Merry Christmas, Members!
Can you believe how quickly we moved from summer to winter? November was
typical for that month with lots of cloudy days. December is usually
quite cold, but brings a number of crystal-clear days, smoke haze being
the only problem for visibility. With just a little breeze, that goes
away too. So bundle up and get out and fly!
Thanksgiving Dinner
We had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner at Ron's hangar following the
November meeting. Ron and Sharon always go all out for us, and we are
blessed to be able to meet there and have the family as members.
 |
 |
 |
|
Enjoying
each other's company before the meeting. |
Ron
prepares some of the great meat for serving. |
Kent
reads the minutes of the October meeting.
Photographs by Sue Kalhoefer |
November Meeting Notes
The meeting was lively, too, with lots of discussion on several topics.
We elected the new slate of officers as presented by the nominating
committee. There was also a question about where our "associate" members
stand with respect to the bylaws. Kent was delegated the task of
checking into it, and he found a place that allows us to have such
members, without their being able to vote or hold office. The membership
present wanted to "keep things the way they are" regarding these
members. Associate members won't have to be national members and their
names are not required to be on the roster we have to send to Oshkosh
each year, which includes all regular members and their national EAA
member numbers. We will include them in the member directory each year,
since they are regular participants in the social life of the Chapter
and its activities.
 |
 |
 |
|
Discussion ensues as we
proceed with the agenda. |
Attendance is a family thing
in EAA. |
Bill Ghan gives a report on
his trip to Oshkosh.
Photographs by Sue Kalhoefer |
Bill Ghan described the trip to Oshkosh to honor this year's inductees
to the Homebuilders Hall of Fame. Henny Christensen also attended and
took lots of pictures.
A list was started for people who will be available as much as possible
to go to the schools to make presentations to students, emphasizing the
fifth and sixth grades. It is hoped we will have people from each
geographic area covered by the Chapter so that it will be easy to get to
schools in each area with fairly short notice. A teacher's curricula
doesn't always understand the need for scheduling ahead or taking
weather limitations into account for the simulator. The simulator is a VFR-only device. Someone pointed out that it won't withstand deer
strikes, either. Gene Pascoe started collecting dues for 2005 and dues
will still be collected at the December and January meetings. Be sure
Gene Pascoe has your member number for the roster when you pay.
 |
Tom and Charlie set up
outside Wal-Mart in Houston to
sell tickets on the raffle for the P-51 pedal plane.
Photograph by Phyllis
White |
|
Fundraising
for the Hangar
Everyone was reminded that the drawing for the Bendix/King handheld
radio will be held at the December meeting. Charlie Ward set up
outside Wal-Mart in Houston to sell more raffle tickets on the
little P-51 peddle plane. The proceeds will be donated to the
Chapter. This drawing will also be held at the December meeting. The
last chance to buy tickets on both raffles will be at the meeting.
December
Meeting & Christmas Party
Phyllis is already decorating for the Christmas party. She says it
will be more modest than in years past, because of her physical
limitations and the time crunch that weekend. Helpers on Saturday
morning will still be appreciated even though there won't be any
breakfast.
The meeting will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 11, 2004,
followed immediately by the Christmas dinner party. The time change
was necessary because of White family activities later in the day.
So let's all try to be on time so we'll have time. |
Member Bio: Ed Walker
This
month we have a bio from Chapter 1218's newest member, Ed Walker. |
| |
Ed Walker
 |
|
"I was born June 22, 1940, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I fell in love
with aircraft at first sight in 1943, but I had to wait until 1955
for my first ride, which was in the back seat of a Piper Tri Pacer.
That's all it took.
"In 1961, I joined Naval Aviation as an Aircraft Mechanic on
reciprocating engines. I got rides as often as possible.
"I joined the Dallas Navy Flying Club in March 1969, and started
flight training to get my private pilot certificate. The Club
charged $4.50 per hour for an aircraft "wet," plus $3.00 per hour
for instruction. To offset the cost of flight training in the Club,
I worked for them at $1 per hour washing airplanes, changing tires,
doing oil changes, and assisting with inspections. Before I finished
training, however, I was transferred to the Twin Cities Naval Air
Station in June 1969. But I joined the Navy Flying Club there as a
Maintenance Officer. In November, I got my private pilot ticket.
"I was transferred back to Dallas in July 1970, and I rejoined the
Club there as a Maintenance Officer. For the next five years, I
worked with the A&P on all the Club aircraft. During that time, I
accumulated 950 hours of flying time in Club aircraft, as well as a
few local T-34s that I had worked on. Then, for the next six years,
until retirement from the Navy in Dallas, I didn't fly at all. I
remained in the Dallas area, and flew about 30 hours during the
summer of 1981, but then quit flying again until 2002. During that
time, I had resettled in Memphis, Tennessee, where I still live and
work.
"Finally, in 2002, I joined the Memphis Navy Flying Club just to fly
their T-34. That lasted until the aircraft was taken out of service
for a spar AD. At that point, I went looking for an aircraft of my
own. In anticipation of retiring again, this time to Mansfield,
Missouri, I bought the hangar that was for sale at Mansfield Muni in
January 2003. Then I found the Starduster biplane and bought it in
June this year. Between now and expected retirement again sometime
after January 2006, I travel back and forth between Memphis for work
and Mansfield for recreation."
 |
 |
| Ed Walker
in his Starduster on arrival for breakfast at Willow Springs one
Saturday. |
The
airplane generated a lot of interest and Ed answered questions
about it.
Photographs by Sue
Kalhoefer |
|
The Starduster has become a familiar sight to Chapter 1218 members.
Ed has flown it to Willow Springs for Saturday morning breakfasts at
Ron's hangar. He also flew it to Mountain View for the Chapter
meeting in September, when it served as the walk-around
demonstration aircraft for the kids participating in the Young
Eagles Rally.
Bill Newton was excited to get some open-cockpit time, for the first
time in years, as he went up with Ed in the Starduster one day
recently. Things happen to airplanes, though. One day while Ed was
flying, a wing support came loose. The end whipped around and cut
some holes in the wing fabric before finally breaking completely
free. Ed landed the airplane without further problem. Don Anderson's
son, Mark, is making a new support and will also repair the fabric
cuts. We expect to see the Starduster back in the air soon. Thank
you for telling us your story, Ed. |
Meeting Info Summary
Remember the meeting on
Saturday, December 11, at 11:00 a.m. Bring a side dish, salad, or
dessert, please. If the weather is nice, you can fly in to this one.
It's the last chance to by raffle tickets for the pedal plane built by
Charlie Ward and/or the handheld Bendix/King handheld nav/com. Proceeds
from both raffles benefit the Chapter hangar fund. The drawing will be
held that day. And, once again, remember to pay your Chapter dues. Gene
Pascoe will be collecting them at this meeting and the January meeting.
After that, you can mail them to him. If they're not in by January 31,
however, you will miss out on the new Chapter Membership Directory for
2005, which will be mailed with the February issue of the newsletter.
Buzz Thunderbee, by Squawk
We don't know whether Buzz
was inspired by all the pretty Christmas lights going up everywhere, or
whether he just finished a safety course about Operation Lights On, but,
either way, it'll help us "see and avoid" our little friend. We should
do as much for each other, too.
|
