Class of 2013 - Fly
Transcription
Class of 2013 - Fly
January 2012 Vol. 12 Issue 11 www.fly-low.com Dawn of Air Race & Flying 2013 “Class of 2013” National Aviation Hall of Fame reveals names of “Class of 2013” Tuskegee Airmen mentor, Medal of Honor Army pilot, Navy “Top Gun” Shuttle astronaut, commercial aviation pioneer among four to be enshrined October 2013 (Dayton, Ohio - The National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) Board of Trustees revealed the names of four individuals who have been elected for enshrinement at its annual formal ceremony that will be held in October of 2013. The four will be joining the roster of 215 men and women air and space pioneers who have been inducted by the NAHF since its founding in 1962. The names and photos of the incoming Enshrinee Class of 2013 were unveiled at a dinner hosted by Dayton-based Aviation Trail, Inc. (ATI) in celebration of the 109th Anniversary of the Wright Brothers’ historic first powered flight, December 17, 1903. Serving as the dinner›s emcee was Marvin Christian, President of ATI, and making the Class of 2013 announcement was NAHF Enshrinement Director, Ron Kaplan. Each year, the NAHF Board of Nominations, a voting body comprised of over 120 aviation professionals nationwide, selects a handful of U.S. air and space pioneers to be recognized for their achievements by enshrinement into the NAHF. The NAHF Class of 2013 is a diverse group representing a broad range of significant contributions to the advancement of flight. The four to be enshrined next year are: The late Charles Alfred Anderson – In 1940, Anderson, who is widely recognized as “the father of AfricanAmerican aviation,” helped develop a civilian-pilot training program for blacks. His 1941 flight with first lady Eleanor Roosevelt aboard was the catalyst that led to the training of the first African American military pilots, the Tuskegee Airmen, for whom Anderson served as chief instructor. * Factory Trained (Cessna, Beechcraft, & Garmin G1000) * Authorized Direct Cessna Warranty Work & Processing W/No Cost to Customer * Both Single & Twin Engine Service * Annuals/ADs/Emergency Repairs * Aircraft & Cessna Parts In-Stock or At Your Facility within 24 hours! * Required Calibrated Test Equipment for New and Older Aircraft Utilized * Teledyne Continental Dealer * Aircraft Pick-up/Delivery or Owner Shuttle Available “Meeting the Needs of General Aviation in NW Arkansas” www.summitaviationllc.com - 479/464-0987 Summit Aviation - Bentonville Municipal Airport (VBT) - 479/254-0817 (FBO/School) 2 January 2013 • www.fly-low.com Cover Photo:Furnished by Jo Hunter Page 2 Page 20 Page 16 Page 18 FLY-LOW PHOTOGRAPHER Professional Aircraft Service & Maintenance Demand the Best in Aircraft Service Capt. Robert L. “Hoot” Gibson, USN (Ret) - As a Navy fighter pilot, Gibson flew combat in Southeast Asia, graduated from “Top Gun,” and served as a flight test pilot before joining NASA’s astronaut corps in 1978. He flew five Shuttle missions (four as Commander) and participated on the Challenger accident investigation team. Also an aeronautical engineer, record-setting pilot and air racer, Capt. Gibson has logged over 14,000 hours in over 130 types of aircraft. Maj. Gen. Patrick H. Brady, USA (Ret) - His highly decorated 34 yearplus Army career includes developing foul weather and tactical techniques for helicopter air ambulance rescue in combat. Brady flew over 2,500 missions during two Vietnam combat tours and rescued over 5,000 wounded. His numerous service awards include the Medal of Honor and Distinguished Service Cross. The late Dwane L. Wallace, After 41 years with the Cessna Aircraft Company, Wallace retired in 1975 as its Chairman and CEO. During the Depression, Wallace used money won by air racing to meet payroll. After the company served WWII military aircraft demand, Wallace directed Cessna›s development and growth of extensive corporate and general aviation product lines. He was a founder and first chairman of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. The enshrinement dinner and ceremony will take place on Friday, October 4, 2013 at the National Aviation Hall of Fame Learning Center and the adjacent National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. Often referred to as “America’s Oscar Night of Aviation,” the black-tie ceremony is open to the public and reservations are available by advance purchase from the NAHF. For more information visit the NAHF website at www.nationalaviation.org 2 - Class of 2013 4 - Throttle Forward 5 - Salute to Veterans Air Show 2013 7 - Air Mail 8 - Air To Ground 9 - FAA News 10 - Steve Bill’s Air Shots 12 - Left Seat 14 - High Flight Eastern Office Western Office Fly-Low Publications Fly-Low Publications P. O. Box 10355 P. O. Box 672 Russellville, AR 72812 Ouray, CO 81427 +++++++ +++++++ [email protected] www.fly-low.com Now representing ALL FIFTY STATES!!! 18 - Dawn of the 2013 Racing Season 20 - Dennis Weaver 24 - Thunderbirds to be at Sun ‘n Fun 26 - Texas Pilots Association 28 - United States Pilots Association 30 - FYI: Accident Reports 32 - Classified 34 - Ron Gerot Goes West Publisher: Ralph McCormick [email protected] Cartoonist: Rob Pudim Western Sales Rep: Todd Hubbard +++++++ Main Office Phone 479-970-1001 Page 34 Contributing Writers Advertising rates call 479-970-1001 Steve Bill Hanshew Rose Marie Kern Bill High Bob Worthington Pat Purcell Max Lightsey Photography - Jo Hunter Publisher’s liability for damages resulting from errors in any advertising that is published or from its failure to publish any advertisement that it has agreed to publish shall be limited to the amount actually received by FLY-LOW in consideration for its agreement to publish the advertisement in question. It shall not be responsible for any consequential damages suffered by any party. All flight information printed in this publication is printed for informational purposes only and should not be used for navigation. Pilots must determine safe procedures from Federal Aviation Administration sources. Please refer to all FAA publications for navigation. We assume no responsibility for data, reviews, airport information, safety stories, or advertisements. We do not knowing publish false information. It is the reader’s responsibility to verify any advertised information. Editorials by authors are not necessarily the view or opinions of FLY-LOW. All rights reserved with copyrights. Any correspondence with Fly-Low Publications, articles and photography, become the property of Fly-Low Publications. Fly-Low Publications may edit content and images. www.fly-low.com • January 2013 3 Throttle Forward... US AVIATION: RECRUITING CFIs NEVER STOPS GREAT NEWS (or is it?) The world didn’t come to an end at the end of the Mayan calendar on December 21… darn!!! I had looked forward to getting out of my income tax for this year. Rumor has it that the Mayan who was preparing the future calendars died of a heart attack as he got to the December 21st date on his future calendars. Go figure… and that news is just now surfacing. Must be a conspiracy of those in charge. Performing aerobatics in a Czech L-39 near Santa Fe, NM REMINDER OF FLY-FAST We will be printing our third issue of FLY-FAST, our racing magazine. Lots of exciting races scheduled for 2013. There are active pilots who find much excitement in their additional hobby, racing. If you want to know more about how, when, why of Sport Air Racing, go to their website… www.sportairrace.org. If you want a copy first, then send $6.95 to FLY-LOW Publications. Request the 2013 issue of Fly-Fast, please. This year will be bigger and better. It is our third year of supporting the Sport Air Racing League. This nationwide group of pilots who make up the league are AVID enthusiast about flying and racing. Join their blog for a constant dialogue about racing. A MAN WITH A MISSION Dennis Weaver passed away several years ago… we did a feature story on him at that time. Recently, the community in which he and his family spent many years honored him and his memory. There is a giant bronze twenty-one feet eagle in flight at the memorial park just north of Ridgway, CO. It isn’t far off of Hwy 550, yet it is secluded and quiet with much reverence to the land, native Americans, and to Weaver’s memory. It is not that far from Montrose, CO. A flight there and a courtesy car will get you to it. I do recommend that you plan on spending more time in the San Juans. Much history is found and preserved there. Gold and silver were the order of the day during the 1800s… and some into the 1900s… old mines have been reopened and are being worked today as the price of gold makes it affordable to pursue mining. Many filmmakers have used the majestic mountains and old buildings in many scenes… e.g. TRUE GRIT. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid actually visited Telluride in those wild, wild west days.. Towns that are of interest include Durango (KDRO), Ouray (pronounced Uray), Ridgway, Telluride (KTEX), Montrose (KMTJ), and Pagosa Springs (KPSO). I have given the airport identifers of those towns that have fine runways and courtesy or rental cars. GONE WEST January 2013 • www.fly-low.com Once the federal requirement for airline employment increases this summer to 1500 hours, the tenure of CFIs at US Flight Academy will also For Sale!!! 960 acres change. A CFI at US Flight Academy can log between 800 and 1000 hours a year, so their stay at the Academy will begin to average 18 months before they move on. Given the looming airline pilot shortage and the average pilot age, 51 years, there is little doubt that CFIs from US Flight Academy will have no problems getting employment once they hit the 1500 hour mark. The trips to job fairs will continue. Adams is in constant communication with schools like Embry Riddle, Spartan, Southeast Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University and Utah Valley University for candidates. He also receives resumes from all over the United States. Once every three weeks he starts an indoctrination class for new CFIs, covering a 250page training manual and a flight test. “It’s a lot like the airlines in that everything a CFI does with one of our students is articulated in the manual,” said Adams. “Once they learn the discipline of training, they find it easy to adapt to airline procedures.” Airline recruiters have already begun showing up at US Flight Academy to sign new pilots from the CFI ranks. $995,000.00 Magnificent southern Colorado Ranch. 5000 ft FAA approved airstrip (31CD). Modern Cabin and large Barn with corrals. Located 10 minutes to Colorado City and I-25, 30 minutes to Pueblo, and 1 hour to Colorado Springs. Possible owner financing with 10% down. See pictures and maps at www.diamondstarranch.com. Call owners Mike 772-971-5157 or Melinda 772-559-2673 2013 THEME: “25 YEARS OF HONORING AND REMEMBERING” Call Today www.diamondstarranch.com 4 The average tenure for a CFI at US Flight Academy varies according to the hiring activity in the airlines. “In most cases, a CFI will instruct for six to nine months before moving on to the airlines, cargo lines or to a job in corporate flying,” said David Adams, Director of Logistics and Assistant Chief Instructor at the Academy. “We’ve had a few who have been here for a couple years, because they like it and are in no rush to sign up with a regional airline.” Over 90 percent of the students the CFIs work with are training for careers as professional pilots, primarily in the airlines. www.diamondstarranch.com We salute our friend and photographer for many years, Ron Gerot. His passing this year will be a loss to our magazine. Our thoughts are for his family members and friends. I will miss those calls about where to shoot photos next or just “Hey, how the heck are you, Ralph?” He was a good man and will be missed by those of us at the FLY-LOW office. Denton, TX – Keeping one of the nation’s largest flight schools up and running requires a steady focus on recruiting CFIs and students. At any given time there are about 75 CFIs working with 230 - 250 students in the two training facilities owned by US Flight Academy, a branch of the US Aviation. Training operations are conducted at the home field in Denton Texas as well as at Grayson County Airport in Sherman, Texas. SALUTE TO VETERANS AIR EVENT IN MISSOURI - 2013 Columbia, MO:- For the past Quarter Century it has been our privilege annually over a 6-Day Celebration to Honor and Remember the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces, as well as our Allies, and to thank them for giving us the greatest gift of all: Freedom! Returning for the QUARTER CENTURY CELEBRATION as the “Signature Aircraft”, and performing a thrilling and dramatic aerobatic demonstration at the FREE twoday Airshow at Columbia Regional Airport on May 25-26, 2013 is the famous WWII P-51 Mustang: GUNFIGHTER. It made history as the very first aircraft to fly down Broadway over the 1989 Salute to Veterans Parade 25 years ago. Put May 22-27, 2013 on your calendars for a once in a lifetime opportunity to see and thrill to all the events over the 6-Days including planes, parachute teams, the Honored Guests and Volunteers Banquet at MIZZOU Arena, the Salute to Veterans Parade and the many military heroes who will join us for this very special unique Celebration. Mack, CO COMPETITIVE FUEL PRICING EVERYDAY!!! Located just west of Grand Junction (CO) Easy in and out. Camping available, and Gateway to the Colorado and Utah backcountry. Lots of activities. Airplane