EAA CHAPTER 81-TUCSON,AZ- MONTHLY NEWSLETTER  

SKYWRITER

Chapter 81 member,

Volume 8, Issue 2  

Wow! Another very busy month has gone by. One of the highlights was last Saturday's mini Fly-In at Ryan Field. Fifteen or Twenty pilots met at Roy McCaldin's Hangar to show a group of MS folks about aviation. Bringing their airplanes and letting Roy's honored guests touch, climb in, ask about and generally admire the many airplanes that were present was great fun. The variety of air­planes really showcased General Aviation is about. Questions from the wonderful guests were thoughtful and fun to answer. What a great morning it was. I am sure Roy ex­tends his heartfelt thanks to everyone who was there-you made the trip an exceptional one for our new friends.

After our guests went home, several Ryan Airport bums went to the Mo­bile Aire Hangar Office where Jack Vance and his wonderful wife treated us to his monthly BBQ. We enjoyed steaks, chili, soda, salsa (from Rick Brown), pastries and for the non­ flyers a beer. It was a great get together for those of lucky enough to enjoy keeping our airplanes at Mobile Aire. We will be there this coming Satur­day morning -sans BBQ. I only wish I had got some useful (any) work done on my airplane.

This has been an eventful and intense month. At work I was elected to be a member of the Raytheon Firefighter Union Ne­gotiating Committee. As some of you may know, our contract with Raytheon runs out on Saturday, Feb­ruary 16th. This is my first experi­ence negotiating a labor contract and it is a real learning experience. For more than forty years I was a non ­unionized employee, supervisor and manager. Needless to say, my thoughts about Unions leaned toward the non-union folks thoughts. Since becoming a member of the Raytheon Firefighters Union I have learned a great deal about the good Unions can do and how members like those in the Raytheon Fire Department work, live and play together-all while pro­viding professional pre-hospital emergency medical, fire prevention and fire suppression services 24 hours a day. I have been busy and hope to be done by this weekend. Being done may allow me to get the next Skywriter published and mailed on time so each of can enjoy our Feb­ruary meeting at La Cholla Air Park.

Steve Hulland, Editor


From the Editor's Desk

I did get a nice email from Paul Poberezny. I hope you enjoy Paul's email I did: Note: This email is be­ing sent by Paul Poberezny, typed by his assistant Rene Elliott. Please respond directly to Paul at ppoberezny@eaa.org.Thank you. TO: STEVE HULLAND, Newsletter Editor, EM Chapter 81 Dear Steve, In reading your Chapter's newsletter, Skywriter, I noticed the picture on page 6 and the photo of a red and cream airplane, asking if anyone can tell what the airplane is. I would say it's the Pober Baby Ace; the original that I built is hanging in the EM atrium and was called the Mechanix Baby Ace back when I wrote the three-part article back in 1954 that gave EM a great boost. I also note there's one drag wire running from the front of the landing gear to the rear spar. Many years ago, I advised all the builders that there should be also one from the front wing strut to the rear wing strut to add to the over­all strength. It would be the same as one has in the wings; a drag and ant drag wire with a cabane-mounted strut - this is very important. The Pober Pixie, a single-place airplane is very similar as I could not see the fin and rudder; it makes it a bit more difficult. I noticed the comment about the perfect $100 hamburger, but I would rather spend that $100 making takeoffs, landings and prac­ticing to improve my skill. Give everyone in the chapter my very best regards. Sincerely, Paul H. Poberezny founder and Chairman of the Board Experimental Aircraft Association ppoberezny@eaa.org

I do not have time to contact the Po­ber Baby Ace featured in one of the Skywriters, but will this weekend. I will share Paul's email, especially the part about drag wires, etc.

It sure is a nice feeling to know that our newsletter is actually read at EAA. Please email back to Paul and thank him for his effort-bet some of our members know Paul personally.

Ell Chapter 81 Meeting Minutes January 19, 2008


Meeting was called to order at 1005 by new Chapter President Duane Boyd.

Treasurer's report: There is $2950.59 in the Treasury and $6900 invested in a CD due 9/08.

