It finally has arrived ... fall, that is. The very nice and mild temperatures and excellent flying weather has now gone away and probably won't appear again until next spring. So for now it is time to rake the leaves and get the snow removal equipment ready should we get several inches of "partly cloudy."
November's meeting
November's meeting was held on Wednesday, November 5, 2008 at Hendricks County Airport. Chapter President Dale Gustafson opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance.
In Attendance: John Broyles, Skip Budny, Jon Byrum, Tom Chapman, Dave Clark, Mark Eminger, Troy Grover, Dale Gustafson, Doug Hatfield, Doug Moncreiff, Michael Mossman, Bart Ng, Gary Reynolds, Kim Shumaker, Vern Sullenger, Paul Vogel and Jim Winings. If you were there but we didn't record it, let us know.
Guests: Bob Howard, Mark MacKenzie, Evelyn Ryle and Russ Ryle.
President's Remarks: Rick Princell crashed an ultralight. Doc Swenson now in rehab, had a valve replacement this summer, flies and Ercoupe. Needs guys to help him get in and out of airplane, Up upper body strength. Had numbness went to the hospital. Determined he had a light stroke. 92 years old. The January meeting will have a board of directors meeting prior to the regular meeting. We are looking for ideas for chapter programs for next year. Will be open forum. Next year will my fifth year as president, and I am 79 years old and holding, so it is time to back off and have someone else take over.
Treasurer's Report: Vern Sullenger reports that we have $1,658.32 in the account plus $89,25 for calendars and 50/50 proceeds
Newsletter Report: Michael Mossman says that now that the fly-in season is over we will want to focus more on projects, building tips and ideas for the winter's newsletter stories.
Upcoming programs: Skip Budny will be interested in finishing his Vietnam story with a program in January.
Vice President's report: Doug Moncreiff is working on the landing gear and learning about sheet metal on his Hi-Max project. Also, Harbor Freight Tools has a new location in the Castleton area on the northeast side of Indianapolis.
Election News: Michael Mossman read the results of the chapter election. See separate story, below.
Other Business: The chapter has a limited-supply of EAA calendars for sale at $10 each.
50/50: Kim Shumaker won half of the $41 pot and donated his winnings to the chapter.
Safety Report: Mark Eminger reported on an incident at Pam's Place recently. A guy, who was a horse jockey from Louisville, got his foot cut off in a trike accident. He was doing a taxi test with the wing off, starting the engine a full throttle, then the trike ran over him. They took him by helicopter to Wishard Hospital in Indianapolis. The guy was an experienced ultralight pilot as was working on a light sport pilot rating. He couldn't find an instructor to work with him because he barely spoke English.
EAA Work Party: Dave Clark will be forming an Oshkosh work party for February or March.
PROGRAM: Russ and Evelyn Ryle spoke about the Ghost Airports of Indiana. See feature story toward end of newsletter.
We have had many guests over the past few months and many people have expressed an interest in our organization. Look around and see if you have any friends, family members or acquaintance that are interested in aviation. Take the time to invite them as a guest to the next meeting. If you see somebody new, introduce yourself, welcome him or her, and invite them to sign up.
To get a downloadable PDF membership application see http://www.eaa1311.org/PDF_files/membership_application.pdf
Chapter Elections Held
The results:
Also receiving votes for director were Chuck Leucht, David Morton, Cale Nelson, Bart Ng and Jim Snyder. We did not receive any write-in candidates this year.
Congratulations to all of the winners above. We look forward to another successful year of your leadership.
Also, a big thanks to all members who offered to run for an office or directorship. Your willingness to step up for a position ensures that the chapter will have a continuous representation by quality members, yourself included.
Rick Princell Injured in Crash
Princell was airlifted to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis and was being treated for a fractured femur and internal injuries. Rick's wife, Teri, writes that "his body is recovering but his brain isn't working yet."
Teri has set up a website for anyone interested in monitoring his progress. See http://www.caringbridges.com then type in rickprincell.
Aviation on the Web
The entire article may be viewed at http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/ArmlessPilotProvesHerCapabilities_199010-1.html
Chapter Christmas Party Set
We will need RSVPs for anyone who wants to attend. Please RSVP by Saturday, November 22, to Doug Moncreiff, 317-280-1621 cdmoncreiff@sbcglobal.net.
