April - EAA Chapter 237.org

The President’s Soapbox
By Robert Heavirland
Wow! What a week and month the chapter has had.
A breakfast last month, an AOPA Safety Seminar
we co-sponsored with Key Air last week, then the
MN Pilots Association gathering last weekend. We
had great member participation and help as well as
fun along the way.
CHAPTER MEETING - 6PM EAA Chapter 237 Calendar of Events
Monday April 27rh, 2015 April: ————————————————
Located at: April 18th - Last breakfast social until next fall
8891 Airport Rd NE 7:30am - 11:00am
Blaine, MN 55449 April 27nd - Chapter meeting &
EAA 237’s 50th Year Celebration!
May: ————————————————
We hope to see you there!
Our chapter hosted the meeting place for EAA Chapters to meet with
leaders from EAA Headquarters on Friday night the 10th with 8
chapter leaders from MN and one from South Dakota. We heard
great ideas, some areas where chapters were struggling, and others
that needed support from HQ. Thanks to Randy Corfman and the
MN Pilots for getting this EAA group together.
The remainder of this month has more opportunities. We have a
pancake breakfast on the 18th, Kirk has emailed out some flyers
please tell your friends and bring them along.
Meeting night the 27th will be our chapter’s 50th Anniversary
please invite and bring past members, past officers, and friends of
the chapter to the meeting. We will have some special presentations,
some history of the chapter, and great food.
6PM - Dinner (Menu still in planning)
7:15 - Short business meeting
7:30 – Presentations and some history sharing from our first 50
years.
Bring your photos of past picnics, fly-ins, Christmas parties, and
planes to the meeting to share with the group. Make this a fun time
for all. -Bob
CELEBRATION! 50th Anniversary
EAA Chapter 237 Monday, April 27th
The first official meeting of EAA Chapter 237 was in April of
1965 so this month we will celebrate and take a walk down
memory runway. I have invited some of our past officers to
come and share some stories about the chapter. If you know of
some past officers please invite them to share in the fun.
The chapter is furnishing Pulled Pork, Turkey and buns; we
would like to “Potluck” the rest of the sit down meal so bring
your favorite side dish to share.
There will be some awards, some door prizes, great food,
and lots of stories.
Itinerary——————————
6:00pm
Appetizers
6:30 – 7:30 Share the meal
7:30 – 8:00 Short Business meeting.
8:00 – 9:00 Awards and sharing of stories, pictures,
May 9th - Fabric workshop 9am
May 10th - Movie night starting at 5pm
237 Young Eagles Pilot Organizational Meeting
People volunteer in EAA’s Young Eagles® program for a variety of
reasons. Some see it as a chance to payback the kindness of those
who inspired them to pursue flying. Others enjoy the opportunity to
share their interest in aviation with young people. Many simply
enjoy flying. Hard work and dedication of volunteers is the primary
reason why the Young Eagles continues to be a success in building
the next generation of aviators.
Wednesday, April 22nd at 19:00, Mar k Heule and myself will be
convening a meeting at the chapter hangar of pilots and ground
crews for the upcoming 2015 Young Eagles season. We will be
discussing the program's policies, procedures, and planning.
We will also answer any questions you may have. Your input and
suggestions will be greatly appreciated!
As you will note, we have four scheduled events, and there might be
an additional one or two if required. This will be a very busy year
for chapter 237, and we're expecting huge turnouts for these Young
Eagle events. Mark and I are often very involved with the
administrative duties of our Young Eagles program (as well as other
chapter activities) and will need your help! Please consider
becoming a "Flight Leader" or "Ground Crew Chief" for just one of
the events.
Hope to see you there! -Kirk
Young Eagles Flight Schedule and Locations
May 16, 2015 (9am-1pm) Key Air at Anoka County Airport-Blaine
June 21, 2015 (9am-1pm) Municipal Airport-Cambridge
August 15, 2015 (9am-1pm) Daniel A. Deponti Airport-Forest Lake
BIG Screen Video/Movie Night
Next video/movie night is Sunday May 10th, 2015
5pm - 7pm Videos and EAA HQ videos
7pm - 9pm MAIN FEATURE Movie
Tasty pizza, ice cold pop, hot coffee & other goodies are free!
