The International Comanche Society
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MAY 2007 VOLUME 34, NO. 5 The Official Membership Publication of The International Comanche Society The Comanche Flyer is the official monthly member publication of the International Comanche Society P.O. Box 1810 Volume 34, No. 5 • May 2007 Traverse City, MI 49685-1810 U.S.: 888-300-0082 www.comancheflyer.com Other: 231-946-3712 Fax: 231-946-6180 Published By the International Comanche Society, Inc. Email: [email protected] www.comancheflyer.com CONTENTS ICS President 2 Letter from the President Lawrence Paratz Lawrence Paratz Tel: + 61-3-9817-1222 Cover Story: Comanche Spirit E-mail: [email protected] 4 N8062Y is a Work Horse/Time Machine Bruce Brandon Managing Editor Kim Blonigen 6 Nominating Committee Report E-mail: [email protected] ICS Board of Directors & Tribe Chiefs Display Advertising Manager 7 John Shoemaker 2006-2007 ICS Standing Committees, (800) 773-7798 Tool Loan Program, and Technical Directors Fax: (231) 946-9588 E-mail: [email protected] 9 CFF-Approved CFIs Trading Post & Classified Advertising Nancy A. Whitten Technically Speaking (800) 773-7798 10 Online Intelligence — Fax: (231) 946-9588 E-mail: [email protected] Nose Wheel Taxi Lights Graphic Design The Best of the Flyer Koren Herriman E-mail: [email protected] 14 Emergency Gear Extention, How to: Mike Dolin Printer Tribe News Village Press 2779 Aero Park Drive 20 What’s Happening with Keith Johnson Traverse City, MI 49685-0629 the Northeast Tribe — www.villagepress.com Dealing with Weather: ICS Technical Directors A Trip from my Logbook Bill Creech Tel: (915) 581-3401 (9:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. MST) 22 Headquarter Items for Sale Fax: (915) 581-4176 E-mail: [email protected] ICS Convention — Dave Gitelman Tacoma, Washington USA Tel: (585) 381-4785 (9:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. EST) Cell: (585) 317-8446 24 Exploring Oregon Jay Hulbert E-mail: [email protected] 24 Don’t Forget to Make Tribe ICS Tool Loan Program Matt Kurke Night Dinner Reservations 10340 Regent Circle Naples, FL 34109 25 Technical Seminars Take John van Bladeren Ph: (239) 593-6944 Center Stage at Tacoma Convention [email protected] 33 AirVenture 2007 Dave Fitzgerald The Comanche Flyer (ISSN 08994223, USPS 2-324) is available to members; Feature Story the $25 annual subscription rate is included in the Society’s Annual Membership dues 34 A Day that Shall Live in Infamy Bill Creech in US funds below. Comanche Flyer is 40 From the Tribe Chiefs published monthly by Village Press USA, Canada & Mexico Important Information $66 per year 43 Useful Information when Alan Bassman Europe & South Africa $89 per year Making a Garmin WAAS Upgrade All other Countries Incl. Australia $79 per year Fly-In Report Spousal Members 44 The Northeast Tribe has Keith Johnson $33 per year Cover Photo Success with Informal Fly-Ins Bruce Brandon’s PA-30 Twin Comanche 46 Comanche Classifieds Copyright Notice The act of making a submission for publication 47 ICS Name Badge Order Form is an express warranty that such contribution does not infringe on the rights or copyright of 47 Advertiser’s Index others. Nothing appearing in the Comanche Product/Vendor Karl Hipp Flyer shall be reproduced or distributed without 48 the express permission of the publisher. Information Postmaster Send address changes to the above address. Periodical postage paid at Traverse City, MI 49686 MAY 2007 Comanche Flyer • 1 Letter From The President At the Board meeting, I will be raising and promoting discussion on the overall governance and structure of ICS. In particular, the relative roles of Tribes and “ICS Central” deserve a re-look with a view to creating more responsibility in the Tribes, and reducing the dependence on the ICS for general activity, while at the same time reinforcing the role of ICS to take responsibility for issues which are fleet-wide and cross-Tribal. In the last few columns, I asked for your input on these matters. That request still stands. I have had a trickle of input, but not much. “We now need to refashion the ICS to best serve the needs of the members going forward.” Last month I noted that the ICS is now at a tipping point in its history. Now that we have the monkey of the old headquarters off our backs, we need to refashion the ICS to best serve the needs of the members going forward. That remains the challenge, and it is pleasing to see that a sig- nificant group of the membership seems to be understand- ing and supporting the journey. We will discuss a number of core items at the Board meeting, including the Proficiency