WV FUNFLYERS

June 2006

by Gretchen Watson

 

June 3rd - 2006 Meeting/Dinner

          A lot of members were on vacation that weekend so attendance was low.  However, the food was still good and the flying as well.   

 

          During the meeting the subject of WVFF Club Tshirts was still on the agenda.  Those that were looking into the pricing of new shirts with the club logo, please bring that information to the July meeting.  Many expressed the desire for polo type shirts.

 

          Buffalo will be having their July 4th parade on Tuesday.  We will again be entering a float into the parade.  Those who wish to participate, come early to help with decorating.  There is still a question as to what airplane to use on the trailer this year - preferably one with a high wing for shade and seating space.  There will be more discussion regarding the parade at the July meeting.

 

Next Meeting/Dinner will be held on July 1st, 2006 .

 

Leon Stuff

June 17, 2006

     Several WVFF met Saturday morning with plans to head for Jackson County to eat breakfast.  However, plans changed when someone mentioned that Gallia Meigs was having a Fly-In with a pancake breakfast.  Ken (J3 Kitten), Kevin and Chuck (Mini Max's), Curtis and Mickey (Trikes), Gretchen (TBird), Glen (Zenair 701), Randy (Cessna) all took off for Gallipolis, OH around 10:00 a.m.  The trip there was hands off of the controls smooth.  Upon arrival no pancakes were to be found.  It seemed that the celebration wasn't to begin until around noon with various vendors selling food such as pizza, hotdogs, etc.  There was a helicopter there selling rides all day long as well as various other activities.  The starving WVFF borrowed a car from the airport and drove to Bob Evans about a mile down the road.  We left for our return trip shortly after arriving back at the airport.  The trip back home was a bit more bumpy than before yet everyone arrived safe and sound back at Leon.

 

June 9th, 10th, 11th - 2006 - Super Dave's Fly-In, Cannonsburg, Kentucky

     The 7th Annual Super Dave's Fly-In brought pilots from literally all over the country to enjoy an ever growing event.  A large campground accommodated a myriad of campers and tents.  Several vendors, mainly powered parachute related, set up tents showing off their products.  Campers actually began arriving, setting up and flying early in the week.  Jim Stephenson (DAR) with ASC was there conducting airworthiness inspections.  A couple men from the FAA attended, answering questions and holding a small sport pilot question and answer session.  Jim MacLeay from Tennessee was the safety coordinator.

 

    Darian Fields and family arrived around Thursday and Doran Mitchell and his wife arrived that afternoon.  Steve, Mickey and Gretchen all flew over Friday evening.  Kevin accompanied them about half of the way before heading back to Leon.  There were three grass runways, two side by side and one on an adjacent field. 

 

     At 6:00 a.m. Saturday morning a briefing was held and many parachutes took off for Olive Hill, Ky, to land on a 2500 paved runway.  Doran, Dave Purdin and Darian went on that trip.  At around 7:30, another group left for the same airport including Steve, Mickey and Gretchen.  The weather and wind was looking extremely dark and grey and a phone call to a pilot at Olive Hill from Jim MacLeay said to get back immediately if possible.  However, it looked worse than it was but the winds were strong down low.  It took the parachutes a good while to return to Cannonsburg.  Pilots flew all afternoon until around 5:00 when it began to drizzle briefly and the wind kicked up some.  However, the catered food had arrived for all who registered upon arriving that weekend.  Later that evening, a parachute competition was held, spot landing, bomb drop, etc.  The last event that evening was one that everyone had anxiously anticipated.  All those that registered were given a raffle ticket for a new Buckeye Powered Parachute as well as many, many other very nice prizes.  However, the winner wasn't one of our members but the person was extremely excited anyway.  He had apparently needed to give up flying and sell his parachute about three years ago and missed it very much.  His health is fine now and it seems that the machine was definitely meant for him to win.  It was a Part 103 Buckeye Legal Eagle with a 447 Rotax.  Very nice.  Infinity Powered Parachutes will be giving away a new powered parachute at next year's event.

 

    Other WVFF that attended were Bret, Robyn and Josh Shirley.  John Koch was also there speaking with vendors regarding a new powered parachute.

 

    Early Sunday morning everyone awoke to a very wet campsite and airfield.  By noon nearly everyone had packed up and left.  Mickey, Gretchen and Steve dried out their planes the best they could and lifted off around 10:30.  It took nearly two hours to return to Leon but they arrived safe and sound.

***************************

     Roger Booth had an accident while running up his plane and will be laid up for a while.  We hope he gets well soon.

 

     Captain’s Tiger Cub, after several no shows, has finally arrived at the airfield.  It looks very nice - yellow in color.  He had his HKS 60 hp engine installed on it and, reportedly, the performance is great.  He also had it “Upgraded, Updated, Improved” to a tri-gear.

 

     From May 1st through May 19th, Rick Johnson, who is a WV Challenger Dealer, attended Rainbow Aviation’s 120 hour FAA approved Light Sport Aircraft Repairman Maintenance and Inspection Course.  He is planning on becoming very involved in the Light Sport Aircraft industry in that he has plans of becoming an instructor and possibly an examiner.  He is also planning on taking a course in Rotax repair and maintenance.  He would also like to become more involved in fabric covering and painting.  He soon will be stocking various parts for light sport aircraft.  

Oshkosh - 2006

     EAA’s AirVenture Oshkosh 2006 will begin on July 24th and extend to July 30th.  This year willl feature a one-of-a-kind reunion of the Allied Forces' big bombers - including B-17, B-24, B-25, and British Lancaster aircraft - all performing fly-overs and fly-bys with stunning pyrotechnics.  Plus, aviation's best and brightest personalities will be on hand to share their innovations and experiences.  The daily air show features great flight demonstrations by some of the best known aerobatic performers.  The AeroShell Team of T-6’s is always a favorite.  Monday's opening-day kickoff will include a free evening concert by the Beach Boys.  Burt Rutan will, no doubt, unveil some sort of awe inspiring new venture at one of the evening “Theater in the Woods” events.  There will also be a celebration saluting the 50th anniversary of one of general aviation’s most popular airplanes, the Cessna 172 “Skyhawk.”

 

     Curtis and family, Steve, Gretchen and Mickey are planning on attending Oshkosh this year.  If anyone else is planning on attending, please let us know.  It would be nice to arrange a get together there at some point during the week.

 

     Curtis will be conducting a forum at Oshkosh on building Hot Air Balloons under Part 103.  The forum will be in the #03 Castrol Aviator Pavilion at 11:30 a.m. on July 25th.  If you are at Oshkosh, come out and support Curtis.  (The following is taken from Curtis’ description of his forum on the Airventure web site.)

His “Session covers materials and techniques used to construct lightweight and ultralight hot air balloons with a focus on materials which can be used by the average builder. Materials include fabric selection, non-conductive suspension components, fuel systems, and inflation systems. Using well proven materials, a lighter than air enthusiast can construct a lightweight hot air balloon for recreational flying. Come and join the fun!”

 

Sport Pilot News

     The FAA has denied USUA's petition asking for an extension of the deadlines allowed for ultralight pilots and vehicles transitioning into Sport Pilot.  For details go to: http://www.usua.org/HotNews/Archives/20060620/