MARCO Grand Rounds for March 9, 2008

From Warren, KD4GUA:

Sunday, MARCO's host will be Phil Weldman, President and owner of "Globe Aero", a ferrying service for small airplanes. Phil has made over 250 ocean crossings to Europe and Australia in single engine Cessnas and Piper aircraft. He will tell you how he utilizes his radios and the changes that GPS has brought. If you didn't have the opportunity to meet Charles Lindbergh, here is your chance to meet the 21st century version.

Three weeks ago, I drove to Lakeland, Florida to tour Phil's hangar which is geared to take in a brand new airplane on one end, fit it with auxiliary tanks, and have it exit refitted on the other side. On the tarmac was a brand new Piper two place single engine landplane with conventional landing gear destined to be flown to Berlin, Germany. A car drove up and out popped a retired TWA captain who was to fly the little plane over. We chatted and parted. One week later I learned the little plane took on ice 400 miles out of Iceland, became a flying ice brick, lost its lift and the pilot informed Iceland center--"I'm going down." Icing levels were at sea level. The pilot and plane were not recovered. This Sunday's Grand Rounds will be dedicated to that pilot, his name? Captain Greg Frey, TWA retired.

Tune in should be educational...write down your questions and Phil will try to answer them.