I've wanted to build an airplane since I first learned it was possible from reading the articles in Popular Mechanics back in the early 60's. I built models so I assumed this couldn't be much harder. When I saw the prototype RV-4 at Oshkosh, I was pretty sure I'd found my dream airplane. As events in my life changed and the prospect of owning an airplane became more real, I started to evaluate all of the options of owning, including building an airplane. It was at this point that I admitted that I didn't possess all of those admirable qualities that were common in all of the successful builders that we read about in the magazines. The most obvious of these was quality workmanship. I also felt like I needed someone to mentor me through the process of aircraft ownership. I'll write about mentoring in a future newsletter. At the point in time that I was ready to buy an airplane I had two close friends that were partners in the Cherokee that is now owned by Jim Snyder and through them I met Sluggo Graves, who it became obvious was my sought-after mentor. For these reasons and because I had learned to fly in them, a Cherokee became my first choice. By coincidence, a friend in Mt. Carmel, IL, had one for sale. That was in 1986 and that airplane has not disappointed me in any way.
Despite my satisfaction with my airplane, that building bug never went away. Over time for several reasons my idea of the perfect homebuilt migrated from the RV-4 to the RV-7A. At one of our chapter Christmas parties I met Bart Ng, who told me about the RV-7A that he a Jon Byrum were building. I told him that what they were building was about 90% the way I would do it I were building one. At that time Bart asked if I would be interested in being a partner in theirs. I had never considered multiple-partner ownership in an Experimental, but the idea was intriguing. Our next chapter meeting was held at Jon's house for the purpose of seeing the project. I made sure my wife attended this meeting without mentioning that Bart and Jon were looking for a third partner. At this meeting Jon mentioned to the group that they were indeed looking to add a partner. On the ride home Lou and I agreed that the workmanship on this plane was outstanding and that there was little doubt that the plane would be finished in a reasonable time and be a first-class airplane. What was at least as important as that was that Bart and Jon were the kind of people we liked to associate with. Shortly after that, I let them know I was interested and apparently I was close enough to being the kind of person that they liked to associate with that they invited me to join in their project.
The friendships that developed, the building process, and the airplane that was the final product have all been very rewarding. The point of this story is that as we all know from personal experience or from reading the aviation publications there are more reasons not to build an airplane than there are to build one. In this economy you can buy one cheaper than you can build it. If you're very old now you may be too old to fly it by the time you finish it and the building process requires skills that we don't all have and perseverance that we don't all have. A partnership overcomes many of those issues. The cost advantage is obvious. The building time will be greatly reduced. Many of the tasks can be done independently and when working together those tasks that need many hands can be handled without looking for helpers. More people working mean more chance that someone will have the skills needed, and the process is just more fun when you have someone to share it with.
Of course there are disadvantages to multiple partner ownership. There will be details that won't be just the way you want them. There are usage limitations when others share the airplane and if you want to sell, the market is limited to buyers where the airplane is located. For someone like me who was going to miss the building experience, a partnership was a very satisfying solution. I would suggest that if you decide to enter into such an arrangement that you consider a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC). If you have any questions about that I would be glad to discuss it with you. If you just can't decide to start on that project you have been wanting to build, maybe there is somebody else out there with the same interest who would be a perfect partner for you. If you think this might be for you, write a short article for the newsletter describing your interest. You just might get lucky.
Vern
In Attendance: John Broyles, Skip Budny, Jim Buist, Mark Eminger, Dale Gustafson, Mike Laurenzano, Chuck Leucht, Doug Moncreiff, Glen Matejcek, Michael Mossman, Jim Snyder and Vern Sullenger. If you were there but we didn't record it, let us know.
Guests: Nick Samson.
Vice President's Report: Not given.
Secretary's Report: Michael Mossman read the minutes from the March meeting.
Treasurer's Report: Doug Moncreiff reports that the chapter has $1,639.62, plus collections from the April meeting.
Fly-Ins: April 17 at Purdue. Vern Sullenger asked if members were interested in a chapter fly-out to Purdue. Chuck Leucht, Michael Mossman and Vern Sullenger were likely to fly but would have to meet at Purdue. Fly-in/drive-in breakfast at Pam's Place, hosted by Mark and Tina Eminger, is still on for June 19. HCSS will host a lunch at Hendricks County Airport on August 14, the same day as Noblesville Chapter 67's fly-in breakfast.
New Business: Skip Budny reported that Tom Wood's airplanes are moving to Indianapolis Metro Airport. Vern Sullenger reported that May 15 is the International Learn To Fly Day, first ever, and asked if the chapter was willing to do anything as a group to promote the date. Dale Gustafson reported that the EAA is cracking down on Young Eagles rules. They will not allow pilots to take people for a ride who are not Young Eagles candidates, which includes parents.
