Those Thrilling Days of Yesteryear (Episode 15) “Getting The Widgie Air Born”

by Glenn Norman - July 4, 2010
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In Episode #15: Now Glenn had found “his soul mate,” there was the small problem of winning her over. However, a golden opportunity soon presented itself…
Michelle had never flown.

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The Goodwood Revival

by Didier Keller - June 30, 2010
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Didier Keller and François Dumas visit the Goodwood Estate and its ‘Revival’ in England almost every year. Many great events are organized there and although the main focus is on classic racing cars, there always is great air display too. In 2009 Didier attended with his Chinese Nanchang fighter trainer and wrote this report about it.

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Sky Candy – Sindlinger 5/8 Scale Hurricane

by Francois Dumas - June 27, 2010
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Here’s another bit of Sky Candy, brought to you by Fearless Widget Productions. In this little video you’ll see how Steve Grey flies the Tiger Boys’ Sindlinger 5/8 Scale Hurricane built by Harry Lasachuck.

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Those Thrilling Days of Yesteryear (Episode 14) “Enter The Widget”

by Glenn Norman - June 27, 2010
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In Episode #14: After an embezzler stole all the money for Bee Vee Air, Glenn returns home, convinced that his life is over. He has no way of knowing that his airline’s demise is the luckiest thing that ever happened to him and that his life is about to change forever!

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Those Thrilling Days of Yesteryear (Episode 13) “Bee Vee Air”

by Glenn Norman - June 20, 2010
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In Episode 13: 19-year-old Glenn Norman, along with several high school buddies, heads back to the Caribbean to start his Airline, Bee Vee Air. But things don’t go exactly the way he planned…

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The Best Taildragger I Ever Flew

by Glenn Norman - June 18, 2010
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About as close to a “pilot report” as you’re likely to read on Why Fly. Our Editor waxes euphoric on his three personal choices for best taildragger.

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Sky

by Michelle Goodeve - June 16, 2010
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Why Fly’s, Michelle Goodeve, turns her camera onto the object of her affection – the sky itself – in her latest Photo Essay, simply titled: “Sky”
{Click on the title of the article}

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5339 (Part Two)

by Robert Bach - June 15, 2010
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Rob Bach is currently one of the world’s greatest “Aviation Wordsmiths” (and a damn fine photographer as well). Here then is Part Two of Rob Bach’s tremendous fiction piece, “5339.”

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5339 (Part One)

by Robert Bach - June 14, 2010
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The thin white ridge of tissue stood in relief against the mass of wrinkles wrapped around his knuckles like a parchment map of the Old World. Grant sat quietly in the wicker rocker on his porch and stared at it. “Now HOW did I get that?” he whispered to himself. Raising his eyes to look [...]

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Those Thrilling Days of Yesteryear (Episode 12) “Dawn Patrol”

by Glenn Norman - June 13, 2010
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In Episode #12: While 19-year-old Glenn Norman waits for financing to come together for his British Virgin Islands’ Airline, he finally gets an opportunity to realize his dream of flying a taildragger. The only problem? A very early launch time…

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Glenn Matthews Flies Again – video

by Why Fly Staff - June 13, 2010
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We couldn’t finish up Glenn Matthews story without one more item saluting this unique Veteran, Pilot, Air Show Announcer, Painter, and – fortunately for us – Why Fly Contributor.
So here’s “Glenn Matthews Flies Again.”

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Pilot Down

by Paul Tomascik - June 12, 2010
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Paul V. Tomascik is one of our new contributors and debuts with a wonderful fiction story; Pilot Down.

Twenty minutes into the flight and all was green. The needles were sitting comfortably in their right-of-centre positions indicating good oil pressure and temperature. Michael’s scanning habit was spontaneous, characteristic of all seasoned bush pilots. When airborne, he would repeatedly check his cockpit environment as he did his flight path.

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The Life & Times of Glenn Matthews (6)

by Glenn Matthews - June 12, 2010
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Chapter six

When my announcing partner, Toby, died suddenly in 1973 a light seemed to go out. He and I had covered many air shows together, from Abbotsford to Paine Field to Reno to Springbank, Alberta to Terrace and Prince George.

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Glenn Matthews Goes Wing Walking!

by Glenn Matthews - June 11, 2010
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Accompanying Chapter 5 of his life story, Glenn Matthews found this old bit of film footage of the Wing Walk he did. It is shot with an old 8mm camera, so the quality is not ‘digital’. Nonetheless we wanted to share it with you! Enjoy!

(You will need Adobe’s Flash Player installed to view our movies)
{Click on the title to read the entire article}

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The Life & Times of Glenn Matthews (5)

by Glenn Matthews - June 11, 2010
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Chapter five While Toby and I were doing a show at Paine Field in Washington State I was asked by “Gentleman” Joe Hughes to closely watch an addition to his act and to give him my thoughts afterwards. Joe was flying his beautiful Super Stearman with his wing rider Gordon McCollom. We had seen the [...]

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The Life & Times of Glenn Matthews (4)

by Glenn Matthews - June 10, 2010
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In 1961, shortly after arriving out west, I nailed a job with Hacker Press at Abbotsford as Art Director and almost immediately a number of aviation related things happened. I joined the Abbotsford Flying Club just as a decision was being made to hold an airshow and I found myself helping to organize the first event in 1962.

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Why DO I Fly

by Glenn Norman - June 9, 2010
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When we Launched Why Fly, I wrote an article titled, “Under the ‘B’.” And while that piece certainly tells the tale of how I learned to fly, I still don’t feel it truly answers the question, “Why?” And if I can’t elucidate that answer myself, how can I possibly ask others to come up with [...]

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Welcome to Why Fly

by Why Fly Staff - June 9, 2010

We’re like no other aviation magazine or web site you’ve ever experienced. And now we’re FREE! To gain access to everything on the site, simply register to become a member. If you’re already a member, please log in.

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The Life & Times of Glenn Matthews (3)

by Glenn Matthews - June 9, 2010
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Chapter three Back on civvy street I set about opening a hobby shop in Vancouver, unfortunately on a shoestring.  But it was a good way to return to life after the nastiness in England. I made a number of long-term friends through my shop and had some great model flying experiences including winning a number [...]

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The Life & Times of Glenn Matthews (2)

by Glenn Matthews - June 8, 2010
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Chapter two

My memories of wartime England consist of damp weather and cold Nissen huts, chipping the ice from the water troughs in order to shave and endless hours of training flights in bloody awful flying conditions. Then too, the food was no great shakes! If you put in a flight of four hours or more you qualified for one greasy fried egg. Such bounty!

{Please click on the title to read the entire story!}

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The Life & Times of Glenn Matthews (1)

by Glenn Matthews - June 7, 2010
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Herewith a condensed version of my life story as it relates to “things aeronautical”.

Chapter one

At age 11, while living with my Grandparents, I would drive my grandmother to distraction by leaping up from the dinner table every time I heard an airplane flying over the house. My Father encouraged my enthusiasm by enrolling me in a model airplane club where I was to hone my skills as a model builder and actually win third place in my first flying model contest. Years later I wound up as President of the Vancouver Gas Model Club and won a number of scale contests.

{Please click on the title to read the entire story!}

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