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April 2017
www.inflightusa.com
3
Calendar of Events
To list your group’s event on a space available basis, please send your event notice with date, time, place w/city and state, contact name, and phone number to: Calendar, In Flight USA, P.O. Box 5402, San Mateo, Calif. 94402, or email 3rdavenue@embarqmail.com.
APRIL
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1—2
4 4—9 6 8 8—9
15
15 — 16
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28 — 29 29 29 — 30
Q Riverside, CA: Airshow 2017, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Riverside Airport, (951) 351-6113. Q Hollister, CA: Antique Aircraft Display & Fly-In, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Frazier Lake Airpark, free, (831) 637-9822, www.frazierlake.com. Q Chino, CA: Living History Flying Day, 10 a.m., Planes of Fame Air Museum, (909) 597-3722, www.planesoffame.org. Q Corpus Christi, TX: NAS Corpus Christi Wings over South Texas, gates 8:30 a.m., www.wingoversouthtexas.com. Q Melbourne, FL: Melbourne Air & Space Show, gates 9 a.m., Melbourne Int’l. Airport, (321) 395-3110, airandspaceshow.com. Q Tavares, FL: Seaplane-A-Palooza Fly-In, Tavares Seaplane Base, (352) 742-6176, www.tavares.org. Q Chino, CA: Kilroy Coffee Klatch, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., Planes of Fame Air Museum, (909) 597-7576. Q Lakeland, FL: Sun ’n Fun Int’l. Fly-In & Expo, Lakeland Linder Regional Airport, www.flysnf.org. Q Kansas City, MO: KC Aviation Expo & Air Show, Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport. Q Palm Springs, CA: Commemorative Series “Guadalcanal-The Cactus Air Force,” 1 p.m., Palm Springs Air Museum, (760) 778-6262. Q Montgomery, AL: Maxwell AFB Open House & Airshow, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., www.maxwell.af.mil. Q Columbus, GA: Thunder in the Valley Air Show, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Columbus Airport, www.thunderinthevalleyairshow.com. Q Chino, CA: Some Bunny Loves You w/Easter Bunny & Scavenger Egg Hunt, noon, Yanks Air Museum, (909) 597-1735. Q San Luis Obispo, CA: Vintage Aircraft Associate’s Airport Day, San Luis Obispo Airport, (805) 801-7641. Q El Cajon, CA: Warbirds West Air Museum Open House & Pancake Breakfast, 8 to 10:30 a.m., Gillespie Field, (858) 414-6258, www.wwam.org. Q Riverside, CA: Aircraft Display Day Fly-In, 8 a.m., Flabob Airport, (951) 683-2309, www.flabob.org. Q Petaluma, CA: Historic Airplane Appreciation Day, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Petaluma Municipal Airport, (707) 778-4404. Q Palm Springs, CA: Commemorative Series “Fieseler 156 Storch,” 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Palm Springs Air Museum, (760) 778-6262. Q Urbana, OH: Doolittle Raiders B-25 Gathering, Grimes Field, www.champaignaviationmuseum.org. Q Santa Rosa, CA: Climb Aboard Weekend, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Pacific Coast Air Museum, Sonoma County Airport, (707) 575-7900. Q Napa, CA: Vintage Aircraft Display, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Napa Airport, (707) 944-9236. Q San Diego, CA: Red Bull Air Race, @noon, www.redbullairrace.com. Q LaVerne, CA: Antique & Special Interest Aircraft Display, 10 a.m to 2 p.m., Brackett Airport, (909) 593-1395. Q San Diego, CA: Montgomery Field Historic Aircraft Display, noon to 2 p.m., Gibbs Montgomery Executive Airport, (619) 301-2530. Q Dayton, OH: 75th Anniversary of Doolittle Tokyo Raid, Wright Field, Wright-Patterson AFB, www.nationalmuseum.af.mil. Q Ford Island, HI: 75th Anniversary of the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo, Mon. 10 to 11 a.m./Tues. 2:30-5 p.m., Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor, (808) 445-9137, www.pacificaviationmuseum.org. Q Louisville, KY: Thunder over Louisville, 3 p.m., Waterfront Park, (800) 928-3378, thunderoverlouisville.org. Q West Chester, PA: Gala Fundraiser & Award Presentation, 6 to 11 p.m., American Helicopter Museum, (610) 436-9600, americanhelicopter.museum. Q Murchison, TX: Wings over Pegasus - Help a Horse Day, gates 9 a.m., Pegasus Ranch, (903) 469-3578, www.mypegasusproject.org. Q Palm Springs, CA: Commemorative Series “Operation DownfallInvasion of Japan,” 1 p.m., Palm Springs Air Museum, (760) 778-6262. Q Belle Chasse, LA: NAS JRB New Orleans Air Show, gates 8 a.m., www.neworleansairshow.com. Q Panama City, FL: Gulf Coast Salute - Tyndall AFB Airshow, gates 9 a.m., www.gulfcoastsalute.com. Q Peachtree City, GA: CAF Dixie Wing WWII Heritage Days, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Falcon Field, www.wwiidays.org. Q Austin, TX: Amerian Heroes Air Show, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Camp Mabry, (512) 478-770, www.heroes-airshow.com. Q Camarillo, CA: AOPA Regional Fly-In, various times/venues, Camarillo Airport, www.aopa.org. Q Hondo, TX: Hondo Army Airfield Diamond Jubilee Fly-In, South Texas Regional Airport, hondochamber.org/events. Q Beaufort, SC: MCAS Beaufort Air Show, gates 9 a.m., www.beaufortairshow.com.