Rodeo in the fall. General Aviation only. Come see. Visit, stay a while. Mechanic on duty Mack Mesa Airport (CO7) FOR INFO CALL LADD 970.260.0707 www.fly-low.com • January 2013 5 Air Events By Mail Air Mail Feb 21 - The 2013 Buckeye Air Fair will take place on Saturday February 23 at the Buckeye Airport from 9am to 3pm. The airport is located at 3000 S. Palo Verde Rd, 1 mile south of I-10, exit 109. We will have over 72 vendors, 50 aircraft, and fly over’s. Over 20 World War ll aircraft and vehicles will be on display at the Lauridsen Aviation Museum. In addition to a car show, there will be hot air balloon rides, helicopter rides, biplane rides and tandem sky diving. We will have a Science & Technology Expo with presentations by the Lowell Observatory, the Challenger Space Center, Arizona State University, Mesa Airline Pilot Development, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and many others. Dear Editor, I bet you will hear a lot of comments about the mistake in the High Flight article on page 14. High’s article regarding magnetic variation he says, “East is least and west is best. This is important to remember because of the direction in which we are flying; add to westerly heading subtract from easterly heading.” That is incorrect. He should have said, “Easterly variations are subtracted from the westerly variations are added to true courses to determine the magnetic course regardless of whether the course is easterly, westerly, or even northerly or southerly.” Other than that, it was a nice article and we enjoy and look forward to each FLY-LOW issue. Thanks for the great publication.. Connie Younger CY Aviaton Boone Iowa Connie, Thanks for your comments. Actually, no we didn’t receive any comments on the phrasing of Bill High’s method of “East-West”, Just your email. Ralph McCormick March 16 – St. Clair County Airport in Pell City AL, will have a fly-in on march 16th next year. It is to note KPLR’s 50 years of service to St Clair County and raise funds to help our veterans. There will be plane rides, food, door prizes, live music, events for kids. one of the plane rides is to be a 1943 Boeing Stearman Model 75. Celebration and Fly-in at Curtis Field in Brady Texas sponsored by Morgan Military Aviation Museum will be held on Saturday, May 18th 2013, (assuming the Mayans got it wrong), so please save the date!! We are starting the planning even earlier and we have had a lot of volunteer interest as well as participant For more information n237dt@mail. interest. We will be getting back in com or call 256 589 0756 Lanny touch with you with further details Merrit as they are planned and confirmed, Ongoing event: The Ocean City Aviation Association (OCAA) is conducting the following ongoing event: Saturday Morning Fly-in breakfast ongoing event, at the Ocean City Maryland’s Municipal Airport (OXB), 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Breakfast, light lunch. Cost: Donations for the Ocean City Aviation Association›s (OCAA) For more information on this free restoration of the Huey helicopter event, go to www.BuckeyeAirFair. mounted on the Veteran›s Memorial com, Jeff Schwartz display, located near the terminal building. Contact: Coleman Bunting, 410-726-7207, or Airport Operations, [email protected] 410-213-2471 22535 W Moonlight Path Buckeye, AZ 85326 May 18 - Armed Forces Day 6 2 Cents FLY-LOW Publications P O Box 10355 Russellvile AR, 72811 Jan 17 - Sebring, Florida— Sebring Expo to host Wings of Freedom Tour and NASA Display. Visitors will see historic WW II aircraft and learn about space vehicles of the future Visitors to the 9th annual U.S. Sport Aviation Expo, January 17-20, 2013, will have a chance to interact with history when three World War II era aircraft arrive to spend the weekend on display at the Sebring Regional Airport. At the opposite end of the aviation spectrum, Expo attendees will also have the opportunity to learn more about the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA’s) current Commercial Crew Program. U. S. Postage January 2013 • www.fly-low.com but please feel free to notify us with any ideas and/or concerns and please start spreading the word. We want this year to be even bigger and better, and have plans for another great hamburger lunch, and of course the wonderful WW II style hangar dinner and dance to cap things off. Thanks so much for your support and interest!! Dear Ralph, I was wondering if you could list a fly-in for me. It’s going to be there at the Harrison Airport on Saturday January 19th from 11a.m. until it’s gone. It’s going to be a charity event for Perry Evans over at Berryville. There will be a chili cookout to raise money for him and Shelia. There will be homemade chili with all the fixin’s, jalapeno cornbread, drinks. The meal and drinks are free but we would like folks to leave a donation for Perry and Shelia. Fly-Arkansas has also agreed to provide full service fuel for $4.95/gal. My contact number until the 10th is 713-232-8237 x 0 and my email is [email protected]. Send your event information to Thanks for any and all help you can provide. Kevin Murphy Kevin, FLY-LOW is always glad to help. We posted your event online at www. fly-low.com. Thanks for submitting the info online with our new event submission page (contact page). Ralph [email protected] Have something to say? Send your comments to [email protected]. We have the right to print or not, edit at our discretion. Single, Multi, Turbo & Jet Maintenance Avionics Paint Interiors Teresa Golla 501.975.9324 [email protected] Tom Campbell 501.975.9654 [email protected] Since 1939 1501 Bond Avenue / Little Rock / Arkansas / 72202 / central.aero www.fly-low.com • January 2013 7 Air to FAA News Ground Every Way the Wind Blows I stand in a delightfully calm garden and watch as the clouds rip briskly only a few hundred feet above my head. Even more amazing is that at a higher level I can see mare’s tail cirrus blowing in a completely different direction. 3,000 feet. They are given every 3,000 feet to 12,000, thereafter they are every 6,000 feet. Wind forecasts are not issued for altitudes within 1,500 feet of a location’s elevation. For instance, Albuquerque sits at 5400 MSL, this is too low for the 6,000 foot forecast, so the first data given is for Winds can make a pilot’s trip quicker 9,000 feet. or slower; a gentle lovely flowing drift or a nasty washboard gut wrenching Winds aloft data also contain misery. Pilots who research the winds temperatures. Temperature forecasts aloft forecast can prepare themselves are not issued for altitudes within and their passengers for whatever 2,500 feet of a location’s elevation. experiences await them as they fling themselves into the sky. Wind direction is indicated in tens of degrees (two digits) with reference to The National Weather Service true north and wind speed is given in releases high altitude balloons from knots (two digits). Light and variable sites across the country two hours wind or wind speeds of less than 5 before the winds aloft forecasts are knots are expressed by 9900. modeled for dissemination. These balloons carry equipment to measure Forecast wind speeds of 100 through humidity levels and a tracking device 199 knots are indicated by subtracting which enables the meteorologist 100 from the speed and adding 50 to to read its direction and speed by the coded direction. For example, a computer as it climbs into the flight forecast of 250 degrees, 145 knots, levels. is encoded as 7545. Forecast wind January 2013 • www.fly-low.com By Rose Marie Kern Temperature is indicated in degrees Celsius (two digits) and is preceded by the appropriate algebraic sign for the levels from 6,000 through 24,000 feet. Above 24,000 feet, the sign is omitted since temperatures are always negative at those altitudes. An example of this is seen below The Kansas City (MKC) winds data is based on computer forecasts generated the first day of the month at 0000 UTC. It is valid for use from 0500 UTC to 0900 UTC. Since MKC is only 757 feet MSL, the first wind data is forecast at 3,000 feet where the 9900 indicates that the winds are light and variable. At 6,000 feet the winds are from 170 degrees (south) at 9 knots. By 9,000 feet they become a bit more westerly at eighteen knots, and by twelve tool for those considering a flight beyond our borders; Jumpseat (p1) covers the importance of embracing Safety Management Systems (SMS) as “a means to think globally and act locally”; and FAA Faces (p 33) profiles Christopher Barks, manager of the FAA Office of International Affairs In line with the issue’s focus Western Hemisphere team. the importance of on global topics, the Checklist purchasing and using certified parts. To access the issue online, go to: http:// Of interest to aircraft mechanics is www.faa.gov/news/safety_briefing/. Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter as department (p 27) explores the ELLISand FIELD Electrons KLLQ International Flight Information this issue’s Nuts, Bolts, well at @FAASafetyBrief. department (p 28) which stresses Manual - an important reference Cont’d on page 27 Have you checked out the latest In addition to several internationally themed feature stories, the issue’s departments also offer a wealth of helpful general aviation news and information. Kern hasissue worked of in Air TrafficSafety Control for 26 years FAA Briefing? UNICOM 122.8 AWOS 133.32 5000’ X 75’ RUNWAY DATA BASED ON 010000Z VALID 010600Z FOR USE 0500-0900Z. FT 3000 6000 9000 12000 18000 24000 30000 34000 39000 MKC 9900 1709+06 2018+00 2130-06 2242-18 2361-30 247242 258848 550252 Once the data is received they use DATA BASED ON 091200Z it plus what they can see on radar VALID 091800Z FOR USE 1400-2100Z. TEMPS NEG ABV 24000 and satellite together to forecast FT 3000 6000 9000 12000 18000 24000 30000 34000 39000 what is happening aloft. The Winds 1931+10 1929+10 2024+06 2331-10 2448-23 235239 246348 256056 ABI Aloft data is released every 6 hours, ABQ 2213+03 2327-04 3163-17 3366-27 337242 326946 335749 0200z, 0800z, 1400z, and 2000z. The ABR 2017 2312+14 2308+09 2615+02 2724-13 2527-26 273641 274051 274562 forecast data goes out in 6, 12, and 24 FT 45000 53000 hour increments, reflecting how the winds are expected change over the day. Most aviation weather websites carry it, but the NWS website is: speeds of 200 knots or greater are thousand they are south-southwest http://aviationweather.gov/products/ indicated as a forecast speed of 199 (210 degrees) at thirty knots. Notice nws/winds knots. For example, 7799 is decoded that at 6,000 feet there is a plus sign as 270 degrees at 199 knots or greater. and the numbers 06. This means The winds are in MSL, beginning at the temperature at that altitude is expected to be plus 6 degrees celcius. 8 [email protected] By 9,000 feet the temperature is zero – indicating where the freezing level is expected to be. Above 24,000 feet the temperatures are all expected to be negative, so they drop the plus/ minus signs. Notice the 39,000 foot winds. The direction is over 36 – so in order to correctly interpret the data you must subtract 30 from the direction and add 100 to the speed. So the winds are actually 250 degrees at 102 knots, temperature minus 52 degrees celcius. Some, not all, stations carry winds aloft temperatures up to 53,000 feet. These are usually shown on a separate line. (SEE CHART AT LEFT) VOR 111.6 (MON) LOCATED 4.7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF AIRPORT Lowest Fuel Prices - 24 Hour for 100 LL & Jet A Credit Card System n Lear ly To F HOURS: 7:30 A.M.