Chippy 2016 Mustang Powerful

FEBRUARY 2016

Restoring CHIPPY 2016 MUSTANG POWERFUL. BY DESIGN.

Put your hands on the wheel of a 2016 Mustang and you feel one thing above everything else: power. With four engines to choose from, all delivering at least 300 horsepower, the new Mustang is designed to overwhelm the senses with its pulse raising torque and legendary roar. Four Engines – One Soul J^[)$-BL,e\\[hikf)&&^fWdZ(.&bX$#ø$e\jehgk[\ehWd_Z[WbXWbWdY[e\fem[h"Z_ifbWY[c[djWdZ\k[b [õY_[dYoÄijWdZWhZedj^[L,

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2016-Feb_Mustang_EAA_Divis_Ad-Final.indd 1 12/15/15 10:55 AM OFFICIAL MAGAZINE of the INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB

OFFICIAL MAGAZINE of the INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB

Vol. 45 No.2 February 2016 A PUBLICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB OFFICIAL MAGAZINE of the INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB

CONTENTSOFFICIAL MAGAZINE of the INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB This all seemed a natural order to the birth of ZZ Fox. 2016 MUSTANG Develop a dream, reﬁnish a Fox, and the pilots will come. POWERFUL. BY DESIGN. —Mallory Lynch

FEATURES

5 Restoring Chippy by Mark Meredith

14 ZZ Fox Is in the Box by Mallory Lynch

22 What to Expect by Gordon Penner Put your hands on the wheel of a 2016 Mustang and you feel one thing above everything else: power. With four engines to choose from, all delivering at least 300 horsepower, the new Mustang is designed to overwhelm the LAURIE ZALESKI senses with its pulse raising torque and legendary roar. Four Engines – One Soul J^[)$-BL,e\\[hikf)&&^fWdZ(.&bX$#ø$e\jehgk[\ehWd_Z[WbXWbWdY[e\fem[h"Z_ifbWY[c[djWdZ\k[b COVER [õY_[dYoÄijWdZWhZedj^[L,

CWa[dec_ijWa[Äj^[(&',CkijWd]_i[d]_d[[h[Z\ehfkh[[n^_bWhWj_ed 4 Lines & Angles 9bWii_i>_]^#Fem[hIfehji9Whi. 24 Contest Calendar The Privilege of Partnership ;77c[cX[hiWh[[b_]_Xb[\ehif[Y_Wbfh_Y_d]ed

2016-Feb_Mustang_EAA_Divis_Ad-Final.indd 1 12/15/15 10:55 AM OFFICIAL MAGAZINE of the INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB

EDITOR’S LOG

OFFICIAL MAGAZINE of the INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB BY REGGIE PAULK

PUBLISHER: Mike Heuer Writing for IAC MANAGER: Trish Deimer-Steineke EDITOR: ReggieOFFICIAL PaulkMAGAZINE of the INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB Sport Aerobatics CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS: Gary DeBaun Reggie Paulk Many thanks go to those who contribute Mike Heuer Gordon Penner Mallory Lynch Beth Stanton Mark MeredithOFFICIAL MAGAZINE of the INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB Although you’ve most likely telling me this, send me a well- received and read the January written article that speaks to our IAC CORRESPONDENCE International Aerobatic Club, P.O. Box 3086 issue of Sport Aerobatics, due to membership in a very benefcial Oshkosh, WI 54903-3086 publishing deadlines, the February way. If you can think it, you can Tel: 920.426.6574 • Fax: 920.426.6579 issue is the frst one I’m editing write it—don’t let your preconcep- E-mail: [email protected] after we’ve entered the new year. tions about writing prevent you ADVERTISING Tat being said, I’d like to wish you from taking the time to do so. You Vice President of Business Development: a very happy new year, and hope might surprise yourself. Dave Chaimson [email protected] that 2016 turns out to be a good As for format, I really appreciate Advertising Manager: Sue Anderson [email protected] one for you. Te beginning of the receiving fnished pieces in Word year inevitably leads to discussions documents as an e-mail attach- MAILING: Change of address, lost or damaged magazines, back issues. of turning new leaves and new ment. I also appreciate when pho- EAA-IAC Membership Services beginnings, and I will take the bait tos are sent separately from the Tel: 800.843.3612 Fax: 920.426.6761 and do so myself. main text and include thoughtful E-mail: [email protected] Troughout the years I’ve been captions. When it comes to pho-

The International Aerobatic Club is a division of the EAA. privileged to be the editor of Sport tos, the higher-quality JPEGs are Aerobatics and our online publica- wonderful—did I mention cap- tion In the Loop, I’ve been lucky tions? If you have a bunch of pho- enough to receive the fruits of the tos, send me a bunch of e-mails—I hard work of volunteer writers won’t complain! When you do sit EAA® and SPORT AVIATION®, the EAA Logo® and Aeronautica™ are registered trademarks and service marks of the Experimental Aircraft and photographers who’ve given down to write, if you’d include a Association, Inc. The use of these trademarks and service marks without freely of their time and energy to title for your piece, I’d appreciate the permission of the Experimental Aircraft Association, Inc. is strictly help nurture and grow our unique it—you’d be surprised at the num- prohibited. Copyright © 2015 by the International Aerobatic Club, Inc. All rights reserved. sport. If it weren’t for people who ber of articles that come to me decide to put their experience in without a title. I can usually come The International Aerobatic Club, Inc. is a division of EAA and of the writing, or grab a camera and take up with one, but the author is a NAA. a picture, our publications would better candidate for that. In addi- A STATEMENT OF POLICY The International Aerobatic Club, sufer greatly. I am thankful every tion to a title, I convert everything Inc. cannot assume responsibility for the accuracy of the material month for the contributions of all to 12-point Times New Roman presented by the authors of the articles in the magazine. The pages of Sport Aerobatics are offered as a clearing house of information of those individuals who’ve done font, so if you use that, it saves a and a forum for the exchange of opinions and ideas. The individual so. Recently, I’ve received quite a bit of formatting on my end. reader must evaluate this material for himself and use it as he sees few inquiries into how to contrib- As for length—write what you fit. Every effort is made to present materials of wide interest that will be of help to the majority. Likewise we cannot guarantee nor endorse ute to our publications, and I’ll take want, and don’t be concerned any product offered through our advertising. We invite constructive a moment to give you my advice. about length. You’ve read enough criticism and welcome any report of inferior merchandise obtained Many of the people you’ve read articles to have a pretty good idea through our advertising so that corrective measures can be taken. Sport Aerobatics (USPS 953-560) is owned by the International in these pages have been frst-time about what is right. Aerobatic Club, Inc., and is published monthly at EAA Aviation Center, contributors. And many of those My thanks to all of those who Editorial Department, P.O. Box 3086, 3000 Poberezny Rd., Oshkosh, people, when I frst approached do, and all of those who will, con- WI 54903-3086. Periodical Postage is paid at Oshkosh Post Office, Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901 and other post offices. Membership rate for them for their stories, told me tribute. IAC the International Aerobatic Club, Inc., is $45.00 per 12-month period of they weren’t writers or photog- which $18.00 is for the subscription to Sport Aerobatics. Manuscripts raphers. You’d be surprised at submitted for publication become the property of the International Aerobatic Club, Inc. Photographs will be returned upon request of the number of people who, after the author. High-resolution images are requested to assure the best quality reproduction. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Sport Aerobatics, P.O. Box 3086, Oshkosh, WI 54903-3086. CPC 40612608 Please submit news, comments, articles or suggestions to: [email protected] 2 Sport Aerobatics February 2016 ON THE FLY

BY MIKE HEUER, IAC PRESIDENT, IAC 4 Grass Roots

The Year Begins. . .

