Chapter 45

The Princessapality doesn’t put 8 or 9 year old kids in jail ... or reform-school ... we take ‘em out and shoot ‘em.

Got ya.

No ... we charge their parents the damages. Three kids ... equally guilty. Three parents paid two thousand each ... plus court costs.

Tyche and Junior got 3 grand ... each.

Poor boys ... no dirt bike for Christmas.

Poor papa ... no lieutenancy ... and no raise.

Poor Mrs. James ... no down payment on her new car. She was stuck driving last years model.

Although repairing a broken model is mostly a daily occurrence somewhere on the North American continent, JW wouldn’t let Tyche fly it.

“It’s repaired ... it’s not fixed,” he said. “Things don’t balance ... more weight on one side or the other. Extra glue ... it’s not been stripped and maybe cracked parts replaced. Bad habits are learned and you don’t need bad habits.” You have enough of your own, was not heard ... but it was there.

She ‘suggested’ that Junior use her watch and ‘save’ a few of the aircraft from the movie ‘Flyboys’ after production was over.

The Sopwith 1 and a half strutter was cool and the radial replacement for the rotary made for a safer aircraft ... and they were a kit. Airdrome Aerocraft ... mostly aluminum instead of wood.

Since the Princessapality had adopted Brazilian ultralight weight rules the aircraft were safer ... Junior’s trainer was less than 500 pounds ... including the Rotax 65 hp twin. Brazilian ultra light weight is 750kg ... Fed A. rules: Weighs less than 254 pounds (115 kg) empty weight, excluding floats and safety devices, has a maximum fuel capacity of 5 U.S. gallons (19 L) Has a top speed of 63 mph(102 km/h) calibrated airspeed at full power in level flight. Has a power-off stall speed which does not exceed 28mph (45 km/h) calibrated airspeed or less.

Wendy ll chose the rules ... probably to piss off the FAA ... Princess Wendy set up a lot of Princessapality rules just to piss off the then USA. I mean ... think of her flag. Crosseyed, tongue out and thumbs in her ears like antlers. The flag was the number one sales item in the mail and at the tourist stand.

About the aircraft ... Junior conferred with JW and Zoe ... they said no.

However, JW did consent to a giant scale RC model. As long as Tyche built it herself.

“Daddy ... you ARE no fun ... I’ll do it.” She was almost 9 when the model flew.

For excitement, the rest of the summer, Tyche sailed the Farr 3.9.