January 2001 Newsletter

Next Meeting at Dunn Airpark 7:30PM Bldg. 10. Wednesday January 3, 2001

The Chapter 866 newsletter is published monthly to inform members and friends about activities of our chapter and members. Our chapter is open and we welcome all who are interested in aviationn activities of any kind. This newsletter will be mailed prior to each monthly meeting. We need your input so PLEASE SUBMIT MATERIALS FOR THIS NEWSLETTER. When you have something for this, you can submit to me via e-mail, computer disk, (most any word program) in writing, or by word of mouth. Please get information to me by the 19th of the month. We meet on the first Wednesday of each month.

http://www.geocities.com/eaa_866

President

STEVE PANGBORN

4625 JAMES ROAD

COCOA, FL 32926

nc72085@phonetech.com

Vice President

COLLEEN BETTS

4801 DOREEN ROAD

COCOA, FL 32927

padrat209@yahoo.com

Secretary/Treasurer

NEALE CRANSTON

2021 MALINDA LANE

TITUSVILLE, FL 32796

cranedog@digital.net

Newsletter Editor

LARRY GILBERT

2002 MALINDA LANE

TITUSVILLE, FL 32796

321 385 1908

legilbert@juno.com


PANCAKE BREAKFAST

Another successful monthly pancake breakfast behind us. Steve arranged for perfect weather again and Neale reported that we finished in the black and we can probably pay our rent on time again. The chapter crew was on the scene around 7:00AM and we were serving before 8:00. The crew works like a well oiled machine and we have tables, grills, canopy, and banner in place by about 7:30. For a few minutes we are able to socialize among ourselves and tell lies about our great flying skills and experiences. Then the business starts and things are a little hectic for a while. There were about four fly-ins this time, (we need to work on this) the rest were Dunn Airpark residents and friends. A good time was had by all! Subliminal message don't forget about our winter party.

RAMP CHECK

By Larry Gilbert

On November 30th I had taken 52L around the patch at Dunn just to make sure everything was OK after installing a new battery and changing the oil, I landed and taxied up to the gas pumps at Walkwitz and I was approached by a gentleman in a small red car with U.S. Govt. plates on it. He made a couple of friendly comments from the car and then got out and showed his credentials as an FAA man and asked if I had time for a ramp check. I think it went through my mind that maybe there was an excuse somewhere that would work but I couldn't act hesitant so I said "sure!" He had watched me while I was flying so he asked for my license and medical papers. When he saw Altoona, Pa on my license, he asked where in Pa. this was and when I told him he said that he used to shoot groundhogs with a friend of his near there. Then he asked for the airplane papers and I produced these and he looked these over and handed them back and said thank you. I said "is that it?" He said "see, that was painless wasn't it?" Then he said "see how easy it is when you're professional." Then he said "that is a nice looking 172!" Made me feel pretty good! First ramp check for me in over 25 years of flying.

RVs

As we chapter 866 members all know Jim Morgan is building an RV6. Jim had been telling me of the progress that he's making on his project and invited me over to his hangar to see it. Looking for an excuse to fly one morning I said to Loretta that I needed to make a trip over to TIX to see Jim's project. She said that she didn't have anything planned so off I went. Windy morning! Flew over to TIX and landed at about 20MPH ground speed it seemed. I found Jim at Gateway hangar flying with some of the locals. He said c'mon and we went down to his hangar where his project is underway. He has one main and trailing spar completed and is at the point where the ribs get attached. The spas are assembled, drilled, and zinc chromated. Jim is sanding the minor scratches out of the ribs so that they can be attached and then skin the wing. His horizontal and vertical stabilizers are assembled and zinc chromated. The ailerons and flaps are also assembled and zinced. Also in his hangar is part of John's RV project, the fuselage is to the point that the last side skins nearly ready to be applied. The fuselage is covered from the tail up to the cabin and has been zinc chromated. John's Tail feather assemblies are complete to the point where they have been primer painted. Jim and John are building excellent quality airplanes and you ought to stop and see the work they are doing. When I took off from TIX the wind was 350 at 20 gusting to 28. Using runway 36 of course, by the time I got to the road off the end of the runway, I was over 800 feet. Ground speed was slow though.

LOST?

The following was garnered from AVWEB

We were flying over Madison, Wis., on a nice Sunday headed for lunch and in contact with the exceptionally great people at the Madison TRACON. All of a sudden we heard a voice over the frequency:

"Ah, Madison, this is Cessna 12345 ... lost."

The cheerful controller came back and asked if the pilot could enter a squawk code; she could and did. The controller then asked her destination, to which she responded, "Madison."

A few moments later, the controller came back: "Okay, 12345; you're not lost ... you just haven't found the airport yet."

SHORT LETTER

No input was rec'd or solicited from our chapter pres. or members this month. Loretta and I were up in PA for most of Dec. away from the computer, so I couldn't come up with much for this month's newsletter. Will do better next month.

Larry Gilbert

Not so subliminal message......... The chapter party is Sat. Jan. 13th at Titusville Holiday Inn on rt 50 just South of Cheney on route 1. Dress casual and come for fun. We are having entertainment, door prizes, and good food.

Got your tickets yet?? No? Call me.

Larry Gilbert 385 1908

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Late Addition

PRICE BLOWOUT!!

AEROSHELL 40 WT. 12 CT CASE.............12.00 CASH

RED 5606 HYDRALIC FLUID SEALED 10 GAL CAN........... 20.00 CASH

VALKARIA, FL AIRPORT

JIM DARON 321 725 4119

AL MARSHALL 561 713 6969

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