Field Trip

Target Field (baseball) was the destination of a 4th and 5th grade field trip for Noble Academy today. We got a thorough tour of the facility; dugout, dressing room, boxes, bull pen et. al. There were math and science lessons for the students which related to baseball. It was apparent that our students aren't much into baseball but they really enjoyed the day.
Our one room country school didn't have field trips though I remember the day an airplane landed in the field next school. The teacher let us go across the road and into the field to investigate. A local contractor flew his Piper Cub to look at some drainage work he was to do. When he took off he had us hold the airplane while he revved the engine. At his signal we all let go and he was airborne in a few feet. I also remember tearing out the seat of my pants crossing the fence to return to school.
The memory of that takeoff came back to me when I was on aircraft carrier while in the Marines. The USS Princeton had been retrofitted to carry Marine helicopters. The Marines also use Pier Cubs for reconnaissance and there were some of those aboard ship, too.
The carrier would cruise at about 30 knots, approx. 45 miles per hour, and always headed into the wind when airplanes were landing or taking off. The Piper Cubs would be airborne at about that speed. To land on the deck the pilot would come in low, slowing to about the speed of the ship. He'd suddenly cut all the power off and sailors who were standing by would quickly grab the plane and keep it from flipping over backward.
To take off the sailors would hold the plane while the pilot revved the engine. He'd give it full power, the sailors would release their hold and the plane would be instantly airborne.