We're Baaaaack!!
September opens a new year in the activities of Chapter 1218. This year starts off rather quickly, so make sure your seatbelts are secure and hang on!

September Meeting
The initial meeting is to be held at Gainesville High School in the library on Monday, September 13, 1999, at 7:00 PM. For those of you driving or flying in from the outlying counties or towns, the restarurant next to the school--across from the approach end of the Runway 01--will be open for an early dinner should you wish to eat after the drive or flight and before the meeting begins.

Young Eagles Rally
The first Young Eagles Rally of this season will be Saturday, September 18, 1999, beginning at 9:00 AM. This Young Eagles Rally will take advantage of the youth in attendance at the local folk festival that is held in Gainesville each year. We are expecting a good number of youngsters, so plan to attend the meeting to firm up your assignments and make this first event of the year a success!

Other Upcoming Events
Following the meeting on the 13th, our flying friends from Missouri Pilots Association (MPA) Chapter 20 will hold their monthly meeting in Gainesville at PaPa Bob's Café on Thursday, 16 September 1999, at 6:30 PM. Beef brisket and chicken buffet will be the offerings. All EAA Chapter 1218 members are invited to join our MPA friends for their meeting, which will follow the meal. They are great supporters of aviation, have a number of avid aviators on their roster, and are an enjoyable group to be around. We are honored that they have chosen to bring one of their meetings west of the Howell County line!

Saturday, October 2, 1999, is the Pancake Breakfast sponsored by our Chapter. Our MPA friends have scheduled that as their monthly "fly-out," which should boost the number of arrivals far beyond the twenty-three aircraft that attended our first fly-in last year. President Jerry Luna is the designated pancake cooker, and could most certainly use some assistance. Give Jerry a call at 679-3535 if you are in a position to help.

The October meeting will be the third Monday rather than the second. Our friendly fed, Mr. Ed Duckworth, will conduct a safety seminar which will qualify as a part of the Wings program. Flyers should arrive soon. More information will be available in October.

Young Eagles
Since our first experience flying Young Eagles for the science class of Gainesville High School, a total of twenty-three Young Eagles have been flown by our pilots. EAA's goal of flying a million Young Eagles between the ages of eight and seventeen before the one hundredth anniversary of the Wright brothers' first powered flight, which will be in December 2003, is over half accomplished.

Our Young Eagles may look up their names in the World's Largest Logbook by logging on to http://youngeagles.org/, where they will be directed to type in their first and last names. Their names will appear, alsong with the date of their flight, the aircraft in which they rode, and their pilot's name. Should they desire, a click of the mouse button will take them to a page where they may print out a certificate with Chuck Yeager's signature on it. A good way of generating interest among other youth is for Young Eagles to demonstrate that feat in their computer labs at school. Not many young people have their names so prominently displayed by a legitmate organization such as EAA.

Check out the EAA Web site: http://www.eaa.org/
It is suggested that all Chapter members familiarize themselves with "The Vision of Eagles" information. As our Chapter launches into the end of our second year, we are committed to sharing the joy of flying with the young generation. We intend to do this safely, confidently, and with a lot of fun. Phillips 66 supports the Young Eagles by offering a $1.00 rebate on aviation gasoline for flying Young Eagles. EAA members can get information on this rebate on the EAA Web site, or by contacting the nearest FBO that handles Phillips products.

AirVenture '99
The event was just outstanding, despite the heat! A trip to Oshkosh for EAA's annual fly-in ranks as a significant life experience for those of us who have a deep respect for and love of airplanes. Indeed, it is something that cannot be explained--only experienced. The following is a brief account of this year's trip:

The Neophyte and the Old Timer

"Neophyte" and "Old Timer" do not refer to age; rather, to years of flying experience. So, a relative newcomer to aviation wanted the experience of flying to Oshkosh for AirVenture '99.

After having read and reread the FAA NOTAM on entry and departure procedures, and having viewed the video that is provided, he made the offer, "I'll fly if you will handle the radios." No sweat--radio procedure is listen carefully, follow directions, and keep quiet. It was a deal! Knowing that the neophyte was an automatic pilot junkie, I had him practice following me some days before the trip at 90 knots, so that he could "stay in trail" during the approach to Oshkosh.

