October 2009

October 2009
October Chapter 73 meeting on 10-10-09, at Sport Copter hangar at Scappoose airport.
Usual times of 12 noon for potluck lunch followed by chapter meeting at 1 PM.
September’s Meeting Minutes: 9/12/09 The PRA 73 September meeting was at Chuck Wenger's airstrip,
The Fly'n W (Airport identifier: 40R5), east of Salem, OR.
We were entertained before and after the meeting by Dan Dalke flying his lightening and Jeff Fox flying his
Vortex. John Edgerly also flew in, in his ultralight biplane.
A great BBQ was hosted by Dan Dalke. He furnished the meat, buns, and beans.
1:10 Meeting called to order by President Bob Johnson.
Introductions: Members and guest were introduced.
Those attending were Larry Shafer, Clint Martindale,
Ray and Addie Bruce, Margaret Salvesen, Kevin and Pat
Richey, John Dalke, Arleta Dalke, Dan Dalke, Nathan
Riley, Dave Rees, Frances Mitchell, Dorothy Fox, Jeff
Fox, Bob Johnson, Jim Miller, John Edgerly, Chuck
Wenger, Hope Segun. (Please forgive any omissions or
miss spelling)
Thanks to those who brought salads, chips and deserts
for the BBQ and for Dan Dalke for hosting.
Addie and Ray Bruce reported on McMinnville Fly-In.
NWAAC Fly-In at Pearson would have been a non-event
for PRA 73 if Brock Steiner had not flown Saturday
afternoon. His arrival and flyover generated a lot of
interest. If we are going to put up a tent at future events,
we need to insure that we have Gyros there.
In this unusual photo on the right, taken by Bob Johnson, two
gyroplanes are seen cavorting in the sky like motorcycles.
Jeff Fox flying in the distant background , and Dan Dalke in the
foreground, were flying their Sport Copter gyros over the blueberry
crops next to the Wenger airstrip in Salem, Oregon, where the
September Chapter 73 BBQ gathering took place.
Gyrocopters that are hangared at Wenger’s airstrip: Ray Bruce with his Bensen (his story about buying it are on pages 5-6 of this
newsletter), Dan Dalke with his Sport Copter, and Jeff Fox with his Sport Copter. Both Dan’s and Jeff’s are Sport Copter Lightning
models, but Jeff has changed his so that it is like the Vortex model, adding a fairing and Rotax 582 engine.
Hillsboro Air Show: Jim Vanek did his routine in a Vortex gyro.
Motion made and approved to print 500 more club brochures.
Treasurer’s report: $20.00 received on a jacket sale (after the meeting, the remaining $10.00 was received
and two more jackets were paid for a total of $1,742.53 plus $90.00 for jackets and $5.00 for new member).
Treasurer’s report approved.
August minutes approved.
Discussed Chapter 2 Fly in at El Mirage Dry Lakebed.
Axel Vector to be on TV. 5 pm today 1410-1340 radio broadcast.
Clint Martindale has some parts and an engine for sale (See page 10 for details).
Jackets for sale (see Jim Miller)
Discussed winter meeting place. October and November meetings at Sport Copter.
Will discuss if we want to use the NWAAC clubhouse or skip December, January and February meetings and
resume meeting in March at Sport Copter.
Need to have nominations for officers during October meeting.
Discussion on how to generate interest for our club.
Plan for gyros at all events we participate in.
Raffle or something to generate income for the club.
1:53 Meeting adjourned.
Jeff Fox prepares for his take off run,
accelerates, and climbs out in the
following sequence of photos.
Some of the pictures are difficult to
follow with his speed and the delay
after snapping the shot and the digital
camera actually taking the photo!
Above and below left: Coming back in to land again, Jeff Fox exhibits another smooth landing.
Jeff’s mother, Dorothy Fox, stands by her son next to his gyro.
Ray Bruce poses in his
Bensen gyrocopter at
Wenger’s airstrip in
Salem at last month’s
Chapter 73 meeting.
Submitted by Ray
Bruce.
My story starts in
October 1998. I
was working at
Bonita Pioneer
Company in
Tigard.
Myself and Addie
decided to sell our
home in
Milwaukie,
Oregon and move
to Salem, Oregon.
We decided if we
sold our home, I
would quit my job
and make the
move.
One of our plans
was with a
reasonable price
from the sale of
our home I would
purchase a
gyroplane.
However, as things
went, it didn’t
happen at this
time. There was no
real fault of any
one incident in
particular.
Perhaps I dragged
my feet a bit. But the intentional dream was still in my thoughts.
Eventually I began watching newspaper ads in local and other publications. The Roth grocery store nearby our
home put out a weekly publication of ads every Tuesday for every customer free of charge.
I read an ad listed in the shopper and called the number and received some information for a 1981 Bensen
gyrocopter located in Mill City, Oregon.
I made arrangements to go take a look at the gyro. The machine was in fairly good condition for being stored
for many years.
