Fighter Flight #62 Fighter Flight News October 2017

Thursday - 19 Oct 2017 1700 Start — 1800 Dinner Please! Please! Use Apollo to let us know you are coming! Or call our member ship chairman, Izzy Israelitt at 702-816-1505 or email Izzy @ [email protected] or myself. LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL We will again be partaking of the fine buffet May 15, 2017 - 2:31 pm dinner provided by Dominos (or whomever). A bartender will not be Aviation students at Rancho High available nor will the beverages one would School can now practice their normally provide. Sodas and water will be maintenance skills on a model of a plane available. that is more than a century old. We are meeting at Rancho High to get a Through the efforts of the Las Vegas review of their aviation program. Map is chapter of the Air Force Association, (and provided later. the $$$ of Fighter Flight and the F-86 Spouse, significant others, house guests Assoc) the high school has received a and friends are invited. full-size replica of the 1905 Flyer, the first successful aircraft to take flight. The model, named “USU ,” originally was designed and assembled by students at the University of Southern Utah in 2003 to honor the 100th anniversary of flight. Once the plane is fully assembled, it will be used to promote learning and careers in aerospace and might make an October’s Agenda appearance at Aviation Nation, the air show at Nellis Air Force Base in Mingle with students November. Wright Flyer viewing Dinner (Pizza or similar) Utah State University Wright AFA award of Scholarship Flyer Fighter Flt award of Scholarships (4) In celebration of the 100th Anniversary Open Forum of powered flight, Utah State University's

(USU) Aeronautics Laboratory and the 2 Fighter Flight News September 2017

Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) are “mongrel.” Harsh, man. constructing a modified replica of the Meanwhile, during this same time, Louis Wright Flyer using state-of-the-art Bleriot was making waves over in Europe, composite materials in a unique blending of after becoming the first person to the historic and the present. Following a successfully fly across the English community celebration with associated Channel. He achieved this feat on July activities, the Flyer will travel along a 25th, 1909, in his Bleriot XI. After the historic route for display during the 100th flight, demand for this aircraft took off Anniversary ceremonies. (bah dum CHH) and by September 1909, Bleriot had received 103 orders for this aircraft. They started building, and OK! So What Was the First production continued until the outbreak Mass-Produced General Aviation of World War I. Two of these aircraft have been restored to airworthy condition, one Aircraft? in the UK and one in the US, and they are Well, there appear to be two candidates thought to be the two oldest flyable for this honor, the , and the aircraft in the world. Bleriot XI. After achieving sustained, powered flight with the Wright Flyer 1 in 1903, the Wright Brothers developed a series of additional models, including the Captains’ Corner Wright Flyer III which is considered their Pete’s Preachin’ first practical model, and was their first to carry a passenger. By 1910 (a busy year in Fighter Flight Daedalians, which they were also establishing the first Just in case you didn’t read this last flight school), they arrived at the Wright month, I thought it important enough to Model B. Built and sold by the newly formed present them again. , this was their first mass The TENETS OF THE Daedalians. So produced general aviation aircraft. From here goes. 1910 – 1914, they built an estimated 100 of these aircraft, with four of them going out a The Promise of a Daedalian month at the height of production. Despite In the presence of Almighty God and the number built, only one original Wright these witnesses, I promise I will forever Model B survives fully intact, and it’s abide by the Tenets of the Order of currently displayed in the Franklin Institute Daedalians: in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There is a second Wright Model B on display at the The Tenets of the Daedalians Museum of the Air Force in • To Place Nation Above Self Dayton, Ohio, but it appears to have been (Patriotism) manufactured after the original production C To Be Worthy of the Trust and run. Orville Wright is said to have inspected Confidence of a Fellow Daedalian the airplane when it was displayed at the (Personal Integrity and Character) 1924 International Air Races, and called it a 3 Fighter Flight News September 2017 The Objectives of the Daedalians Adjutant’s Area • Promote Air & Space Power in support of National Defense. Denny’s Discourse • Educate Americans to the advantages of Air & Space Power. An abbreviated newsletter with not too • Promote the rewards of a career in much update on Flight past activities, but military aviation to young Americans. with info in upcoming events. 1st, some • Honor the legacy of our Founder background on the Wright Flyer which is Members and all who have flown in one of the objects of this month’s get- defense of our nation. together. Then some background on the • Encourage and recognize improvements AFA scholarship that is being awarded. 3rd, in Flight Safety, Weapons Development, an invite to the Oktoberfest celebration at Combat Support and the overall the home of Bob and Elaine Lewis. Note effectiveness of Air & Space Power. the bit about calling to co-ordinate food • Recognize exceptional performance by items. Then the graphic announcing Flight military aviators. participation in the Veterans Day parade again this year. And finally - no graphic - I make this promise with no equivocation announcing our upcoming Christmas party or mental reservation and ask Almighty God which will be on the Wednesday night of to assist me in unwavering adherence to the December 13th. Put it on your calendar now. spirit and provisions of this Promise. So help me God and keep me steadfast. Flight Adjutant, Denny Flight Captain, Pete

