Volume 20 October Issue 4 WARBIRD FLYER 2019 Dan Barry’s L-3 takes off at Gig Harbor Wings and Wheels. Photo: Dan Shoemaker Cascade Warbirds Squadron Newsletter CO’S COCKPIT By Ron Morrell Where do we go from here? The beginning of lings Foundation B-17. Lives were lost, the meeting season always presents new op- many are badly hurt, and a valuable piece portunities and new challenges. Just ask Dave of history is destroyed. The usual immedi- about finding presenters and interesting ate “knee-jerk” reactions have surfaced guests for the meeting dates! For me, this past concerning the flying of historic aviation year seems to include more challenges to over- assets and all I can advise is to step back, come than in previous years, as well as more don’t make any assumptions, and do some challenges being created as we go forward, but self-analysis. it is early yet! Consider your own flying habits, miti- I hope everyone, from the pilots/owners to the gate your own risks, and attempt to be pro- marshallers and enthusiasts had a great flying season and was able fessional in all we do as warbird pilots, to enjoy the opportunities that were available. I hope everyone will owners, and enthusiasts. You can do much see that, in my last few months as the CWB Squadron Commander, to help show others that we can safely fly my goal will be to concentrate on leaving the organization in a better historic military aircraft by maintaining place than it was when I was anointed as Flight Lead back in 2012. excellent maintenance standards, adhering That is a big challenge for me due to the fact that I have thought, to standard flying practices, and your own since the first day I got to know the squadron back in 2005, that it diligence to hard-learned safety practices. was one of the best organizations around and was respected as a fine Maintain your own high standards of per- example of a group of warbird owners, pilots, and enthusiasts. I nev- sonal qualifications and personal proficien- er would have volunteered to become the Squadron Commander if I cy while demanding the same from your had not already thought very highly of the Cascade Warbirds. peers. With all that in mind, there will still I hope everyone agrees that this squadron is on a very solid foot- be accidents, just do your duty to minimize ing and, like every organization, is always in need of new ideas and the risks and your own exposure. A short fresh enthusiasm to keep it moving in the right direction. We will prayer to Icarus can’t hurt either! need our membership to help out and step up to keep the excellence With all this in mind, remember one that we need to face the inevitable next set of challenges. This past very important rule: warbird flying is seri- flying season, we had some self-imposed setbacks as well as setbacks ous fun! We need to remember that we all imposed by outside forces. We will spend this meeting season dis- participate in flying activities including cussing these and finding ways to mitigate these issues in the fu- flying, spectating, and enjoying the compa- ture. If you have been cognizant of the issues, feel free to step for- ny of other enthusiasts because we have ward and help come up with solutions and make your voice heard. fun doing it! Attending the Reno Air Races We will need positive changes to squadron policies, rules, and atti- does not include flying for most of us but tudes to prevent any recurrence of the issues we faced in 2019. That we still enjoy the camaraderie and esprit is your challenge as a member of the largest and most active EAA de corps by just participating alongside our Warbird squadron in the country. friends and soon to be friends. The sound My last months in office as the leader of the CWB Board of Di- of freedom includes the sounds of Pratt & rectors will include discussions of pride in our organization, the dis- Whitneys, Merlins, Bristols, Wright Cy- cipline needed to keep our squadron on track, and the hard reality of clones, and even those that start with an where warbird flying and warbird organizations are going. I wel- “F” and push today’s modern fighters come everyone’s input and ideas. In the same vein, as I write this, around the pattern. Enjoy the freedoms all we have all seen and been following the speculation and discussions of these created for you and maintain far in the media and social media concerning the recent crash of the Col- into the future. Also, Keep ‘em Flying. WARBIRD FLYER, October 2019 1 WARBIRD FLYER SQUADRON NEWS Cascade Warbirds Squadron Commander Emeritus Finally, 2018 scholar Devin Graves R.D. “Crash” Williams WELCOME ABOARD