NDCA Championships - Day 1

The Law Magnet's involvement in NDCA Championships got off to a bumpy start. Literally.

We met at Love Field Airport at 8:30AM, checked in all the luggage, including the tubs without any problems. We were not only on time, we were ahead of schedule. We all had time to grab a bite of breakfast before loading the plane. That's when things started to unravel.

Thanks to Stacey's efforts we all had boarding passes in the first group. We were all able to secure desired seats with each other. Shortly after receiving instructions on take off procedures, the pilot came on over the intercom and informed us a huge thunderstorm was moving in rapidly and that air traffic control had just placed all planes on HOLD at their gates. The storm hit and we waited. We sat in the plane for over an hour when were finally told the storm had sufficiently cleared. Again we were instructed on take off procedures when the pilot came on again and informed us that we were now on HOLD because FAA regulations restricted grounds crew from working during lightening. Another thirty minutes waiting in the hot plane.

Again we were instructed on take off procedures when the pilot came on for a third time. "I know this is getting old," he said, "but I regret to inform you that engine number two will not start." Now, I am thinking we are going to have to de-plane and find another plane and reboard without our original order. In other words we would get stuck sitting wherever. Nope. Instead, we are told to hold on and the plane mechanics would work on the engine. Nearly forty-five minutes later the pilots comes on again and says we are finally ready to go - IN THE SAME PLANE! We are going to fly the same plane that less than an hour before had a failed engine.

I began praying my Rosary. We made it to the run way and took off. Would we stay in the air? The entire flight to Amarillo was tortuous. Turbulence was unbelievable. The plane was being tossed back and forth. At one point the plane dropped what seemed like hundreds of feet. I was beginning to think twice about taking this trip. Finally, we arrived in Amarillo and picked up additional passengers en route to Vegas. The remainder of the flight was slightly turbulent, but clearer skies as we approached the Grand Canyon.

We DID make it safely to Las Vegas, allbeit nearly 4 hours late. We still made registration in time and cut some new arguments before lights out.