Sorry but I didn't get a picture of the GPS and instruments from Shawnee to Franklin.  I must have been concentrating on avoiding Bloomington class D airspace.

Upon arriving at my next fuel stop, Franklin Flying Field in Franklin, IN just south of Indianapolis I hoped to meet Gene.  I saw a Challenger in the hangar when I landed but the FBO manager didn't seem to know anybody when I asked.  She did remember somebody saying I was coming.

It was getting late in the evening and I would not make my next planned fuel stop.  My Father's hand again.  I never cease to be amazed by His providence.  After having some trouble finding a motel and feeling a little denied to camp out with my Flightstar on the airport grounds, the Lord sent this gentleman to provide.  I was about to call a taxi out of Indianapolis to take me to a motel when Bud Wilson flew in on his Javelin ultralight along with his friend flying a Kolb Firestar ultralight.  He was interested in my Flightstar because it had the solid fiberglass cabin.  His son flies a newer Flightstar with the fabric rear enclosure and the HKS 4-stroke with 3-blade Sport Prop.  You can just barely see the nose in the picture.

Well, he invited me park at his airstip and provide me transportation to and from a motel.  Well, I wasn't about to turn down a free ride and a shower!   Bud asked me if I could handle a 1000' grass strip and I said that I could.   That's about the useable length of mine so I had no concerns.  I thanked the FBO manager and we took off from Franklin.

Just a couple of minutes after taking off, I heard someone on the radio, "Flightstar ultralight, is that Rick LeMarr?"  I responded in the affirmative.  It was Gene!  I just missed him by a minute or two.  I wanted him to follow us or us to go back but I knew dark was coming fast so I didn't get to meet Gene.  It was great to hear your voice, Gene.  We'll get it together another time.  Thanks for the wonderful welcome.

On the way I was having just a little trouble seeing out my smoked Lexan windshield.  Bud called to me, "We're coming up on my place.  There's 14' corn right up to the end of the runway."  I thought 100' unuseable, no problem and replied, "OK.  Rodger the corn field."  Then Bud called again, "There's power lines off the end of the airstip, be sure to stay over them."   I thought, "Huh?  Power lines!  Off the end of the approach?!"   I did some quick calculations in my head, "50' obstacle, 200 or 300' unuseable, 700' left.  OK, short field approach over an obstacle, no problem"   I radioed back, "Roger the power lines."  Then he came again, "Oh, by the way be sure to stop before you get to the 20' ditch on the other end, there's trees after that, on the left and my house is on the right."

I wouldn't offend my host for anything in the world but I have to be honest and tell you that I was beginning to feel a little apprehension about this landing.   I thought to myself, "What else did he not tell me before we took off?!"   About that time, he hollered back, "Have you spotted the airstrip yet?   I'm starting my descent.  It'll be OK, just follow me in and do what I do."  Yeah, right!  I was straining to see his place but all I could see was a corn field and trees.  I stuck my head out the door to get a clearer view but the airstream made my eyes tear up which made it worse.  I throttled back to 4500, reached for full flaps and pulled the nose up to slow down to about 50 MPH on the airspeed (remember my airspeed is fast by 10 MPH at cruise).  She stalls about 30 indicated with full flaps and a student.  I figured I had at least that much extra weight packed.  I began a slow descent well behind Bud and hoped I wouldn't make a fool out of myself.  It crossed my mind that I needed to practice short field over obstacles more.

I spotted the runway when he landed.  "OK, Ricky, don't screw this up", I said to myself.  I crossed the power lines 50' above and pulled a few RPMs out for a more rapid descent.  Don't ask me what my RPMS were or airspeed at that point, I was concetrating outside and on nailing that landing.  I was aiming for the corn 50 ft from the runway.  When I cleared the last row of corn I wasn't 10 feet over it and I pulled a few more RPMs out and pulled the nose up.  She dropped in and stayed.  I rolled out 200' with plenty of runway to spare.  Didn't even use brakes.  Yes!  Nailed it!

How did it look from your view, Bud?  Pretty good, eh?