I hope that everyone had a very pleasant and enjoy- include on the IAC webpage. All of the 40 local contests able holiday season. It was certainly a welcome respite held throughout the country each year are organized from the intensity and workload that being a part of the by chapters, and some have been ongoing for decades. IAC leadership team entails. Te fact that everyone was All of the thousands of pilots who have participated in taking a little time of was evident in the huge drop-of those local competitions have come away with more skill in e-mail communications during December and early and valuable experience than we can possibly imagine. January. It was a nice vacation, but now work begins Contests are important to the IAC, and they are im- again in planning and organizing our 2016 activities. portant to aviation in general. But they need a host of We announced the theme of this year’s IAC activi- volunteers to make them run, and this is where every ties at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh:“Aerobatics—Grass member can take part. Roots to the Top of the World.” Our poster for the My own frst experience at volunteering for a contest event appears on the inside back cover of this issue. was at one of the few events held in the United States I am very excited about this year’s program, as it will before the IAC’s formation. It was at what was called the highlight all of the various and wonderful facets of Mid-American Regional Aerobatic Contest in Aurora, the IAC and sport aerobatics and the things that have Illinois, in 1968. Te local bank put up prize money, and drawn us all to it. Our challenge is to now build a pro- the contest attracted all of the leading lights in competi- gram and an exhibit we can be proud of, and will tell tion aerobatics of the period. In addition to helping put our story, just as the Pitts 70th anniversary exhibit did up what seemed like miles of snow fence, as we had an at AirVenture 2015. air show there as well, I assisted Dr. Dale Drummond on As I have often said, the IAC is a menu of choices. the judging line. I had little knowledge at that time of But it all starts at the grass roots. What does this judging criteria, the Aresti system, or much of anything mean? Well, I am reminded of the speeches that Paul else—though I few my frst contest that year. It was an Poberezny, EAA’s frst president and founder, used to experience I will never forget, and I could not wait to give and how he often made the statement that EAA become a judge myself as a result. Tis was when there was for the “little guy” in aviation. He defned “little was little or nothing in the way of judges schools or edu- guy” as anyone who paid his or her own way and not a cational programs at all. Tose did not come to fruition function of wealth or income. While aviation is much until the IAC organized them a few years later. more expensive than it used to be when the IAC was Now we stand ready to train, educate, and im- frst founded, and it does take a fair amount of success prove those who take on the responsibility of judg- in life, with the attendant income, to make it possible ing, and my thanks to Wes Liu, chairman of our to participate at the higher levels of the sport, the fact judging program, for the energy he has brought to remains we have a spot for everyone in our organiza- this important IAC activity. tion, regardless of his or her fnancial situation. While Despite the fact this was 48 years ago, the memory is you may not be able to aford one of the high-end still strong and the enjoyment still vivid. It’s why I urge German-built monoplanes, there are a lot of reason- everyone in the IAC, especially new members, to be- ably priced aerobatic airplanes out there, including the come involved in some way in our activities, even if you iconic Pitts S-1 among others. Without those grass- do not fy aerobatics or competition yourself. It changed roots airplanes, we would not survive. my course, and all these years later, the IAC and aerobat- Te IAC also has opportunities for people who like ics remain a central part of my life. to volunteer and work with others who share their love Join with us in 2016 as a part of our many activ- of sport aviation and aerobatics and fnd great fulfll- ities. I hope to see many of you around the circuit ment in doing good work. Tere is nothing more grass this year, at AirVenture in July, and at the U.S. Na- roots than our chapter network, and I urge everyone to tionals in September. IAC join a chapter or form one if none exists in your area. It just takes a handful of IAC members to get started, Please send your comments, questions, or sugges- and the EAA chapter ofce in Oshkosh can be of enor- tions to [email protected]. mous assistance, along with the chapter resources we www.iac.org 3 LINES & ANGLES

NOMINATIONS AND ELECTION 2016 Don’t Miss Out on An The Nominating Committee for the 2016 IAC election IAC Content has been named and consists of chair Lynne Stoltenberg, Doug McConnell, Bob Hart, Tim Just, Bruce Ballew, Michael Get it delivered Steveson, and Mike Rinker. to your inbox! Nominations for oﬃcer and board positions can be submitted at any time. Forms and requirements can be If the IAC doesn’t yet have found on the IAC website at https://www.iac.org/legacy/ your e-mail address, iac-leadership. Membership sign-in is required. Import- you’re missing out on ant dates for the 2016 election are as follows: a valuable part of your •IAC Annual Membership Meeting, Oshkosh, Wisconsin – membership. In The Loop, 0830 CDT, Friday, July 29, 2016 our e-newsletter packed full of essential informa- Nominations Close – April 5, 2016 • tion and interesting sto- •Balloting Begins – No later than June 29, 2016 ries, will be e-mailed to •Balloting Closes – 1800 CDT, Monday, July 25, 2016 you every month. You also can update your address, The method of voting in 2016 will be electronic only. phone number, and more, all in one convenient place. Do it all right here: https://secure.eaa.org/ apps/joinrenew/address. aspx

Call for Photos Join us today and begin enjoying We’re looking for cool exclusive member beneﬁts, including a photos to adorn the pages of the new and improved IAC subscription to Sport Aerobatics website and the magazine. magazine. Call 800.564.6322 or Colorful, action-oriented visit www.IAC.org pictures are preferred. Don’t worry about cropping or resizing, we’ll handle that. E-mail your best pics to Reggie Paulk at reggie. [email protected] for the magazine and Laurie Zale- ski at artzgraphics@com- cast.net for the web, along TM with the date, location, and names of people if possible.

4 Sport Aerobatics February 2016 RestoringDARIN LACRONE

Winning a Bronze Lindy at Oshkosh by Mark Meredith

In naval aviation we called Super Chipmunk right cheek cowl- But we skipped TFOA report- it Things Falling Off Air- ing is now in a Maryland farmer’s ing. Embarrassed by my negligence craft. We had a program for it, feld, somewhere over yonder. Te in losing a big piece of an airplane of course, with formatted ofcial cowling departed while rolling up- that everyone told me not to buy, reporting under the header TFOA. right from a half-Cuban, tumbling my brother, Chris, and I few home Too often it was reporting lit- down over our heads. It missed the at low power, landed, and high- tle blue practice bombs that went tail and my brother, exposed in the tailed it for the hangar. I had maybe astray (oops), or canopies that front cockpit, but pretty much ru- 20 hours in the logbook including blew of at 40,000 feet and became ined a golden fall afternoon of gen- the ferry home from Florida, all of someone’s backyard greenhouse. tleman aerobatics. So began my it fown with trepidation because But that was then and this is now: education as the new owner of a this was clearly a project plane. Who should I report this to? My very tired air show bird. Te intent had been to fy it some, www.iac.org 5 Above, Chipmunk BF370 began life in the RAF (1951-55), attached to the Chipmunk BF370 left the RAF for No. 4 Basic Flying Training School (BFTS), Sywell, Northampton. There are Australia in 1957. It was certiﬁ- no pics of BF370, so this is a diﬀerent squadron aircraft. cated as VH-BSQ and served as a civil/military trainer for the Tasmanian Aero Club, Launceston, until 1965. Below are members of the club gathered around Chippy in the late 1950s.