Continued on Page 7
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4
In Flight USA Celebrating 33 Years
COVER STORY
I
April 2017
YANKS AIR MUSEUM
magine a time back in historical America, when adventurous men and women flew our legendary aircraft for fun, for show, for profit, to set new world records or to fight and defend our freedom at all costs. Come to Yanks and see the aircraft that turned the tides, and changed the fate of America’s history forever. Oh, and don’t forget, these aircraft can fly! At Yanks Air Museum, in Chino, California, the desire to honor and preserve historical aircraft has held a prominent place in their legacy since 1972. Founded by Mr. and Mrs. Nichols, who began the search for these world-renowned aircraft, that now span more than a century and a wide variety of eras, wars, conflicts, and events. When you step into one of their hangars, you are instantly transported to another time. You’ll feel a sense of wonder and awe as you explore airpower and how it has changed the world. Featuring more than 200 aircraft, plus hundreds more vehicles and exhibits, the Yanks Air Museum has become one of the most-loved aviation attractions in Southern California and the world. Located at Chino Airport, veterans, visi-
Experience the Legacy of American Aircraft
The Yanks Air Museum’s C-47. tors, pilots and enthusiasts travel here from all over to experience their unique collection, and relive a part of history. For more than 40 years, the Yanks Air Museum has maintained a standard of excellence in acquiring, restoring, preserving, and showcasing an astonishing number of civilian and military aircraft. At Yanks Air Museum, they restore invaluable relics, and icons of historical periods, all with human stories to tell. These aircraft are lifesaving machines not just in times of war, but in rescues, disaster relief and humanity of all kinds. Comprising one of the largest
(Courtesy Yanks Air Museum) collections of historic American aircraft in the world, the Yanks Air Museum is a secret gem not to be missed. From the point of acquisition, Yanks’ aircraft are uniquely and authentically restored to their original factory specifications, by a handful of carefully selected and talented master craftsmen. The museum grants visitors access to the boneyard where aircraft await restoration and to view the restoration process as it occurs, inside the facility. For many, this back-stage exposure to the before and after process of restoration is one of the most popular and
memorable experiences we offered. Not just a coat of paint, aircraft are restored completely inside and out. When you jump into the cockpit, you are readyfor-take-off. Some of the aircraft currently under restoration are the P-40 Warhawk and F4U Corsair. Join the mailing list for flight information on these aircraft. This world-class aviation museum, has spanned the gamut of honoring legendary aircraft, and came into its own as the ultimate destination for seeing, experiencing, learning and flying some of the greatest aircraft on Earth. Open Tuesday through Sunday, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the Yanks Air Museum continues a tradition of affordable fun that will accommodate and enlighten with every visit. General admission starts at only $16, featuring $5 entry for children ages 5-11, and offering discounts for groups and affiliates. Not to be missed are the Open Cockpit Days on the third Saturday of most every month, where children and visitors of all ages can climb aboard and into the cockpits of featured aircraft. Continued on Page 9
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TABLE Volume 33, Number 8
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CONTENTS April 2017
650-358-9908 • Fax: 650-358-9254 • E-mail: vickie@inflightusa.com • www.inflightusa.com
ON THE COVER COVER STORY
PHOTO FINISH
YANKS AIR MUSEUM
SKY KING FLAGSHIP OF THE MID-AMERICA FLIGHT MUSEUM
A LEGENDARY EXPERIENCE
By Nicholas Viggiano Story starts on Page 46 Photo Page on 49
Story starts on Page 4 Cover courtesy of Yanks Air Museum
NEWS NATA Disappointed With Trump Administration Budget Blueprint..8 NAHA Announces 2 $50,000 Donations to “Come With Us” ............8 Pacific Aviation Museum Celebrates Doolittle Raid..................11 FAA Forecasts Continued Growth in General Aviation ............13 American Flyers to Exit Santa Monica Airport ..........................14 NATA’s CSR Workshop for FBO Operators Set ........................26 2017 EAA Aircraft Sweepstakes: A Van’s RV-12 ........................27 AOPA, Industry Groups, Ask for Specifics on ATC Privatization ..33 AOPA Backs Santa Monica in Court ..........................................38 Green News: NASA Study Confirms Biofuels Reduce Pollution..39 AOPA Fly-In: California Dreaming ..............................................39 Pacific Coast Dream Machines Show Set for April 30..............41 Performer Benzing Teams with University To Encourage Careers 42
FEATURES Editorial: Saving SMO By Victoria Buonocore ......................................................6 Last of Its Line – The Good Year Blimp By David Brown ............................................................16 The North Is Calling: A Unique and Inspiring Tour By Anna Serbinenko ......................................................20 Sonoma County Airport Is Gateway to Museums and Wine By Lea Buonocore ........................................................24 Air Force: Health Programs Help In Weight Loss Success Story By Sara Francis, Team Eglin Public Affairs ........................28 The Spirit of Flight By Denise Donegan ......................................................32
COLUMNS Flying Into Writing: CAP Cadet Bivouac Support By Eric McCarthy ..............12
Flying With Faber: The Bay Area 75 Years Ago and Today By Stuart J. Faber ..............29 The Pylon Place: Intimacy and Airplanes By Marilyn Dash ................34
SafeLandings: No Place for Complacency ........................................40
DEPARTMENTS Calendar of Events ..........................................................3 Classifieds ......................................................................48 Index of Advertisers ......................................................50
6
In Flight USA Celebrating 33 Years
SOARING UNDER THE WINGS SANTA MONICA AIRPORT
Editorial 1986 A36 Beechcraft Bonanza
1969 Piper Arrow
675 SNEW. Gorgeous A36 Bonanza. Stunning paint and interior are complimented by Osborne tip tanks, Garmin 530W, terrain and a Ryan 9900 Series active interrogation traffic warning system. The KFC-150 with slaved HSI is arguably one of the finest autopilot/flight director systems seen in general aviation airplanes. Outstanding maintenance and features 675 hours on a factory new (Not overhauled) engine installed in 2003. ......$199,900
