When Airbus announced plans to design and build a new super-sized A380 Jumbojet, Boeing scrapped their plans to counter with another jumbojet and bet the farm on the 787 project, expecting airlines to gravitate towards its extended range, reduced maintenance costs and ability to fly direct to more airports. Simply put, they promised that the Dreamliner will be more fuel efficient, generate more revenue by being more versatile, and cost less to keep airworthy.

The gamble appears to have worked. Boeing has booked orders for more than 600 of the Dreamliner so far, with production slots being sold out for many years to come. Airbus's A380 project is now several years delayed in development and has lagged in orders. Some of its launch customers have demanded costly changes to the design, further delaying the project. The delays, cost overruns and poor order book has the company in turmoil, forcing a change in the consortium's to management.

The media is trying to sensationalize on the new aircraft by proclaiming that it is the first carrier to be built primarily of plastic. In fact, the 787's aircraft will be more than 50% carbon fiber composite to save weight, reduce fatigue, provide larger windows and allow a higher internal air pressure for better cabin comfort.

Boeing has been booking orders well in advance of the aircraft's first flight. To meet the rigorous launch schedule, they've resorted to a new production tactic: Boeing has invited in several risk-sharing partners across the globe to design and build various components for the aircraft, including the fuselage, wings and other major structures. Once the components are flown into the factory at Everett, Wash., the final assembly will be completed by Boeing technicians.
Condensed from MSNBC sources

Boeing Reorganizes Production Resources
The Boeing Company will shutter its parts manufacturing operation in Oak Ridge, Tenn., by the first quarter of 2008. Boeing has been outsourcing many of the components for the new 787 Dereamliner and no longer has the demand to keep the operation open. The remaining work will be moved to a factory in Salt Lake City and to some external suppliers.

The 265 employees at Oak Ridge, who built flight deck consoles, forward instrument panels, aisle stands and metal machined parts, will be given 60-day layoff notices.

Boeing Workers Decertify Union
Boeing technical workers at is Integrated Defense Systems factory in Wichita, Kan., voted 408-353 to boot The Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace using. Their employment contract, due to expire on February 19, 2008, is voided. An engineering team of 700 workers was not included in the vote.

The workers at the Wichita factory claim that the nonrepresented workers pay less for benefits and get incentive benefits not available to union employees.

20,000 Boeing engineers and technical workers remain under SPEAA representation.
Condensed from the Associated Press

France Opens New A380-Ready Terminal
In an effort to show support for France's participation in Airbus's A380 project, they've built a new $868 million terminal at the Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport near Paris.

The new terminal said to be the size of 40 soccer fields, will be able to accommodate up to 26 airplanes at a time. Six of those airplanes could be the A380 super jumbo jets.

The A380, which is a double-decker aircraft, will be equipped with 555 seats and will need special accommodations to handle the mass boardings.

Old U.S. Airlines Plan for Rebirth
Now that Northwest Airlines is out of bankruptcy, no U.S. major airlines are in bankruptcy for the first time in nearly five years.

In the days and years following 9/11, major carriers Northwest, Delta, United and US Airways have all filed for bankruptcy protection. All are doing OK now, thanks to a better economy, more travelers, and certainly due to the sacrifices imposed on employees and creditors.

Not all is rosy on the horizon, though. Industry analysts claim that there is too much competition for all of the carriers to remain healthy. Fares are bid too low to compete with cut-rate carriers like JetBlue and Southwest. These analysts estimate that that the top carriers will be about $8 billion short this year of what they really need to stay afloat. This shortfall comes to about a seven percent rate increase across the board without decreasing the amount of seats sold.

Ultimately, the airlines will have to invest in more efficient aircraft and strategize on how to compete for fares in the larger markets and investigate ways to draw revenues from the smaller markets.

The True Cost of Flying Today
By Steve Krog, Editor of Zenair News
As fuel prices escalate faster than gas stations can change the pump prices and signage, many aircraft owners are considering a cutback in their number of annual flying hours. With gas pump prices nearly doubling in the past four months, all of us have considered how we might become more conservative with our discretionary income. Before you make an instant or rash decision, let's take a look at the economics and the options.

Option #1. Fly normal number of hours annually. The average aircraft owner flies approximately 50-75 hours annually. Assuming your Zenith burns auto fuel at about 5 gallons per hour, last year's fuel usage and cost would have been 250 to 375 gallons at $2.50 per gallon, or $625 to $938 for fuel. At today's auto fuel price of an estimated $3.50 per gallon, your increased cost for an average season of flying amounts to $875 to $1,313, or just $5.00 more per flying hour. What's more fun? Flying a Zenith for an hour or a Starbucks coffee (the equivalent of the increased fuel cost per flight hour)?

