December 22, 2019 - Fly to Smoketown, PA

The Hangar Row A Flyers were headed for Smoketown Airport in Pennsylvania, near Lancaster today.  I had heard that Joni's 340 Diner, located a short walk from the airport, was moving to a different location in mid-February and I wanted to eat one of their famous gigantic pancakes one last time.  Bruce B. flew with me in the RV.  The only other Hangar Row A was Tom in his Maule.  But there were all sorts of planes from Clearview Airport with us.  We ended up with 12 people total.  The weather was fairly mild for December.

Here some of us are at the grass ramp at Smoketown, admiring Walt's new paintjob on his Husky.
   
The first three planes you see are from Clearview, then you can just barely see Tom's Maule and my RV.
   
Whoever did the work did a beautiful job on Walt's Husky.  That Husky dog on the vertical stab and rudder is airbrushed.  Incredible workmanship.
   
And here we all are chowing down at Joni's 340.
   
I had to take a picture of the gigantic pancake.  Not only does it cover the plate entirely but it is probably at least 1/2" thick!  In addition to the massive pancake, you get a piece of french toast, two eggs, bacon and sausage, and home fries.  I picked a bad day to start a diet.
   
A good group picture of the Hangar Row A and Clearview Flyers.  That is Joni at the far back on the right.
   

Back at Smoketown.  They have an active little helicopter operation going here.

The FBO building was warm and cozy.  They have not one, but two courtesy cars for use!  We're really not too far from Lancaster and there are tons of nice places to eat here in Amish country.
   
Tom doing a little pre-flight on the Maule.
   
Smoketown doesn't have much of a paved ramp so you just park on the grass.  Don't have to worry about your plane rolling away ...
   
Bruce and I left Tom around the Susquehanna and headed east towards the eastern shore.  We wanted to do a little more flying.
   

We stopped at Massey Aerodrome to stretch our legs, look around and talk with the guys there.  There are always people at Massey working on a project or two.

Now that the Triplane Project is gone, I'm thinking about getting back into building plastic model airplanes, like the ones pictured here.
   
A little fun fly over the Eastern Shore before heading home.
   
 
   
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