restore it some, then fy it some more. Okay, time for a new plan. Plan B evolved into a fve-year, 5,000-hour rebuild that changed my life and the life of Super Chip- munk N7DW in some pivotal ways. During the frst three years, Chippy In 1965 Chippy was converted as third SA-29 Spraymaster at Bankstown, increasingly dominated resources Australia, and recertificated as VH-GEB. Mods include forward part of and time after work and on Satur- fuselage interior and front seat removed to install a hopper, rear seat days. But now it was time to fnish. raised, and single seat bubble canopy installed. It also received a dorsal I left secure, reasonable work—a fin, Scott-style tailwheel, and attachments for spray equipment and Navy career, then nine years as a controls (skin holes and doublers still very much in evidence today!) It Navy contractor—to devote full- still had the stock 145-hp Gipsy Major engine. It flew out of Tintinara, time to fnish this unreasonable, Southern Australia, landed in a field and was badly damaged. Once seemingly endless project. I fgured repaired, it continued to operate as a Spraymaster until 1969. I could swing the loss of income for a year or so, and surprisingly my dear wife, Martha, went along. Te reality was 18 more months and all the money I had set aside for it! Rebuilding brought self-in- ficted pain and expense, but also the pleasure of challenges sur- mounted; the restoration of a classic whose beauty shined through all the dents and chipping paint. A modern-ish airplane with the look of a golden age racer. Flying once again in the spring of 2014, we now have two AirVentures and Chippy in 1969 after it was sold to the Adelaide Soaring Club, Gawler, two Sportsman aerobatic contests South Australia. Note the tow rope attached. It began its conversion to behind us (Wildwood and Warren- a Super Chipmunk soon afterward, completed in Texas in 1974. ton). At Oshkosh 2015, Chippy 6 Sport Aerobatics February 2016 won a Bronze Lindy as Champion Smithsonian Udvar-Hazy Cen- from himself and his airplane with- Custom Classic. ter, and his similarly modifed out sacrifcing safety.” Recipients What is the allure of an old Super N1114V hangs in the EAA Air- of the award are a who’s who of aer- Chipmunk when there are so many Venture Museum in Oshkosh. obatic performers and announcers cheaper, far more capable, ready-to- Art Scholl added grace to his fy- since 1986, the year after he died fy aerobatic birds? ing and style to his showmanship while flming Top Gun. Any story about a de Havil- that made him a crowd favorite— Art Scholl is arguably the most land DHC-1 should begin with Art like when he stepped out on the famous air show pilot of all time… Scholl and his spectacular part in wing during a low pass, or few with or at least to those of us of a certain making a sweet little trainer fa- his little black dog, Aileron. He was age. In 1971 when he was fying his mous. His part-Canadian Chip- the frst modern pilot to fy night red, white, and blue Chipmunks, I munk was so much more than de shows with pyrotechnics. And he was a 13-year-old kid on a red bike. Havilland ever imagined when it was a pro: a Ph.D. aeronautics pro- On Saturdays I would pedal miles developed it in 1945 to replace the fessor, CFI, and A&P who ran an across Riverside, California, around woefully obsolete Tiger Moth bi- FBO and aerobatic school and pro- Mount Rubidoux to dusty Flabob plane. Sporting modifcations de- duced his own fying flms. Airport where Art was based at the signed by renowned aerobatic pilot Art had more than 200 mov- time. Flabob was a dream airport and manufacturer “Pappy” Spinks, ies to his credit, fying in pilot fa- for a young wannabe pilot (and still Art Scholl few one of his three vorites such as Te Right Stuf, Te is), especially one enamored of the Super Chippies before an esti- Great Waldo Pepper, and Top Gun. In romance and design of airplanes. mated audience of 80 million peo- the words of ICAS in describing the Flabob was and is a grassroots ple over a 20-plus year career. He Art Scholl Showmanship Award, airport, full of characters who have also competed as a member of the “His exacting, exciting and enter- contributed hugely to the history U.S. team in international compe- taining performances were a refec- of aerobatic, experimental, and tition from 1963 through 1972. tion of the best in our industry. He sport aviation. In my favorite pho- His N13Y now hangs (inverted, of was a dedicated professional who tos of my dad, Roy, he was a steely- course) from the overhead of the practiced tirelessly to get the most eyed 19-year-old in a leather fying

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www.iac.org 7 Chippy in its initial livery as a Super Chipmunk (1974-1988), certificated in the United States as N7DW. This photo was taken in 1984 in Texas. It flew the airshow circuit with Doug Warren and Howard Davenport (the latter flew Chippy partnered with Duane Cole). The hopper is still up front serving as a ferry tank; many of the other Spraymaster mods are still in place, but the wings are clipped and it has an IO-540 engine. helmet in his war-surplus PT-22. an air show—I never saw him per- listings stopped me cold. Tere In family lore he was usually up- form! But by shyly hanging around was Chippy, red, black, and stun- side down, terrorizing the jack rab- while he tinkered or dragged out a ning, looking as much like a Ryan bits around Flabob. He never really Chipmunk to practice his routine. I as a Chipmunk. He was for sale by grew up, but the Air Force still let never forgot those Chipmunks. Bruce Moore, EAA’s photoship pi- him fy tankers and Phantoms. He Tough I’ve always been “bent” lot. So I sold the family Bonanza. instilled in me a love for the old as a builder, it never occurred to Feigning due diligence, I made planes and for that special airport. me I would ever rebuild and fy a an exploratory trip to Florida. A I recall many a solitary summer day Chipmunk myself. I had a 25-year knowledgeable friend and A&P also walking the lines of Wacos, Texans, Navy career as frst an A-6 Intruder inspected him for me, but I ignored Ryans, and big-wing Stinsons. Te bombardier-navigator and then his caution and wrote the check. To airplanes I could see were not pris- an aircraft maintenance ofcer the most casual observer, it was ob- tine showplanes but ragged and aboard aircraft carriers, keeping vious I was nuts. weedy. Eventually I dared to ven- the jets fying. It was a career de- So began a journey that was ture back to the hangars, where voted to achieving mission-capable so much more than I bargained I discovered another side of Fla- airplanes ready to launch of the for: a journey of discovery, meet- bob—the birthplace of the Stits pointy end; an exciting, fulflling ing great airplane people at ev- and the Starduster (we bought the life, though far removed from the ery turn. As I suppose all rebuilds plans), EAA Chapter 1, and many old classics. Ten as a 47-year-old, do, it began with years of decon- a racer, replica, or restored beauty. I regretfully took of the uniform struction. It more resembled ar- Te community of pilots, build- and compensated for the loss by f- cheology: unearthing mods on top ers, and educators at Flabob have nally becoming a pilot! After just a of mods; extracting and labeling preserved that spirit through the few years of fying very nice spam- nasty-looking bundles and wires decades—witness the recently cans, my Flabob roots took hold, to nowhere; painstakingly remov- completed art deco beauty, the and I went on the hunt for an inter- ing paint layer by layer: white, red, Waco Sky Siren. esting project. So many airplanes, blue, black, green, gold, gray. Te Flabob hangars are where I so little time! Way too much of my life passed frst discovered Art Scholl. Not at A casual browse of the online alone in a dark hangar, breathing 8 Sport Aerobatics February 2016 of example airplanes and best of all, homebuilder web logs. If you dial the phone number of most small airplane part vendors, the company president or other expert picks up the phone, ready to educate or even point you to the competition for a better solution. Chippy taught me about aluminum fabrication and riveting, fabric re- covering, plumbing, and electrical systems. Te wind screen fairings, tailcone, strakes, and many complex wing/empennage fairings needed replacement. So I watched videos, built a scrap pile, and f- nally made friends with the English wheel and other forming tools. Bill In 1988 N7DW joined N66RP as a member of the TAG Hauer aerobatic Finagin’s Pitts S-2C in the hangar team. The aircraft were modified to open cockpit by Chuck Stockdale and next door became the frewall for- Iranian pilot Nadir Fahn who flew them together until 2000. N7DW wears ward model. the black and green scheme. Te missing right cheek cowling launched a fve-year saga. Su- through a fresh air respirator hose, hole but to keep digging (…wait, per Chipmunk cowling molds were lying in the belly across a spar car- that’s not how it goes!). Eventually lost over the years so it started ry-though with a can of stripper and a friend tipped me of to the wonder with making a male mold over top a toothbrush, working the crevices of water-based stripper, a garden of the engine, then having a pro- to remove paint that was like sedi- nozzle, and a Shop-Vac to suck out fessional and new friend, John Ho- mentary rock. Reskinning the fuse- the bilge water. Life was good again. gansen, fabricate female molds for lage from the bones outward would With bare metal came rebuilding the whole front end (they’ve now have been better. But shiny metal f- and new skills. To rebuild Chippy, been used on two other Chippy re- nally revealed itself inside and out… I needed a whole new skill set. I builds). A new nosebowl presented along with cracks and corrosion to didn’t know what I didn’t know. a chance to update a clunky snout add to the fx list. No way out of this Tere was no kit or plan, but lots to improve cooling and drag. Te racer crowd—MXs, RVs, and F-1 Rockets—ofered many lessons about how to build high-perfor- mance induction and cooling systems, as did Ken Paser’s terrifc book Speed With Economy. Trough their knowledge and John’s skill, the beat-up glass cowling trans- formed into carbon fber artwork almost too lovely to paint. Plus it delivers a little ram kick, perfect oil temps, and 300 degree CHTs! When I consider the extent of the “major repairs and alterations” I performed as a non-certifed mechanic, I cannot take for granted the amazing freedom we have with experimental aviation in the United States. With support from the Baltimore FSDO, Chippy now Another photo of one of the many paint schemes the aircraft wore sports a new experimental exhibi- during this period. N66RP (inverted) currently lives in New Jersey looking tion airworthiness certifcate with much like it did in this photo but no longer wearing cologne. minimal limitations. We success- www.iac.org 9 Over the next two years Doug completed N7DW’s Super Chipmunk mods that were fnally signed of by Emile Bryson in June 1974. Modeled on Pappy Spinks’ design, they clipped the wings 19 inches on each side, enlarged and beefed up the rudder, extended the ailerons by stealing from the faps, sheeted the wings with 0.020 aluminum, and installed a single-place bubble canopy and O-435 engine with inverted oil. Te N7DW stories kept com- ing, especially after we got back in the air and could begin getting out