HCAA Wright-Patterson Bus Trip: Cancelled due to lack of interest; will try again for October.
Next Meeting: May 5, at Indianapolis Metro Airport, meet there at 6:30, drive in the main gate, park along the fend. Far hangars closest to the flight line. Verify directions with Skip. Program: view IASR Huey helicopter.
EAA Work Parties: May 15-16, 22-23, June 12-13, June 26-27, July 10-11, Judy 17-18. Some have an evening program on Saturday night. If anyone wants to go, Vern will get them information. They might be able to catch a ride with Dave Clark and Glen Matejcek.
Video Available: Glen Matejcek has a how-to video on Stewart Systems water-based aviation paint.
Upcoming Programs: Vern Sullenger asked members to consider potential new programs for the chapter and submit their ideas.
50/50 Drawing: Skip Budny won half of the $22 50/50 pot and donated his winnings to the chapter.
Program: Jim Buist spoke about the Civil Air Patrol and showed a video about the organization. See story towards end of newsletter.
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: Doug Moncreiff, 8113 Traders Hollow Lane, Indianapolis IN 46278, or give it to Doug at the next meeting. Make your check out to EAA Chapter 1311.
Repairman's Tip
FAA Approves Antidepressants for Pilots
The four drugs that will be allows are Prozac (Lilly), Zoloft (Pfizer), Celexa and Lexapro (Forest Laboratories).
The announcement is good news for as many as 10,000 pilots who were grounded due to depression. Many more may have been taking one of these drugs in violation of the rules, and other may have allowed their medicals to lapse in order to receive needed treatment.
The FAA has conducted extensive studies of depression and medications, reversing its long-held position on antidepressants.
Bloomberg Business Week reported that pilots with a 12-month experience in controlling their depression with one of the approved medications will be able to get their medical approved. They will be monitored by the FAA.
The FAA will also grant a six-month amnesty period for pilots who have been violating the antidepressant rule. They, too, will be eligible to fly if they can prove experience in controlling their depression.
Condensed from Bloomberg Business Week. See full story http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-04-02/prozac-pilots-may-fly-as-u-s-faa-drops-ban-on-four-medicines.html
Correspondents Needed
We are looking especially for correspondents for some of the upcoming fly-ins. If you are heading to any fly-ins this coming year, would you please consider submitting a story and photo or two about the event? We'd love to hear about it and hope that one of our members or readers will be there and write about it. Please contact the newsletter editor at michaelandkatie1@comcast.net.
Chapter 1311 Builders' Local Resource Directory
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).
Boone County Airport News
Young Eagles News
Calendar of Events
April 13-18 — Lakeland FL — Sun 'n Fun Fly-In, Lakeland Linder Regional Airport (LAL). http://www.sun-n-fun.org
April 17— West Lafayette IN — Purdue Flying Club fly-in breakfast.
May 22-23 — Suffolk VA — Virginia Regional Festival of Flight, Suffolk Executive Airport (SFQ). http://www.virginiaflyin.org
June 11-13 — Marysville CA — Golden West Regional Fly-In and Air Show, Yuba County Airport (MYV). http://www.goldenwestflyin.org
July 7-11 — Arlington WA — Arlington Fly-In, Arlington Municipal Airport (AWO). http://www.arlingtonflyin.org.
July 26-August 1 — Oshkosh WI — EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, Wittman Regional Airport (OSH). http://www.airventure.org
TBO — Denver CO — Colorado Sport International Air Show and Rocky Mountain Regional Fly-In, Rocky Mountain metropolitan Airport (BJC). http://www.cosportaviation.org
For details on EAA Chapter fly-ins and other local aviation events, visit http://www.eaa.org/events
Next Meeting
If flying, park on the main ramp and walk over to the hangar.
On the Radar:
Newsletter Contribution Needed
Building Tips
Aircraft Flight Performance Review
Fly-In Restaurant Review
Fly-In Report
Aviation Humor
Airport News (2R2, 6I4, IND or any other area public or private strips)
Calendar Items
New Ratings
Editorial Opinions
Aviation Quotes
Program Reviews
Localized Aviation History
Flight Safety Tips
New, old or unusual aircraft
Recent or memorable flights in your homebuilt or other aircraft
Aviation nostalgia
Warbird Reports
Aircraft Spotters
Anything else on your mind
Do you have an idea on a story that you'd like to write but need some assistance? Contact the newsletter editor. He'll help you get your ideas into words.
