The Plane Newsletter

April 2007 NEWSLETTER

NEXT CHAPTER MEETING April 5th (Thursday)

Come at 6:30 and Join Our Spaghetti Feast!

Meeting at 7:00P.M. AT Our Clubhouse (KELSO Hangar A7)

E.A.A. Chapter # 1111
Monthly Meeting Agenda
April 5th, 2007

(E-Board Meeting Starts a 5:00)

Feast: For a small donation enjoy Spaghetti, bread, garlic butter, and pop or coffee! Come swap flying lie...uh....tails with us and enjoy the company in our new clubhouse.

Program: The wandering McClellan's are at it again!. Seems they can only stand our wonderful winter weather so long before the itch to jump into that RV-4 escape vehicle of theirs and head for sunnier climes becomes irresistible. This time they followed the saw "The Lower the Lattitude the Better the Attitude!" and took off for Baja. We caught up to them recently during one of their rare winter visits home and Jim and Mary Ann have graciously agreed to present "Mexico the 2nd time around", a digital slide show of their Baja trip exploits. Come in out of the rain this Thursday and enjoy!

EXTRA! EXTRA! Read All About It!: DUANE WILSON'S RV9-A MAKES FIRST FLIGHT

On Friday, March 16th, the weather was fair and sunny. A perfect day for a test flight of a new RV9-A.
Duane Wilson, builder / owner, had contacted Mike Seegers to make the maiden flight. Mike, with many years of RV experience and about 75 "first flights" behind him, spent most of the morning going over the airplane before the inspection panels were put on.

Around noon, the time had come. Duane got a back seat ride in an RV-4 that served as chase plane behind Mike in the "9-A". Mike did a practice fast taxi, returned to runway 12, and then smoothly took off and climbed to 3000 feet and orbited the airport. Mike made control and stability checks and engine instrument call-outs to the ground radio where Duane's family and friends were monitoring the conversations.

Mike reported the "9-A" was tracking straight and true hands off. What a delight for Duane to know his ship was built in trim. Mike then came along side the RV-4 for some camera work, and then back to the airport for the perfect landing. Now that Duane knew the "9-A" would fly as it should, he took it up later that day his "first flight." He reports it's easier to land than a Cessna or Piper. Congratulations Duane Wilson and family!

As you will recall, Duane, last month's guest speaker, only recently learned to fly and then discovered he could "roll his own". Duane's glass panelled and now flying RV-9A is hangared in row "B" at Kelso. Congratulations Duane!

Prepping for the Big Moment:

And the FIRST FLIGHT!:

CLUBHOUSE IN THE FINAL STAGES OF FINISHING

With a sheet rock and taping crew finishing the upstairs on Saturday March 24th, the next step would be texturing and installing the suspended ceiling. We anticipated our work party would be back the following Saturday to "practice" shooting the texture, and then another one or two Saturdays learning how to hang the suspended grid ceiling.

Well, things did not go as planned, but went far better! Dwight Irby, with the blessing of the building committee, was able to get a laborer who was experienced and had the tools to texture the sheetrock and hang the grid ceiling. Then, Dwight was able to borrow a power lift platform for work in the A-6 hangar.

So... as of Friday afternoon, the texturing is done in the downstairs bathroom and upstairs, and the upstairs grid ceiling is in place, including hanging the 2 x 4 fluorescent lights that are designed for the grids. Dwight was able to get these lights from Renaud Electric for free. What was done in about three days, would have taken us three weeks of part time and Saturdays.

What's left? Not to worry volunteers; there is plenty to do such as:
Connection of lights to j-boxes
Painting, lots of painting. The firewall sheet rock in Hangar A-6 will need a coat of paint as the tape and plaster are sensitive to moisture and need to be sealed. More painting upstairs, and downstairs, bathroom, below kitchen sink, baseboard trim.
Install fire safety devices such as emergency exit lights and fire extinguishers
Install double hand rails in the stairway
Upstairs carpet and baseboard
The city says we can not have occupancy until we meet the requirements of fire, safety and health. So our April 5th meeting is a "work" night . We will work on the spaghetti at 6:30 and then watch Jim and May Ann work at telling us about Mexico trip #2 in their RV-4.

Al Expounding on the location of our 64" Plasma TV:

Paint Crew at Work in the Hangar:

Dues for 2007 are due:

A reminder: the annual dues for our chapter are $48.00 per year. This applies towards our insurance, EAA national dues, utilities and

Minutes from March's Meeting:

March 1st 2007 EAA Chapter 1111 Meeting Minutes

President Dwight Irby called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm with 19 members and guests present.

Old Business: No items discussed.

New Business:

Building committee Report: Jerry Sorrell reports on the clubhouse progress. The upstairs walls have been inspected and are ready for drywall.

Dwight Irby reports that the Exec Board members agreed to personally loan the chapter $300 each to facilitate completion of the clubhouse, he also opens this option to any chapter members that would like to participate. Member loans to building fund will have no terms and will be paid back as chapter funds allow. A recommendation came from the membership to send an E-mail to members offering this loan or donation plan as an option for participation in the clubhouse remodel.

The exec board asks for member input about using Ylvisaker fund. Terry Creamer and Harry Blair have made a list of possible uses for the funds. After discussion it was moved to table discussions until a future meeting.

Dwight Irby reports that the building committee has exceeded the original $8,000 remodeling spending limit. A motion was made and passed to authorize the building committee to spend above the original $8,000 limit. The committee will continue to update the chapter with expenditures each month.

Program:

Duane Wilson RV9 builder was our guest speaker for March he has finished his quick build kit in less than 2 years. Duane only recently learned to fly and then discovered how to "build your own". Duane showed us his project and reports he had a great deal of help and encouragement from his father, Duane discussed the building of his RV-9A and the installation of his glass panel. His aircraft is now hangared at Kelso in row "B"; final Inspection will be next week, with first flight to follow in two weeks.

Thanks:

The members would like to thank Gary Trenner for providing and cooking dogs and chili for the March meeting.

Once again, our next chapter meeting is on Thursday, April 5th at 7:00p.m. at our Clubhouse at Kelso Hangar A7. The Chili Dog Feast Starts at 6:30!

Officers and Committee Chairpersons