I spotted this 1972 Dyke's Delta at Oshkosh again this year. With its lines, it's a startling aircraft. With a mixed construction of steel tube, sheet metal, wood and composite, this must have been a very demanding aircraft to build. Kudos to the builder for attempting it and continuing to fly it to the big dance.
Aviation Humor
Editorial Section
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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. 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 michaelandkatie1@comcast.net.
Newsletter Publication Schedule
Get back editions of the newsletter at http://www.eaa1311.org. Click on the link "Newsletters" at the left then click the link for the edition that you want.
Chapter 1311 Board of Directors for 2008
Newsletter editor: Michael Mossman, 1-765-483-9533, michaelandkatie1@comcast.net
2008 Membership Roster
Did we miss anybody? Please let us know; we'll get it updated right away.
Membership Roster Updates Needed
August's Program
Smith got some of his instruction at Greencastle (Putnam County Airport) and also received instruction at St. Genevieve MO, Scappoose OR and in Washington State. His current instructor is from Valparaiso, who has to fly down to conduct his flight lessons.
One problem with flying lessons in the Magni Gyro is the attention he receives while flying into other airports. Everyone, it seems, wants to see it and learn more. Smith said that when he flew into Terre Haute, the controllers wanted to know all about it.
Because the Magni is an open-cockpit design, the pilot and passenger can get cold flying it, so the builder installed electrical plugs for snowmobile suits. Smith doesn't wear a snowmobile suit and claims to freeze at 6,000 MSL. He says that it should fly to 13,000 MSL.
Holding 19 gallons of auto fuel, the Magni's endurance is about 3.5 hours. Its best rate of climb is about 1,000 feet per minute, and cruises and 100-105 mph with great stability. It's relatively fast but it redlines at 115 MPH because of the potential of retreating blade stall.
The aircraft can take off in about 300 feet and can spot land in a much shorter distance. The 28-foot, Magni-built rotor is both the lift wing and steering wing. Although the aircraft is equipped with rudders, they are not used in the air. Smith says that the cyclic is used for speed control. He says that there are no problems with rotor flap.
Smith's aircraft just looks like it would be a lot of fun to own and fly. It's obvious from his flight demonstration that he enjoys flying it and has had his share of funny stories about it already. He described the hatred the folks in Washington have for wild coyotes, and the fun they had chasing them they had from the air in a gyrocopter. On the meeting date (August 6), Smith mentioned that he planned on flying the Magni to the rotorcraft convention at Mentone and back on August 7, heading down to Belterra on August 8, then possibly back to Mentone for the weekend's events.
For more information on the Magni Gyro, visit their web site at http://www.magnigyro.com.
To see a 1:43 minute video of the Magi Gyro demonstration at the August meeting, see http://www.eaa1311.org/videos.html. Note that this is a 15 MB file.
Planning the Fly-In Circuit
Aug. 16-17 (Sat-Sun) — Chicago IL — City of Chicago Air & Water Show, contact Rudy Malnati 312-744-9537
Aug. 20 (Wed) — Paoli IN — Paoli Airport Aviation Day, Paoli Airport (I42), 8 a.m. 4 p.m., http://www.paoliairport.homestead.com/AviationDay2005.html
Aug. 23-24 (Sat-Sun) — Indianapolis IN — Indianapolis Air Show, Mt. Comfort Airport (KMQJ), Light Aircraft Information: http://www.geocities.com/indyflyers2/airshow.html, http://www.airnav.com/airport/KMQJ, Information: http://www.indyairshow.org/
Aug. 23 (Sat) — Alpena MI — Wings Over Alpena Air Show. Details pending.
Aug. 29 (Fri) — Dayton OH — Giant Scale Radio Controlled Model Aircraft Airshow, information Sarah Swan 937-255-3286 or e-mail nationalmuseum.usaf@wpafb.mil, Website: http://wwwnationalmuseum.af.mil
Aug. 30 (Sat) — Marion IN — 18th Annual Fly/in Cruise/IN, Marion Municipal Airport (MZZ), 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., information http://www.FlyInCruiseINcom
Aug. 31 (Sun) — Cleveland OH — Cleveland National Air Show, Burke Lakefront Airport (BKL), http://www.airnav.com/airport/BKL, contact Dan Biggs 216-781-0747 or email info@clevelandlandairshow.com, Website: www.clevelandairshow.com
Sept. 1-7 (Mon-Sun) — Galesburg IL — National Stearman Fly-In, Galesburg Municipal Airport (KGBG), http://www.airnav.com/airport/KGBG, Website: http://www.stearmanflyINcom/
Sept. 6-7 (Sat-Sun) — Urbana OH — Mid Eastern Regional Fly-In, Grimes Field (I74), http://www.merfi.info
Sept. 6 (Sat) — Nulltown IN — Nulltown Wing Nuts Hog Roast/Fly-in, Nulltown Wingnuts Ultralight Flightpark, (73II), http://www.airnav.com/airport/73II
Sept. 6 (Sat) — Waukegan IL — Waukegan Regional Air Show. Details pending.
