Be sure let the newsletter editor know if any of our members or their families has someone in the service, especially if they have been called up for active duty. We'd like to recognize them and thank them for representing us so honorably.
SERVICEMAN UPDATE NEEDED: In December of 2002 Jim Griffin joined Chapter 1311. Shortly before the war with Iraq started Jim signed back up as a Major with the Marines and has been serving in Iraq. He had been receiving the newsletter via email but this past couple of months the emails to him have come back as undeliverable. If anyone knows how to contact Jim, or knows of his whereabouts or of any way to track him down, please contact the newsletter editor at michaelandkatie@insightbb.com.
Newsletter Publication Schedule
Get back editions of the newsletter at http://www.eaa1311.org. Click on the link "Members Only" at the left (no passwords required) then when the members Only page comes up click on the link "Newsletters."
Membership Roster Updates Needed
Boone County Airport News
Hangar Space: There are several hangar vacancies available. Anyone desiring to base an aircraft at the airport or use the maintenance hangar will be required to join the association. For more information contact Michael Mossman, association secretary, or see the website http://www.booneairport.org.
Young Eagles News
EAA Young Eagles Update: By newsletter publication date more than 1,315,479 Young Eagles have taken their first airplane ride.
Editorial Comments Sought
Calendar of Events
June 16 — EAA Chapter 67 Pancake Breakfast, Noblesville Airport
June 23-24 — Rocky Mountain EAA Regional Fly-In — Front Range Airport (FTG), Watkins CO. For more information see http://www.RMRFI.org
July 11-15 — Northwest EAA Fly-In — Arlington Municipal Airport (AWO), Arlington WA. For more information see http://www.NWEAA.org
July 23-29 — EAA AirVenture Oshkosh — Wittman Regional Airport (OSH), Oshkosh WI. For more information see http://www.AirVenture.org
July 28-28 — Dayton Air Show. For more information see http://www.usats.org/home.html
August 25-26 — Indy Air Show featuring the Blue Angels, Mount Comfort Airport (MQJ). For more information see http://www.indyairshow.com
August 25-26 - EAA Mid-Eastern Regional Fly-In - Marion Municipal Airport, Marion OH. For more information see http://www.MERFI.info
September 1 — Fly-In / Cruise-In, Marion IN (MZZ). For more information see http://www.flyincruisein.com/
September 22-23 — Blue Ash Airport Days, Cincinnati Blue Ash Airport (ISZ)
September 27-30 — Gathering of Mustangs and Legends, Columbus OH (LCK). For more information see http://www.gml2007.com/
September 29 — Wood, Fabric and Tailwheels Fly-In, Lee Bottom Field, Hanover IN. For more information see http://www.leebottom.com/
October 6-7 - Virginia Regional EAA Fly-In - Dinwiddle County Airport, Petersburg VA. For more information see http://www VAEAA.org
October 5-7 - EAA Southeast Regional Fly-In - Middleton Field Airport, Evergreen AL. For more information see http://www.SERFI.org
October 25-28 - Copperstate Regional EAA Fly-In - Casa Grande (AZ) Municipal Airport. For more information see http://www.Copperstate.org
For details on EAA Chapter fly-ins and other local aviation events, visit http://www.eaa.org/events
Next Meeting
Directions from Indianapolis:
On the Radar:
Chapter 1311 Board of Directors
Newsletter editor: Michael Mossman, 1-765-483-9533, michaelandkatie@insightbb.com
Classified Ads
FOR SALE: Four sets of very nice Koss headphones. Contact Michael Mossman michaelandkatie@insightbb.com for details or to make offer. Proceeds benefit Chapter 1311.
FOR SALE: Three lighted and adjustable "flight desks" for aircraft installation. Contact Michael Mossman michaelandkatie@insightbb.com for details or to make offer. Proceeds benefit Chapter 1311.
FOR SALE:Stinson L-5 Landing gear Struts. Contact Kenny Shull 317-539-5542.