-4:30 P.M. MON-FRI. KLLQ 870-367-4450 FULL SERVICE JET A COURTESY CAR PILOT LOUNGE Central Colorado Regional Airport KAEJ MONTICELLO, AR X Monticello Airport An extremely pilot friendly airport. Located in one of Colorado’s beautiful surrounded by amazing mountains.... Buena Vista CO Airport Operations Specialist: Jill VanDeel [email protected] Airport Terminal: 719-395-3496 After Hours Contact: 719-395-3496 Great fuel pricing Come Home to Buena Vista, it's a great place for your family and your business. The winds here are for Abilene, TX, Albuquerque,NM and Aberdeen, SD. Note how Aberdeen’s winds begin at 3,000, but the winds for Abilene and Albuquerque begin higher due to their surface altitude. One of my favorite Cont’d on page 11 www.fly-low.com • January 2013 9 Steve Billʻs Air Shots down, the shining silver bipe’ growing bigger in my imaginary gunsight. I came in on his six and then pulled up on his right wing. How an old A-7 Navy fighter jock could allow a lowly Army Grunt catch him pants down over No-Man’s Land, is whole ‘nother story. But I got him. He must have felt my presence because instinct kicked in. He swiveled his head and I could see a helmet and goggles with a BIG set of baby blues. Shock at first and then a huge smile broke out on his face. By Steve Bill Hanshew [email protected] Dusk Patrol There is a certain grace and irresistible allure to World War One airplanes. Maybe it’s their aerodynamic contrariness and overt simplicity that instinctively draws us to a cotton-covered box kite strung together with a myriad of piano wire. Or maybe it’s the quirky Gnome rotary engine spinning with the prop mounted to an immovable crankshaft, spitting out oil like a slobbery boxer pup. That’s why they needed those chic silk scarves, don’t you know. It could be the romanticism of leather-clad aviators wearing flying goggles, cast as chivalrous knights of the sky dueling honorably amongst the clouds. More probably it’s the ‘Red Baron’ effect courtesy of a Hollywood director’s overactive imagination offering up an Arthurian tinge to what was in reality a heinous war where in truth, the debonair knight of the sky had a one in three chance of surviving two weeks in combat. Whatever it is no real aviator with a heart for flying can resist the great planes of that war. The simple purity of the flying experience inexorably draws pilots to stand in awe of a Sopwith Camel or Fokker Dr1 Triplane; diminutive when compared to modern-day airplanes; daintily dangerous with less internal structure than a flimsy pop-up tent, they are quintessential airplanes. Once a year Wright-Patterson Air Force Base hosts the “Dawn Patrol” event where WW I replicas are given the magnanimous blessing of the government to fly off the grassy area near the historic Air Force Museum. Thousands flock to see jodhpur-clad pilots in long leather jackets squeeze themselves into an Albatross or SE-5 and wobble down the runway and doe jump into the sky. It’s a special event reliving the grassroots of military 10 flight. That is why a month or so ago I experienced my own special moment. I flew the Cub into my favorite grass strip airport, Red Stewart Field in Waynesville, Ohio. It was an absolutely stellar fall day in the Buckeye state: glaring sun, perfect temperature, and barely a breath of wind. Perfect for a Cub hop. Green Dragon Shows Leesburg, OH 937.780.6343 cockpit coaming admiring the absence of instruments. My Cub was festooned with gauges compared to this thing. Tom could tell I liked it. He smiled, “Doesn’t get any simpler does it? I laughed, “Nope, just enough to let you know it’s running.” Tom was an old Navy fighter jock who had only recently retired from one of the majors. Even retired, he still had that lithe look of a plank owner gunfighter. This plane suited him. Thankfully, the business end was a VW engine expropriated from some Grateful Dead Hippie’s bug rather than an original 110-hp Le Rhone rotary. But on second thought, maybe the little French oil slinger would have been easier to start. I’ve propped big planes like my CJ-6. I’ve propped little planes like a V-Witt racer. I’ve propped planes with weak mags’, but this plane was a Tony Little, full-on throttle workout. I was topping off at the pumps when an old friend who is a wrench at the airport walked up, “Ever prop a Nieuport?” I must have looked perplexed so he helped me out, “You know, a World War One knock-off”. I handed him the nozzle and stepped off the ladder. “I’ve propped a lot of stuff, but I don’t think I ever propped a Nieuport”. He pointed over to a hangar across the runway. There it set. Why didn’t I see it before: A shiny silver Nieuport 17 in French markings; resting on grass it seemed the perfect model for a Dietz painting, What gets your goat is the the low sunlight glinting off its tantalizingly occasional putt-putt, burnished cowl. gasp, and wheeze revealing a slim chance that maybe, just maybe, that I strolled over and a guy came out hunk of metal mounted behind the of the hangar, his arm outstretched. prop might be a real engine. I wondered “Hi, I’m Tom. Can you give me a if line guys on the Western Front had prop?” I nodded immediately. What as much trouble. At this rate the war aviator worth his salt could refuse? would be over by the time I got this I quickly ascertained that it was bug smasher started. The Red Baron a Graham Lee replica having long had no fears from the likes of me. I admired the Canadian designer’s could see the sub-title: “Somewhere faithful homage to a truly iconic in France – Still propping”. For Tom’s first generation fighter plane. Even part, he was doing all he could do to though it’s 7/8 scale, it looks right. coax gas and air into the jug at just Heck, the real McCoy wasn’t much the right moment of spark remarking bigger and the rough sewn surfaces that other guys were entertaining and crudely painted graphics made the addition of a lightweight starter you think, “Yeah, this is the way they wired to a motorcycle battery. I were”. No fancy or intricate detailing, paused, placed hands on knees, and no spit and polish, it was all business. took a deep breath: “Yeaahhh (huffThese were war-horses cranked out puff) that’d be a good idea.” He could like Chiclets whose service life was tell my thrill for Great War aviation counted in months not years. was quickly losing its allure. “Let’s bag it. I don’t think its cooperating.” I I ran my hand around the leather waved my hand, “Let me try one more January 2013 • www.fly-low.com Locked in echelon right formation he gave me thumbs up. And then I did it; something I had been waiting all my life to do, ever since 1975 when I set in a dark theater through five complete showings of ‘The Great Waldo Pepper” – Consecutive. I slowly raised my right hand and saluted. And then I banked away back to the East and the darkening sky barely containing my own humongous grin. time. I think it wants to go.” He hit it with a tad more gas. I placed my hands on the prop. “MAGS OFF”. I heard him yell OFF. I pulled the prop through three blades. “BRAKES”. BRAKES he replied as I pushed against the propeller for positive resistance. “CONTACT”. Here goes nothing. I gave her an out-of-the ballpark Hank Aaron swing. She coughed. She caught. She hesitated. I could tell Tom was feverishly working the throttle as I counted blades slowly rotating. “COME ON YOU OLD FRENCH… GAL (or was it something else I screamed)” I actually felt like a Hardy Kruger in the last 5 minutes of ‘Flight of The Phoenix’. Come on baby. Just as I thought all was for naught, she caught and that old German engineering wonder nested in a Canadian-designed fake French plane roared to life. I smiled and waved to Tom. Satisfied, I was ready to climb into the Cub and head for home. My arms felt like taut straps of dry leather. Thank God and Bendix, I had a starter in that 90 horse Super Cub. There should always be a reward for toil, even if it’s a small reward. I was on heading home for Donner Field when I decided that the waning day was beautiful and to miss an aerial view of a Nieuport on takeoff from a grass strip too tempting an opportunity. I made a high pass over the runway as Tom lifted off. It was a beautiful sight. A silver biplane suspended over a sea of green fields and woods – France circa 1916. But suddenly and without notice, my resident German DNA took over. I was high. The sun was setting in the west behind me. The French Nieuport was low and slow heading east. Could I resist? I think not. I throttled back, pushed the stick over, and headed download a copy of fly-low at 4M2 “A great little airport!” $5.30 100 LL Fuel 24/7 4M2 $5.30 • Credit Card Self-Service Booneville Arkansas - Memphis Sectional Bill Tucker, IA on duty - 479-518-5890 - [email protected] Great Fuel Prices $3 Pilot Friendly 479-675-3070 www.boonevilleairport.com 479-675-3070 Fuel 24/7 pilot blunders is when a rookie on his first trip from the plains into the mountains asks me for the winds at 3,000 over Albuquerque. That’s when I ask where he got the drill added to his propeller. • Credit Card Self-Service www.boonevilleairport.com Notice that there is a strong northerly wind at three and six thousand on departure. They reduce in speed and change direction by Alleghany in western New York and by Cleveland they are out of the south-southeast. The changes in speed and direction indicate that you’ve either crossed a front or over a longer distance you’ve left an area dominated by one surface low pressure and entered another one. At the higher altitudes the wind direction does not change as much and the speeds (and temperatures) are more consistant, so this is mostly a surface based system. Notice the ABQ winds between 12,000 and 18,000 – there is an 80 degree switch in direction and more than thirty knots of speed change – For fun sometime, look at the forecast looks like an indicator of windshear winds aloft along a route before you and possible turbulence between look at any other weather product those altitudes to me! and see if you can visualize changes in the weather patterns – then look at When scanning the winds aloft the surface analysis and/or jet stream forecast watch for directional and charts. You may surprise yourself at speed changes between altitudes and how much it can tell you! between sites along your route. If you are traveling from Bangor, Maine EDITOR’S NOTE: Rose Marie Kern (BGR) to Cincinnati, OH (CVG) the has worked in ATC for over 29 years. winds could look like this: If you have questions concerning FT CAR BUF AGC CLE CMH CVG www.fly-low.com Booneville Municipal Airport AIR TO GROUND Cont’d from page 8 3000 3520 0307 9900 1808 1413 1420 6000 3123-6 3110-8 2506-04 9900-05 2305-02 2010+00 9000 2833-09 2622-11 2516-07 2515-10 2517-07 2414-06 12000 2836-15 2628-15 2527-12 2629-16 2525-14 2626-10 aviation weather or air traffic you can contact her at author@rosemariekern. com. NORTHWEST ARKANSAS AVIONICS, INC Serving You Since 1988 Experienced on all types of aircraft from a Cessna 150 to a Gulfstream G-II. Fort Smith [email protected] Shop Mgr: Alan Hosier Mena [email protected] Shop Mgr: Donald Knox Call Us for Sales, Installation, Repair, RVSM Checks and IFR Certification FSM - 479 648-3001 Fort Smith (AR) CRS#: QNAR051K MEZ - 479 883.3182 Mena (AR) CRS#: QNBR706X Authorized Dealer for: Air Cell Garmin PS Engineering L3 Communications Mid-Continent Bendix/King FlightDisplay Avidyne “Where quality and you come together” www.fly-low.com • January 2013 11 The Left Seat Why smart people do dumb things! By Bob Worthington [email protected] In 2011, the NTSB began its war on General Aviation accidents. It pointed out that within the community of civil aviation; GA has the worst accident record. The NTSB stressed that GA accidents are always a reoccurrence of past accidents. It cited the problems are pilot error and training. In May of 2012, the NTSB announced the creation of a GA Safety Forum to address the fact that hundreds of people are killed each year due to GA accidents and thousands more injured. Again, NTSB cited the causes as related to training and performance. In November, the NTSB released its top 10 Most Wanted List of its safety priorities, GA safety is on that list. It further stated that in many cases of GA accidents, pilots did not have adequate knowledge, skills, or recurrent training to fly safely. The largest and most diverse GA fleet in the world (over 220,000 aircraft) resides in the U.S. Last June, the FAA announced a goal of reducing the GA fatal accident rate by 10% over a ten-year period. It claims that about 80% of all GA accidents are directly related to human factors. There are about 40 times more GA accidents than the scheduled airlines. While the number of GA accidents has decreased, so have the GA hours flown. Of the top 10 causes for GA fatal accidents, only two were attributed to mechanical failures. Last October the federal General Accounting Office joined the war on GA accidents. It cited several examples of GA safety issues. Experimental aircraft accounted for 21% of the accidents but only flew 4% of the hours. Corporate had 1% of the fatal accidents but flew 14% of the hours. While GA only flew about 50% of the total civil aviation hours, 12 GA experienced 92% of all fatal accidents. GAO concluded that most of the GA accidents were attributed to human error. GAO stated the FAA goal of reducing fatal accidents by 10% in ten years is not sufficient for reducing fatalities in the riskier segments of GA. GAO presented several recommendations for the FAA, mostly suggesting better data collection and usage. Now, one has to understand that a GA pilot’s ability to fly is only examined once every two years. Moreover, for many pilots, that evaluation is only a cursory glance at a pilot’s capabilities. In addition, it seldom has the ability to assess what kind of risks the pilot may take. It evaluates pilot performance, not mindset. The data clearly presents the facts that U.S. GA pilots are doing a lot of stupid things such as running out of fuel, crashing upon take-off or landing, deliberately running into bad weather (instead of turning around or landing), and flying into the ground. This poses the question: why do smart pilots continue to do dumb things? The simple response is that they do not believe that what they are doing will result in any serious harm to them. I experienced that first-hand over fifty-five years ago. I was a Marine PFC (at the bottom of the rank food chain). My unit (2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, 2nd Marine Division) was getting ready to depart a combat zone in the Middle East where we had been engaged for several weeks. Part of our departure involved picking up live tank rounds and delivering them to an ordnance storage facility. As a reinforced battalion landing team, we had all sorts of attached combat support, such as tanks and artillery. So a working party of a 2 ½ ton truck, a driver, an NCO and several laborers (I was one) were tasked with going to every tank scattered all over the mountains surrounding Beirut, Lebanon to collect the 90 mm rounds of ammo. The mountain roads were steep, dusty, narrow, and very treacherous. We placed a solid layer of sand bags on the bed of the truck... Because the round was armed and point detonating, we put two layers of bags around every shell. I do not recall the basic load each tank had, but it was a lot. For our first trip to the ordnance yard, we had few rounds in the truck and the driver went very slowly to not