Sept. 6 (Sat) — Mt. Vernon IL — Fly-in/Drive-in Pancake Breakfast, Mt. Vernon Airport (KMVN), Biscuits & gravy, pancakes and sausage, 8-11 a.m., $5 per person, http://www.airnav.com/airport/KMVN
Sept. 12-14 (Fri-Sun) — Hastings MI — Michigan Air Tour 2008, Hastings Airport (9D9), Information Chet & Patti Uncapher 616-748-1013, http://www.airnav.com/airport/9D9, miaviation.org
Sept. 13-24 (Sat-Wed) — Monument Valley, Utah — Indy-Flyer's Monument Valley trip. Contact Mark Poliak mpoliak@netdirect.net or Dean Batman wdbatman@juno.com
Sept. 13-14 (Sat-Sun) — Cincinnati OH — Blue Ash Airport Days, contact Cheryl Popp 513-489-2022
Sept. 13 (Sat) — Frankenmuth MI — Frankenmuth Campout, Tiny Zahnder Field (66G), Last blast of the flying season, http://www.airnav.com/airport/66G, Information 989-288-3090
Sept. 20-21 (Sat-Sun) — Scott AFB IL — Scott Air Show, contact Robert Simpson 618-256-3609
Sept. 20 (Sat)— Coshocton OH — Coshocton Air Show. Details pending.
Sept. 21 (Sun) — Owosso MI — Owosso Airport Association Fall Fly-In, Owosso Community Airport (KRNP), Fall Fly-In- Pancakes, sausage, eggs, and lots of planes, http://www.airnav.com/airport/KRNP. Contact Julie MacKay 989-743-4519, lelittle@charter.net
Sept. 27 (Sat) — Wood, Fabric & Tailwheels Fly-In — Lee Bottom Field, Hanover IN (64I)
Sept. 29 (Mon) — Berrien Springs MI — Pancake Breakfast and Fly-In, Andrews University Airpark (C20), http://www.airnav.com/airport/C20, Information 269-471-3120
Oct. 4 (Sat) — Mt. Vernon IL — Fly-in/Drive-in Pancake Breakfast, Mt. Vernon Airport (KMVN), Biscuits & gravy. pancakes and sausage, 8-11 a.m., $5 per person, http://www.airnav.com/airport/KMVN
Oct. 11 (Sat) — Noblesville IN — EAA Chapter 67 Fly In/Drive-in BBQ, Noblesville Airport, food served during open hours. Normal aircraft attendance 40 planes with a mixture of homebuilts and factory examples, warbirds, Stearmans, T-6 and Yaks. Contact Jon Ogle 317-443-7235, jogle@ori.net, http://www.eaa67.org
Oct. 11 — Seymour Airport Awareness Day — Seymour IN. Details pending
Nov. 1 (Sat) — Mt. Vernon IL — Fly-in/Drive-in Pancake Breakfast, Mt. Vernon Airport (KMVN), Biscuits & gravy. pancakes and sausage, 8-11 a.m., $5 per person, http://www.airnav.com/airport/KMVN
Dec 17 (Sat) — Mt. Vernon IL — Fly-in/Drive-in Pancake Breakfast, Mt. Vernon Airport (KMVN), Biscuits & gravy. pancakes and sausage, 8-11 a.m., $5 per person, http://www.airnav.com/airport/KMVN
Go back to Section 1
New TSA Guidelines
The Transportation Security Administration recently loosened air-travel restrictions. Here are the modified guidelines:
Thanks to Mike Foushee, Chapter 729 Newsletter Editor
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 or send it as an email to michaelandkatie1@comcast.net.
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.
EAA Chapter 1311's newsletter is published by email notice on the 15th of each month, with a PDF version available on the chapter web site around the 20th. Newsletter contributors: Please email your material to the newsletter editor by the 14th of the month.