TTAF 4015. 470 SMOH. 148 SPOH. A clean, well maintained, and always hangared Piper Arrow. Great step up for pilots transitioning from a trainer to a single with retractable landing gear and controllable-pitch propeller. Beautiful cross-country IFR platform with low time engine. Garmin GNS 430 WAAS GPS/COMM, Isham Extended Wing Tips and Dorsal Fin. Located at KFTG Watkins, CO. ... $64,900
1979 Piper Seminole PA44
1999 Socata TB-21
6424 TTAF, 20 SMOH Both Engines. Unique opportunity. We represented the current seller (Buyer then) as an acquisition agent and chose this plane for export to South Korea (SK) in 1/16. Engines and propellers were overhauled. Beautiful plane with no issues.Currently on SK registry. Legal for flight. We can assist in export/import from SK to any other country. Korean language speakers call Tony Cho(703) 473-7677........................$189,000
559 SNEW. Cruise in style, speed, and comfort. Fully IFR capable and ready for fast fun flights. Capable airframe is complimented by fabulous avionics and instrumentation. Always hangared, complete logs, and no known damage history...................$184,900
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www.airplanesusa.com
April 2017
D
By Victoria Buonocore
isenchanted and disheartened (in printable terms) pretty much sum up the feelings pilots have toward the Santa Monica Airport mess. As most know by now, the decades-long battle over the future of the airport came to an abrupt surprise settlement in January between the City and the FAA. That agreement holds that the City will keep the airport open until Dec. 31, 2028 and then close it permanently. Airport advocates, top among them AOPA, have made it their goal to change the minds of those who want the airport closed. That won’t be easy but there is hope. Local attitudes, both of the public and City officials, need to be changed to see favor with all the airport does for this City (think tax revenues), for travelers to the Los Angeles area in terms of relieving congestion at Los Angeles International Airport and other busy airports – and providing jobs to more than 1,000 local residents through the airport and it affiliate businesses. “Santa Monica Airport is an economic engine for the City, but it also touches people in ways they may not realize,” AOPA President Mark Baker said in February. “From organ donation transportation to emergency preparedness, the airport is an enormous asset, and over the next 12 years, we will ensure everyone knows what they will be giving up if it goes away.” FAA Administrator Michael Huerta told AOPA that he trusts the City to “work in good faith with the users of the airport.” He made this claim following conversations with City officials before and after the deal was cut. Mayor Ted Winterer, who voted in favor of the settlement seems to contradict his vote by saying that in the next six months, the City will shorten the runway at Santa Monica from 4,973 feet to 3,500 feet, believing that the shorter runway will reduce air traffic by more than 40 percent. In fact, Winterer told the Santa Monica Daily Press that the City will do everything it can to reduce air traffic in and out of the airport, including “security inspections” of aircraft and placement of Plexiglas barriers to discourage airplane watching. Huerta said the City must present a plan detailing exactly what it intends to do with the runway and must have the FAA’s approval before deconstructing it. The FAA will take into consideration how the shorter runway will impact air
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traffic, especially in light of the relief it provides LAX. Meanwhile, NBAA and AOPA joined with five additional aviation stakeholders to petition the U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit, asking the court to review the recent agreement between Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the City of Santa Monica over the future of Santa Monica Municipal Airport. NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen termed the FAA’s seeming acquiescence to a vocal minority of Santa Monica residents, “a one-of-a-kind development” that would severely restrict aviation access throughout Southern California and across the U.S. In addition to the legal filing, NBAA, AOPA, and other stakeholders continue to review all additional options in response to the settlement agreement, including continued pursuit of several ongoing administrative complaints – not covered under the settlement – by NBAA and others over the City’s federally mandated obligations. This includes a Part 16 complaint, filed by NBAA and other airport proponents, alleging that the city has mishandled airport finances, landing fees and other terms, in part through continued failure to offer leases to longstanding aviation-related businesses on the field. By joining the D.C. Circuit case through the filing of an amicus brief, AOPA is positioning all airport users to take action if the City violates any provisions in the FAA agreement, including stipulations that require the City to provide fuel and other aviation services through 2028. While these efforts are critically important and absolutely necessary, it does not help that two businesses have already left or are planning to leave the airport. National flight training chain American Flyers will close its flight school at SMO on April 15. The decision will end the flight school’s 50-year presence on the airport. American Flyers will relocate several aircraft to Scottsdale, Ariz., where the company opened a base on Nov. 1, and where school operators said, “they genuinely care about the general aviation community.” Last May, Justice Aviation closed its operation. According to AOPA, if the goal of the Santa Monica city government was to evict businesses from Santa Continued on Page 9
April 2017
www.inflightusa.com
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Calendar of Events Continued from Page 3
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14 17 19 — 21
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Q Vidalia, GA: Vidalia Onion Festival Air show, gates 11 a.m., Vidalia Regional Airport, (912) 538-8687, www.vidaliaonionfestival.com. Q Lake Charles, LA: Chennault Int’l. Airshow, show Fri. 5 p.m./gates Sat. & Sun. 9 a.m., Chennault Int’l. Airport, chennaultairshow.com. Q Half Moon Bay, CA: Pacific Coast Dream Machines, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Half Moon Bay Airport, (650) 726-2328, www.miramarevents.com. Q Gatineau, Quebec: Wings over Gatinaeau Airshow, Gatineau Ottawa Executive Airport, www.vintagewings.ca.
