A Wedding Out in the Back Pasture...

So, my landlord's grandson decides to terminate his bachelorhood in the field out back of my little rental house, and the mother of the groom asks if I could take some aerial photos of the blessed event.  They know I like messing around with small cameras, but I had trouble in making the point that I'm not a 'Drone Guy', and that the photos would be wide angle GoPro stills taken from a safe distance.  Also, I figured that the bride would not care to have a noisy, castor-slobbering 2-cycle engine circling overhead during the "I promise to..." moments.

Still, decided to give it a shot, with my cue being the beginning of the associated music of the couples' united march back down the aisle.  And that's the detail where fate reared it's ugly head.  The P.A. system, which had been playing music all day, along with countless sound checks through the afternoon, suddenly decided to croak.  This messed up the rhythm of the whole affair, and I, hiding behind the barn, missed my cue to start up Big Red's O.S. and launch.  

That was just the first Omen because, THEN the plane's prop popped loose...THEN I'd discovered the wrench I had handy wouldn't fit the prop nut...all of this during what appeared to be a general stampede by the well-wishers from the alter area.  "No problem," I thought, "They'll all be back out for the ritual of photographing the players", and so, launched Big Red from the closed-off cow lot that had been set aside as it's runway.

Nope, as the Sig Kadet Senior Sport circled above, everyone retreated to the other barn, which was apparently set up for inside photos. After flying out a reasonable amount of fuel, and shooting some 25 minutes of footage, I brought the trainer around for a semi-white knuckle landing that I should have aborted for a another try.  Fortunately, a 'Boot-Legger 180' kept it from impacting the closed cattle gate at the end of it's runway.  I'd made a flight earlier in the day with no problems, but guess I was little more jittery from the progressive signs of doom.  Anyway, still have an operation plane, and some fair video of empty seats...


From a quick test flight earlier in the day...



Waiting for our cue...



And...we're off...over a bunch of expensive pick-ups...



Never had so many people on the hill.  Somewhat disconcerting for a semi-hermit...





Standing alone out in my Cow Lot Runway...



Short Final...



The rapidly approaching cow gate...



Big Red does a little two-step...showing off it's flexible landing gear...





Finally, taxiing back, still in one piece...



Hope the bride and groom have as much luck as Big Red.