Location L.A. Café
Directions from Danville/Avon:
Important note Whitestown enforces the speed limit very rigidly. They have been known to give speeding tickets for just a couple of miles per hour over the speed limit.
Chapter 1311 Builders' Local Resource Directory
Local sources:
Chance Aviation, 4444 Decatur Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46241, 317-486-8802, http://www.chanceaviation.com. Chance is a parts supplier tailored to the local FBO's,
Earl's Indy, 302 Gasoline Alley, Indianapolis IN 46222, 1-800-331-INDY http://www.earlsindy.com. Earl's specializes in hoses and related supplies and service, plus AN fittings and hardware.
McKinney Corp, Lafayette, IN http://www.mckinneycorp.com. They stock a wide variety of 4130 steel and 6061 aluminum tubing, AN hardware, NACA scoops, and other items.
Northwest Lumber Company, 5035 Lafayette Road, Indianapolis, IN 46254, 317-293-1100, http://www.northwestlumberco.com. Stock of quality woods and woodworking tools.
Check out our online directory at http://www.eaa1311.org. Click on the link "Homebuilder's Resources" on the left. Note that all resources listed are merely suggestions; as a chapter we do not endorse any of them. Our recommendation: "Caveat Emptor" (let the buyer beware).
Second Tool Scholarship Complete
The chapter has accumulated a second starting set of tools for a worthy Vincennes University A&P student. The basic tools to start with may be new or used but serviceable (not junk) and be contributed to the chapter. Just about every person involved in aviation ends up with surplus tools and equipment as time moves on and they no longer have a use for them.
The chapter has already begun the funding process, with proceeds from the 50/50 drawing at the monthly meetings, plus some seeding donations from members. If you have some tools that you would like to donate or purchase for the tool scholarship, check download the list of needed tools from the web site. Because the list isn't updated as fast as tools could potentially come in, check with Gary Reynolds at 317-745-6223 or n98gr@att.net for the current status of the tool list.
What Does That Cost You?
So let's look at some of the costs. The purchase of the plane? This is truly not a cost in flying, it is ownership. What about hangar rent and insurance? Are these costs in flying? No, it's ownership again. I'll touch more on ownership in just a bit. We think of our costs in terms of the dollars per hour and that is fine, but some fixed expenses are not going to change whether we fly or not. What if the plane only flew an hour that year? Man, what an expensive hour that was! No that is the cost of owning a plane, not the cost of flying. What's left? Well, periodic maintenance (PMs) and fuel.
So, let's look at PM, most inspection and repair we do no our own, but what about that 250 hr. TBO Rotax says our 503s need. I don't want to argue the 250 hrs, I will argue, what a TBO is (time before over-haul). It is not a process requiring all new pistons, crank, bearings, seals, and etc. TBO is an inspection and documentation of the wear that has transpired and to replace parts as required by its amount of wear, age or by directive. I recently had my 503 TBO'd and the cost was under $700. That's only $2.80 per hour for the 250 hr period. Looks like I will need pistons at my next TBO, and that will increase my cost. So to go on the high side, let us say that over a 1,000 hrs you have 2 TBOs at $700 and 2 at $1200, that's $3.80 per hr. There are some other maintenance items like tires, brakes, and hardware. These can be added to the hourly cost and I'm going to give them a 50 cent per hr/$500 over the 1,000 hrs. Now we are up to $4.30. Oh, sail cloth you say. Well it is going to be on the plane longer than 1000 hours, but we can throw it in here, $2500. OK, now we are up to $6.80 per hr. over the 1000 hrs. Now, we all know these numbers are intentionally high, let's remember that as we go on. For fuel, I burn 4 gallons per hour and fuel is $3.70 a gallon. For mogas, oil is 10 oz. per hour at a dime per ounce. That's $15.80 per hour in fuel. The grand total $22.60 per hour. A far cry from the 45-50 dollars I heard before.
Where did they get the rest of that 45 to 50 figure from? It comes from the cost of ownership. It is where we decide that we want to own instead of rent. This is not to say the cost is negligible, but ownership is no more if compared to owning a Harley or a sports car. Ownership stems from convenience. It is more convenient to own than rent? Jut depends on the person and this is also true for those who have a hangar and strip at home or those who rent a hangar at the airport or even box it up to store in their garage. Convenience, it is what each of us define it to be. It isn't the cost of flying. We know what all the costs are, it's just how we think of those costs when we total them up that we need to examine. So the cost of flying really is not some astronomical number and it is the biggest reason many are attracted to EAA and what we fly. We can build and fly Experimental for far less than factory built planes and fly Ultralights for even less. When people stop and ask, "How much does it cost to fly that?" I can answer $22.60 per hr. If they ask, "How much is the plane?" I can tell them that too, but like any good salesman will tell you if the price is too high, you lost the sale. We are salesmen for our hobby, let's not scare off the customers.
