Hello,
Fellow EAAers!
We should be ashamed of ourselves. Nobody
should be having as much fun as we've had in the last three weeks! We
had a very nice meeting at Smith's Aerodrome (so what if the weather
didn't clear until after we finished eating), and we had a great time
with our "split session" Young Eagles rallies at Gainesville and
Houston, followed only one week later with the Rally at Mountain View,
during which our 1000th Young Eagle received her
first airplane ride.
September Meeting
During the business
meeting at Smith's Aerodrome, a nominating committee was appointed to
find people willing to serve for the coming year, to be elected in
November, taking over in December. The committee of volunteers is made
up of Sue Kalhoefer, Bill Newton, and Mike and Sharon Vaughn. If we want
to continue with our policy of having lots of people serve, rather than
the same ones all the time, so that we don't end up with "lifetime"
officers, we will have to have some yes answers when you are called on.
Remember, it's only a year, and you'll get lots of help whenever you
need it. Everyone in the Chapter has been good at doing their share. So
let's continue in that mode. We will try to be respectful of your other
commitments.
The schedule of upcoming events was discussed, including four Young
Eagles rallies, three of which will have taken place by the time you
read this. The last one will be at Willow Springs, in conjunction with
the October meeting. Then the November meeting will be back at Mountain
View in Vaughn's hangar with a covered dish lunch, and the December
meeting will be in Willow Springs at White's hangar for a Christmas
party. If you've never attended any of these events previously, you
really missed some great times. If you have attended them, I know you'll
clear your calendar for them this year.
Henny Christensen presented the painted panel representing the open
hangar door for the float at the meeting. It was attached before the
parade in Gainesville, and created the look of an open hangar on what is
really the tool and supply box at the back of the float. In addition, a
boom box was carried with recorded sounds of airplanes flying by.
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Pictures of the September
Chapter business meeting in John Smith's hangar |
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Gene Pascoe reads the
treasurer's report |
Jim Tausworthe's books will now be available in boxed sets. Phyllis
White has been working on the slipcase boxes by hand. They look very
nice and will serve to protect the covers. If anyone buys a complete set
of the mystery stories in a box, the price is $70, or $10 per book; a
complete set of the aviation stories is $30, again $10 per book. This is
a real bargain at $5 off per book purchased at the individual price of
$15. They make great gifts.
After the meeting, we enjoyed barbecued pulled pork and chicken
sandwiches, side dishes, and desserts in the hangar. As we ate, the
weather cleared. Well, the Ozarks have been blessed with rain this
summer, and only a little bit of non-flying weather has occurred on days
when we've had activities scheduled.
Fall Festivals & Flying
September 19 and 20 was Hootin'n'Hollarin' in Gainesville, a two-day
event. We had a booth made up of two tent shelters on the square both
days. The ladies dressed the part of the theme, "Thanks for the
Memories," churned butter in a jar, and displayed some articles from
times gone by. They also displayed a "memory book" of our Chapter's
activities and people. The flight simulator was at the airport and was
almost constantly in use. The booth, float, and simulator part of our
participation is considered a joint activity of EAA and MPA, since most
of us wear both hats. All of this is with the idea of presenting general
aviation to the public as something they can enjoy, or at least can appreciate, as
part of American history and culture.
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Dad enjoys seeing his son's face
light up as he "flies" in the simulator |
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A Young Eagle returns from
her flight with Dan Gilbert |
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Jerry Luna taxies out with a
Young Eagle |
At Gainesville Memorial Airport, we set up operations in Jerry Luna's
hangar. Our pilots flew 21 Young Eagles on Friday, and 34 Young Eagles
on Saturday. Some of these kids were really turned on to flying by the
time they came back. One girl was heard to exclaim, "That's absolutely
the coolest thing I've ever done in my whole life!" (She is seventeen.)
Another girl, one of several sisters in her family, was already trying
to figure out how to fit flying lessons into her future plans. Mom said
college first. We said there are always summers. The pilots at
Gainesville were Len Ahrnsbrak, Clint Allen, Henny Christensen, Dan
Gilbert, Jerry Luna, and Mike Vaughn. Gene Pascoe and James Vokac worked
the flightline, and Bob Bohemier learned how to get the kids signed up
for their flights. Robert Harshman lent a hand, too. Robert is one of
the first pilots of Chapter 1218 to fly Young Eagles, having flown 41 at
Ava Bill Martin Memorial Airport during the years preceding the
formation of Chapter 1218. After the Chapter formed, Robert was our
first Young Eagles Coordinator. So we always appreciate it when he is
there to give us moral support at a Rally. Since we have developed a
complete listing of all our Young Eagles, including the date, airport,
pilot, and airplane used for each flight, we were glad that Robert could
supply us with the tail number of his Cessna 172. Somehow those tail
numbers are so very personal and special that nobody ever seems to
forget them, even long after an airplane is sold.