Chapter 81 Board of Directors Meeting Minutes, January 19, 2008 Meeting was called to order at 1255 by President Duane Boyd. All Chapter Officers and Directors were present: Duane Boyd, Hal Burlingame, Bob Miller, Mick Myal, Bruce Noon, Joe Seibold, and Bill Paul. Also participating was Newsletter Editor Steve Hulland. Purpose of meeting: to address the concerns of the membership about the direction, purpose, and goals of Chapter 81. A Mission Statement was proposed.

Although it was agreed that Chapter 81 should be steered by the wishes of its mem­bers (not only by input at Chapter meetings, but also perhaps initiated by sugges­tions made to the President via E-mail), it was felt that the foundation of the Chapter should be solidly grounded on the following principles:

Education - At every meeting at Ryan Field, a formal presentation on a topic of in­terest to pilots or builders will be made. At the alternate month project meet­ings, a less formal Q&A session will address topics relevant to that project.

Fellowship - Airplane people like to get together to talk about airplanes before and after the meetings. In addition, non-meeting activities such as Pancake Break­fasts or a picnic at the Pima Air and Space Museum provide another venue for gathering and for promoting general aviation.

Events/Activities - In regard to Pancake Breakfasts, our main goal is not fundrais­ing, but rather bringing together other members of the aviation community, experimental aircraft folks, and, hopefully, non-aviators to expose them to the wonders of the experimental aircraft movement. It was thought that participa­tion decreases with increasing frequency of events, as do concerns about com­petition from restaurant owners; one or two per year should be the maximum. Bringing in car or motorcycle clubs might broaden interest. Other suggestions for events included having a parade of airplanes, kind of a show-and-tell, invit­ing youth groups such as CAP or the Scouts to actually see and touch, maybe even sit in an experimental aircraft. Just knowing that ordinary people can build such wondrous machines would inspire imagination. Another similar sug­gestion was for a Hangar Party. It was also suggested that Chapter 81 might like to have a presence at Ryan Aviation Days, perhaps with an educational work­shop during the event.

Membership - Why should a stranger want to join Chapter 81? Cited were: Re­sources of tools, equipment, and especially knowledge and experience shared among the Chapter community. Perhaps a Chapter slogan, along the lines of "Learn, Build, Fly" should be selected. Another way to reach members and encourage participation would be a supplementary electronic newsletter, with the ability to accept questions and ideas from Chapter members who may not be able to attend meetings.

The question was raised: Who is Chapter 81? Although Chapter membership re­quires EAA membership, all are welcome to attend our meetings. President Boyd proclaimed that Board of Director meetings will be held quarterly, after every other Ryan Field meeting. Meeting was adjourned at 1 340.Respectfully Submitted by Sec­retary Bob Miller

Hal Burlingame and Bruce Noon are still working on the website. John Har­low suggested that our website include a roster of members and their aircraft or projects and some information about the builders, similar to a feature on the EAA website.

Hal also offers a 100-cup coffee urn for chapter use. Newsletter Editor Steve Hulland reminds us that submissions must be made by the first Friday of the month. He also reported on his trip back East and his visits to the new Ko­rean War Monument and the new Ma­rine Corps Museum in Quantico.

Joe Seibold brought in a vast quantity of member-with-airplane photos com­plete with brief biographies, ready to hang on the walls of our meet­ing room. We had already obtained permission from Scott Driver, Ryan Field's Airport Manager to do so. Joe also is offering Prop Placards to Chapter 81 members who fly to events. They are very inexpensive and add a touch of class to the display and identify the owner as a member of our Chapter. He passed around a sample placard

Roy McCaldin reports that on Saturday 2/9 at 1000 there will be a display of aircraft for children with muscular dystrophy.

The next topic of discussion was the Project Meetings, to be scheduled in even months, alternating with Chapter Meetings at Ryan in odd months. The first vol­unteer was John Harlow and his Lancair ES for the February Project Meeting and next is Neil Cubbin and his RV9A in April. The remaining 3 Project Meetings will be filled by Tom Cooll and his RANS S6S, Ed Davis and his Fisher Celebrity, and Bob Miller and his Kitfox. The December meeting is neither at Ryan nor at a pro­ject, but is held briefly at the Christmas Dinner. All Meetings are on the 3rd Satur­day of the month at 1000, except for the Christmas Dinner, the date of which is announced at the November Meeting.

