Only in the Motor City... the Dream Cruise

As you all know I'm originally from the Detroit area, however; you may not know that the airfield isn't just about airplanes, those guys are motor heads and love old cars too.  Chris has a few beauties, I really love his gold Dodge Custom Royal.  I mentioned in a previous post that my dream cars are a 1932 Ford Deuce Coupe or a 1963 Split Window 'Vette.  But hey... I love any sort of old, beautiful automobile (or plane).

I recently got back from a 5 day trip to the Motor City, that was an eye opener... the city is such a beautiful place... gorgeous mansions, the Detroit River, Belle Isle, Greektown, Eastern Market (love that karaoke Detroit), parks, museums, bike trails.  Detroit was so hard hit by the recession that the city was empty.  Honestly, the streets were so quiet it was eerie and a lot of the old historic buildings are gone or falling apart.

However I was in Birmingham/Bloomfield Hills area (where I grew up) and you'd never know there was any sort of recession... there is a Whole Foods and Starbucks on every corner, green manicured landscaping (not just in peeps yards but all over public spaces in Birmingham), expensive cars, country clubs.  An interesting juxtaposition between Detroit and Bloomfield/Birmingham just 30 minutes apart.


There I go rambling again... back to the Dream Cruise.. if you have never seen it, you should.  If you are an old car fan, muscle car fan, street rods, customs, or like your classic cars original this is the place to see them.

It all takes place on world famous Woodward Avenue (where I use to race my 'vette from light to light), which is called America's First Highway.  Back in 1995 it was the idea of Nelson House and some volunteers to raise money for a soccer field in Ferndale. What better way to do it then a cruise that recreated the heyday of the 1950's and 60's - Detroit metal and that Motown sound.  That first year 250,000 people participated, 10 times more then they expected (they got their soccer field).   They don't say that Detroit loves it's autos for nothin'!

Now in it's 16th year of cruisin' down Woodward Avenue, it draws over 1.5 million people and more then 40,000 cars (and generates over 56 millon bucks for Detroit each year).  It's an annual rite of summer in Michigan.  All along 16 miles of Woodward Avenue on the 3rd weekend in August and it's free to watch or to drive in.  People line up on Saturday (9am - 9pm) with beach chairs and coolers and just watch the cars roll by.  Woodward was famous for drag racing (back in the day) and at the Dream Cruise you'll still see a bit of this going on (especially off the line at red lights).

The Big Three (which aren't so big anymore but don't tell Detroit that) has used this event to introduce new products and this year Chevy is a big sponsor.  Not only can you see their current line-up but they are going to roll out a pre-production version of the 2012 Camaro ZL1 and the new Sonic, the Chevy version of a Smart Car (still not sure how "smart" that is).

As of today it is 46 days, 15 hours, 28 minutes and 50 seconds to the cruise.  If you can't make it this year, start making plans for next year, you've never seen anything like this.  Check out their website.

Open for the Season

Ok, I'm a little remiss in blogging... my life got crazy and I've had no free time (that's my excuse at any rate).  But I feel guilty about it so I'm going to try it again.  I've got 2 posts ready to go this July 4th weekend.  I'll be up at the airfield on and off this weekend so hopefully I'll get some more stories.

There is a red and white Pitts Special (S-2) at the airfield, much of the time it's in a hangar but lately it has been out and flying.   A Pitts is a small, light aerobatic biplane designed by Curtis Pitts.  It was first flown in 1944 and has dominated aerobatic competition since it's introduction.  It is currently built by Aviat Aircraft and if you go to their website you'll see some amazing pictures of this aircraft.

My daughter had the opportunity to have a ride in the one at the airfield (I was offered a ride as well, but I'm not that great at upside down, been there, done that) and these pictures are from her ride.  I was on the ground holding my breath but of course Chris is a wonderful pilot and the ride went off without a hitch.  She loved it.  The pictures here are:  The Pitts with Chris and another passenger (not Cay),  Chris helping Cay get in the plane, and Cay and Chris upside down over the airfield.

They fly it occasionally in the evenings, after the biplane customers are gone, just to have fun, so keep your eyes on the sky.

Oh and by the way, the title for this post is "Open for the Season" - which of course refers to the airfield.  You too can ride in a biplane, a bright red WACO (although the plane can, you won't be going upside down).  The view of Cape Cod from the air is NOT to be missed.  It is a nice relaxing ride from about 1000 ft.  and you'll see woods, beaches, salt marshes, lakes and Martha's Vineyard on a clear day.

