The Smilin’Jack |
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| EAA Chapter 866 monthly newsletter August 2002 |
Chapter Meeting Weds. August 7th at 7:30 PM at Dunn Airpark Bldg. 10
N. Williams Ave, Titusville
By Steve Pangborn
The "doggie days" of summer are upon us, big time. It has been hot and humid, as I'm sure you're all aware. I went flying this morning, early, I thought. But apparently not early enough. Poor ol' Lily sure seemed to be struggling to gain altitude. Normally she will climb around 600 ft./minute, but today it was half that! Oh for those cool days of winter in Florida!
The chapter now has a new cooker for our monthly extravaganza. Gone are the days of three pancakes at a time. Now, I'll venture to guess, we can do at least 6!! Actually, we should get 10 to 15 at once if needed. This all came about because a 150 member flying club in Orlando threatened to descend upon us all at once for our August feast. Well, I have yet to hear from them. They promised a loose head count by the middle of July…as yet, nothing. Well, at least we're prepared!
I was asked to give a Nieuport report. As you might guess, work has slowed to a crawl because of the heat. We still hit it once in a while, but not near enough. 4 airplanes are either on the gear, or will be by the time you read this. Firewalls are installed or being fitted, as well as the control stick assemblies. We're still coming up with ideas for a tail wheel design. Most are doing their own thing in that department. I have my fuel tank installed, and last weekend, I fabricated and installed my seat support framing. That's about it in the WWI squadron for now. Updates will follow as they warrant.
Don't forget the pancake breakfast on the 3rd of Aug. Come on out and lend a hand if you haven't already. It really is fun and all the "hangar" flying {and tall tales} run amuck…and besides, if that bunch from Orlando DO show, we will definitely need some help. We decided to hold this breakfast in Larry Gilberts' hangar if the Orlando group does show, so if Bldg. 10 looks quiet, don't give up, just come on over to the Gilbert hangar!
That's it for this month. Try to stay cool. Hope to see you all at the breakfast AND the meeting on the 7th!
1931 Submitted by Bill Mitchell
Titusville Airport is dedicated twice. It rained on January 19th, so they had another ceremony on the 21st. 250 First Day Airmail cover were cancelled by the Post Office commemorating the event. In April a German dirigible (Zeppelin) stays overnight for the first time enroute from Miami to Lakehurst, NJ. The twice monthly flights continued until 1937, The first airplane is now based on the field, a Trimotor.
including the visual acuity test.
He placed the patient twenty feet from the chart and began, "Cover your
right eye with your hand."
He read the 20/20 line perfectly.
"Now your left." Again, a flawless read.
"Now both," he requested.
There was silence. He couldn't even read the large E on the top line. The Dr.
turned and discovered that he had done exactly what was asked; he was
standing there with both his eyes covered.
Larry Gilbert
The first flight of July was with member Jerry Russell's Cessna 140. Jerry needs a tail wheel endorsement and since I've been flying in nose draggers and very in little tail draggers since 1987, we decided that I should fly the plane alone for a while and when I was comfortable with it then we could check Jerry out. (Hey, free flyin, it don't get no better than that) The first flight went well. When it was time to take off we lined up on 33 and brought the power in a little slower than I usually do. I didn't want to be surprised if she took off towards Hogan's barn. There was only a slight left turning tendency and the tail was up and in a few seconds we were on the way up. The books says that the best rate is 73 mph so that's what we used to climb out. I climbed to about 2000', leveled over the St. Johns River and made some turns at cruise speed which was surprisingly fast, about 110mph. After doing this I wanted to see about speed control and flew around at 80 and then 70 for a while. Seems like it takes about 1900rpm to fly level at 70 but at idle 70 seems like a real shallow pitch down and makes for a good long glide speed. Seems to be a slippery little bugger! As I started to look for a place to start making practice landing approaches I passed a Bald Eagle just off of the right wing tip. He was majestic and looked spectacular as he peeled off to the right. It would have made a picture like those you see on calendar pages! I found an old dirt road, applied carb. heat and pulled the power back to simulate a landing at a runway. I decided to do the whole pattern at 80 mph. Climb at 80, level and maintain 80, fly down wind at 80, (82 is VFE) then pull the power opposite the numbers and click in a notch of flaps and fly it at 70 until coming over the fence bringing in flaps a little at a time. Without flaps, flying at 70 mph the pitch down is ever so slight that it didn't seem natural to me so the application of the flaps pointed the nose down some and made it feel much better to me and it looked as though this is what will work. After doing this a couple more times we headed east for Dunn and a try at runway 22. There was a slight wind right down the runway and the formula we used on the dirt road worked fine for the approach and landing on runway 22 at Dunn. Felt good! Jerry has just installed Cessna 150 seats and both are individually adjustable. The old bench style seat made it difficult for a long legged guy like me and a short legged guy like Jerry to fly together. The new seats are higher than the old and visibility over the nose on the ground is excellent. Nice flying airplane. Since Jim Johnson had once owned a 140 I asked if he could go with me and coach me through some wheel landings, so one evening Jim and I flew the plane. The first circuit, I flew the and did what I consider a decent landing. Now it was Jim's turn. He taxied out and we took off , it was if he'd been flying 140s right up till that day. Jim is a retired "big iron" airline pilot ya know. Well he landed the 140 like the "master" of flying that he is. Then taxiing back out he told me it was 50 years since he flew a 140 and it felt good! I'm honored to fly with him!
