VOL. 31 , No. 9 SEPTEMBER 2003 2 VAA NEWS/H.G. Frautschy 4 2003 AIRVENTURE AWARDS 6 JOHN MILLER RECALLS A LITTLE FLYING INCIDENT IN 1929/john Miller 8 TAILWHEEL TRANSITION TRAINING, PART 3 CROSSWIND TECHNIQUE AND SLIPS TO LANDING­ THE LOST ARTS?/Donovan Hammer 10 MYSTERY PLANE/H.G. Frautschy 11 ONE LARGE ADRENALINE COCKTAIL WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE FUSELAGE GAS TANK SPLITS OPEN IN FLIGHT WITH NO PLACE TO GO?/ Al Kelch 14 RICHARD PORTER'S C-196 A ROUND-MoTORED " WHATSIT?"/Budd Davisson 18 VAA CHAPTER LOCATOR VISIT THE VAA CHAPTER NEAREST YOU AND GET TO KNOW SOME GREAT OLD-AIRPLANE ENTHUSIASTS! 19 PASS IT TO BUCK 20 VAA CHAPTERS IN ACTION VAA CHAPTER 30's YOUNG EAGLES RALLY/ H.G. Frautschy 21 A LEAP OF FAITH Rob Mixon 22 THE VINTAGE INSTRUCTOR WHAT'S GOING ON?/ Dou g Stewart 25 CALENDAR 27 NEW MEMBERS 28 CLASSIFIED ADS Front Cover: Behind the thundering 450 hp Pratt & Whitney R-985 are pilot Publisher TOM POBEREZNY Richard Porter and his passenger, Mark Boykin in Porter's Cessna "196" a con­ Editor-in-Chief scon SPANGLER version of the classic Cessna 195. EAA photo by Jim Koepnick, EAA Cessna 210 Executive Editor MIKE DIFRISCO photo plane flown by Bruce Moore. News Editor RIC REYNOLDS Photography Staff JIM KOEPNICK LEEANN ABRAMS Back Cover: A Century of Flight is the title of Leon Basler's mi xed media paint­ TRISHA LUNDQUIST ing that depicts the progress of flight throughout the century. Leon 's worked as Advertising Coordinator JULIE RUSSO a commercial artist and currently serves as the corporate pilot and creative Advertising/ Editorial Assistant ISABELLE WISKE designer for Kadrmas, Lee and Jackson in Bismarck, North Dakota. Leon 's art­ Copy Editing COLLEEN WALSH KATHLEEN WITMAN work was presented with the Theme-Par Excellence ribbon during the 2003 VINTAGE A.;.;I.;.;R"-P.;;;L.;.;A.;.;N.;;;E'--_________---1 EAA Sport Aviation Art Competition. Executive Director, Editor HENRY G. FRAUTSCHY VAA Administrative Assistant THERESA BOOKS Contributing Ed itors JOHN UNDERWOOD BUDD DAVISSON STRAIGHT Be LE EL BY ESPIE "BUTCH" JOYCE PRESIDENT, VINTAGE ASSOCIATION Hats off to our volunteers! I don't know about you, but after few rows of the camping area that are spending nearly two-and-a-half weeks set aside for homebuilt camping, and in Oshkosh working and enjoying EAA that's often the reason you see a gap in AirVenture 2003, making the shift back the parking as you are directed south to working for a living is a tough transi­ toward the rest of showplane camping. last year. After checking with the tion! I've been trying to think of all of On the opening day of EAA AirVen­ judges about any discrepancies that the events that took place, and put ture, we did a physical inventory of they needed to address, they went them in some sort or order, but it's diffi­ airplanes in the showplane camping home and worked on the airplane, and cult, since there were so many great area, plus our VAA parking, and we were presented with the Grand Cham­ activities that took place. counted nearly 1,100 airplanes, a record pion Lindy. Great job! Congratulations This year's event was a great success number of showplanes for us. It also to all the winners. I strongly believe in every respect. Thanks to good seemed that many folks chose to stay that if it were not for the awards pro­ weather in the central Midwest, we longer and participate in the many fo­ gram, many of these great airplanes in had a large number of airplanes arrive rums and visit the displays, including each of the judging categories would during the weekend prior to the con­ Countdown to Kitty Hawk. not be restored to the levels we see to­ vention's start on Tuesday. We were This year, the judges also had their day. It's truly remarkable. blessed with a great group of volun­ hands full. Before EAA AirVenture My hat's off to the hard-working teers who showed up early, and our starts, the judges arrive early enough chairmen, co-chairmen, and sunburned flight line safety and Tall Pines Cafe to be issued their equipment. It's a volunteers of the flight line safety crew. volunteers were able to help their fel­ great plan, and when it works, the On scooters and on foot, these folks do low VAA members get off to an judges can start reviewing aircraft be­ their best to help VAA members and enjoyable start to the week. fore the actual start of the event. Not nonmembers alike park and depart Over the years, as the convention this year. The computer system issued with their airplanes, sometimes with an grounds have been rearranged by EAA, to our judges was not working prop­ interval of only a few seconds. During we 've had to adjust our parking