The Plane Newsletter

A publication of Chapter 1111 Experimental Aircraft Association

March 2003 - March 2003 - March 2003 - March 2003 - March 2003 - March 2003

From the President

Kelso Hangar Rates

The City of Kelso recently passed a + 20% increase in hangar rates. Some of the hangar tenants, including EAA members, feel the rate increase was not fair. This opinion is based on lower hangar rates at nearby or comparable airports. I brought up the concern about the hangar rates at the Airport Board meeting on Thursday, February 13th.

To objectively evaluate the hangar rates, I am collecting data from at least 6 comparable airports in the western Washington and western Oregon area. These data are being collected through a phone call to the applicable airport authority. I have also visited Bob Olson twice in February and he has provided me with the research work that he did on hangar rates at other airports in 2001.

My intent is to bring the statistical information to the EAA chapter and get approval from the group to offer an opinion to the Airport Board regarding the rate increase. By the February meeting, I can not be sure I will have all the data, but I can give the trends on what I have to date. I owe the Airport Board a status report in March, and I think the final report and recommendation can come in April.

Plane Thoughts

Six Months after Coronary By-Pass: Medically Speaking

Since mid-December, I have completed all my treadmill tests, blood samples, cholesterol control, blood pressure, etc, and everything is “very good or excellent” according to the local doctors.

My primary care physician must now make a summary of the medical history and it will be packaged to give to the FAA Medical Examiner. He, in turn, will make one more review of my current health and give me the standard 3rd class physical. All this paperwork then goes to FAA Chief Surgeon in Oklahoma for review. Rumor has it the backlog is about 3 months.

If all goes as planned, I will be given a “Special Airworthiness Issuance” that may expire one year after the treadmill test which was last December. In other words, I may be legal to be pilot in command for 4-5 months and another comparative treadmill test will be required to send to Oklahoma. If all my vitals stay good, FAA Oklahoma may then allow the local Medical Examiner to take care of the paperwork as usual. This whole matter is a test of patience. If I live through the paperwork, I pass the test! ---Jerry

Minutes/Notes From Last Meeting

Board Meeting Notes

5 officers present plus Bev and Jim.
Previous minutes reviewed with no comments.
Financial report shows $235.85 in checking; $3163.80 in building fund; $9315.16 in CD.
Talked about establishing an audit for 2002. Perhaps Dick Woods will do it.
Talked about rest stop volunteer duty. Yes, it is still a viable option. Jerry to try to make it to DOT with the form.
Jerry tried to contact the Fed offices in Ridgefield about the wildlife flight restrictions, but can't seem to get there whewn they are open. Typical government jobs!!
We discussed the calendars and decided we will not buy them again next year unles people pre-pay.

Jim Ylvisaker has agreed to head the Fly-In Committee. The Fly-In will be June 14th.
Bev Smith will handle the food at the Fly-In this year. Charlie and BillP will be the ramp boss. Harry B will take care of the tables and chairs. Mike will handle the fliers/bulletins. Eric will contact the surrounding EAA chapters.

Club Meeting Minutes

The club meeting was held at Bill Peiper's shop to look at his E-Racer.

Member Profile

Many of you have seen this grandma type with her nicely painted C-152 around the fly-ins. Though only a builder of model airplanes, currently working on a Tiger and a DC-3, she is an avid supporter of the Young Eagle Program.