On July 13th, Bill Mitchell and I flew down to Vero Beach where EAA Chapt 99 was holding an open house. At about 8:15 am we got under way. Visibility was 10 miles according to the two ATIS frequencies we tuned to but it looked quite hazy from 2300'. There were a few puffy clouds around and it was good VFR. Tower gave us a straight in for 22 report 3 miles out. Before I even called the 3 mile final we were cleared to land and we followed a Cherokee in. Off the runway and on ground freq. the controller gave us taxi instructions to the chapter 99 event on the South end of the field. As with any event of this type, we saw some neat stuff. There were model airplanes, antique and street rod cars, and experimental and antique airplanes. Have you ever seen a Taylorcraft with spoilers? There was one on display there. From what I've heard about the way Taylorcraft and their propensity to float a long way when landing, they probably all need spoilers. After talking with some of the locals and some of the Valkeria crew who were there (we were promoting the Smilin Jack fly-in) we hopped back in the Skyhawk and dialed in ATIS and then called ground for taxi instructions and were cleared to taxi to 22. Busy airport, we were # 9 waiting for takeoff. There is a busy flight school there with a large fleet of white with blue airplanes. Soon enough we were cleared for takeoff with a left downwind departure. Conditions were much like the trip down and we were back at Dunn in a little under an hour. Landed and pushed the plane back in the hangar about 15 minutes before a deluge of rain that approached from the west. Nice trip!
Gene Driggers and I bored some holes by flying over to TIX and then down to COI and back. Coming back to Dunn the tower at TIX was so frustrated with too many pilots trying to use the freq. at the same time, we decided to go around their space rather than through it and add to the frustration.
1. Try to stay in the middle of the air.
2. Do not go near the edges of it.
3. The edges of the air can be recognized by the appearance of ground, buildings, sea, trees and interstellar space. It is much more difficult to fly there.
by Larry Gilbert
At 0630 as the sun was coming up it was a stirring sight. Neale and Steve at the flag pole and Bill Furnholm with his bugle and the rest of us standing at attention and saluting as the American Flag is raised. Enough to bring a tear to your eye! Then we got to work setting up for breakfast by 7:00 am on July 6th. Good pancakes, Loretta's special sausage gravy, biscuits, grits, orange juice and coffee all for only $3.00. What a deal! The camaraderie between pilots and airplane builders is always fun. There is always some good natured banter between members that always goes on and the humor is good. Jackie Johnson flew in, in his Zenair again, so it is officially a fly-in affair. While we are having our wonderful breakfast on these Saturday mornings we see the formations of planes from Spruce Creek fly by, bypassing us on their way to the restaurant at Space Coast Regional. Can you get pancakes, biscuits, sausage gravy, grits, sausage, orange juice, and coffee for three bucks at the Outa Marka? Do they have a Pietenpol under construction there? How bout Trikes and WWI replicas and Ultralights buzzing around? Nope! I don't understand. Maybe if the restaurant over there was a Hooters or somthin like that one could understand. Oh well, the breakfast has always been a success for us and just keeps getting better. (the flag raising story is a fabrication)
The Piper Cub is the safest airplane in the world; it can just barely kill you. (Attributed to Max Stanley, Northrop test pilot)
Loretta and I flew to Orlando from Dallas Texas last month and like everyone else we had to deal with the ineffective attempt at security being used to make us feel better about traveling on airliners. When we checked in at the gate in Dallas the agent said that our names popped up on their computer to do a baggage check on. After showing up an hour and a half early we waited in a long line and were glad to finally be at the place where we would get our boarding passes only to find out that now we have to stand in the luggage checking line.
