The Smilin’Jack |
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| EAA Chapter 866 monthly newsletter December 2001 |
Congratulations are in order for chapter member Gene Driggers for obtaining a score of 95% on his Private Pilot Knowledge test. Gene studied and worked hard at preparing for this test. He purchased books, Cds, electronic gadgets, and even attended our Private Pilot ground school. Good Job, Gene. Now the rest should be quite easy, get the required time and endorsements for the flying portion of the rating. We all know that Gene knows how to fly, he just has to finish his training.
That's right, it's almost time for our second annual winter party again. Funny thought I just had... Back in Pa when we planned a Winter party, we always had to be concerned about the weather. You know, icy roads, blowing snow, unplowed roads, freezing rain, etc. etc. The good old days!! Well these are the good new days and we don't have that concern anyway. The big thing now, members, is to SELL, SELL, SELL those tickets. Hey, last year we almost broke even and this year with just a few more ticket sales we may make a month's rent on our chapter facility! If we work hard enough at it.
At our last chapter meeting, Hal Springer of TAPTA addressed the new restrictions being imposed Dunn Airpark due to being in the restricted area 2935. He has kept abreast of the situation and explained that the pending NOTAM will be that no aircraft will depart Dunn without first contacting Daytona Approach and getting a transponder code before takeoff. That's an inconvenience for many but for someone who owns an aircraft with no electrical system and no transponder it leaves them out in the cold. The initial contact may be by phone or by radio while on the ground. The NOTAM was to take effect on Friday Nov. 9. It seems that the DOD is now in charge of R2935 and they think that those who have been flying their Uls and J3s out of Dunn for years are now some kind of threat to security. There was a comment from one of the guys at the meeting that wouldn't the real threat be a Lear or something like that could get from the corridor over Dunn to the shuttle or VAB in less than 2 minutes. The guy with the norad J3 at full power blazing along at 70 miles an hour would probably take almost 7 minutes to get out there. The people at Dunn flying these airplanes are salt of the earth solid US citizens. We all know each other and know who belongs around Dunn Airpark and who doesn't. Let someone come around that isn't normally there and we'll all be alert and suspicious and will call the authorities if something doesn't seem right. I think this would be the best defense. Recruit us civilians who know what is going on to be watchdogs around the airport and keep us around the airport so we can keep an eye on things. If they don't want us to fly we won't be around the airport to notice any strange behavior by someone.
Up until the 9th of Nov. when the burdensome NOTAM was issued, I only flew twice. The first was just a ride North to practice some maneuvers and the second was a little trip to Valkeria to see an old Marine buddy who I hadn't seen for 40 years. This accomplished one of the things I wanted to do in my lifetime. It was a great reunion! Anyway the weather was textbook VFR I think that if I squinted a little I could have see across the ocean! I attempted to call Daytona Approach from the ground at Dunn but was unable to reach them. Called them as soon as I turned out at the departure end of 33 cause I was a little nervous about whether or not I'd missed a NOTAM when I got the briefing. Asked for flight following and they gave me a squawk code and had no more correspondence till I told them Valkeria was in sight. We cruised at 3,500'. Made an acceptable landing there and parked. Out of Valkeria I called Daytona Approach again and they told be to avoid class "D" airspace. They were apparently too busy to be bothered with a VFR flight following scenario. We climbed until we were over the "D" At Melbourne and turned North, then climbed up to 4,500 and had a beautiful flight back to Dunn without talking to anyone although we did monitor approach all of the way back. All of this was the day before the new restrictions in R2935. I thought that security reasons would have dictated that we have a Xponder code and radar following to make sure we were not a bad guy. I guess we didn't turn into bad guys till the 9th!
Now on the 10th we decided to test the system and this is how it went. I called FSS and told them I was planning a flight to Merritt Is. And understood that there were some special NOTAMS for R2935. The briefer said that we'd have to call Daytona Approach on the phone and get the discreet code and freq. to make that flight. By the way that phone # is 386 226 3993. We called the number and sure enough we talked to a man who gave me my squawk code 0146 and freq. 134.95. I explained that we'd only be on the ground at COI for 15 or 20 minutes and what did they want me to do for our return trip, keep the code or call for a new one? They told me to use the same code and call when airborne Armed with all this I cranked 0146 into the xponder and Bill Furnholm and I climbed aboard 52L and and in a couple of minutes were in the air turning west and calling Daytona. The frequency was overloaded and it was hard to communicate. ATC had me ident and didn't say another word to us till we wanted to start our descent for COI. They told us to keep the squawk code on till on the ground. We satyed at COI just long enough to look at a plane and have a soft drink. We then fired up 52L again and took off. When we called approach, this time we were answered by a female who gave us the code 0416 I repeated it back a couple of times and confirmed that I was squawking this. She never had me ident. But said no radar contact. We continued on and this time the freq. was not over loaded like the trip down was, but I apparently was not on the screen because we were called again and asked if we were at altitude and what our position was. We were almost to Space Coast and at altitude and stated this. When we informed her that we were ready to descend for Dunn, she said that we could change radio freq. but to keep our squawk code going till on the ground. I'm sure I had the right xponder code departing Dunn because they were giving them in sequence. We were 0146 and I heard them give out 0147 on the radio. The controller who handled us coming home, transposed the number, I think. The flight was OK but not as much fun as when you don't have to listen for your N number when they are that busy. You can't even have a decent conversation with your co-pilot!