JIM KOEPNICK and about. After fying it in shows for a few years, in June 1978 Doug Chippy N7DW in 2008, owned and ﬂown by Bruce Moore, EAA photoship Warren made a trade with How- pilot. This is the conﬁguration when I bought it in 2009. ard Davenport: Chippy for a De- cathlon and some cash. Howard fully completed frst f ight and a ish-built Chippies, it began life in had been fying air shows with fve-hour (!) test period. Next came the Royal Air Force in 1951. It then Duane Cole starting when he was paint, just in the nick of time to de- immigrated to Australia in 1956 to 17 years old in 1973. With Chippy part for AirVenture 2014. join the Tasmanian Aero Club, reg- as his new mount, he added an in- Chippy few again thanks to the istered as VH-BSQ. With surplus verted ribbon cut to his routine, help of EAA Chapter 571, friends Chipmunks in easy supply, by 1965 similar to Art Scholl’s. But not for and mechanics at Lee Airport in both Britain and Australia began long! In 1979 he and Duane were Annapolis, especially Larry Don- converting a handful of them to in loose formation, returning to aldson, expert Chipmunk restorer crop sprayers. Chippy earned a new Houston after a show in Silver Jesse Schneider in Tulsa, and Tom moniker as an SA-29 Spraymaster, City, New Mexico, when the oil Schwietz of Aero Engines, who gave registered VH-GEB. Te experi- pressure plummeted and tempera- me confdence the prop would keep ment quickly fzzled; purpose-built ture spiked. Howard could smell spinning. Kevin Burns at Scheme Cessna Agtrucks and Piper Paw- oil fumes. Designers worked patiently with nees easily outperformed 145-hp With the closest airport 30 miles me for four years as I evolved the Chipmunks. But ever the working away, he signaled to Duane and vintage paint job, and Ken Reese plane, Chippy now became a glider they landed together at a rest stop of KD Aviation in Trenton worked tug, in the process sufering multi- on Interstate 10 near El Paso. Tey magic with fnal prep and paint— ple landing accidents, including re- parked Chippy, then after a little no small feat with tape lines over placement of one wing. chat with the highway patrol, took hundreds of round-headed rivets. After its last accident in Austra- of again in Duane’s Decathlon. Te vicious chipmunk on the rud- lia, it was disassembled and stored Howard later returned with a truck der is a reimagining of the leaping starting in May 1970. Tis was the and a mechanic. Back in the han- beast on the tails on my old A-6 heyday of Art Scholl’s Super Chip- gar, they could see that the crank- squadron, the VA-35 Black Pan- munks, so in April 1971 (I was on shaft bearings were demolished, thers. If anyone is interested, the my red bike at the time) work be- but Howard had no prospects for rebuild is documented in photos gan at Bankstown near Sydney to paying for a new engine. Doug on Chippy’s Facebook page, Super similarly convert it. Work stalled. Warren came to the rescue by tak- Chipmunk Restoration. Dean Whitaker of Marrero, Lou- ing Chippy back, swapping a Super isiana, rescued it along with two Taylorcraft for the disassembled A Working Life other Aussie Chippies that he im- pieces. After installing an IO-540, Troughout the years of build- ported to the United States in he continued air show fying until ing, in conversations with an ex- May 1972, eventually certifcated he sold it again in 1987 to Irani- tensive Chipmunk appreciation N7DW, N8DW, and N13DW (all an-American pilot Nadir Fahn. society around the globe, I slowly still fying today). Dean immedi- Nadir and his air show partner uncovered stories of N7DW’s fy- ately sold N7DW and N8DW to Chuck Stockdale modifed N7DW ing adventures. Like all good Brit- Doug Warren in Big Spring, Texas. to an open cockpit in 1988. Tey 10 Sport Aerobatics February 2016 TYSON RININGER TYSON RININGER PHOTOS Tail art Mark Meredith Cockpit removed the chemical hopper af- inverted ribbon cut by sister ship breathing new life into him by re- ter a dozen years of service as N66RP. Search YouTube and you’ll placing the engine, fuel bladders, an air show ferry tank and built fnd lots of fun videos, including TV and engine mount before I took the new front controls. Together with news stories of their performances. baton in 2009. Chuck’s father and brother, they Chipmunk 66RP carries on today, also modifed Chipmunk N66RP to still wearing Stockdale’s red and Colorful Scars the same open-cockpit confgura- black Mystery Ship scheme, now We all keep our scars, and every tion and then few them as a two- owned and fown by Bob Rosen of piece of this Chippy has a story to ship team. Over the next 12 years, East Hampton, Long Island. tell. Te 1965 ag mods were of ev- they few the circuit with support Retired from performances in erlasting consequence to N7DW’s of several sponsors including TAG 2000, Chippy N7DW eventually future life: Chippy will be forever Heuer, developing a formation rou- made it into the capable hands of “unique” for good or ill. To make tine that included a tailslide to an Bruce Moore in 2003, who began room for the hopper, the ag com- www.iac.org 11 TYSON RININGER

DARIN LACRONE TYSON RININGER pany mechanics ripped out the fu- patching the scars, removing cor- per movie, but that’s not the real selage guts, including many parts roded doublers, and fabricating reason. Chuck Stockdale wanted of the fight control system such structural and fight control parts to fy the press up front, but the as the rudder bars and much of the more closely resembling de Havil- de Havilland two-seat canopy and support structure. Te pilot was land originals. rails were long gone, transplanted moved to the rear, in a seat jacked Why does Chippy have open to some needy Aussie Chipmunk. up under a high ag-style bub- cockpits today, when Doug War- Open cockpit just made sense. ble canopy. Hopper controls and ren’s little Mustang bubble would (Tough a few in the Chipmunk In- spray bars sprouted from the fu- feel so cozy on a cold winter day? quisition loathe the look—“Tat’s selage side and wings. Fifty years Well, it does look like the Skiles just wrong!”) after its ag mods, I found myself Skystreak in the Great Waldo Pep- Why the big turtledeck aft of 12 Sport Aerobatics February 2016 the rear seat? My neighbor Mike Barron and I formed it to hide a new steel rollover bar/harness mount, a stand-in for the beefy head protection once provided by the stock de Havilland windscreen. Yeah, and it gives Chippy the look of a 1930s racer when the front cockpit is covered! Early in the rebuild, I discovered steel fn spar doublers from tip to base of the aft fuselage bulkhead. I wondered, is this a typical Super Chipmunk mod? Chuck flled me in; the fn spar mounting broke…he tip- toed home with the whole vertical stabilizer fopping! I’ve learned to be curious—and cautious—as Chippy re- veals his secrets. I’ve now added a few chapters of my own to Chip- py’s adventures with many more to come…though no more disastrophies, please! With a fourth rebuild completed, retirement is nowhere in sight for this hard wor- kin’ Chippy. Or for me either. I now instruct full-time at Navy Annapolis Flight Center and take my students up for a fun fight every now and then in Chippy. He’s read- ily convertible between the single-seat racer look I pre- fer and a tandem we can share with friends. I’ve been careful and incremental about opening up the enve- lope, both the plane’s and my own. With a bit of expert coaching from Bill Finagin, Chippy and I are improving our Sportsman performances. One day he may even get to relive some of his old glory in local shows. Gently, though; Chippy is an old bird. IAC