jar any rounds. The desert was very hot in September, the roads were very dusty, and we were covered with sweat and dirt. By noon, we were bone tired and not even half way through. Nothing had happened. No explosions, no detonations, nothing blew up. So, we rethought the situation and decided it wasn’t as dangerous as we were warned. We realized that if we continued as we started, we would be working on this job for several days. As each trip was concluded, we used fewer sand bags and transported more shells. And on each trip, nothing bad happened. By the end of the day, the floor of the truck was covered with 90 mm tank rounds with only one bag in front of each round, nose buried in the sand bag. We finished our mission by dark that day. This clearly illustrates the fact that as humans engage in a dangerous activity that involves slow movements to completion, as we safely move forward on that task, we tend to take short cuts to complete the task quicker. And the more often we do this safely, the faster we are to take these short cuts in the future. As pilots, often we factor in what we are doing, what we have safely done in the past, with a desire to get where we want to go. Landing to wait out weather, diverting to take on more fuel, or initiating a go-around rather than trying to salvage a botched approach, places us further away from where we want to be. Therefore, if a short cut has resulted in a safe termination of a previous flight, we are not reluctant to try it again. If we do this often enough, the odds are that eventually we will find ourselves in a situation that leads to injury or death. The fact is the pilot never expects this errant behavior will lead to disaster. The pilot’s expected outcome may be some excitement at best (not something he/she can’t handle) but not an event leading to the destruction of an airplane or the deaths of all aboard. This happens to 10,000-hour pilots, to ATPs, to CFIIs, to 100-hour pilots, to pilots who have been seen as safe, competent, and not ones who take risks. But all took a risk to complete a flight because they firmly believed no harm would come from their endeavors. Unfortunately, thinking mitigates risk of harm; “I have done this many times before so I can do it again.” The FAA, the NTSB and the GAO believe more education, more quality recurrent training, and a better appreciation for properly assessing flight risks should help to reduce aviation accidents. Yes, all of this will help to increase safety among pilots. Unfortunately, the reason smart pilots do dumb things is an attitudinal or belief aspect of their behavior. Their rational, based on their experience, leads them to believe that they can do something without disastrous results. Essentially, we are seeing an act of poor judgment; a decision based on faulty data the pilot has accumulated over time. As GA pilots we enjoy an unprecedented approach to being evaluated. Unfortunately, this allows us to find a CFI who will go through the motions regarding the required, biennial, flight review. Our skills and abilities are not really tested. And, certainly, our propensity to take dangerous short cuts is never questioned. So only one of two things must occur to terminate these bad habits: one is death or injury and the other is to encounter such a close encounter with death that the pilot finally realizes what he/she has been doing, and resolves to never do that again. Unfortunately, in this kind of a contest, death often wins. For a link to their website, go to CHECK THEIR AD MENA AIRCRAFT ENGINES, INC. Lycoming ~ Continental • New Limits, Balanced, Overhauled Aircraft Engines • Engine Removal, Installation, Annuals, Engine Removal, Installation, and Annuals Available The engine you want and Professionalism you deserve!!! 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(CO7) FOR INFO CALL LADD 970.260.0707 Fuel Available 24/7 - 100 LL and Jet A “Your ONE STOP to anywhere, because we are on the way!” CloseTHEM to Napoleon TELL YOU Located on the Kansas City VOR (ANX) Sectional and L-10 & L-27 SAW IT IN Easy in and out, no dealing with Kansas City Class B www.3gvairport.com Never under estimate the power of advertising East Kansas City Airport 816.229.8868 January 2013 • www.fly-low.com Shop our advertisers by phone for your best price. FLY-LOW Near Blue Springs, MO and near restaurants and hotels. call 479.970.1001 today Midwest Aircraft Services Maintenance & Annuals Antiques to turbo-props www.fly-low.com • January 2013 13 High Flight! Clarksville Municipal Airport Discount Fuel Pricing EVERYDAY WHAT A RIDE As I look back over my career I often wonder: “Would I do this again?” That is, if I knew what was involved in getting here? Yes, there has been a lot of hard work, blood, sweat and tears over the years. But, what got me here? I can tell you without a doubt that passion, persistence and desire is the secret to becoming a successful pilot. It’s not the money or the convenience of flight, but the dreams which pushed me into flying. Certainly, if money was the motivator I would have been very disappointed. As a kid I spent hours drawing pictures of airplanes, often getting into trouble for not paying attention in class. Today they call this ADHD, I call it day dreaming. I built many model aircraft and flew many homemade paper gliders. My family wasn’t rich; in fact we lived on my father’s WWII disability pension. We existed on the food we grew, milked our own cow and sold butter, milk and vegetables from our gardens. My parents did all of this while raising six kids; this left very little money for toys or hobbies. I earned extra money on some of the local farms, earning a dollar here and dollar there. I spent some of this money on my passion, model airplanes. which we used on all the models we built. I sat on the ground watching our creations fly; wondering what it was like to soar with the birds and to see what they saw. Each time I saw or heard an aircraft flying over I looked skyward and wished it were me flying. One afternoon I took the old lawn mower out to the pasture and mowed out a landing strip. I sat there for hours waiting for a plane to land, alas, no aircraft took me up on my offer, but I tried. My first flight was in 1963, I departed from Hot Springs Memorial field on a Convair 440 in route to Dallas. At Dallas I changed planes and boarded a Douglas DC-6 to California. I was on my way to US Naval boot camp in California. I will always remember that flight. That was the moment I made my mind up, I would become a pilot. It filled me with the passion for flying and I wondered if the pilot knew how lucky he was to be flying that aircraft. I earned my certificate the hard way, working two jobs. I worked at my regular job Monday through Friday and spent the weekends at the flight school’s maintenance hangar turning wrenches, washing parts, stripping paint and any other nasty job that needed doing. I borrowed $3,000 to complete my final training and soon had my CFI certificates. My CFI check ride took 9 hours; I was totally exhausted and for the first time in many months I took a few days off from flying. The school hired me and that year I flew 756 hours as a flight instructor. I was burned out by year’s end. I was a curious kid and had a lot of adventure in my blood. I built my own radio when I was 12, using old parts I found on the farm. I used an old wooden dowel and copper wire to make a tuner. I hooked the radio to my mother’s wire clothes line using it as an antenna…. it worked. I experimented with homemade rockets; luckily I did not blow up myself and others when launching these devices. I took everything Never in my dreams would I have apart just to see how it worked; often dreamed of being a pilot evaluator. I getting in trouble for rendering some have been a pilot evaluator (DPE) for of father’s farm tools useless. 11 years. Over those 11 years I have crossed paths with many young and I was lucky; my best friend’s father older pilots. Some DPE’s only worry encouraged his passion and his about the money they can make and passion spilled over to me. Clyde’s others sharing the dream, but all father purchased a Cox O-49 engine in all the best motivator is always 14 January 2013 • www.fly-low.com Aircraft Maintanence 86 By Bill High 29 on Field call passion. My real dream was to become a bush pilot; I never wanted to fly for the airlines. It just wasn’t in my DNA to be a bus driver. I longed for adventure, flying into remote villages, landing on remote airstrips. But that dream was never realized. I had plenty of opportunities to go to Alaska and was offered several jobs, but my lovely wife had a fit and said: NO! CFI CFII DPE FAASTeam Rep., [email protected] What will I do? I will continue to work part time for the company which allows me to fly among my other duties. I still intend to teach part time, hoping I can pass along some of the knowledge I have acquired over the years. But for the time being I will take a few months off and enjoy myself and hopefully escape the cell phone. I will continue to write articles My career is coming to its end. My and pass on my knowledge. wife has told me over the past few months its time you stopped doing for Some say I was lucky, but luck has others and started doing for myself. nothing to do with it, it is the results I celebrated my 67th birthday in of hard work and persistence. Getting September; no, it isn’t the factor that’s where I am today has taken its toll forcing me to stop being an examiner. on me. The job of a pilot evaluator is Many pilots go well beyond that age very, very stressful. Sometimes the but it is time I let others chase the applicant understands the reason for dream. I have my bucket list and if I a fail other times they get angry. I don’t get started on it I will never see have actually had applicants throw it through. their books in the floor and walk out; one applicant just threw up his hands As of July 31, 2012 I stopped in the middle of flight and said, “I being an examiner. No, I won’t stop cannot do this anymore.” There is one flying but I simply want to slow down thing I have learned about people and and enjoy life. I am a worrier and I that is each and every one is different. worry about every applicant as though Different in the way they learn and they were a family member; worry different in the way they react. has causes me great deal of stress, hoping that nothing will happen to My advice to the young aviator is them, hoping that they will make this; set realistic goals, not too high, the right decisions and keep their take small steps, make sure they are family and friends safe when they achievable goals and be the best you are acting as the pilot in command. I can be at each level of your career. will miss these young dreamers and Help others, be a mentor and by all enthusiasts. means know there will be many more downs than ups. When this happens, I am sure someone will start a don’t get discouraged, pick yourself rumor that the FAA has forced up, dust yourself off and get back into me out, that is simply not true, it the game. is my decision. I have always used this analogy: I love ice cream, but I To all those who I have flown with… cannot eat 2 gallons at one setting. the ride was great. I can only hope It is best served one bowl at a time. that I have left a good impression Flying is the same way, over the last 7 on the people I have taught and the years I have logged over 4,000+ hours. ones I have evaluated. I have lived Ending some days so exhausted I my dream and now it is time to slow began hating my job. But after few down, fold up my wings and rest the days rest I was back in the mood. I old body. just didn’t enjoy the job anymore. 479.705.1250 Clarksville, Arkansas Having a bad day? Pilots getting away from you? Then.... CALL US! Advertise in FLY-LOW 479.970.1001 You need to be a shark to get where you want to be in the aviation industry. Sharp, Strategic Planning We’re a digital marketing agency combining technology with top-notch talent to build brands that delight customers and deliver results. Let us show you our “teeth”: Call us to discuss strategies that we have developed and successfully implemented for our aviation clients such as Arrindell Aviation, Sebring Regional Airport, Sano Jet Center, U.S. Sport Aviation Expo, and more. Diana Ries Designs Solid, successful marketing, with over 20 years of aviation experience. Diana: 404.395.8918 | Erin: 970.708.1059 www.dianariesdesigns.com DRD Fly low ad.indd 1 www.fly-low.com • January 2013 11/30/12 10:07:55 AM 15 John and Martha King receives Award Learn to Fly One small step can put you a mile above everyone. Dyersburg Avionics Inc.of Caruthersville, Missouri 2204 Airport Drive, Caruthersville, MO 63830 Phone: 573-333-4296 Fax: 573-333-0674 Complete Avionics Repair And Maintenance, Over 40 Years Civilian And Military Experience AUTHORIZED GARMIN DEALER STEC - HONEYWELL (BENDIXKING) - AVIDYNE - NARCO - L3 PS ENGINEERING & ASPEN M05- Runway 18/36 NO TAX on Aircraft Repairs Contact your local FBO or flight school and ask for a trial flight. You’ll be hooked and your life will never by the same. John and Martha King receive the prestigious Frank G. Brewer Trophy for Aviation Education San Diego, CA - On Tuesday, November 13 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia at the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) Fall Awards Banquet, NAA presented John and Martha King with the prestigious Frank G. Brewer Trophy for Aviation Education “…for their passion and dedication in making aviation knowledge more accessible to pilots worldwide by combining elegant technology with clear, fun teaching featuring courseware that simplifies complex concepts for students.” The Brewer Trophy is presented annually for significant contributions of enduring value to aerospace education in the United States. Jonathan Gaffney, President and CEO of the National Aeronautic Association and Chairman of the Selection Committee, said “We’re very proud of accomplishments of Martha and John King and all they have done to support aviation and aerospace education in the United States. They are truly some of the great ambassadors of the excitement and opportunity which exists in our industry.” “Thanks to the National Aeronautic Association for celebrating aviation achievements. The NAA truly advances not only aviation, but all achievement, because aviation is humankind’s most inspiring achievement”, commented Martha. “We are deeply honored to be selected for this award. It inspires and motivates us as we continue our mission of making aviation accessible by taking complex material, simplifying, clarifying and making it fun to learn”, concluded John. King Schools offers over 90 courses for pilots from student through professional/turbine pilot. For more information, visit www.kingschools.com or call 800-854-1001 or internationally: +1 858-541-2200. 