By air or by ground, it’s a scenic trip.

This is the story of a perfect flying vacation. That is no weather, no hurry, no problems, ultimate mooch off of friends and relatives, and the experience of a super fly-in. Lloyd and Sharon Sorensen experienced this dream trip in their 1948 Cessna 195 Businessliner jokingly crowned “The KING of IZA” upon its first arrival at Santa Ynez Valley Airport (KIZA) in March 1999. This trip begins on Sunday, 16 September 2007 with a short 20 minute positioning flight northwest to Santa Maria (KSMX). The folks at Central Coast Jet Center graciously hosted a gaggle of KIZA based aircraft temporarily displaced by the o-dark-thirty Monday scheduled re-paving of the single runway at Santa Ynez.

Monday, 17 September dawned CAVU with a gentle wind from the west. A perfect start for the 3 hour and 21 minute first leg to Prescott, Arizona (KPRC), and the first RON mooch with long-time Cessna 140 friends Gil and Marion Hasler. Gil is a former F-86 jock who saw action in Korea. The Hasler’s re-located from Downey (and Chino airport) a few years ago to be closer to family and their pre-teen grandson James (a future Air Force fighter jock). Gil started collecting parts over fifty years ago for a very unique 50’s style hot rod that he hoped to build someday. It was recently completed, and there are no others like it.

Gil and his unique hot rod with Marion and Sharon.

Tuesday, 18 September also dawned CAVU with a stiff breeze from the west. A perfect start to the second day of the perfect flying vacation with a 2 hour and 30 minute flight to Socorro (KONM), New Mexico and the second RON mooch with close friends. Marcos Alvarez (a former neighbor) and his wife Liz, and their very talented teenagers Gigi and Jean Paul moved to New Mexico several years ago so Marcos could join his colleagues at the University of New Mexico in their on-going scientific instrumentation efforts studying earthquakes. Very interesting stuff, check out www.earthscope.org.

Sharon and Liz at Socorro’s unique “Terminal”.

Wednesday, 19 September again dawned CAVU with a stiffer breeze from the west. Socorro airport is not exactly a “busy” place. Hence, the not exactly operating self-service fuel station and un-manned terminal. Fortunately, with an extended fuel capacity (102.5 gal) it was not a problem. With a cell phone message from fellow 195ers Roger Vanderwindt from Phoenix, and Jeff Pearson based at Chino, instructing us to meet up with them at Guymon, Oklahoma (KGUY), we blasted off towards the north northeast.

Two hours and 18 minutes later we arrived at Guymon and topped off with $3.73/gal 100LL (the best fuel price of the entire trip). After a short trip to town in the airport loaner car (a former black & white), and a quick lunch at the local greasy spoon, we were off as a flight of three 195s on the last leg to Benton, Kansas. The 2 hour and 24 minute flight to Benton required a slight diversion north to avoid a line of the typical mid-west afternoon build-ups. With Squadron Leader Pearson leading the way, we were soon “blasting” towards a low pass and break to downwind at Benton’s Lloyd Stearman Field (K1K1). Over half of the eventual total of sixty-five 195s had already arrived. What a sight, and what a great beginning to a spectacular fly-in!

Cessna 195s wingtip to wingtip for a quarter mile!
“The KING of IZA” (fourth from left) with a “bunch” of his siblings.

The sight of over 35 Cessna 195s parked wingtip to wingtip in the grass tie-down area next to the taxiway was awesome. Over the next two days, the attendant 195s swelled to 65 beautiful round-engined aluminum sculptures. Our arrival day (Wednesday, 19 September) culminated with a few refreshing brews and many greetings at Stearman Field, a pleasant van ride to the Wichita Marriott, a robust meal at the Scotch & Sirloin, and the first of several hangar flying sessions at the Marriott Bar.

The theme of this 37th Annual International Cessna 195 Club Fly-in was “Bring them home to Wichita” to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the first year of Cessna 195 production. The Fly-in Hosts, Marvin and Stephanie Huckins, and their cadre of volunteers planned and executed a fantastic four days full of flying and social activities interspersed with the customary maintenance seminar, annual business meeting, hangar party and banquet.

