Aviation Vol36
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Published Quarterly for Users of Michigan’s Air Transportation System At 10:30 A.M. on December 17, 1903, Orville Wright achieved the first piloted, sustained, controlled and powered flight. His brother, Wilbur Wright, stood by and timed the flight with a stopwatch. The first flight lasted twelve seconds and the aircraft flew 100 yards. The location was Kill Devil Hills, near Kitty Hawk in North Carolina. After four years of experiments with kites, gliders and wind tunnel testing, the Wright Brothers finally achieved their dream. Three more flights were made that day and the longest was nearly a minute and covered more than half a mile. They designed their own engine with the aid of their bicycle mechanic, Charlie Taylor. He designed and built an original engine that just met the Wright Brothers minimum specifications. The propellers were remarkably efficient considering there was almost complete lack of knowledge on this subject at the time. Wilbur Wright was the first person to recognize that a propeller is nothing more than a twisted wing, where the “lift” force is now pointing forward for propulsion. Using airfoil data measured during previous wind tunnel testing, Wilbur designed and constructed a remarkably efficient propeller. This aspect of the Wright brothers’ achievement is sometimes not fully appreciated, yet it was one of the most important technological victories that led to their success. Wing warping was used for lateral control. Wilbur conceived the idea of bending, or deflecting, the tips of wings to achieve lateral control around the longitudinal axis of an aircraft. The concept of wing warping was another one of the major ingredients for the Wright’s success. The Wright Brothers were the first to treat a flying machine as an integrated system involving aerodynamics, propulsion, structures, and flight dynamics. They fully appreciated the interaction and mutual importance of all these aspects. In this sense, they were the first to build a total flying machine, which encompassed all of the major aspects of a modern airplane. 2003 Vol. 36 No. 4 The Michigan Aeronautics Commission met in Lansing on November 19, 2003. Among items acted upon was the approval of funding for airport improvements across the state. Some projects have federal, state, and local funding, while others are funded from state and/or local sources alone. Commission approval for federally funded projects authorizes state participation, subject to issuance of a federal grant. Federal and state dollars for airport development are primarily from restricted, user generated funds. The primary sources of revenue are aviation fuel and passenger taxes, as well as aircraft registration fees. Following are the approved projects: ADRIAN EAST TAWAS SAULT STE. MARIE Lenawee County Airport Iosco County Airport Chippewa County International Airport $145,000 for design work for the extension $592,000 for the second phase of a $1,111,111 to rehabilitate Runway 16/34 of Runway 5/23 including parallel taxiway runway rehabilitation project. $532,800 and a taxiway connector, update the airport and lighting. $130,500 federal, $7,250 state, state and $59,200 local. layout plan, and to construct service roads. and $7,250 local. $1,000,000 federal, $55,555 state, HOWELL and $55,556 local. BATTLE CREEK Livingston County Airport W. K. Kellogg Airport $2,067,000 to acquire land to relocate Runway STURGIS $60,000 in state funds for design work for 13/31. $1,860,300 federal and $206,700 local. Kirsch Municipal Airport construction of a storage building for the $50,000 for final design work for the state’s airport rescue firefighting trainer. IONIA rehabilitation of Runway 18/36. $45,000 Ionia County Airport federal, $2,500 state, and $2,500 local. CARO $22,500 for design work for new hangars Tuscola Area Airport and a taxiway. $20,500 federal, $1,125 state, TRAVERSE CITY $100,000 for installation of an Automated and $1,125 local. Cherry Capital Airport Weather Observation System (AWOS). $6,215,008 for construction of a new terminal $90,000 federal, $5,000 state, LAKE ISABELLA building. $4,755,083 federal, $29,987 state, and $5,000 local. Lake Isabella Airport and $1,429,938 local. $12,000 for preliminary engineering work for CHARLOTTE land easement and tree clearing. $10,800 state Fitch H. Beach Airport and $1,200 local funds. $166,500 to acquire land for a future 2004 cross-wind runway. $150,000 federal LINDEN Aeronautics Commission and $16,500 local. Price’s Airport Meeting Schedule $1,434,000 for runway reconstruction. CLARE $1,290,600 state and $143,400 local. • January 28, 2004 Clare Municipal Airport • March 25, 2005 (Joint meeting with $60,000 for land survey, appraisal, and MARSHALL the State Transportation Commission.) acquisition. $54,000 federal and $6,000 local. Brooks Field • May 26, 2004 $22,000 for design work for rehabilitation of DETROIT Runway 10/28 lighting system. $19,800 federal, • July 28, 2004 Willow Run Airport $1,100 state, and $1,100 local. • September 29, 2004 $667,700 for design of runway safety area • November 17, 2004 improvements including an environmental PONTIAC All meetings begin at 10:00 a.m. assessment. $600,930 federal, $33,385 state, Oakland County International Airport and will be held at the Aeronautics Building, and $33,385 local. $2,047,000 to relocate hangars. $1,386,000 state and $660,300 local. 