The Plane Newsletter

September 2007 NEWSLETTER

NEXT CHAPTER MEETING September 6th (Thursday)

Come at 6:30 and Enjoy Burgers, Chips, & Dessert With Us!

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

E.A.A. Chapter # 1111
Monthly Meeting Agenda
September 6th, 2007

(E-Board Meeting Starts a 5:00)

First the Feast: Burger Burn, Chips, & Dessert for a nominal donation.

Annual Dinner at The Rutherglen Mansion on November 3rd: Menu & Cost the same as last year; mark your calendars! The Rutherglen Mansion - Bed & Breakfast

Important: Nominations for next year's officers will be presented/accepted for a vote in November!

Program: Jeff Paulson from Evergreen Aviation Services, McMinnville, Oregon, will show a DVD & talk about the many exciting activities going on at the home of the Spruce Goose!

Tech Report: Don't Be Too Quick To Dump Those "Archaic" Magnetos!:

Technical Advisor’s Report for September By Jerry Sorrell
Caution on Jump Starts

I subscribe to “Light Plane Maintenance” and have found this publication to be a valuable resource in understanding precautions to take when repairing or operating aircraft. Here is a summary of recent article about jump-starting a dead or low battery.

Diamond Aircraft has a twin diesel powered plane known as the DA-42. The engine operations are controlled by an electrical control unit (ECU). I refer to this as the “computer brains” that operate the engine functions, same as found in most every car made today.

The pilot found the battery too low for an engine start, so he asked for a jump start. This worked and the engines operated normally. He proceeded with the check list and departed. When he activated the gear retract which was electro-hydraulic, the battery had not charged enough to provide the reserve power needed for the landing gear retract. The alternator could not keep up with the load and the ECU stopped doing its job.

When the ECU quit, so did both engines. When both engines quit, the props were designed to go to full feather automatically. So no chance to get a windmill start by pulling the circuit breaker on the gear motor, thereby letting the alternator feed only the ECU and bringing the engines back to life.

The Pilot’s handbook said that in the event of a dead or low battery; allow three hours of charging before attempting flight. Diamond Aircraft is also rethinking the ECU programming and adding a stand alone emergency battery for the ECU as standard equipment.

How does this relate to experimentals? With navigation and engine monitoring, more dependency is being placed on the electrical system, as vacuum driven flight instruments and engine instrumentation are being replaced with “flat panel” displays, all counting on a good electrical system. Have a battery sufficient to do the job and a main alternator with a backup if you are going “all electric”.

Notes from Last Meeting:

EAA Chapter 1111
Minutes of August 2, 2007

Executive Board Meeting at 5 pm

Attending: Dwight Irby, Gary Trenner, Bill Pieper, Al Drewry, Jerry Sorrell

Most of the time at the meeting was spent on discussion of the EAA Cascade Warbird fly-in this weekend. Al Drewry will take care of the kitchen. Jerry Sorrell will have a table for EAA promotion and will display his plane. Fernando Cugliavan will also display his plane.

Dwight Irby will open up hangar A-6 and display the Pitts and the “zoo” items.

The volunteer turn out for the weekend looks to be good. Fernando Cugliavan, Phil Phillips, Gary Trenner, Al Drewry, Bill Pieper, Dwight Irby and family, Jerry Sorrell

We also discussed the memorial library and a memorial wall to include pictures of Eric Emmett, Herb Wainwright, Jim Ylvisaker and Lee Dines. Jerry will look for some economical book shelves.

We have not heard from Dick Woods on the audit.

We discussed doing Young Eagles program in September.

Nominating Committee will be Mark Edwards and Henry Schmitt.

Chapter Meeting Notes

Eats at 6:30 PM

Bob Taylor provided the Pizza and Vino for a pre- meeting meal. Of course, we had ice cream too.

Business meeting and program at 7 pm

Financial report by Al Drewry (must be filled in)

Dwight Irby reported that our dinner will be November 3rd at the Rutherglen Mansion. Same place, same price same menu.

Dwight Irby covered the fly in and our participation, beginning Friday. Help needed to set up tables and make posters.

Program: Bob Taylor presented his slide and movies of his Grumman trip to New York. Thank you bob for showing us what adventure can be accomplished in a light plane

Our next chapter meeting is on Thursday, July 5th at 7:00p.m. at our Clubhouse at Kelso Hangar A7. Join us for dinner at 6:30!

Officers and Committee Chairpersons