Glen Hyde organized a day to pay tribute to Viet Nam Veterans at Northwest Regional Airport in Roanoke, TX (52F). Glen hosted Vets on Tuesday, 12 March, 2013, during a stop of the American Huey 369 on its country tour. Hospitality is what Texas is known for so Glen engaged Tommy Meyer to share his skills at large-scale cooking and provide Fried Catfish with all the fixin's and trimmin'

Glen, who owns the airport property, is a retired US Marine Corps Captain who flew F-4 Phantom jets. Like every American vet, Glen is enamoured with the sound of a Huey helicopter. The sound of its blades thumping as it approaches speaks volumes to those in distress, "Help is here!"

Glen has owned and restored as many as 10 Huey helicopters in his day. While I spent some treasured time chatting with Glen about the event, a far better write-up is available for reading below.

Let me just say that Glen has a dream. His dream is a park at the airport to pay honor and tribute to all the US military services, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard. Glen's dream is a little more than that, it has a genesis. The name he has chosen is "Freedom Is Not Free" and has that name reserved. His vision is to achieve financial support to build this park through the sale of memorial bricks.

For further information, contact Glen at 817-430-1905 or fax 817-491-2538.





"We'll fly tomorrow, early."


February 28 - Flight Day


Anticipation


Phil Witt reviews the controls with Aaron


Aaron tries on N61G for size. It fits like a glove!


Flight student Alexander Vanover meets Aaron Tippin!


"That was good but let me be the PiC"


"Mr. Tippin?"


"Howdy!"


Tommy takes this photo as Randy Richmond is at the controls and LJ preps for a photo shoot along side Gary and Aaron


The photos below were taken by Tommy Meyer. Today, he went up in Randy's RV. Tommy doesn't just build planes.


Remember the ending of "Casablanca"?
"Tommy, I think this is the beginninig of a beautiful friendship."


No, Earth does not have Saturn-like rings. That just a reflection off the canopy of Randy's RV.


Glenn Hyde, owner of 52F


Pre-flight gathering


Former Navy pilot Gary Platner greets Aaron Tippin


Aaron Tippin arrives in style, via a Jet Ranger helicopter. Aaron was in control of the helicopter for the landing!


Gary Platner looking forward to this flight!


Aaron Tippin in control of the original Little Toot


Gary Platner in control of his Mighty Mouse


Gary flies in formation as Aaron's wingman


Greased landings


Tommy Meyer greets his old friend Tony Ryan. Tony was the man responsible for arranging the two visits of Aaron Tippin with Tommy.


Tony eyes up the situation to ensure Aaron is strapped in securely. Tony is Aaron Tippin's right-hand man on this visit.


Aaron Tippin
Tootville Visitor
Returns to 52F and Flies a Toot