Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus! Every year David Price lends our wing his Mustang for a few weeks for the purpose of taking as many members as possible up for rides. FOR FREE. I took this opportunity to get good friend and fellow PBJ crewmember Scott Drosos his first P-51 ride yesterday. I am afraid his usual mount (B-747-400) will seem a little boring from now on.
It was getting late and the sun would soon be down. Darkness comes quickly this time of the year and as I stood out on the ramp yesterday getting colder by the minute I was starting to get a little frustrated. It seemed like with all of the slow movers in the pattern the Mustang would never get takeoff clearance. Scott might never get this chance again.
Finally, as the last rays were fading, they launched and left the pattern. After heaving a sigh of relief I noticed that the delay in taking off actually was going to be of great benefit. If they timed it right their return to the pattern with the sun below the high cloud deck would make for a spectacular sunset! It did not disappoint!
Several minutes later I heard that wonderful, unmistakable sound of a Merlin off to the east. Gary made his low pass in the twilight and pulled up into a carnival of color. The reflections of the sky on the fuselage made the airplane look like an impressionist painting.
The orange and pink hues were rapidly changing to deep purples as Gary shut the Merlin down. Darkness was falling but one thing was clearly visible in the twilight.
Scotty’s smile.
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Love the sound of that Merlin. 
