We use the plane for fun most of the time but I also like to do some public benefit flying as well. This can take several forms but this weekend it was Hurricane relief. A few weeks back I did some work for Florence and now Michael had come roaring through our back yard.
Yesterday we gathered some supplies and headed to Gainesville to fly supplies. Unfortunately there were more planes than supplies so we dropped our load and headed back home to regroup. They thought they would have more work Sunday but donations were slow.
We decided to just grab stuff here and take it out Sunday morning. Aircraft seem small and cramped when you have to sit still for hours but can hold a good amount. We filled the car trunk and most of the back seat and headed off to the airport.
We had about 300 pounds of cargo, which I had carefully weighed. We loaded it so it would not shift and distributed the weight to keep us withing the weight and balance limits of the plane.
Arriving in Apalachicola, we found quite a production. Lots of equipment, lots of buses, ambulances and trucks. Once clear of the runway we were directed where to park to unload. They dropped a pallet by the plane and we handed stuff out. We were surprised, in a good way, when the Sheriff and a State Representative came out to great us.
We chatted a minute and promised to return when they were back up making Oyster Po-Boys. As we were firing up a big tractor/fork lift came to haul away the supplies and get ready for the next plane. A few minutes later we were back in the air headed home.
The town did not look too bad from above but you can's see flood damage. What was different was that normally on a nice Autumn Day the town is full of tourists enjoying the waterfront, eating and shopping. It looked pretty much like a ghost town.
This Hurricane has gotten some press but not as much as others. It has hit an area that was already struggling economically so while the buildings are still standing in this area, they still need lots of help. There will be other groups collecting and sending supplies, now is your chance to help.
Yesterday we gathered some supplies and headed to Gainesville to fly supplies. Unfortunately there were more planes than supplies so we dropped our load and headed back home to regroup. They thought they would have more work Sunday but donations were slow.
We decided to just grab stuff here and take it out Sunday morning. Aircraft seem small and cramped when you have to sit still for hours but can hold a good amount. We filled the car trunk and most of the back seat and headed off to the airport.
We had about 300 pounds of cargo, which I had carefully weighed. We loaded it so it would not shift and distributed the weight to keep us withing the weight and balance limits of the plane.
Arriving in Apalachicola, we found quite a production. Lots of equipment, lots of buses, ambulances and trucks. Once clear of the runway we were directed where to park to unload. They dropped a pallet by the plane and we handed stuff out. We were surprised, in a good way, when the Sheriff and a State Representative came out to great us.
We chatted a minute and promised to return when they were back up making Oyster Po-Boys. As we were firing up a big tractor/fork lift came to haul away the supplies and get ready for the next plane. A few minutes later we were back in the air headed home.
The town did not look too bad from above but you can's see flood damage. What was different was that normally on a nice Autumn Day the town is full of tourists enjoying the waterfront, eating and shopping. It looked pretty much like a ghost town.
This Hurricane has gotten some press but not as much as others. It has hit an area that was already struggling economically so while the buildings are still standing in this area, they still need lots of help. There will be other groups collecting and sending supplies, now is your chance to help.
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