EAA Chapter 81 Meeting Minutes
April 19, 2008

Meeting was called to order by President Duane Boyd at the workshop of Neil Cubbins at 1010.

There was no Treasurer's report.

Old Business: We were reminded that the Pima Air and Space Museum Excursion is to be in one week, that is, on Saturday 4/26/08. As we had not succeeded in generating a list of those planning to attend, we could offer no discounted entry fee. The fees are $10.75 for Seniors and $13 for the few of us who don't qualify. Again, with no list, lunch, by default, is bring or buy your own, as they cater only to groups of 50 or more. Suggested meeting time was to be at the gate at 0930, or 0945 at the latest in order to catch the 1000 Tour Bus. The one hour Tour costs $5 and Joe Seibold will collect the loot. (Secretary's note: immediately after the Tour, Joe absconded for Michigan)

New Business: Lon Hendel, a Chapter 81 member for four years, passed away; President Boyd sent a card from the Chapter. Vice President Hal Burlingame had investigated the EAA Event Insurance as promised and reported: the insurance is for Chapter activities on the ground only; it would not in any event have covered the catastrophe at La Cholla Airpark. Webmaster Bruce Noon brought a laptop computer to demonstrate the Chapter 81 Web Page (including a copy of the March Meeting Minutes)

Next, having finally gotten Chapter business out of the way, the official meeting was adjourned at 1045, and we arrived at the moment for which we had all been waiting: the Project Presentation! Neil is well on the way to building his RV-9A, having spent 3 1/2 years and about 500 hours so far. It is NOT a quick-build version, and Neil reminds us that Pro Seal (necessary for sealing the wet wing tanks) is NASTY! The quick-build version has the tanks already sealed, so where's the fun in that? He has just finished building the ailerons and is working on the flaps (Secretary's note: flaps? The Citabria I fly has no flaps; I checked! We don't need no steenking flaps! They just get in the way of slipping, anyway! But, I digress). Neil admits to having made a drilling mistake and is awaiting some special rivets. He went to Aurora, OR last month (home of Van's Aircraft) and picked up his fuselage kit. He demonstrates the use of a laser to make sure the wing is straight. Neil is using a water-based epoxy primer from Aircraft Finishing Systems and, following Joe Seibold's example, is priming only contact areas. His air compressor is outside the shop, and offers both regulated high and low pressure supply. There is room in the shop to assemble the wings to the fuselage. There will be a modified light kit in the wings and a Lift-Reserve Indicator (angle-of-attack) will be located in the right wing. Although some fabrication is required, the big metal bending is factory-provided. Neil will make available his jigs for flaps and ailerons for the use of other Chapter members. He has already started the firewall. His craftsmanship was much admired and his workshop much envied!

Tom Covell, whose Project Meeting was to be in June, offered to add it to the end to the May Chapter 81 Meeting at Ryan, as his hangar is there as well. His project is a RANS 6S, but there are also a Vari- EZ, a Pazmany PLZ and an old Stinson to be seen. Combining these meetings will leave room for another Project Meeting in June. We will discuss it at the May 17 Chapter Meeting, at 1000 at Ryan Field.

Respectfully Submitted by
Secretary Bob Miller