The other event at which we flew Young Eagles that weekend was Heritage
Day in Houston on Saturday. There, our pilots flew 40 Young Eagles in a
little over two hours. Ben Hurtt, Gary Jordan, Bill Newton, and Howard
Wolford were the pilots. Gary Jordan surprised everybody by showing up
with a Citabria. That was neat. Young Eagles Coordinator, Bob Brantley,
reported that he had sign-up help from Phyllis White until Dave Altis
took over for her. Tom White and Ray Fine worked the flightline with Don
Anderson. He said all did a great job, the weather was fine and
everything went smoothly. We're glad to see all the new help in working
with the kids. We needed every one of them at Mountain View when it got
hectic. That way, everyone was able to get a little food and rest break,
too.
Fresh from Gainesville and Houston, we went to Mountain View on
September 27 for Pioneer Days. We love the way the airport is situated
within walking distance of the square, yet the town seems to refrain
from encroaching on the airport. At Mountain View, Mike and Sharon
Vaughn had one hangar set up as a retreat for our members with a
sandwich buffet, and the other hangar set up for Young Eagles sign-ups.
Our pilots were Bob Bohemier (who flew his first Young Eagle), Henny
Christensen, Ben Hurtt, Jerry Luna, Mike Vaughn and Howard Wolford. The
flightline volunteers were Gene Pascoe,Tom White and James Wiley.
Once again, Dave Altis shared the sign-up duties with Bob and me. The big
news at this event was that we met our Chapter goal of flying 1000 Young
Eagles before the Centennial of Powered Flight. Chapter 1218's 1000th
Young Eagle is Wendi Caillouet of Birch Tree, Missouri, who took her
ride with Ben Hurtt. Wendi is thirteen years old.
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Wendi Caillouet, Young Eagle #1000, with Ben Hurtt, her pilot |
There were 77 Young Eagles flown at Mountain View, giving us a total of
1007. Every one of our Young Eagles through September 20 is listed in
the new "Chapter 1218 Roster of Young Eagles" on the website. The group
from Mountain View will be listed in a few days. This coming weekend, we
will fly more Young Eagles at Willow Springs, which will be our last
scheduled Young Eagles Rally for this year. Pilots, you can continue to
fly Young Eagles individually. The file for printing registration forms
is available for downloading from the website, as well as the file for
keeping a log sheet. Return everything to me for entry into the Chapter
Young Eagles roster and forwarding to Oshkosh. Also, if you aren't up on
the requirements for flying Young Eagles, give me a call.
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Mom watches as her daughter is
ready to begin the Young Eagles experience at Mountain View. |
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Jerry Luna and a new Young Eagle
return from a flight |
Those of us who worked on planning these events had all the help and
participation we could possibly ask for, with everybody working in their
area of expertise. Thank you to everyone who spent time getting the
float and simulator to Gainesville and setting them up. By the way, the
float took second place in the parade at Mountain View. Thank you to
everyone who provided food, shelters, the use of hangars, and all of the
little details that added up to success. Each event was framed in
perfect weather. Ben Hurtt reports that we received a letter from the
City of Houston thanking us for our participation in Heritage Day.
Thanks for the Memories
The thrust of this newsletter has always been to lift aviation among our
members and the aviation community in the south central Missouri Ozarks.
It is a real drag to read material the weight of which has already been
reported in other publications. We try to provide balance between wider
issues and those centered around our members, so we trim carefully. In
this mode, we are making a call for more traffic from you. Please give
your position in "Memorable Flights," our new self-announce feature.
Expect to meet the editor on the ramp one of these days.
Fred received the first visit, because he is the pilot who got noticed
for his bright idea. He tells how it was on that memorable day to
experience the reason, the exhilaration, that makes us all want to fly
in the first place.
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One of My Most Memorable
Flights |
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By Fred
Kalhoefer |
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"If you have ever spent some time in Southern
California, you know that—unlike in the movies (how do they do
that?)—most days are very smoggy, and frequently have very poor
visibility. In fact, I believe Special VFR was invented just so So
Cal pilots could actually legally take off and land in the Los
Angeles Basin.
"Monday, March 1, 1969, was not such a day. On this day the air was
clear and crisp and the sun shone bright and warm on the airport at
Fullerton, California. The FBO where I was taking my commercial
flight training had just received his first
new-off-the-assembly-line Piper Arrow and I had been checked out in
it. Now it was up to me to log some time as "pilot of a complex
aircraft" as described in the FARs.
"I couldn't have picked a better day to schedule a flight to the
Monterey Peninsula than that particular Monday. Our two boys climbed
in the back seat and Sue strapped them in. The stroller that was
still needed for Craig, the younger one, was loaded in the baggage
compartment and, after a good preflight, Sue and I strapped
ourselves into the seats. We were ready. Ground control cleared us
to taxi to runway two-four and then the tower gave us permission for
takeoff, clearing us to climb out on runway heading toward the
Pacific Ocean coast. Full power and the Arrow went racing down the
runway. We were airborne in a very short time and up came the gear.
The wheels made a little chirp when they hit the wheel wells and
there was the clunk that comes when the gear is securely stored.
Below us was a sea of houses, streets and freeways loaded with
vehicles. The smell of the new airplane was strong and the
one-thousand-two-hundred feet per minute rate of climb gave this
pilot, who was used to the slow, lumbering Cherokees, a feeling of
euphoria.
