The Plane Newsletter

A publication of Chapter 1111 Experimental Aircraft Association

February 2003 - February 2003 - February 2003 - February 2003 - February 2003 - February 2003

From the President

J-3 Cub Flight Training
Jerry Sorrell

Last summer, Mark Edwards took me flying in the Evergreen Flying Service J-3 Cub. The flight was enough for me to consider some instruction later, which I did on January 20th.

This ½ hour of instruction pointed out how rusty I was at control coordination and how much different control pressures are in different planes. The elevators on a J-3 are not counterbalanced, so there is an automatic down load on the controls when at rest. The controls work via cables and pulleys, which adds friction to the control movement.

To begin with, flying from the back seat creates a vision problem in seeing the instruments and seeing straight ahead. If the instructor were missing, the nose of the plane would still obstruct the view straight-ahead. So, the J-3 required much zig zag taxi work to see what’s coming.

After a bit of turns and stall work, the instructor let me shoot a couple of take offs and landings. When the power is pulled on the J-3, the next thing is down. No stretching the glide here. On the flare, even with full back trim, the stick backpressure for the landing was amazingly high as compared to the RV-4. However, the rudder control and roll out seemed easier than the RV-4. This may be due to landing on the grass and a much slower touchdown speed.

So what did I learn?
• Nearly 1000 hours in one tail-dragger does not mean it will be a simple cross-over to fly another.
• Today’s designs tend to compensate nicely for the pilot’s lack of aileron-rudder coordination. Smooth flying require more coordination in the J-3.
• Dual instruction in a basic trainer cost about eight times what it did in the late 60’s.

Plane Thoughts

THE FLIGHT OF THE HE-BE GEE-BEE
Jerry Sorrell

Earlier in January, I had the honor of seeing the first “around the patch” flight of the He-Be Gee-Bee. The flight was smooth, and the sound of the engine was unusual due to the configuration of the exhaust stacks along the side of the fuselage. As the He-Be Gee-Bee turned crosswind, the stack sounds were similar to a machine gun. On the downwind, whistling in the wires could be heard.

OK… the He-Be Gee-Bee is Mike Prosholt’s name for his Bowers Flybaby, which is signed off to fly. Why the name? He painted the plane in a cream white and red with a scalloped trim similar to the GEE BEE R-2 Racer, and he figured flying the Flybabay might give him the “He-Be Gee-Bees”, or something like that.

METAL SUPERMARKET
Jerry Sorrell

I needed some aluminum sheet for floorboard work I am doing in the RV-4. Columbia Airmotive did not have anything in stock, but they referred me to Metal Supermarkets located on Whitaker Way, east of Portland Airport.

I visited the warehouse and got exactly what I wanted for a reasonable price. The purchase also included a tour of the warehouse. For you plane builders and hobbyists, here is a rundown of the material on hand.

• Aircraft grade aluminum sheets, square stock, tubes, cylinders and bars.
• Very large blocks and slabs of aluminum for those that want to do some billet and CNC work.
• Chrome Molybdenum tube and square stock, and sheets.
• Stainless sheet and stock
• Brass for you boaters

They have it or can get it.
Metal Supermarkets
13319 NE Whitaker Way
Portland OR.97230
503-258-1151
fax 503-258-1176
www.metalsupermarkets.com

Minutes/Notes From Last Meeting

Board Meeting Notes

Attended by: Al Drewry, Mike Lewis, Mark Edwards, and Jerry Sorrell

We do not yet have a fly in coordinator. Fernando will not be able to lead this year.

We discussed the mailings and we all agreed in Eric’s absence that Eric is responsible for the design and content of a post card mailer. Jerry suggested that we just market the near area and see what the response is.

Al reminded the board that we need to audit the 2002 records. Jerry will pick a couple of auditors.

Jerry has taken no action on the rest area reservations for free coffee.

Jerry also showed an article from the Vancouver Columbian, regarding aircraft in low flight over the national refuge at Ridgefield. Should we consider working with the National Wildlife Refuge reps in an educational program? Exec board thought it a good idea. Jerry will make a call to reps to find out interest.

Club Meeting Minutes

Bill Piper was asked to host the February meeting. He agreed. The chapter meeting will take place at Bill’s place to see his E-Racer.

For those that wish to car pool, meet at the airport about 20 minutes early for the drive to I-5 Cloverdale road exit south of Kalama.

Al posted the income, expenses and cash accounts.

We also pushed membership dues and calendar sales. Thanks to those who participated in both.

Charlie Rozensweig provided the program. He brought many of his newsletters and publications that specialized in the conversion of automotive engines for aircraft use. Charlie is taking a careful and realistic approach to the conversion process and has studied this option for about 20 years. He hopes to have a test stand mounted engine running this summer. The RV-6 awaits the installation, along with the finish kit work.

Our thanks to Charlie for a very informative presentation and wish you high horsepower and continuous RPM’s when the time comes.

Thanks to Bob Taylor for bringing the low-cal fruit treats and coffee.

Member Profile

Eric Hoppe has been very active in the chapter, both as a builder and a flyer. His enthusiasm for flying make him very difficult to miss. He has graciously agreed to be the subject for this months "featured pilot."

