Fatboyz Aviation Newsletter
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FatBoyz Aviation Newsletter March 2003 Welcome to our 3nd issue! Thanks to everyone contributing to our newsletter and the responses received. The Fatboyz are a group of local pilots and aviation enthusiasts based at DKX. Our goal is to promote GA activities at the island and provide pertinent to our community. Visit the FatBoyz web archives for updated weekend flying schedules for those $100 hamburgers, links to flight planning and weather sites, information for local aviation resources (flight schools, CFI, AME, DE, I.A. A/P, insurance) and information pertinent to our local aviation community. Spotlight http://www.geocities.com/fatboyzaviation DKX – History Jim Moore, Knoxville Flyers I NSIDE T HIS I SSUE While looking to obtain some old Spotlight DKX Part II , Newspaper Articles 1 Knoxville aviation photos, from the Knoxville Sunday Journal 12-11-27 submitted by Jim Moore Knoxville Historical Society. I came across the Knoxville Journal and Tribune 08-05-19 submitted by Bob Davis following article. It was the first reference I could find 7 Rational Strategy for Flight Near Icing Conditions, about an airport located on Dickinson's Island, the Buz Witherington CFII location of DKX. From this article and others it appears that pilots trained during World War I were 10 Flying with ATL Big Boys, Brandon Hughett ATP CFII flying out of fields all around Knoxville. The first reference to any airfield was in a 1919 article, which 13 Who Is In Charge, Gary Hall CFI mentions an airfield in Whittle Springs. While the 14 article printed below is interesting, keep in mind that Flying IFR, Daryl Moore CFI the recommendation of the Aviation committee was not followed. 15 What I Learned From That, Buddy Farmer PP-ASEL THE KNOXVILLE SUNDAY JOURNAL DECEMBER 11, 1927 16 The Unexpected TFR, Thad Phillips PP-ASEL Smoky Mountain Haze, Anonymous PP-ASEL The Citizens' Aviation committee, composed of representative businessmen of Knoxville, has 17 External Inspection, Mike Dawley PP-ASEL requested the city council to consider the purchase of Dickinson's Island as a site for a municipal airport. 18 Somerset KY, Thad Phillips PP-ASEL This request was referred to the council committee 19 Campbellsville KY, Mark Collins CP-ASEL on public welfare. 20 St. Louis MO, Thad Phillips PP-ASEL During the past few months, the Citizens' Aviation committee has studies a number of possible locations 21 New Mexico, Sam Suffern PP-ASEL for the airport. Ernest Jones of the U. S. Department of Commerce visited Knoxville about two months ago 22 Lancair 360, A Speed Machine Glen Griffin PP-ASEL and personally inspected a number of potential airport sites. 24 Radial Engine Seminar, Ron Tallent IA A/P 24 Everything you ever wanted to know about Annual Inspections! Spotlight DKX continued on page 2 John Keigans, Jr IA A/P © 2003 FatBoyz Aviation All Rights Reserved March 2003 Edition Page 1 of 27 Spotlight DKX continued from page 1 Among the sites inspected were the tract near Whittle "Seventh, that no field furnished an all-way landing Springs, Dickinson's Island, Boyd's Island, the present condition and facility which Dickinson's Island field near Bearden, two sites on Kingston pile, one on possessed, it was unanimously decided to recommend Middlebrook pike, and others that were suggested. the consideration of Dickinson's Island. After studying the qualifications of the various sites, the committee decided to recommend the purchase of "The committee is composed of business men of Dickinson's Island. Knoxville who have spent considerable of their expense for the reason only of rendering a civic service Robert L. Foust, who appeared before the city council to the community. The personnel of the committee is Tuesday night representing the Citizens' Aviation made up of manufacturers, merchants, bankers and committee, issued the following statement regarding business men who have no interest directly or Dickinson's Island, Saturday: indirectly, in Dickinson's Island to cause them to desire the city to purchase this property which would bring Foust's Statement about any personal gain. "In considering sites, the last site inspected was Dickinson's Island. For a time the committee held off "The importance of aviation is set out clearly in from considering this property, fearing that tide President Coolidge's recent message to congress in conditions in the river and river fogs would render this which he states: 'Commercial Aviation -- A rapid property unattractive but upon learning that neither fog growth is taking place in aeronautics. The Department nor tide, such as were known in the Tennessee river, of Commerce has charge of the inspection and had little or no ill effect on the practical nature of the licensing system and the construction of