De Havilland Canada’s DHC-1 Chipmunk first “build it and they will come.” With no military took to the skies in May 1946. Its Ontario plant specs or negotiations to slow them down, they needed to fill the void after wartime production worked fast through design and prototyping. In of Mosquito, a project to retain some of its 7,000 seven months they created a rugged, all-metal highly skilled employees. Even with the shrink- aerobatic monoplane trainer suitable to the de- ing demand for military aircraft, it was obvi- mands of northern flying. The design team built ous the British Commonwealth nations needed it around the same 145-hp Gipsy Major engine a new primary, aerobatic trainer to replace the used in the Tiger Moth because they were dura- obsolete de Havilland Tiger Moth biplane. De- ble and available, with all the needed squadron spite no contracts or outside funding, it gam- maintenance skills already in place. They also bled on a clean sheet design. It was a gamble economized by using Tiger Moth cockpit fittings that richly paid off! From the same fertile minds and flight controls. would soon spring the DHC-2 Beaver, DHC-3 Ot- Chippy became a graceful blending of the ter, and many other iconic north country critters past and the present: tandem taildragger still in great demand today. meets modern metal construction; fabric con- The lead design engineer was Wsiewolod J. trol surfaces and Mosquito-like DH tail meets Jakimiuk (sounds a bit like “Chipmunk”), a Pol- cantilevered wing and semi-monocoque oval ish émigré who fled his homeland at the start fuselage. Because it was a trainer, the new Chip- of the war after designing two successful World munk also took a “wide stance,” with rugged War II Polish fighters. With war’s end, he and landing gear and a long tail to protect against de Havilland management adopted the idea of ground loops. IAC

www.iac.org 13 IsZZ in theFox Box

14 Sport Aerobatics February 2016 Flying in the 2015 U.S. National Aero- batic Championships by Mallory Lynch

erobatics. To most glider pilots, this is limited to a wingover, tight turns, and a loop. Rec- reational aerobatics may add rolls, spins, clovers, inverted flying, and even a hammerhead. Tese maneuvers are easily built into an “unusual attitude recovery” training program and could Abeneft every glider pilot; however, few glider pilots stay current, and many still hold the view that aerobatics are more fraught with peril than cross-country fying, or that they’re only for the “young-uns.” Kenny Price at Williams Soaring Center (WSC) in Williams, Califor- nia, taught me recreational aerobatics. I loved the challenge and beauty involved. Of course, as with any new and overwhelming experience (such as my frst mountain launch with a hang glider, or my glider solo), it took practice to eventually trust and relax. Te narrow vision caused by fear was eventually replaced by the wonderment of seeing the earth in unusual ways. Vision expanded, the body aligned itself with the glider, and it was like a child on the merry- go-around. . .more. More came with the MDM-1 Fox (N35ZZ), nicknamed “ZZ Fox.” Tere are only a handful of these two-place aerobatic planes in the United States, and Rex Mayes lo- cated one. Rex and Noelle Mayes own WSC. Tey have long sup- ported the glider community in many ways. Along with their sons www.iac.org 15 Ben and Nick, a highly professional and caring staf, a three-legged cat, and many dogs, they ofer repairs, rentals, instruction, and tows within a family atmosphere. Tey grow this community with endless work and pursuit of dreams—their own and those of others. Tey welcomed Guy Acheson’s idea of Acro- Fest (a workshop for beginning aerobatics) and helped design a safe area and safe procedure to practice aerobatics in the Williams ASK- 21s. Charlie Hayes (chief instructor), Drew Pearce (instructor), Guy, Eric Lentz-Gauthier, and I joined together to give rides and coaching. Tis all seemed a natural order to the birth of ZZ Fox. Develop a dream, refnish a Fox, and the pilots will come. A year and half ago, Luca Bertossio came to Williams to fy the Fox. His arrival cast me into the world of competition aerobatic fying. I had never experienced such aerobatic mastery of a glider, and he was kind enough to coach me for a short time. Luca’s biggest job was to undo my “recreational” aerobatic habits. Competition aerobatics require exactness, understanding of the Aresti fgures, and an ability to en-

PAUL HOLLAND dure the intensity of high g-forces.

16 Sport Aerobatics February 2016 Judging some of the world’s best AEROBATICS MAINTENANCE aerobatic pilots. Basic through Unlimited FACILITIES Competition & Sport We specialize in

GUY ACHESON GUY Safety & Proficiency Fabric Basic & Advanced Spins Tailwheel Aerobatic Aircraft Repair Te body and brain must get accustomed to abso- Pitts S-2B lutely vertical climbs and dives, strong pulls and Super Decathlon pushes, high speeds, sequences of fgures separated Citabria by brief horizontal pauses, and—even more terrify- ing—doing all this in the “box.” Te aerobatic box is Owned and operated by Debbie Rihn-Harvey 3,300 feet in width and length and 4,000 feet high. At 120 knots, the glider takes 15 seconds to fy com- pletely through the box. Williams did not have an SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE IAC ofcial box, so we used Google Earth to identifyAC_HarveyRihn.indd an 1 1/4/05 7:28:28 AM area closely resembling the competition box. Now, In the past few months, our IAC volunteers and after fying in the Nationals, I doubt I ever stayed in staf have accelerated their use and posting on var- our makeshift box while practicing. ious media. While Sport Aerobatics used to be our Both Guy and Eric worked tirelessly with me, help- only ofcial publication, we now have In the Loop, ing to improve my skills to the Intermediate and then a monthly newsletter that reaches about 10,000 Advanced levels. Guy and I would fy together, or one of us would observe from the ground, critiquing each people; the IAC website (www.IAC.org); Facebook; other. Eric, who is the best competition aerobatic and Twitter. We urge you to take advantage of all coach I have had the honor to work with, taught me these information outlets. As an example, we had the fnesse of feeling, seeing, and nurturing each fg- extensive coverage on AirVenture on Facebook, ure to be more exact and within sequences. His style with many photos posted of the event. News on the of thorough explanation, precise fying, and positive U.S. Aerobatic Team has also been featured, along review gave me much to work on. Te tow pilots often appeared early in the morning to accommodate with wonderful photos, on Facebook. Postings on my practice sessions. Adding to this, the International the Nationals went out daily while the contest was Aerobatic Club Chapter 38 came to Williams, teaching in progress. us about judging, testing us for our Smooth awards, For your reference, here are the accounts: and fying in the Fox. Teir encouragement, along IAC ofcial website: www.IAC.org with Eric’s nudging, brought Guy and me to the idea IAC Twitter: @IACHQ that we could and should fy the Advanced level in the United States National Aerobatic Championships. U.S. Nationals Twitter: @USNAcro Williams Soaring Center agreed to lend us ZZ Fox, IAC Facebook: www.Facebook.com/EAAIAC and Eric drove (and drove and drove) it to Texas. Te U.S. Nationals Facebook: www.Facebook.com/ WSC Aerobatic Team was on its way to the Nationals. USNationalAerobaticChampionships I truly had no idea what I had committed to, and even

www.iac.org 17 Eric coaches Mallory.

GUY ACHESON

Guy enjoys some coaching from Eric.

MALLORY LYNCH

18 Sport Aerobatics February 2016 today I am trying to grasp what I way. Launching and landing (we) actually accomplished. Fly- there allowed far simpler and ing my frst aerobatic contest (it safer operations for everyone. was only Guy’s second) in the We were still mixed in with the Advanced category, and in the power fights of our category, Nationals, is, as Eric put it, “like so we would tow to altitude, in- drinking from a fre hose.” form the chief judge, and wait Held at the former Perrin for clearance into the “box.” Field, now North Texas Re- Te aerobatic box, which is gional Airport (KGYI) in Den- marked with large white cor- ison, Texas, the U.S. Nationals ners and center markings on seemed as huge as the state it the ground, looked even smaller was in. Volunteers, judges, or- than I had imagined. In glid- ganizers, pilots, crew, and beau- ers, the pilot is supposed to do tiful planes covered the airport. a series of eight to 10 advanced Some of the world’s best aero- aerobatic fgures at 100 to 140 batic pilots were among the 99 knots while staying within total pilots competing. Com- bounds. Once given permission pleting all the competitions re- to enter, it takes about fve min- quired hundreds of fights in utes to complete the fight. You six days. Safely weaving this in have three fights during the with the civilian air trafc was contest, each scored by seven the task of the airport control judges, who along with the mul- tower, contest safety director, titude of support personnel sat and chief judges. Fortunately, in the hot sun all day. Te stress

GUY ACHESON GUY the gliders operated from a sep- levels can be very high. Mallory cinches in. arate, normally inactive run- Te judges awarded me “hard

www.iac.org 19 WSC team, left to right, Guy, Eric and Mallory. LAURIE ZALEWSKI

within the box, few safely, and scored fairly well. I loved it. Guy, meanwhile, few better, making fewer mistakes, and won. He is the U.S. Advanced glider champion. Eric, who recently returned from the World Glider Aer- obatic Championships in the Czech Republic, took frst place in the Un- limited category. He is the U.S. Un- limited glider champion. Te WSC Aerobatic Team did well. ZZ Fox has returned to Williams. GUY ACHESON We thank everyone at the Nation- The box is the small area shown between these boxes on the map. als—all who were so helpful. Only by standing on your shoulders could we be free to fy. Congratulations to Jason Stephens (who also towed) zeros” for not completing a ham- was overwhelming. Yet somehow I and Lukas von Atzigen, second and merhead and tailslide, both of which stayed oriented, corrected after mis- third in Unlimited glider. Well done! I am quite capable of doing. I forgot takes, and fnished the sequences. And thanks to the United States Air a fgure. My normally expanded aer- Into the third fight, I was more re- Force Academy Glider Team. As for obatic vision shut down; I few on laxed, could see the box boundaries the power pilots, I stood in awe as I kinesthetic memory mode. Te “per- better, and one judge scored me a 10 watched them fy. formance demand” on my system on the hammerhead. I stayed mostly Come join the team . . . IAC 20 Sport Aerobatics February 2016

