It is the time of the month to put my thoughts down on paper again! Seems like February went by real fast. A lot has taken place and most of it is bad. The main concern now is the recovery of a friend that just about all of us in aviation know, Walt Fritz. Last Saturday morning (March 7th), he experienced a loss of power just after take-off from Greencastle Airport in his RV-3. The landing was HARD and Walt suffered major injuries. His recovery will take some time and more surgeries will take place to make him 100% again. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Walt. We can all speculate as to what might have caused his problem, but that should be left to the investigators to determine.
March's meeting
March's meeting was held March 4, 2009, 6:30 p.m., in the Operations Building at Hendricks County Airport, and chaired by Chapter President Dale Gustafson.
In Attendance: Paul Berg, Skip Budny, Dave Clark, Mark Eminger, Bob Henderson, Troy Grover, Dale Gustafson, Doug Hatfield, Bob Howard, Mark MacKenzie, Doug Moncreiff, Michael Mossman, David Parker, Gary Reynolds, Paul Ruley, Jim Snyder, David Stucker, Vern Sullenger, Paul Vogel and Jim Winings. If you were there but we didn't record it, let us know.
Guests: Jerry Bozell.
Gus Gustafson: We need to recognize members who passed away. We recently lost Ernie Winters, who was a member of this chapter. Dave Clark: Ernie came to meetings, also was member of the Terre Haute and Greencastle chapters. Was a Young Eagles coordinator at Terre Haute; Ernie did the flying while his wife did the paperwork. Jim Winings: We did fly-over for Ernie's wife the day of the funeral. We had three airplanes in formation with four more in trail, ending up with a pull-up and missing man formation. David Stucker: They have a video of Ernie at the service. Gus Gustafson: Do we have a policy on what the chapter should do when a member dies: Michael Mossman: We don't have a policy yet. Vern Sullenger: Has some ideas on policy and will present them at the next board meeting.
Tool Box Report: Gus Gustafson says we're batting zero this year. Both recipients dropped out of school. Troy Grover has a guy working for his who wants to go to A&P school and would be a good candidate for one of the tool sets.
President's Remarks: A big change is coming up at Oshkosh. Tom Poberezny is now both president and chairman of the EAA board; they are now looking for a new president. More harping on the proposed TSA rule requiring security checks for passengers on private aircraft weighing 12,50 pounds and more; your letters against this proposal are urgently needed. We know of no one who is in favor of this rule. The problem comes from maverick TSA agents who have a "play book" and are checking everyone coming into Nashville. Be aware; anything could happen. Stay alert and active.
Regulations Reminder: Dave Clark reminds members that the FARs specify that if any law enforcement officer wants to see your pilots license you must show it. They may not confiscate it, however.
Treasurer's Report: $1,925.93 in the account plus $69 to deposit. We still have hats available at $12 and 2009 EAA calendars. We will deal on them since several months have passed.
New Business: Doug Hatfield said that since this is an "odd" year, all IA's will need to get their paper work in order and signed this month by the FAA. Jim Snyder says that the Indianapolis Airport Authority is holding an open house at Hendricks County Fairgrounds in Danville on March 24 from 4-7 p.m. about the master plan for Hendricks County Airport for up to 20 years out. The AOPA will host a free aviation safety seminar on the east side of Indianapolis next week. Aviation materials supplier Airparts will be sending Gus Gustafson about 20 catalogs, which will b distributed free to chapter members at the next meetings.
EAA Work Parties: Dave Clark announced the 2009 work party schedule and invited members to try them this year. See details in story in this newsletter.
Young Eagles: David Stucker says his son is in Boy Scouts and needs to work on an Aviation merit badge. They are interested in taking Young Eagles flights plus assistance with projects that will qualify for the badge.
50/50 Drawing: Paul Ruley won half of the $29 collected and donated his winnings to the chapter.
To get a downloadable PDF membership application see http://www.eaa1311.org/PDF_files/membership_application.pdf
Dues are Due!
Please send your $15 dues to the treasurer: Vern Sullenger, 1763 Ramsey Lane, Plainfield IN 46168, or give it to Vern at the next meeting. Make your check out to EAA Chapter 1311.
Chapter 1311 Member Ernie Winters Dies
EAA and VAA Work Parties — Let's Make This A Chapter Event
The volunteers will do such things as carpentry, cleaning up the ground, repairing fenced, putting up flags, putting in windows and air conditioners, painting, and about anything that needs to be done to prepare for AirVenture in July.
