Beechcraft Sundowner Junior N6576R ( Halloween 2007)

I was asked to add this story to my blog from a mass email I sent out last Halloween. Enjoy.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN... if not a day late.

So, two short weeks before the (what we now call an expensive) holiday, Riley said, "I want to be a Beechcraft Sundowner for Halloween." And for those of you that don't know, that is what his daddy flies.

Mom got a sick look on her face and dad was grinning from ear to ear. How could she disappoint either one of them? The next few days she racked her brain trying to figure out how to make this happen. Have you ever Googled "airplane costume"? There is nothing out there, even in cyberspace to pattern one of these things from.

From there the shopping for "parts" began. It took nearly $50 at Hancock Fabrics, $18 for the propeller at MRS. Hobby's, $15 at Hobby Lobby for paper mac he', masking tape and paint, ink from the printer, really not sure how much in PVC pipe, and $10 in Vinyl lettering for the logos and N number from mom's friend Laura Hauptman (a little plug for all her help). You do the math.

After the fabric purchases mom and Riley went to Grandma Johnstone's office with pictures of the plane and asked for her great costume making advice. They drew a few sketches and really got nowhere. The weekend (11 days until Halloween) brought the deer hunt. Mom loaded her trunk with sewing machines and "parts" and headed for the farm with the hunters. The next 2 1/2 days at the farm were spent drawing a sketch of the sides and top of the plane, making a full size pattern, cutting out the thick fabric, and surging together the fuselage. It wasn't easy. Mom will even admit to a few cuss words.

After getting back home, mom was super busy all day with clients on Tuesday and didn't have time to even look at the plane. She thought she had a week still to finish it, then Riley comes home from preschool with a note announcing that his class Halloween party was THURSDAY!! Oh no, she called grandma in a panic, and dad went to their house with the spinner. He and Kaden worked on Kaden's pinewood derby car while Grandma sanded the paper mac he' spinner to near perfection. Then they brainstormed a way for it to really spin with Riley's help.

Wednesday, was spent all day (literally) getting the plane finished. N6576R junior spent some time getting paint and logos to look official, and interior work done. When daddy got home, the house was littered with a plane making mess. He took the boys flying in the real plane and helped make the PVC pipe frame when they got back. At about 10:30 that night the plane was ready for the friendly skies. It took some tweaking to make it work just right. The test flight would be in the morning at preschool.

Because the plane was so big and the tail was so tall, it only fit with the wings folded in the front seat of the car. Preschool taught us a few things that day. It's not a small room costume, the straps hurt, and the wings need more support. Thank goodness for test flights.

After relaxing for a few days, mom padded the straps and dad reinforced the wings. Riley was once again ready to show off his now most prized possession.

Grandpa Johnstone called on Monday and said, "107.5 Country legends radio is having a Halloween party and costume contest, you should take Riley down there. I think he will win". So after finding out more, the station picks three winners and each one gets $107.50.

The night before Halloween, the family loaded the plane in the back of daddy's truck and went to the ward Halloween carnival and chili cook-off. N6576R junior was an instant favorite (there are quite a few ward members with first hand knowledge of this plane). Riley wore it proudly with his mo hawked, orange tipped hair that was an addition to the fin. It was also great to have some room to fly in the cultural hall. He only took out a few kids with the wings.

Halloween day, Mom, Riley, Kaden and Jaxon met up with Grandpa, uncle Zeek, and Dani then headed to the radio station. After losing a wing support pipe out of the bed of grandpa's truck, grandpa ran to a plumbing supply store for a replacement. The station had a fun party, took pictures of the kids in costume, served lunch and had karaoke going. After staying for about an hour we thought we had a pretty good chance, there really was no competition. "The winners will be announced on air tomorrow morning at 8:10", they said.

Halloween night, Riley went trick-or-treating around the block with dad (25 or 30 houses) and loved it. Neighbors had other people in the house "hurry and come see this costume". He almost made it all the way home when a shoulder strap broke loose. Whew, good thing this is over. The Johnstone family came over for our annual "Halloween Night Clam Chowder & Chili Party" and Riley's plane was surrounded by his brothers and cousins in their cute costumes for a photo op.

Riley did end up winning the radio station contest. The $107.50 didn't even pay for the costume, but what fun.

Mom says Riley has to wear this costume every year for 5 years to justify the time and money that went into it. And no, she does not hire out her costume making abilities.