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
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
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.
BUILDING PARTNER NEEDED: Partner for RANS S-19 project needed. Contact Mike Laurenzano at mikelaurenzano@yahoo.com, cell phone 317-201-5889
AIRCRAFT FOR SALE: 1964 Cherokee 160/180 3473 TTAF, 2056 TTE, 85 SMOH. STC'd to 180 hp O-360-A1A w/Hartzell C/S prop. Full 4-adult airplane. KX155 w/glide slope, KY97A, KT96A, ARNAV R-20 Loran, ADF, electric compass, encoding altimeter, 4-place intercom. Always hangared, well maintained and cared for, 8+ in/out. Nov 2009 annual. $48,900. Based at 2R2. Jim Snyder, 317-430-7172. See pics on Trade-A-Plane.com.
AIRCRAFT TOOLS FOR SALE: Larry Rush is getting out of aviation and has some tools to sell. Contact at 317-272-2153 or k9hxt@sbcglobal.net for more information.
PARTNERSHIP AVAILABLE: 1966 Mooney M-20C $20,000. For details, Mike Laurenzano 317-201-5889 or mikelaurenzano@yahoo.com
BUILDING SITE AVAILABLE: 5-acre tract at Pegasus Farms, Monrovia. Gorgeous property, contract available. Roy Hammond royd.hammond@comcast.net 317 441-8576
Editorial Section
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
Newsletter continued on Section 2
April's meeting
April's meeting was held April 7, 2010, 6:30 p.m., in the Operations Building at Hendricks County Airport, and chaired by Chapter President Vern Sullenger.
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.
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 will again set the 2010 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.
Glen Matejcek reports that the most effective penetrant for stuck parts is a 50/50 mixture of methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) and automotive transmission fluid. Use only in a well-ventilated location and wear proper safety protection.
The FAA approved a new policy, effective April 5, which will allow pilots who are using one of four antidepressants to continue to fly.
Chapter 1311 is always looking for correspondents and contributors to our monthly newsletter. Whenever you have a story or photo that would be of interest to our readers, we would like to publish it.
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
Hangar Space: One hangar space is available for a smaller airplane, such as a Cessna 150 or Piper Cherokee. 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 at http://www.booneairport.org.
EAA Young Eagles Update: By newsletter publication date more than 1,528,835 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.
The next meeting will be on Wednesday, May 5, 6:30 p.m., at Indianapolis Metro Airport. Program: Huey restoration, by Skip Budny.
Note: Road construction on I-465 so plan on an hour or so to get there.
May 5, 2010 — Program: Huey restoration. Note change of meeting location: Indianapolis Metro Airport.
June 2 — Program: TBA
July 7 — Program: TBA
August 4 — Program: TBA
September 1 — Program: TBA
October 6 — Program: TBA
November 3 — Program: TBA
December — Christmas party. Date, location and program TBA.
It's once again time for my annual plea to Chapter 1311 members to make your contributions to your newsletter. Chapter 1311 is endowed with many members who have a vast experience in building, maintaining and flying a variety of aircraft. If you are one of these (you ARE, aren't you?) consider an occasional or on-going contribution to the chapter's monthly newsletter. We can always use a story or photo on the following topics:
ADVERTISING POLICY: Chapter members may advertise their aviation-related products and services free of charge in a text-only classified ad. Ads will run for three months and may be renewed from month-to-month with an email confirmation. Other Indiana EAA members may run an ad for three months for aviation-related products, provided their ad has been forwarded from their chapter newsletter editor or has appeared in another EAA newsletter. Chapter 1311 reserved the right to edit all ads for content and length. Please promptly report any errors.
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: Vern Sullenger, 1-317-839-8728, sullenger@iquest.net
Vice President: Doug Hatfield, 317-745-6691, hatfielddoug@hotmail.com
Secretary: Michael Mossman, 1-765-483-9533, michaelandkatie1@comcast.net
Treasurer: Doug Moncreiff, 317-280-1621, cdmoncreiff@sbcglobal.net
Director: Mark Eminger, 765-528-2146, tjemee@yahoo.com
Director: Dale "Gus" Gustafson, 1-317-293-4430, dalefaye@msn.com
Director: Mike Laurenzano, mikelaurenzano@yahoo.com, 317-201-5889
Director: Chuck Long, 317-892-3146, LoneEagleHDS@aol.com
Director: Gary Reynolds, 317-745-6223, n98gr@att.net
Director: Bryan Ruberson, 1- 317-272-0642, bruberson@aol.com
Director: David Stucker, DESTucker@TDS.net, 317-627-4829