Hello, Members!
The seasons have turned another corner in the year of 2004. We are now
in the Fall months, which usually bring some of the best flying weather
of the year. The skies can be brilliant and clear, the summer haze gone,
and temperatures ease somewhat. The days are getting shorter, though, so
we have to get home a little earlier to be on the safe side. Let's hope
the string of pretty days will hold up through this coming weekend, when
we plan to fly Young Eagles. The news is full of Hurricane Ivan, rapidly
approaching the Gulf Coast. Typically, storms which land along the Gulf
Coast spin off some pretty strong storms inland as far north as
Missouri. We'll see.
Young Eagles Rally
The September meeting has been delayed one week from our usual date so
that we can fly Young Eagles at the Heritage Days celebration in
Houston, Missouri. Last year, we flew 40 kids there. We received
enthusiastic thanks from the Houston Chamber of Commerce, and they
invited us back this year. All Young Eagles "Flight Leaders" (pilots)
should plan to be on hand by 8:30 a.m. so we can start flying at 9:00
a.m. We will continue until 11:00 a.m. Remember, the program did not end
with the Centennial of Aviation. It is now a permanent EAA program.
Every year, a whole new group of kids are old enough to become
interested in flying, to say nothing of all the young people who've
never taken a flight at any age. At breakfast this weekend, I listened
to Bill Newton's new student, Chris Hilliard, tell Arnie Zimmerman that
it was because Arnie had taken him on a flight one day four years ago
that he decided he wanted to learn to fly. Chris recently bought a very
nice Cessna 175, fully IFR equipped, near Waco, Texas, and is learning
to fly. He has already made his solo cross-country. (That is a story in
itself as he went to a very interesting place.)
The Meeting Plans
After the Young Eagles Rally, we will hold our business meeting in
Howard Wolford's hangar. Sorry to say, Howard won't be there, because of
a wedding that was announced after he invited us to use the hangar.
Still, it was very nice of him to let the invitation stand. The start
time for the meeting will be as soon after 11:00 a.m. as we can get
everybody together.
One item of importance at the meeting is to select a nominating
committee (volunteers or appointments) for candidates for Chapter
offices for the year 2005. This year's officers have done a great job.
We tapped new talent and they rose to the occasion. Sometimes people
don't know what they can do until they try. EAA is built on amateurs
getting the job done.
After the meeting, we'll have our potluck. Everyone should plan to bring
side dishes, salads, breads, or desserts. Charley and Anna Belle Ward
will be acting as our hosts.
Last Month at Willow
Our August meeting was held in Ron White's hangar in Willow Springs. We
started the day with breakfast, then the meeting, which was kept quite
short. At the same time, we had a "yard sale" going on over at a hangar
at the airport to benefit the new Chapter hangar. It lasted until 2:00
in the afternoon. Phyllis says the sale brought in over $200 that day,
and there were some things left that she was going to put on eBay. Other
unsold items were donated to local charities for their fundraising
efforts. Potluck lunch was available for members back at Ron's hangar.
Hangar Construction
In between the meetings, a lot of work has been going on at the
Chapter hangar site. Since the last meeting, the concrete floor has been
poured, the electric and water supply lines have been laid, and the
apron prepared for pouring. The turnout for every workday has been just
great, and Ron White gets some detail work done every time he has a
minute to spare. I get there every chance I can to take pictures, and I
am amazed at how our members always seem to know just what they need to
be doing and how to do it. As Ron says, "We have a lot of talent in this
Chapter."
Member News
Clint Allen and
Berlin Batesel flew to Iowa for an antique aircraft show a week ago
Saturday. They saw lots of stuff they found interesting, besides just
having a pleasant flying day. It was good to see "Matilda" and the
Ercoupe take off, one after the other.
Charley Ward bought an airplane, an ultralight. He says he has a few
months of reassembly work to do on it. But he showed some nice pictures
of what it will look like. Charles Lee continues to convalesce. He still
needs our prayers, though.
Buzz Thunderbee
Buzz got lost coming back
from Oshkosh, and we missed him last month. He's back now, and paying
attention to more mundane things, such as avoiding all those towers
popping up everywhere. Your cell phone service is getting better, but
the good emergency landing sites are getting fewer and harder to find.
Most of the notams are new, unlighted towers.
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Speaking of notams, did
you know you have to ask for "GPS notams?" If you don't ask, you don't
get them; and they tell you if a GPS satellite is down or the signal
degraded in the area of your flight.
Well, that's it for now. We'll see you all in Houston (M48) Saturday
morning. Fly in or drive in. We always need helpers for the Young Eagles
flights. And be sure to bring a dish.
Picture Gallery
Building the hangar is a
huge undertaking for the Chapter. The story of the work is best told in
pictures. Scattered throughout this issue are pictures taken during the
month of August and early September. Pictures on page 1 show the laying
of the electric service; page 2 shows pouring the concrete floor; page 3
shows a lunch break and resuming the finish work on the floor; all on
August 17. Page 4 shows the preparation for pouring the apron on
September 4.
More next month!
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