16 January 2013 • www.fly-low.com Aircraft Maintenance provided by Chris Droke, IA 24 Hour Self-Service Fuel Available - Transportation to Lady Luck Casino provided by Casino www.dyersburgavionics.com Courtesy Car Available [email protected] ‘Waiting on your next issue of Fly-Low? Go fish... Subscribe today 95 $26. 24 issues SEND YOUR NAME, ADDRESS TO Po Box 10355 Russellville, AR 72812 www.fly-low.com • January 2013 17 The Dawn of the 2013 Air Racing Season Heavy Metal Champions...Trojan Phylers in their North American T-28 Trojans, pilots Chip Lamb and Robert Johnson status of being a part of everyday life. Aviation had come of age and the magic was gone. Times roll on and the past decades have seen the economy be a factor in the ownership and operation of an aircraft. None the less, there a many wonderful events available to all pilots who love to gather for that special camaraderie and take part in a legitimate contest. They test their skills. They test their machines. They share their knowledge with each other. Racing now offers something for all pilots. If you have the burning need for speed and the ultimate high adrenalin racing experience then “Reno” is for you. To race the “big show”, pilots must attend the Pylon Racing School and be certified and remain current to fly the closed course. If you are a woman pilot and have the time to take part in the 2500 mile air race classic an experience of a lifetime awaits you. This race started in 1929 and continues the same handicap format. If you are short on time and perhaps a little short on funds, the Sport Air Racing League circuit awaits you. The League offers one day races of 100-200 miles with minimal entry fees. These races are available across the entire United States and in Canada. Planes launch and are timed individually with flying in VFR conditions. All FAR’s are strictly adhered to. Since that first gathering, the airplane has been of every type of competitive endeavor imaginable. The exciting spectator spectacular continues to this day. The distance races crossed continents and circled the globe. The last of the monumental distance races ran in 1996. The Air Race Classic continues to run a 2500 mile race over 4 days. Dick Keyt’s Polan Special....unequaled racer with turbo charged 360 cubic inch engine. All photo including the fron cover are by Jo Hunter The rewards reaped from being part of the sport of air racing are many and unequaled. The aviation industry benefits. Owners keep their planes in optimum condition and modify and convert our aging fleet. Manufacturers have a valid proving ground for their products. Home builders are making amazing planes and in doing so are developing new and exciting designs and components. 2013 hold the promise of many wonderful gathering of pilots who Our world is ever evolving and so evolves the world of air racing. During the Golden Age of Aviation, flying was magic. Anything aviation was in the minds of the general public and stirred great enthusiasm and support. Progress brought the airplane to the The 21st Century has been witness to a resurgence in “The Sport of Flying”, cross country air racing. The time honored events are thriving. The all women’s Air Race Classic is set for June 18-24, 2013 and the Reno Championship Air Races are scheduled for September 11-15, 2013. The Sport Air Racing League circuit currently has 22 events scheduled from April through November 2013. Two new races are scheduled for 2013 with one just having to cancel until 2014 due to “Mother Nature”. The Great Bahamas Air Race was to run the second week of January but after two years of hurricanes, the facilities were not ready to receive the racers. This race was much anticipated with the opportunity to fly and enjoy the Bahamas along with a sizeable cash purse. The racing is handicapped. This first International Air Meet-Championship Cross Country Air Races is set for June 6-10, 2013 flying out of Durant, Oklahoma. This event offers a full card of classed, timed racing with two events. Sport Air Racing League Championship points are up for grabs in the 100 mile race and expanded classes and championship will be awarded in the one day 600 mile event. With a New Year laying before us, one cannot help reflecting on the past. A past that is full of such a rich history of air racing. Just six years after the Wright Brothers became air born, the first air race took place in Reims, France. It was an international affair flown around a 6 mile circuit. The aeroplanes were individually timed and the winning speed was a blazing 46.5mhp. The lone American entry, Glenn H. Curtiss was proclaimed the Fastest Man in the Air. Curtiss was now the Fastest Man on Earth and Sky as he held the land speed record for his motorcycle of 136.36mph. 18 January 2013 • www.fly-low.com Real racers fly Ercoupes. Jack Stanton, Pottsboro, TX says the thrill of racing is unequaled even if he goes 100kts. call themselves “Air Racers”. Over the next few months, this column will give an in depth preview of the 2013 races. The experience awaits all pilots. Racers love smoke! Jim Huff and his Bonanza “Smokin V” Champion air races from Texas www.fly-low.com • January 2013 19 I n a quiet, off the beaten path near a small town in southwest Colorado stands a huge memorial to a larger than life man. That town is Ridgway; the man is Dennis Weaver. Some of you may not know of him. He was a long running actor as Chester in “Gunsmoke” starting in 1955, in 1971-1977; he was star of the TV series “Sam McCloud”, and many other productions. He was an athlete during his younger days, he served in the Navy during World War II, grew up in Joplin (MO), and perhaps became known for his achievements in his later years: that being the protection of planet earth. Dennis Weaver “The man and his passion” All of photos were taken within miles of the memorial for Dennis Weaver. There is no question they were part of the lure that pulled Weaver to the area. The photo above shows the memorial and Mt. Sneffels (14,150 feet msl) in the distance, to the right is a serene scene that is comment in the valley near Ridgway (CO), below is Weaver’s Earthship from the front, and the bottom photo shows the size of the memorial by the comparison of the man walking on the far right in the photo. Photos by Ralph McCormick By Ralph McCormick Dennis Weaver 1924 - 2006 I saw an eagle in the sky today flying free upon the wind in my dreams. I touched it’s wings, caught the wind and flew with him. Oh, what glory it was for me flying free up in the sky. For dreams become reality if in our souls they never die. So seize the moment, which is now for your eagle lives within. Hold the vision of your truth, dream your eagle and fly with him. Dennis Weaver 20 January 2013 • www.fly-low.com At eighteen, Dennis joined the Navy Air Corp. While he was stationed at the University of Colorado at Boulder, he learned to fly a Piper Cub near the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. In the Navy, he flew an F4F. Having some near death experiences while flying with his Navy buddies. He recalled in his book, “As I look back I realize how fortunate I was to get through (the Navy air program) and get my wings – then survive! It was amazing. I did have my check out on a carrier at the Great Lakes and was assigned to a squadron. They gave me orders to go to Pearl Harbor, but before going overseas, they always give you a final leave to go home, to say “good-bye” to family and friends. While I was there, the U.S. dropped the A-Bomb, and that pretty much took care of that – the war was all over for me, thank God.” Dennis made this statement in his book, “…. I want to share with you the most important role to date and the most important stage I’ve ever trod – the grandest stage of all, the stage on which we are playing out the stories of our lives: planet earth.” Dennis and his lovely wife Gerry graced the Colorado landscape to build there home called “Earthship” in 1985. The home is located at the base of Log Hill near Ridgway. When they started building the home, rumor got out that it was to be a home built with old used tires, cans, and powered by the sun. Yes, car tires. Some thought him crazy. But what he was doing was recycling and making the home as energy efficient as possible. This he did and he built his life around the idea that this planet needs to be protected in order to sustain life for future generations. He founded the Institute of Ecolonomics in 1993, a fusion of the philosophies of ecology and economics. He had, for years, been a proponent of hydrogen-based fuels. Weaver was a unique individual as is his wife, Gerry. I lived only miles away from them. I believe that they both have brought much into this world and have offered a positive way to live and be one with planet earth. I hope this will give you further information or introduce you to Dennis and Gerry Weaver. I do recommend you take that flight to Montrose (KMTJ) Colorado, the closest airport to Ridgway. There is a courtesy car available upon request at MTJ and drive the 30 minutes to the Weaver Monument. You’ll find several fine restaurants in the town of Ridgway, including the True Grit Café. Oh yes, John Wayne filmed the 1969 film “True Grit” around Ridgway. But that is another story. One of John Wayne’s hats (for real) still hangs in the Outlaw Restaurant in Ouray (ten miles south of Ridgway). That part of Colorado has much history from the late 1800s to today. Dennis and Gerry have made history in southwest Colorado. The community has honored both with this memorial. It has been an honor to have lived close by and followed them and their achievements through the years. Editor’s Note: Dennis Weaver’s book, “All the world’s a stage,” is a must read and we pulled some information about him from my autographed copy. Hampton Roads is the publisher. www.fly-low.com • January 2013 21 EAA Activities Morrilton at Sebring EXPO Municipal Airport Morrilton, AR BDQ By Dr. Ronald Owen, President, EAA Chapter 1240 You have to see our new website. www.fly-low.com WOW, Awesome... send us your event info directly from our contact page... check for air events, daily.. EAA Chapter 1240, located at Sebring Regional Airport, site of the 2013 U.S. Sport Aviation Expo – during the Expo – will hold its Grand Opening Ceremony and Dinner to celebrate the completion of its Aviation Development Center. The center, incorporated in a newly constructed forty-two hundred square foot building on the airport ramp is dedicated to youth education and other aviation-related activities. The evening will include a presentation by Patty Wagstaff, World Aerobatics Champion, who will also be demonstrating aerobatic sport aircraft before the dinner. Based on its youth education programs, conducted in cooperation with the School Board of Highlands County and Sebring Regional Airport, Chapter 1240 was selected by the Aviation Education Foundation for a grant award. This funding enabled the chapter to build the facility, which has been under construction for several months. When complete, it will include a classroom and large hangar for training purposes. As an Expo exhibitor, we invite you to participate with us on this important FAITH AVIATION 100 HOUR INSPECTIONS ANNUAL INSPECTIONS SHEET METAL REPAIR AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY [email protected] James Faith 22 January 2013 • www.fly-low.com occasion, a fund raising event for the Chapter, which will enable us to move forward with enhanced youth programs this summer. Specifically, we ask that you attend the dinner. If possible, please consider being a table sponsor - or even the event sponsor. Details concerning the event are available on the attached flyer. There is a link on the Expo website which allows you to sign up at varying levels of participation and also provides an opportunity to submit credit card payment for your selection. Don’t just talk about wanting to help get young people interested in aviation. Here is your opportunity! Sponsor a table, display your banner at the event, have your advertising materials displayed on the tables, and be assured that your tax deductible contribution to this 501(c)(3), notfor-profit Chapter will go to support youth aviation education. Further information is available as outline on the attached flyer and the Expo website, a link to which is below. Thank you for your continued support of aviation, youth education and the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo! Camden AR KCDH 122.9 Lights 122.8 Unicom Weather Computer & Wireless Internet Courtesy Car 501 354-4555 24/7 Credit Card Fuel - competitive pricing $5.76 100 LL $4.53 Jet A This could have been your ad, being read by thousands of pilots just like you. Call 479.970.1001 to fill this space.. We work for you, everyday!!! Call our advertising department today at 866 2FLYLOW and start getting results. 