antique airways - Carolinas - Virginia Antique Airplane Foundation

ANTIQUE AIRWAYS
®
Newsletter of the
Carolinas Virginia Antique Airplane Foundation, Inc.
This Foundation is an IRS 501(c)3 non profit
Corporation. We welcome your tax deductible
contributions!
Jim Wilson—Editor & Publisher
March-April 2010
A
Dear friends,
s yet another flying season approaches I cannot help
but look forward to those warm, flyer friendly days to
come. Here in the Piedmont region of North Carolina we have
been pummeled with snow, below average temperatures and
high winds. In short, sport flying has seemingly come to a halt!
Plans for our spring fly-in are complete. This year we
have made arrangements to have the basics, i.e., food and
transportation, in place for “EARLY BIRD” arrivals beginning
on Thursday afternoon, May 6th. On Friday morning a tour of Roxboro’s parachute factory
(BRS Defense) has been scheduled at 9:00 AM for our group. This facility manufactures high
capacity, military type units. (During World War II, the Roxboro plants manufactured more
parachutes than any other place in the world!) Thanks to member, Skip Carden,
Carden for arranging
this tour.
Thanks, too, to Skip for arranging to have his vintage auto club, THE FREEDOM
CRUIZERS, show their beautifully restored cars at Roxboro. Following the factory tour, we
will be flying out to Gilliam-McConnell Airfield in Carthage for lunch at the Pic ‘n Pig. Plans
are to take off between 11:00 and 11:30 AM for Carthage. Gilliam-McConnell Airfield is located 70 SM south southwest of Person County Airport. For information on GilliamMcConnell Airfield (5NC3) go to the AirNav.com website and search under the airports tab.
Thanks to member and past president, Jim Zazas,
Zazas for arranging this fly-out lunch.
We will meet Friday and Saturday evenings at the Homestead Restaurant for Happy
Hour and dinner. Transportation will be provided between the Person County (Roxboro) Airport, the Homestead and the hotels. Hotel details are on the next page. Dress is “airport casual” for all events. Tours of the local winery can also be arranged.
I look forward to BLUE SKIES, CALM WINDS and to seeing you all at Roxboro.
HAPPY LANDINGS!
Susan
Chapter Newslets
On the very day in February that I discovered the Colts weren’t in Baltimore anymore,
we had a Chapter Board of Directors (BOD) meeting. Our most significant accomplishment
was in coercing Susan Dusenbury to stay on for another term as President. (Pause for wild
cheering!) Olene Phillips (Treasurer) and Ron Normark (VP) also just completed their double
terms. We can not thank them enough for their service to the Chapter! The freshmen officers,
Don and John D. are fully exposed on this letter’s centerfold.
Planning for the year’s fly-ins and outs was
accomplished along with an update on our website. (details pg 5) Susan fully described the
details for Roxboro; Camden will follow a similar
game plan. i.e. come early, stay late, fly to eat,
talk airplanes on a full stomach.
The Cross Cotillion is good to go, even if it
doesn’t stop raining. We will cut the hot dogs up
so y’all don’t choke.
Jeff Anderson,
Anderson shown between Uncle Butch and Brother Don Collins,
Collins took on an important Chapter function; Fly-In promotion to our Vintage brothers who haven’t yet attended our flyins. If you belong to a type club, help Jeff out and fertilize the seed! As always, all types are
welcome to our fly ins, but we are the best vintage show in the Southeast!
Hotels for Roxboro Do it today!
Innkeeper Roxboro $68.99 Tax incl
Hampton Inn
$98.00
2
1-800-466-5337
1-800-Hampton
Around the Patch & Other Places
It snowed everywhere. What to do? If you are Bob Perkins in NC, drag out the
Waco. Me? I drug out the Cub. 1973 was the last time we had this much in SC! Those in
VA had so much, they just called their insurer. I will be getting floats if the rains don’t stop…
While there was still some firmament in the grass, we took the Waco over to visit Kurt
Von Graff (our newest lifer!) at Dry Swamp (1DS) airport just slightly south of Orangeburg,
SC. This is the only public use all grass strip in SC with gas and full maintenance. Kurt was
busy building a fourth big hangar...fully finished on the inside (sheetrock and molding and
paint!.) Target customers: vintage airplanes! Put this on your “stop here” list.
Jim Zazas signed in. He has apparently invented
some type of cross wind skis. After finding that taxiing required full power with this rig up, he replaced the gear legs,
shock struts, and brakes with PMA’s UNIVAIR PA-18/J-3
parts...to include the Atlee Dodge gear safety cables. He
reports that all of the purchased parts were of outstanding
quality. He is now almost ready to bash his long owned
“Yellow Bird” into the ground with an increased margin of
safety.
Jim also reported that while attending AirVenture, he noticed that Nathan Davis’ highly
polished P-51D was unattended. He saw this as an excellent opportunity to take VAA’s Skipper, Geoff Robison and our favorite insurer, Norma Joyce, for a ride. Great fun for all!
