Sep 2012 “Bella” the Best Biplane!

Rich and Linda Melhoff with their WACO Taperwing, Bella
We flew our WACO Taperwing to the fifth anniversary of the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum (WAAAM) in Hood River, Oregon. It was a 3-day event on September 7-9. Over 260 airplanes flew in to enjoy the airplanes, people, food and this amazing museum.

Some of the beautiful taildraggers at the WAAAM event.
This fly-in is the first event we attended since our restoration was finished, and the first ride for me (other than a quick trip around the patch after the first test flight). What an adventure it was! We were shocked and thrilled when our “Bella†was chosen as “Best Biplane” at the event and are looking forward to new adventures to come.

Pilots from my area who met for lunch at the WAAAM event. We are part of an informal group who call ourselves the Willamette Vally Fly Girls. This Lockheed Electra was voted the “Peoples’ Choice”.
You should visit WAAAM if you are ever in the northwest. They boast a collection of 89 aircraft built from 1917 to 1957, all of which fly, and 129 impressively restored automobiles, all of which drive, motorcycles, trucks, tractors, bicycles and more.
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We are making progress on our J-3 Cub and hope to have her flying by next summer. I can’t wait to fly with my friend & J-3 owner, Vanessa Jump Nelson.
Submitted by Linda Buroker-Melhoff
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