Oh yeah it is getting real close to boarding time now. Finally it was our turn and the baggage check was a joke. The checker had us unzip the bags and open them for him, then he just looked at the stuff and didn't ruffle or move anything to search and said OK zip em up. We made it to the plane on time and flew to Atlanta on schedule. We had a couple of hours till our connecting flight in Atlanta so we elected to look around the terminal. When it was time to head for the gate of course we had to go through security again. When you go through, you have to put any purses or pocket books on the conveyor and empty you pockets. The only thing you have to have beside a ticket is your photo ID to be checked. Loretta mistakenly pulled her Visa Credit card out of her pocketbook instead of her drivers license (picture ID) as we were headed through. I had the tickets and when we went through Loretta held up her credit card for her ID. The expert screener didn't even notice that she wasn't displaying a photo ID type of card! We got through without any question. What a joke! The connecting flight was like a Chinese fire drill and we were bumped from the scheduled flight and they couldn't work it out on the computer and put us on our new flight without a boarding pass. (Glad they did this) Anyway, we got home on time and the plane wasn't commandeered. Thanks to the professional security screeners. Oh yeah, they wouldn't let Loretta have her crochet hook and yarn. They were afraid she'd knit an Afghan! I left my killer nail clippers home but I carried my harmless Bic pen for self defense! Do you know what I mean?
Larry
"There's two theories to arguing with a woman.
Neither one works." Will Rogers
By Larry Gilbert
Pres. Steve got the meeting going right on schedule asking Jim Webb to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Two visitors were present. Stu Sammis who is involved in a restoration job and is also interested in building an airplane. Stu joined up at the meeting. Roger Patterson who is interested in building a Flying Flea was the other visitor and joined the chapter on Saturday morning at our breakfast. Steve announced that he'd received word from a flying club in Orlando that they'd be attending our August breakfast and there will be between 20 and 150 people attending. Steve asked that they give him a number close to what they expect to come to this and they said they would. This prompted discussion about our ability to handle a large breakfast crowd. We're getting some new cooking equipment as a result. We'll be able to cook about 12 + pancakes at a time when we get the new equipment. If we can't keep up with the customers at the next breakfast, Bill Furnholm has agreed to do high speed fly bys with his Baby Ace to keep the customers entertained while they wait for us to cook the pancakes. If the Baby Ace isn't available, he's agreed to sing old Navy ditties and do a little soft shoe routine.
Bruce Hotz told us he's selling those 32 cu in Continentals as fast as he can get them. He was mentioned in "The Experimenter" last month. Steve reported that all 5 of the Nieuports are on wheels now and work has begun on control sticks and rudder bars on some. Jerry Russell told us that he has installed new seats in his C140. He took the old bench style seat out and replaced with newly upholstered seats from a C150 and they are individually adjustable.
At the Arlington NWEAA Regional Fly-in almost all the aircraft parking
is on grass. As Mooneys are notorious for low prop clearance (and gear
doors), the Aircraft Parking Tower tries to minimize their taxiing on
grass. The result was the following:
Tower: "Mooney 123, we have a special place for Mooneys."
Mooney pilot: "So does the devil!"
By Larry Gilbert
The chapter board met on Weds. July 17th and discussed many items pertaining to the monthly chapter breakfasts and the up coming Smilin Jack Fly - in. We've decided that all members involved in the food handling any our events should wear latex gloves. Wearing these helps maintain cleanliness and reduces the danger of contaminating the food. The food quality at our breakfasts was also discussed and we've decided to upgrade the quality of pancake mix and the condiments on the table. We may even include berries in our pancake mix and do other things to produce a more desirable and attractive breakfast. (for $3.00??) There was a suggestion that we also provide eggs. It was decided not to do eggs as we are not set up to handle this much yet. We are moving ahead and now have a new grill to cook on. No more 3 pancakes at a time while people wait in line. Not sure as to how many we can cook but the new griddle is 19 X 26 inches. This should work a lot better.