Ed Davis suggested that we publish an inventory of Chapter 81 equipment, the list of which is quite substantial, including the Pancake Breakfast trailer and appa­ratus, two projectors, the coffee urn, and the printer; several members also made offers of use of their private equipment to Chapter members: Roy McCaldin's swager, Joe Seibold's 20-foot tandem-axle flatbed trailer, and another trailer from John Harlow for transporting projects. The purpose of this list is to let poten­tial members know some of the resources available to Chapter members. Gil Alexander reminded us that our Chapter also has several Technical Inspectors, a very valuable resource to builders.

Hal Burlingame and Steve Hulland revisited the idea of having our own Chapter Hangar. Many members were unaware that in the distant past, we did have one at Ryan Field, and we have already researched the possibility of having another. There were problems in sharing space, and insurance issues were less complex back then, but our present membership still remains, enthusiastic about establish­ing another Chapter Hangar, so we will continue to investigate sites and prices.

It is agreed

That a Chapter Project would be a huge asset, letting those who have skills (or would like to acquire them) work on a project shared with others. Input from Chapter members is solicited as to what they would like to do with a Chapter Hangar.

Hal also informed us that the Copperstate Fly-In will have to move again. The new site is not yet determined.

It was suggested that we need a PA system so those lurking in the back rows can hear those pontificating up front. The present membership voted the OK to pay for one from our treasury, but Hal thinks he probably already has one he can contribute. Regardless, one will no longer be able to snooze peacefully in the back of the room. Remember, you asked for it!

We invited newcomers to tell us about themselves: Dennis Hall of Brodhead WI informed us that he has built 3 currently flyable aircraft: a Corbin Baby Ace, A Pietenpol Air Camper, and a Pietenpol Sky Scout. He is also building two Lincoln Sportplanes. He invites us to the Pietenpol-Hatz Grass Roots Antique Fly-In the week before Oshkosh. E.J. Carlton is building a Cozy Mk. 4, which he assures us will be ready to taxi in 2 months. Chet Oldakowski has just finished building an

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SKYWRITER

RV9A and is learning to fly in a Cessna 150, and he is looking at Citabrias! Rich Fry is from a SE Michigan chapter and is a Kitfox tail dragger driver. Gary Skel­ton is visiting from Canada, and Dave Bowen is working on his Sport Pilot Certifi­cate.

There was some talk about Pancake Breakfasts; mutterings about how we are no longer welcome at La Cholla Airpark after last year's tragedy, although Buck Clippard is still happy to have one at his palatial runway-side home/hangar. We DO have insurance through EAA. We have had Pancake Breakfasts at Ryan at the wash rack, but we are told that the proprietor of Todd's Restaurant does not like the competition. It seems unlikely he would consider it competition if he were to realize that we are only contemplating doing it once a year at Ryan. It was sug­gested to make it a Drive-and-Fly-In so folks could display their interesting vehi­cles and make it a broader-interest display. Joe Seibold brought up the question: why have Pancake Breakfasts? Aside from the rather large investment in equip­ment that we have made, it is a fact that they require a huge amount of work, in­cluding preparation and clean-up, and rarely make much profit. The conclusion (if there was a conclusion) of our present membership was that it brings people into contact with experimental aircraft, and that if it only were to be done once or twice per year, the attendance would be higher. More to Joe's point, what do we want to do with the profits if any? Chapter Hanger? Building? Chapter Project? The Pancake Breakfasts alone would not be sufficient to finance any of these, but could make a contribution.

It was brought to our attention that perhaps Chapter 81 needs a Mission State­ment; for example, is it social? Educational? About building? Chapter Projects? It was decided that the Board of Directors would address this concern at their meeting immediately following the Chapter Meeting.