The work party volunteers usually arrive on Friday afternoon or evening and depart Oshkosh about noon on Sunday. During that time, all volunteers are provided a place to stay overnight, in a bunkhouse or in one of the farmhouses that EAA owns on the grounds. We usually have a cook out on Saturday night and sometimes on Friday night as well, hosted by the VAA. We are only responsible for our food at breakfast and lunch at a local restaurant. Sometimes the work party chairman will pick up lunch (a BIG bag of hamburgers, fries and drinks) and deliver it to the volunteers. But if there are enough volunteers (about a third of the time), the EAA opens up the "volunteer kitchen" and all three meals are served in the volunteer dining room, located near the big red barn store in the campground.
Some people carpool and make an event out of the trip. We have had some guys take a van with 6-7 guys splitting the gas money and the driving.
If you haven't done this in the past, you should try it. It is really a great time. During our cookout, Paul Poberezny, EAA's founder, almost always comes and visits with the volunteers for the evening. For me, that is the best part of the whole work party!
2009 work party schedule:
For more information and travel arrangements, call Dave Clark at 717-443-4176 or davecpd@att.net.
EAA Names Tom Poberezny as Chairman
Additionally, Tom Poberezny announced a leadership succession initiative to prepare the organization for the next phase of growth. He will begin work with the Board to initiate and lead a search for a new president. Continued success and continuity of leadership are key objectives.
After joining the organization, EAA's new president will assume repsonbility for day-to-day operations and will focus on enhancinh membership value and growth. As chairman, Poberezny will provide ongoing counsel to the organization while focusing specifically on building EAA's endowment, which will lay the foundation to a secure future.
"It is my goal to responsibly secure the future of this organization and provide continuity of leadership,: Poberezny said. "I'm very proud of EAA's accomplishments over the past halfg century. The organization is financially strong and ready to invest in its long-term future. I look forward to dedicating my experience and energies towards ensuring EAA's ongoing success."
EAA embodies the spirit of aviation through the world's most engaged community of aviation enthusiasts. EAA's 160,000 members and 1,000 local chapters enjoy the fun and camaraderie of sharing their passion for flying, building and restoring recreational aircraft. For more information on EAA and its programs, call 800-JOIN-EAA (800-564-6322) or go to http://www.eaa.org.
EAA'r Injured in Putnam County Plane Crash
The Indiana State Police and Federal Aviation Administration secured the accident site, with the ISP conducting a preliminary investigation. The ISP kept the site secured until the National Transportation Safety Board arrived later that day to conduct the investigation.
Fritz is a member of EAA Chapter 67 in Noblesville. Chapter 1311 members Dave and Steve Kopeschka, who are friends of Fritz, visited him on Saturday, March 15. Dave writes:
"Steve and I visited Walt today. He's got a long road of recovery ahead.
"He is currently in room 4217 at Methodist Adult Critical Care unit. Early this week he had some problems at Wishard. He stopped breathing for a while, and we almost lost him. He was on a respirator after that, but now he is off of that and breathing on his own. He was pretty groggy from the medications but was able to communicate.
"His kidneys suffered same damage during the crash, and are not functioning correctly, but the docs expect them to recover. It sounds like the aircraft came down in a nose down fashion. According to his daughter, Jill, there was a lot of damage on the left side of the aircraft, which explains his injuries. Both legs suffered breaks and the left ankle is shattered. Left arm and/or wrist was damaged. His right arm and hand are OK. He will be in surgery sometime next week to do reconstructive surgery on the ankle.
"When I asked Jill if there was anything we could do, she said the hardest part for him will be the prolonged healing process. Visiting him on a regular basis is the best thing we could do. It's something to think about after he gets out of the hospital."
Aviation on the Web
Ask Your Tech Counselor
(Editor's note: If you don't want to bother with sewing a tool bag, you can find some suitable bags at a very low cost in the camera department at Big Lots or Wal-Mart.)
Chapter 1311 Builders' Local Resource Directory
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
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).
Young Eagles News
Aircraft Spotter
Newsletter continued on Section 2
Program: Our scheduled program, Bill Whitsitt, who was to talk about his Xwind Crosswind Landing Simulator, became ill and had to cancel that the last minute. Troy Grover opened up his two hangars at Hendricks County Airport and showed two RV-6 aircraft in for annual Condition Inspections. One RV-6 owned by Jim Graham, was "making metal" and needed engine work. Troy was in the process of modifying the firewall to allow better access for oil changes and giving clearance for the propeller governor. The second RV-6 is owned by Don Murphy from Illinois. Along with the Condition Inspection, Murphy's aircraft is scheduled for a canopy change and addition of wheel pants and other fairings.
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
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.
Once again it's time for Chapter 1311 members to ante up with dues. The chapter's board of directors again set the 2009 dues at $15 to help meet the chapter's on-going expenses. Since we don't have any chapter fund raising events, we need to pay our EAA assessments, insurance, web site maintenance, and other internal expenses with what we raise from dues.