DC - 3 Dreamin'

Ok, so I don't post too often.. but at least when I do... it's fascinating! I've known father and son: Chris and Chris (Jr and Sr for the rest of this article) for about a year and a half. All this time I've heard so many fantastic stories about Chris Sr.'s DC-3 days. He has spent a lot of time in the cockpit of one, both for fun, business, and commercially moving passengers. So many great stories there.


He's wanted to bring a DC 3 back to the Mills... he'd like to buy one but there are not many left and a whole lot of what's left are not in any condition to even fly. Both Chris's have spent most of their lives in aviation, they know everyone and yesterday they succeeded in bringing a DC 3 to the airfield.

Sr and Jr flew down south yesterday to pick it up and after a 5 hour, uneventful flight, they landed in the Mills. We are a small airfield, with "shortish" runways and the "3" is a big plane. So the wind had to be just right and the landing could be tricky. There was a group of us regular hangers-on at the airfield to greet them.

Chris Sr. brought that massive DC-3 down like a butterfly and didn't even use all the runway. Honestly Chris Sr. is an extraordinary pilot (so is Jr, he literally grew up in a cockpit). As soon as he touched down a cheer and applause went up from the spectators (and passenger wannabes) and we now have our DC-3.

It's only here for about a month so if you want to see the plane that revolutionized air transport in the 30's and 40's, a plane that was instrumental in WW II. The most significant transport aircraft ever made, come down and see a piece of history.

(click on the pictures to see them a bit larger!)

If everything seems to be in control, you're not going fast enough.... (Mario Andretti)

Racing ... it's life. Everything that comes before or after is just waiting (Steven McQueen in LaMans).

Did I mention that I grew up in the Motor City?  I love cars and I spent my youth around them.  Torn apart in garages, drag racing on Woodward Avenue, top ending on I-75, and hitting the race tracks... Motor City Speedway, Dixie Motor Speedway, Tri City Speedway, just to name a few. (please note: different times, different era - I'm not advocating anyone street race or drive over the speed limit)


My brother and his friend Charlie were always tearing down and rebuilding.  We had a Jag torn down in our garage for years.  I remember Charlie doing demo derby's too, he eventually went on to work for some of the greatest auto racing teams in the world. (who knows where he is now) 

When I was in high school it was all about the "coolest" car.  The word "coolest" meant different things to all of us.  Cindy use to drive her dad's International Harvester Scout around occasionally and that was different (and pretty cool).  Her regular car was an old Cougar painted like a zebra!  My dad drove a British Racing Green Jag XKE for a while (I got to drive it once) so he was cool too. 

Because my dad was a bigwig at GM everyone knew him and I was cool by association.  It didn't hurt my coolness factor that I had access to a lot of GM concept cars.  I use to drive the Mako Shark in the parade at the Franklin Round-Up and got to go to the Indy 500 every year (very noisy).

I still love cars and if I won the lottery I'd buy one of two of my all time favorite classic cars (depending on jackpot, maybe I'd buy both):  A nice little deuce coupe (1932 Ford) or a 1963 split window Corvette.  I've always dreamed of having either (both), they are really great classic cars.  I've had a few nice ones over the years:  a 1973 454 'vette, a cute little MGB convertible, a few Z-28's.  

Sadly for the auto purists who read this blog... some where along the line I fell in love with VW's.  My very first was a 1960's electric yellow Station Wagon.  It was the "dog car", the car I used for transporting my Enrico Fermi Airedale (don't ask, long story).  Then it was a late 1960's bug with a sunroof.  Then a real prize; I got a 1973 convertible Super Beetle in bright yellow.  

I remember going up, one dark and stormy night, to NH to meet my sister in law, Cathy and nephew, David in that car.  It died on the highway close to our destination.  I was 8 months preggers and my ex pushed that car to where we were going.  He'd push it up the hill (mountain?) and hop in the passenger side for the ride downhill.  We found out the next day the throttle broke and he tied a string on it, which ran from the engine (which was in the rear) around the rear fender and in the driver side window.  We drove all weekend pulling that string to go!  You can't do that with just any car...  These day I drive a special edition New Beetle.

So what does all this have to do with the airfield?  If you look at the banner for this blog (at the top).... that's Chris's '57 Dodge hemi.  He built it himself and I'm thinking it's inter-cooled with a blower system (don't quote me on this).  I'm pretty sure it cranks out over 600 hp on a good day.  If you come by the airfield in good weather you'll most likely see it out by the hanger.  My daughter tells me it's a nice ride, although I've not been lucky enough to get one yet (hint hint).  