A friend of Neale Cranston donated an almost new 30 gallon air compressor to the chapter. You ought to see it, she's a beauty. Neale's friend John Burk from Plantation, Fl is a retired pilot. He has visited Dunn Airpark and seen our operation and project and had a compressor that he bought that wasn't quite big enough for him. Rather than sell it in a yard sale or in the classifieds he donated this to us. Ain't it great?
We even got a new member during our bored meeting! Ed Greco who recently moved to Titusville from Connecticut stopped in and talked with us for a while and must have liked what he saw cause he dragged out his wallet and paid Neale for a years membership. Ed also donated a headset and some good VHS tapes to our cause. Ain't it great?
Alessandra Acosta - Cocoa 536 2621
Armando Delgado - Merritt Is. 459 1888
Joseph Flynn - Titusville 268 6140
Leon Osmon - Titusville 267 1424
Ben Storey - Titusville 269 9612
Mark Storey - Titusville 269 9612
Wayne Bullington
Jim Webb, Allen Wise and Randy Bruce were all there.
Only about seven or six or seven Piets showed up. Not as many people as usual. One of the Chapter 431 members said it was the lightest turnout in several years. Vi Kapler was there but Doc Moshler did not show. Jim Webb enjoyed the meet. He talked to a lot of people. several who were building Corvair powered planes but not one Corvair powered showed up.
14 planes landed Friday afternoon, all from Sonoma, Calf. on their way to Oshkosh . There was one Cessna 310 but all the rest were classics, Luscombes, Piper, Aeroncas, One Interstate, one Parrkett, Ercoupe and even one Piper Pacer on amphibous floats.
One little storm blew in 5 o clock Saturday evening but it did not rain. I helped Bill Rewey tie down his airplane. It was so dry there that we could not screw those tie-downs into the earth. Had to tie down to a sign post, a tree and a concrete block.
Wayne Bullington
By Larry Gilbert
Hey, have you noticed how shiny and clean all of the fixtures in the ADAP restroom are? This is thanks to another Chapter 866 member. Our own Vice President, Bill Furnholm, volunteered and was responsible for the cleaning of this for the month of July. This guy really takes his jobs seriously! For August, member Steve Miller has signed up. All ADAP pilots and friends benefit from the use of this facility and all who have signed up and taken the responsibility of cleaning for a month are to be commended. There is no one signed up for Sept. and the months following though.
By Larry Gilbert
Is it reasonable that there has been no fuel available for weeks at Dunn Airpark? Was there an inspector who notified those in charge of safety or environmental issues and gave a time frame for this to be corrected? Was the work done or attempted to comply in time so that the fuel operation could continue? Think it's just an inconvenience? Then think about this….. You departed Newark, NJ in your Aerostar and before you left, you checked fuel prices and saw that Dunn had 1.98 fuel. You did your calculations and decided that yep, I can make it to Dunn, gas up at the self serve credit card pump, and be on my way to Ft Lauderdale. Unforecast headwinds crop up and it takes longer than you'd planned for and oh yeah, I told them to top off the tanks but were they right up to the rims? Not sure! By now you probably know where this is going. Stop at Dunn can't get the pump to work and it's after business hours and no one is around. Can't get gas and there's no one to call. I have the meeting set up for 8:00 PM and I have to be there. Maybe I can make it to Space Coast Regional, besides they probably had it topped off at Newark like I asked. Off at Dunn … "Space Coast Regional Tower, Aerostar 1234 out of Dunn inboound… Oh, Oh Space Coast I have an emergency." !!!
Ok maybe this is a little corny but is it that far fetched? An airport that reports fuel service 24 hrs with a self serve pump and then doesn't have fuel IS A SAFETY ISSUE not just an inconvenience! Is it good business? The rent paying tenants at Dunn rightfully expect there to be fuel available. If the problem of the fuel farm was known when the ramp paving was under way why wasn't it taken care of then? While the ramp work was being done it was intimidating to attempt to get to the pumps because of the equipment and conditions of the taxiway to the pump. Is ramp construction complete yet? Have the security issues at Dunn been addressed yet? Is this the time to raise the hangar rent?
NOTE: New C866 website address is now
www.geocities.com/eaa_866