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, michaelandkatie1@comcast.net
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, davehelton@heltonssoc.com
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
Current as of August 15, 2008
See our chapter roster online at http://www.eaa1311.org/memberroster.html
NAME EMAIL ADDRESS PROJECT(S) LAST, First email project BALDWIN, Fred bladexz2@comcast.net Bladerunner twin jet 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 chapman.t@insightbb.com 1957 Cessna 172 CLARK, David davecpd@att.net 1946 Aeronca Chief CRAWLEY, Dennis Crawley27@comcast.net Grumman Tiger 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, Breezy, Ercoupe LEUCHT, Chuck charlesleucht@sbcglobal.net RV-9A LEWIS, Jimmy rudder4@aol.com RV-7A LONG, Chuck charles.long@allisontransmission.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 MORTON, David djamorton@sbcglobal.net — MOSSMAN, Michael michaelandkatie1@comcast.net Zenair 601 HDS NELSON, Cale cale_nlsn@yahoo.com Cessna NG, Bart bng@math.iupui.edu RV-7A PARKER, David hoosierwingsfilm@live.com Pietenpol Air Camper PRINCELL, Rick GRPContracting@comcast.net GP-4 RAHM, Kenneth riptide757@aol.com — REYNOLDS, Gary n98gr@att.net RV6A RINEHART, Mark capt_riney@yahoo.com Kolb Mark III Classic ROTTLER, Mark mark@rottler.org — RUBERSON, Bryan bruberson@aol.com Aeronca Chief RUSH, Larry k9hxt@sbcglobal.net RV6A, RV-8 SHUMAKER, Kim kkrv-9a@sbcglobal.net RV-9A SMITH, Shaun — — 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 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 indy.pilot@hotmail.com Wag Aero Sport Trainer WININGS, Jim winingsj@aol.com Rocket WINTERS, Ernie lwinters@pow-wowfitness.com Cessna 170 A
If you changed your email address or internet service provider, please be sure to let the newsletter editor know of the new address. If you know of a chapter member who's changed their email address or is no longer getting the newsletter, please let us know. Contact the newsletter editor at michaelandkatie1@comcast.net
By Michael Mossman
Denny Smith has wanted to fly since he was a kid. By age 16 he actually accumulated enough flight time and experience to solo. He couldn't afford both flying lessons and dating girls, so he put aviating aside for years but never gave up on his dream, especially that of flying a rotorcraft. He started a single-seater gyrocopter four years ago, but didn't feel safe flying it. With no instructor on board, these single-seaters are extremely unforgiving for a pilot transitioning from a trainer. The only way he was going to get to fly safely was to get a two-seater and a license.
Smith started saving for a Magni Gyro, an Italian-designed and built two-seat tandem pusher gyrocopter. A few years ago, when the Euro to dollar exchange rate was a bit for favorable than it is today, Denny took the plunge and bought one. But the problems aren't over yet; he still needs to get that license, and there aren't a lot of gyro instructors around.
Smith's Magni is powered with a 100-h.p. Rotax 912 engine, turning a three-bladed Aeroplast composite propeller. A pre-rotor system is powered from the propeller hub using a belt-tensioning system and a centrifugal clutch. Smith's starting routine is to get the engine running and up to temperature, then gently ease in the belt-tensioning so that the main rotor slowly starts turning without lugging the engine or burning the belts. With a separate tachometer on the instrument panel dedicated to the main rotor, Denny can determine when the main rotor is turning fast enough for a safe take-off. At normal cruise the rotor is turning at about 330 RPM.
Other than the main rotor tach, everything else on the panel would be very familiar to fixed wing aircraft operators. It's got an electronic engine indicator and standard VFR instruments, radios and intercom. One instrument that has Smith scratching his head is the altimeter. For reasons unknown Magni installed a European altimeter that is calibrated in isobars. He has to carry a graph to determine his altitude.
Other equipment includes disk brakes on the main wheels and a drum brake for the main rotor. Smith added windshields and rewired it for a Grand Rapids EIS instead of the FlyDat. The Magni came pre-built; other than his minor modifications, the only assembly work required was to install parts from the mast-up.
Being a pusher gyro, it is more susceptible to pushover in flight than tractor gyros. But with its centerline thrust configuration, that susceptibility is minimized. One other very real problem with pusher aircraft is the risk of parts coming off and flying through the prop. Normally, any aircraft is at risk if parts come off, but with a pusher, the disconnected part might damage the propeller, rendering it dangerously out of balance. Therefore, everything on the engine is safety wired, even parts like the springs that span the ball joints on the exhaust system. Because the engine is uncowled, the pilot can easily inspect the entire propulsion system before every flight.
My favorite time of the year is now in full swing — Fly-In season! If you have an aircraft and are looking for places to go, we've got some great locations and events. The following is a list of fly-ins and other aviation events located in Indiana and adjacent states. If you don't have an aircraft but are willing to drive, the list below is round-trip "do-able" in a day. We can't guarantee that every fly-in is listed. Also, we strongly recommend that you contact the event before committing your 100LL. However, we guarantee that if you visit some of these you'll have some great fun.