Avon/Danville, Indiana
Chapter 1311 meets on the first Wednesday of the month. See schedule for location and dates
Monthly Newsletter — July 2010
Section 2
On Wednesday, July 7, several Chapter 1311 members spotted legendary guitarist Carlos Santana flying into Indianapolis Metro Airport for a concert at Verison Music Center. The aircraft, a Canadair Cl-600-2B19, was registered in Delaware to Hardwicke Properties LLC. Sure looks like a luxurious way to travel, doesn't it?
Calendar of Events
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
September 25 — Hanover IN — Annual Wood, Fabric and Tailwheels Fly-In, Lee Bottom Field. http://www.leebottom.com
For details on EAA Chapter fly-ins and other local aviation events, visit http://www.eaa.org/events
Next Meeting
Directions from Indianapolis:
On the Radar:
Classified Ads
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
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
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.
PARTNERSHIP AVAILABLE: 1966 Mooney M-20C $20,000. For details, Mike Laurenzano 317-201-5889 or mikelaurenzano@yahoo.com
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
2010 Membership Roster
Did we miss anybody? Please let us know; we'll get it updated right away.
Membership Roster Updates Needed
July's Program
The Harpoon has hard points for bombs, torpedoes, depth charges or drop tanks, making it an extremely versatile military aircraft. It was limited to holding one torpedo, though. The aircraft had more weight-carrying capacity than a single torpedo, but the bomb bay couldn't hold any more once a torpedo was in place.
After the war, many of the surviving Harpoons saw continued military service in Greece, Portugal and Japan. Later many were sold for non-military uses, such as water bombing and insect spraying.
Thompson related a humorous story about Jimmy Doolittle, who led the famous bombing run over Japan, only to have to ditch their bombers in the Sea of Japan or crash land in China. The Harpoon crews retorted that they had to come back for more bombs.
The Harpoon is equipped with R2800-31 engines, which were specific to the Harpoon and Ventura. Each engine produces up to 2,000 horsepower. At takeoff power, the engines gobble 300 gallons of fuel per hour, albeit for only a few minutes.
The R2800-31 engines have been out of production for decades. Since the Navy bought many extra engines, spares are available. Even if the "dash-31" engines were not available, the other R2800 core engines could be built up to "dash-31" specification.
The Harpoon was designed for a gross weight of 36,000 lbs; the AMHF flies it at much lighter weights, typically around 24,300 lbs. Thompson says they have to hold in on the ground so it doesn't just fly off at 60 KTs. Although it could fly at such a slow speed, the aircraft would be uncontrollable if they lost an engine.
This Harpoon spends its time as a flying museum piece. It's interior had previously been stripped of much of its military equipment, so it is now equipped for carrying a few passengers. Thomson says the group is planning to build or restore some of the equipment that the military would have used during the war years to make it more authentic. The group had some non-operational rockets fabricated and has them hanging from the wings.
Keeping an airplane like this operational takes a great deal of money; besides the on-going maintenance, storage, insurance and other expenses, this thing burns a lot of fuel. The AMHF flight plans a gallon of fuel per minute and at least a gallon of 60-weight straight mineral oil per hour. Fortunately, the airshow circuit provides a fuel budget for a few exhibits.
The week before the chapter meeting, the AMHF flew the Harpoon to Kokomo for an airshow, traveling at 180 KTs for a short flight. Their next planned show is at Peoria IL. The Harpoon doesn't get scheduled for every regional airshow but sometimes they get some last-minute invitations because other featured aircraft often have to drop out. After all, they are all old warbirds, and maintenance issues often keep them grounded.
The Harpoon is certainly one of those maintenance-intensive airplanes. With its 75-foot wing, there simply aren't any affordable hangars available, so it sits outside 24/7, where the weather continues its toll on the airframe. Piercy says that in the summertime the wing gets so hot that they can't stand on it, making some repairs difficult or impossible to do.
The group's Harpoon even has a Hollywood credit on its résumé. It was the featured aircraft in the PBS Nova production "Last Flight of Bomber 31." PBS found them on their web site.
Sometimes all of that extra effort doesn't pay off. They once missed an airshow because the I/A didn't come in on time to sign off repair. Fortunately, the aircraft is in good shape right now.
Indianapolis is very lucky to have such a rare and historic aircraft based locally. For more information on the Harpoon, see Chapter 1311's June 2006, February 2008 and June 2009 newsletters (http://www.eaa1311.org/newsletters.html) for stories and photos. To learn more about the American Military Heritage Foundation and their Harpoon, see http://www.amhf.org.
