The Joy and Freedom of Flight
I have been flying since October 1991, and passed my private pilot check ride in March 1993.  Since then I have rented Cessnas from several flight schools in Florida and in Tennessee.  I have flown my LAST rented Cessna, as my Van's Aircraft RV-9A is flying.  I have made some connections with the Tennessee Valley RV Builders Group (TVRVBG) in the Huntsville, Alabama area.   The support I have found there helped me during my RV-9A project.  Use the links below to see my progress as each Van's kit is assembled.  You can go directly to any construction photo page from the links below.
Jerry Thorne, email1.gif (2101 bytes),
Skype name: n2prise

About this site.

 Web Links Page
OVER 200,000 Visitors Since August 19, 2004.
Click Here:  Dalton High School Class of 1965
September 19, 2005 -18 pages of 2005 reunion photos!
update2.gif (1754 bytes) - January 16, 2011:  ALL 2010 Photos are posted.
See Dalton, Georgia in 1932
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On the ramp in Georgetown, Texas -Sept. 5, 2005 (above).
Use this link to First Flight - June 9, 2005.
What's NEW?
LOOK over here. arowrite.gif (7263 bytes)
Build = 2042.1 Hours
Hobbs = 447.6 Hours
August 27, 2021:  Beginning a new page that starts at "home" on PAGE 459.
February 18, 2022:  51 NEW pages about our October/November vacation trip.
February 25, 2022:  I have updated PAGE 459 with details of our recent vacation up north.
October 22, 2022:  Page 459 has been updated with NEW information after the Great Western Vacation and thoughts of the future.
October 21, 2022:  We had the Great Western Tour of the USA beginning on May 23, 2022 and returned home on June 14, 2022 for a 23-day road trip experience of 9,404 miles in Linda's Chevy Equinox SUV.  Click here for the menu of all the pages!
grnblink.gif (2083 bytes) October 29, 2022:  Finally something about my airplane as I removed the propeller for needed corrosion treatment of the blades on PAGE 460.
   The site is optimized for 
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LATEST   WENDELL  FOLKS  RV-8 CONSTRUCTION PAGE

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Flying Around the World with Jerrie Mock in the Spring of 1964.

Go HERE to see 17 pages of photos and other images about her 29-day journey in her Cessna 180, N1538C with the call sign "38 Charlie". These pages may get added content as the Google Earth tour flights may be updated to the GPS LOG file for Google Earth. 

July 31, 2016:  Jerrie Mock flights (22) are in ONE ZIP FILE for Google Earth.  The final KMZ SCENERY is available for all airports where she operated after dark and ALL her flights now have information push pins.

update2.gif (1754 bytes) October 31, 2016:  The Jerrie Mock menu page has received fan mail:  CLICK HERE.

October 27, 2018:  I watched this program on the History Channel when it was aired in 2017.  AMELIA EARHART: The Lost Evidence from the 2017 History Channel program is found on this documentaries web link:

https://watchdocumentaries.com/amelia-earhart-the-lost-evidence/ 
This is the full online video that offers proof from the US Archives that Amelia Earhart was captured by the Japanese in 1937.

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UPDATE -- July 2, 2008: This site is about my experiences building an airplane in my garage from October 2002 until June 2005.  The web site contains my accounts and the photos of flying that completed airplane around the country since June 9, 2005.  Along the way, I have met other pilots and builders and I have included some of their stories and photos.
My friend and hangar mate sold his Cessna 182 and delivered it to the new owner in Anchorage, Alaska in July 2007.  That trip has 50 pages of photos and stories that you may find enjoyable.  This is your chance to fly over "The ALCAN Highway" via your online web experience.  This was the first part of the Google Earth virtual flight project I completed.
  Wendell has SOLD his custom-restored Aeronca Champ. 
Take a look on THIS WEB PAGE and THIS PAGE flying it to Amarillo, Texas.		  
Have you have ever wondered what it is like to fly into the world's biggest air show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin? 
Don't miss the videos with air traffic control radio messages and intercom conversations of my 2006 arrival and departure from the annual air show event:  Air Venture 2006.  Details and links to the MPEG files are on my PAGE 228.