area erly, and would remain in various that time, they have to ensure the air­ layout. We're working on that again. states of disarray for the duration of plane's in a safe environment, check its To explain it further, for many years the convention. Not to be outflanked registration number, and if needed, we've kept the area just to the south of by a computer, our judges were issued check on the radio to see if it qualifies the Theater in the Woods as antique our old-fashioned pencil and paper to park in the showplane camping area, (no camping) parking only, and then forms at the beginning of the week, and then point them toward the right started showplane camping about and they accomplished their tasks spot. That's a lot to do on a hot day, halfway through this area to the south. with their usual efficiency. They all did and there are times when it gets a bit In the past, with demand for camping a great job under trying circumstances. hectic, and their conversations with the parking not as great in this area, we'd Needless to say, we will be working airplane pilots are pretty short and to fill in part of that area with "round en­ closely with EAA to ensure a revision the point. We appreciate the coopera­ gine" airplanes, most often classics. to the computer program meets the tion of pilots who are equally hot and This year, we didn't need to fill in the needs of the members and the judges. tired after a long flight. area, so many of those classics were The restoration of aircraft continues Parking is always an issue we work parked in different areas. to get better and better. Take, for exam­ with during EAA AirVenture. We Camping in the south half of the ple, the Classic Grand Champion for will be conducting a review of the convention grounds is not just VAA 2003. Mike Greenblatt and his wife, parking arrangements for the entire camping, but all of showplane camp­ Lydia, are a real team when it comes to showplane parking area that VAA ing. As more and more homebuilders their Beech 18 and its restoration. This administers during the convention. are camping with their aircraft, we're wasn't a one-time shot at the top Let's all pull in the same direction working with the homebuilt commu­ award, either. They've worked on that for the good of aviation. Remember, nity to accommodate those pilots who airplane for a number of years, getting we are better together. Join us and camp with their airplanes. There are a as close as Reserve Grand Champion have it all! ...... VINTAGE AIRPLANE VAA NEWS Sport Pilot Takes a Major Step at EAA AirVenture EAA AirVenture Oshkosh attendees are ac­ The light-sport aircraft portion of the customed to big announcements, but they rule will require that all manufacturers up­ heard a huge one July 31, during FAA Ad­ hold the consensus standards that are ministrator Marion Blakey's "Meet the being established by the industry/commu­ Administrator" session. nity/government committee administered Held this year in the largest EAA forum by ASTM, thus ensuring that each new pavilion, which nearly quadrupled the num­ ready-to-fly light-sport aircraft will be con­ ber of available seats, she told a structed within accepted design and standing-room-only crowd that she'd quality assurance standards. FAA Administrator Marion Blakey addresses representatives of type signed the sport pilot/light-sport aircraft Most of the ASTM standards for LSA clubs during the annual EAAj VAA (SP/LSA) rulemaking package and for­ should be completed when FAA issues the Type Club. warded it to the Department of final SP/LSA rule. The powered parachute Transportation (DOT). standards are already completed, and the EAA AirVenture Brings Gov­ Secretary of Transportation Norman fixed-wing committee has completed its ernment-Industry-Aviators Mineta attended EAA AirVenture two days quality control standard. It is in the final Together later and said that SP/LSA would not be in stages of balloting its other standards. As the world's pre-eminent gen­ his office long. After DOT and Office of The weight-shift (trike), gyroplane, and eral and recreational aviation Management and Budget (OMB) approval, glider committees have also begun work showcase, EAA AirVenture Oshkosh SP/LSA will become official upon publica­ on their various required standards. After is where all the players of aviation­ tion in the Federal Register. the final SP/LSA rule is published, the var­ government, industry, association, "This will serve the needs of aviation ious consensus standards will be adjusted and the general public-meet and enthusiasts for many years to come," said as necessary to meet the final rule speci­ get things done.