March 2014 OFFICIAL MAGAZINE of the INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB OFFICIAL MAGAZINE of the INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB OFFICIAL MAGAZINE of the INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB Vol. 43 No.3 March 2014 A PUBLICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB CONTENTSOFFICIAL MAGAZINE of the INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB The Borrego Springs aerobatic box is known as the “World’s Greatest Aerobatic Box.” –Gary DeBaun FEATURES 6 Electronic Collision Avoidance by Eddie Ruhl AA revolutionrevolution inin seven-passengerseven-passenger transportation.transportation. 10 The Article He Could Not Write by Anne-Marie Lunde-Donnenfield 14 2013 Borrego Hammerhead Roundup by Gary DeBaun 22 2013 Regional Series Wrap-Up by Douglas Lovell Infinite adaptability The Privilege of Partnership DEPARTMENTS EAA members are eligible for special The all-new 2014 Ford Transit Connect Wagon drives like a car, has the flexibility of a utility and can 2 / Letter From the Editor haul the payload of a full-size pickup truck. pricing on Ford Motor Company vehicles THE COVER It’s a rolling showcase for adaptability, transporting both people and cargo with the convenience of through Ford’s Partner Recognition 3 / News Briefs sliding side doors, fold-flat second- and third-row seating, a 1,200-pound plus payload and choice of Program. To learn more on this exclusive 20 / Tech Tips Nationals 2013. a rear liftgate or symmetrical, side-hinged cargo doors. opportunity for EAA members to save on a new Ford vehicle, please visit 26 / Ask Allen Transit Connect Wagon offers a choice between two fuel-efficient engines – a 2.5-liter and an available www.eaa.org/ford. 1.6-liter EcoBoost® that is estimated to deliver 29 mpg on the highway*. This puts Transit Connect 28 / Contest Calendar Wagon among the gas mileage leaders in seven-passenger vehicles. Both engines come mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, geared for around town responsiveness and efficient highway 30 / FlyMart & Classifieds cruising. 32 / Meet a Member *EPA-estimated 22 city/29 hwy/25 combined mpg. 2014-Ford_EAA_Mar_TransitConWagon_Divis_Ad-Final.indd 1 1/20/14 5:08 PM OFFICIAL MAGAZINE of the INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB REGGIE PAULK NEWS BRIEFS COMMENTARY / EDITOR’S LOG OFFICIAL MAGAZINE of the INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB PUBLISHER: Doug Sowder IAC MANAGER: Trish Deimer-Steineke EDITOR: Reggie Paulk OFFICIAL MAGAZINE of the INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB EDITITOR IN CHIEF: J. Mac McClellan SENIOR ART DIRECTOR: Olivia P. Trabbold Summer Flying Call for IAC Non-Flying Award Nominations Sunrise Aviation Creates Each year, the membership of the IAC nominates Reinaldo Beyer Scholarship CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS: Anticipating the beauty of flight outstanding volunteers to be recognized for their An annual award Sam Burgess Reggie Paulk Gary DeBaun Jim Rossi contribution to the sport of aerobatics. dedicated to the Douglas OFFICIALLovell MAGAZINE of the INTERNATIONALEddie Ruhl AEROBATIC CLUB This is an excellent opportunity to give recogni- memory and ac- A. Lunde-Donnenfield Allen Silver As these cold winter months a check of the weather showed mas- tion to an outstanding IAC member who spends complishments of IAC CORRESPONDENCE drag on here in the Rocky Moun- sive buildups of cumulonimbus their valuable time volunteering for the benefit of Reinaldo Beyer, International Aerobatic Club, P.O. Box 3086 tains of Colorado, and the howling all over the state, and I decided to many. Let’s recognize our unsung heroes! physician and pilot, Oshkosh, WI 54903-3086 Tel: 920.426.6574 • Fax: 920.426.6579 winds fill my hand-shoveled trail stay in Billings to see if the weather Use this link https://www.iac.org/award-nomination- has been set up in E-mail: [email protected] to the wood-fired boiler, I yearn might subside. Many hours later, form to make an on-line nomination. You can his honor. for the mild months of spring there appeared to be a break in ac- nominate your fellow IAC’ers for one of the five Scholarship ADVERTISING and even the sweltering heat of tivity, and we pointed the nose to non-flying awards listed: Sue Anderson [email protected] details: summer. It is during these times Cutbank in order to refuel and warn Frank Price Cup Larry Phillip [email protected] • This award is cre- I’m most reminded of my warm- Canadian customs we were coming. Purpose of the award is to recognize the person ated with the goal weather flying experiences. The flight to Cutbank was one who has contributed the most to the sport of aero- MAILING: Change of address, lost or damaged of encouraging of the more beautiful I can recall batics in the previous year. magazines, back issues. and supporting a EAA-IAC Membership Services making. Under a high ceiling of Robert L. Heuer Award for Judging Excellence • lifelong pursuit of Tel: 800.843.3612 Fax: 920.426.6761 