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Don Collins-Why I am qualified to be
your Chapter Treasurer
Don took the checkbook from Olene Phillips a
couple of weeks ago at our Chapter BOD meeting.
Send him your dues and any extra cash or securities.
We (especially me) can’t thank Olene enough for the
fine job she has done keeping us solvent, capturing new
members, and leading fly-in registration/sales duties for
the past four years! Ed. … and now here’s Don...
I have been around aviation my entire life. My
father was a pilot, and took me on my first airplane ride
when I was less than a year old. He was once an aircraft salesman selling the Champion 7FC Tri-Champ. By the lack of 7FC's still flying, he probably
was not a great salesman.
In 1969, I learned to fly and was a line supervisor at the Auburn School of Aviation in Auburn, Alabama. As a student at Auburn University, I proved there is no correlation between grade
point average and the ability to fly. At that time, we rented a 7EC Champ for $7.00/hr and made a
profit. Avgas was less than $.40/gl and pilots even then said that they couldn’t afford to fly because gas was too high! All of my flight time is in general aviation aircraft. When I was younger, I
didn’t have enough hours to fly for the airlines and "push big tin."
Through my years of flying, as in life, I feel I have come full circle. In life that’s diapers, no
teeth, bald, maturity, bald, no teeth, diapers. I have done the same with flying. My initial joy of
flying was fabric, two-seat airplanes. Having owned several airplanes that went fast, the prop
moved, and the gear went up and down, I have returned to my first love: old fabric airplanes. I
have been fortunate to have spent a lot of time flying around the country low and at 65mph.
Don Farris and I purchased a Wag-Aero Sport Trainer in 2006. The airplane was in Diamond Point, WA (2WA1). Don and I flew the plane back through (not over) the Rocky Mountains
and never got over 7,500 msl (Rogers Pass). It was a wonderful trip that took 41.4 flight hours
and 21 fuel stops. We learned that on a VFR Chart, dark brown means mountains and tan means
high winds. There was plenty of both along the trip.
I purchased a 1947 L-16 in 2008 so I would have something really fast for traveling compared to the Wag-Aero. I use it to give tailwheel instruction- one of the things that gives me
great pleasure in aviation. I compare tailwheel instruction to parasailing at the beach. People
come to you, you teach them to fly (sort of) a tailwheel airplane, they give you money, and leave
smiling. Life is good instructing in this kind of airplane. No one ever gets mad, they just become
humble.
My wife Carolyn has tolerated my flying for many years, and enjoys the freedom to travel.
She especially loves flying over South Carolina, as she says the pine trees are softer than oak
trees if the engine quits. She has a good point! She also informed me that knowing how much I
love my airplanes, she would let me keep them if she ever left me. I reminded her that she is not
mad at me while making that statement. She agreed. I have been down that road before, but that
is a another story for another time.
4
John D. Barksdale—Offering Hope
and Change to the Chapter
This photo that says it all was submitted by
John’s Press Secretary… also our Chapter Secretary,
Liz Smith . A landslide vote propelled John into the
Vice Presidency. His bio clearly indicates he is afflicted with the blood borne pathogen we call
“aviation.”
John is following a tough act. Ron Normark
has served four years in this job where he set up our
fly-ins, pushed us into cyberspace, and supported
us with not part, but his whole family! Ed. John
says:
John Dudley Barksdale has been an aviation enthusiast his entire life. A pilot since age
16, he went on to produce 26 Flying Aces air shows from 1981 – 1986. Attendance ranged
from a few hundred to 30,000 spectators. He served the Virginia Aeronautical Historical Society as interim Curator of the Shannon Air Museum before its move to Richmond in 1984.
With the help of friends at New London Airport, he restored his 1941 Piper J-3 Clipped
Wing Cub and initiated the acquisition and restoration of a WW II Aeronca L-3 Aircraft for display at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Va.
John’s love for aviation history has led him to be a tour guide in the Normandy landing
beaches in France and co-publisher of “You Betcha’ Baby – the Legend of Aviator Vincent
‘Squeek’ Burnett”. He has presented the book at the 2008 EAA AirVenture at Oshkosh and to
numerous civic organizations.
In 2009 John participated in the first International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) Air Boss
Academy at the MCAS Miramar Air Show in San Diego, Ca. He pens a column “Letters from
the Air Boss” for the Virginia Department of Aviation. He remains active with grass roots aviation and continues to announce air shows in the Commonwealth.
John serves as Chairman of the Brookneal Campbell County Authority. He is a member of the Quiet Birdmen (QB) Roanoke Hangar and volunteers at Liberty University’s School
of Aeronautics with special projects.
