First Ever Non-Governmental TFR Issued over Lee Bottom Flying Field

While eating lunch with a friend at the Vintage Cafe, conversation eventually turned to right and wrong. When this happens, most people I know usually end up suggesting that I let the small things roll of my back. This was, for the longest time, humorous to me because behind closed doors, many of them are the biggest complainers. Everything is wrong, they are afraid this or that might happen, and regulation is killing them. But as soon as I verbalize similar points in public, they go running for shadows. This my friends is how we ended up in the crumbling America we are in now.

That day, as is typical, my friend light-heartedly said, “You really should let the small things roll off your back”, to which I responded “Tell me one insignificant thing I have that I haven't let roll off”. His answer was silence. The reality is, most people are made uncomfortable by someone standing up for what is right because it forces them to face the fact that either they have not, that they are benefitting from staying silent, or that they have knowingly participated in actions they knew deep down were wrong. But I’m not trying to put anyone in prison, I’m merely asking for people to do what is right despite anything they’ve done in the past. Sadly, that alone is an upset to the apple cart.

The recent intercept of a 75 year old lady out enjoying the freedom of flight in her Cub is the latest point of contention. It places firmly in my “will not roll off my back” list.

Tooling along enjoying a beautiful day in her Cub, Myrtle Rose (now is that name from the greatest generation or what) was enjoying the fruits of life when out of nowhere two nice gentlemen flew along side to admire her seventy-some year old plane, or at least that’s what she thought. In fact though, she was being intercepted by highly capable F-16 pilots (like the one that went off the runway in Oshkosh) because she had allegedly pierced a 30 mile Presidential TFR.

Whatever happened, let’s be honest.  There is nothing Presidential about the Presidential TFR. This outlandish regulation restricts the freedom of citizens and with each passing year makes many of them criminals in the eyes of the government. It implies King status to the President while treating citizens like subjects. And worse, it conveys, somewhat redundantly to King Status, that the country could not survive the death of a President. But that simply is not true.

Were Air Force One and Two both to go down simultaneously full of Congressman right on up to the President, our country would come out the other side whole. The death of any President would not bring collapse nor would it bring anything but a short term change to the stock market. Yes, it would very emotional and dramatic but I believe it would ultimately reveal a country immensely capable of surviving such a perceived calamity. But that is the biggest fear of anyone in D.C. The inability to survive without your dear leader is inferred in every Presidential TFR and sadly many have bought into it. Yet behind every Presidential TFR, there is nothing more than politics and self-absorption.

My friends, the time has come for citizens to claim their proper place in the sun out from under the shadow of politics, the title of terrorist, and baseless regulations like that of the TFR. And, in doing my part, I am going to take the first daring step for everyone. On Sunday, August 14th, at 7 AM EST, Lee Bottom Flying Field will issue the first ever Non-Governmental TFR; from this point on to be known as a "Myrtle Rose TFR".

Measured outward in all directions from the center-point of Lee Bottom Flying Field, with a radius of fifteen miles, once in effect any and all unknown or unfamiliar government equipment or representatives will be restricted from entrance. Any such unknown or unfamiliar government equipment or representatives attempting to enter Myrtle Rose TFR #00001 will be perceived as a an extreme terrorist threat and treated as such.  Furthermore, government representatives operating in the area who are not approved to enter this TFR should review the NORAD rules for interception.  Pilots being joined unexpectedly by two vintage taildraggers should assume they have strayed into Myrtle Rose Airspace and that they and their dirt stained F-16s will be escorted out of the area.

NGC Number                                               #00001
Issue Date -    August 9, 2011 at 11:00 UTC
Location-    HANOVER, Indiana near NABB VORTAC (ABB)
Beginning Date and Time -    Effective August 14, 2011 11:00 UTC
Ending Date and Time -    August 15, 2011 11:00 UTC

Reason for NOTAM                 
TO PROTECT FREEDOM LOVING PILOTS EATING ICE CREAM AND PEACHES FROM THE INTRUSIONS OF GOVERNMENT
Type -    Large Gathering of GA Pilots and Aircraft
Replaced NOTAM(s) -    N/A
Pilots May Contact -    HANOVER Center, 812-866-3211

AFFECTED AREA AIRSPACE DEFINITION             
Location -    On NABB VOR (ABB) 085 degree radial at 10.2  nautical miles.
Radius -    15 nautical miles
Altitude -    From the surface up to and including 5000 feet MSL

OPERATING RESTRICTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS
Unknown Government Employees and Equipment may not operate in this airspace

OTHER INFORMATION
ARTCC -    LBA Hanover Zone
Point of Contact -    Free Flight Association
Telephone -     812-866-3211
Frequency -     122.9
Authority -    Title 14 LBFR section 91.137(a)(2)(sub-section UY)
Governing Body -    C.A.B.