If you haven’t attended, take some time & come out and enjoy!
We have some great movie choices along with plenty of videos for
May. In April, we enjoyed the movie night showing of “I.Q.”.
While not an aviation film it was a fun choice! Haven’t attended
yet...what’s keeping you?
Please consider submitting an article for next month. To do so please contact, your newsletter editor, Becky at [email protected]
Date—-
Time—-
Webinar Subject———
4/29/15
7 pm
How to Buy a Used Light-Sport Aircraft
Discover the secrets of a successful LSA pre-buy examination. Shopping for a used LSA can be a gamble because so few people
understand the FAA rules and ASTM standards under which LSA are manufactured and certificated. Join LSA maintenance rated
repairman Prof. H. Paul Shuch as he explains how to avoid the most common pitfalls during the purchase process.
5/6/15
8 pm
Engine Teardowns (^)
The decision to tear down an engine is one of the most serious and expensive that any aircraft owner will have to face. Maintenance
expert Mike Busch discusses the right way to make this crucial decision, and how to avoid the kind of unnecessary or premature
engine teardowns that happen all too frequently. Qualifies for FAA Wings and AMT credit.
5/12/15
7 pm
Chapter Chat: Tax Exempt Basics
Is your chapter tax exempt? Charitable? 501(c)(3)? Confused? This webinar will cover the basics of tax exempt status for EAA
chapters. If your chapter is interested in becoming a recognized charity by the IRS, make sure you attend. Patti Arthur, a tax attorney
with many years of experience helping EAA chapters, will help you understand the basic rules of tax exempt and charitable status.
5/13/15
7 pm
Flying a Jet-Powered Glider and the SubSonex Jet (#)
Do you ever dream of flying a jet? Jeremy Monnett from Sonex Aircraft discusses his experience completing the BonusJet TST-14
training program. This transition training program offers those with a glider rating to earn a endorsement for a jet powered self-launch
glider, and a LOA (letter of authorization) to fly the SubSonex Jet. Qualifies for FAA Wings credit.
5/21/15
7 pm
Emergency Bailout Procedures for Pilots and Survival Equipment (#)
IAC member Allen Silver speaks on all aspects of emergency parachute usage and bailout procedures. Including mental attitude,
preflight preparation, exiting a disabled aircraft, deploying your parachute, and landing safely back on earth. Allen also discusses
steps you can take to increase your chances of surviving a bailout once on the ground. Qualifies for FAA Wings credit.
5/27/15
7 pm
Flying with Your iPad using WingX Pro7 (#)
Jim Sweeney discusses how to use the WingX Pro7 application. The application’s capabilities include, GPS moving map and
Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) that run on the iPad & iPhone. In addition, Pro7 works with multiple ADS-B receivers, displaying
in-flight weather and traffic. Qualifies for FAA Wings credit.
6/3/15
8 pm
Safe vs. Airworthy (^)
We often hear the terms "safe" and "airworthy" used interchangeably as if they were synonyms. But they're not. Maintenance guru
Mike Busch explains why it's quite possible for an aircraft or components to be quite safe but absolutely unairworthy. He discusses
how these two words differ in meaning, and explores the implications of that difference on maintenance decision making. Qualifies
for FAA Wings and AMT credit.
6/10/15
7 pm
Tips for Flying into EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2015
EAA AirVenture NOTAM Chairman Fred Stadler shares some hints and tips for reducing your pilot workload when flying into
AirVenture 2015. Discussion highlighting the special requirements and procedures of the FAA issued NOTAM.
6/16/15
7 pm
Aircraft Control at High Angles of Attack (#)
IAC member Ben Freelove discusses the dynamics and techniques for precise control of airplanes operating at high angles of attack
including, near stall, post stall and deep stall conditions. Qualifies for FAA Wings credit.
