So imagine my surprise when I saw the above featured aircraft circling Ashland yesterday. Even an amateur plane-spotter such as myself could immediately recognize it as a DC-3, probably a “D,” in magnificent condition, piston engines (possibly original), no obvious corporate markings (private, non-sponsored ownership). I was driving at the time and, after watching the plane circling a couple times, i lost track of the plane and assumed it had continued on its way.

A little later, back at the house, i was puttering with some pictures at my computer and heard the lush throb of twin piston engines pulling hard. Came out on my front stoop (aka “the observation platform”) in time to snap the above photo as the shiny bird circled right over my house and departed to the north.

Again, maybe 30 minutes later, i heard the engines yet again and came out to watch as the plane head south over the town with the landing gear down. A-hah!

I grabbed my camera bag, jumped in the rover and buzzed over to Ashland muni just in time to catch the plane taxiing in. I parked and headed over toward where she’d come to park. On my way, walking between numerous private planes in the tie-down area, i saw a couple standing and looking toward the plane. “Howdy,” i called, “do you know the story behind that bird?”

“Oh… indeed i do,” the man said, “you want to hear it?”

Suffice to say i got a bit of an earful. As it happens the plane turned out to be the locally very well-known Esther Mae, owned by none other than Jonathan Phelps of, among other things, Full Sail University fame. This holds  particular irony for me seeing as how the website of Full Sail University has lately been suggested as a model for my efforts with the SOU website. And now you know where the school’s logo comes from, too.

Don’t get me wrong, the fact that a local rich-guy chooses to spend some of his money keeping a magnificent aircraft aloft and in prime condition is a good thing. Not to mention he also employs a pilot, co-pilot and flight attendant (all in period costume, of course). Oh, there’s also a ground crew in a chase car… and probably several mechanics and machinists who owe a good chunk of their living to Mr. Phelps. And, i’m just guessing here, but i assume several caterers and decorators and arrangers are all employed wherever the Esther Mae happens to be. So, this guy is pumping more money into the local economy in one day than i do in five years. But despite all that there’s a certain “over-the-top” Maurice Minnefield thing about the whole show which is what the local couple suggested.

But i’m far, far happier to see this beautiful silver bird cavorting in the sky over Ashland than i would be if Mr. Phelps preferred exotic cars or maybe a rare jetboat he used to tear up Emigrant Lake over the Labor Day weekend.