Bob Miller, who had been straining at the leash all meeting, ready to give his discourse on Brakes, was finally given the go, mesmerizing his audience (or were they sleeping?) with a lurid presentation on what one must admit is an ar­resting topic. As no overripe fruit was flung, he considered this pilot presenta­tion (pun intended) a success and encouraged others to share their expertise or experience on technical topics at future meetings. Gil Alexander volunteered to educate us in March with a riveting presentation on, er, riveting, and Roy McCaldin has built a prop or two and will, in a future meeting, tell us how it is done. The meeting was officially adjourned at 1155, at which time our members, who tend to be rather handy with tools, did a downright professional job of deco­rating the walls of the meeting room with the Pilot and Plane profiles supplied by Joe Seibold. Respectfully Submitted by Chapter Secretary Bob Miller

Volume 8, Issue 2

Korean War Vintage USMC F4 Corsair at the National Mueseum 0 f the Marine Corps, Quantico Va. December 2007. Truly a site to behold. Do not miss this excellent mu­seum and allow 6 hours to visit and enjoy.

Page 5

January 16

EM Chapter 81 Monthly Meeting & La Cholla Airpark.
 We will meet in at the Clubhouse at 10:00 and shown how to get to John Harlow's Hangar.
 There we will get To see his Lancair project and enjoy the moming.

Other Important Events



www.yuma.usmc.mil 50th Annual Cactus Fly-in at Casa Grande Municipal Airport-Lets hope for great weather and lots of airplanes. Should be a great show-see you there.

                                 Border To Border Air show, Douglas Arizona. www.bordertoborder.us

                                 EM Chapter 81 Monthly Meeting & Ryan Field

                                 to See you there at 10 AM                                                         

                                   JOIN US AT THE CACTUS STATE Fly-IN

This will be the first major event that I participate in as the new Manager of Casa Grande Municipal Airport. On February 25th I will report to the City of Casa Grande for orientation and then to the Public Works Director. As the new Airport Manager I have some large shoes to fill and a multitude of folks to please and. 1\1 ~ work with. At this point the only promise that I can make is to listen and learn while making every effort to help airport employees, users and neighbors develop Casa Grande Municipal into a world class General Aviation airport pilots ---
will love to visit. Strong neighbor relations, exceptional airport business park  opportunities and superior airport facilities-they are all part of what I will attempt to bring you.

                SteveHulland, Editor-EAA Chapter 81 Skywriter

February23 March8-9

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SKYWRITER

 

Chapter Information

Chapter Meetings

Chapter 81 meets monthly on the third Saturday of the month at 10:00AM Even Monthly meetings are at someone's project. Odd meetings are held at the Ryan Airfield Admin Building located on the east side of Todd's Restau­rant, just west of the intersection of Ajo Way and Valencia Road.

Project Meetings and other chapter gathering announcements are posted in this newsletter and on the chapters website www.eaa81.org . During 2008 we hope to have 6 Project Meetings in lieu of our Chapter Meetings at Ryan Airfield. We would love to visit your project. Please let us know how you are doing on your project.

Chapter Dues

Chapter dues are $20.00 for a calendar year and are prorated so that all memberships expire in December. All new members receive an EAA chap­ter name badge and a one year subscription to the Chapter 81 newsletter, The Skywriter. Checks are made payable to: EM Chapter 81.

Send to Mick Myal, 2900 E. Weymouth, Tucson, AZ 85716

Chapter Officers
PRESIDENT          Duane Boyd
V. PRESIDENT Hal Burlingame
SECRETARY         Bob Miller
TREASURER         Mick Myal
NIL EDITOR         Steve Hulland
WEBMASTER       Bruce Noon
YOUNG EAGLES Hal Burlingame
DIRECTORS
Bill Paul Bob Hanson Joe Sielbold
TECH COUNSELORS
Bob Hassan             hassonb@msn.com
Gil Alexander gilalex@earthlink.net
Eldon Helmet          mirage@copper.net
citationpilot60@hotmil.com 606-226-1223 webmaster@eaa81.0rg 977 -8600
rmiller88@msn.com                322-0677
myal@dcn2.net       881-2232
Aztaildragger@gmail.com 620-0050
bnoonI2@comcast.com 760-5925
youngeagles@eaa81.org 977 -8600
billpaul@mac.net hansonaeroworks@hughes.net
760-1554 385-4630 818-0603
760-7770 544-8191 240-0041

Volume 8, Issue 2

Page 7

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