7/1/15
8 pm
Warranty Schmarranty (^)
Maintenance expert Mike Busch discusses the terms and conditions of manufacturer and repair station warranties, with primary focus
on engine warranties. He explains what's covered, what isn't, and how to factor competing warranty terms into your decision to have
your engine field overhauled or exchanged for a factory rebuilt or factory new engine. Qualifies for FAA Wings and AMT credit.
8/5/15
8 pm
Perils of Cylinder Work (^)
Maintenance expert Mike Busch digs into the thorny issue of tightening critical fasteners properly when installing cylinders on a
piston aircraft engine, explains why it is so difficult to get it right when doing it with the engine still mounted in the airplane, and
emphasizes the need to be very cautious when replacing multiple cylinders or doing top overhauls. Qualifies for FAA Wings and
AMT credit.
KEY:
(#) FAA Wings Credit
(^) FAA AMT & Wings Credit
Registration is required, and space is limited.
Sign up at: http://www.eaa.org/en/eaa/aviation-education-and-resources/aviation-videos-and-aviation-photos/eaa-webinars
Pictures From Our Recent Events!!!
Event date: Tuesday April 7th, 7pm - 9pm
AOPA Seminar
“After the Crash—Surviving an aircraft accident”
Event date: Fri & Sat, April 10th & 11th
The Great Minnesota Aviation Gathering
Charlie Becker & Rick Larsen from EAA HQ presented our chapter with a 50th Anniversary plaque!
Two Iconic Aircraft Finds
IceBridge Discovers Crashed Plane from Cold War
A plane from the Cold War has been discovered thanks to IceBridge, a NASA mission which monitors arctic geography for signs of
climate change and other notable data. The B-29 went down in 1947, and since then has been left unchanged. The arctic climate has
preserved the aircraft precisely as it was when it crashed during a covert mission. Unchanged since the Cold War, the images stand out
in a mission meant solely to document sheets of ice and glaciers.
The B-29 Superfortress went down near the North Pole. While conditions in the area are far from livable, the crew managed to survive
and was eventually saved. The plane was not simply left there, despite seeming unsalvageable. After the Cold War ended, an attempt
was made to bring the plane back up to standard. Unfortunately, the results were far from those desired and the project was scrapped.
Since then, the bomber has been left in the arctic ice and snow, untouched by all except for the nature surrounding it.
IceBridge is made largely possible by a NASA plane called the P-3 Orion. The plane’s task is simple, as its only real function is that of
photo reconnaissance. Such automated technology was not so readily available during the Cold War, and as such the crashed bomber
had to carry a crew of eleven men. Of course, it cannot be too easily assumed that reconnaissance was their mission, as they maintained
their secrecy even after failure.
NASA has been running this mission for around five years now, and they do not often see sites such as the wrecked B-29. The Orion
generally goes over the same areas multiple times, attempting to detect subtle changes in the lay of the land. Finding a plane from the
Cold War is therefore an incredibly unique occurrence. Not surprisingly, given the climate, this particular plane was forced to land after
encountering harsh weather that made it too difficult to navigate the winds.
The Cold War was a time of immense secrecy, so it cannot be said for certain what such a plane would have been doing in the North
Pole in the first place. The most amazing aspect of such a discovery would normally be the historical significance, but in this case the
significance lies largely in the rarity of the find as well as the way in which the freezing temperatures have preserved the craft where it
lies. The Cold War bomber is likely to remain there for some time, as there are no currently voiced plans to retrieve it. Kirk can retrieve
it for the chapter in place of the P-38 he was to acquire for the chapter earlier this month!
Boeing B17 Flying Fortress Swamp Ghost
On Feb. 23, 1942, a B-17E Flying Fortress bomber crashed in one of the most remote and wild places on Earth: the primitive Agaimbo
swamp located on the island of Papua New Guinea. The plane, piloted by young U.S. Army Air Corps Capt. Fred Eaton, had flown a
long, dangerous mission from Australia against the Japanese Fortress at Rabaul in New Britain. This was the first long-range Allied
bombing mission of World War II following Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor that included the U.S. The crew survived their ordeal and,
after a six week trek to safety, returned to combat. Their B-17E, however, remained forgotten in the swamp until it was rediscovered in
1972 by an Australian Air Force crew.
