originally written 5/28/1973
'down and up'
in the spring of 1947-i found myself in tempe, arizona--i was a corporal in the air corps--stationed at williams field, chandler, arizona--
i was in tempe-because i was getting ready to take off in an aeronca champion airplane for a short cross country flight to casa grande, arizona --my friend sgt. warner was going with me-casa grande is about 35 miles from tempe--to the south--
we took off about 2/00 p.m.--the landscape is mostly desert and small low mountain ranges--we saw several dust spirals reaching perhaps 600 or 700 feet high--
our landing at casa grande was ok--while at the airport cafe--a dust whirlwind came across the airport and lifted a piper cub up on its nose--our plane nearby was ok--
we prepared for take off--soon after leaving the ground -perhaps 50 feet up-the plane started to settle toward the ground--i knew of nothing i could do--the engine was full rpm-air speed ok--i warned my friend to be prepared--at about 10 feet altitude --the plane started to climb again--we returned successfully to tempe, arizona--
a true story by - OTIS ENGLISH
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