Eric Hoppe

	Eric was born in Spokane, Washington, one of two boys. As a child, his family lived in West Africa where he had the opportunity to travel the world. Among other places, this included a safari in Kenya, the pyramids in Egypt, the islands of Greece, the many sights of Europe, Machu Piccu in Peru, and Sugar Loaf mountain in Rio. After graduating from the Ohio State University in 1994 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering, he married Betsy, who is a University of Cincinatti metallurgical engineer. They both work for Steelscape in Kalama, where he is in charge of the computer business system which runs the company "from order to cash" and she is in charge of keeping the paint line running.
After having two children, Adam, who is almost 3 1/2 and Sarah, who is almost 1 1/2, he is finding family activities sometimes take presidence over plane building. Eric has been in airplanes both large and small all his life. His paternal grandfather flew C-47's and AT-6's during WWII. Both of grandpa's boys caught the bug and have been flying various GA aircraft for as long as Eric can remember. Flying is something Eric has always wanted to do and a mentor once said the greatest regret in his life was that he waited so long to start flying. Betsy took that comment to heart and decided to stop waiting. Eric got flying lessons for his birthday in February of 1998. He got his private pilot's license in August of 1998 with 42 hours in his log book. Eric did have a frightening experience on the Hood River - EAA Poker run; a flight which others in the club may remember. He had his wife and two month old Adam with him. The flight in the gorge was harrowing and the landing was a major pucker factor. However, sometimes those flights are learning experiences and he returned the plane with shaky knees and nary a scratch and was very proud of his performance. He still considerers himself a young (as in inexperienced) pilot and has the goal of being able to safely become an old and experienced pilot. His most exciting flight was when he convinced Merrill to let Vinnie give him some spin training. Again, Eric was intnetionally putting himself in an uncomfortable position to hopefully make him a better pilot. Eric also had the chance to spend a day flying gliders with his brother off the north shore in Hawaii. There is nothing like being able to stay aloft indefinitely as the southerly winds hit the steep Hawaiian mountains. Asking a pilot to name their dream aircraft is an excersize in futility and a great way to occupy said pilot's thoughts for a long time. With money as no object, Eric would like a six seater, pressurized, full IFR (the whole-meal-deal panel), 250+ knot cruise, 60 knot stall, 15 gph burn, de-ice equipped. Does this plane exist? Maybe the Meridian or the Adam Aircraft... maybe the Eclipse 500? However, realistically he is really in love with his Express. A Velocity XL has always held a special place in his heart as well.
He finds flying to be challenging, a great escape, and a method of clearing his mind of everything else except the task at hand. His goals, in order of importance are; "Finish my plane, finish my plane, finish my plane." He would also like to see Betsy get her ticket and he would like to add the instrument rating. Eric's perfect cross country would be to start in Friday Harbor, traverse British Columbia, and then head south along the western slope of the continental divide through Montana, Wyoming and Colorado. He loves building things and enjoys the challenge and the satisfaction that comes from using and trusting something he built.

Calendar of events

Next Meeting: Thursday February 6th, 2003, 7:00 pm

Board Meeting

To be determined. Board may be meeting at the Columbia Inn Restaurant at 6:00 pm. We will go directly from the restaurant to Bill's place.

Upcoming Program

We will be meeting at Bill Piper’s place to view his E-Racer.

Map to Bill's house:
1053 Cloverdale Rd
Kalama, WA 98625-9720
(360) 673-5131

Large Scale	Small scale

Classifieds

The calendars are here! The calendars are here! Please support your chapter and buy them!
The 2003 calendars are available. There are two models: a desktop model and a wall hanging model. We are selling them for $15 and $12 respectively. Both can be purchased for $25. These will make GREAT presents and are a required display in every shop. They are a must have for anyone who is interested in knowing what day it is!

Lee Dines has some cylinders for sale: ---posted February 2003

6 Continental )-200 or )-300 standard steel cylinders. All have 70 lbs or better compression. $150 each.
Please contact Lee at 425-6619

Joe Hennessy is looking for a rivet gun: ---posted February 2003

Joe Hennessey is looking for anyone who would like to loan, sell a 3x rivet gun with accessories.

Custom Airplane work:--posted December 2002

Do you need to have your RV finished? Do you need a new custom Pitts built
to your specs? How about a smoke system to better visualize the aeroabtics?
This is the place. www.sorrellco.com

Jay Tabor is selling his Glastar firewall forward:--posted December 2002

My 0-320 Lycoming. I t has only 10 hours since an Aero Sport Power rebuild. It's the E2A model but can be made constant speed for an additional $2000. My GlaStar firewall forward less prop is for sale for $22000, engine only for $13,900. You can save a lot of time and money.

BD-4 for sale: See the pictures --posted December 2002

"I am posting this to help out a widow lady. She has a complete BD-4 with a Lycoming 0-290 DTC with 1300 hrs. She says it has logs. The plane is complete, but disassembled for restoration-maintenance. She will include a custom trailer for the plane. The plane is in British Columbia and is Canadian registered. She is asking 6500 US negotable. Ann may be e-mailed at starann@dowco.com. A friend bought her late husband's Ercoupe, and I'm just trying to do a good deed & get the word out."

--Paul Anton

Please Note!!! All classifieds will start to bear a date. After they have been in the newsletter for 3 publications, they will be moved to the classifieds section of the EAA 1111 web page. Thank you in advance for alerting the editor when and if your ad can be removed.

Officers and Committee Chairpersons