Should you provide your Zenith with a steady diet of 100LL avgas, last year's average cost per gallon was about $3.50 and today's price is about $4.50, (at least in southeastern Wisconsin). At $3.50 per gallon your cost for fuel last year was $875 to $1,303, and at today's price of about $4.50 it will run from $1,125 to $1,688, or again, about $5.00 increase per flight hour.

In the grand scheme of owning an airplane, the cost of fuel is less significant than what the "doom and gloom" local TV news reporters make if out to be on a daily basis! There are very few outdoor hobbies that you can enjoy for 50 to 75 hours a year for that amount of money.

Option #2. Fly less. But is that really an acceptable answer? Flying less causes the cost per hour of flight time to increase significantly. Your aircraft insurance is not based on aircraft flight time, nor is the cost of the annual inspection, and the cost of the hangar remains the same whether you fly 20 hours or 75 hours annually. In addition, a decrease in annual flight time causes one's skills to erode and long periods of inactivity are truly harder on the airplane, particularly the engine. And, flying less denies you the thrill of experiencing a regular sunset flight!

Certainly there are hobbies other than flying; power boating is a lot of fun; so is water skiing. Both of these hobbies provide a thrill, but both are dependent on fuel as well. Try water skiing on 4.5 gallons of fuel per hour. That's about one 15-minute ride, not counting the fuel it took to tow your boat to and from the lake!

I have a good friend who is into power boating. He takes on about 300 gallons of fuel for a fun afternoon. That equates to about 67 hours of Zenith flying time. Would you trade your Zenith for that? Plus, he has to pay about $350 per month for a boat slip.

There aren't too many hobbies in this day and age that don't require some regular investment. So, take a deep breath and put things in perspective. Having done that, you'll have a much more enjoyable drive to the airport for your evening Zenith flight.
From the May/June 2007 edition of the Zenair News. Republished with permission.

Editor's note: These same principles apply regardless of the aircraft you operate. Do the math and see if the additional hourly cost isn't that significant in the scheme of things. Then go fly!

Support Our Servicemen
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
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.

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
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

Hendricks County Airport News
By Dave Clark
The Hendricks County Airport Advisory Board met Monday, July 9 at noon. Topics discussed: The new hangars are scheduled to be completed by the first week in October, yes, this year! The instrument approach is still scheduled to be operational by June of 2008. The utility lines have been buried at the South end of the runway and the poles have been removed that were in line with the runway. Most of the other discussion was based on the future development of the airport and the Airport Master Plan, which is underway.

Boone County Airport News
Bus Trip to Oshkosh: Roy Dawes will be departing the week of July 23 for Oshkosh in a large touring bus. The air conditioned bus has sleeping berths for up to nine people, plus a large bedroom on the back (reserved for Dawes). The bus will be at the camp grounds for several days, depending on how long the expense-sharing riders want to say. It gets 8 miles to the gallon and is a comfortable way to travel. Plus, the riders will have no lodging expenses. The bus also has huge storage bins under the floor, so passengers can bring home a lot of Oshkosh goodies. For more information contact Roy Dawes at 317-753-8186 or roy-d@in-motion.net.

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.

Indianapolis International Airport News
From Indianapolis Transponder (email newsletter)
The Indianapolis Airport Authority has named John Kish as executive director of the Indianapolis International Airport and Robert Duncan as airport director. The appointments are effective July 16. Kish has been serving as project director for the new airport project. Duncan currently serves as the authority's vice president and general counsel. Duncan is a graduate of Hanover College and the IU School of Law-Indianapolis. He has more than 34 years of airport legal and management experience at Indianapolis International Airport and is an active pilot with 46 years flying experience. In addition he currently holds an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate and Flight Instructor Certificate with 8,000 hours of total flight time. He serves as Director of Aviation Association of Indiana and is Trustee of the Brownsburg Public Library and serves on the Executive Committee for the Indianapolis Air show.

Young Eagles News
The Young Eagles rally held on Saturday, June 23 at Boone County Airport was a washout, literally. Young Eagles coordinator has lined up six or seven aircraft and pilots, plus a full ground crew. Unfortunately, inclement weather prevented several of the airplanes from getting to the field. No matter; four airplanes based at the airport were already there and ready to go to work.

