This is dedicated to two of the most important men in my life: My father, Charles E. Lynch, Sr. and to the Memory of my maternal grandfather, Edgar Glenn Ruchty. Both men were worthy airmen in their own right and both were all around great as father and granddad. My father was born May 20, 1927, the day Charles Lindbergh took off for Paris. On April 29, 1949, the day I was born, dad celebrated by taking to the air for his first solo flight. My grandfather was born May 2, 1902 and began flying shortly before I was born. My dad gave me my first airplane ride along with my mom in a Luscomb Silvair. They say I slept through the whole flight. Both my father and granddad were members of the Civil Air Patrol squadron in Olympia, WA and flew a number of search and rescue missions in an old Army Air Corp L-5. My granddad was a charter member of the Big "O" Flying Club located on the Olympia Airport. My earliest memories of flying were of dad working on this thing made of metal and cloth in the garage and living room of our home in the early 1950's. After completing the rebuild of that 1941 Stinson 10-A, dad flew her with me along as "co-pilot" for many a memorable flight all around the Puget Sound region. Oh the stories I could tell. Time and money take their toll for young pilots who must sometimes choose between flying and family responsibilities. I remember the 10-A, wings off, sitting in the garage along side the family car. Then in the 1960's dad was forced to sell the bird to take care of his family but flying never left his blood. My grandfather quit flying in the early 1960's as well but remained active in the aviation community in Olympia until his death in 1979. I have his log book and his solo certificate, framed, each having a place of honor among my flying memorabilia.
I took up flying on my own right in 1969, soloing a Cessna 150 at the Lincoln, NB International Airport in November 1969. I received my SEL certificate in March of 1970. During the summer of 1971, I returned to my home and convinced my dad that he should get back in the air. He had never flown a tricycle gear craft but after 30" of dual in a Piper 140, Dean Harrington, FBO owner and old family friend asked my dad how long it had been since he had been in the air. He looked at his log book and it had been 15 years. After that I convinced dad to begin looking for another bird and we located a 1947 Stinson 108-2 with a 190 HP Lycoming and Hartzel controllable pitch prop. It seems that many birds sitting alone, dusty, and neglected have a sad story to tell. In the Voyager's case, the owner had returned to Bremerton Field and after parking her, he and his wife drove out of the airport. While entering the highway, they were struck on the passenger side and the wife was killed instantly. The owner was confined to a wheelchair and when he agreed to sell her, he told my dad he was obviouly unable to "check" him out in the bird. So, the only choice was to check himself out. He took N9587K over to the far taxiway and spent time doing increasingly higher speed taxi maneuvers until he was confident he could take her home. He did the required 5 take offs and landings prior to ferrying her home. When he was ready, he returned to the hanger, loaded my brother Tom and said he'd meet Jim and I in Olympia. Off he went never looking back. In the coming years, between the two of us and my two younger brothers we flew her on many a cross country. I have many great memories of my over 75 hours in that bird. In 1973 he decided to rebuild her including a full going over and covering with Ceconite and Stits Poly Paint. She was re-christened N10CL and took her "maiden" voyage on August 17, 1973. Dad logged his last flight on April 1, 1978, quitting flying again, this time due to the loss of his medical. He sold the Voyager in the mid 1980's after sitting neglected among the weeds.
Time passes us by. I tried to get back into aviation in the early 1990's but time and money was lacking. Today I am again getting back into the air here in 2008. Back in 2007, I began looking for the two birds owned and found both. The 10-A, NC32295, is in Parker, CO. I took dad to see her on his 80th birthday, thanks to the kindness of the owner, Mitch Clark. I also found the Voyager, N10CL on Payne Field in Everett, WA and have made a great friend in Pete Crane, who lovingly keeps here flying. Thanks to both of these great aviators for their love of the birds that my dad so lovingly rebuilt and flew, celebrating his love for the wild blue and the freedom of flight.
Today, I am challenged to continue keeping the memory of my granddad and the dreams of my dad alive by again returning to soar into the sky and feel the exhilaration of flight and to make a difference in my adopted community of Plains, MT where I am active in the flying community. So...Here's to you dad and granddad, may your dreams of true flight take wings when "He" returns and you both take "flight" into the eternal space of the cosmos.
Lovingly, I am, your son and grandson, Charlie
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