About 6 or 7 of us assembled at C77 to get started on the next leg of the across the USA tour.  From "across the pond" came Nemo........ braving the wee hours of the morning.

Our take-offs were staggered this time rather than "enmasse", as people took some time getting their various aircraft fueled and configured.  Some of us circled the airport for a while.

A group of us headed off toward KPPO as the last were still taking off.  Some issue happened that resulted in some of the flight turning back for a while.......and Nemo and I suddenly found ourselves well ahead of the pack.

Nemo and I were doing just fine with him flying just off my 5 o'clock ..............until Nemo's Stearman started experiencing engine problems not too far out from KORD.  A number of us suggested things to check over the comms....... but to no avail.  His engine finally died, and he declared an emergerncy.  

The glide ratio did not allow hime to make KORD's runways... and he put it down safely on a side street in the suburbs about 1 mile from the airport.  I circled until I knew he was safe and the police were on hand.

Then I continued on alone... with the rest of the pack well behind me.  As I crossed over Chi Town, I could see the start of some "weather".  Shortly after this shot below,....... it socked in instantly to 1/2 mile visibility.  At least I was able to radio back to the rest of the crew and tell them what to expect  .



Flying over the lake, I could JUST see the water below me from 2500 feet... and that was it..... almost flying inside a cotton ball.  Thank goodness for instruments!

Things cleared out a bit when I got back over land, and I did the published Rwy 20 GPS approach.   Put it on the centerline... and off to get a cup of coffee.  

Another leg down on the trip!

best,

...................john