Charlie Black who was a fellow pilot and friend of ours died last April and his widow asked us to see if anyone might be interested in buying an oxygen tank that Charlie had. The details are: Like new 'Altitude Traveler' oxygen model 176944 includes manual, all gauges connectors for 4 masks...with masks strap
Asking $200.
Note: Private pilot refresher II will be held one evening second week of Dec. at the chapter meeting room. We will discuss NOTAMS and communications 321 385 1908
Notice the addition to our meeting room? On the East wall sits a new used refrigerator donated by Dunn Airpark guy, Dick Mercer. Dick and Hal Springer delivered the fridge to our building one morning during the month of November. When you see these guys, tell em thanks. Hey, this meeting room of ours is getting to be a high class place! Almost too good for the likes of us. We'll have to start acting a little more respectable in there!
Let's see now, engine out emergency...... Best rate of glide, find a place to land and head there, go through your engine out check list, you know, carb heat, mixture rich, fuel selector on fullest tank, primer locked, mags, etc. If no restart........ land. Runways are best! Go change your underwear.
Never Monday morning quarterback any incident.
by Larry Gilbert
Hey, get yer free hot dogs and hamburgers here. Yep I said free!! That was the deal on Sat. Nov. 17th when Chapter 866 members set up our facility so that Dunn Airpark TAPTA members could hold a picnic to include members from the three airports under the TICO authority. Hal Springer and Charlie Vaughn ran the grill and attended to the customers. There were some fly-ins from Merritt Island and Spacecoast Regional airports. Mr David Edwards, the new executive director of TICO, his wife Lisa, and daughter Sarah were also there. The whole affair was a good time and a little work and there was a lot of camaraderie and some good exposure and good public relations for us, TAPTA, and the new administrator. Neale told me that the chapter was given $40.00 for the use of our stuff and staff. Loretta worked hard as usual, making sure that the food and drink was arranged in order to make it convenient to get and carry away to the tables. One thing though was that the wind was a little brisk and our center pole for the tarp kept collapsing. We applied a splint to this as a temporary fix. Maybe we need better poles eh? At least one of the TAPTA group threatened to join our EAA chapter. We're doing a background check on him now. He looks suspicious! Maybe it's his choice of headgear and the beard eh? Just kidding, everyone is welcome in our chapter all you really need is the $24.00 annual fine. Rodney Dangerfield once said "I wouldn't belong to any organization that would have me as a member!"
The Chapter has picked up a few new members in the last couple of months. One of these members is Milt Farrow. He is an advocate of the Corvair engine and is in the process of building one of these up to use in a homebuilt airplane of some type. I think he told me that he hasn't decided what to build yet. Milt sent an e-mail to us telling about his engine.
Picked up my new 1010 reground and polished crankshaft-spent Sat morning with Bill Wynne and his folks-they were from all over one gentleman was from Atlanta Ga- ( there are seminars there regularly-a hands on experience on engine rebuilding-one went together this Saturday- was trying to arrange to stop over at the field but time was not at my back-Had a show to do in North Miami Beach, had to prepare for a long trip, (3hrs) didn't get back home till 4:30 Sunday Morning. Don't forget about the annual Winter Party coming up on Jan. 12, 2002.
Visited the Nieuport factory at Dunn a couple of times this past month. Last time I was there they were fitting the landing gear up to a couple of the Nieuport 11s. Bill Mitchell is working on a very authentic looking machine gun for at least one of these. I think it's a Vickers. Larry Gilbert
Don't forget about our great winter party, tickets are on sale right now and for this type of party with live entertainment $20.00 apiece is a bargain! Pick up some tickets at the December meeting. Another thing, dues are due and it's time for you to dig into your moldy money and fork over the annual dues to "Cook the Books" Cranston. Oh yeah, the breakfast at Dunn is on Sat. Dec. 1 so show up for that too with three more dollars for the great pancakes and stuff. Does it sound like we're always asking for money?
Lily wants to fly!
CHAPTER MEETING WEDS. DEC. 5. 2001 7:30PM
AT
CHAPTER MEETING ROOM BLDG.10
DUNN AIRPARK
TITUSVILLE, FL.
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