In the summer of cumulus, we flew over the spectac- Member Sam Burgess of San Antonio, Texas E-mail: [email protected] aerobatic flight ex- ular scenery of Big Sky country— conceived the idea for presenting a trophy to the cellence. The award The International Aerobatic Club is a division of the EAA. 1996, I had the the rains that summer had turned outstanding aerobatic judge each year. will be made annu- the grasses into a vibrant green, Kathy Jaffe Volunteer Award • ally to the pilot who privilege to fly some and they covered everything! By This award recognizes an outstanding volunteer REINALDO BEYER best demonstrates a the time we arrived at Cutbank, a during the previous year. strong and continuing affinity for aerobatic flight. EAA® and SPORT AVIATION®, the EAA Logo® and Aeronautica™ are family members to wild thunderstorm had developed Harold E. Neumann Award for Outstanding • The annual scholarship award is endowed to a registered trademarks and service marks of the Experimental Aircraft and threatened to close the field. Contribution as a Chief Judge Association, Inc. The use of these trademarks and service marks without minimum of $1,250 by Sunrise Aviation. The total Calgary, Canada, in a I landed in a gusty crosswind that The family of Harold E. Neumann provided the the permission of the Experimental Aircraft Association, Inc. is strictly annual award will vary with additional contributions prohibited. Copyright © 2014 by the International Aerobatic Club, Inc. challenged the limits of that won- permanent trophy in 1998 to recognize the out- received over the course of the preceding year. All rights reserved. 1976 Piper Aztec . derful Aztec, but it was great fun. standing chief judge. The award will be made in the form of a training The storm blew in just as we were Curtis Pitts Memorial Trophy The International Aerobatic Club, Inc. is a division of EAA and of the • deposit at Sunrise Aviation. NAA. In the summer of 1996, I had the entering the terminal. We would The purpose of this award is to recognize an The selection committee may choose to select more privilege to fly some family mem- have to wait until well past dark to outstanding contribution to aerobatics through A STATEMENT OF POLICY The International Aerobatic Club, than one pilot for the annual award if the total en- bers to Calgary, Canada, in a 1976 blast off to Calgary. product design. Inc. cannot assume responsibility for the accuracy of the material dowment in any given year exceeds $2,500. presented by the authors of the articles in the magazine. The pages Piper Aztec (the year of my birth) The flight to Calgary was one of A detailed description of all the non-flying of Sport Aerobatics are offered as a clearing house of information with normally aspirated Lycoming my easiest legs. Landing at close awards can be found here: Applicant requirements: and a forum for the exchange of opinions and ideas. The individual private pilot and above, certificated in the United reader must evaluate this material for himself and use it as he sees IO-540 engines of 250 horsepower to midnight, after a day spent https://www.iac.org/legacy/non-flying-awards • fit. Every effort is made to present materials of wide interest that will each. We started our day at dawn, waiting and dodging weather, Deadline is June 30, 2014 for nominations of States be of help to the majority. Likewise we cannot guarantee nor endorse leaving the Front Range airport, we were directed to the customs volunteers who will be recognized for their efforts •previous flight experience that includes profes- any product offered through our advertising. We invite constructive sional spin and upset recovery instruction. criticism and welcome any report of inferior merchandise obtained located just southeast of Denver building by the tower. I got out of in the 2013 flying season. through our advertising so that corrective measures can be taken. International Airport, on an in- the airplane, called customs on •Apply at Sunrise Aviation in person, by mail, or by Sport Aerobatics (USPS 953-560) is owned by the International strument flight plan in order to the phone, was given a number Webinars are now available any time! e-mail [email protected]. Aerobatic Club, Inc., and is published monthly at EAA Aviation Center, 19531 Campus Drive, Suite 7 Editorial Department, P.O. Box 3086, 3000 Poberezny Rd., Oshkosh, transit the Denver Class B airspace to place prominently in my wind- IAC members have presented quite a few web- WI 54903-3086. Periodical Postage is paid at Oshkosh Post Office, (recently renamed from the Denver screen, and told to enjoy my stay based seminars through EAA. You can now access Santa Ana, CA 92707 IAC Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901 and other post offices. Membership rate for TCA) for a more direct route to Cal- in Canada—no one even came out those recordings whenever you like through our new the International Aerobatic Club, Inc., is $45.00 per 12-month period of which $18.00 is for the subscription to Sport Aerobatics.