We flew only five Young Eagles that day. Had the weather cooperated, we prepared to carry about 85 before lunch time.

Upcoming Young Eagles Events: Boy Scout Troup 199 (Noblesville area) is working on an aviation camp on September 22. They will need pilots to take kids for rides. Chapter 67 will be sponsoring a Young Eagles event that day. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Dave Spilker at 317-714-7348 or dspilker@fishersinfo.com

EAA Young Eagles Update: By newsletter publication date more than 1,326,654 Young Eagles have taken their first airplane ride.

Editorial Comments Sought
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.

Calendar of Events
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.

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
The next meeting will be Wednesday, August 1, 2007, 6:30 p.m. at Hendricks County Airport. Program: Oshkosh Report.

Directions from Indianapolis:
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.

On the Radar:
August 1, 2007 — Program: Oshkosh Report
September 5, 2007 — 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

Chapter 1311 Board of Directors
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

Newsletter editor: Michael Mossman, 1-765-483-9533, michaelandkatie@insightbb.com

Classified Ads
FOR SALE: Custom composite 6.24"-wide panel flush-mount for Garmin GPS 296 or 396, $75 Contact Larry Rush k9hxt@sbcglobal.net

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
Current as of July 12, 2007

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
HATFIELD, Doug	hatfielddoug@hotmail.com	Zenair 640
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	cdmoncreiff@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
ROBBINS, Will	werobbins@flightline.com	—
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	Steen Skybolt
VONDERSAAR, Teresa	tvondersaar@ausin.rr.com	Steen Skybolt
WEATHERS, Steve	—	Sonerai 2LS
WININGS, Jim	—	Rocket

See our chapter roster online at http://www.eaa1311.org/memberroster.html

Did we miss anybody? Please let us know; we'll get it updated right away.

Aviation Humor
How Standards Are Created Historically
Does the statement, "We've always done it that way" ring any bells?

The U.S. standard railroad gauge (distance between rails) is 4 feet, 8.5 inches. That's an exceedingly odd number.

Why was that gauge used? Because that's the way they built them in England, and English expatriates built the US Railroads.

Why did the English build them like that? Because the first rail lines were built by the same people who built the pre-railroad tramways, and that's the gauge they used.

Why did "they" use that gauge then? Because the people who built the tramways used the same jigs and tools that they used for building wagons, which used that wheel spacing.

Okay! Why did the wagons have that particular odd wheel spacing? Well, if they tried to use any other spacing, the wagon wheels would break on some of the old, long distance roads in England, because that's the spacing of the wheel ruts.

So, who built those old rutted roads? Imperial Rome built the first long distance roads in Europe (and England) for their legions. The roads have been used ever since.

What about the ruts in the roads? Roman war chariots formed the initial ruts, which everyone else had to match for fear of destroying their wagon wheels. Since the chariots were made for Imperial Rome, they were all alike in the matter of wheel spacing.

The United States standard railroad gauge of 4 feet, 8.5 inches is derived from the original specifications for an Imperial Roman war chariot. And bureaucracies live forever.

So the next time you are handed a specification and told we have always done it that way and wonder what horse's ass came up with that, you may be exactly right. The Imperial Roman war chariots were made just wide enough to accommodate the back ends of two war horses.

Now the twist to the story: When you see a Space Shuttle sitting on its launch pad, there are two big booster rockets attached to the sides of the main fuel tank. These are solid rocket boosters, or SRBs. Thiokol makes the SRBs at their factory in Utah.

The engineers who designed the SRBs would have preferred to make them a bit fatter, but the SRBs had to be shipped by train from the factory to the launch site. The railroad line from the factory happens to run through a tunnel in the mountains. The SRBs had to fit through that tunnel.

The tunnel is slightly wider than the railroad track, and the railroad track, as you now know, is about as wide as two horses' behinds.

So, a major Space Shuttle design feature of what is arguably the world's most advanced transportation system was determined over two thousand years ago by the width of a horse's ass.

And you thought being a horse's ass wasn't important?
Contributed by Mike Foushee, Chapter 729 (Columbus IN) Newsletter Editor

Quote of the Month
"At any rate, if we've been fortunate enough to be caught up in the art of flying we are very lucky indeed. It's a fascinating world where beauty and science mix and the quest for knowledge never ends." From The Art of Flying by Robert N. Buck

Go back to Section 1

July 2007 newsletter ends on Section 3