Q Chino, CA: Kilroy Coffee Klatch, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., Planes of Fame Air Museum, (909) 597-7576. Q Hollister, CA: Antique Aircraft Display & Fly-In, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Frazier Lake Airpark, free, (831) 637-9822, www.frazierlake.com. Q Chino, CA: Living History Flying Day, 10 a.m., Planes of Fame Air Museum, (909) 597-3722, www.planesoffame.org. Q Shreveport-Bossier City, LA: Defenders of Liberty Air Show/Open House, gates 9 a.m., Barksdale AFB, (318) 456-1015. Q Fairfield, CA: Travis AFB Open House & Air Show, (707) 424-1110. Q Fort Lauderdale, FL: Fort Lauderdale Air Show, open 9 a.m., (321) 395-3110, fortlauderdaleairshow.com. Q Chino, CA: Planes of Fame Air Show, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Chino Airport, (909) 597-3722, planesoffame.org. Q Anchorage, AK: Great Alaska Aviation Gathering, FedEx Hangar, Ted Stevens Anchorage Int’l. Airport, www.greatalaskaaviationgathering.org. Q Eastover, SC: South Carolina Guard Air & Ground Expo, gates 8 a.m., McEntire JNGB, (803) 299-4200, www.scguard.com/expo. Q Compton, CA: Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum Youth Air Fair, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Compton Airport, (310) 618-1155, info@tamuseum.org. Q Paris, TX: Wings over Paris Fly-In, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Cox Field, (800) 727-4789, www.paristexas.com. Q Paso Robles, CA: Estrella Warbirds, Wings & Wheels, Paso Robles Municipal Airport, ewarbirds.org. Q Valdez, AK: Valdez Fly-In & Air Show, registration 7 a.m., Valdez Pioneer Field, (907) 835-8244, www.valdezflyin.com. Q Millington, TN: Memphis Air Show, gates 8 a.m., Millington Regional Jetport, (805) 687-0158, www.memphisairshow.org. Q Chino, CA: Mom’s Free Mother’s Day, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Yanks Air Museum, (909) 597-1735. Q Rochester, NY: Rochester Canadian Snowbirds Display, 6 p.m., Greater Rochester Int’l. Airport, www.rocairshow.info, (585) 349-4195. Q Virginia Beach, VA: Warbirds over the Beach, Virginia Beach Airport, militaryaviationmuseum.org. Q Riverside, CA: Flabob DC-3/C-47 Fly-In, gates Fri. 8 a.m./Sat. & Sun. 7:30 a.m., (951) 683-2309, Flabob Airport, www.flabobdc3flyin.com. Q San Martin, CA: Wings of History Open House & Fly-In, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., San Martin Airport, (408) 683-2290, www.wingsofhistory.org. Q Peachtree City, GA: Aircraft Spruce East - Customer Appreciation Day, 8 a.m.to 4 p.m., Aircraft Spruce, (770) 487-2310, (800) 831-2949. Q Redlands, CA: Hangar 24 AirFest, noon to 10 p.m., Redlands Municipal Airport, www.hangar24airfest.com. Q Everett, WA: Paine Field Aviation Day, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., (425) 3885125, www.painefield.com. Q San Luis Obispo, CA: Vintage Aircraft Associate’s Airport Day, San Luis Obispo Airport, (805) 801-7641. Q El Cajon, CA: Warbirds West Air Museum Open House & Pancake Breakfast, 8 to 10:30 a.m., Gillespie Field, (858) 414-6258, www.wwam.org. Q Riverside, CA: Aircraft Display Day Fly-In, 8 a.m., Flabob Airport, (951) 683-2309, www.flabob.org.
AOPA looking into high FBO prices FBOs provide an invaluable service to pilots and local communities, but when AOPA members express concerns, we take them seriously. And we take action. After receiving a number of complaints from members, AOPA began looking into allegations of high pricing at some FBOs. Our initial research has shown that the overwhelming majority of the industry is doing a great job, but a handful of FBOs, especially those that have recently experienced consolidation at their airport, are imposing excessive prices. We have already received hundreds of reports from our members, but if you believe you have experienced unreasonable pricing at an FBO, please visit AOPA.org/FBOFees g/ and be sure to include all the pertinent information including date, location, type of aircraft flown, and your specific pricing issue. If you still have a copy of your receipt, please send that as well. This information will allow us to get a more complete perspective of the problems and where they are, so we can engage with government departments and agencies as well as the FBO industry to ensure general aviation has unfettered access to airports. You can read more about our inquiry in this month’s AOPA Pilot.
Mark R. Baker President & CEO, AOPA
Anna Serbinenko
“I love both teaching and flying. . . I know of nothing more rewarding than sharing your greatest passion with others.”
• Aerobatics Instruction and Air Shows • For more information visit my website: www.cfc.aero Call 604.946.7744 or email anna@cfc.aero.
*For more information on the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association HUK [OL PZZ\LZ [OH[ HɈLJ[ `V\Y Å`PUN NV [V www.aopa.org [VKH`
8
BASICMED ALMOST
A
In Flight USA Celebrating 33 Years
F
By Mark Baker
REALITY
April 2017
or decades, you’ve heard about and experienced the frustrations and inefficiencies associated with the medical certification process for private pilots. We have watched as some of the best and safest pilots have been forced to jump through hoops – or worse, denied their freedom to fly. We’ve heard countless stories of time and money wasted on unnecessary medical tests ordered not to improve the perspective on a diagnosis but rather to satisfy a bureaucracy. But in just a few short weeks, third class medical reform, which AOPA led the fight to achieve, will be a reality. And with it will come a far more efficient medical certifica-
tion process. Though not perfect, BasicMed, which is what the FAA is calling the regulatory changes, will benefit hundreds of thousands of pilots by reducing the burdensome government bureaucracy and put medical decisions in the hands of pilots and their doctors, where it has always belonged. As of this writing, pilots will not be able to fly under BasicMed until May 1. They should, though, take the time between now and the implementation date to educate themselves. To help our members learn more about taking advantage of BasicMed, AOPA has launched a suite of online resources called Fit to Fly, which is dedicated to helping pilots as well as physicians understand the new regulations. It’s available at aopa.com/FitToFly. From an online tool that
helps you determine if you may be eligible to a range of frequently asked questions, the website has a wealth of information about the reforms that we fought so hard to win for our members. We will continue to update the Fit to Fly resources with additional elements as they become available, including AOPA’s free online medical education course. And when you are ready to get current again, AOPA’s Rusty Pilots program has already put 3,500 lapsed pilots back in the left seat, and we are hosting seminars across the country that are free for members. If you still have questions and would like to speak to one of AOPA’s experts, call the Pilot Information Center at 800.USA.AOPA Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time. To speak to an AOPA representative
in person about what BasicMed means for you, we’d love to see you at any of our four AOPA Fly-Ins, which will be held April 28 to 29 at Camarillo Airport (KCMA) in California, Sept. 8 to 9 at University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport (KOUN), Oct. 6 to 7 at Groton Airport (KGON) in Connecticut, and Oct. 27 to 28 at Tampa Airport (KTPF) in Florida. AOPA’s experts will also be at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in July. Now that medical reform is here, we want to make sure that all of our members understand how these changes will improve the process. If you have questions, please ask them; our goal was not just to achieve medical reform but also to ensure pilots take advantage of it. For more information, visit www.aopa.org.