Chapter 1311 member Ernest F. "Ernie" Winters Jr. 68, of Monrovia IN died on February 27, 2009. He was born September 22, 1940 in Allegheny Co., PA to Ernest F. and Esther (Johnson) Winters. Mr. Winters was an aircraft mechanic for 30+ years at Delta Airlines, retiring in 1993. Winters had a Cessna 170 and volunteered as a Young Eagles pilot and ground support. Ernie and his wife, Linda, have a home on an airstrip, and are currently living in a restored and converted 100-year-old barn/house. He was a member of the Hazelwood, IN Christian Church and the E.A.A. (Experimental Aircraft Association). Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 4, 2009 in the Hazelwood Christian Church with visitation also there from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 3. Burial at Shoemaker Cemetery, Eminence, IN. He is survived by his wife, Linda (Little) Winters; sons, Randy Winters, Greencastle, Brad Winters, Clayton, Larry Byrer, Brazil, Bart Byrer, Poland, Joseph Byrer, Indianapolis. and Jesse Byrer, Monrovia; daughter, Bonnita Newnum, Hillsdale; sister, Elaine Winters, Saxonburg, PA and 15 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Beverly. In lieu of flowers, Ernie's family has asked that contributions be given to a scholarship fund through College Choice 529 for their youngest son, Jesse Byrer. Forms are available at the Hazelwood Christian Church or call (317) 539-6157. Weaver & Randolph Funeral Home, Clayton entrusted with the funeral arrangements.
By Dave Clark
The work parties are manned by EAA and VAA volunteers who go to Oshkosh during a time where there is no convention activity in progress.
There is also a work party for early arrivers to AirVenture, July 24-26, but I don't think that there are the overnight lodgings available.
EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH WI (March 4, 2009) — EAA today announced the appointment of Tom Poberezny as chairman of the board. EAA's founder and previous chairman of the board, Paul Poberezny, 87, officially stepped down as chairman earlier this month. Tom will continue with his current duties as president while also assuming the chairman's role.
Walt Fritz, 80, of Indianapolis, took off solo in his RV-3 from Putnam County Airport (Greencastle) on Saturday morning, March 7. Shortly after departing his plane went down in a field about a mile and a half or so southwest of the runway. Fritz was transported to Wishard Hospital via PHI helicopter.
Do you think a C-130 Hercules ever operated off an aircraft carrier? Go see a neat video at http://www.youtube.com:80/watch?v=CfwJJD5jGXk&NR=1.
Thanks to Larry Bothe
Emergency Tool Kit
By Brian Lee (EAA 149802)
EAA Chapter 441, Kent, WA
Recently, I found myself stranded at an airport with an engine that would not start and me without any tools. I do have an "airport" tool bag packed and ready for those times when I'm going to work on the airplane, but at 25 pounds, I don't carry it along if I'm just going on a short flight. After trying to undo safety wire with my fingernails and a pocketknife, I resolved to assemble a small number of "essential" tools which I would leave in my flight bag so they'd always be available when I am flying. I sat down and deliberately considered what the bare essential list of "what it takes to get home" items might be, then assembled a kit. Your list might be different, and you might argue about the "essential" nature of some of it, but it works for me. Here's my list:
I dug around in the basement and found a scrap of canvas that my wife had left over from another project, spent a couple hours with her sewing machine (you can tell I'm no tailor), and the result is a convenient if not pretty kit that fits neatly in the side pocket of my flight bag. At 3.25 pounds, it does add a bit of weight, but the peace of mind is worth the extra weight.
Doug Moncreiff comes up with yet another local source for homebuilders' parts. MIA/Prime Parts, located at 5736 N. Michigan Road in Indianapolis, has all kinds of "uncertified" electrical items. The manager, Oren Hudson, will put send stuff vial UPS, USPS or whatever to get it delivered. Their hours are 8 a.m. to 5:30 Monday through Friday. Contact them at 317-257-6811 or oren@primeparts.net. Visit them online at http://www.primeparts.net.
EAA Young Eagles Update: By newsletter publication date more than 1,449,071 Young Eagles have taken their first airplane ride.
A Tecnam Bravo was on the ramp at Indianapolis Executive Airport on Saturday afternoon, March 14. From a distance it looked like a mis-proportioned Cessna Cardinal. On closer inspection it looks like a very nicely designed airplane. The Bravo has plenty of headroom, is wide enough for two people and has a decent baggage space. One great feature is that it is a high-wing airplane with no struts. This would appeal to anyone who isn't as agile as they used to be. Just walk up to the airplane and get in; no climbing or contorting necessary. The older folks who are transitioning to Sport Pilot would definitely be attracted to this airplane.