who, after using his CWB scholarship, decided to continue his pilot training and Commanding Officer We are pleased to introduce to you a was the recipient of a $2,500 grant from Ron Morrell couple new members. Joang Shaeffer The Neyman Fund, is due to take his Executive Officer lives in Arlington and is the owner of private pilot check ride this month. Dave Desmon Aviation Covers, Inc. We’ve heard that Devin plans to continue Operations Officer (www.aviationcovers.com). Have a look- his flight training, next earning his in- John “Smokey” Johnson see at their offerings when you’re ready Adjutant strument, commercial, and CFI. To that to protect your aeromachine. Also joining Fred C. Smyth end, he has been accepted into the Utah us is Ross Demmel; he lives in Bucoda, Finance Officer State University aviation program. We WA, and owns a PT-26A. Make sure Fred C. Smyth wish him the very best in his quest to these folks feel welcome. Officer-at-Large become a professional pilot. John Clark PARTY TIME! Newsletter Editor FUNDING OUR SCHOLARSHIPS John Haug And save the date—that’s the im- Our squadron has committed nearly portant part! The non-flying highlight of $30,000 to area youth since the inception This is the official publication of our year is the Christmas Party and Cascade Warbirds. The views of our scholarship program. That money Awards Banquet. This year we’ll do it on expressed in this newsletter are has come from the B-17 rides program, Saturday, 14 December, at the Hilton those of the individual writers, and member dues, and specified donations. do not constitute the official Garden Inn in Bothell. That’s exit 26 off We are thankful for each and every dol- position of Cascade Warbirds. the I-405 southbound. Cocktails at 1730 lar made available for this worthwhile Members are encouraged to hours and dinner at 1900 hours. contribute any matter related to program. (Civilians: Google for a translation. ☺) warbirds, which the editor will For those of you with tax-advantaged gladly work with you to publish. There will be a special prize for retirement plans, there is a distribution greatest distance travelled to attend. strategy available for direct donations It is the goal of Cascade Warbirds Tickets this year are only $45; you can to promote the restoration, from your plan to us, completely bypass- reserve your seat by sending a check to preservation, operation and public ing your IRS Form 1040. See your tax CWB, 1066 Yates Rd, Oak Harbor, WA display of historically significant professional to learn the value of this military aircraft; to acquire and 98277. maneuver. If you want to check our bona perpetuate the living history of Rooms at the Hilton start at only those who served their country on fides, search for “cascade warbird” at $109. Reservations will be made online these aircraft; and to inspire www.irs.gov/teos. Every little bit helps. today's young people to become at our personalized Hilton web page; the aviation pioneers of we’ll email that info to you shortly. tomorrow. EDITOR WINS AWARD SCHOLAR REPORT John Haug, editor of this very publi- All correspondence to the cation, was honored by EAA at Oshkosh squadron may be submitted via All five of this year’s students (Judah the e-mail or mailing addresses this year for the quality of his work. Re- Britton, Lukas Holloman, Jackson below. ceiving both a plaque (which can be seen Mangum, Keith Steedman, and Tim on our web page) and a citation, EAA Wetzel) successfully completed their pri- Business Office thanked John for his hours of hard work vate pilot ground school courses and 1066 Yates Road that contribute to the success of this were able to log their two instructional Oak Harbor, WA 98277 squadron. Indeed, we all thank John for flights by the end of last month. Four of his tireless efforts. Editorial E-mail them have submitted essays to the Schol- [email protected] arship Committee in hopes of securing a KICK SOME TIRES grant of $2,500 to further their pilot training. Join our pilots showing historically Cascade Warbirds is a tax-exempt NEWS FLASH—Keith Steedman significant aircraft to the public with charitable organization as defined was just awarded the Aviation Training your new warbird. They’re available here in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Grant of $2,500. Keith has enrolled in from your fellow members, who would Revenue Code. the private pilot program at Galvin love them to go to a good home. Flight Training and this grant will be Steve Hewitt’s 1953 C-45H was pre- Annual newsletter value: $6.00 disbursed as his interim training goals viously an AT-7 Navigator trainer.