The featured activity on Thursday, 20 September was the short 29 nm fly-out lunch to the Beaumont Hotel. If you are ever flying in the mid-west anywhere near Wichita, plan to RON at the Beaumont Hotel. It is a photographic museum of aviation history displayed throughout the hotel’s period decorated rooms, You land at the grass strip, taxi to the end of the strip where it “Ts” onto the local county road. Turn right and taxi down the road about one-quarter mile into town and park on the lawn in front of the hotel. If there is no room on the hotel lawn, park on the grass in the park across the street from the hotel. Since we were one of the later arrivals, the Wichita TV news crew that was covering the fly-in drove from Benton to Beaumont and happened to tape our “arrival on Main Street” and featured it on the evening news. Go to ksn.com/news/local/9926352.html to read the article, and click on “Watch the Video” to see the evening news clip.

Aircraft parking on the Beaumont Hotel lawn
or across Main Street in the Park.

The remainder of Thursday afternoon was filled with numerous fly-bys of 195s and the locals at Stearman Field. Those locals really know how to have fun with their aircraft. Stearman field is a residential airport with a grass strip parallel to the paved runway. It seemed like every few minutes one or more of the locals was putting on an impromptu airshow in a Pitts or Stearman complete with smoke. They were great hosts that made us all feel at home. They made sure every plane was fueled on request, assisted with tiedowns, and basically turned over their airfield to the 195s. If you are ever in the vicinity of Wichita, stop at Lloyd Stearman Field and fuel up. Dinner at Savute’s, a colorful dining hangout for Cessna, Beechcraft, and other aviation employees, completed Thursday’s activities except for the optional hangar flying session at the Marriott Bar.

Friday, 21 September was “Cessna Day”. The planned activity for that day was the Fly-out to the Cessna factory, a short 20 minute “hop” to ICT (Wichita Mid-Continent). We had lunch there and toured the production lines for the Citation and Caravan. They treated us like we were each going to buy a Cessna jet. Maybe it was because Jack Pelton the current President and CEO of Cessna is now the proud owner of the completely restored second-to-last 195 off the line that was originally owned by Dwane Wallace, President and CEO of Cessna during the 195 production years.

The honored fly-in guests and banquet speaker was Mort Brown and his wife Sharon and Velma Wallace, widow of Dwane Wallace. Mort is surprisingly spry and sharp for his 99+ years. Mort test flew the first 850 Cessna 190 series aircraft off the production line, as well as numerous Cessna 140 series aircraft. The Browns and Velma Wallace are very involved with the Cessna Retirees and Old Timers, and they were very informative about the 195 history. The Browns provided copies of Mort’s logbook entries for those 195s in attendance that he test flew. He test flew The King of IZA, NC3491V, serial #7195 on 23 August 1948 (one day after my 10th birthday). I tried to recall what I was doing when I was ten. Like a lot of boys that age, I was building rubber band powered model airplanes . . . a bunch of them, including a few Cessna 195s. That’s when I first “fell in love” with the 195. The dream of owning a 195 finally came true in March 1999 when I purchased NC3491V.

Mort and Sharon Brown flanked by Sharon and me.

At the evening banquet, Sharon Brown delivered a superb presentation of Mort’s flying career. I was fortunate to be seated next to Mort, so I got a running commentary that connected many of the photos with world events like “that was the day the Hindenberg burned”. Another interesting and enjoyable event of the evening for us was that we finally were able to meet an “honest-to-goodness genuine shirt tail relative” Ben Sorensen. Ben and his wife Bonnie live in the Wichita area, and are restoring a 195. Thus ended another exciting day followed with more hangar flying at the Marriott bar.

Saturday, 22 September began with the Maintenance Seminar at one of the hangars at Stearman Field. Several 195 professional maintenance technicians presented short talks pointing out what to look for at annual inspections, tips about operating and maintaining the 195, and answered questions from owners about their specific maintenance needs. After lunch, tire kicking and visiting was in abundance while the air was filled with 195s and the locals hopping rides with Cessna retirees. To see the local evening news for Saturday, visit ksn.com/news/local/9938946.html and click on "Watch the Video".

The evening hangar party started with a very low pass overhead of two Stearmans belching thick smoke that instantly turned the hangar and surroundings to IFR! The evening was punctuated with live music, tons of door prizes, loads of camaraderie, and the hangar flying finale at the Marriott bar.

A very informative maintenance seminar.
Note how the 195 engine swings 30º for access
to the accessories.

