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The Great Flour Bombing Campaign of 1989

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The author's "flour bombing" prank on reclusive pilot John Schweller's private airport unexpectedly fostered a deep friendship and transformed his isolated airstrip into a vibrant community hub.
  • John, his son, and infant grandchild tragically died in a controlled flight into terrain accident during foggy conditions, attributed to a lack of situational awareness and critical decision-making experience.
  • A decade later, another close flying friend also perished in a weather-related accident, leading the author to profound reflections on pilot error, the inevitability of mistakes, and the enduring grief of losing loved ones in aviation.
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Illustrated by Chris Gall

It was the summer of 1989, and the Midwest was sweating through an endless stretch of hot and humid days, cloudless but wrapped in a thick layer of haze. Weather forecasts were so boringly predictable that calling for a VFR briefing was pointless; the vis would come up to three miles by midmorning and anything beyond “hot and humid with no chance of precipitation” would have been front page news. Remember those good old, pre-9/11 days when the only place you saw a TFR was on an FAA written test?

Martha Lunken

Martha Lunken is a lifelong pilot, former FAA inspector and defrocked pilot examiner. She flies a Cessna 180 and anything with a tailwheel, from Cubs to DC-3s.

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