In the mid-1980s, the late World War II pilot, restaurant industry pioneer and antique aircraft collector David Tallichet initiated efforts
to recover and return the plane to U.S. soil. His dream was fulfilled in 2010 through the joint efforts of his family and aircraft salvage
enthusiast Alfred Hagen.
Nicknamed Swamp Ghost, the B-17E has become an icon of military aviation. In tribute to its intact state, romantic isolation and the
extreme challenges involved in its salvage, it is known among historians as military aviation’s Holy Grail.
Coincidentally, the B-17E was assigned to the Kangaroo Squadron, which flew into Pearl Harbor from San Francisco during the
Japanese attack on December 7, 1941. This occurrence contributed to the disaster because U.S. Oahu radar personnel assumed the
incoming Japanese attack wave represented the squadron’s expected arrival. Swamp Ghost was not with the squadron on that fateful
day, but flew in shortly after the attack.
Prior to its salvage, Swamp Ghost was considered the best-preserved unrecovered B-17E in the world. With its return to the Port of
Long Beach, Swamp Ghost completed its final mission 68 years after take-off. Only four aircraft models of its type have ever been
recovered. The aircraft will be restored, possibly to flying condition, for display at an aviation museum as a symbol of America’s
military aviation heritage
Kirk’s commentary, ps and Avia on wacky area
Volunteers have been the heart of EAA accomplishments since its creation.
EAA has become the leader in the aviation community with the help of volunteers from all over the world, helping us
continue to provide high quality programs and services to our members and visitors. One of the best ways to make new
aviation friends and strengthen existing relationships is to commit to a shared activity together. Volunteering is a great
way to meet new people, especially if you are new to an area. Volunteering also strengthens your ties to the community
and broadens your support network, exposing you to people with common interests, neighborhood resources, and fun
and fulfilling activities.
Volunteering is a fun and easy way to explore your interests and passions. Doing volunteer work you find meaningful
and interesting can be a relaxing, energizing escape from your day-to-day routine of work, school, or family
commitments. Volunteering also provides you with renewed creativity, motivation, and vision that can carry over into
your personal and professional life. The Corporation of National and Community Service published a review of recent
research on The Health Benefits of Volunteering. The review found volunteers had lower mortality rates, reported lower
rates of depression if over the age of 65, and enjoyed greater senses of self-worth and trust. The review also found many
other physical and mental health benefits for volunteers.
You will have a richer and more enjoyable volunteering experience if you first take some time to identify your aviation
goals and interests. Start by thinking about why you want to volunteer. Also think about what you would enjoy doing.
Volunteer opportunities that match both your goals and your interests are most likely to be fun and fulfilling for you.
You want to make sure that the experience is right for your skills, your goals, and the time you want to spend. If you
have any questions, be sure to speak up. Sample questions to your volunteer coordinator might address your time
commitment, if there’s any training involved, who you will be working with, and what to do if you have questions
during your experience. Before starting, make sure you know what is expected, and understand the time commitment.
Consider starting small so that you don’t over commit yourself at first. Give yourself some flexibility to change your
focus if needed. Speak up if your experience isn’t what you expected. Don’t force yourself into a bad fit. Most
importantly, make sure you’re having fun! The best volunteer experiences benefit both the volunteer, EAA and Chapter
237.
Some of the other benefits of volunteering include: making important networking contacts, learning or developing new
skills, teaching your skills to others, enhancing your résumé, gaining work experience, building self-esteem and
self-confidence, improving your health, meeting new people, feeling needed and valued, expressing gratitude for help
you may have received in the past, communicating to others that you are ambitious, enthusiastic and care about the
aviation community, making a difference in someone’s life, and improving the likelihood that children will get involved
in aviation volunteer as an adult.
