WV Fun Flyers

WV Fun Flyers - August - 2003

A Word From Your President

Around the Patch at the Big One

July 29^th thru August 4^th – The largest home built air show in the world, (Oshkosh, WI) and we (Mickey, Gretchen, Steve, Blair, Jeanene, Ron, Margie, Kathy, Katie, Matthew and myself – did I forget anyone?) were right in the middle of it. In the ultralight area Mickey was showcasing the Raven reduction drive for the Geo Metro engine and answering a million questions from onlookers. Ron was protecting about a million planes from the curious and Steve was like a kid in a candy store looking at everything. Mickey was attending the morning pilot briefings so he could fly in the ultralight pattern to show off the Geo trike and give a few lessons around the patch. I was the lucky recipient of a flight on one windy morning.

We pushed the trike to the entry gate at the ultralight field and Mickey warmed up while I took my spot in line at the flight booth. When Mickey and space allowed, I loaded up in the trike. A few of the crowd were taking bets on whether we would get off the ground since I am not light weight. But Mickey has a lot of faith in his machine (and I in Mickey), so without much fanfare we swung into the take off line and waited for the spotter to flag us onto the runway and into the air. Keep in mind that while we were preparing, about twenty other planes were in the air, rapidly taking off and landing in and out of the small (about one mile square), low (300 foot altitude limit), pattern. We were given a go and accelerated into the mayhem. The Geo trike made us proud and climbed out with no problems into the strong cross wind (I wonder who won the bet?) but the turbulence was rough along the tree line from the ground clutter and then we hit the wake turbulence of twenty aircraft all chrning the air at the same time and altitude. As I looked around, it felt like a cross between a bee swarm and a dog fight. Mickey quickly slid to the inside arc of the pattern reserved for the “slower” ultralights while a 75 mph 912 powered trike blew our doors off as he passed leaving us rocking behind. We found our slot and Mickey gave me the controls as we bounced around the pattern twice then began our approach for landing. We watched a Pterodactyl glide directly under at rather close range (he could see in every direction but up) but the low man has the right of way so we deviated and realigned our approach. Mickey dropped into the final approach holding both speed and altitude before swooping in for a nice, soft, landing on the turf runway. We were still in one piece. The swarm was still going strong and we decided to taxi in and watch the rest of the show.

Wow! We had flown at the Big One!

Fly Safe - by Curtis Pack

Bill Hughes (a club member) has donated a series of topographical maps to the club of the areas north and west of the airport. These can be seen in the wall rack in the pilot lounge and are for everyone to use, so feel free to look and use but please place back in the rack for others to use.

Fly – In

Virginia’s biggest Fly-In will be held September 20^th and 21^st at Dinwiddie County Airport (formerly Petersburg). It is located just south of Richmond, VA on route 85. They had 400 planes there last year and this year they will have 17 forums. Also there will be an airshow each day 1:00 – 3:00. Camping is available. Contact Leal Cole at lealgene@hotmail.com for further details.

Minutes August 2, 2003

The meeting was called to order at 2:35 p.m. by David Groff our Vice President. Our President Curtis Pack and family were away at the Oshkosh Fly-In.

There were about 45 people present with some new folks and visitors.

Old Business: The purchase of the chair, swing set, and picnic table were discussed. To date there has been no action.

Laura Jensen (treasurer) said that she would get the picnic table, David Groff said he would look into the chairs.

New Business: There was a great deal of discussion concerning our communication, or lack, in case of a problem on the field. It was suggested that this was the responsibility of the President. (There are some other suggestions elsewhere in the Newsletter.)

There were two worthy nominations for the “Rubber Chicken” award for the silliest/most awkward/best mistake that had occurred this last month. David Hall and Mud Dauber (John Koch). There was a spirited discussion as to the most worth, many feeling that being as Dave wasn’t present he would be a “shoe in” but when the vote was taken – Mud Dauber won by a landslide. Gil Watkins (Secretary) who had possession for the last two months eagerly and enthusiastically presented the beautiful trophy.

The “Eagle Award” (For meritorious service) given to Laura/Rose/Vicky/Kathy for the painting and work on the Lounge. Great job. We are beginning to look really “Up Town.”

It was announced that Andy Hudnall soloed this last week.

A card was to be signed and sent to Lloyd Frye.

August Birthdays: Brett Shirley

50/50 Raffle Winner: Rick Johnson

New BFI’s: Steve Doll, Paul Knapp, Rick Johnson, Chuck Lewis, Dave Groff, Curtis Pack – Congratulations to all of you.

Three new members signed up.

Meeting closed at 3:15 p.m.

Gil Watkins: Secretary/Newsletter Editor

Article:

Skylite Project: Ultralite Airplane designed by Ed Fisher

Member Tom Davis has been working on this project for about nine months. The steel parts are completed and all the welding is finished. The fuselage structural frame has been lightly sandblasted and painted. The landing gear is complete, as are seat, rudder, floorboards and miscellaneous parts.

The wings and horizontal stabilizer are next in line for completion. Hopefully in the near future, all of the parts can be assembled and the covering process started.

At this time, I am not sure of what engine to use. This will wait until the plane is ready for the final painting. I have spent approximately 300 hours on the project and have recorded progress and poof of work completed by me in order to register the plane as an experimental, or experimental light plane in the future.

Building an airplane has been an enjoyable experience and has improved my welding and painting skills. A considerable amount of time has been used to figure quantities, and making purchases of materials. I am trying to complete some part of the project each day and I have a set target completion date for the Spring of 2004.

Tom can be contacted by email at sdavid50@hotmail.com.