May 6, 2009 — AirVenture planning
June 3, 2009 — Project Visit: Harpoon Tour by Glen Matejcek
July 1, 2009 — Project visit: Paul Vogel's Sonex
August 5, 2009 — Oshkosh Report and other unbelievable stories
September 2, 2009 — TBA
October 7, 2009 — TBA
November 4, 2009 — TBA
December 2, 2009 — TBA (date tentative)
January 6, 2010 — TBA
Classified Ads
BALCONY FOR SALE: Hangar balcony at 2R2 for immediate sale, $300, price includes moving to local site. Dave Clark 317-839-4500 davecpd@att.net
AIRCRAFT PROJECT FOR SALE: Nearly complete Fisher Skeeter, ready to cover and assemble. Includes engine and propeller. Debbie Sullivan, 270-293-3515 or 270-759-9451.
ENGINE PARTS FOR SALE: Hartzell 69-inch constant-speed propeller, Woodward prop governor, plus parts for one additional propeller (from Lycoming 320 B3B); aluminum spinner for prop above; oil sump for Lycoming B3B (yellow tag) with intake tubes and new rubber hoses; oil sump for Lycoming O-290, oil sump for Lycoming 0-235. Chuck Leucht 765-481-9661 charlesleucht@sbcglobal.net
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
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.
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
Newsletter editor: Michael Mossman, 1-765-483-9533, michaelandkatie1@comcast.net
2009 Membership Roster
Did we miss anybody? Please let us know; we'll get it updated right away.
Membership Roster Updates Needed
April's Program
After flying and instructing for several years, he noticed that many of his students struggles with cross winds. He didn't believe that all pilots are bad crosswind pilots but plenty struggle with the issue. He thought that with his automation background he could come up with an automatic program that would help with the teaching.
During the development of the Xwind crosswind simulator, Chapter 1311 member Mark Eminger was a guinea pig in the original trainer and gave a lot of feedback with the machine and course. Now Whitsitt has taught more than 80 people in the trainer.
During his research, Whitsitt discovered that winds are the number one cause of weather-related accidents year after year; 50% are caused by adverse winds. He claims that these accidents are rarely fatal because of the lower speeds involved in take-off and landings so they don't get much press yet they cost the aviation industry a great deal of money. For example, aviation insurer Avemco spends 25% of every claim dollar on crosswind accidents. Brad says our insurance costs reflect all of the costs to repair damage, regardless of whether or not we have an accident.
Why is crosswind control so hard to learn? Whitsitt offers several reasons. One is that there is very limited practice during instruction; only a few seconds — perhaps as little as 50 seconds — during an actual flight are in crosswind conditions so it is tough to get any meaningful experience. There is limited testing during crosswinds so the examiner doesn't really know how well the pilot can do; there has to be a crosswind for a test! He also says that the is very limited knowledge from instructors and limited opportunity. There is a low incentive for instructors to teach crosswind, as it puts them at an increase level of risk for no additional pay and no real requirement to teach this skill. And even if a pilot learns good crosswind technique there is no currency requirement!
Whitsitt reported that noted aviation author Richard Collins said that crosswinds are the hardest thing to learn in aviation. Generally a pilot has to have 3,000 hours to consistently rate themselves as high on crosswind landings. Most pilots are getting their crosswind landing experience by trial and error, and it's tough to get good. Part of the problem is that there is a strong negative transfer from driving to flying. Brad states that kids with no car experience have an easy time learning how to control an airplane in a crosswind.
Brad's tips for crosswind landing training:
1. Every landing in Xwind is visual. Peripheral vision is critical; people often give up peripheral vision by hunkering down in their seat, which is bad.
2. Body posture is critical. Position your seat where you can sit up straight and see well.
3. Mental attitude needs to be somewhat aggressive or assertive aptitude.
4. Use FEET not HANDS! Pilots need to be more aggressive with feet, see how little hand movement they can get by with.
#1 Things for crosswind — point the NOSE with the TOES (point at far end of runway)
#2 Most important: control bank angle
#3 Fly, don't land. Think 80% fly, 20% land. If wheels are chattering across the runway and bouncing you should be flying, not landing. When on the runway do not use brakes!