I think if you have an old classic car you should bring it by the airfield, it will certainly be appreciated.  As a matter of fact, I think we should designate a day this summer where everyone with a classic car should come by.  And I bet I could work it out where if you turn up with a classic car on that day, you get a discount on a biplane ride (don't quote me on that one yet either).  Does a New Beetle count?

The airfield is up and running for the season!

The truth is, it never shuts down.  The entire airfield is open and people fly their planes all winter long.  Apparently airplanes have to be flown regularly to keep them in tip-top shape (my lawn mower sits in the garage in the off season and starts right up in the spring).  There is a nice pellet stove in the office that keeps it nice and toasty warm - even the hanger is heated.  But biplane rides and sky diving stop operating once the weather gets cold.

Yesterday everything was open and I had my first biplane ride of the season.  The pictures in this article were all taken yesterday with my iPhone.  I took the ride at about 6 pm; it took a few tries to get the biplane started but that's due to colder temps.  It finally caught and we taxied down the runway.   As we took off I saw golfers at the golf course waving at us.  Cars pulled over on Race Lane to watch us.  There is something so magical about that biplane.

 Just so you know, once you're in the plane and moving it isn't cold at all.  The windscreen keeps the breeze off of the passengers. Plus, you sit behind the engine so you feel perfectly comfortable.  The picture to the right is one of the pilots, Chris (they are both named Chris, FYI).  You can see that flying makes him a very happy pilot. (don't sit on the fence by the parking lot... that makes him an unhappy guy)

As you can see from the pictures, the weather was perfectly clear inland but once we got near the beach the fog began rolling in - just a typical Cape Cod afternoon.  The views were awesome and the fog added to the mystery of my first flight.  Over the winter I had forgotten how fabulous that biplane is, I think everyone should ride it in at least once.  It's a steady, slow, stable ride and the view from the air will knock your socks off!

It felt like summer (almost!) and it's supposed to be even nicer weather today!  The only thing that was missing was our gas grill; we often grill our lunch and over the winter the junky grill we had there rolled over and died.

If you are trying to think of something unique to do today, why not head down to the airfield; you can just watch the planes, take a biplane ride, or if you're brave enough, go skydiving!

The Beech 18

I discovered the airfield about a year ago and since then have been a regular visitor.  I live near by so I always knew it was there and many times I'd sit in the parking lot and watch the planes come and go.  I  never had the guts to get out and introduce myself.  Finally last year I did and I had a blast there last summer.

Lately the airfield has been busy with everyone making plans for the upcoming summer season.  People are already booking biplane rides and buying gift certificates.  The sky dive guys are coming back from where ever it is they go in the winter.  But until the season really gears up I'll post some of my pictures from last year here as a teaser.

Last year we had a really nice Beech 18 (or Twin Beech) at the airfield.  This plane, also called C-45, saw military service during and after WW II.  It's a taildragger and also has twin tail fins.  It was manufactured by the Beech Aircraft Corporation of Wichita, Kansas.  The first Beech 18 prototype flew in January 1937 and the last one made was in 1970 (that last one went to Japan Airlines).  Beechcraft set a record, that still stands today, for the longest continuous production of a piston engine airplane.

They were also used as commercial aircraft and the one that was at the airfield did fly commercial. It had rows of seats in it, reading lights, and barf bags.  I consider myself so lucky to have had a number of rides in it because most are now in private hands and are prized collectibles.  Sadly our Beech was sold and I really miss it, such a cool airplane.

SUMMER BIPLANE RIDES

Cape Cod Airfield is a grass strip airport in Marstons Mills, MA. that dates back to the 1920's. It's on 80+ acres of open field, with 3 runways, 2 hangers, and an old windmill. Initially started as an Army Training Corps training field, it has hardly changed since then. The nostalgic atmosphere will make you feel like you've stepped back in time.

Take a scenic ride in our open cockpit biplane (a Waco YMF-5). We can carry two passengers on a 20 minute ride over the beaches, woods, lakes, and the Cape Cod Canal. Cape Cod is breathtaking from the air. Longer customized flights are also available and if your feeling adventurous sign up for a thrilling aerobatic ride.

If you'd like more information give us a call at 1-888-247-5263 or email us. While you don't need a reservation ahead of time they are encouraged. We accept all major credit cards.

Below are some pictures of our plane and some aerials from some of our flights.