We departed on a cloudless morning, stopped for breakfast and fuel at Quad Cities International, then on to Oshkosh. We were blessed with clear skies, light following winds, and flew over a few scattered fair weather cumulus just below Madison. Madison was like a jewel whose state capitol and downtown areas bridge the two lakes. After having been turned loose by Madison Approach, it was time to quickly cancel the flight plan with Green Bay Flight Service before Oshkosh ATIS and the listening procedure for landing. Briefly, the procedure is to fly in trail behind airplanes from the town of Ripon, fly over the railroad tracks to Fisk, rock your wings when the controllers identify you by type and color, stay quiet, and follow on.

All was well until a J-3 Cub decided to join the procession about three planes ahead of us. The Neophyte kept up the 90 knots, and the C-182 in front of us kept looking bigger and bigger. Inquired as to why the 182 ahead was getting so large, The Neophyte explained that he was maintaining 90 knots just like the NOTAM read. Since this was not the time to explain that the 90 knots was not mandatory, and that if we slowed down the 182 would quit growing, we followed the procedure of turning out of the procession and following the circular shore line of the lake that the Creator had put there for the purpose of reentering the procession with adequate spacing.

After the tour around the lake's shoreline, we were again in trail, with the Cub and the larger planes waddling along some miles ahead. The new gaggle of aircraft ahead of us were nearer to The Neophyte's favorite airspeed, and in time we were told to land on the "green do," one of three dots on the runway for sequencing the aircraft approaching the runway. The Neophyte had never been so close to so many aircraft in the sky at once, and I noticed that his shirt was wet, his face had perspiration all over it, his eyes were darting all over the sky (good sign) and he breathed a huge sigh of relief when we were off the runway.

We were directed to the parking area where, after having relaxed, we began to enjoy listending to the controllers choreograph the seemingly endless stream of a variety of aircraft to the airport. We had the good fortune of being about 100 yards from Kermit Weeks' hangar that houses the EAA Foundation. The airshow performers kept their airplanes there, and they taxied in and out daily. We felt really fortunate to be so near that we could recognize Patty Wagstaff, Bob Hoover, and other notables.

Other than an extremely hot Thursday and Friday, and a gust front that came through Friday night and tipped over all the porta-potties in our area, AirVenture '99 was as expected--wonderful and overwhelming. Saturday and Sunday were delightful after the Friday night wetdown and cooldown. The return trip had some weather around Lake of the Ozarks, which prompted The Neophyte to decide it was time to get an Instrument rating!

AirVenture '99 was an awesome adventure. It is amazing that in such a huge crowd of people, you meet old friends and neighbors from years past. A few examples:

• After arrival and tie-down, a beautifully restored Commanche tied down next to us. A weary, sweaty pilot strolled over, and after accepting a bottle of cold water, the conversation began. He had flown from Wichita, Kansas, and began to recount his profession and a faint flicker of recognition crossed between us. I asked if he was not in attendance some five years ago at an RV builders' clinic at Van's in North Plains, Oregon. Yes, it was one of my clinic partners from the past, parked side by side. The Neophyte was impressed by such an encounter.

• Riding the shuttle back from the flight line to the airplane, I spotted a familiar 172 pulling into the tie-down area. Later we strolled up and met some members from Chapter 10 in Tulsa, Oklahoma--two whom were former neighbors from Gundy's Airpark.

• Catching an early breakfast at the Warbirds area, a couple nonverbally flashed signs of recognition and, after having gotten their breakfast, sat down across from me.They were from the Vintage Aircraft group that manages the parking at the National Biplane Fly-In in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, each year.

• Riding the shuttle from Pioneer Airpark, the driver of the tractor was a former resident of Sandridge Airpark, now living in Texas.

There were many more examples--you get the picture. Among a crowd you cannot imagine, you will see faces from the past where friendships can be renewed, experiences relived and laughter can be shared. Those of you who like airplanes and like people who like airplanes, will have an experience at Oshkosh that will rank up there with other significant events in your life. Plan to experience Oshkosh in 2000! You'll like it!!

Greg is now taking his general education requirements and, in preparation for his aviation science program, a course in conceptual physics. Had Greg been one year younger, he would have been one of our Young Eagles. (He got his flight anyway.)

Good luck to Greg on his career in aviation!!