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:
Chapter 1311 Board of Directors for 2008
Newsletter editor: Michael Mossman, 1-765-483-9533, michaelandkatie@insightbb.com
Classified Ads
FOR SALE: Stinson L-5 Landing gear Struts. Contact Kenny Shull 317-539-5542.
AIRCRAFT FOR SALE: Cessna 150, at Sheridan Airport. Contact Gus Gustafson at 317-293-4430 or dalefaye@msn.com
WANTED TO BUY: Used 4-foot brake and 4-foot shear. Contact Troy Grover, 317-919-6594 (cell phone), rv6grover@sbcglobal.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 7/07. 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, $27,750. Mark Eminger 765-528-2146 or Robert Barnhart 765- 448-4024 for information 7-10:30 EST.
2008 Membership Roster
2007 Membership Roster
Did we miss anybody? Please let us know; we'll get it updated right away.
January's Program
Clayton Eckert and Chad Suverkrup of Fast Track Flight went to Indiana State University to study aviation, where they received their private through multi-engine instrument training. Instead of trying to work their way through the ranks (hopefully) to the left seat of some big iron, these two fresh graduates took a sharp turn towards some much smaller aircraft. When they recognized a need in the training market for Light Sport Aircraft, their entrepreneurial spirit kicked in; they bought an Evektor SportStar aircraft and started a Sport Pilot school at Greenwood Airport.
The Evektor employs the 100-h.p. Rotax 912S engine, which has a 1,500 TBO. The engine was designed to operate on 92 octane auto gas. Because it's too difficult for Fast Track Flight to haul and store enough auto fuel for their flight school operations, they burn 100 LL, which is available on the field at Greenwood Airport. The Rotax runs great on 100 LL but needs a bit more maintenance because of the lead in the fuel. The high-revving engine has a gearbox to reduce engine RPMs for an acceptable propeller RPM, and within the gearbox is a slipper clutch to protect the engine in the event of a prop strike. The lead in the fuel can get into the oil and eventually into the gearbox's slipper clutch, which needs to be cleaned out occasionally.
Although the engine has this small unusual maintenance requirement, it does have a couple great features. Besides being very light (giving an LSA more payload capacity) it runs with a very low fuel burn, which is generally only four gallons per hour. It's not susceptible to carburetor icing, and with liquid cooled cylinder heads, it's not likely to shock cool in the winter.
Because of the low operational costs and reduced maintenance of a new aircraft, Fast Track Flight is able to offer their fully-equipment aircraft for $95 per hour, which they claim is the cheapest in town. Dual is an additional $38 per hour.
To get people excited about learning to fly, Eckert and Suverkrup offer $49 introductory flights. If the prospect gets the aviation bug, they can sign up for a $3,200 Sport Pilot package, which is 25 hours in the airplane, five of which are solo. Plus, the student qualifies for an 8% lifetime discount.
Although the SportStar qualifies as an LSA and Fast Track Flight concentrates on Sport Pilot training, they aren't limited to just Sport Pilot. They can do Private Pilot training, certifications and check rides. They can even do instrument training and check rides in the SportStar but they can't fly it in actual IMC conditions. Eckert and Suverkrup provide tailwheel endorsements in a student-provided aircraft but they don't own one; they say that it's just too hard for them to get insurance on a taildragger. They say that there are a couple of Decathlons at Greenwood Airport available for rent.
The partners say that becoming a Sport Pilot costs about half that of becoming a private pilot, with the average training time taking between three and four months. Most of their students aren't new to flying; they usually have about 10 hours of flight time, all accumulated about 15 years ago. Nearly all of their students are over age 45. These are the people who wanted to learn how to fly, got started then had to drop out as their family responsibilities took precedence on their time and discretionary income. Many of them are attracted not only to the lower cost of a Sport Pilot license but also because no medical is required. They simply need a driver's license as proof medical self-certification.
One of Eckert and Suverkrup's on-going plans is to get younger people interested in aviation. They believe that if they can get the parents and grandparents into flying, the younger ones will see how much fun it is and try it, too. It must be working; they recently have two high school students sign up.
Fast Track Flight's newest venture is a SportStart Flying Club. They have two membership plans, a five-member club and a ten-member club. Initial buy-ins range from $11,200 for ten-member stock aircraft to $25,670 for a fully-loaded five-member airplane. Monthly fixed costs range from $71 to $142, with hourly rates set at $39.
When it was time to depart, the lightweight aircraft was easy to push out of the hangar. Despite the large canopy, Eckert and Suverkrup say that it is not leaky and warm enough to fly in the winter. The now-cold Rotax engine started almost instantly, and soon the pair was winging their way to their home base at Greenwood.