AIRCRAFT WANTED: Sport Pilot aircraft. Contact Gus Gustafson at 317-293-4430 or dalefaye@msn.com
AIRCRAFT FOR SALE: Cessna 150, currently in Florida. Contact Gus Gustafson at 317-293-4430 or dalefaye@msn.com
WANTED TO BUY: Hirth 2702 engine with a 2.59 G-50 reduction unit. Contact Doug Moncreiff at 317-280-1621 or cmoncreiff@netzero.net
WANTED TO BUY: Used 4-foot brake and 4-foot shear. Contact Troy Grover, 317-919-6594 (cell phone), rv6grover@sbcglobal.net
WANTED TO BUY: Headsets and intercom. Contact Mark Rinehart, 317-745-2466, capt_riney@yahoo.com
RV KIT FOR SALE: RV-6 elevator and vertical stabilizer. Both in decent shape, leftover from a previous project. Make offer. Mike Jackson 317-496-8513 mjack40@comcast.net
AIRCRAFT FOR SALE: '57 C172 TT approx. 3700 hr. Engine approx. 700 hr since overhaul. Good paint, nice interior. VFR: Narco Mode C, Narco 720 channel comm.; Horton STOL kit w/gap seals. Last annual 6/06. Hangared at Franklin, IN. $30,500. Reason for selling: starting a project. Tom Chapman, cell 317-625-3126, home 317-888-6866, tschapman1@aol.com
AIRCRAFT FOR SALE: One-half interest in a beautiful Tri-Pacer in great condition. Located at Hendricks County Airport. $9,000. Reason for selling: starting a light sport aircraft. Dave Helton 317-590-5001 davehelton@heltonassoc.com
AIRCRAFT FOR SALE: 1966 Alon A2, TT-2539, SMOHE 930, IFR panel, nice, $29,000. Mark Eminger 765-528-2146 or Robert Barnhart 765- 448-4024 for information 7-10:30 EST.
2007 Membership Roster
Did we miss anybody? Please let us know; we'll get it updated right away.
Aviation Humor
When the photographer arrived on the scene, he realized that the smoke was so thick it would seriously impede, or even make impossible, his getting good photographs from the ground level. He requested permission from his boss to rent a plane and take photos from the air.
His request was approved and he used his cell phone to call the local county airport to charter a flight. He was told a single engine plane would be waiting for him at the airport.
Arriving at the airfield, he spotted a plane warming up outside a hanger. He jumped in with his bag, slammed the door shut, and shouted, "Let's go." The pilot taxied out, swung the plane into the wind and roared down the runway. Once in the air, the photographer instructed the pilot, "Fly over the valley and make two or three low passes so I can take some pictures of the fires on the hillsides."
"Why?" asked the pilot.
"Because I'm a photographer for CNN," he responded. "And I need to get some close-up shots."
The pilot was strangely silent for a moment, finally he stammered, "So, what you're telling me, is … you're NOT my flight instructor?" …
May's Program
Budny has kit number 159 out of a total production run of about 500 kits. The Mini 500 is a single-seat helicopter powered by a Rotax 582 two-cycle engine. With a fiberglass fuselage and a large bubble canopy, it looks a lot like a Hughes turbine chopper, only a lot smaller. The tiny machine was designed for an empty weight of only about 420 pounds and a gross weight of about 800 pounds.
The Mini 500 kit's smaller parts are packaged on cards covered with plastic; everything is clearly marked. The major components like the transmission, main rotor head, rear rotor gearbox, and other such parts are beautifully machined.
The kit comes with a blank interior. Wanting a more finished appearance, Budny fabricated a black interior, which was not in the aircraft when we view it. Prior to assembling the kit, Skip had all of the main metal parts, especially the controls, power coated.
Budny says that he didn't like the Dzus-style screw latches that came with the kit; they will scratch the paint when they're fastened so he bought some door releases at Oshkosh a few years ago.
Not wanting four fuel lines into the cockpit for the fuel sight line gauge and primer lines, he changed the sight line to a float-style fuel level gauge and re-routed the primer so that it is in the engine compartment.
Because helicopters tend to drag their skids when taking off or landing, Budny added additional surface material to the bottom of the skids to prevent wear to the thin tubes.
While Budny has been building his kit, he's followed the news reports and builders groups for information on how to best equip his Mini 500 for safe operation. Unfortunately, things started getting ugly pretty fast.
