Fox Valley Flying Club Receives Surprise Visitor
 
Last falls’ 2nd annual fly-in breakfast and competition at Prairie Lake Golf Course was in full swing when attendees were surprised to see a helicopter land on an adjacent fairway.  Out stepped none other than George Bush, former president of the United States!  After introductions and hearty handshakes all around, Mr. Bush joined us for the group photo above, and then on to the clubhouse banquet room for a sumptuous buffet breakfast.  Mr. Bush explained “After I left the oval office, there were two things that I wanted to accomplish before I retired to the golf course. The first was to make a parachute jump and the second was to fly in an ultralight aircraft.  I was in downtown Chicago at a reception last night, when I mentioned this to my former national security advisor and he told me that he had heard that you folks were having this fly-in.  Vice-President Gore graciously lent me the use of his helicopter so I could fly out.”

As the flying competition events got underway, our own instructor, John O’Neill gave Mr. Bush an introductory flight in his Quicksilver MXL II.  The joyous occasion almost turned ugly when one of the two ever-present dark suited secret service agents objected to leaving the former president alone.  Mr. Bush finally waved them off saying “From what I have seen so far during this competition, the flying abilities of these pilots are second to none.  I have the fullest confidence in John to return me safely.”

John O’Neill and the ex-president flew for over half an hour and at one point former naval aviator Bush even took the controls himself and made several low passes over the field.  After they landed, Mr. Bush exclaimed, “In all my years of flying military aircraft during World War II, I have never had such an exhilarating flight.”

After the competition ended, Mr. Bush invited John O’neill and several other members of the club for a ride in Marine 2, the Sikorsky S-51 helicopter normally used to ferry the vice-president on his trips.  Mr. Bush even insisted that John be allowed to fly the craft for a few minutes, much to John’s delight.  After the helicopter flight, 1st Lt. James McAlister commander of  the craft, remarked “At first John was a little shaky, but he picked it up right away.  It’s obvious all you guys are accomplished fliers.”

At the sun faded that afternoon, Mr. Bush said his farewells to his new-found friends and lifted off to the east.  And for the members of the Fox Valley Flying Club, another wonderful day came to a close.

Remember, this years’ fly-in is the third weekend of September!