Chapter Cyberstuff
Jordan Normark,
Normark (over there) is briefing the Chapter
BOD on progress with the Web site. He is the front man;
his brother Jonathan is doing the work. The plan for the
coming months is to populate it with many more photos
from our long history. If you have ever been photographed
(and your faced isn’t all scrunched up ...) you and your flying machine will likely appear. If not, send me your photo
(s). We will also add archived Newsletters. There is also a
forum on the site. Check it all out. It is VAA3.org Password to get on initially is CAVU.
5
New Member and other News from the Shenandoah
Sherrie Souder officially from Mathias, WV, but actually
from New Market Airport (8W2) has joined the Chapter. She
started flying in 2005, and bought the airplane she flies today the
very next year.. It’s a 1949 Piper PA-16 Clipper. Intel reports and
the found photo indicates she might (hopefully) have a round
engine desire...perhaps a Gullwing Stinson.
She is the past President and Newsletter Editor of EAA
Chapter 511. Welcome to the Chapter!
Roxboro is 142
Nm/185 Deg!
Sh e r r ie
was sent to us by also New Market airport
resident, Bob Coolbaugh.
Coolbaugh Now retired from
Continental, has gone into overdrive to keep
his hands and mind occupied.
Bob, a former Naval Aviator, has once
again signed on to help the Navy celebrate
the 100th Anniversary of Naval Aviation.
Bob’s part is building a reproduction of the
1911 Curtiss Pusher that Eugene Ely landed
on an improvised 130 foot long carrier deck
on the USS Pennsylvania in January 1911.
This event is viewed as the start of Naval
Aviation. (Ely took off from a ship two months
prior, but... ain’t nothing’ like a carrier landing.
The pusher is presently ready for
cover, awaiting fabric sans the PMA stamps that just wouldn’t look right on the “yellowed varnish” colored translucent covering.
The details of this project and its deployment for Navy Centennial oriented celebrations
around the Country will be an interesting story. Bob, don’t forget the tire inner tubes. (Ely wore
a couple around his neck ...a primitive mae west…
More Members in the News
Jack Cox had a nice feature on Susan’s SR-6 project
in the Winter 2010 issue of Sportsman Pilot. One of his photos looked just like one of mine… ya gotta see it in the flesh!
John and Joyce Pipkin,
Pipkin Columbia, SC just happened
to be in Haiti the day of the quake. John flies humanitarian
airlift in-country and Joyce in the volunteer coordinator for
their church’s Haitian ministry. Thanks for your service to a
country in desperate need.
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2010 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
6 May
Early Bird Dinner Thurs Eve at Roxboro
7-9 May
Spring FlyFly-In at Roxboro, NC (KTDF)
15 May (Sat)
Aeronca FlyFly-In Owens Field, Columbia, SC
29 May (Sat)
Cross Cotillion (SC37) Cross, SC You bring it, we can eat!
11-3 Oct
Fall FlyFly-In Camden, SC
6 Nov (Sat)
Big Food by Susan High Noon (KSIF) Reidsville, NC
CHAPTER OFFICERS
Susan Dusenbury, 1374 Brook Cove Rd., Walnut Cove, NC 27052 336-591-3931
sr6Sue@ aol.com
V President: John Barksdale, 4464 Village Highway, Lynchburg, VA 24504, 434−332−2722 [email protected]
Treasurer:
Don Collins, P.O. Box 190, Summerfield, NC 27358, 336−404−0063, DONALDLCOLLINS@ BELLSOUTH.NET
Secretary:
Liz Smith
4464 Village Highway, Lynchburg, VA 24505 434-942-7537 © [email protected]
Newsletter
Jim Wilson, 1862 Poplar Hill Dr. Cross, SC 29436 843−753−7138, [email protected]
President:
Disclaimer−Antique Airways® is the official publication of Carolinas Virginia Antique Airplane Foundation,Inc.It is publ
ished only as a medium of communication among our members. All material herein of a technical nature or listed
events are for reference only and are not recommended or approved by the publisher, editor, or authors. Foundation
Officers, Directors,or Members do not project or accept responsibility or liability for participation in any fly−In, function,
or event.
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION
To Join − Complete this Application and Send $20.00/yr (Checks Payable to Carolinas Virginia
Antique Airplane Foundation) to: Don Collins, P.O. Box 190, Summerfield, NC or
Join for a Lifetime: Age 65/up −$150, 64−45− $350, 44−25 − $550 Under 25 − $750 What a deal!
Name ______________________________________ (Nickname)__________________
Spouse’s Name___________________________
EAA Member? EAA # __________
Y N
VAA # __________
Telephone/Email: ________________________________________________________
Address_________________________________________________________________
Airplane(s)/Projects & N # (s)
7
ANTIQUE AIRWAYS
®
1862 Poplar Hill Drive
Cross, SC 29436
In coming months, our Chapter Website will be populated with photos like this:
From 1979, at Camden: Len Povey, Johnny Crowell, and Dwight Cross, Jr.