$Treasurer’s Table$ Fighter Flight Frontmen $Beau’s By-line$ ( Non-profit organization (NPO) status has Flight Captain - - Pete Peterson been approved by the State of Nevada. 702.682.5759 [email protected] The officers of the Flight have had their Vice Flight Capt - ( - Ski Dembosky organizational meeting and signed the 702.818.3367 [email protected] paper work. We are performing as an Adjutant - ( - Denny Schaan NPO. 702.528.5659 [email protected] We generally break even on our dinners ( each month so chief source of revenue is Provost Marshall - - Don Harten our dues, as supplemented by the raffle. 702.434.4557 If you haven’ yet paid your dues, please Treasurer - ( - Pete Beauregard send in your $30 donations as it goes 702.458.2328 [email protected] almost all directly to the scholarship fund.: Membership - ( - Izzy Israelitt check made out to “Fighter Flight” and 702.816.1505 [email protected] mail to: Fighter Flight Treasurer, ( Peter Beauregard, Scholarship - -Bob Hale 2500 Antique Blossom Ave, 702.219.1345 - [email protected] Henderson, NV 89052-5605 or PayPal to [email protected]. . Regards, Beau 4 Fighter Flight News September 2017 What’s on at Nellis Advanced Integration Exercise Scholarship Section Weapons School Graduation Exercise Bob’s Blast Class 17B - Dec 7 to 13 At the 19 Oct meeting come out to Rancho to see the Flyer and meet the kids that work on it. RETIREE APPRECIATION DAY AFA will be presenting their "Tom Plasterer" 30 Sep 0800-1300 memorial scholarship of $3000 to a senior JROTC ThunderBird Hanger student/s that is/are flying as part of Rancho's Aviation Academy. Military Appreciation Day Fighter Flight will also be providing 4 x $500 Friday Nov 10 flight stipend/scholarships to Rancho Flight students. Dinner still TBD but most likely pizza. OPEN HOUSE/AIRSHOW Our Flight officers will investigate starting a Nov 11-12 Flight Program in partnership with the National Every Wednesday which is a matching funds program that provides for flight lessons up through first solo. The Grill your own steak at The Club - 1700 program contracts with a local flight school for Every Friday ground school beginning in June and flight lessons as soon as ground school is complete Social(!) Hour at Robin’s Roost - 1600 (pass the More info to follow. Thanks to all for your support in bringing the flyer to Las Vegas and encouraging young men and women to pursue careers in military aviation. Scholarly, Bob

Rancho' A&P class assembling the Wright Flyer

THE OFFICIAL LAS VEGAS VETERANS DAY THE LARGEST VETERANS PARADE WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI NOVEMBER 11, 2017 1000 HRS 5 Fighter Flight News September 2017

Paying It Back article by Robert Cunningham, USAFA Thunderbird Chapter President

Every once in a while something, or someone, comes to our attention that really makes us think and reflect on our view of things important. This is one of those stories….