What to Expect A new person’s guide to aerobatic contests by Gordon Penner, MCFI-A

Aerobatics is about personally asking anybody anything. If pi- the categories as descriptors for being the best you can be, about lots need to mentally prepare for both airplanes and pilots. They expanding your mental horizons, the next flight, they will tell you. will say that that aircraft is capa- and about fying at a higher level, If they are out on the ramp walk- ble of Advanced-level aerobatics, which improves safety. We at the ing through the sequence, doing or pilots may say they are capable International Aerobatic Club be- what we call “hand-batics” or “the of Sportsman-level aerobatics. lieve in recreational aerobatics, dance,” they are preparing for an The aerobatic contests are usu- which is what 80 percent to 90 upcoming flight. ally regional-level events. There are six regions in America. The regions are mostly for adminis- tration. You can compete in multiple regions in any year. There is also a national level contest for each country. The Aerobatics U.S. National Aerobatic Champi- onships are held in Texas in Sep- tember. Then there are the world contests: one for Advanced and one for Unlimited. The Unlimited is precision level World Aerobatic Champi- onships is on the odd-numbered years, and the Advanced level World Aerobatic Championships flying, not is on the even years. Te frst fight of the three is the Known or Known Compulsory fight, which is the qualifcation fight. Te judges can disqualify stunt flying. a competitor for unsafe fying or for not possessing the ability to get through the sequence of ma- percent of pilots want, but contest Each contestant in each of the neuvers on the card. Tere are also fying is a fun animal in its own fve categories—Primary, Sports- tech inspections of the aircraft at right. It is like Olympic gymnas- man, Intermediate, Advanced, the beginning of the contest to tics, not like an air show. Tere is and Unlimited—fies three fights rule out unsafe aircraft. Tese el- no smoke, and there are fve grad- in front of the judges. Te Pri- ements are some of the reasons ing judges and a chief judge. mary, Sportsman, and Intermedi- why contest fying has such an ex- There are trophies but no prize ate Known Compulsory sequences cellent safety record. money. Contest aerobatics is an are designed within each coun- Te second fight is the Freestyle amateur event with a nice so- try. Te Advanced and Unlimited fight, or Free, where each compet- cial component. Pilots compete Known Compulsory sequences are itor creates a freestyle sequence in the air, not on the ground, the same worldwide. within the allowable guidelines. so there is no strutting or head Even those pilots who only do Te third fight is the Unknown games. You can feel comfortable recreational aerobatics will use fight, where the competitors fy 22 Sport Aerobatics February 2016 a card that they were given 12 or tal as well as physical, whether it more hours prior and that they be aerobatics, gymnastics, ice skat- The Winner‘s Propeller! were not allowed to practice. ing, infantry maneuvers, welding, Fly the Champions‘ Choice! Since they are just starting etc., forces you to not only learn like Patty Wagstaff out, Primary pilots just fly the how to physically do the task, but as shown here with her Known flight three times, even also to constantly upgrade how you Extra 300S!! though the flights are still called picture the task in your mind, and the Known, Freestyle, and Un- how you picture its “fow.” Notice known. The Sportsman category that all the above tasks are techni- doesn’t fly an Unknown, but they cal in nature and also art forms. can fly a Freestyle if they elect. If you decided to take aerobatic The Sportsman pilots can fly the training (which does not have an Known three times, or they can FAA checkride attached—just an Super Decathlon fly the Known, the Freestyle, and endorsement), the standard 10- then the Freestyle again to re- hour course given throughout place the Unknown. much of the country would pre- Pitts Model 12 Contest fying is also about edu- pare you for the Sportsman level Available for almost every aerobatic cation, and the Freestyle is a great of fying. A f ve-hour aerobatic aircraft, for custom built airplanes like tool for that. Learning the Known course plus a little extra training Lancair, Velocity, Glasair or RV and for more than 100 certiﬁ ed aircraft types. Compulsories for each category is would prepare you for Primary. Order your custom designed obviously an education in and of it- Emergency maneuver training propeller today! self (!), and pilots are not required (EMT) courses are targeted toward MT-Propeller USA, Inc., Florida Phone: (386) 736-7762 to move up a category if they are safety training, meaning mostly Fax: (386) 736-7696 winning, as they are required to spin training, upset recovery e-mail: [email protected] do in some sports. Each category training, fight with broken fight MT-Propeller Headquarters Germany has its own set of challenges, but if controls, and emergency landings. Phone: +49-9429-94090 pilots want to prepare themselves As a believer and promoter of Fax.: +49-9429-8432 to move up a category, they could EMT, I have to say that you would e-mail: [email protected] put elements in their Freestyle need a bit of diferent, extra train- www.mt-propeller.com that teach them what they need to ing to be prepared for Primary. know down the road. Te jump from Primary to Pilots of modest means can stay Sportsman is pretty easy, and some in a category forever if they so pilots compete just fne in a rented choose and still be challenged and Decathlon in the Sportsman cate- educated. First of all, the Known gory with a safety (or insurance re- TM Compulsory sequences change quired) pilot in the back seat. every year, except for Primary. Check out the YouTube video Pilots can then use the Freestyle of the great Bob Hoover pouring to challenge themselves, to learn a glass of iced tea while rolling up- something new, as well as to show side down. Tere is such a thing their airplane and their skills in as smooth aerobatics, and you can the best possible light. see the precision with which he Continuing the theme of edu- flies. While he is rolling, watch Stay connected cation, aerobatics is really about the white ball hanging from a more than just learning to fly string under the drink platform. with IAC’s at a higher level. You are learn- Not only does he not spill a drop, member beneﬁts, ing more about how you learn, he stays so coordinated that the you are changing how you see white ball hardly moves from side and the world of the world, and you are learning to side. That is the level we aspire aerobatics on more about yourself. The mem- to. We want to be as precise as Bob bers of the French Connection air Hoover, the master of smooth. the web, show team were fond of telling You can also check out the web- in our their students that if they came site for the International Aero- for aerobatic training and all they batic Club at www.IAC.org. You e-newsletter! learned was how to do the ma- will find aerobatic schools and lo- To subscribe: neuvers, they got gypped! cal chapters listed there. www.EAA.org/newsletters Any complex task that is men- Enjoy! IAC www.iac.org 23 CONTEST CALENDAR

Mark your calendars for these upcoming contests. For a complete list of contests and for the most up-to-date calendar, visit www.IAC.org. If your chapter is hosting a contest, be sure to let the world know by posting your event on the IAC website.

2nd Annual “Snowbird Classic” (Southeast) Ohio Aerobatic Open (Mid-America) Friday, March 18 - Saturday, March 19, 2016 Friday, June 17 - Saturday, June 18, 2016 Practice/Registration: Wed., March 16 - Thurs., March 17 Practice/Registration: Thursday, June 16 Rain/Weather: Sunday, March 20 Power: Primary through Unlimited Gliders Categories: Sportsman Location: Bellefontaine Regional Airport (KEDJ) OH Power: Primary through Unlimited Contest Director: Samuel Weaver Location: Marion County Airport, Dunnellon, FL (X35) Phone: (937) 681-2680 Phone: (352)804-6731 E-Mail: [email protected] E-Mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.iac34.eaachapter.org/

Hammerhead Roundup (Southwest) Michigan Aerobatic Open (Mid-America) Friday, April 8 - Saturday, April 9, 2016 Saturday, July 9 - Sunday, July 10, 2016 Practice/Registration: Thursday, April 7 Practice/Registration: Wednesday, July 8 Power: Primary through Unlimited Power: Primary through Unlimited Location: Borrego Valley Airport (L08): Borrego Springs, CA Location: Bay City James Clements Municipal Airport (3CM), Contest Director: Kevin Elizondo Bay City, MI Primary Phone: (562)577-5776 Contest Director: Brian Roodvoets E-Mail: [email protected] Phone: (810) 338-7654 Website: www.iac36.org E-Mail: [email protected] Website: iac88.eaachapter.org

