Pilot brings WWII plane to Hartselle airport
By By Bob Jaques, Special to the Enquirer
"I would love to do it again" recalls Owens Crossroads resident Andy Phillips as he told about his cross-country flight in a WW II Liason airplane from Kelso, Wash. to Hartselle.
His flight in a 1940 Piper J5A Cruiser, which is designated an Army L4F Liason plane used for observation during WW II, took almost a week and covered about 2,050 miles.
His adventure started when he was given the airplane in 2008 by his dad, who had to stop flying due to age and health reasons. Andy took his 14-year- old son Christian with him to Kelso to pick up the airplane and fly it to Hartselle.
The father and son duo left Kelso on Sept. 10, 2008 and headed east. They flew at an average cruising speed of 85 miles per hour and could go about 250 miles between fuel stops.
They worked their way through perilous mountain passes, over rugged forests, and across the great plains to reach Hartselle on Sept. 16, 2008.
Their route took them from Kelso thru Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Missouri, and finally Hartselle.
When asked if they had any bad moments on their flight, Andy replied, "Yes, when weather forced us to land at Harford Field near Casper, Wyo. The runway was muddy and had many holes dug by prairie dogs. There was no gas, no people. We spent the night in the airplane."
The weather cleared the next day and they resumed their flight.
A couple of days later as they crossed into Missouri, their airplane started leaking oil and it blew onto their windshield. They were able to land and have the oil leak repaired, but it cost them a day delay from their schedule.
Finally, on Sept. 16, they spotted the Hartselle airport and safely landed to conclude their epic flight. Asked why he chose the Hartselle Airport, Phillips said, "Because it is a friendly field to be."
Visitors can see his airplane at the Hartselle Airport, but Phillips does not want people to touch it. When viewing his small vintage airplane it is easy to see how he called his cross-country flight an adventure.