The Rotax 582 engine, which has safely powered thousands of ultralight aircraft, is too underpowered as a helicopter engine, especially on high density altitude days. Many Mini 500 pilots have been killed, mostly due to engine seizing. Skip says that there isn't enough inertia in the blades for autorotation. If you have to put it down in the trees, you're going to get hurt bad.
Another problem is trying to maintain belt alignment, even with the Rotax. If the main drive belt runs off of the pulley there is no way to power the rotor; you're going down.
Of the 500 or so kits that were sold, only about a dozen are flying. Many crashed, killing the pilots. Even Mini 500 designer B.J. Schramm died in one of his creations. The company has since gone out of business due to defending too many lawsuits, leaving builders unsupported.
Still, Budny soldiers on with his project. He says that he could finish it in a couple of months if he wanted to. The problem now is that he doesn't want to fly it; it's just too dangerous of a design. Too many builders, even those with thousands of hours flying helicopters, many surviving combat, lost their lives in the design. He started with a $26,000 kit and now has about $45,000 invested with his many modifications. He's decided to eventually finish it, take the financial hit and donate it for a tax write off. "How much money do you want to put into an aircraft that will still have problems?," he asks.
Even though he won't be flying the Mini 500, his chopper days aren't over. He is actively working on a local Huey restoration. When it's ready to go, he'll be one of the pilots. After all, he does have about 1,800 hours' experience flying them.
Skip's not at all gloomy, though. With pride, he talks about the shop that he's built by his home. He's got a building made from solid core foam walls sheathed with board panels. The panels are eight feet wide, and can come pre-fabricated up to 35 feet high. With an insulation rating of R-35+, it can withstand winds up to 110 mph, which meets some hurricane specs. With the use of a crane, his building went up in only two days.
Skip's shop hosts more than just his Mini 500 project. He's also got his tractor and a Corvette that he bought when he was in Vietnam. Now that Corvette could get anyone excited.
For more information on Skip Budny's flying career, see the program feature article in the November 2006 newsletter at 061101_newsletter.pdf
June 2007 newsletter continued from Section 1
June 2007 newsletter ends on Section 3
In order to report on the monthly meetings and programs, and give adequate notice of the next month's schedule, the EAA Chapter 1311 newsletter is published by email notice on the 15th of each month. A PDF will be available on the chapter web site on or around the 20th of each month. Newsletter contributors: Please email your material to the newsletter editor by the 14th of the month.
If you change your email address or internet service provider, please be sure to let the newsletter editor know of the new address. We've recently starting getting some "Undeliverable" messages from our monthly newsletter email publications. If you don't notify us, we can't get the newsletter or other chapter information to you. If you have changed your email address lately, or if you know of a chapter member who's changed the email address or is no longer getting the newsletter, please let us know. Contact the newsletter editor at michaelandkatie@insightbb.com
Open House: The third annual "Affordable Flying" Open House will be Saturday, June 23. The club will start the day off with a volunteers' breakfast, followed by Young Eagles, sponsored by Chapter 1311. At the conclusion of the Young Eagles rally, the club will host a pig roast by chef Maurice Hobson. There will be static displays all day long, entertainment, and airplane rides for families in the afternoon. Volunteers are needed. The next organizational meeting will be at 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 19.
Boone County Airport (Lebanon) will host a Young Eagles event on Saturday, June 23. Volunteers are needed for planes, ground crew and sign-ups.
If you have an opinion on any story that appears in the newsletter, or any other aviation-related issue, we want to read about it. We will make editorial space available for your responsible comment. Please contact the newsletter editor at 1-765-483-9533 then send it to the newsletter editor at michaelandkatie@insightbb.com. Or just write what you wish and send it as an email.
Chapter 1311 will try to list the aviation-related events in Indiana and surrounding states, plus the major events across the country. Do you know of an event that isn't listed? Please inform the newsletter editor to get it included.
June 15-17 — Summer Heat Air Festival, Muncie IN (MIE). For more information see http://www.munciecvb.org/mvb/summerheat.asp
Since Independence Day is on the first Wednesday of the month, we're moving the July meeting to the second Wednesday of the month. The next meeting will be Wednesday, July 11, 2007, 6:30 p.m. at Hendricks County Airport. Program: Paul Vogel's Sonex.
