Weather
Henderson City (EHR)
37o 48.47N
87o 41.14W
Runway 090/270
Length 5504' x 75'
Elevation 386'
Location - Approximately 1 mile south of the Ohio River
2107 Z / 4:04 PM Local Time
Winds 230 / 13 KTS gusting 16 KTS
Visability = 10
Sky Clear Below 12,000'
Temp 29 / Dew Pt 16
Density Altitude = 2300'
... and then the thunder rolled in.....
Expedition Leader's Notes
We owe much thanks to Stacey McNames and Marty Hubler at Haps Aviation (JVY) for
all their patience and help. If you're flying down south in Indiana, you need to
stop and say howdy.
As the crew gathered in front of Mike Mann's Grand Caravan, Brian Forrest the FOD
photographer, took some incredible shots out of Randy Bozarth's Hughes 500D. Brian's
my wife Carol's cousin and I didn't learn until after the trip that he's a little edgy
about heights… way to go Brian! Then it was time for some few words of encouragement
(as if this crew needed any). I think I said something like: "Let's follow the river
and soar on the winds of history...". We proceeded on...
I wish everyone could have had the experience of following this big, muddy, debris-strewn
Ohio River from Louisville to Henderson, Kentucky. Flew past George Rogers Clark's cabin
where Meriwether Lewis and William Clark met to begin their epic journey. Hoosier National
Forest on the Indiana side… limestone quarries on either bank… coal loading docks, dams and
locks. The house Lee and I used to live in on Water Street in Newburgh, IN… Angel Mounds
State Historical Site nearby.
Lots of excitement on the air-to-air frequency (123.45) but can you blame us? You'll see
many photos on the website in the future and video from the exterior cameras on Mike's
Caravan, but in truth, it's impossible for the senses to take it all in. Chin and Candise
Tu along with Carol in the Bell 206 saw evidence of the twisters and flooding was everywhere.
Just after the big bend in the river at Evansville, Roger Fraser and I caught site of the
prettiest little airport we saw last fall during a survey flight along the Ohio River.
Henderson Kentucky (EHR) looks like it was painted on the landscape. EHR and Don Davis
Aviation is like a good fishin' hole… you should probably only share it with you closest
friends, but this one's too good to miss if you're an aviator. Excellent service, a blues
band line crew and a pretty spot to camp. Without too much fanfare, we announced our
approach and landed with the first favorable winds since we left San Diego… but not
for long. In great anticipation of a jovial evening, we set up camp under a sweet gum
tree. To the west, two lines of Level II and III thunderstorms proceeded onward in our
direction.
Epic storm. The WACOs were sheltered in the hangers, but Chin and Randy decided to
make an emergency dash towards a small patch of blue sky somewhere over Illinois. We
cinched the tie downs tight and re-staked the tents. As the crew that had gone into
town for provisions arrived, the tornado sirens went off in the distance. Most of the
crew hunkered down with stimulants in the RV while Wanda, Jeannette Egan, Julie Etra,
Jill Baker, Rob and Andrew concocted storm steak and chicken. Roger and Kevin (the
artist known as Pack) took up positions in folding chairs behind the flight line and
shook hands with God.
Brian got some incredible photographs… we kept watching the radar inside the FBO… Chin
and Randy strobed back to the field after two lines of storms passed… we all had a late,
wet supper... and there was much rejoicing.
Ground Support
The first day of the Flight of Discovery started off with the loading of the Ground Support
vehicles, beginning at 8:00 AM. The Ground Support Team is comprised of a 37' Pace Arrow RV,
Ford V10, owned and driven by Gene and Wanda Elmore, with their dog Casey and granddaughter Angie,
and a Ford Expedition with a trailer, owned by Expedition Leader Mike Harding, and driven by
Rob McGann, accompanied by his son, Andrew.
After loading up the vehicles with all the gear, the Ground Support Team shuttled the pilots
and flying passengers over to the Clark County Airport, and set off on their way driving to
meet the planes at the next stop on the trip, which was Henderson, KY.
They started off on I-65 S for about 6 miles, meeting I-64 and heading southwest to Evansville. There they crossed the Ohio into Henderson on U.S. 41 and 60.
Gene stopped for directions in Henderson, KY, and the local folks were so helpful that
they gave him a map of Henderson gratis.
The Ground Support Team arrived at Henderson City Airport about an hour after the planes landed.
Sciences
Flight Operations