On March 16, the Trump Administration released a budget blueprint or “skinny budget” for Fiscal Year 2018, providing high level detail about the Administration’s proposals related to federal discretionary funding – 30 percent of all federal spending. The budget proposal reduces overall Department of Transportation funding by 13 percent and includes language outlining support for creating an air traffic control corporation.
Additional details, including proposals related to mandatory spending and tax policy, will be released later in the spring. The following is a statement by National Air Transportation Association President Martin H. Hiller: “NATA is disappointed the budget blueprint contains language to explore corporatizing air traffic control. We believe Transportation Secretary Chao’s call during her confirmation hearing for national dialogue and consensus is a more appropriate way to
approach this issue. “Separating air traffic control from the FAA simply poses too many leaps of faith. Building walls between the FAA’s safety functions and air traffic control responsibilities undermines the integrity of the world’s safest air traffic system. We will lose the momentum resulting from the current deployment of NextGen technology and the partnerships between the FAA and other government agencies. “Finally, allowing airlines to estab-
lish the costs to operate in the air traffic control system risks investment in rural America and potentially forces general aviation out of the important airports and airways needed to connect the country. NATA will continue to work with the new Administration and Congress toward a more efficient FAA, with a priority on educating them about the risks posed by handing over our nation’s air traffic control system to special interests.”
On March 23, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released the procedures governing the agency’s new Regulatory Consistency Communication Board (RCCB) including how the industry is to bring matters to its attention. The RCCB will provide clarification to internal and external stakeholders on questions related to potential inconsistent reg-
ulatory interpretations by the agency’s regions and district offices. The RCCB is the outgrowth of an NATA initiative culminating in the 2012 FAA reauthorization bill requiring the agency to convene a Consistency of Regulatory Interpretation Aviation Rulemaking Committee (CRI ARC). NATA co-chaired the CRI ARC and was instru-
mental in developing its recommendations, including the establishment of the RCCB. “NATA applauds the FAA’s release of the Order putting forward the board’s purpose, responsibilities, and how stakeholders are to utilize it. Consistent application of regulations and policy is something that has plagued the industry for a long time. We appreciate the agency’s
work with stakeholders to operationalize the RCCB that will provide high level guidance to inspectors and industry on issues where there is difference of opinion in interpretation. We are heavily invested in this program and we are looking forward to seeing it succeed,” stated John McGraw, the association’s Director of Regulatory Affairs.
The National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) announced on March 21 that two leading defense technology companies, L3 Technologies and Cubic Corporation, have each contributed $50,000 in support of the organization’s Come With Us Campaign. The non-profit NAHF, founded in 1962 and chartered by U.S. Congress,
serves to honor America’s outstanding air and space pioneers. Among the 233 men and women it has inducted thus far are the Wright Brothers, Bessie Coleman, Charles Lindbergh, and Neil Armstrong. Headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, the NAHF operates a more than 17,000-square-foot Learning Center with free public parking and admission adjacent to the National
Museum of the United States Air Force. The $5 million Come With Us Campaign is the centerpiece of a multiyear effort by the NAHF to fund enhancements to its Learning Center and interactive exhibits, expand education programming, and build on its endowment. With corporate headquarters in New York City and offices worldwide, L3
Technologies is a leading provider of a broad range of communication and electronic systems and products used on military, homeland security and commercial platforms. L3 is also a prime contractor in aerospace systems, security and detection systems, and pilot training. San Diego-based Cubic Corporation Continued on Page 10
President and CEO AOPA
NATA STATEMENT
ON TRUMP ADMINISTRATION BUDGET BLUEPRINT
FY2018
FAA’S NEW REGULATORY CONSISTENCY COMMUNICATION BOARD WILL BENEFIT AVIATION BUSINESSES
NATIONAL AVIATION HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES INDUSTRY GIFTS TO $5 MILLION “COME WITH US” CAMPAIGN
April 2017
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The P-40 Warhawk Continued from Page 4 There is truly no better way to experience an emotional connection to the past than to step aboard and immerse yourself in that time and place. Bring the whole family and spend the day discovering many fun activities, like jumping from the C-47 Skytrain! Or you may want to go for a flight on an historic aircraft or check out a free “planes” ride for the kids. The museum’s goal is to open minds (young and old) to new opportunities and provide a place to delight all ages. Check out the events calendar on the website for more details. There is virtually no end to the wondrous experiences a person can have at the Yanks Air Museum. In July, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Amelia Earhart’s historic flight the museum will feature the flight of their Lockheed Electra Jr. aircraft. Visit Yanks Air Museum in May and you could be one of the lucky winners of a flight on board this aircraft. Put yourself in Amelia’s shoes for a short time and travel back to 1937 when aviation was new and experience a world of adventure. Keep an eye out for this flight opportunity for both visitors and members. A long list of Yanks aircraft await their rebirth, while master craftsman work diligently to restore them to flight. Many of the aircraft are the only surviving examples of their kind and some are so rare that they may never fly. These air-
(Courtesy Yanks Air Museum) craft embody the very essence of Yanks Air and its commitment to preservation. Yanks Air Museum is the perfect venue for your “special event!” Let us host an unforgettable birthday, wedding, reception or meeting. Only eight miles South of Ontario Int’l Airport, Yanks has a one of a kind atmosphere and a unique ambiance. Dine beside iconic aircraft while you eat, drink, dance, and socialize. Your time at Yanks is guaranteed to be an event to remember! For more information email info@yanksair.com or call 909/597-1735. From group tours to in-depth interactivity, the Yanks Air Museum provides all the excitement and knowledge of aviation history, in the setting of one of the world’s best collections. Spanning America’s first flight, every world war and conflict, the aircraft honor our veterans, and inspire the future. Membership is available to all patrons, and there are many membership levels to choose from, each one guaranteeing the visitor access to a vast array of timeless air classics. By becoming a member, you are supporting one of the greatest aircraft restoration and display endeavors on anywhere. There are a myriad of ways the Yanks Air Museum sets the standard for excellence in aviation exhibition and restoration. Come experience it for yourself! For more information, call 909/5971735, or visit online at yanksair.org.
