Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 55 October 2001 Hameed Noon Meetings are the 2nd Saturday of each Month at the Hangar, Mason Jewett Field, Breakfast at 0800, Meeting at 0900. Pres: Bill Hanna 627-4360 Vice Pres: Paul Barbour 627-3381 Treas: Gregg Cornell 351-1338 Sec: Drew Seguin 332-2601 Editor: Charley Downey 349-3903 Graphics Editor: Sue Downey It was a sad day for the United States and especially New Chapter members were not going to be discouraged by the York City on September 11, 2001, when this great country lack of planes and everyone who had one stored in the local was attacked on our home ground. Chapter 55 had planned hangars brought it out and parked it proudly. months in advance to hold our annual Fly-in Drive-in breakfast on September 16. The image seen here, perhaps as if you were in church, is one's way of reflecting on the beautiful day, the flag at half A lot of events nationwide were cancelled, but our day went mast, honoring the dead and injured, the material objects we on as planned with a good turn out of Chapter members all work so hard for and the most important part, the attending and assisting with the many chores involved, but freedoms we all have and are entitled to in this great county. all were thinking and remembering the past days events. Let’s all hope and pray that our lives as we know them Unfortunately, the beautiful Sunday sky was not filled with today, but without sacrifice, continue on forever. airplanes coming for the great pancakes and eggs being served that morning, due to the grounding of all aircraft by God Bless Us All. the FAA. And the drive-in public attendance was very sparse as it appeared folks were attending the church of their Warren choice on this day. 1 need a little help). The candidates will be announced at the Page 55 November meeting and additional nominations will also be IT’S ALREADY BEEN SAID Warren Miller’s comments accepted from the floor. The elections will be held during the and picture on the front of this month’s newsletter sum up December meeting. very well the report on this year’s fly-in. I’ve been involved MORE OF THE STORY Many of us have heard Russ with the Chapter fly-ins for 14 years and I think this one will Hilding’s account of his WWII experiences flying B-17’s be the most memorable for me. It marked the conclusion of and becoming a POW. This month, as part of the October a sad and tragic week, and it was a struggle to determine if Program Team, Russ will tell us some of his earlier we should cancel or not. Once the crew decided our efforts experiences that lead up to his adventures in Europe – would be channeled toward relief for the New York and namely the flight training and exercises that eventually won Washington victims, the spirit and enthusiasm to go forward him the left seat of a B-17. The rest of his “crew” is: was the best I’ve ever seen. Although our customer turnout was low, there were many generous people and the Chapter Tim Martinson Ken Gerow Bob Smith will make a nice donation. Thanks Joe Pirch and all who Sam Hines George Haley Steve Kent pitched in to make this one of our most successful fly-ins – Doug Koons John Mireley Jim Sawyer ever. Intelligence reports indicate that the crew may prepare HEAVY IRON Many of us will never fly an airplane that breakfast for us. Come and see. weighs more than a couple of thousand pounds. At last month’s meeting, Ken Drewyor gave us the opportunity to SHE’S GONE! Another flight training story is in the glimpse a little of the life of those who regularly fly aircraft making. Chapter member Leah Voelker has left for her that weigh hundreds of thousands of training with the National Guard. Her pounds. It was interesting to have an ñþQþñþQþñþQ aircraft of choice will be the C-130. I insight about UPS and the airplanes that just finished reading a book on that Ken operates for a living -- that was the Board of Directors’ Meeting aircraft and it is an awesome flying closest many of us will ever be to the machine. I’m sure we will hear some world of commercial aviation. Thanks Wednesday, October 10 great flying stories when Leah comes for sharing your experiences with us, 7:00 pm at Hangar back to visit. Ken, and thanks to those of your Program Team that lent a hand with the Chapter 55 Meeting MORE TRAINING A notable trait breakfast. of good pilots is they know they must