N2763W Great memories of this aircraft, and its former owner, Everett Flagg of Memphis who owned the aircraft when I moved there in 1972. Everett was the evening host on beautiful music WREC-FM at night, and was a funeral assistant at the Memphis Funeral Home during the day. Everett worked two jobs in order to support his family, and his love for flying. I was a single, 20-something working as a sales rep for WREG-TV, and had just gotten my private license.
We were both essentially tapped for funds on a cold, gray Sunday afternoon, but he called to ask if I wanted to come out to the airport. He had to change the filter and the oil on the Mooney. He said he was just looking for some company, but that I might want to see how to change the oil. Of course, I did.
2763W was tied down on the "military ramp" at MEM a location we had access due to our membership in the local Civil Air Patrol. (Today this spot on the ramp is occupied by MD11s, B777s, and the many wide bodies of FedEx). Everett had his supplies ready...but mentioned that he needed to warm up the oil in order to empty the crankcase. "We might as well get in the plane, and out the cold," he said. We got in, and he started the engine. After a few minutes, "well, I guess we could just fly around the pattern once" he thought. Of course I wasn't objecting, so he called MEM ground control, and got a clearance to go around the pattern.
Once up the fever hit us both. To make a long story short, we ended up first flying to do touch and goes at the Walls, MS grass strip.
Then we decided while we were up, I would kick in some gas money, and we flew to the Gibson County (TN) airport near my parents, an hour and half round trip.
Three hours after an intended 10 minute flight around the MEM pattern, we landed just before dusk, and taxied back to the military ramp. After tying his beloved Mooney down, we pick up the oil change supplies, put them back in his car, and drove home for the weekend. No oil changes that day.
Everett loved flying, and sacrificed more for his hobby than anyone I have known. He was a great friend. He had been the owner of an old Piper Tri-Pacer, and had traded it for the "sweetest flying, most beautiful airplane" that ever was...his beloved 2763 Whiskey...his red and white Mooney.
His flying ended in the late 1970s when he had a severe heart attack, and lost his medical. I knew he sold the Mooney, of course, and saw that the plane had been destroyed in an accident.
Everett Flagg and Mooney 2763 Whiskey...to favorite friends I will never forget.