Editorial: Santa Monica
Continued from Page 6 Monica Airport, it scored what it sees as a success when Justice Aviation closed its doors May 11. As part of that agreement, the City paid Justice Aviation $450,000. Despite all efforts by aviation groups and advocates, the City is willing to pay tenants to leave (as part of a binding agreement) in order to see the airport fall. In Flight USA stands behind the Santa Monica Airport. Let us regularly
promote the good SMO does for its community, those who travel to the Los Angeles area and for general aviation overall. We will continue to support the efforts of aviation groups like AOPA and NBAA who are taking the fight to heart and to those businesses and general aviation advocates who are standing their ground to keep the airport alive and well today and beyond 2028.
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April 2017
General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) Board Member and Sabreliner Aviation President and Innova Aerospace Executive Vice President of Corporate Development Greg Fedele testified on March 23 before the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Aviation Operations about the regulatory and certification processes at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and reforms to improve U.S. competitiveness in the global marketplace for aviation products and manufacturing. In his testimony, Fedele explained the incredibly competitive nature of the global aviation marketplace and how being first to market is essential for many of his company’s projects. Any unforeseen delay in the certification of a product can be devastating for a business. “A good idea can be squandered if the implementation of that solution is not timely,” he said. “As one solution is being certified, others may enter the market, and for many different reasons get to market faster if their certification program is completed more efficiently.” Citing inefficiencies with the FAA’s use of the Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) program, Fedele said manufacturers and the FAA have invested significant resources in establishing and qualifying ODA organizations, but the utilization of the ODA program has been inconsistent, adding significant delay and cost to certification programs. “We look forward to working with the Committee on this important issue,” he told the Subcommittee, which is chaired by U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (RMO). “If you can help us bring efficien-
cies through reform, the industry will respond with growth and improved safety technology.” Discussing improvement of the efficiency and effectiveness of the certification process, Fedele said he believes risk analysis tools and techniques need to be incorporated to inform the level of involvement of the FAA’s limited resources. This will drive consistent decision making and eliminate redundant activities throughout the system. “The demand for validations of the FAA Type Certification from other countries and turn times can be very long and costly,” said Fedele. “This is a high priority for the industry and a focus of the FAA and we would appreciate any support you can give us to address these challenges.” Fedele stressed the importance of the development of the ODA scorecard, the implementation of the Aircraft Certification Service (AIR) transformation initiative, and he expressed support for the certification title the Senate passed in 2016 as part of its FAA Reauthorization bill. “This would help support FAA certification reform by addressing key issues I have discussed in my testimony – fully embracing the ODA authorization to the benefit of industry and the FAA, directing FAA engagement and leadership with other aviation authorities to help facilitate efficient validation and acceptance of FAA safety standards and product approvals globally, and ensuring an effective risk-based aviation safety system,” he said. Fedele’s full testimony can be found at gama.aero.
FAA’s New RCCB
Continued from Page 8 is the parent company of three major businesses that employ more than 8,000 people in 60 countries. The array of services provided to its government and commercial customers around the globe include secure communications and networking, surveillance and reconnaissance, and combat training systems, among others. “We are grateful to each of these innovative industry-leaders for their investment in the National Aviation Hall of Fame as we evolve to better serve our hundreds of
thousands of annual visitors,” said NAHF Executive Director Amy Spowart. “The generous campaign gifts from both L3 Technologies and Cubic are a clear and welcomed commitment to the Hall of Fame’s mission of ‘Honoring Aerospace Legends to Inspire Future Leaders.’” For more information about the NAHF, the Come With Us Campaign, and the upcoming 55th Annual Enshrinement Dinner & Ceremony, visit www.nationalaviation.org or call 937/ 256-0944 x16.
PACIFIC AVIATION MUSEUM PEARL HARBOR COMMEMORATES THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DOOLITTLE RAID ON TOKYO
April 2017
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Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor will commemorate the 75th anniversary of the World War II Doolittle Raid with special presentations for youth and the general public by Jonna Doolittle Hoppes, author, educator and granddaughter of General Jimmy Doolittle, leader of the famed Doolittle (Tokyo) Raid that took place, April 18, 1942. On April 17, from 10 – 11 a.m., students and their teachers are invited to a free youth presentation by Hoppes entitled, “Calculated Risk: Jimmy Doolittle and the Tokyo Raid.” The presentation is named after Hoppes’ first book. Hoppes will discuss the Doolittle Raid and the brave men who, under her grandfather’s leadership, inspired a nation and changed the course of WWII. This youth event is provided at no cost, and teachers who register their classes will receive a free copy of one of Hoppes’ books, Just Doing My Job or Calculated Risk, as well as corresponding curriculum to use before or after the event. Funding for bus transportation will be provided if requested on the registration form. Seating is limited and registration is recommended by emailing:
Education@PacificAviationMuseum.org or calling 808/445-9137. On April 18, at 2:30 p.m., Hoppes will conduct a Hangar Talk for the general public, followed by a book signing and meet and greet reception. Admission for the Hangar Talk is free with Museum admission, free to Museum members, and free to military and military families with valid ID. On April 18, 1942, following the attack on Pearl Harbor, 80 men from all walks of life volunteered to fly B-25 bombers (normally land-based aircraft) that took off from the deck of the USS Hornet. The dangerous and unorthodox mission, led by (then Lt. Colonel) Jimmy Doolittle, represented the first air strike by the United States on Japanese homelands. The raid provided a much-needed boost to American morale and changed the course of WWII. It bolstered American morale to such an extent that on April 28, 10 days after the attack, Lt. Colonel Doolittle was promoted to Brigadier General and was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Theodore Roosevelt upon his return to the United States in June.
Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor is located on Historic Ford Island, where bombs fell during the attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941. Visitors to the Museum can see remnants from that day of infamy, including the 158-foot tall, red and white iconic Ford Island Control Continued on Page 14
A
11
A historic photo of Jimmy Doolittle. (Photo courtesy Pacific Air Museum) P.O. Box 5402 • San Mateo, CA 94402 (650) 358-9908 • Fax (650) 358-9254
Founder ..................................................................................................................Ciro Buonocore Publisher/Editor................................................................................................Victoria Buonocore Managing Editor..........................................................................................Annamarie Buonocore Production Editors ..............................................................................Anne Dobbins, Toni Sieling Associate Editors ........................ Nicholas A. Veronico, Sagar Pathak, Richard VanderMeulen Staff Contributors..................................................................................................S. Mark Rhodes, .........................................................................................................Larry Nazimek, Joe Gonzalez, Columnists ....................................Steve Weaver, Stuart Faber, Larry Shapiro, Ed Wischmeyer, ..................................................................................................................Marilyn Dash, Ed Downs, Copy Editing ............................................................................................................Sally Gersbach Advertising Sales Manager ........................................Ed Downs (650) 358-9908, (918) 873-0280 In Flight USA is published each month by In Flight Publishing. It is circulated throughout the continental United States. Business matters, advertising and editorial concerns should be addressed to In Flight USA, P.O. Box 5402, San Mateo, Calif. 94402 or by calling (650) 358-9908–fax (650) 358-9254. Copyright © 2008 In Flight Publishing. In Flight USA is not responsible for any action taken by any person as a result of reading any part of any issue. The pieces are written for information, entertainment and suggestion – not recommendation. The pursuit of flight or any action reflected by this paper is the responsibility of the individual and not of this paper, its staff or contributors. Opinions expressed are those of the individual author, and not necessarily those of In Flight USA. All editorial and advertising matter in this edition is copyrighted. Reproduction in any way is strictly prohibited without written permission of the publisher. In Flight USA is not liable or in any way responsible for the condition or airworthiness of any aircraft advertised for sale in any edition. By law the airworthiness of any aircraft sold is the responsiblity of the seller and buyer.
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In Flight USA Celebrating 33 Years
CAP CADET BIVOUAC SUPPORT
April 2017
Flying into Writing By Eric McCarthy
S
everal weeks back, one of the San Diego Civil Air Patrol cadet squadrons held a winter campout to practice their survival and other skills under the watchful eyes of senior mentors. Part of the exercise involved communicating with CAP aircraft in a simulated Search and Rescue scenario. The cadets would use signal mirrors, tarp and body signals, and radio communications with the aircraft. I was fortunate enough to serve as Mission Observer – front right seat – on one of the flight crews with Mission Pilot, Stu. Unfortunately for us, our squadron’s plane was down for maintenance, so we had to drive to Hemet (KHMT) to borrow an aircraft. This actually worked out pretty well for us, as the weather wasn’t optimal at Fallbrook (L18), our home base, and it was clear at Hemet. We preflighted the airplane and grabbed a bite to eat at the Hanger 1 Café while we awaited our release. CAP flights are very carefully managed, requiring a thorough preflight briefing taking weather, weight and balance, and operational risk management (ORM) into account before the flight can be authorized and released by a Flight Release Officer (FRO). We passed the test and were soon on our way. The cadet bivouac was held at Palomar Mountain State Park, about 15 minutes flight time south of Hemet. My job as Observer was to visually identify our search area, direct the pilot to the site, and get him to position the plane where I needed it to be able to view and interpret the ground team’s signals and to work the CAP radios. Once we were in the area, I established contact with the ground team to notify them that we were inbound and looking for their signal. Their first signal would be the bright flash of a signal mirror trained on us. This would help us to locate them within the thousands of acres of trees and fields in the park. I located the signal from a distance of several miles and confirmed with the ground team where I had seen it. Now we had to locate the cadets. I guided Stu toward the site of the flashes, spotted the orange tee shirts of the ground team, and directed my pilot to circle the location. They had positioned themselves in a clearing and were preparing to communicate with us via tarp and body signals. As we circled overhead at 1,000-feet AGL, the cadets laid out a large tarp with contrasting panels, folding it to create signals such as “Need First Aid Supplies,” “OK To Land,” or “Need Food And Water.” Meanwhile, one of the orange-
shirted cadets began to strike the poses of the various body signals. From 1,000 feet, the body signals were very difficult to discern; binoculars helped a little, but even minor turbulence make them impractical. The tarp signals were much easier to see, although even they were not as apparent as you might think. In this case, the cadets were using a tarp that appeared to be about 12-feet long and black on one side, white on the other. This presents a good, strong contrast – and that’s exactly what you want. Unfortunately, with the muted colors of the dormant grass and the small amounts of snow in the area, the white didn’t stand out as much as say, an orange tarp might have. Overall, the cadets did an outstanding job, and this exercise was of as much value to us as Search and Rescue aircrew is for the ground team.