There is Tom Plasterer, a young Air Force (now Thunderbird Chapter 189 former) Lieutenant who is facing death from cancer, &Rancho High School’s Aviation but is remembering his roots in success and will Academy make a difference – no matter what… THOMAS PLASTERER You see, in July of 2010, while on active duty, Tom was diagnosed with grade 4 brain cancer called glioblastoma multiforme. It is an aggressive and MEMORIAL deadly cancer with a very low survival rate. It SCHOLARSHIP formed in a part of his motor cortex such that the surgery to remove it disabled the left hand and arm of this young, skilled Air Force KC-135 pilot, resulting in 100% disability separation from his budding Air Force career. One could resent such a turn of fate, but instead, Tom wants to pay back…

Top Plasterer is a 2003 graduate of our own, Las Vegas, Rancho High School aviation magnet school program. While there, gaining his private pilot’s license was so important to him that he worked at Wal-Mart during the summers and school year to earn his own flying lesson funds that the Clark County School District could not cover. At the same time, he also earned a full-ride scholarship at Embry-Riddle for electrical engineering. A real catch for our Air Force, upon college graduation in 2007, Tom completed pilot training in October 2008 before upgrading to the KC-135 Stratotanker. He was living his dream to fly…

Today, after a drastically shortened Air Force career, and facing the probable shortened life with his beautiful wife, Alicia, herself a Rancho medical Aviation Academy Class of 2003 program graduate and Air Force officer completing her internship as a psychologist at Wilford Hall in AFA Thunderbird Chapter San Antonio, Tom wants to give back. He has offered to pay for the last flying hours for a Annual Scholarship Dinner deserving student in the Rancho aviation program. Rancho Aviation Academy Perhaps we should consider joining Tom in that cause. These are young people that so often go on to make a difference for our nation – the same as motivated our quest to join and serve… 6 Fighter Flight News September 2017 on the cross country team. Tom earned his 2012-14 SCHOLARSHIP private pilot’s license while in high school. WINNNERS Tom obtained a degree in electrical engineering Thunderbird Chapter of the AFA established the from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, AZ in 2007. He was commissioned Tom Plaster Scholarship after learning of Tom’s into the United States Air Force, and learned to story when he contacted the Aviation Academy to pilot KC135 refueling jets. Tom was medically help finically struggling students complete their retired in 2010. private pilots licenses. Using this young officers Tom married the love of his life, Alicia Hegie in courage and generosity as our guide, the Chapter July 2009. They lived in Denver, San Antonio, began to look inward in how we could help keep and eventually settled in Las Vegas.Thomas was preceded in death by his father Warren Tom’s desire to help young pilots alive. Plasterer. He is survived by his wife Alicia F. Plasterer and two year old son Nathaniel Owen As we awarded the third year of scholarships Tom Plasterer, parents Eric and Doris M. Knight, had left us. But his story will be kept alive in our sister Melinda Johnson (Chase) and nephews hearts as we strive to introduce a new group of Roman and Tristan, maternal grandparents pilots each year to his courage and perservance. Ervin and Ardis Hoffer, aunts Bonnie Brinkley and Nancy Tucker , niece Jessica Henson, nephews Christopher Altamirano, Tyler Ranous, and Shane Brinkley, in-laws George and LuAnn Hegie, and many wonderful friends.

A celebration of Tom’s life will be held Sept. 23 at Palm Mortuary, 7400 W. Cheyenne Ave. from 3 to 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to Tom Plasterer Aviation Scholarship via Rebekah Holloway, 10/22/14 AFA Tom Plasterer

013 James Burleson and Bob Herculson

In Memory of Thomas A. Plasterer

June 24, 1985 - September 14, 2014 1st Lt. Thomas Arthur Plasterer, U.S.A.F., retired M emorial Tom Plasterer passed away Sept. 14 after a four Scholarship Presentation year battle with brain cancer. He was born June

24, 1985 in Las Vegas to Warren and Doris L/R Jacob Bottita, Austin Moncrief, Alicia Plasterer, Bob Plasterer. He graduated from the Rancho High Cunningham and Tyler Gehrig School Aerospace Program in 2003, where he was commander of the JROTC Color Guard and was 7 Fighter Flight News September 2017 8 Fighter Flight News September 2017

9 Fighter Flight News September 2017 10 Fighter Flight News September 2017 11 Fighter Flight News September 2017