2700 E. Airport Service Dr., Lansing. Two new members have joined the Michigan Aeronautics Commission. NEW COMMISSIONERS Eric V. Smith, of Northville Township and Terry Everman, of Flushing, were welcomed by Director Rob Abent and other members at the November 19, 2003 meeting in Lansing. Both Mr. Smith and Mr. Everman were appointed to four-year terms by Governor Jennifer Granholm. They replace Fred Rakunas and the late Alice Gustafson. Eric V. Smith is an attorney in private practice Terry Everman is a General Motors employee, and an administrator for Wayne County. UAW member, pilot, and flight instructor. He Over the years, he has served the county in holds an associate degree in aviation and has a number of capacities including liaison to the been flying for 23 years, including four years as Wayne County Airport Authority. He is also a Civil Air Patrol mission pilot. Mr. Everman is a former student helicopter pilot. Mr. Smith an aircraft owner and member of the Aircraft holds bachelor and law degrees from Wayne Owners and Pilots Association and Experimen- State University. He and his wife are the tal Aircraft Association. He has two daughters parents of three sons. and one grandchild. Michigan Aviation2 2003 Vol. 36 No. 4 seaplanes, helicopters, the McDonnell-Douglas promised not to outsource any jobs currently DC-9, DC-10, Boeing 727 and 747. Since his performed by FAA employees for the rest of retirement from airline employment he has the fiscal year (until September 30, 2004). continued his work in support of aviation in The bill - also called Vision 100, The Century Michigan by lending his expertise as an advisor of Aviation Act - includes a third-party to colleges, universities, flight schools, review before the Transportation Security and airports. Administration can revoke an airman’s certificate for security reasons, the “Meigs I would like to express my deep gratitude to Field Amendment,” which prohibits closure of both Commissioners Gustafson and Rakunas an airport without sufficient notice, and more for their years of service. Michigan is most than $14 billion for airport construction, much certainly a better place in which to fly because of that earmarked for general aviation facilities. of their efforts. Among the commission’s most important I would also like to express my thanks to the obligations is to act as worthy stewards other members of the commission. Chairman, of public funds. As we navigate this most Sid Adams, Vice-Chair, Dean Greenblatt, challenging of times, I look forward to working Rob Abent, Director and Lowell Kraft are the other appointed with the commission and aviation community Michigan Aeronautics Commission members. Each serves on a volunteer basis. to insure that users of Michigan’s aviation Gloria Jeff, MDOT Director; Guy Gordon, system receive the maximum return on their Michigan Department of Natural Resources; investment in our aeronautics infrastructure. In the thirteen months since being Capt. John Ort, Michigan State Police; and I invite members of the aviation community appointed Director of the Michigan Brigadier General Ken Heaton, Michigan to participate in this process. Michigan Aeronautics Commission, I have learned a Department of Military Affairs are the Aeronautics Commission meetings are held great deal about the passion and dedication statutory members. bimonthly beginning in January (see the common to members of the aviation industry. schedule on Page 2) and are open to the public. I have had the privilege to work with pilots, As we begin a new year, it is my pleasure We welcome your suggestions, comments, maintenance technicians, airport managers, to welcome to the commission two new and ideas. For additional information, including airline executives, and engineers and have members, recently appointed by Governor agendas, please call 517-335-9943. developed friendships with many of them. Jennifer Granholm to replace Alice Gustafson Among the most satisfying of these friendships and Fred Rakunas. Eric V. Smith and Terry has been with the members of the Michigan Everman joined the commission at the most Aeronautics Commission. recent meeting on November 19, 2003. I look forward to getting to know and working THE 2004 As 2003 comes to a close, the commission with both of them to solve problems and is at a point of transition. In March we address issues vital to users of Michigan’s air MICHIGAN AIRPORT were profoundly saddened to learn of the transportation system.