Videos and photos from my 2010 trip are linked from the OSHKOSH 2010 MENU PAGE.
TAKE A FLIGHT TO ALASKA ONLINE
via GOOGLE EARTH!
Wendell and Terry's Great Alaskan Adventure  
CLICK HERE for the ALASKA MENU PAGE!
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GPS files for Google Earth flying		 grnblnk2.gif (2083 bytes)
NOTICE:  With so many changes going on now, refresh web pages AFTER you load them to be sure you have the current file from my web server, not an old  file stored on your hard drive.
50 PAGES OF PHOTOS
and COMMENTS
TO MAKE THE TRIP!
Go HERE for images from the Van's Aircraft Website and one of my Oshkosh 2002 photos showing RV-9A aircraft.
TIP-UP Canopy or SLIDING Canopy -- Making the decision. 
Preparations - Getting the shop ready to begin October 25, 2002!  Page 1 
Empennage - Building the tail feathers Page 2
Wing Kit - Delivered on January 3, 2003.  Page 3  Page 4  Page 5  Page 6  Page 7  Page 8  Page 9  Page 10
     Page 11  Page 12  Page 13  Page 14  Page 15  Page 16 
Fuselage Kit - Page 17  Page 18  Page 19   Page 20  Page 21  Page 22  Page 23  Page 24  Page 25  Page 26  Page 27
     Page 28  Page 29  Page 30  Page 31  Page 32  Page 33  Page 34  Page 35  Page 36  Page 37  Page 38 
Finishing Kit - Page 39  Page 40  Page 41  Page 42  Page 43  Page 44  Page 45  Page 46  Page 47  Page 48  Page 49  
Firewall Forward, Wiring, & Finishing - Page 50  Page 51  Page 52  Page 53  Page 54  Page 55  Page 56  Page 57  
     Page 58  Page 59  Page 60  Page 61  Page 62  Page 63  Page 64  Page 65  Page 66  Page 67  Page 68  Page 69 
     Page 70  Page 71  Page 72  Page 73  Page 74  Page 75  Page 76  Page 77  Page 78  Page 79  Page 80  Page 81 
     Page 82  Page 83  Page 84  Page 85  Page 86  Page 87  Page 88  Page 89  Page 90  Page 91  Page 92  Page 93 
     Page 94  Page 95  Page 96  Page 97  Page 98  Page 99  Page 100  Page 101  Page 102  Page 103  Page 104 
     Page 105  Page 106  Page 107  Page 108  Page 109  Page 110  Page 111  Page 112  Page 113  Page 114  Page 115
     Page 116  Page 117  (Moving Day to the airport is on page 117.)
Final Assembly at the Collegedale Airport  - Page 118  Page 119  Page 120  Page 121  Page 122  Page 123  Page 124 
     Page 125  Page 126  Page 127  Page 128  Page 129  Page 130  Page 131  Page 132  Page 133  Page 134  Page 135 
  Flying the "Enterprise" N2PZ Page 136  Page 137  Page 138  Page 139  Page 140  Page 141  Page 142  Page 143
  to the Paint Shop: Page 144  Page 145  Page 146  Page 147  Page 148  Page 149  Page 150
  To AirVenture 2005 (OSHKOSH):  Page 151  Page 152  Page 153  Page 154  Page 155  Page 156
  EASTBOUND to NJ, NY, RI, PA, etc. Page 157  Page 158  Page 159 (lots of photos of NYC and New England coast).
  HOMEWARD BOUND (July 31st) Page 160  Page 160A  Page 161  AT HOME  Page 162  Page 163  Page 164
  Short LOCAL flights and to TEXAS: Page 165  Page 166  Page 167  Page 168  Page 169  Page 169A
  Lebanon, Tennessee RV Fly-in + more Page 170  Page 171  Page 172  Page 173
  Flying to LOE5 near El Paso, Texas Page 174  Page 175  Page 176  Page 177  Page 178  Page 179
  LOE5 Banquet & Flying Back Home Page 180  Page 181  Page 182  Page 183  Page 184  Page 185  Page 186
  Flying Around Home in GA & TN Page 187  Page 188  Page 189  Page 190
  Other photos and news of interest in Page 191  Page 192  Page 193  Page 194  Page 195
  the Chattanooga and Atlanta areas Page 196  Page 197  Page 198  Page 199 
  Fly to South Florida Dec 30, 2005 Page 200  Page 201  Page 202
  Returning from South Florida (+more) Page 203  Page 204  Page 205
  A new JOB at last! January 30, 2006 Page 206  Page 207  Page 208  Page 209
  Annual Inspection & Video Camera Page 210  Page 211  Page 212
  Denver Trip Westbound - June 2006 Page 213  Page 214  Page 215
  RMRFI & Denver Trip (return home) Page 216  Page 217  Page 218
  EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2006 Page 219  Page 220  Page 221  Page 222  Page 223  Page 224  Page 225
  Oshkosh Video Snapshots & Home Page 226  Page 227  Page 228  Page 229  Page 230  Page 231  Page 232
  Local flights near Chattanooga Page 233  Page 234  Page 235
  First Florida Day Trip on 5/12/2007 Page 236  Page 237  Page 238
  Second Florida Day Trip on 5/20/2007 Page 239  Page 240
  Second Annual Inspection - June 2007 Page 241  Page 242  Page 243  Page 244 
  Summer and Fall 2007 Page 245  Page 246  Page 247  Page 248  Page 249 
  A New Year Begins and MORE! Page 250  Page 251  Page 252  Page 253  
  SPRING and into SUMMER 2008 Page 254  Page 255  Page 256  Page 257  Page 258  Page 259  Page 260
  August 2008 Flights Page 261  Page 262  Page 263  Page 264  Page 265  Page 266 
  September-October 2008 Flights Page 267  Page 268  Page 269  Page 270  Page 271  Page 272  Page 273
  October 2008 Flights Page 274  Page 275  Page 276  Page 277  Page 278  Page 279
  November 2008 Flights Page 280  Page 281  Page 282  Page 283  Page 284  Page 285
  December 2008 Flights Page 286  Page 287  Page 288  Page 289  
  Winter 2009 Flights Page 290  Page 291  Page 292 
  Spring is here at last! Page 293  Page 294 
  Air & Space Museum at Dulles Airport Page 295  Page 296  Page 297  Page 298 
  Spring Storms Take a Toll at "Home" Page 299  Page 300  Page 301  Page 302  Page 303  Page 304
  August-September 2009 Page 305  Page 306  Page 307  Page 308  Page 309  Page 310
  October 2009 Page 311  Page 312  Page 313  Page 314
  November 2009 (Florida Fly-In) Page 315  Page 316  Page 317  Page 318  Page 319  Page 320
  Nov/Dec 2009 - other travels Page 321  Page 322  Page 323  Page 324  Page 325 Page 326
  Winter 2010 Page 327  Page 328 
  Spring 2010 Page 329  Page 330  Page 331  Page 332   Page 333 
  Summer 2010 (Oshkosh Trip links) Page 334  Page 335  Page 336  Page 337
  September / October 2010 Page 338  Page 339  Page 340  Page 341   Page 342  Page 343 
  November 2010 - Las Vegas Page 344 
  December 2010 - March 2011 Page 345  Page 346  Page 347  Page 348
  Summer and Fall 2011 Page 349  Page 350  Page 351  Page 352  Page 353  Page 354  Page 355 
  Winter, Spring & Summer 2012 Page 356  Page 357  Page 358 
  Florida at LAST!  Texas road trip! Page 359  Page 360  Page 361  Page 362  Page 363 
  Winter & Spring 2013 in Florida Page 364  Page 365  Page 366  Page 367  Page 368  Page 369
  May - December 2013 Page 370  Page 371  Page 372
  January - July 2014 Page 373  Page 374  Page 375  Page 376  Page 377  Page 378  Page 379  
  August 2014 - December 2014 Page 380  Page 381  Page 382  Page 383  Page 384  Page 385  Page 386  Page 387
  Winter & Spring in Florida 2015 Page 388  Page 389  Page 390  Page 391  Page 392 
  Summer 2015 Page 393  Page 394 
  Fall 2015, Texas Road Trip, Florida Page 395  Page 396 
  January / February 2016 - Flying Again! Page 397  Page 398  Page 399  Page 400  Page 401
  March to September 2016 Page 402  Page 403  Page 404  Page 405  
  Fall 2016 - Winter 2017 Page 406  Page 407  Eclipse planning.
  Spring 2017 Page 408  Page 409  Page 410
  Memorial Day 2017 & Texas Trip Page 411  Page 412  Page 413  Page 414  
  Summer 2017 Page 415  Page 416  Page 417  Page 418  
  Solar Eclipse Travels to Tennessee and Back Page 419  Page 420  Page 421  Page 422  Page 423  Page 424
  Florida Flying in November & December 2017 Page 425  Page 426  Page 427  Page 428  Page 429  
  2018 "Winter In Florida"  Page 430  Page 431  Page 432 
  March winds and Spring Melbourne Air Show Page 433  Page 434  Page 435  Page 436  
  May through October 2018  Page 437  Page 438  Page 439  Page 440  Page 441  Page 442  Page 443  Page 444  Page 445
  November 2018 to May 1, 2020. Page 446  Page 447  Page 448  Page 449  Page 450  Page 451  Page 452  Page 453  Page 454  
  Spring and Fall 2020, Winter and Spring 2021 Page 455  Page 456  Page 457  
