| 30th Anniversary Reunion - Merrill, WI Report |
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It appears that the "Merrill Reunion" was a grand success! Tiny and Lyman deserve a standing ovation for their effort and hard work. I'm sure that there were many more involved and they are to be congratulated as well. With thirteen CB-1's on the field it may have been the largest gaggle of Hatz biplanes yet. There were twelve at Oshkosh in 1990 and we only drew six in 1995. We did have seven show up at Biplane Expo in 1997 and expected ten or more this past spring but some nasty weather put a stopper to some of them. I think that a 35th reunion at Merrill would be something to plan for.
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Imagine a small airport somewhere in north-central Wisconsin where the trees grow tall and the land rolls gently. Where you can walk up to anyone on the field, mention Hatz biplanes, and get a knowing smile. Where the sky fills with the sounds of engines and sights of wings and where the flightline is filled with Hatz biplanes of every description. Have all of that and you must be in Merrill, Wisconsin during the 30th Anniversary Reunion of the Hatz Biplane.
I arrived at Merrill after dropping off the RV at Camp Scholler on the grounds of the annual Oshkosh ritual. No better plan than to get thereearly. By the time I arrived at Merrill early on Friday afternoon, there were already about six aircraft on the flightline. There I found my good friends Dale Severs and Rick Hansen with their pair of brand-new, O-200
powered planes. Just having finished these aircraft about five weeks earlier, they attracted quite a bit of attention on the line! By the time Saturday rolled around, there were 12 Hatz biplanes lined up along the taxiway while the original, Happiness, made 13.
The rest of Friday was spent looking at Hatz biplanes, meeting newfriends, and seeing old friends. Billy Dawson had his beautiful 1997 EAA Grand Champion Hatz there and we renewed our meeting. Jim Wright, my neighbor at Camp
Scholler a couple of years ago, had his venerable Lycoming-powered Hatz with him again this year. Pretty soon the names and faces really started to come quickly. There were definitely plenty of Hatz Nutz in the northwoods that day!
I started to recognize aircraft from the newsletter, like Dave Conrad's with his military trainer paint scheme, Jim
Hammond's beautiful red Hatz, and many more.
One surprise was how many folks knew about the Hatz Homepage. I didn't expect that at all! Pretty soon, I was writing down the URL on scraps of paper almost constantly for folks. It wasgreat to meet so many people that I had conversations with over email too! It's always great to put a face with all those names.
Makelan had a good part of the hangar stocked with all kinds of caps, t-shirts, coffee mugs, you name it! All with a Hatz logo on them! I lost my head and a sizable amount of my spending money, walking out of the hangar with my arms full of stuff. There won't ever be a question in my neighborhood as to what kind of airplane I'm building anymore. I'm a walking billboard for the Hatz now! Makelan also had an example of their new Hatz Classic kits that are now available. Jeez, those fuselages of Jeff's are perfect!
I met Sylvia Shoemake, the newsletter editor of the American Hatz Association, and her husband Jeff, maker of the Hatz Classic kits. Talk about great folks! A special thanks to Sylvia, Jeff, John, Billy, Sherrie, and many more great Texans for the good times and friendship during this marvelous weekend. You guys are the best!
On the walls of the hangar were memorabilia of John Hatz and the aircraft over the last 30 years. It was fascinating to see the original sketches andmany of the early pictures. The town of Merrill really should get behind putting this material into some sort of museum either in the town or at the airport. The Hatz has grown in popularity so much and has become accepted internationally as a premier aircraft. That's not a bad deal for the town to hang it's hat on.
Friday night, we all went out for Fish Fry before calling it a day. After taking Rick and Dale over to their hotel, I retreated back to my tiny motel room for lights out.
******* Saturday started at o'dark-thirty in time to pick up Rick and Dale and take them back to the flightline for the Dawn Patrol over to Wausau Airport for breakfast. I headed overland in the truck to meet everyone there and
immediately got lost in Wausau! I can find any airport in the lower 48 from the air, but on the ground I can't find airports without a guide dog! Then I saw the airplanes in the pattern and immediately vectored in the general direction until marker signs took me by the hand to lead me there. Just in time too! Breakfast was in full swing, compliments of the FBO at Wausau. In Wisconsin, they like to mix cheese in with their scrambled eggs - a practice that I got more than used to up there! Very nice, indeed!
After breakfast, it was back to Merrill. Lyman Hatz was flying Hatz #1, Happiness, and giving rides in her constantly. There was always a line and Lyman didn't stop until the sun went down. I don't know how he could keepgoing like that for all three days and always have a huge smile on his face each time he taxied up to the hangar. On second thought, yes I do!
I asked Billy Dawson when he was going to let me fly his Hatz. Billy just hooked a thumb in the direction of the plane, shrugged once, and said "Let's go!". What a treat to fly such an airplane! Billy patiently let me just wander around the area, just enjoying the feel of the Hatz as we basically went sightseeing. Finally, Billy took it and showed me how easily it rolls. On the second roll, unfortunately, the Wisconsin breakfast started complaining, so I had to ask Billy not to do a third. By the time we were on the ground though, all was well. That never happens if I have the stick, but if someone else is flying...oh, well.
I also took a ride in Happiness and I have to tell you that front hole is cramped! What a difference from Billy's. That firewall gets a tad hot against the sneakers for this tall guy. But, you know, it didn't matter a bit to me. I was riding in the first Hatz, built by John Hatz, flown by his son, Lyman. I just wanted to be there. It was terrific!
Saturday night finally arrived. We had a huge meal catered right in the hangar. Right after dinner, the party started in earnest as the bar opened for business. The sky was clear as the afterglow of the sunset cast a dim light over Happiness, parked right outside the open hangar door. A crescent moon adorned the sky and the coolness of the night air swept lightly across the ramp. I don't recall ever experiencing a more relaxing evening. I'll never forget that moment. I was reminded of that scene in the movie Field of Dreams when the ball player asks "Is this heaven?".
No, it's Merrill, Wisconsin.
That night, the band played as folks sang along and danced. The talk was about Hatz biplanes and about flights here and there. About great places to fly to and about projects far from completion. It was what happens when Hatz folks come together and it was perfect.
******* On Sunday, the breakfast was at Tomahawk Airport, but I had slept in that morning. Things were moving a lot slower at Merrill as we mostly drank coffee and got ready to leave. Everyone wanted to know if there would be another gathering next year. Lyman, Tiny, Wayne, and all the other hardworking guys that spent an entire year putting this whole thing together looked at each other, shook their heads, and only mentioned that maybe they might do a 35th anniversary. I hope so. In five years I should have my Hatz completed and on the flightline at Merrill, Wisconsin. But even if I don't, I'll never miss a Hatz Homecoming at Merrill.
Thank you, John Hatz, for your little biplane that has so much magic in it. Look what it can do.
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