For more information on Fast Track Flight, LLC, visit their web site at http://www.fasttrackflight.com. Contact Clayton Eckert at 812-249-3060 and Chad Suverkrup at 812-371-2375
Go back to Section 1
March 5, 2008 — Steve Lathrop's Bearhawk
April 2, 2008 — Dave and Steve Kopeschka Corvair-powered auto gyro
May 7, 2008 — TBA
June 4, 2008 — TBA
July 2, 2008 — TBA
August 6, 2008 — TBA
September 3, 200 — TBA
October 1, 2008 — TBA
November 5, 2008 — TBA
December, 2008 — TBA
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: Dennis Crawley, 317-387-1737, Crawley27@comcast.net
Director: Dave Helton, 1-317-745-7916, dhelton@iquest.net
Director: Chuck Long, 317-892-3146, LoneEagleHDS@aol.com
Director: Glen Matejcek, 1-317-839-5444, aerobubba@earthlink.net
Director: David Morton, 317-745-4846, djamorton@sbcglobal.net
Director: Gary Reynolds, 317-745-6223, n98gr@att.net
Director: Paul Vogel, 1-317-272-2106, p_vogel@sbcglobal.net
FOR SALE: Piper jumper cables in excellent condition (round plug type), $50 or make offer. Portable intercom, $20. Contact Larry Rush k9hxt@sbcglobal.net or 272-2153
Current as of January 2, 2008
NAME EMAIL ADDRESS PROJECT(S) LeBARON, Tim tjlebaron@sbcglobal.net RV-4, Breezy, Ercoupe MATEJCEK, Glen aerobubba@earthlink.net RV8 MATEJCEK, Robin aerobubba@earthlink.net RV8 MOSSMAN, Michael mmossman@fujifilmgs.com Zenair 601 HDS VONDERSAAR, Bob rvondersaar@austin.rr.com Steen Skybolt VONDERSAAR, Teresa tvondersaar@ausin.rr.com Steen Skybolt
Current as of December 31, 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 broylesjohn@sbcglobal.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 LEUCHT, Chuck charlesleucht@sbcglobal.net C150, RV-9A LEWIS, Jimmy rudder4@aol.com RV-7A LONG, Chuck charles.long@allisontransmission.com Zenair 601 HDS MELCHIOR, Dirk d-r-melchior@msn.com F1 Rocket MONCREIFF, Doug cdmoncreiff@sbcglobal.net JDT Hi-Max MORTON, David djamorton@sbcglobal.net — 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@att.net 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 WEATHERS, Steve — Sonerai 2LS WININGS, Jim — Rocket
By Michael Mossman
When Doug Moncreiff called me up in December to tell me that there would be a change in the January program, I thought, "cool, another airplane to see." But after he told me that the aircraft would have to fly in the evening of the meeting, I started to worry that we might be without a program. Doug said that the presenter was bringing in a Light Sport Aircraft, and those things just aren't normally built for winter weather. So when he called me shortly before 5 p.m. on the evening of the meeting and told me that they were still planning on coming, I had my doubts. You see, we were expecting snow that night.
For those of us used to flying Cessnas and Pipers, the Evektor isn't a name that we hear very often, as it's built in the Czech Republic. It's a low-wing, all aluminum LSA airplane with a rather conventional layout but some great features. Evektor has built more than 600 SportStars, with about 80 of them operating in the United States. Of the United States-registered aircraft, about half are employed in a training environment.
Eckert says that the European versions of the SportStar are stripped down with minimal equipment. The American version has the cockpit extended for larger American pilots. But that's not all that's different: Fast Track Flight's SportStars have leather seats, night lighting package, Garmin 496, all-glass cockpit, autopilot with altitude hold, and a Garmin digital nav/com with glideslope. A standard SportStar costs about $112,000, but fully decked-out as shown that evening runs about $128,350.
The partners claim that the SportStar has performance like a Cessna 172 but with better radios. It cruises at about 100 kts and stalls like a Cherokee but in the LSA speed range. Even better than the performance is the outstanding visibility. Not only is the cockpit covered with a great tilt-forward canopy, but just aft of the canopy over the baggage compartment, the fuselage is also glazed, offering good visibility backwards to the pilot's five and seven o'clock positions.
Although Eckert and Suverkrup are U.S. dealers for the SportStar, their focus in on flight training. They've just graduated their 26th student. They operated their first SportStar trainer for about 1,200 hours then sold it. They now have two more, with 300 and 100 hours of use, each. Their combined experience with the SportStar is about 1,600 operational hours.
Eckert and Suverkrup need to be commended for recognizing a real need in the aviation training market and taking the economic risks to meet this need. They also deserve our thanks for braving the weather to bring an aircraft to the meeting for the chapter to see. Despite the cold air and blowing snow, they claimed that they flew in VFR conditions from Greenwood to Hendricks County Airport. With the SportStar temporarily housed in Vern Sullenger's hangar, the members could examine its features sheltered from the biting wind. Yet even with a heater, that hangar was c-c-c-c-o-o-o-o-l-l-l-d!