870.574.9992 www.fly-low.com • January 2013 23 Thunderbirds To Be At Sun ‘n Fun 2013 The Thunderbirds plan to arrive at SUN ‘n FUN during the latter portion of the Fly-In. SUN ’n FUN CAMPUS, LAKELAND, FL. – The United States Air Force (USAF) Thunderbirds military jet team announced that the SUN ‘n FUN International FlyIn & Expo has been included on this year’s Thunderbirds schedule. The announcement was made last week at the International Council of Airshows (ICAS) Convention in Las Vegas, NV. The 2013 SUN ‘n FUN International Fly-In & Expo will be held April 9 – 14 at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in Lakeland, Fla. “SUN ‘n FUN is honored and excited that the world’s most recognized military jet team – the U.S.A.F. Thunderbirds – has included our event on their 2013 schedule,” said SUN ‘n FUN President and Convention Chairman John Leenhouts. “Their participation will add to the aircraft demonstrating the capabilities of Air Force high-performance aircraft to people throughout the world. The Thunderbirds squadron is an Air Combat Command unit composed of eight pilots (including six demonstration pilots), four support officers, three civilians and more than 130 enlisted personnel The Thunderbirds plan to arrive at performing in 25 career fields. The SUN ‘n FUN during the latter portion air demonstration is a combination of of the Fly-In. They may engage in formation flying and solo routines. individual media flights and a team The four-aircraft “Diamond orientation flight on Friday, April 12 prior to their scheduled performances Formation” demonstrates the training on Saturday and Sunday, April 13 and precision of Air Force pilots, while the solo aircraft highlight the and 14. maximum capabilities of the F-16 According to the U.S. Air Force, “Fighting Falcon,” the fighter jet the Thunderbirds (officially employed by the Thunderbird team. named the U.S. Air Force Air The Thunderbirds perform Demonstration Squadron) perform precision aerial maneuvers approximately 30 maneuvers during and activities already being planned for this year’s Fly-In. We look forward to having the Thunderbirds here in Lakeland and know they will find the people and businesses throughout Lakeland, Polk County and central Florida to be avid enthusiasts and most hospitable hosts.” their demonstration. The entire Thunderbird performance, including ground and air routines, runs about an hour and fifteen minutes. In addition to their responsibilities as the official U.S. Air Force aerial demonstration team, the Thunderbirds are part of America’s active combat force. If required, the team’s personnel and aircraft can be quickly integrated into a fighter unit at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, where the F-16s can be made combatready in less than 72 hours. For more information about the USAF Thunderbirds please visit their website at www.afthunderbirds.com mena aircraft & Blair painting Air Interiors 40 year experience in instrument overhaul. One year warranty on overhauls. Six months warranty on repairs. Fast turn around. Inside & Out Restoration With One Stop! Discount For Both Paint & Interior! 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Smith, AR) Steel Clear Span Aircraft Hangars Hi-Fold Or Hydro-Swing Doors www.fly-low.com • January 2013 25 Texas Pilots Association News A year ago I mentioned the first flight in Denton county and promised an article on it. Here is the first article. Most people, me included, would think it was big folks, adults who had some engineering expertise or at least experience, like the Wright Brothers, who would do such a thing. But it wasn’t; it was kids and they really did fly. So, once upon a time in a small town in Texas there were 4 kids who were bored at what they could find to occupy their minds. The oldest, Walker Jagoe, was 14 and the youngest 12, was Robert Storrie. The year was 1910. The small town was Denton, Texas, and the boys were friends and Don Smith, President occupied their fertile minds with well have badly injured or killed the pilot, the building of gadgets for their own launching from 30 or 40 feet in the air. enjoyment. Remember that in 1910 there were no movies and very few Not to be thwarted, they decided to launch ways for teenagers to be entertained. it on the hill beside the building they envied. It was a downhill run, but they needed a pull. The boys obtained a copy of a book They got a horse (or a mule; the stories vary by Leonardo De Vinci that contained somewhat on the “engine”.) After a short drawings for a wondrous machine, pull the animal stopped, or the operator a glider. Walker Jagoe and Robert of the animal got distracted and turned Storrie were always inventing loose of the rope, again the stories vary. gadgets. This was no different, just Whatever the mechanism, the propulsion larger. They collecting materials and stopped and the glider crashed. The others figuring out how to make a working ran up to the craft yelling for young Storrie. He is reported to have replied, “You can’t model of Leonardo’s glider. talk to me, I’m dead.” They built it and set about to fly it. The first idea was to launch the plane from The area where the flights took place is the top of a building at the local college, now filled with the buildings of the TWU now named Texsas Womans University, campus, and there is no marker noting TWU, but they got caught and were ordered the event. That is unfortunate, but who at not to attempt such a foolhardy thing again. that time paid any attention to the antics That was fortunate because they might of young lads. It just wasn’t viewed as an Officers President Don Smith 2107 Emerson Lane Denton, TX 76209-7813 H 940 387-5126 C 940 391-4623 [email protected] Vice-President Jerry Koltes 1386 Plover Circle Ponder, TX 76259 C 940 391-1448 [email protected] Vice-President Charli Lamb 4701 Carlyle Dr. Ft. Worth, TX 76132-2507 H 817 292-4533 C 817 304-3412 [email protected] Secretary-Treasurer Donald Jakusz 1196 Valley Oaks Dr. Lewisville, TX 75607 H 972 316-0097 [email protected] historic event. Now, in 2013, some of us historic event. Now, in 2013, some of us think it was. To be sure there is a lot more to this story, but space is limited and the saga is to be continued, at intervals shorter than a year, I promise. By the way, the lads all grew up to be leaders and businessmen in the developing city that now has a population of over 100,000 and a very fine airport that is watched over, in part, by the Texas Pilots Association. SUBSCRIBE FOR 24 months $26.95 $18.95 for 12 months 26 Send Check to: Fly-Low Publications P. O. Box 10355 Russellville, AR 72812 January 2013 • www.fly-low.com Wright Company Original Factory Site Purchased Name ____________________ Address ___________________ City ______________________ State _______ Zip __________ Redevelopment Company acquires historic Wright Company Factory Site Home Avenue Redevelopment LLC today took title to a former automotive manufacturing site that includes the historic Wright Company factory buildings. The acquisition puts the company in position to redevelop the former Delphi Home Avenue plant for commercial use while preserving the Wright Company Factory Site for eventual public use as an element of the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park. The Wright Company factory buildings were the first in the united states to be built for the purpose of manufacturing aircraft, and they are believed to be the oldest aircraft factory buildings still standing. Hull & Associates Inc. of Mason formed Home Avenue Redevelopment to redevelop the site with the help of a $3 million Clean Ohio Fund matching grant. “The birthplace of the aircraft industry has taken a major step toward preserving an historic treasure,” Brad White, principal of Hull & Associates, said in announcing the closing. The city of Dayton, National Park Service and NAHA have worked closely with the companies to transfer ownership of the property in a way that will promote economic development in West Dayton while preserving the historic Wright Company properties. «It›s a significant historical milestone that after 93 years, the Wright Company Factory Site has been transferred to an entity that will work with the National Park Service and NAHA to open the site to the public,» said Tony Sculimbrene, NAHA›s excutive director. Wilbur and Orville Wright formed the Wright Company in New York in 1909 and built the first factory building in 1910. Wilbur died in 1912 and Orville sold his holdings in 1915. Aircraft production ceased in 1916. The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company made aircraft parts for its Moraine assembly plant in 1918 and 1919. General Motors acquired the buildings in 1919 but soon converted it to auto manufacturing. It remained an active factory as a GM, Delco and Delphi plant until Delphi closed it in 2008. In 2009, President Obama signed an act that expanded the national park›s boundaries to include the factory site and Hawthorn Hill, the Wright family mansion in Oakwood. About the National Heritage Area: Aviation Fort Scott, KS (FSK) Mid America’s 100 LL $ 25 5 Includes All Taxes JET A Best Fuel Stop For Current KFSK Weather go to http://saiawos2.com/FSK/sai.html 24 Hour Self-Service Pumps Mechanic on duty. 4 44 620-223-5490 $ FAA News Cont’d from page 9 In response to our last FAAST Blast message, we received several emails about subscribing to an e-reader version of the FAA Safety Briefing magazine. In future email notifications about new issues (available by clicking the green “subscribe” check mark found at the top of the FAA Safety Briefing home page at faa.gov/news/safety_briefing), we will include the direct links to not only the PDF file for download, but also the ePub and MOBI files for mobile device reading. Here are some basic e-reader file directions, which may vary per device: To view on the Kindle, save the .mobi file to your computer and drop it into your Amazon store folder. To view on an Apple iSO device, either save and drop the .epub file into iTunes, or click the online link and open using the iBooks app. To view on an Android device, click the online link and open using a third-party e-reader app. Our current capabilities only allow providing each file format for download. We are looking into other online subscription capabilities. EAA Database Helps Experimental-Aircraft Pilots Find Instructors experimental amateur-built aircraft contact flight instructors who can provide them with additional safety training. The association has published an online list of instructors authorized by the FAA, to offer instruction for compensation in their own experimental aircraft “for purposes of type specific training.” The list of certified instructors is based on FAA data and is a portion of EAA’s action on NTSB recommendations, said Dick Knapinski, EAA senior communications advisor. “EAA, as well as the FAA and NTSB, strongly recommend that all builders and new owners of experimental aircraft undertake a thorough transition training program before flying their own aircraft solo for the first time.” Feature Article Spotlight Do you know where your parts are coming from? Buyers beware of faulty, deficient or non-specification parts that could be lurking in the system. Learn more about it in the Nuts, Bolts and Electrons department on page 28 of FAA Safety Briefing’s globally-themed Nov/Dec 2012 issue. Available at http://1.usa.gov/FAA_ ASB. FLY-LOW MERCHANDISE The Experimental Aircraft Association wants to help pilots of For Sale 1972 Cherokee 235 with 1400 TT nice airplane **Includes Shipping and handling. $ Located in KRUE Russellville AR $79,000 $15 Mike @ 479-747-2140 Send check or money order for $15 to: PO Box 10355 Russellville, AR 72812 www.fly-low.com/merchdse www.fly-low.com • January 2013 27 united states pilots association news Having fun with your airplane. USPA SPRING MEETING Jan Hoynacki Executive Director [email protected] 417.338.2225 Bob Worthington - President Steve Uslan - VP Public Relations VP Safety Education - Bruce Hulley Secretary - Duane Smith Treasurer - J. C. Zalog By Don Smith USPA Board member and Editor Wichita Falls, TX March 14-16 We hope you had a good New Years for them to do a security screening, celebration. The New Year will, of you won’t get in. It is that simple. course, take care of itself, but the Here is a part of their security celebration was up to you. email to me: “… the entry access list The USPA spring meeting is at (EAL) which we’ll need finalized a Wichita Falls, TX March 14-16. That’s week prior to the visit. The Security Forces conduct background checks a Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. and approve the visitors. With no The meetings kick off with a safety EAL, the visit will not be possible.” seminar on