Whitsitt believes pilots need to learn how to slip an airplane. He offers a bit more advice:
Aviation Trivia — Revealed
AIRCRAFT FOR SALE: Harmening High Flyer's Powered Parachute (owner deceased). Two place. 5 hours total time, 503 Rotax engine, includes skis, price negotiable based on fair market value appraisal. Chuck Long 317-417-1604 LoneEagleHDS@aol.com
"Incidentally, the way to deal with somebody who's creating havoc in the local pattern is to be nonconfrontational and, on the ground, express your concerns with him politely. This will have absolutely no effect and the next time you share the sky he'll still be acting like a jerk. Bite your tongue and resist the temptation to make some smart-ass remark on the frequency — no matter how appropriate — because it won't work any better than making a rude gesture to somebody who just cut you off on the highway. At last it's time for the surefire, time honored and deliciously soul-satisfying solution. After our friend puts the airplane to bed and is approaching his car, stroll over with a few friends and beat the hell out of him. This works best at night." Martha Lunken in "Unusual Attitudes," Flying magazine, May 2009
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 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 April 1, 2009
See our chapter roster online at http://www.eaa1311.org/memberroster.html
NAME EMAIL ADDRESS PROJECT(S) LAST, First email project BERG, Paul ppberg@bluemarble.net RV-8 BRAAF, Bob bbraaf@msn.com Cessna 210-5 BUDNY, Skip skbudny@tds.net Mini 500 helicopter BUIST, Jim jimbuist@yahoo.com — 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 RV-10 GUSTAFSON, Dale DALEFAYE@msn.com Piper J-4 HATFIELD, Doug hatfielddoug@hotmail.com Zenair 640 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 LAURENZANO, Mike mikelaurenzano@yahoo.com RANS S-19 LeBARON, Tim tjlebaron@sbcglobal.net RV-4, Ercoupe LEUCHT, Chuck charlesleucht@sbcglobal.net RV-9A LONG, Chuck charles.long@allisontransmission.com Zenair 601 HDS MACKENZIE, Mark treetopflyer2506@yahoo.com RV-4 MELCHIOR, Dirk d-r-melchior@msn.com F1 Rocket MONCREIFF, Doug cdmoncreiff@sbcglobal.net JDT Hi-Max MOSSMAN, Michael michaelandkatie1@comcast.net Zenair 601 HDS PRINCELL, Rick GRPContracting@comcast.net GP-4 RAHM, Kenneth riptide757@aol.com — REYNOLDS, Gary n98gr@att.net RV-6A RUBERSON, Bryan bruberson@aol.com Aeronca Chief RULEY, Paul pbrmgr@comcast.net RV-7A SNYDER, Jim jim.snyder1@comcast.net Cherokee 180 STUCKER, David DEStucker@TDS.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 WININGS, Jim winingsj@aol.com Rocket
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
Brad Whitsitt, president of Xwind, LLS, is dedicated to crosswind training. He is the inventor of Xwind Crosswind Landing Simulation, maintaining his headquarters on the Westside of Indianapolis.
Originally from southern Indiana, Whitsitt worked in automation for 16 years. He had been flying since 1992, and in 2000 he wanted to fly more so he got his instructor rating at Comair in Florida and started doing charter flying. He now hs an ATP rating.
As more Light Sport Aircraft enter the fleet, they will affect these numbers and they are more sensitive to wind. Additionally, as more composite aircraft are manufactured, they will adversely affect the insurance numbers, as airplanes like Cirrus are now more expensive to repair, Brad said. And we all know people who have left the runway but didn't hurt anyone, he added.
When should you abort: 1. If you can't get back to centerline; 2. When you can't point your nose with the toes
Recognizing that the newly rated private pilot has very little experience in crosswind, typically 50 seconds, Whitsitt brought the Xwind Crosswind Landing Simulator to market. His shop at 21st Street and Country Club Road on the west side of Indianapolis has a simulator/trainer ready for instruction. The training fee is $190 for a typical 2-3 hour session. Students generally report that all landings improve, not just crosswind landings. He also builds low-cost ful-motion flight simulators. For more information, visit their web site at http://www.xwindsim.com.
This trivia question was planned for the April 1st meeting but we ran out of time. Sorry, the trivia photo is a fake. April Fool!