SHORELINES

Reed kept that second Stearman until about a year ago, when he sold it and bought another Cessna L-19, which had been used as a forward air command plane in Korea and Vietnam. "I restored the original Air Force colors and markings," he says. So now, Reed has the second L-19, a Citabria he bought in 2011 and another project, a four-passenger Cessna 172. ey are housed (along with the Corvette, a 1969 GTO and the 1975 GMC Gentleman Jim) in two hangars in his backyard, where he keeps a roomful of airplane and car parts, fabric and paint. It's all next to the small landing strip Reed uses when he flies. He and his wife, Ruth, have lived on 60 acres of land in Centre since 1989. ey have three grown sons who didn't totally inherit their dad's love of airplanes but did help him with his restorations through the years. "I'm very proud of him for what he does," Ruth Reed says of her husband. "I used to fly with him a good bit, but I kind of lost interest. He just does his thing now." e landing strip is just outside the house, so when Reed flies, his wife knows. She says the Stearman with the big engine used to rattle the dishes in their cabinets. "I sure can't sneak off," he says with a laugh. How oen does he fly? "Not near enough," Reed says. "Maybe two or three times a month. I mow my runway more than I fly." When he does fly, they're short flights, usually around nearby Weiss Lake or over the state line to visit fellow enthusiasts in Georgia. He'll give rides to people from time to time, but insurance is too expensive to do that with any frequency. Reed is a careful flier, so he hasn't had any close calls while in the cockpit. "I watch the weather closely, and I can see a thunderstorm and be back home before it ever catches me," he says. "I don't travel that far, so I don't have problems." Reed uses just the basic instruments when he pilots a plane. "I'm more of a seat-of-the-pants-type f lier than an electronics f lier," he says. "Some of these planes, you can get up and press a button and take a nap. I'm not one of those pilots. I like to see where I'm going. If my engine quits, which it won't, I like to know where I can land nearby." Reed continues to go to car shows, air shows and fly-ins and enjoys the pilots he's met, some through his membership in the Experimental Aircra Association. "It's a great community," he says. "I'll fly into their airstrips, and they'll come visit me, too." e plan now is to sell his Citabria and Cessna 172, keeping the L-19 to continue flying. e pilot is quick to say he hasn't gotten rich off his airplanes – parts are expensive, and it can take years to restore one. "I don't do it for the money," Reed says. "When you spend that much time on something, you don't make any money if you value your time at all." 7 www.apcshorelines.com

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