The parts were there, even extra
parts were available. The asking
price was two thousand dollars.
I considered for two or three
weeks what I would decide. Then I
returned to talk to the owner again.
It was finally advised the owner
wanted to get the machine out of
his barn. He lowered the price to
fifteen hundred dollars.
That concludes the story of the
acquisition of an original Bensen
gyrocopter.
There is much more to come under
the future of many modifications
and assists from many talented
individuals. Many thanks for all
their help.
Above is a close up shot of the tag on Ray’s Bensen rotorblades, showing a manufacture date of 06-10-80. These blades are famous
for being easy to hand start. They used a lot of rivets in their construction.
Below: Dan Dalke takes a break from barbecuing for our chapter and prepares to depart from Wenger’s airfield in his Sport Copter
Lightning during the September gathering.
A close-up of Dan Dalke as he prerotates his Sport Rotors, preparing to
accelerate down the grass strip to join
Jeff Fox in the air.
Dan’s gyro is powered by a Rotax 503
twin carb model, an air-cooled engine
of approximately 50 horses, while Jeff
uses the Rotax 582, which is a watercooled one at about 64 hp.
Rotorcraft Magazines:
Join the PRA (Popular Rotorcraft Association) by visiting the website at:
www.pra.org or by writing to PRA PO Box 68 Mentone, Indiana 46539
Or, call: (phone: (574) 353-7227 fax: (574) 353-7021 e-mail: [email protected]
Office Manager: Office Hours: 8am-5pm Central Time MON-FRI)
Dues are $50 and include a year subscription to ROTORCRAFT magazine.
EXPERIMENTAL
HELO Magazine:
760-377-4478, PO
Box 1585, Inyokern, Ca. 93527, [email protected].
See their webpage: www.experimentalhelo.com A
subscription runs $35 per year for six issues.
Left: The sensation of rapid movement is noticed by observing the
oil level in the reservoir above the engine, as well as the prop and
rotorblade action, as Dan blasts off at Wenger’s airstrip.
Right: In the air, the Sport Copter Lightning responds well to Dan’s inputs.
Left: Dan pulls a banking left turn around the
blueberry crops next to the airstrip.
Above: Level flight
Below: Straight on shot as he climbs out from the
airstrip.
Clint Martindale is having an “Emptying out his hangar” sale.
For anyone looking for a single place engine, he has a Rotax 503 engine, single carb, changed from points to
electronic ignition. New, early set of Sport Rotors rotorblades, 25’. Lots of wheels and tires, with some brakes.
Rotorheads. Seat tanks. Rotordyne hubbar. Propellers. Helmets and Comtronics intercom system. Spare gas
tanks. Control rods, yokes, and sticks. Cold weather flying suits.
Call him at 503-775-7372 to see what he’s got and make an offer! All items are at his home in SE Portland,
except for the rotorblades, which are still at Scappoose in his hangar.
At the same hangar, Phil Stevens is looking for hangar partners to share all that space Clint has vacated. Phil’s
number: 360-796-4457. He is still back in Indiana training and working on his Brantly helicopter.
Wilma Foss, chapter member Wally Foss’ wife, passed away last month. Our condolences go
out to Wally from the chapter members. The following is from The Oregonian’s article:
Foss, Wilma Grey Byrd, 72, 9/30/1936-9/17/2009.
On Sept. 30, 1936, an angel came among us and filled our lives with joy. On Sept. 17, 2009, she went home to
heaven. Wilma was born in Dunn, N.C., the first born of Victoria and Henry Byrd.
She worked 30 years as a cosmetologist while serving others: Meals On Wheels, Loaves & Fishes, the SMART
program, and on her days off she donated haircuts for patients at the Portland Shriners Hospital for Children.
An active church member, she enjoyed singing in the choir. Wilma was a loving wife, mother, grandmother,
and great-grandmother.
She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Wallace L Foss; daughters, Victoria Foss Mangum and husband,
Lance of Fuquay-Varina, N.C.; and Dawn Michelle-Ranes and husband, Dan of Estacada; grandchildren,
Abigail, Elizabeth, Rachel, Zachary, Tarah, Jonathan, Stormi and Benjamin; great-grandchildren, Sarah and
Alexandria; and brothers, Jackie and Jerry Byrd of Clinton, N.C.
She was preceded in death by her grandson, David Thunder Ranes. Wilma was dearly loved and will be greatly
missed. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 25, 2009, in Gateway Little Chapel of the
Chimes, 1515 N.E. 106th Ave., Portland, OR 97220.
Some of our chapter members
and guests enjoy the BBQ
fixings that Dan Dalke hosted
at Chuck Wenger’s Fly’n W
airstrip on the east side of
Salem, Oregon for
September’s meeting.
October 10, Saturday, for the next Chapter 73 gathering at Sport Copter Hangar at
Scappoose airport. Usual times of noon for potluck luncheon, with meeting at 1 PM.