December 3, 2008 — Chapter Christmas Party, L.A. Café, Whitestown IN
January, 2009 — TBA
February, 2009 — TBA
March, 2009 — TBA
April, 2009 — TBA
May, 2009 — TBA
June, 2009 — TBA
July, 2009 — TBA
August, 2009 — TBA
September, 2009 — TBA
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January, 2010 — TBA
Classified Ads
AIRCRAFT FOR SALE: 1946 Stinson 108, new paint, new tires and tubes, fresh annual, 1 radio and transponder, 1753 hours TT, 253 hours SMOH on engine, 73 hours SOH on prop, $30,000 OBO. Don Roberts 317-445-3229
AIRCRAFT KIT FOR SALE: Sonex kit #115. Have everything but the skins. Kit not started so it could be either a tri-gear or taildragger. $8,000. Contact Fred Baldwin 317-354-6200 (cell phone), bladexz2@comcast.net
WANTED TO BUY: Used Rotax 912, Jabiru 2200 or Rotax 582 engine. Contact Mark Rinehart 317-745-2466, capt_riney@yahoo.com.
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
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: One-third interest in an RV-7A. Fully equipped for IFR, including autopilot and extended range tanks. Based at Eagle Creek Airport. $35,000. Contact Vern Sullenger at sullenger@iquest.net, cell phone 317-695-7929.
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, chapman.t@comcast.net
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.
Quote of the Month
Support Our Servicemen
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
Chapter 1311 Board of Directors for 2009
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
November's Program
The Ryles began by heading to the local historical societies and other local sources for information. They pored over plat maps and checked through ownership records. One of the big problems they uncovered is that plats were not listed by use, only by ownership. Another problem is that many airports had name changes, which made cross-referencing extremely tricky. "It was the blind leading the blind trying to put together a list," as Russ claims.
The Ryles have spend a lot of time knocking on people's doors, asking if the owners knew that their property was an airfield. They had lots of interesting conversations with these people when they told them the history of their property.
Russ states that the first known airport in Indiana was built on the infield of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1910. Looking to make some money, WW-I flying ace Eddie Rickenbacker bought the Speedway, then closed the airport to make from for a golf course.
The Ryle's first aviation map was actually a 1920s ERA railroad map. The first charts for airmail pilots didn't come out until 1924. Russ relates the story about how commercial aviation came into existence:
According to Russ, the military used to fly the mail but lost too many pilots who were flying visual in IMC. To keep from losing military pilots, they put out contracts to fly mail. During that time, marker beacons were places on the mail routes and had arrows showing the direction to the next waypoint. The navigation was strictly visual; the beacons flashed a Morse code that the pilots had to read to know where they were. For national security reasons, these beacons were shut down during WW-II but some were re-activated after the war. Gus Gustafson remembers some beacons being active during the 1950s but they started getting shut down permanently when the VORs came in.
During the war, Fort Benjamin Harrison on the northwest side of Indianapolis had five or six airfields, but none since the war.
In spite of their extensive research, the Ryles still need more information; there are potentially many more important ghost airports in Indiana that they haven't discovered. They would like for anyone who has some information on a ghost airport to forward it to them. They have some pre-addressed postcards for their Ghost Airfields of Indiana project. What they need:
Name of the Airfield:
If you can help them, please send your information to:
Russ and Ev Ryle
Also, visit their website at http://
Go back to Section 1
AIRCRAFT FOR SALE Cessna 170A, Imron paint, 1-piece windshield, slide out pull handles, hew headliner, door panels, baggage compartment, floor panels, firewall panel. King KLX 135 GPS/com, KT76A, XPDR, Sigtronics 4-place intercom, single channel EGT, vernier throttle and mixture, many new engine parts. AC TT 4465.88, ESMOH 559.22, ESTOH 506.3. Ernie Winters 317-996-3696 pr 317-727-6504, flywithwingsaseagles@yahoo.com
"I know now that the outcome on that cold and dark winter's night was determined long before I ever took off. I survived not because I was lucky or because I was some great, macho pilot, cheating death with flair and panache. I survived because I had listened, because I had done my homework; I was prepared for the crisis before it happened." From Real Life by Dr. Phil McGraw.
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
President: Dale "Gus" Gustafson, 1-317-293-4430, dalefaye@msn.com
Vice President: Doug Hatfield, 317-745-6691, hatfielddoug@hotmail.com
Secretary: Michael Mossman, 1-765-483-9533, michaelandkatie1@comcast.net
Treasurer: Vern Sullenger, 1-317-839-8728, sullenger@iquest.net
Director: Dave Clark, 317-839-4500, davecpd@att.net
Director: Mark Eminger, 765-528-2146, tjemee@yahoo.com
Director: Dave Helton, 1-317-745-7916, davehelton@heltonssoc.com
Director: Chuck Long, 317-892-3146, LoneEagleHDS@aol.com
Director: Doug Moncreiff, 317-280-1621, cdmoncreiff@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 November 6, 2008
See our chapter roster online at http://www.eaa1311.org/memberroster.html
NAME EMAIL ADDRESS PROJECT(S) 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@comcast.net 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 HOWARD, Bob rhoward@comcastnet Looking at LSA 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, Ercoupe LEUCHT, Chuck charlesleucht@sbcglobal.net RV-9A LEWIS, Jimmy rudder4@aol.com RV-7A LONG, Chuck charles.long@allisontransmission.com Zenair 601 HDS MACKENZIE, Mark treetopflyer2506@yahoo.com RV-4 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, Pau l 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
As Russ Ryle tells it, his story about "The History of Ghost Airports in Indiana" all started with a book that he bought on eBay in March 2003 about the now-defunct Cox Airport at Terre Haute IN. Ryle got curious about Cox Airport, and no one seemed to know very much about it. After his research that discovered that Cox Airport is now the site of Terre Haute South High School, Ryle started to wonder about how many other old airports were in Indiana.
Ryle and his wife, Evelyn (his "co-conspiritor," as he calls her) started by checking with the Indiana Historical Society, that has "zip" on Indiana aviation information. The Ryles were going to be on their own when it came to uncovering any information on these old airports, which they have named "Ghost Airports."
Russ stated that in the 1920s the Federal Government did not regulate aviation, so there would be no official lists prior to that time. But after WW-I, in 1919 Eisenhower took a convoy of military trucks from east to west. The military came up with a list of landing fields as Army Corps of Engineers projects. The Ryles haven't found that list yet but know that it existed. During this time some airports had what the Ryles call "joint citizenship," as they went back and forth between private and municipal ownership.
Civil aviation took sudden turn just before the start of WW-II. According to Russ, a December 5, 1941 telegram to all pilots, mechanics, and others, notified them that their licenses were suspended unless used for military purposes. All airports were then required to have lights, a fence, security, etc., during wartime, dooming many small fields to obsolescence.
The Ryles now know of about 450 ghost airports in Indiana. To preserve this body of knowledge, they are working on a photo book, which they hope to publish in the near future. Because there are too many photographs to publish in one volume, the Ryles are planning on including a CD with the book.
Years in operation:
Located at (or near) city or town:
Your name:
Phone number:
Best time to call:
Email:
Do you have any photos:
Ghost Airfields of Indiana Project
POB 2466
Bloomington, IN 47402
theryles@bluemarble.net