Volume 18, Issue 10, October 2003 A Monthly Publication of the Pine Mountain Lake Aviation Association AVIATION LEGEND WAYNE HANDLEY ABOUT OUR OCTOBER 4TH GUEST SPEAKER Wayne Handley is a former naval aviator, ag pilot, aerobatics The Raven is a beautiful and exciting monoplane that proved to champion and preeminent airshow performer. Since beginning be a crowd favorite for the next eight years. In 1998, Wayne his aviation career in 1957, he has began flying airshows in the Oracle amassed over 26,000 hours of Turbo Raven. Powered by a 750 flight time with little of it spent HP Pratt & Whitney PT6A-25C, straight, level and upright. During the Turbo Raven, was the first his days as a crop duster, Wayne airshow airplane to have a received a number of awards from positive thrust-to-weight ratio. the California Agricultural Aircraft With a performance weight of Association, including Member of 1,900 pounds and 2,800 pounds of the Year in 1980, the George H. thrust, the Turbo Raven could Baldrick Memorial Award in 1984 and Outstanding Airman Award climb straight up, stop in the vertical line and then accelerate in 1985. Concurrently, in 1983, at the ripe young age of 44, straight up again. Another of Wayne's favorite maneuvers in the Wayne began flying in IAC (International Aerobatic Club) Oracle Turbo Raven was to power out of a flat spin without competitions. In his first contest, with the extraordinary metric of lowering the nose below the horizon. On January 20, 1999, 15,000 hours in his logbook, he placed 19th out of 21 Wayne established a world record for all propeller driven competitors. After such an airplanes by going from brake release to 3,000 meters in one inauspicious start, Wayne minute and nine seconds. In April of 1999, flying a G-202, really dug in. The following Wayne broke his own world record for inverted flat spins by year, he won the California taking the world record up to 78 turns. (Wayne asks anyone State Point Series in the wishing to break this record to add his or her turns to the top and intermediate category. One not the bottom of this maneuver.) During the EAA convention in year later, Wayne won the title Oshkosh on July 30,1999, Wayne established a of California Unlimited new time-to-climb record to 6,000 meters in Aerobatic Champion. After the Oracle Turbo Raven with a time of three pocketing this title two more minutes and six seconds. times, he left competition and chose to fly airshows full time. In 1989, he became the world record holder for inverted flat spins On October 3, 1999, one year to the day that by completing 67 consecutive turns. In 1996, he received the Bill the Oracle Turbo Raven had been on the Barber Award for Showmanship presented annually by World airshow circuit, Wayne was involved in a tragic Airshow News to an airshow performer who has demonstrated accident while performing at the California superb showmanship ability. In 1997, Wayne received the Art International Airshow. The Raven was a total loss and Wayne Scholl Showmanship Award presented annually by ICAS sustained a broken back and other injuries. Thanks to the (International Council of Air Shows) to the airshow act that best preparedness of the show's emergency personnel and the exemplifies the qualities of showmanship. In 2000, Wayne was magnificent staff of the Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital, Wayne honored by the Aero Club of Northern California, a branch of the made a complete recovery. He now flies a stunning Extra 300L, National Aeronautic Association, with its Crystal Eagle Award. In a gift from Oracle and its founder Larry Ellison. 2001, he was awarded the ICAS Sword of Excellence in Wayne Handley will conduct one of his famous weekend recognition of his outstanding service and personal contribution seminars on October 4th and 5th at Pine Mountain Lake Airport. to the airshow industry. Wayne now spends most of his workdays coaching aerobatic competitors, airshow performers, THE PINE MOUNTAIN LAKE AVIATION ASSOCIATION ag pilots and military pilots, in addition to maintaining his airstrip welcomes in Greenfield, California. He also remains quite active on the speaking circuit, delighting audiences by sharing his vast aviation Master Aviator Wayne Handley knowledge, his wonderful aviation stories and his dry sense of humor. October 4 & 5, 2003 At The Buchner Hangar Wayne started his aerobatic career flying a Pitts Special in competition and airshows and transitioned to the Raven in 1990. Details on pages 7 & 8 PRESIDENT’S CORNER Affairs Vice President, Conni Buchner for Social Affairs th Vice President, Barbara Coldren for Treasurer and Pat ur October 4 program was moving, to say the Helling for a second year as Secretary. The election of least. DeWayne Gipe presented a thought- PMLAA’s 2004 Board of Officers will be held at our O provoking patriotic story. Retired Navy pilot, October 4th General Meeting. Nominations may also be Captain Ray Alcorn shared some of his experiences as a made from the floor provided consent of the nominee has Vietnam War POW for 7 years and 2 months in the been obtained. infamous ‘Hanoi Hilton.’ Each speaker received a standing ovation from a grateful audience. As dictated in the PMLAA by-laws, candidates with the highest number of votes shall be elected. When only one At the conclusion of his inspiring talk, Captain Ray Alcorn candidate is nominated for an office, that person shall be read the following piece written by author Charles Swindol. elected. New officers will begin their terms in January. ATTITUDE The president appoints all committee members. The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude CONGRATULATIONS JIM THOMAS on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is ON YOUR APPOINTMENT AS more important than the past, than education, than money, TUOLUMNE COUNTY AIRPORTS DIRECTOR than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than Jim Thomas, a.k.a. JT, started his new job as Director of what other people think or say or do. It is more important Tuolumne County’s two airports, Columbia and Pine than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break th Mountain Lake, on September 16 . He is a respected a company . a church . a home. The remarkable PMLAA member with a mild manner and a generous spirit. thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude I can’t think of a better choice to be we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past . the guardian of our cherished . we cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can airports. do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude . I am convinced that life is 10% what happens JT is presently applying skills as an to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you . engineer to build a Lancair Legacy. we are in charge of our attitudes. He is pictured here in front of his Piper Supercruiser. Thank you so much to Alan Gaudenti for flying Captain Look for an interview with our new Airports Director very Alcorn to and from Mesquite, Nevada in his superb King soon in The PMLAA News. Air. The flights totaled over 1,200 miles! Kym Curran and Paul Purifoy produced another terrific Concours d’Elegance at Pine Mountain Lake Airport. PMLAA member John Stone, pictured left, won top honors. The proceeds benefited Kittytails, a non-profit feral cat rescue. Speaking of Paul Purifoy, here’s a great story about commitment: Paul’s daughter Stacy, a PMLAA Member, started flying in January of 2002. She flew 90 hours in 90 days to Alan Gaudenti and Ray Alcorn earn her private pilots license. Stacy had a job for the forestry service repelling out Many thanks to Elizabeth TeSelle & Bob Hornauer for of perfectly good helicopters and decided housing Captain Alcorn in their beautiful Alpenglo Bed it would be more fun to fly them, so she and Breakfast at Manzanita Hill moved to Arizona for training and passed (formally called the Manzanita Hill her Commercial Helicopter check in September. She will Bed and Breakfast). Their be a CFII before Christmas. Congratulations, Stacy. peaceful retreat with its breathtaking views is located Details on Wayne Handley’s October 4th seminar are on about a quarter mile east of the the back page of this issue. Please send in your intersection of Highway 120 and reservations now, if you haven’t yet done so, to help us Ferretti Road in Groveland. efficiently coordinate the event. Thanks. PMLAA BOARD OF OFFICERS ELECTION: OCTOBER 4TH lease consider joining us Saturday, October 18th for our The PMLAA Board of Officers Nominating Committee (Kay PCASTLE AIR MUSEUM FLY-OUT / DRIVE-OUT. If you Smith, Paul Price and Jim Thomas) has been working intend to participate, please mail your check as soon as you diligently to select a slate of candidates to serve on our can so our hosts can plan accordingly. Details on this terrific day-trip are on the next page. Call me with any questions. 2004 Board of Officers. They reported their nominees to the membership at our September General Meeting: Happy Flydays! Jerry Baker for President, Mike Gustafson for Airport ξ Keith Zenobia FLY-OUT / DRIVE-0UT TO CASTLE AIR MUSEUM JOIN US FOR A LUNCHEON AND PRIVATE TOUR Saturday, October 18, 2003 The Castle Air Museum stands as a tribute to the men and women who risked their lives for our freedom. It is a history lesson for all to share.