national requirements of the government, and further learning airways. Almost 8,000 miles are already completed the government's policy of establishing emergency and about 4,000 miles were contemplated. Nearly stations at more or less distance from the city in case 4,400 miles are now equipped completed and about of fog or water or other reasons, Dickinson's Island 3,000 miles more will have lighting and emergency was then inspected. landing fields by next July. Air mail contracts are expected to cover 24 of these lines. Daily airway flying "The committee, after going on the island and taking is nearly 15,000 miles and is expected to reach 25,000 into consideration: miles early next year.' "First. the nearness of this site to the post office, and "Flights for other purposes exceed 22,000 miles each proving that it could be reached through ordinary day. Over 900 airports, completed and uncompleted, business traffic within five minutes on a very excellent have been laid out. The demand for aircraft has road, that it was served by an electric car line, and in greatly increased. The policy already adopted by the fact all utilities, and Congress is producing the sound development of this coming industry. "Second, that the expense of grading would amount to nothing at all, and Many Fields Accepted "Already this year the government has accepted nearly "Third. that the cost of a one-span bridge across the 250 airport field and these fields as they are accepted sluice from the south shore from abutment easements and approved by the government are immediately which belong to the island, the bridge to be of ample bulletined and maps and charts are put into the hands size for heaviest traffic, could be built at a price of from of everyone interested, including owners and pilots. $20,000 to $30,000, depending on its size and ornateness, and "The easy approach to Dickinson's Island makes it incomparable with any other site in the Knoxville "Fourth. that the grading of any other site, if all other district, being located just two miles east of the county conditions came up to specifications would be bridge in the river, and can be easily located by the considerably more than the cost of the bridge, and pilot of an aircraft, especially owing to the fact that he has for further guidance the chart furnished by the "Fifth, that the location and property was the government showing the exact location. unanimous choice of the local aviators, pilots and men "It is important that no unnecessary delay be incurred who were practical in air flying, and in acquiring an airport site in this city. The committee has been approached frequently by men who have Nearest Site received letters from air lines express a desire for "Sixth. that no other site that the committee inspected landing privileges at Knoxville. In the next few months could be reached in less than twenty minutes from the great air line trunkways will be established and business center under legal speed, and Spotlight DKX continued on page 3 © 2003 FatBoyz Aviation All Rights Reserved March 2003 Edition Page 2 of 27 Spotlight DKX continued from page 2 Knoxville should be made one of the stations on one of "As to the location of Dickinson's Island it can be the major trunk lines. observed that while this property is immediately near the center of Knoxville, nearer than any other tract of "No city in the United States would possess a field of ground that can be acquired or that would be suitable superior character and attractiveness to that afforded at any price, it has an isolation that is exceedingly by Dickinson's Island. No city of Knoxville's size or desirable. insomuch as the north greater would lose an opportunity in acquiring immediately, in view the fast development, such an "On the south side, Island Home Park lies in a westerly ideally located property for the purpose of an airport. direction from the Island and would in no way interfere with the field nor would the field endanger or obstruct "The Dickinson's Island property is under option by the the development of Island Home Park; on the land committee for $140,000.00 and the option provides opposite to the south is located the Tennessee Deaf that it can be purchased for one-tenth down and one- and Dumb Institute where all buildings are completely tenth each year. Immediate possession can be given. out of the way and where the noise of motors, which is more or less objectionable to a community built up by On acquiring the island which consists of nearly 300 residences, would be no objection at all in this acres, the aviation field would appropriate possibly 75 instance. acres, leaving the rest to be used as the city would see fit but would lend itself very excellently to the As stated above the recommendation was not establishment of a municipal playfield or recreation followed.