Saturday, October 13 never stop training if they want to WHEN IT RAINS, IT LEAKS 8-9:30 am Breakfast remain good pilots. As a service to “good” pilots, Spartan Wings and Periodically, we’ve had discussions 9:30 am Chapter Meeting about the hanger roof and its tendency AeroGenesis are sponsoring an to leak when it rains (it’s perfectly OK ñþQþñþQþñþQ aviation Safety Seminar on the rest of the time). The final solution Wednesday, October 17 at 7:00 pm in was to do some spot repair in certain areas and I was the AeroGenesis hanger. The topic supposed to organize a work party in August to get it done. I will be Runway Incursions, a subject that has drawn much made an “executive” decision that no one wanted to work on national attention in the last few years. Attendance satisfies the roof in 80-degree weather and put it off. I’m sure no one the safety meeting requirements for the FAA Pilot wants to work on the roof in 20-degree weather either. If Proficiency Award Program. the weather after Saturday’s meeting is somewhere between the abovementioned limits, and a few folks can stay for an Board Agenda ~ 10/8/01 ~ 7:00 pm hour after the meeting, we’ll go aloft and do the deed. · Fly-In donation · Nomination process CHANGING OF THE GUARD Time flies when you’re · Christmas Party status having fun and the two-year term of your current Chapter · Chapter Business Video review officers is drawing to a close. We’ll set up a nominating committee to canvass the membership over the next month Bill Hanna, President Ï recruiting candidates for the Chapter officer positions: president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer (and newsletter editor – ed). If you have an interest in serving the Chapter as an officer, now is the time to make it known. If you don’t want the job, but there is someone you think would really benefit the Chapter from a leadership position, encourage them to run (sometimes people are bashful and 2 The Chesaning Connection EAA Chapter 55 Business September 1 dawned clear and cool. It certainly looked like a Meeting good day for the “Cook Your Own Steak” Fly-In at General Membership Meeting – September 8, 2001 Chesaning. Bill Purosky, Greg Hover, and I departed Mason a little after 11 am in Spartan Wings Skyhawk for a half- There were 42 people in attendance, including members and hour flight. Mike and Renee Arntz left a little before in Mark guests. Q Meeting minutes of August 11, 2001, were Jacobs’ plane. Gil McKessy flew up with friends on approved Q The Treasurer’s Report was approved. Q motorcycles. Young Eagles Report was provided by Mike Arntz. We have flown 224 Young Eagles against our goal of 150. Q Mason We picked out our steaks (good size sizzlers) and put them Aviation Day Report was provided by Joe Pirch; Volunteer on one of the many grills until done to our liking. Included Lists will be posted for Food Service, Parking, Traffic was a large baked potato, cole slaw, roll, cupcakes, and a coordination. The Cessna 120-140 club will be joining us for beverage. All for $7.50. the event. Q The Michigan RV club is planningto have a We went uptown to look over the antiques and things. Came fly-in event at Chapter 55 facilities on the weekend of upon a 1930 Lincoln that was being raffled off. Bought September 22-23. Q Brent Andrews invites all Chapter 55 tickets? Sure. Stopped at Frosty’s on way back for ice members to a fly-in and lunch at his new digs at Hastings cream. Airport after the November meeting. Q Ken Drewyor gave a talk on his experiences as a pilot for UPS. Back at the airport, people were still coming in. A good crowd. The “Steak-In” seems like a good idea and fun. Drew Seguin, Secretary Ï Mike and Renee left for another gathering at Marshall. Bill Book Review – by Dick Wilke flew us home. I remarked how on a day like that we hadn’t seen another aircraft. Having said that, another Cessna A Few of the First by Bruce Lewis crossed 200-300 feet diagonally and directly above us. We After Tony Watson gave us the presentation on his father’s were at 2700-2800 feet, he at 3000. Shows the value of experiences as a Royal Flying Corps pilot in WWI, he loaned staying off those 500-foot increment altitudes. me this book, which he ordered from England. It contains We had a super time and enjoyed the meal, the company, the first-hand accounts of 13 men who were in the Royal and the joy of flying.