Back in 2005 I flew my Maule to Johnson Creek (pronounced “crick” by the locals) to camp, do some backcountry flying and hang out with other pilots. My friend and fellow pilot Alex Weeks went with me on this particular trip.
While hanging around the campground one hot afternoon, I noticed a celebration happening at a nearby home. A line of cars approached and out spilled a bride, groom and a bunch of friends and family. They proceeded to walk across the grass runway and up to a beautiful T6 Texan WWII training aircraft. I grabbed my camera and fired off photos without trying to get in the way of the wedding photographer. The groom loaded his bride up in the T6, fired the plane off with a belch of grey smoke, taxied out on the grass runway, took off, then turned and made a couple of VERY low passes over the wedding party. What fun!
Only later I found out that the groom was an Air Force Caption who was tasked to the Navy to fly F-16 fighter jets as an “aggressor” in training Navy fighter pilots in F-14 and F-18 jets. He had flown to Johnson Creek in his home-built Vans RV-8. His bride was actually the owner of the T-6! She had inherited it and a couple of other airplanes from her grandfather and flew it regularly. Two active pilots getting married!
I guess the advertisement worked – “Air Force fighter jock looking for wife. Must clean, cook, and own an airplane. Send pictures of airplane.”
Having owned a T-6 (purchased before marriage) and retired off the Boeing 777, I can only say, buy these toys and learn how to fly ’em BEFORE you get hitched!
I know this couple personally. The T6 is actually one of three planes she inherited from her grandpa. It’s a minor detail, but she’s a pharmacist not a crop duster
Cool beans! I didn’t even know who they were. I happened to be there camping in my Maule and saw this wedding going on and took photos. I will update my story.