Karen Fenton

	I was born in Pocatello, Idaho and raised on a ranch in the high country of central idaho, New Meadows. Those of you who have ever flown into the McCall/Cascade area of Idaho are in my old stomping grounds. I had one brother and one sister. My husband is Bob, to whom I have been married for 41 years this June. He is a geohydrologist, geological engineer (with all the problems associated with engineers.) However, I love him dearly and he was extremely supportive of my taking up flying at 54. I have three children, two girls and a boy, and four grandchildren, all in the immediate vicinity.
I started in nursing at Idaho State University, went on to the University of idaho and received a degree in Secondary Education with an English major and music minor, and then a Master's degree in Rhetoric and Public Address (now you know why I talk so much) from Washington State University. I have taught every level from K - College. Because of my music minor, I taught the full school music program in several states, and taught inter-personel communication part time one year at Eastern Washington State College, eight years at Boise State University, and six years at Mt. Hood Community College, as well as teaching English full time at Corbett, Oregon and Longview, Washington. I had always wanted to fly. My brother built model airplanes from day one and I followed. Unfortunately in Idaho in 1950, woman simply did not fly (though I found out later there were several well known bush pilots out of McCall who were women. I grew up in the age of the Ford Tri-motor and watched it truck over our valley many times carrying smokejumpers. My first flight was in a rebuilt something which our neighbor, a returning sailor from WWII had rebuilt and took my brother and I up in. No one in the valley thought he would get it together but he did. It was a fabric covered something, but I have no idea what. My second flight was from McCall to Boise in 1952 on what was then West Coast Airlines in a DC-3. I was in heaven. The entire time we have been married I always told Bob, someday I will learn to fly a plane. For our 32th wedding anniversary he arranged for four hours of lessons for me with a family friend who was a CFI. As they say, that was when peanut butter met jelly. In the nine years since I had that first lesson, I have logged almost 700 hours, obtained an instrument rating, and acquired a plane. My brother went on in aviation, receiving a bronze star and being nominated for the distinguished flying cross in Viet Nam as a helicopter pilot. He served in the Pursian Gulf with Morrison Knutson, worked for the forest service, and had an award winning Luscombe, which he had redone, at Oshkosh some years ago. He decided that I needed a plane, and with Bob's OK he rebuilt Figi, which had been salvaged as a result of a training accident, for me, and shipped her across from Hawaii. I have yet to scare myself, and hope to maintain that average, though Bob was certainly scared the day at 8,000 ft. over the St. Helens wilderness area, I experience severe carb icing! Figi has scared a few people a few times with that. Sometime ask Vinnie about it! The most fun I've ever had in a plane was when Bob and I rented a "scenic flight" (though both the pilot and we had agreed that it was a "check out the plane" flight) in a Beaver in Vancouver, Canada. After giving me the controls for about 15 minutes to check out my touch, the pilot set it up and let me do two landings!! My ideal plane would be something along that line, maybe a Husky with tundra tires, and floats or maybe an Otter. Oh well, dream on. The most memorable flight I ever had was while training. Bernie and I took off from Pearson, which was clear, and headed toward Kelso. The entire valley, from mountain range to mountain range, was fogged in. There were quite a few ships on the Columbia, and only their superstructures were showing. It was just like a ghost fleet. It was unforgettable. Many times, I have felt like Jim, and several others have said, the intense gratitude of being one of the truly privileged members of society who have that magic title of pilot!
I am not a builder and never will be. My technique, when something does not fit, is to go to the nearest sledge hammer. I joined your esteemed group because I got sick of the 99's making quilts and recipe books. My thing was, and still is, flying. And if you will excuse me, you bunch of mainly old codgers, and some not so old, have made me feel welcome. You will never know how much I appreciate that, though I know I was, and still am, somewhat of enigma to some of you. I enjoy most of your programs, and the Young Eagles keep me interested. I thank you for your support and acceptance. Karen

Tech Visits

Technical Counselor Visit to John Cryderman. Friday, February 21, 2003.

On Saturday, February 15th, I visited John in Battle Ground to look at the progress on his Murphy Rebel. This is coming together nicely and John has completed all major airframe portions.

He is now preparing the instrument panel layout, and has also purchased a low time Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 HP. (Mark Edwards with the Wag Aero Cub, look out! There could be a short field take off contest in the future. Sam and Sandy, no fair with your 180 HP.) Matituck recently overhauled the engine, which is probably one of the best rebuild shops in the US.

In terms of “percent done” I told John that when you get to the point you are about to hang the engine, you are maybe half way through the project. However, patience and persistence will get the job done.

Calendar of events

Special Fly-In Committee Meeting: Tuesday March 4th, 2003, 5:00 pm at the FBO

Everyone who is interested in working on the Fly-In is welcome but I particularly need the following individuals who have already been tapped for a key role to be there: Jerry S., Mike L., Bev S., Charlie R., Bill Pieper, Eric H., Sam and Sandy A., Gary T.

Next Board Meeting: Thursday March 6th, 2003, 6:00 pm at the FBO

Next Club Meeting: Thursday March 6th, 2003, 7:00 pm at the FBO

Our program will inlcude further details about my 4 port solenoid controlled engine primer and a trip across the field to see the assembled Edwards Wag Aero Cub. He is getting very close now!

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.

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