EAA Chapter 81 Meeting Minutes
January 17, 2009
This was a combined meeting between Tucson Chapter 81 and Casa Grande Chapter1445, held at the Terminal Building at the Casa Grande Airport. The meeting was held in conjunction with a Pancake Breakfast and Fly-In. Tucson Chapter 81 Vice President Hal Burlingame was an early arrival; unpacked, and ready to run with the Pancake Breakfast paraphernalia by the time that the volunteer chefs were ready to start at 0800. Hal also made the eggs and ham while others took turns making the pancakes, and he did the majority of the cleanup as well! We applaud his industry and are in awe of his energy! The Fly-In was well-attended by members of both chapters, and nobody went home hungry.
The formal Chapter Meetings were called to order by Chapter 1445 President, Mike Still at 1005. The first order of business was to recognize guests, who had flown in from as far away as Michigan, Colorado, and even Maryland! Next was a review of an article written by Tom Poberezny about Who is the EAA Serving? Apparently, some had criticized EAA for getting away from its homebuilding roots. Poberezny argued passionately that there is a large pool of aviation enthusiasts, from which are filtered down much smaller pools of pilots and craftsmen. The big pool of enthusiasts is necessary for the survival of the organization as it is the source of the smaller pools. Therefore, EAA must attract aviation enthusiasts of all kinds, whether it be warbirds, antiques, aerobatics, homebuilders, or even just pilots of certificated aircraft. Mike also made note that a new “Experimenter” newsletter will be sent out to all EAA members once, requiring a response before continuation. There is also a FAA newsletter which recently addressed Special Issue Medical Certificates.
The Secretary and Treasurer’s reports (of Chapter 1445) were accepted by vote. There was also a brief report about the Chapter 1445 visit to nearby Eloy, and announcement about the Member Profiles being solicited.
The next order of business was about aircraft Weight and Balance (W&B). The Casa Grande chapter has a $3600 set of sensitive and certified accurate aircraft scales for use of all EAA members. A&P (Airframe and Powerplant) Steve Hartwell will do W&B for Certificated aircraft, and Experimental builders can do their own. It was noted that the first volunteer to use the scales found that his airplane was 100# heavier than his bathroom scales had suggested! The scales can be used for a donation of $50 to the Casa Grande Volunteer Fliers (NOT EAA), and aircraft can be weighed empty or full of fuel. It was suggested by a chapter member that a seminar on W&B be put together for a future meeting.
Steve Hulland, Casa Grande Airport Manager, made a four-point presentation:
The airport is making fuel available to fliers-in for $2.95 per gallon, a nickel less for cash.
Noise Abatement procedures will help keep runways open; please, when departing runway 5, do not make your turn until at I-10.
The TSA’s proposal for large aircraft is aimed not just at commercial, but at private aircraft! This is an unprecedented attempt to regulate general aviation under its charter of protecting National Security. If it becomes law, there is no reason why the TSA cannot then propose regulation of other, lighter aircraft under the same banner, as precedent will have been set. The best defense against such intrusions into general aviation is an INDIVIDUAL letter written to your representatives. Steve has let us know that the Arizona Airport Association is against the proposal, and, if you value your freedoms, you should be too. You can read all about the proposal at the EAA website or in its publications.
Next Saturday, the Casa Grande Airport is hosting ANOTHER Pancake Breakfast.
2009 Dues are being collected by both chapters.
The Casa Grande Young Eagles Program is looking for Pilots. In the October, 2008 event, 181 were flown, more than half by Tom Snyder!
Old Business included a review of projects in progress. It was suggested that Chapter 1445 members send photos of their projects, at whatever state of evolution, to Dave Chiala to be included in the newsletter. Really Old Business consisted of the announcement that 93 year-old Roger Ellis recently completed a BFR (Biennial Flight Review).
New Business: The Cactus Fly-In (antique aircraft, but all are welcome) will be held at Casa Grande Airport on March 6 and 7, and the Copperstate Fly-In will be at the same location in October. Vick Cina, Volunteer Coordinator for the Cactus Fly-In, is soliciting, um, volunteers. The Chapter 1445 board met last week, and the topic was Planning Challenges. Three products of this meeting will be presentations at future meetings: Homebuilder Hints, a BFR seminar, and Flying Hints. Today’s Homebuilder Tip, presented by Chris Howley, was on Clecoes. These are the little clamps which serve as temporary rivets for holding together sheet-metal panels for fitting before they are ready for final riveting. He demonstrated the use of Cleco pliers. He showed a trick for getting the Cleco to fit into a slightly oversized, dimpled hole, by making a backing plate out of scrap sheet metal, about ½ inch square with a newly drilled 1/8th inch hole. Audience participation contributed a pearl that a similar plate can be used on the outside to protect the dimple. Tucson’s Gil Alexander’s suggestion that Harbor Freight sold adequate Cleco pliers was rejected by another who stated that the Harbor Freight product was inferior, and that Aircraft Spruce sells higher-quality Cleco pliers for only $5. Another participant thought that the Harbor Freight catalog also offered rivet squeezers, but the local store does not. The next demonstration was of the Black and Decker Electromate, which for $99, has a 400 amp jump starter, a light, a 120 PSI compressor, a 400 watt AC inverter, inflation needles, DC outlets, and can charge from 110V AC or 12V DC (although the latter is at risk for overcharging).
The final presentation was by Bob Poindexter, Fire Marshall of Eloy, who narrated a slide show of his Tiger Cruise. This is a Public Relations event where select civilians are invited to cruise on the USS Abraham Lincoln, an operational aircraft carrier fresh from the Persian Gulf. The cruise starts at Pearl Harbor, so Bob was able to visit the USS Missouri at dock there (the “Might Mo” has the biggest guns of any US battleship, then or since), and also the USS Arizona Memorial. The 5-day cruise ended with an airshow at the destination port of San Diego, and Bob was able to regale us with many details of the ship and aircraft.
It was announced that the February Chapter 1445 meeting will feature a presentation by Aerobatic Champion Kirby Chandless. The next Chapter 81 meeting will be at the Ryan Field Meeting room on Saturday, February 21 at 1000.
Respectfully Submitted by
Chapter 81 Secretary Bob Miller