Thursday evening, March Emphasis mine. You simply won’t 14 at the Days Inn motel at 7:00 get in if you are not on the list we PM. That is across the parking lot furnish well ahead of time. We will from the USPA meeting motel, the compile the list and they will check it. Baymont (more about that later.) Be assured they WILL check it. Make The address for your GPS is 4500 your reservations early; cancellation Kell Blvd in Wichita Falls, 76309. It is easy. They won’t get after you is on the north side of the freeway for not showing up, but getting in (82/277.) That means the access road without your reservation is not going runs westward on that side, so you to happen. To get on the list send an will need to get off at McNiel Avenue. email to me at donwileys@verizon. Coming from the west that means net. I’ll compile the list and submit it going past the motel to McNiel and to them. I want the list completed by heading back west on Kell, which is March 1. That’s a Friday. You’ll have a month and a half from the time you also the service road. read this. Please get at that now. There is a fairly active group of The 80th FTW flies more than pilots at Wichita Falls who put on a safety seminar every few, so we will 55,000 sorties a year. That’s over 900 work with them to co-sponsor the PER DAY. Those of us who fly in this FAA Safety Seminar. It will be well area are familiar with the traffic in publicized, so the turnout should be the MOAs that comprise the training areas of the 80th. We’re aware they pretty good. fly a lot. On Friday, March 15 we will tour the 80th FTW hosts an USAF International Flight Training The Wing at Sheppard AFB. That tour internationally manned and managed will take about 4 hours, and we will pilot training program, the only eat lunch on base part way through one in the world. They have been in the tour unless we want to delay operation more than 30 years, and lunch until the tour is over. Us tubby have delivered 6,400 trained combat guys don’t miss many meals, so I will opt for lunch on base. Besides, the price will be lower than anything we could find elsewhere. OFFICERS www.uspilots.org pilots to us and our NATO allies. The wing delivers over 200 Undergraduate Pilot Training graduates annually, along with 150 graduates of Introduction to Fighter fundamentals and 80 Pilot Instructor Training graduates. The 13 NATO countries who participate in this unique Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program are: Belgium, Canada, Germany, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the USA. at Sheppard AFB in the 1950s, but not for pilot training. He served his entire tour as an aircraft mechanic. If any other of you were stationed there, let us know. I’ll bet there will be a special welcome for their alums. The Texas Pilots Association will join us for Friday’s SAFB tour, and for Saturday’s board meeting. We hope there is a good turn out from TPA. We have proposals from both SPS (Landmark FBO) and Kickapoo Downtown airport (CWC.) These are still under evaluation, so plan to land at one of them. SPS also has commercial airline traffic if you wish to fly the airlines. That also means heightened security for you to go through if you land there. Sometimes the commander of the unit is from the USAF and sometimes from one of the other 12 participating countries. When the Texas Pilots Association did this tour some years ago the commander was a Colonel from the German Air Force who took pride in being a graduate of that very The motel is the Baymont Inn program 30 years earlier. & Suites. It is $75.00/night for a Single King or Double Queen. King It won’t be news to you that they fly Suites are $85.00/night. There will the T-6A Texas II, a propjet plane of be a Hospitality Suite and a Board relatively recent adoption, to replace Meeting Room. Coffee and Water the long time standard Cessna T-37 are provided, also at no charge. A (noted mainly for being LOUD) and deluxe hot breakfast is included and the sleek, long cherished Northrup free Wi-Fi, Mini Fridge, Microwave, T-38. and Coffee Makers in all rooms. An indoor pool, Hot Tub, Business Center Mark your calendar now for and Fitness Center all come with March 14-16 and don’t allow any registration with no extra charge. encroachment. You can make your Free fresh-baked cookies are served motel reservations now; the contract daily from 4PM to 7 PM at the front is signed and filed. desk. USPA member and former The address is 4510 Kell president, Steve Uslan, was stationed Blvd, 76309 Wichita Falls, TX. Reservations may be made at 1-940691-7500. The motel does not have airport transportation. USPA SPRING MEETING Security is tight at all military bases and SAFB is no exception. If you don’t get your name in early enough 28 January 2013 • www.fly-low.com Registration is only $15.00 at www.uspilots.org If you call for a reservation or go on line be sure to identify yourself as being with USPA. We get better rates than the general public. A Christmas Poem for Pilots ‘Twas the night before Christmas, and out on the ramp, Not an airplane was stirring, not even a Champ. The aircraft were fastened to tiedowns with care, In hopes that come morning, they all would be there. The fuel trucks were nestled, all snug in their spots, While peak gusts from three two zero reached 39 knots. I sank behind the fuel desk, now finally caught up, And settled down comfortably, resting my butt. When over the radio there arose such a clatter, I turned up the scanner to see what was the matter. A voice clearly heard over static and snow, Asked for clearance to land at the airport below. Horizon’s late Dash. Then he called his position, and there could be no denial, “This is St. Nicholas One and I’m turning on final.” When what to my wondering eyes should appear, A Rutan sleigh, with eight Rotax Reindeer. Cleared for the ILS, down the glideslope he came, As he passed all fixes, he called them by name: “Now Ringo! Now Tolga! Now Trini and Bacun! On Comet! On Cupid!” What pills was he takin’? Those last couple of fixes left the controllers confused, They called down to the office to give me the news. The message they left was both urgent and dour: “When Santa lands, have him please call the tower?” He barked out his transmission so lively and quick, I could have sworn He landed like silk, with the sled that the call sign he used was “St. runners sparking, Then I heard “Exit Nick”. Away to the window I flew at Charlie,” and “Taxi to parking.” He like a flash, Sure that it was only slowed to a taxi and exited Three- By Rose Kern Two, As he came down the taxiway to my work, And I filled up the sleigh, but I spilled like a jerk. He came out of the sleighbells’ jingle grew. the restroom with a sigh of relief, And He stepped out of the sleigh, but then picked up a phone for a Flight before he could talk, I had run out to Service brief. him with my best set of chocks. He And I thought as he silently scribed was dressed all in fur, which was in his log, That with Rudolph, he covered with frost And his beard was could land in an eighth-mile fog. Next, all blackened from Rotax Reindeer he completed his pre-flight, from the front to the rear, Then he put on his exhaust. headset, and I heard him yell, “Clear!” His breath smelled like peppermint, And laying a finger on his pushgone slightly stale, And he puffed on a pipe, but he didn’t inhale. His to-talk, He called up the tower for cheeks were all rosy and jiggled like his clearance and squawk. “After jelly, His boots were as black as a departure fly heading three two zero,” cropduster’s belly. the tower called forth, “And watch for a Luscombe inbound from the North.” He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old fool, And he kindly informed Then I heard him proclaim, as me that he needed some fuel. A wink he climbed thru the night, “Merry of his eye and a twist of his toes, Let Christmas to all! I have traffic in me know he was desperate to powder sight.” his nose. I spoke not a word, but went straight Aviation, Inc. Aircraft Sales Single & Multi-Engine Maintenance Major & Minor Repairs 870-935-3880 3001 Earhart Drive. • Municipal Airport • Jonesboro, AR Serving Northeast Arkansas Since 1973 www.sharpaviation.com www.fly-low.com • January 2013 29 FYI: Aviation Accidents NTSB accident reports published in FLY-LOW are for educational purposes only. These reports are posted on the NTSB website. This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in these reports will be corrected when the final report is completed and posted. CIRRUS, THORP T18, MOONEY, BEECH 58 ACCIDENTS NTSB Identification: WPR13LA043 General Aviation Accident occurred Friday, November 16, Show Low, AZ Aircraft: CIRRUS SR22 Injuries: 1 Minor. On November 16, 2012, about 0726 Mountain Standard Time, a Cirrus design SR22 was substantially damaged when the airplane descended to the ground under parachute near Show Low, Arizona, after the engine experienced a complete loss of oil pressure during cruise flight. The pilot/owner received minor injuries. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight was operating on an FAA instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan. According to the pilot, he departed Animas Airpark (00C), Durango Colorado, about 0600, with an intended destination of Nogales International Airport (OLS), Nogales, Arizona. About 2 hours into the flight, while in cruise flight at 12,000 feet above mean sea level, air traffic control (ATC) cleared him to 14,000 feet for terrain clearance purposes. Just before the airplane reached the new assigned altitude, the pilot heard a loud “pop.” About 4 minutes later, the pilot received an oil pressure annunciation on his primary flight display. At that time the indicated oil pressure was about 47 pounds per square inch (psi), which was at the bottom of the normal range. Within 1 minute the pilot saw the oil pressure had decreased to 0 psi, so he shut down the engine and advised ATC. He asked for vectors to the nearest airport, was advised that Show Low Regional Airport (SOW), Show Low, 30 was the closest, and then turned towards SOW. During the descent, about the same time that ATC advised him that radar contact had been lost, the pilot recognized that he would be unable to reach SOW, and advised ATC that he would deploy the ballistic parachute when he was over terrain that appeared suitable for a parachute landing. The pilot estimated that he deployed the parachute between 1,000 and 2,000 feet above ground level. The airplane impacted in a field while it was swinging towards the left under the parachute, bounced at least one time, and came to rest upright. The pilot shut down the airplane and exited. He contacted assistance via his satellite telephone. The pilot and airplane were located about 2 hours after the landing, aided by his reinflation of the parachute and use of his personal mobile telephone (not satellite phone). NTSB Identification: ERA13FA071 General Aviation Accident occurred Saturday, December 01, Pahokee, FL Aircraft: GREEN GARY E THORP T-18 Injuries: 1 Fatal. descending to an altitude of 7,200 feet before radar contact was lost. The airplane impacted a sugarcane field about two miles southeast of Palm Beach County Glades Airport (PHK), Pahokee Florida. The fuselage of the airplane came to rest inverted, in a flat attitude, on a course of 315 degrees. The propeller, engine, instrument panel, main landing gear, On December 1, 2012, about and left and right outboard wings 1318 Eastern Standard Time, were separated from the fuselage and an experimental amateur built have not been located at this time. Thorp T-18, N118GG, registered to and operated by the pilot, was Examination of the fuselage substantially damaged when it broke revealed that the flight control stick up in flight over Pahokee, Florida. was connected to the aileron and The personal flight was conducted elevator control tubes. The rudder under the provisions of 14 Code of and tail wheel control cables were Federal Regulations Part 91. The connected at the rudder and tail airline transport pilot was fatally wheel attachment point. The rudder injured. Visual meteorological pedals were not located and the conditions prevailed and no flight cables showed signs of overstress plan was filed. The flight departed failure. The fuselage and empennage Pompano Beach Airpark (PMP), were buckled. Examination of the Pompano Beach, Florida at 1259. wings revealed that the left and right wings were separated at the According to family members, the spar attachment joint. The vertical flight was enroute to Lakeland stabilizer was partially separated Linder Regional Airport (LAL), from the empennage. The wreckage Lakeland, Florida. The pilot was was removed from the field for further overdue on his arrival and an alert examination. and rescue (ALNOT) was initiated. During the search, an emergency distress signal was received, and the local authorities located the NTSB Identification: airplane the following day at 0610. On-scene examination by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that engine oil was deposited along the bottom and left side of the airplane. FAA records indicated that the airplane was manufactured in 2005, and was purchased new by the pilot. In February 2009, a Forced Aeromotive Technologies supercharges was installed in accordance with supplemental type CEN13FA089 certificate SA10925SC. The pilot General Aviation held a private pilot certificate with According to preliminary information Accident occurred Tuesday, obtained from the