Program, publishing of the Tips, possible approaches to securing some valuable Comanche am writing this the week before the Spring Board meet- manuals and data, Insurance, Continuing Airworthiness and ing to be held in Addison, Texas. Unfortunately, the a range of other matters. In next month’s column, look for I editorial timetable doesn’t allow me to hold this over a report back on those and other items which arise. until after the Board meeting, which I would like to do to Good news is that many of the ICS team, including me, give you the latest updates. I’ll cover the affairs of the Board will be able to get to Sun ’n Fun again this year after the meeting in the next column. Board meeting. That will be history by the time you read Once again, Dick and Doris Brown have taken the lion’s this, but I hope that I and the other officers of the ICS there share of the load of arranging the meeting, and for that we will have been able to catch up with any ICS members, as all thank them. Their efforts make it all flow easily and well as the usual “gang.” smoothly and really assist the Society. Airshows like Sun ’n Fun are always good barometers of It is way too early to make a definitive call, but there are what’s hot and what’s not. As our aircraft age in a world of signs that the drop in membership has been arrested, and increasing plastic and MFDs, the question will be – do they even possibly reversed. If this trend holds true, then the become just old, or do they become classic? In the one changes made in the Society, with the closure of the head- case, they lose value, in the other, they hold value. And that quarters office, have now made their way through the system depends on what end consumers want and value. and ICS is on a stable base, including financially. This is very It has been interesting to see the rising commentary exciting as it hopefully allows us to now focus to activity which indicates we are now into the post-computer age. which is future and developmentally based. Perhaps we can Guess what? The young people we lamented were playing move from fire fighting to building, at last. with computers instead of hanging off airfield fences have There is so much to do, and I get e-mails from many of moved on and are no longer playing with computers. you wanting things specifically done “right now.” As time Just this week, I have been reading a series of articles goes forward, we are going to have to dig deeper into the skills, dismayed that young people are “no longer interested in how resources and abilities of the membership to undertake and computers work,” and are just interested in downloading lead specific tasks and responsibilities. music and videos. 2 • Comanche Flyer MAY 2007 We all know that products have a lifecycle from innovation the “green credentials” of aviation, and general aviation in through maturity to obsolescence. Running in parallel to particular to be challenged. Have a think about how you this is a fascination curve. For many ICS members, their own would respond to this. Maybe you’re saying, “It’s my right to life history has been parallel to the evolution of general burn AVGAS” (which is probably not a long-term winner), aviation. The question now is to understand the aspirations to “I actually use less gas to visit my kids when I fly direct, and fascinations of the next generation of GA pilots, and than when I spend hours on the road. I also take pressure off current new entrants. the airline system reducing their use of all sorts of resources,” One of the keenest aviators I know at the moment came or maybe your use of aircraft is an enabler in your business to aviation in mid-life after a career in IT – but is now one which benefits society in some identifiable way. of us. Maybe Comanches are where you go when you grow With the finer weather now coming to the northern up from computers – when reality replaces simulation. hemisphere, I trust you will all get the opportunity to fly So maybe we are looking in the wrong place when we ask and enjoy your aircraft with your friends and loved ones. current young people to mirror our own journeys in aviation. And have a think about who you can introduce to this won- Perhaps we should be promoting aviation as the “real deal” derful world of ours. in a synthesised, simulated, virtual world. And increasingly, Until next month – this call will have appeal. safe and enjoyable flying, In a world that has become focussed on climate change and greenhouse impacts, we can anticipate the question of Lawrence Comanche Flyer Submission Guidelines All members are encouraged to submit articles for publication in the Comanche Flyer.