another chance to reinforce the airport safety lecture
(and make sure bail was posted and a sentencing hearing was scheduled).

One mom had been in the Navy which made her most qualified to interview hobo
pilot and she asked various questions about my freshmen flying background
(she even looked at my logbook). One or two of the kids got Young Eagles
certificates. One of the others certainly learned his lesson as I can be
sure Navy-Mom narced on him.

I did give him his bike back.
Todd





"WJRFlyBoy" wrote in message
.. .

I just read several airpark descriptions, many were relating the fact that
kids were riding their bicycles not only along the strip but across the
strips. Including 3 wheelers, etc.
--



Good for you!!! Turn an bratty kid into a learning experience! We had
our plane at a Dulles Days Plane Pull and went back to the plane to find
3 kids running up and down the wing (with mom looking on). Ron
retreated to the plane next door with the owner and said "she's going
into teacher mode". I had all three kids, sniffling but not crying and
promising NEVER to touch another airplane without the permission of the
owner and then they all got inside, with my supervision and learned
quite a lot. They had a great time, mom learned not to let her kids
touch stuff that wasn't theirs (maybe) and airplanes ruled the day!

Margy