Federal Aviation airplane single and multi-engine Administration, the airplane was December 04, Manhattan, IL and instrument airplane ratings. in cruise flight for approximately 19 Aircraft: BEECH 58 The 0735 automated weather minutes. The pilot was not in contact Injuries: 1 Fatal. observation at SOW, located about with the air traffic control during 8 miles north of the landing site, the flight. A review of the radar data On December 4, 2012, about 1438 included calm winds; clear skies; revealed that about one minute prior Central Standard Time, a Beech to going off radar the airplane was temperature 1 degree C; dew point -5 model 58 impacted an open field near degrees C; and an altimeter setting of at a cruise altitude of 8,300 feet. Manhattan, Illinois. The commercial Then, the airplane was observed 30.25 inches of mercury. pilot sustained fatal injuries. The January 2013 • www.fly-low.com airplane was substantially damaged. The aircraft was registered to and operated by Bemidji Aviation Services under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a pipeline surveillance flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The flight originated from Bemidji Regional Airport (BJI) about 0915. The intended destination was Joliet Regional Airport (JOT), Joliet, Illinois, after completion of the surveillance activity. The airplane impacted an open field about 3-1/4 miles south-southwest of Manhattan, Illinois. Initial ground impact was about 80 feet long and oriented on an approximate bearing of 168 degrees magnetic. An impact crater about 8 feet by 3 feet by 2 feet was located at the south end of the ground scar. The right propeller assembly had separated from the engine, which was located adjacent to the impact crater. The right engine separated from the wing and came to rest about 950 feet from the initial impact. The right wing separated from the fuselage at the root; it came to rest about 430 feet from the initial impact. The main wreckage consisted of portions of the fuselage and left wing, the empennage, and the left engine. The overall debris path was oriented approximately 150 degrees magnetic. The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with single and multiengine land airplane, single-engine sea airplane, and instrument airplane ratings. He was issued a second class airman medical certificate in May 2012, with a restriction for corrective lenses. His most recent regulatory checkride was completed in March 2012. He had accumulated about 26,000 total flight hours, with approximately 11,000 hours in Beech model 58 airplanes. The nearest weather reporting facility was located at JOT, about 11 miles northwest of the accident site. At 1435, the JOT Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) recorded conditions as: wind from 260 degrees at 10 knots; 10 miles visibility; clear sky; temperature 14 degrees Celsius; -1 degrees Celsius; altimeter 30.10 inches of mercury. Visit NTSB Identification: CEN13LA095 General Aviation Accident Wed, Dec 05, Gurdon, AR Aircraft: Mooney M20E Injuries: 1 Uninjured. Messerschmitt Bolkow-Blohm model BK 117-A3 helicopter impacted the ground near Compton, Illinois. The pilot, flight nurse, and flight paramedic were fatally injured, and the helicopter sustained substantial damage from impact forces. The emergency medical services (EMS) equipped helicopter was registered to Rockford Memorial Hospital, and operated by Air Methods Corporation under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a positioning flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated on a company visual flight rules flight plan. The flight originated from the Rockford Memorial Hospital Heliport (LL83), Rockford, Illinois, about 1958 and was en route to the Mendota Community Hospital Heliport (14IL), Mendota, Illinois, where it was to pick up a patient for transport back to the Rockford Memorial Hospital. On December 5, 2012, about 1200 Central Standard Time, a Mooney model M20E airplane was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during a forced landing near Gurdon, Arkansas. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the crosscountry flight that departed from Austin Grider Field Airport (KPBF), Pine Bluff, Arkansas, about 1130, and The purpose of the accident leg of the was destined for Gurdon Lowe Field flight was to position the helicopter Airport (5M8), Gurdon, Arkansas. for a subsequent air medical interfacility patient transport flight from The pilot reported that the accident the Mendota Community Hospital to occurred during a repositioning flight the Rockford Memorial Hospital. The after the airplane had undergone request was received by the Rockford avionic maintenance. He stated that Memorial Hospital Dispatch Center the engine experienced a partial loss and the pilot was notified at 1927. At of engine power about 30 minutes 1959, the pilot reported to the dispatch into the flight. He stated that he was center that he was departing from the flying fairly low to the ground when helicopter’s base at the hospital. He the loss of engine power occurred, and reported that he lifted off with one hour as such, he was unable to troubleshoot forty-five minutes of fuel and three the lack of engine power before persons on board and was en route to having to shift his focus to identifying Mendota, Illinois. At 2010, the pilot a suitable landing area. He noted radioed that he was 12 minutes from that he did not turn-on the electric Mendota. at 2016, the pilot contacted fuel pump during his brief attempt to the dispatch center notifying that restart the engine. He reported that a he was aborting the flight due to forced landing was made to a nearby the weather conditions encountered. gravel road. He stated that during No further communications were landing roll one of the airplane’s wings received from the helicopter. contacted a bush situated alongside the road, which caused the airplane At 2015, the surface weather to depart the roadway and descend observation at the Rochelle Municipal into an adjacent ditch. The fuselage Airport-Koritz Field (KRPJ), and wings were damaged during the Rochelle, Illinois, located about 10 accident sequence. miles north of the accident site, was: wind 290 degrees at 8 knots, 7 miles visibility, light snow, overcast ceiling NTSB Identification: at 3,300 feet above ground level, temperature -1 degree Celsius, dew Air Taxi & Commuter point -2 degrees Celsius, altimeter Accident occurred Monday, 29.94 inches of Mercury. December 10, Compton, IL Aircraft: MBB BK 117 A-3 Injuries: 3 Fatal. On December 10, 2012, about 2016 Central Standard Time, a Our NTSB Identification: Air Taxi & Commuter Accident occurred Saturday, November 17, 2012 in Bondurant, WY L Aircraft: MBB BK 117 A-3 Injuries: 1 Fatal. On November 17, 2012, about 1345 mountain standard time, a Cessna 182D was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain south of Bondurant, Wyoming. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was fatally injured. Visual and instrument meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the route of flight and a flight plan was not filed. The cross-country flight originated from Stevensville, Montana, about 1130 with an intended destination of Pinedale, Wyoming. Information provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed that the family of the pilot contacted the FAA on the evening of November 17, 2012, after they became concerned when the pilot had not arrived at his intended destination. The FAA subsequently issued an Alert Notification (ALNOT). The Civil Air Patrol, United States Air Force, and local law enforcement, commenced search and rescue operations throughout the area of the pilot’s intended flight path. The wreckage was located by aerial units on the afternoon of November 24, 2012. Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane impacted mountainous terrain approximately 35 miles west of the flights intended destination. The wreckage debris path was about 133 feet in length and oriented on a magnetic heading of about 200 degrees at an elevation of about 10,150 feet. All major structural components of the airplane were located within the debris path. 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Located at Bentonville, AR (KVBT) and Springdale, AR (KASG). 479-254-0817 Post your event on www.fly-low.com [email protected] Check out Matt Younkin at www.younkinair.com Wanted FBOs To Give Away Fly-Low We need the FBO name, address, phone number, contact name, number of magazines requested per month sent via email. [email protected] or 479.970.1001 www.fly-low.com • January 2013 33 Ron Gerot Goes West away on October 22, 2012. I hope he knew how important he was to us over those years of his submissions… Ronald E Gerot April 30,1940 - October 22, 2012 They don’t make them any better than Ron. I will miss my friend. of great memories along with meeting many good people. Ron being a pilot himself loved aviation, he had lost his medical, but never lost the aviation “bug.” In 2005, Ron contacted FlyLow Publications and became a photo journalist for them. During that first would normally find his way into one for a nice shot which Fly-Low would use for its publication. One of my favorite memories was on Fathers Day weekend 2005 at Fayetteville, AR. I remember the show starting and ole› Ron was in the «hot contact with Fly-Low, Ron and I did several Air-to-Air shots including two covers on Trade-A-Plane. He also had many cover shots and featured photos from 2005 - present for FlyLow. Ron was very proud of his accomplishments of a photographer. Ron enjoyed meeting many Airshow Performers through the years attending several airshow throughout the mid-west from 2005 - 2011. If I was not able to pilot a photo ship he ramp area» where no one was allowed. There was Ron inching his way to the end of the ramp, then to the grass between the runway and the taxiway. This area is highly out of bounds as there is a 500ft show line which only authorized people are allowed. As I›m watching I notice a golf cart racing out to retrieve Ron, I thought, «This is it he›s getting escorted out». What happened next blew my mind. The Ralph McCormick This is info on his passing from his friend, Jeff Batzer. By Ralph McCormick and Jeff Batzer Often, out of nowhere there is a phone call or email from someone who has an interest in aviation. That could include photos or writing. About seven years ago, I received a call from the gentleman with a gruff southern voice. He introduced himself as Ron Gerot, lived in Missouri, flew, liked to fly, helped at Oshkosh AirVenture. He wanted to know if I could use a few shots of planes for the publication (which he seemed to love). I told him that we would appreciate any and all event photos and information. Thus became the relationship of FLY-LOW and Ron Gerot. For many years he sent in photos of planes, events, stories, and such. I had press badges printed for him and his friend Jeff Batzer. They attended many functions representing FLY-LOW. I was glad to have him as one of our contributors… His photos improved over the years and he made the cover many times. I remember just got a new camera.” He always appreciated that we would use his photos… especially on the cover. All photos of Ron by Jeff Batzer and his final cover photo below. Ron Gerot, age 72, of Exeter, MO passed away Monday October 22, 2012 at his home. He was born in Riverside, Iowa. During his life he resided in several states. He served his country in the Air Force. Ron or “Photo Ron” (as I knew him) and I met at EAA in 2002 when he volunteered as a greeter for the Warbirds of America. When I flew in, he was one of the first volunteers to meet the early arrivals. Ron was a volunteer for EAA and The Warbirds of America for 20 years. Upon some odd coincidence in 2004 Ron and I converged again at Golden Aviation in Cassville, MO. While working for Golden Aviation we came across a lot I hadn’t heard much from Ron in the past six months, but I had a cover shot that was worthy of placement. It had been in my “Hold Folder” for sometime. I pulled it out and used it May 2009 Vol 9 Issue 3 AirVenture Coming! next thing I knew is that he had talked his way out of trouble and was on the announcers stand for the remainder on the show. Although, the highlight was yet to come. Ron and I were asked by the late Tom Dawson Sr.(Bobby Younkin›s Mechanic) to help disassemble Bobby Younkin›s Sampson (Younkin was killed in a plane crash a month later at Moose Jaw, Canada). It was a great experience and forever will be a reminder of a great weekend with Ron. There are many good times and Ron surely had a kind heart. He had a love for aviation and was always available to volunteer. As quoted from a friend of Ron›s, Eli Bozeman quoted in his passing « he was as crazy as he was a good friend». In his passing he will be greatly missed, through his photos and contributions. Godspeed, Jeff Batzer PUT YOUR BUSINESS HERE Page 20 in front of thousands each month telling him jokingly that he must have gotten new glasses since his photos had improved tremendously. He laughed and said… “Naw Ralph, 34 in September’s FLY-LOW. I have no idea if he saw it or not. I expected to hear from him about the cover…. No word. Now I know why. Ron passed January 2013 • www.fly-low.com For Pricing Call www.fly-low.com 479.970.1001 www.fly-low.com • January 2013 35 Government Financed Training At Cessna Pilot Centers NOW YOUR NEW CESSNA 400 DEALER! 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