Take U.S. 36 (Rockville Road) west past Avon.
Turn left (south) on CR 300 E (84 Lumber is on the SW) corner of the intersection.
At about 1/2 mile turn right (west) into the airport.
The operations building is straight back from the road.
July 11 — Program: Paul Vogel Sonex
August 1 — Program: Oshkosh Report
September 5 — Program: Fly-out planning
September 15 — Fly-out
October 3 — Program: Fly-out Reprise
November 7 — Program: Mike Laurenzano Refueling
December 8 (date subject to change) - Christmas Party
January 2, 2008 — Doug Moncreiff V-Hi-Max
February 6 2008 — What's new in Troy Grover's shop
March 5, 2008 — Steve Lathrop's Bearhawk
April 2, 2008 — Dave and Steve Kopeschka Corvair-powered auto gyro
President: Dale "Gus" Gustafson, 1-317-293-4430, dalefaye@msn.com
Vice President: Doug Moncreiff, 317-280-1621, cdmoncreiff@sbcglobal.net
Secretary: Michael Mossman, 1-765-483-9533, michaelandkatie@insightbb.com
Treasurer: Vern Sullenger, 1-317-839-8728, sullenger@iquest.net
Director: Dave Helton, 1-317-745-7916, dhelton@iquest.net
Director: Glen Matejcek, 1-317-839-5444, aerobubba@earthlink.net
Director: Paul Vogel, 1-317-272-2106, mailto:p_vogel@sbcglobal.net
FOR SALE: Custom composite 6.24"-wide panel flush-mount for Garmin GPS 296 or 396, $75 Contact Larry Rush k9hxt@sbcglobal.net
Current as of June 6, 2007
See our chapter roster online at http://www.eaa1311.org/memberroster.html
NAME EMAIL ADDRESS PROJECT(S) BAIN, Kyle dficeman@hotmail.com R/C models BEETHAM, John jabeetham@earthlink.net Fokker D VII, Piper Dakota BRAAF, Bob bbraaf@msn.com Cessna 210-5 BROYLES, John JohnC-DELTA@worldnet.att.net — BUDNY, Skip skbudny@tds.net Mini 500 helicopter BYRUM, Jon jbyrum@byrumarchitects.net RV-7A CHAPMAN, Jeff PoP6756@aol.com Piper Tri-Pacer CHAPMAN, Tom tschapman1@aol.com 1957 Cessna 172 CLARK, David davecpd@iquest.net 1946 Aeronca Chief CRAWLEY, Dennis Crawley27@comcast.net Grumman Tiger DAVIDSON, Ginger planecrazy13@att.net RV3 DAVIDSON, Rich ifitsoldillflyit@msn.com RV3 EMINGER, Mark tjemee@yahoo.com Christavia Mk1 GRIFFIN, Jim jimg@netcapade.net Questar Venture GROVER, Troy rv6grover@sbcglobal.net RV10 GUSTAFSON, Dale DALEFAYE@msn.com Piper J-4 HELTON, Dave davehelton@heltonassoc.com Piper Tri-Pacer HENDERSON, Robert robert_10215@msn.com Christavia MK2 KOPESCHKA, Dave iedvk@iquest.net Little Wing Autogyro KOPESCHKA, Steve stephen.j.kopeschka@rolls-royce.com Little Wing Autogyro LATHROP, Steve lathropdad@worldnet.att.net BearHawk LAURENZANO, Mike mikelaurenzano@yahoo.com Bushby Mustang II LeBARON, Tim tjlebaron@sbcglobal.net RV-4, RV8, Breezy, Ercoupe LEWIS, Jimmy rudder4@aol.com RV-7A LONG, Chuck charles.long@GM.com Zenair 601 HDS MATEJCEK, Glen aerobubba@earthlink.net RV8 MATEJCEK, Robin aerobubba@earthlink.net RV8 MELCHIOR, Dirk d-r-melchior@msn.com F1 Rocket MONCREIFF, Doug dmoncreiff@sbcglobal.net JDT Hi-Max MOSSMAN, Michael mmossman@fujifilmgs.com Zenair 601 HDS MYRTLE, Bill WEMyrtle@yahoo.com Brantly B2B, Kitfox I NG, Bart bng@math.iupui.edu RV-7A PRINCELL, Rick GRPContracting@comcast.net GP-4 RAHM, Kenneth riptide757@aol.com — REYNOLDS, Gary n98gr@aol.com RV6A ROEVER, Doug dmroever@iquest.net RV-7 Tail kit ROTTLER, Mark mark@rottler.org — RUBERSON, Bryan bruberson@aol.com Aeronca Chief RUSH, Larry k9hxt@sbcglobal.net RV6A, RV-8 SCHERMERHORN, Scott scottschermerhorn@yahoo.com Luscombe 8E restoration SHULL, Kenny Phone 317-539-5542 Helping Others SHUMAKER, Kim kkrv-9a@sbcglobal.net RV-9A SMITH, Michael mesmith958@aol.com — SNYDER, Jim jim.snyder1@comcast.net Cherokee 180 STUCKER, David d.j.stucker@worldnet.att.net — SULLENGER, Vern sullenger@iquest.net Cherokee 140, RV-7A UTLEY, Ted ted.utley@in.ngb.army.mil — VOGEL, Paul p_vogel@sbcglobal.net Sonex VONDERSAAR, Bob rvondersaar@austin.rr.com teen Skybolt VONDERSAAR, Teresa tvondersaar@ausin.rr.com Steen Skybolt WEATHERS, Steve — Sonerai 2LS WININGS, Jim — Rocket