On Sunday, 23 September, the traditional departure breakfast and 195 Club Business Meeting completed the planned events of the fly-in. In addition to normal 195 Club business, the meeting was highlighted with accolades for the fly-in hosts Marvin and Stephanie Huckins, and the honored guests Mort and Sharon Brown and Velma Wallace. The consensus without a doubt was that this fly-in at Wichita was the best annual fly-in and convention to date. The spirit of this fly-in (and the 195 Club) was best described in a November 2007 write-up on the Avweb Pilot’s Lounge #119 “Sunshine, Round Engines, Tailwheels…Life Is Good” by Rick Durden (avweb.com/news/pilotlounge)

The 2008 annual fly-in will be held October 9 to 12 at the Gillespie County airport at Fredericksburg, Texas with the on-field Hangar Hotel as fly-in headquarters.

Arrival (1), three local flights, and departure (5)

After four days of total immersion in International Cessna 195 Club Fly-in & Convention activities in and around Lloyd Stearman Field on Sunday, we made a short hop (88 nm) northeast to Manhattan, Kansas (the Little Apple) to visit our nephew Ted, his wife Ann, and their very active preteens Sam and Maggie. Ted is a professor of Genetics at Kansas State University. During our short stay, we visited his Lab where we learned a lot about how the very short lifespan of the fruit fly is ideal for studying genetics.

Sam and Maggie pre-flight the 195.

On Monday morning, 24 September we departed a very desolate Stearman Field (only two other 195s remaining of the 65 in attendance) and headed for Denver. Three hours ten minutes and 378 nm later we finally touched down at Centennial Airport (KAPA). We were now paying for all those fast eastbound legs with average ground speeds of only 120 knots heading west.

The folks at TAC Air were very accommodating with a free car for 24 hours. We spent two fantastic days visiting and sightseeing with longtime friends and former Santa Ynez neighbors Art and Judee Colton. They settled in the Evergreen area 20+ years ago, and are enjoying their retirement and grandkids. This was our first “tourist” visit to the Denver area, so we thoroughly enjoyed the sights around Evergreen. The Red Rocks Amphitheatre and Breckenridge Ski areas stand out as our favorite sites.

Sharon, Art and Judee at Red Rocks

Wednesday, 26 September dawned CAVU over the Rockies. We were concerned about this leg of the trip during our planning, but decided if we were unable to get over or thru them, we would just turn south and go around them. This leg from Centennial to Grand Junction, CO turned out to be the most scenic of the entire trip. It was also the highest (14,500 ft) and the slowest (97kts) leg of the trip. This was because of the continual climbing for smoother air, and wandering off course to sightsee over Breckenridge, several other places, and then our nephew’s ranchette at Mesa, CO. At Grand Junction (KGJT), we enjoyed a pleasant lunch with our nephew Jeff, his wife Cindy and their boys Luke and Jack. They really enjoy living in the small mountain community of Mesa. Jeff is an A&P at West Star Jet Center, so we received the “employee discount” on our fuel. We also enjoyed the delicious box of chocolate brittle candy that West Star provides to everyone upon arrival. When in Colorado, be sure to stop at Grand Junction, fuel up at West Star and gorge yourself on that wonderful candy.

Lloyd, lets take a look over there!

Nephew Jeff and future 195 pilots Luke and Jack

After the three hour lunch break at Grand junction, we continued on for another 226 nm (one hour forty-five) to Parowan, Utah (K1L9). This was another major “mooch” for two days at near-by Brianhead with Lloyd’s sister Tina and husband Dick at their condo. Brianhead is a beautiful area known for its skiing in winter, and hiking, biking and sightseeing during the off season. We hiked and sightseed at close by Cedar Breaks National Monument the first day, then flew over the same area on the second day. Indeed, a very relaxing and enjoyable break before the last leg home.

Cedar Breaks National Monument

On Friday, 28 September we departed Parowan on the last leg of the trip. Due to strong (40-50kt) winds from the west, this 420 nm non-stop leg was painfully slow at four hours fourteen minutes for an average ground speed of 100 kts.

It was a super trip with lots of interesting events. As always, prevailing winds from the west made for great ground speeds while heading east (1205 nm in 8:48 = 135+ kts average ground speed averaging 15 gph). However, as the old saying goes “paybacks are hell”, and the trip back west confirmed it (1200 nm in 10:59 = 109+ kts average ground speed averaging 17 gph)! The Cessna 195 is a comfortable “magic carpet” that attracts a lot of attention at every stop. It's interesting that the most often heard comment is “I’ve always wanted a 195”.

But the most interesting comment was from a young Charter Jet pilot at Centennial Airport in Denver. He said that when he was a young boy growing up around the local airport “he wanted to BE a 195.”