Sebring Spring (Southeast) The Corvallis Corkscrew (Northwest) Thursday, May 5 - Saturday, May 7, 2016 Friday, July 15 - Saturday, July 16, 2016 Practice/Registration: Sat., April 30 - Wed., May 4 Practice/Registration: Thursday, July 14 Glider Categories: Sportsman through Unlimited Power: Primary through Unlimited Power: Primary through Unlimited Location: Corvallis Municipal Airport (CVO): Corvallis, OR Location: Sebring Regional Airport (SEF): Sebring, FL Contest Director: Jim Bourke Contest Director: Don Hartmann Phone: (541)231-6077 Phone: (561)644-1312 E-Mail: [email protected] E-Mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.iac77.com/

Ben Lowell Aerial Confrontation (South Central) Green Mountain Aerobatics Contest (GMAC) (Northeast) Saturday, May 21 - Sunday, May 22, 2016 Friday, July 15 - Sunday, July 17, 2016 Practice/Registration: Friday, May 20 Practice/Registration: Monday, January 4 - Friday, July 15 Power: Primary through Unlimited Glider Categories: Sportsman through Unlimited Location: Sterling Municipal Airport (tentative) (STK): Power: Primary through Unlimited Sterling, CO (tentative) Location: Hartness State Airport, (VSF): Springfield, VT Contest Director: Bob Freeman Contest Director: Bill Gordon Phone: (303)709-6465 Phone: (802)585-0366 E-Mail: [email protected] E-Mail: [email protected] Website: www.iac12.org Website: IAC35.aerobaticsweb.org

Coalinga Western Open Championship (Southwest) Doug Youst Challenge (Mid-America) Friday, June 3 - Saturday, June 4, 2016 Friday, August 12 - Sunday, August 14, 2016 Practice/Registration: Thursday, June 2 Power: Primary through Unlimited Power: Primary through Unlimited Location: Spencer Municipal (KSPW): Spencer, IA Location: New Coalinga (C80): Coalinga, CA Contest Director: Justin Hickson Contest Director: Tom Myers Phone: (651)338-3345 Phone: (650)799-6854 E-Mail: [email protected] E-Mail: [email protected] Website: www.iac78.org Website: www.iac38.org Beaver State Regional Contest (Northwest) Lone Star Aerobatic Championships (South Central) Friday, August 12 - Saturday, August 13, 2016 Friday, June 10 - Saturday, June 11, 2016 Practice/Registration: Wed., August 10 - Thurs., August 11 Practice/Registration: Thursday, June 9 Glider Categories: Sportsman through Unlimited Power: Primary through Unlimited Power: Primary through Unlimited Location: TBD (NA): TBD Location: Pendleton Regional Airport (PDT): Pendleton, OR Contest Director: J. J. Humphreys Contest Director: Sean VanHatten Phone: (940) 564-6673 Primary Phone: (541)480-7456 E-Mail: [email protected] Alternate Phone: (541)480-7456 Website: www.iac24.org E-Mail: [email protected] Website: www.iac77.com 24 Sport Aerobatics February 2016 We’ve Got Your Guides for Technical Tips & Perfect Maneuvers! Check out our great selection of how-to aerobatic books at EAA.org/ShopIAC.

EAA.org/ShopIAC 800-564-6322 BRILLIANCE AND BUFFOONERY

BY BETH STANTON [email protected] Unexpected Inspiration

Simple acts, profound impacts

“Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be true. I promised to take her on an aerobatic fight. We what we know we could be.” couldn’t arrange it before she had to go back to Mex- —Ralph Waldo Emerson ico, but we vowed to make it happen next year.

August 2013 August 2015 Rubi Vazquez from Durango, Mexico, visits her Rubi and I exchanged e-mails as the Delano contest uncle in Delano, California, each summer. Te Chap- approached. By now, she had also earned her U.S. pilot ter 26 Happiness Is Delano contest takes place on certifcate and was getting time in the right seat of a Labor Day weekend. Rubi and a friend came to check C-208 and AC95 with some professional pilot friends. out the contest and were standing of to the side She wanted to volunteer however she could for the con- of the FBO. Noticing them, I went over and intro- test weekend. At the frst briefng, I introduced her to duced myself. As we chatted about how an aerobatic the group. Many people remembered her from last year, contest works, she could not take her eyes of the and she was warmly welcomed. She spent the entire planes on the ramp. I asked her if she ever wanted contest on the judges line, working as a runner and re- to learn to fy. She nodded an enthusiastic “yes,” but corder. She had invited some local friends to the con- shyly noted that her English was not the best and test. One was a young woman inspired by Rubi who was that training seemed really expensive. As a pilot of considering fight lessons. Her friends came out to the just two years myself, I was still marveling at the judges line, and Rubi, by now a pro, held a fimsy to the fact that I had actually accomplished this. I declared, sky and explained the Aresti fgures to them as the pi- “If I can do it, you can do it.” lots few their sequences.

August 2014 Tis year, the Delano contest was host to the U.S. Open West Championships. I found myself in frst place in the Sportsman category going into the fnal fight; it was mine to win or lose. Deep in “the zone,” I walked toward the plane to saddle up. A young woman approached me, said “Hello, Beth,” and asked if I remembered her. Startled out of my acro trance, I drew a momentary blank. She prompted, “I’m Rubi, from last year.” Reaching into her purse, she proudly pulled out a newly minted pilot certifcate. Recollection fooded back. “I kept remembering what you told me, ‘If I can do it, you can do it,’” she said. My throat got tight as I stared at the plastic card in her hand. It was overwhelming. You never know how an inadvertent word can be that tiny bit of encouragement that tips the scales. Mike and Kathleen brief Rubi. After hugs and exclamations of jubilation, I had to quickly shift gears and get in the plane and fy. Bill Wharton and Mike Hartenstein approached me In those furried moments, we arranged to get her and ofered to take Rubi for an aerobatic fight after the out to the judges line to watch the remainder of the contest concluded. She and I were scheduled to fy the contest. As I taxied to the run-up area, I had a huge following morning, and I asked her if she’d like to go up smile on my face. Te plane seemed to spring of the both days. Her answer (predictably) was a resounding runway with extra lift on takeof. Flying that se- “Yes!” Bill Wharton laughed, “If she has the chance for quence was pure joy. When I accepted my frst place her frst aerobatic fight in an Extra rather than my Su- trophy that evening, I whispered a silent gracias to per Decathlon, she should go for it!” courageous Rubi who dared to make her dream come After three long days in the hot sun, with everyone 26 Sport Aerobatics February 2016 Kathleen helping Rubi into her parachute. Rubi and Beth after ﬂying Super D.