A photographer for CNN was assigned to cover southern California's wildfires last year. He wanted pictures of the heroic work the firefighters were doing as they battled the blazes.
Contributed by Chuck Long
By Michael Mossman
Chapter 1311 member Skip Budny loves helicopters. He flew Hueys in Vietnam, owned a Hiller for a while and is now actively involved in restoring an H-model Huey. So when the Mini 500 helicopter kit hit the market, Skip just had to have one. He bought a kit about 10 years ago and has worked on it on-and-off since.
Budny says that the fiberglass was rough when he bought the kit. He applied at least three coats of primer to it then did much sanding. Finally, he was able to apply an automotive finish, which is a beautiful raspberry color. Skip's wife, Kay, came up with the paint scheme. She's designed a hummingbird on the engine compartment doors that appears to feed on the pin striping, which gracefully flows into a flower. He's also incorporated a dragon logo from his 'Nam days.
Budny modified the electrical systems to have lights and strobes. The original design had a fuse block behind the instrument panel, which had the potential for extremely difficult fuse changes, especially in the air. He converted it to circuit breakers, which was an expensive upgrade. Because the instrument panel is so small, he bought Terra avionics.
The Mini 500 is built around a light-gauge chrome-moly tube frame, which has some inherent weaknesses, especially considering the vibrations that a helicopter's components exert on an airframe. Because the transmission is bolted directly to the frame, Skip modified the frame to reinforce it.
To counter the power issue, Budny also has a Solar turbine engine, which was an auxiliary power unit from a Chinook helicopter. The Solar turns in the opposite direction than is needed for the Mini 500, so to incorporate it he would need to come up with an additional gearbox. One big problem here is that the Mini 500's frame is designed to mate with the Rotax 582 and nothing else, so adapting another engine will require some substantial modifications to the frame. Even worse, if he were to go with the Solar, it gobbles about nine gallons of fuel per hour.
Budny is looking to donate the helicopter to the EAA or another organization as a museum piece. Judging by the exquisite details, stunning paint job and workmanship we've seen, it should hold an honored position in just about any museum.
True to Budny form, he deviated from the plans. He's partitioned off a corner of the building for an office. Above the office and over much of the rest of the shop he has a large amount of off-floor storage space. To maximize his floor space utility, he's devised an ingenious solid stair with an electric hoist to move it out of the way. Behind the office he's got work bench space in a large U-shape with plenty of cabinets for tools and parts, and some industrial-strength racks for storing just about anything.