Footnote
I remember well a quote from our (EAA UL 30) founding president Dale Meadors who said that flying is like any other hobby. You have to decide how much you can or will spend per year on the hobby. What is it worth per year for you to glide, freefall, motor or buzz? Aviation costs money and it's up to us to find the most "fun per dollar". I know I found mine.
Boone County Airport News
Hangar Space: All hangars are now rented. The club will post a waiting list for available hangars and will consider building new ones to accommodate new members. 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
According to the Star's Dan McFeely, passengers should take I-70 to Exit 68 to get to the airport and avoid the back roads. The airport officials claim that there isn't any easier or faster way to drive there.
Young Eagles News
Calendar of Events
January 22-25, 2009 — U.S. Sport Aviation Expo, Sebring Regional Airport (SEF), Sebring FL. For more information see http://www.sport-aviation-expo.com
April 21-26, 2009 — Sun 'n Fun Fly-In, Lakeland Linder Regional Airport (LAL), Lakeland FL. For more information see http://www.sun-n-fun.org
June 12-14, 2009 — Golden West Regional Fly-In, Yuba County Airport (MYV), Marysville CA. For more information see http://www.goldenwestflyin.org
May 30-31, 2009 — Virginia Regional Festival of Flight, Suffolk Executive Airport (SFQ), Suffolk VA, http://ww.virginia flyin.org
July 8-12, 2009 — Arlington Fly-In, Arlington Municipal Airport (AWO), Arlington WA. For more information see http://www.nweaa.org
July 27, 2009 — EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, Wittman Regional Airport (OSH), Oshkosh WI. For more information see http://www.airventure.org
September 12-13, 2009 — Mid-Eastern Regional Fly-In, Grimes Field Airport (I74), Urbana OH. For more information see http://www.merfi.info
For details on EAA Chapter fly-ins and other local aviation events, visit http://www.eaa.org/events
Newsletter continued on Section 2
Web Newsletter in Two Sections
The web newsletter is divided into two sections to take some of the sting out of the download time. If you receive only one section of the newsletter, or if the sections you receive are missing the embedded photo attachments please contact the newsletter editor at michaelandkatie1@comcast.net. The PDF version that gets posted on the website will remain as one file. See http://www.eaa1311.org/newsletters.html to download a PDF newsletter. (PDFs are posted within one week of the email version.)
Welcome New Members
Camby resident Bob Howard joined Chapter 1311 at the November meeting. He says this interest in aircraft goes back to his Navy days and has been going to AirVenture Oshkosh for several years. He doesn't have a license yet but due to his age is interested in pursuing an Light Sport Aircraft license. He mentioned that he would like to volunteer for Young Eagles ground support and fund raising. Bob and his wife Sharon have five adult families with 13 grandchildren.
Monrovia residentMark MacKenzie joined Chapter 1311 at the close of the November meeting. Mark started flying a powered parachute in 2005 then earned his private pilot rating in August 2008. He now has an RV-4 project in progress that he brought to Indiana from the Missouri Ozarks. Mark is a maintenance foreman at Indianapolis International Airport. Mark is his wife Tamara have three children and two grandchildren.
31 members voted by mail while an additional 3 members voted at the meeting, for a total participation of rate of 65%.
Dale Gustafson, President
Doug Hatfield, Vice President
Michael Mossman, Secretary
Vern Sullenger, Treasurer
David Clark, Director
Mark Eminger, Director
Dave Helton, Director
Chuck Long, Director
Doug Moncreiff, Director
Gary Reynolds, Director
Paul Vogel, Director
Chapter 1311 member Rick Princell was seriously injured in a crash on Sunday, November 2, at Hendricks County Airport. According to a report in the Hendricks County Flyer, Princell was test flying this new ultralight when he "experienced technical difficulties and crashed at about 5:40 p.m. Sunday in a field adjacent to the Gordon Graham Airport."