Te next morning was acro fight No. 2 in two days for Rubi. We were fying Dave Watson’s Super Decath- lon, and Rubi was in the back seat today. I explained that this plane was going to feel quite a bit diferent from the Extra. She was giddy with excitement and told me that she really wanted to do a hammerhead. On the way to the practice area, she few the plane from the back seat and did some turns to get a feel for the controls. We started acro of easy with gentle loops and rolls. We next did a spin and saved the hammerhead for last. She loved aerobatics and is now interested in emergency maneuver and aerobatic training. It was a great honor of my life when Rubi told me, “Tank you for showing me the world of aerobatics and to see what women can do.” It looks like she liked it. Rubi resolved to become a pilot after she began study- ing math in college but did not feel passionate about eager to get back to the hotel to rest and clean up before it. She decided to do what she really wanted: to fy. She the banquet, Mike Hartenstein and Kathleen Howell started fight school in January 2014 in Guadalajara, stayed on and gave Rubi the gift of a fight in their air- Jalisco, Mexico, and was the only female in her class. plane. Mike briefed her, and Kathleen helped her into She fnished fve months later. Rubi’s future goals are to her parachute and belted her into the front seat. As I get her FAA commercial, then Mexican license. She en- watched them blast of in the Extra, I suddenly remem- visions fying in the executive sector within the next few bered that my frst acro fight was in an Extra. I won- years. “For me, the best part of fying is how we can con- dered if this fight would have the same efect on her. nect the world.” She has decided that with practice and Te look on her face when the prop stopped and the dedication she can do anything. “I’ve always believed canopy opened was pure glee. that people should do the things they love.” www.iac.org 27 Te Girls in Juvenile . . . sweet. Two girls were fussing like mother hens “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild over the projector and my laptop, taking very studi- and precious life?”—Mary Oliver ous care setting it up. When I went over to check on the progress, one of them blurted out, “Aren’t you Tis was really jail. I was buzzed in and walked scared?” Astonished, I exclaimed, “No, why?” “Be- though an unattended metal detector. I found my- cause we are locked up!” she retorted. I laughed and self alone in a cavernous room flled with a hundred said, “Whatever.” Tey grinned at me. plastic chairs bolted to the foor. Te misery and Nothing went according to plan. As I started drama steeped into the shabby furniture was palpa- to show photos and video, they barraged me with ble. My host Marian had not yet arrived. Marian is a questions. I abandoned that plan and tried to herd client of mine who volunteers each week at Modesto the conversation. We jumped topics with each Juvenile Hall. I had given a presentation to her Ro- question. In particular, the parachute fascinated tary Club, speaking of my pilot adventures, and she them. One of the girls had her eyes glued on it and had asked if I’d come talk to the girls. If you are in- kept asking about sky diving. Apparently, show- carcerated in this facility, you have committed a fel- and-tell time had arrived. I invited her up to try on ony. I wondered what kind of felony a young girl age the parachute. She leapt from her seat, belted it on, 12-18 could commit. and jumped around the room. Now they all wanted to try it on, even the painfully withdrawn girls who just a few minutes ago had their eyes cast to the floor. They also loved the headset. After donning it and hearing the silence, one girl exclaimed, “It’s so Nothing went according quiet, I can’t hear anything. We need these for in here!” The toy captain’s hat I received as a Christ- mas gift soon after I got my pilot certificate made to plan. As I started to the rounds. Seeing it perched proudly upon their heads, with ponytails pulled though the back strap, show photos and video, left me strangely touched. Marian is a talented graphic artist and had made up some rock-star autograph cards with my photo they barraged me for me to sign for the girls. Tey approached the ta- ble and gave me their names. A petite girl with dark with questions. eyes said: “Rodriguez.” Startled, I looked up. “We use our last names in here,” she replied. Another asked, “Could you make mine out to my son instead of me?” A vision fashed before me of a young mother’s sac- “Tey are so excited to meet you,” Marian said. rifce, wanting to give frst to her child. “I’ll make “Tey’ve never met a pilot before.” I had brought one for each of you,” I declared. “Jonathan, your mom my laptop and speaker to show aerobatic video. At rocks.” I wrote. Her eyes flled with tears as I handed the last minute, I thought it would be fun to bring her the two cards. “Tank you,” she said. Such a sim- along a parachute, headset, captain’s hat, sectional ple act, such profound impact. charts, compasses, and other pilot paraphernalia for I told them Rubi’s tale, about how she had found show and tell. As I passed through multiple locked the confdence to get her pilot certifcate after some doors with my gear, the guard warned that each item feeting words of encouragement. Tey were excited brought into the unit, every pen and paperclip, must to hear her success story. Wise, young Jackie gazed be accounted for upon departure. If something were at me and stated, “Flying changed everything, didn’t missing, the unit would go into lockdown and all it? You have a smile about you. I’d think I’d like to fy.” inmates searched. “Everyone will be really mad at Spending this evening with these young ladies was you if that happens,” she stated ominously. I quickly a singularly remarkable event in my life. Somehow, re-evaluated what I would bring in and left the rest somewhere, in the course of an hour, it all got turned outside in a locker. around. Tey inspired me. Te girls were gathered in a recreational room. As pilots, we possess a dream skill. In our own way, Tey already had a projector, but had procured a let’s encourage, spur, and enthuse whomever, when- screen just so I could show my video. As I unpacked ever, and wherever we can. You never know where that my gear, noting very carefully what I was taking out, tiny spark may land and the great blaze it may ignite. I watched the girls watching me. Tey would look at me shyly and then smile back when I smiled at them. “Our brightest blazes are sometimes kindled by unex- For lack of a better description, they seemed, well pected sparks.”—Samuel Johnson IAC 28 Sport Aerobatics February 2016

MEET A MEMBER

BY GARY DEBAUN IAC #4145

Chris Masi LAURIE ZALESKI IAC#: 437700 OCCUPATION: Air Force Academy cadet CHAPTER AFFILIATION: U.S. Air Force, Chapter 24 AGE: 19

GD: Let’s start with the standard first question: GD: Do you plan to make the Air Force a career? How did you become involved in aerobatics? CM: Tis question seems to be common amongst CM: Since my visit to the academy during my ju- my family and friends, and it seems like my answer nior year of high school, I learned about the United never satisfes. First, what the future has in store is States Air Force Academy’s Aerobatic Demonstration uncertain, but I would appreciate the opportunity to Team and was instantly enticed. During my four-year serve in the Air Force as long as I can. If it is up to me, degree, I along with over 90 percent of my class, was I plan on staying in the Air Force as long as I enjoy it provided the opportunity to receive four introductory and as long as I can make a positive impact. fights in the TG-16, where one fight consisted of advanced maneuvering (loops, chandelles, clovers, and GD: Do you have any specific goals you would like lazy-eights), in a program dubbed Airmanship 250. to accomplish during your time at the Air Force Tis program’s goal is to motivate four-degrees to con- Academy? tinue and pursue excellence in airmanship. Te agility CM: While at the Air Force Academy, my goals re- of the aircraft, paired with the leadership, attitude, volve around the impact and inspiration I can project and respect for my instructor, motivated me even on others. Overcoming adversity and always putting more so to seek out further opportunities at the 94th forth even more than my best eforts defne my in- FTS. Following a program called Airmanship 251 in tentions. Tis concerns my academics, military apti- the summer, where students are given three weeks and tude, physical standards, and my airfeld duties. 14 fights to solo the glider, I was selected to upgrade as an instructor pilot for the 94th FTS. Troughout GD: When and where did you fly your first aerobatic soaring upgrade, my goals were to assist my classmates contest? and become the best instructor pilot I could. In March CM: My frst aerobatic contest was the Ben Lowell of my upgrade year, I was given the amazing opportu- Aerial Confrontation, hosted at the Air Force Acad- nity to be a part of the Aerobatic Demonstration Team. emy. During this competition, I few in the Primary Te initial upgrade fights for the aerobatic team were category just one month after being qualifed to fy the frst aerobatics I have fown. aerobatics in the TG-16A, the Air Force equivalent of the DG-1001. GD: What caused you to choose the Air Force over the other branches of service? GD: Have you done any powered aerobatics yet, or CM: Te Air Force appealed to me for multiple rea- is all of your experience in gliders? sons. First, the Air Force always presented itself as CM: Since upgrading to aerobatics, I have not a family-friendly environment, where airmen take had the opportunity to participate in any powered care of airmen, and families take care of families. aerobatics. However, my interest in aerobatics does Furthermore, my desire to fy and defend the United extend beyond gliders, and I look forward to fying States and what it represents in the greatest Air Force powered aerobatics some day in the future. the world has ever known drove me to apply to the United States Air Force Academy and put forth my GD: How many different aerobatic gliders have you best eforts while attending. flown? CM: The Air Force Academy owns a fleet of TG- 30 Sport Aerobatics February 2016 16A aircraft: 14 utility aircraft for student training and five aerobatic variants. These five TG-16As have been the only aerobatic glider experience I have had thus far.

GD: Do you have any specific goals you would like to accomplish in glider aerobatics? CM: Being a part of an institution and an armed service greater than just myself, I look to do better than my best and be the best teammate for my fellow airmen. We are all in this together, and our bond, goals, and service extend far beyond aerobatic competitions in gliders.

GD: What was your experience at the 2015 U.S. Na- tional Aerobatic Championships? CM: Te pace, intensity, and competition that the 2015 National Aerobatic Championships brought to Sherman, Texas, was intoxicating. Being surrounded by individuals and teams who embodied a passion for fying just as I do added a factor of excitement. Furthermore, it was a great learning experience as our team sought out the advice of experienced aerobatic pilots. My fondest memory of this past year’s National Aerobatic Championships was watching the 4-Minute Frees with my teammates, witnessing the odd mixture of beauty and intensity that defnes this unique sport.

GD: Do you have any other interests other than flying? CM: Flying is my passion, and nothing makes me more grateful than to have the opportunity to be in the air. Te opportunity to also mentor and teach those how to fy has been the most rewarding experience I have had at the United States Air Force Academy. When I am not in the air, I am further interested in travel and helping others through volunteer opportunities or personal opportunities. Being raised in Connecticut, I also love playing and watching hockey as well as many other sports. Lastly, nothing can beat the very valuable and limited time that I get to enjoy with my family and friends. IAC www.iac.org 31 FLYMART

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