  Spring and Summer 2021 Page 458  Page 459  Page 460  update2.gif (1754 bytes) on November 2, 2022.
Tugwell Canopy Opening Modifications - Tug1  Tug 2  Tug 3  Tug 4  Posted August 22, 2004.
Other RV Builder Projects I have visited.  Last update2.gif (1754 bytes) on December 27, 2009.   David Edgemon RV-8
A trip to Van's Aircraft and the Spruce Goose at Evergreen Museum - May 17, 2004 
EIGHT NEW PAGES of pictures from the May 2004 trip to Washington & Oregon.  Updated on September 19, 2004.
Going to Oshkosh - July 2004.  Page A  Page B  Page C  Page D  Page E 
OSHKOSH 2010 - CLICK HERE for the menu of all the pages of photos taken by my son and I at "Sloshkosh 2010".
2022 MENU BIG WESTERN ROAD TRIP, 9,400 miles, National Parks, San Francisco, Oregon Coast, Columbia River, Yellowstone National Park, Mount Rushmore and so much more!  CLICK here for the MENU to see all the pages!
  AFTER a long dry spell, I have published 51 pages about our 2021 Fall Vacation up NORTH to the Canadian Border.  New England and back to Florida.  
grnblnk2.gif (2083 bytes) CLICK HERE for the menu for 21 PAGES of photos and images from our NOVEMBER 2020 VACATION in the Atlanta area and the mountains of north Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee.  There are stops in Florida going up and coming back with photos on some of my trips back to 2003. grnblink.gif (2083 bytes)
grnblink.gif (2083 bytes) OSHKOSH 2019 - CLICK HERE for the menu for 40 PAGES of photos and the story of our NINE DAY trip which included MUCH MORE than a visit to AirVenture 2019.  We went to a lot of places in Georgia, Tennessee, Saint Louis Arch, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and back to the USAF museum in Dayton, Ohio on the way back to Florida. grnblnk2.gif (2083 bytes)
OSHKOSH 2006 VIDEOS - - GO HERE for compressed video files from the Oshkosh AirVenture VFR Arrival.  Look further down the page for takeoff and departure videos, July 26, 2006.  The HUGE high-resolution Oshkosh 2006 video files are online courtesy of RV-9A builder and pilot Matthew Brandes for those of you with high-speed internet connections.  Details and links to the MPEG files are on my PAGE 228.
AirVenture 2010:CLICK HERE for the MENU to ALL pages about this special trip to Oshkosh! update2.gif (1754 bytes) August 22, 2010.
My radio-controlled model aircraft days (old photos from the 1980's).
Flying Photos Menu Page                                         Other Travels Menu Page                                        My Family Web Pages
grnblink.gif (2083 bytes) CATV Technical Articles from my years at QRF, and FIBER OPTICS.
update2.gif (1754 bytes) on November 13, 2017.		 grnblnk2.gif (2083 bytes)
July 23, 2005:  If the first photo looks familiar, that is because it is based on a factory paint job from a 1966 Piper Comanche B that was owned by an old friend of mine from Kentucky.  I have used metallic blue instead of BLACK trim that was original to the Comanche.  The main color is Pearl White.  The aircraft registration numbers are 12 inches high.
Folks who saw the design artwork on this side of the airplane liked it due to its simple lines for the tail emblem.  It pays homage to Piper Aircraft and to Delta Airlines in a variation of their emblem that fits the RV-9 tail.  If you were to cut off that portion of the emblem past the upward points, you would be left with a close model of the original Comanche insignia.

This is how you have your cake and eat it, too!  Some folks are really going to be confused when they see my airplane.  One side of the tail with one logo, and the other side with a different logo!  It should be fun and start a lot of conversations.  This logo is my own design, but inspired for my love of the original Star Trek television series.  If you see me at a fly-in, ask me about the circle of stars and the background.

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