Continued on Section 3
Go back to Section 1
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, August 4, 6:30 p.m., at Hendricks County Airport Program: Roundtable Oshkosh Debriefing
Take U.S. 36 (Rockville Road) west past Avon.
Turn left (south) on CR 300 E (84 Lumber is on the SW) corner of the intersection.
At about 1/2 mile turn right (west) into the airport.
The operations building is straight back from the road.
August 4 — Program: Oshkosh debriefing
September 1 — Program: TBA
October 6 — Program: TBA
November 3 — Program: TBA
December 2010 — Christmas party. Date, location and program TBA.
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.
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
Current as of June 2, 2010
See our chapter roster online at http://www.eaa1311.org/memberroster.html
NAME EMAIL ADDRESS PROJECT(S) LAST, First email project ANDERSON, Myron myronanderson1@comcast.net Pietenpol Air Camper BEETHAM, John jabeetham@earthlink.net Fokker D7 BERG, Paul ppberg@bluemarble.net RV-8 BROYLES, John broylkesjohn@sbcglobal.net none yet BUDNY, Skip skbudny@tds.net Mini 500 helicopter BUIST, Jim jimbuist@yahoo.com — 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 KOPESCHKA, Dave iedvk@iquest.net Little Wing Autogyro KOPESCHKA, Steve stephen.j.kopeschka@rolls-royce.com Little Wing Autogyro LAURENZANO, Mike mikelaurenzano@yahoo.com Mooney, Mini-Max LeBARON, Tim tjlebaron@sbcglobal.net RV-4, Ercoupe LEUCHT, Chuck charlesleucht@sbcglobal.net RV-9A LEWIS, Jim jimlewis102@att.net RV-7A LONG, Chuck charles.long@allisontransmission.com Zenair 601 HDS MACKENZIE, Mark treetopflyer2506@yahoo.com RV-4 MATEJCEK, Glen aerobubba@earthlink.net RV-8 MELCHIOR, Dirk dirkmelchior@att.net F1 Rocket MONCREIFF, Doug cdmoncreiff@sbcglobal.ne JDT Hi-Max MORTON, David djamorton@sbcglobal.net — 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 RINEHART, Mark capt_riney@yahoo.com Kolb Mark III Classic RUBERSON, Bryan bruberson@aol.com Aeronca Chief RULEY, Paul pbrmgr@comcast.net RV-7A SAALWAECHTER, John saalwaechter01@frontiernet.net V-tail Bonanza SNYDER, Jim jim.snyder1@comcast.net Cherokee 180 STUCKER, David DEStucker@TDS.net — SULLENGER, Vern sullenger@iquest.net Cherokee 140, RV-7A 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
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
Chapter 1311 met at Indianapolis Mount Comfort Airport for a hands-on tour of the American Military Heritage Foundation's WW-II Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon "Hot Stuff." AMHF's Jennie Thompson led the program, with additional information provided by Gaylon Piercy and Rich Suiter. Thompson, who flies a Grumman Traveler, was well-qualified to present the Harpoon. Previously an F-16 crew chief (Air National Guard?), the is now a technical write for Rolls-Royce, preparing overhaul manuals for their engines.
The PV-2 Harpoon was the last Lockheed tailwheel model, and the last of the series that started with the Electra. The Harpoon was planned as a standard medium range bomber targeting Japanese islands from the Alaskan Aleutian islands, but its versatility found it being used for many other military functions, including use as a night fighter, torpedo bomber, photo reconnaissance, and many other operations. As a fighter, the Harpoon was said to be able to outrun the Japanese Zeroes. The predecessor of the Harpoon, the PV-1, was used to spot the survivors of the U.S.S. Indianapolis.
Lockheed built only 535 Harpoons, so by the time this one was built the war was two-thirds over. It never saw action but most of the others did.
The Harpoon could actually be flown by a single pilot. Although the workload would have been tremendous, many were flown that was as water bombers or insect sprayers. The AMHF always flies with a three-person crew. One of the crew member's sole job is to manage the fuel, which needs to be moved to keep the aircraft in balance. All of the fuel valves are cable operated.
The AMHF also raises some money from the sale of T-shirts and other items at the airshows. One real moneymaker has been the 50-caliber dummy bullets they have been offering.
The AMHF's regular maintenance days are Wednesdays and Saturdays, usually with about six people working on the aircraft. Before an airshow, everyone in the group shows up. Likewise, on a really heavy day like hanging and engine, they can expect that everyone to be there.