![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.fantasyofflight.com\/collection\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/1-We-arrive.jpg\" "\\"1)")
<\/a>Back to a familiar place!<\/p><\/div>\n
Once we got there, we did a quick survey of everything and got started.<\/p>\n
<\/a>About to begin!<\/p><\/div>\n
Over the course of the next few days, we installed the charged batteries, re-installed the GPS, began inspections, did gear swings . . .<\/p>\n
<\/a>Preparing to cycle the Landing Gear<\/p><\/div>\n
and began loading up what we needed to take home.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Loading up!<\/p><\/div>\n
Once completed, we pushed it out into gorgeous weather to fuel it and prepared to make some smoke and noise.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Ready to Run!<\/p><\/div>\n
The engines ran great and it looked as if we were getting close to flying. \u00a0The other pilot that crossed the Atlantic with me, Verne Jobst, was on stand-by a couple hours away but, unfortunately, had recently had some minor eye surgery and found out at the last minute he was not legal to make the trip. \u00a0Bummer! \u00a0I called Frank Moss in Florida, the\u00a0father of Glen\u00a0Moss, who had flown across the Atlantic with us last summer. \u00a0Frank and his kids run a DC-3 operation in Florida and is very qualified. \u00a0He was willing to help us and arrived the next day.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, after Frank arrived, we learned we were not legal to fly on the annual inspection we had done. \u00a0We needed to have an inspection program by approved\u00a0our local Florida FAA! \u00a0This wasn’t something that was going to happen overnight. \u00a0Our only option was to request a ferry permit from the FAA to get home and sort out the proper paperwork later. \u00a0Unfortunately for us, it was Friday afternoon and the offices were closed!<\/p>\n
Sadly, some of our crew went home the next day, as we could only legally fly with “essential crew only”\u00a0on the ferry permit.\u00a0\u00a0We hung around over the weekend making small tweaks to the airplane and visiting the EAA museum. \u00a0Monday morning came and we soon had our permit in hand.<\/p>\n
<\/a>We're legal!<\/p><\/div>\n
Unfortunately, the weather was about to move in but not before we got a short flight in. \u00a0While the weather was somewhat marginal, everything checked out fine.<\/p>\n
We got out the next day before more weather moved in but still had weather south of us. \u00a0This forced us to head out across Lake Michigan to try and get around the east side of it.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Heading across Lake Michigan!<\/p><\/div>\n
Crossing the last major water body from England, we dodged some weather in Indiana and eventually broke out into gorgeous weather.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Dodging weather in Indiana!<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Flying through the mountains north of Atlanta<\/p><\/div>\n
After about six hours of flying, we stopped for the night in Douglas, GA where we hooked up with some other warbird owners. \u00a0The next day was absolutely beautiful for our last leg to Fantasy of Flight. \u00a0We delayed our take-off to arrive in time for our daily Airplane of Day display at 1:30 pm. \u00a0Our Grand Arrival was greeted by many supporters and employees, as well as a couple of newspapers and news stations.<\/p>\n