"Soon we had reached the Hollywood Hills, and below us through the
clear air we could see fancy mansions, well-manicured lawns and
shrubbery—the homes of the "rich and famous." The white marble of
the Getty Museum stood out like a Greek temple and was in sharp
contrast to the yellow and black of the landscape around it. The
coastline appeared and we followed it in a westerly direction toward
Santa Barbara. After crossing the Point Mugu Naval Air Station,
Santa Barbara with its beautiful harbor came into sight. Off to our
left we could see the channel islands, unobstructed from view by fog
as they so often are. Below us we could see the missile launch pads
at Vandenburg AFB and off in the distance appeared Morro Bay with
the Morro Rock in the center. To our right was San Luis Obispo and
the Cal Poly Campus. Next the Hearst Castle appeared and we looked
down on this beautiful building with its large swimming pool that
seemed to be looking back at us as a large blue eye.
"By now the geography of the coastline had changed and, where
earlier we had sandy beaches, we now saw jagged, steep-climbing
rocks. The ocean, that had come up on the beach in gentle rolling
waves, changed to white caps. White foam was reaching up high in the
air where the water was hitting hard on the sharp rocks. We climbed
a little and could see the tall trees of the redwood forest off to
our right. What beautiful sights. No place to set down, though, if
you had an emergency. But I was not expecting any trouble with this
new airplane.
"Next we flew over Big Sur and it was time to contact Monterey
tower. We were fortunate to be cleared for a straight in and, with
the wind coming strong from the north and a warning from Sue, 'Don't
forget to let the gear down, Fred,' we made a nice smooth landing at
Monterey Bay. The airport is located right at the ocean front and
from inside the terminal restaurant we had a nice view of the
Pacific and some very pristine surroundings. Of course, the
hamburgers were the best, the service was very good and the
waitresses oohed and aahed over our boys and the nice airplane. We
felt good.
"Well fed and with tanks topped off, we embarked on our flight home.
Again the sights were great. This time, though, it was a little more
turbulent. Nevertheless, we made the trip home in seven-tenths of an
hour less than the trip up the coast. Departure time had been nine
o'clock in the morning and we were back in Fullerton at three in the
afternoon. Not bad for going from Southern California almost to San
Francisco and home again.
"This was probably the greatest ride I ever took. As you can tell,
here it is thirty four years later and I still reminisce. What a
beautiful country the USA is and how fortunate we are to live in it.
Let's take good care of it."
Thank you, Fred, both for the idea for the feature, and for writing
the first one. We look forward to more stories from our members.
They can be good flights, bad flights, unusual flights, training
flights, you name it.
An Invitation from HQ
I received an e-mail from the EAA Chapter Office:
"Susan, Good afternoon! We were recently reading your Chapter
newsletters and website and saw the work your Chapter is doing to
help in the construction of a Wright Flyer owned by Bill Ghan. I
spoke briefly with your Chapter President Ben Hurtt who told me your
Chapter gets together on a weekly basis to help in the construction
of the flyer. What a wonderful experience!
"We wanted to invite your Chapter to submit an article and photos
about the involvement of your Chapter in the project for the Chapter
Hangar section of Sport Aviation. It would be a wonderful way to
share with other EAA members and Chapters how your Chapter got
involved, what your participation has been, the steps along the way,
etc. It certainly is an exciting way to commemorate the 100th
anniversary of powered flight.
"Please let me know if you are interested in putting together an
article and photos. Thanks so much. We look forward to hearing from
you!
"Brenda Anderson, EAA Chapter Administrator."
Of course, I responded that we would be interested, so that is what
we're working on now. The hardest part will be picking out just
which pictures to submit, there are so many of them from which to
choose. This is a neat thing for Bill, since it ties in so well with
his being in the EAA Hall of Fame, recognized for his years of
teaching the art of homebuilding airplanes to kids and other
teachers. Now we've been his students by working with him on the
Wright Flyer. It's not too late to join in on Wednesday afternoons.
Most of you know that Margaret spent a few days in the hospital, but
she is home now after some tests and medications, and we hope she
will gain her strength back soon. Work will resume on the Flyer.
October Meeting
Since the October meeting will also be a Young Eagles Rally day for
the Food and Forest Festival in Willow Springs on October 4, 2003,
the schedule looks like this: Fly Young Eagles from 9:00 to 11:00
AM., hold the business meeting after that in Ron White's hangar, and
break for lunch at noon. If there's still a significant number of
kids to be flown, and pilots to fly them, they can be asked to come
back after lunch for their flights. Breakfast will be served in the
hangar as usual for earlybirds. Lunch will feature Ron's wonderful
beef brisket and ham. Members should bring side dishes, salads, and
desserts.
Because the public will be present at the airport, everyone is
reminded not to walk across the runway on this day for any reason.
(Drive around in a vehicle, please.)
Buzz Thunderbee by Squawk
Buzz didn't tell us he was at Hootin'n'Hollarin'. That little guy
sure gets around.
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We'll see you
Saturday in Willow Springs! Fly in or drive in.
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