The Flyer's report states that witnesses claimed that the aircraft was between 150 and 300 feet AGL before it stalled and crashed. Others claim that the aircraft appeared to have control issues, and rolled over before contacting the ground.
John Broyles provides this month's Aviation on the Web feature. Jessica Cox, an Arizona woman who was born without arms, earned there Sport Pilot certificate using only her feet to operate an Ercoupe's controls. Cox won an Able Flight scholarship to learn to fly the unmodified Ercoupe. According to the report, Cox made history as the first licensed pilot to fly with only her feet.
The annual Chapter 1311 Christmas Party is now scheduled for Wednesday, December 3, 2008, at 6:30 p.m, which will be our regular meeting day and time. Our reservation is again at the L.A. Café in Whitestown, were we had the party last year. We have the same room, scheduled from 6:30 to "whenever" in the evening. Our party will be in the bar room, so it will be strictly "adults only."
4 South Main Street
Whitestown IN 46075
Phone: 317-769-7503
Take US 36 (Rockville Rd) east to I-465
Go north on I-465 for 6.6 miles to Exit 20 for I-65
Exit I-465 to I-65 toward Chicago (exit is on the left side of the highway)
After 7.4 miles on I-65, take Exit 130, which is State Road 334
Turn right (east) onto SR 334.
Drive about 4/10ths of a mile on SR 334, then turn left (north) onto County Road 650 East (101st Rd.)
Continue north on County Road 64 Road 650 East past the two roundabouts for about 3 miles into Whitestown.
The LA Café will be on the left (west side of the road)
We've all been around town trying to scrounge up a few AN bolts or perhaps some 4130 tubing to finish a last-minute weekend building or repair project. How much easier would it be to know where the best supplies of quality parts and materials are?
AED Motorsport Products, 5375 W. 86th St., Indianapolis IN 46268, 317-334-0569 http://www.aedmotorsport.com. AED specializes in 4130 chrome moly, stainless, aluminum, titanium, FK rod ends and spherical bearings.
Start thinking of the places where you locally buy for AN hardware, sheet metal, paint, tools and other items. We'll need an address, phone number and web site, if they have one. Be sure to let us know if you would recommend them to others or not. The idea here is that members should be able to look to suppliers that you trust and would continue to do business with. Please forward your ideas and recommendations to Michael Mossman at michaelandkatie1@comcast.net
With a successful first tool set completed and loaned, Chapter 1311 has now fully funded the second Eric Gustafson Tool Scholarship. The intent is to aid a financially stressed person get a start on the basic tools needed for the required courses while pursuing the A & P license.
By Rod Steiger, EAA UL 30
We all chose to fly and no matter the reason, cost plays a factor. It's interesting, hearing comments folks make about flying. I overhead someone say, "So, what's it cost you to fly that?" the response "Oh, 45 or 50 an hour, about the same as the Challenger," then more in the group stated in about all their costs. Hearing discussions like that have brought me to ask, "Are there some big misconceptions about the cost of flying and is this what inquisitive folks are being told about Ultralights and Light Sport?" They hear it is a cheap way to fly until they hear someone say "50 an hour" and that's not from those on the outside looking in, but from us.
By Dan Grunloh, EAA UL 30
When comparing the cost of different kinds of flying, don't forget to take into consideration the "fun per dollar." You might rent an airplane, own an ultralight, go skydiving, fly sailplanes or hot-air balloons. Any method will cost money but some may give more fun per dollar. For an hour rent in a Cessna you can get three tows to cloud-base in your hang glider or three one-minute free falls. Or two to three hours in an ultralight light sport aircraft.
New Ratings: Vern Samuels passed his private pilot checkride the weekend of November 8. Chuck Long and John Komnick were his instructors. Samuels has a Cherokee 160 and will be transitioning to a Navion.
After years of planning and construction, the new $1.1 billion H. Weir Cook Terminal at Indianapolis International Airport is open. According to a story in the Indianapolis Star, few problems were reported with the terminal, security and baggage handling, although a few of the shuttle buses were filled to capacity and had to turn down additional passengers. Also, some shuttle drivers didn't seem to know where they were going and had to get directions from passengers. A few passengers that departed from the old terminal and returned to Indianapolis at the new terminal had trouble finding their cars if they were unable to get to the correct shuttle buses.
EAA Young Eagles Update: By newsletter publication date more than 1,434,912 Young Eagles have taken their first airplane ride.
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.