EAA Chapter 81 Meeting Minutes
July 19, 2008

EAA Chapter 81 Meeting Minutes

Meeting was called to order at 1000 by President Duane Boyd at the Ryan Airfield meeting room. Attendance was, predictably, low with the snowbirds absent and Oshkosh just around the corner, but there were still about 30 present.

Treasurer’s Report: As of 6/20/08, we have $2,617.87 in the bank and as of 4/15/08, we have held a CD worth $7,077.33, paying 3.275% and coming due on 10/15/08.

Secretary’s Report: Minutes of the June Project Meeting (Eric Witherspoon’s Sonex) were distributed to those present, as the SkyWriter had not been published in time for this meeting. The minutes are also available on our website www.eaa81.org. Secretary Bob Miller also distributed a copy of Steve Hulland’s E-mail, stating that the time requirements of his new position at the Casa Grande airport are making it too difficult for him to edit and publish the newsletter, and requesting that a new Editor be selected.

Two new members were welcomed at this meeting: Ed Justice, previously from the Yuma EAA Chapter, is now between planes, as he sold his Cessna 175, and it seem that the new owner augered it in. Ed volunteered to become the newsletter Editor, but will require some On-The-Job Training. Jose Cuevas is dreaming of building an RV and, along with Duane Boyd, helped Neil Cubbon work on his RV-9A last weekend. With this kind of enthusiasm, they will fit right in with Chapter 81.

We were sad to announce that long-time Chapter 81 member Larry Callow died recently after a prolonged illness. He had built a Pietenpol and had been the newsletter Editor.

There was no Old Business.

New Business: Erik Fierstad suggests that the newsletter be published electronically, with an E-mail reminder sent to all members with E-mail addresses. Chapter 81 members would have the option of selecting not to receive the paper version of Skywriter. Unless opted out, every Chapter 81 member would continue to receive the printed Skywriter. Erik will host the next Project Meeting for his quick-build RV-6A on Saturday August 16 at 1000 at his home at Tucson Mountain Estates. Directions will be sent to all members. Erik also is looking for a high-wing hangar mate for his newly acquired hangar at Ryan Field.

Project News: Neil Cubbin gave a progress report about his RV-9A project: He needs some help dimpling the bottom skins, bending longerons, and clecoing the center section and tail cone together. Erik Fierstad, who works with Eric Witherspoon, informs us that Eric’s Sonex was having some radio problems, so has not yet flown, but is sure to be off the ground by the end of August.

The floor was then opened to discussion of general concerns of the members. The topic of auto gas was reopened; it seems that the ethanol added to auto gas does nasty things to some aircraft systems (and sources of alcohol-free auto gas are dwindling). First, it absorbs water, and aircraft have vented fuel tanks (atmospheric humidity will contaminate the fuel). It also eats ProSeal, with which many fuel tanks are sealed. Fuel containing ethanol is also of a lower energy density than that of undiluted gasoline, limiting range. Speaking of range, Roy McCaldin tells us a true story of WWII, wherein the B-17 Bomber has a fuel capacity of 2780 gallons, and one returned from a mission and was refueled with 2720 gallons! Under ideal conditions, that airplane had about 13 minutes of fuel left (probably where the FAA got the idea of requiring fuel reserves)! The topic moved on to auto engines, with some interest in diesel designs, but even more in rotary (Wankel) engines. The most recent edition of Contact! Magazine was dominated by an article about the RotaMax engine, a Wankel design that is being refined to be an alternative to other non-certified aircraft engine in the 60 to 180HP range. Wankel engines are not new to experimental aircraft, as present member Johnny Thompson had a Wankel-powered Mooney many years ago. Wankels have the advantages of being compact and lightweight for their power output, and potentially very reliable (a 2-rotor Wankel has 3 moving parts). Current designs require reduction drives, which add weight and complexity, but are still comparable to the Rotax four-strokes commonly in use today.

There were some questions from present members about the website, and Webmaster Bruce Noon set up a laptop and demonstrated access and features.

Secretary Bob Miller offered a choice of topics for a talk he would like to give at the September Chapter 81 meeting: Tailwheel Aircraft, or Rotary Engines. The present membership was divided and decided that Bob should talk about both, so both it will be. Bob had laryngitis at this meeting, so he was unable to say no. He hopes to be in good voice by the September meeting.

Meeting was adjourned at 1057.

Respectfully Submitted by
Secretary Bob Miller