By Patty Blackburn
Milton Brown’s 1946 Luscombe – photo submitted
The late Milton Brown, a long-time resident of Marshall County, loved flying his 1946 Luscombe airplane, Registration No. N1137K. His son Chuck would often go with him and both enjoyed every minute soaring in the sky.
Chuck has been told numerous times by his dad’s friends that when he was only three years old, he grabbed the control stick and pulled it straight back which made the airplane go into a loop. For those who do not know what a loop is, it’s when the airplane goes into a vertical position and continues around until headed back in the same direction – like making a 360 degree turn. The pilot will be upside down at the top of the loop. Well, Chuck and his dad were upside down due to Chuck wanting to be the pilot.
The last time Chuck recalls seeing the Luscombe was in 1964, when his dad landed the airplane in a field in Farmington. Chuck doesn’t remember why he landed in a field. Perhaps his dad wanted to visit his friend and the owner of the property, Mr. Davis. When he landed, the landing gear dropped in a hole and was broken off. Brown never flew the airplane again and sold it out of the field, exactly where the airplane touched down.
Recently, Chuck felt nostalgic and started wondering the whereabouts of the airplane and who owned it. He dreamed of finding the airplane and riding in it again – perhaps even flying it, just one more time. He searched and went online to find the registration number of the airplane and actually found an owner’s name and phone number. He tried multiple times calling, but to no avail.
Chuck sitting in the pilot’s seat and reminiscing -photo submitted
Chuck kept searching and discovered the most recent owner of the airplane online and contacted him. The two airplane enthusiasts talked about the Luscombe and airplanes in general. He found out the owner has an airplane at Ellington Airport and the owner let him know when he planned to go to the airport to transport the Luscombe. Chuck met him at the Ellington Airport and helped him move it. He actually was able to see the airplane again after 60 years. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing! Even though the airplane wasn’t in one piece, it was the plane he and his dad use to fly in together. Of course, Chuck had to sit in the pilot’s seat and grab the control stick like he always did when he was three years old.
Chuck has a private pilot’s license and made his first solo flight on his 16th birthday. He hasn’t flown much in the past years, but when and if the Luscombe is put back together, you better believe if he gets the chance, he will be in the pilot’s seat and will soar high in the sky with a big smile on his face – even if it’s just one more time.