The most gratifying, beneficial and fun experiences of my life have come by volunteering for EAA and Chapter 237
activities. While acting as president of Chapter 237 has often been time consuming and at times frustrating, it has also
been extremely satisfying knowing that, in some small way, I may have benefited our aviation community.
Chapter 237 has some of the most knowledgeable and experienced personnel and EAA members in the world. With the
passion and enthusiasm of the 237 membership, I have no doubt that Chapter 237 will continue to grow and be the poster
chapter for The Spirit of Aviation.
“Man must rise above the Earth…to the top of the atmosphere and beyond…for my soul is in the sky.” – William
Shakespeare
"Can a pilot use the IFR system if he is non-rated just to help
out in VFR weather?"
While a non-rated pilot cannot file an IFR flight plan, the rest of the system is available to assist
the VFR pilot. It is good practice and preparation if you decide to advance to obtaining your
instrument rating. Some suggested practices include:
First, obtain a complete preflight weather briefing including checking NOTAMs.
Then file a VFR flight plan. This is an excellent low cost insurance policy. The cost is the time it
takes to fill it out. The insurance includes the knowledge that someone will be looking for you if
you become overdue at your destination.
Use ATC Flight Following whenever available. Radar equipped facilities can provide additional
services such as traffic and weather advisories.
Additionally, some Flight Service Stations provide flight monitoring where regularly traveled
VFR routes cross large bodies of water, swamps, and mountains. This service, known as
Hazardous Area Reporting Service is provided for expeditiously alerting Search and Rescue
facilities when required. See the AIM Paragraph 4-1-21 for more information.
When flying VFR at night, in addition to the altitude appropriate for the direction of flight, you
should maintain an altitude which is at or above the minimum enroute altitude as shown on (low
altitude IFR) charts. This is especially true in mountainous terrain, when there is usually very
little ground reference. Do not depend on your eyes alone to avoid rising unlighted terrain, or
even lighted obstructions such as TV towers.
The Secrets of Aviation
Powered flight may have started with the Wright brothers, but many other
aviation pioneers made significant contributions. Every month I will provide
one of the fascinating individuals, facts, or accomplishments that are “The
Secrets of Aviation.”
Things You Never Knew About Lighted Airways
1 - In 1923, the US Congress funded the first lighted airway, known as the Transcontinental
Airway System.
2 - The first section of the route stretched from Chicago, Illinois to Cheyenne, Wyoming. The
segment's location in the middle of the country allowed aircraft starting from either coast to
depart during the day and reach the lighted airway by nightfall.
3 - Lighted emergency airfields were funded along the route, spaced every 15 to 20 miles.
4 - By 1933, the Transcontinental Airway System totaled 1500 beacons and 18,000 miles.
5 - Airway beacons included a rotating white light, which created a quick 1/10 second flash
every 10 seconds. In clear weather, it could be seen for up to 40 miles.
6 - Each beacon had a set of red or green course lights below the white beacon, pointed along
each direction of the route. Red lights were used on beacons in-between airfields, and green
lights were use on beacons located at airfields.
7 - Beacons were spaced 10 miles apart.
8 - Each beacon's course lights flashed one of 10 letters in morse code: W, U, V, H, R, K, D, B,
G or M. The letters represented the numbers 1 through 10, indicating the beacon's sequence on
the route section.
9 - Pilots remembered the sequential order using the phrase "When Undertaking Very Hard
Routes, Keep Direction By Good Methods."
10 - The standard beacon stood on top of a 70 foot concrete arrow, painted yellow and pointed
in the direction of the course.
11 - The Low Frequency airway system (NDB Airways) began to replace the lighted airway
system in 1929.
12 - Montana still maintains around 19 lighted beacons in the western section of the state,
which you can find on the Great Falls sectional. They're indicated by a star, with the Morse
code for the associated letter.
EAA C HAPTER 237
8891 A IRPORT R OAD , B OX C-12
B LAINE , MN 55449
QUOTE OF THE MONTH