I present this to you so that you can understand the challenges searchers face when looking for lost hikers, off-road vehicles, or downed aircraft and crew. For your best chance of survival, these are the lessons I learned from this exercise: • The signal mirror really requires that someone is actively searching for it. That’s not to say that you couldn’t draw someone’s attention with the bright flashes, but it is a pretty small flash. A flickering flash would probably work best. • International Orange shirts, jackets, or vests are the easiest to see from the air. • Body signals are very difficult to see from the air. If that’s the best you have available, seek contrast. • Make sure you have a guide to the various signals in your survival kit. • If you have a survival kit in your car or plane, include a high-contrast tarp for shelter and signaling – preferably bright orange and blue or black. Search and rescue teams, whether airborne or on the ground, look for unnatural “markers” – things that look out of place – to find their targets. Large patches of bright
orange stand out from most backgrounds (except in New England in the Fall… perhaps some consideration should be given to seasonal and/or terrain features) • This one may seem overly obvious, but the bigger the signal, the better! Bear in mind that what may seem huge to you as you set it up on the ground, may look small from the air. Go Big or Go Home! • We were also asked to signal via wing-wags, which were not seen until we were almost overhead. We aircrew need to be aware of the need for large gestures too!
Graveyard Spiral
A couple of years after earning my ticket, I took a couple of non-pilot friends on a flight from Norwood Municipal Airport (KOWD), about 12 miles south of Boston, to Montauk, N.Y. (KMTP) for dinner. It was about a 45-minute flight over Rhode Island and Block Island Sound to the very tip of Long Island. The mid-August afternoon was warm and clear but a little hazy; humidity levels in New England typically reach their peak about that time of year. This would come back to bite us when we got over the waters of Block Island Sound. Navigating by VORs – no GPS back then – our route of flight took us over the Providence VOR (PVD), then direct to Montauk – almost a straight line between Norwood and our destination. We had a beautiful view of downtown Providence, R.I., Narragansett Bay, and the Jamestown Bridge; Newport and its magnificent mansions lay somewhere in the distance, hidden by the haze, as we headed southwest into the setting sun. It’s only about 20nm across the Sound, with several good alternatives never more than about 10nm away should we experience any engine problems (Westerly State – KWST; Block Island State – KBID; and Montauk). We crossed at 6,500 feet, so, with the Skyhawk’s 9:1 glide ratio, in theory and calm air, we could have easily made it to any of the three alternate airports in an emergency. But engine problems were not to define our “emergency” that day. The combination of the haze and bright sunshine created a blinding glare at our one-to-two-o’clock-position and obliterated our horizon. It was definitely still VFR, and I was comfortable splitting my attention between the instrument panel and the world outside. Flight following would alert us to any traffic in the area, and letting down through the haze would only help to bring clarity to the situation, as Long Island would become more and more visible.
Once clear of the busier airspace around Providence, I had handed the controls to my friend, Billy, carefully watching to ensure we continued to track our course. “Feet wet,” I began to look for Block Island and its airport, glancing out my side of the plane, just in case. Peering through the haze, I was able to follow the wakes of a couple of boats en-route to Block Island’s harbor and eventually to make out the dark outline of the island 10 miles distant. Satisfied that I now knew where KBID was, I returned my gaze back to the cockpit to check our progress. Whoa! I was momentarily confused to see that my instruments indicated that we were now banked right and descending! My butt and head were convinced we were still motoring along in level flight as expected, yet the altimeter was unwinding at an alarming rate, and the DG was spinning… what is going on? Why hadn’t I felt this departure from straight and level flight? The answer, of course, was that we had entered a “graveyard spiral,” a particularly dangerous condition precisely because you don’t “feel” its onset. While I had been searching for Block Island in the haze, my friend, with no visual horizon reference, had inadvertently allowed the aircraft to roll slightly to the right. I think I had felt or heard the slight acceleration and subconsciously applied a little back pressure to the yoke – my hands and feet are never far from the controls when I let non-pilots “drive,” regardless of how benign the situation may appear. Our actions combined to create the expected 1G, fooling our brains into thinking we were flying straight and level, despite the fact that we were now turning and descending. This was classic spatial disorientation, ours a daylight version of the tragic circumstances that would take the lives of John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife Carolyn, and her sister Lauren, on a dark, moonless evening, just a few miles further east, 18 years hence. It took me a few seconds to realize what was happening, but I quickly rectified the situation, rolling wings-level and arresting our descent. Within moments, we were back on course, descending, on purpose this time, toward the Long Island coastline. My friend was a bit miffed at my abrupt corrections, as he felt he had been doing just fine, but when I explained that we were no longer flying straight and level – something he at first didn’t believe, so powerful is the deception – and he began to understand the potential consequences, he sheepishly relented. After a brief tour of the Montauk Continued on Page 13
FAA FORECASTS CONTINUED GROWTH GENERAL AVIATION
April 2017
The FAA on March 21 released its annual Aerospace Forecast Report Fiscal Years 2017 to 2037, which projects sustained and continued growth in nearly every aspect of air transportation from general aviation private flying to large commercial airline passenger levels. In commercial air travel, Revenue Passenger Miles (RPMs) are considered the benchmark for measuring aviation growth. An RPM represents one revenue passenger traveling one mile. The FAA forecast calls for system RPMs by mainline and regional air carriers to grow at an average rate of 2.4 percent per year between 2016 and 2037, with international RPMs projected for average annual increases of 3.4 percent per year. System RPMs are forecast to increase 65 percent during the 20-year forecast. The general aviation fleet is expected to increase from 209,905 aircraft in 2016 to 213,420 in 2037, growing an average of 0.1 percent a year. Fixed-wing turbine aircraft grow at a rate of 1.9 percent per year, fixed-wing piston aircraft–decline at a rate of 0.8 percent per year, and rotorcraft grow at a rate of 1.6 percent per year. General aviation hours flown are forecast to increase from 24.6 million in 2016 to 29.9 million in 2037, an average annual growth rate of 0.9 percent a year. Fixed-wing turbine aircraft hours flown grow at a rate of 2.5 percent per year, fixed-wing piston aircraft hours flown decline at a rate of 0.8 percent per year, and rotorcraft hours flown grow at a rate of 2.0 percent per year. A key new portion of the forecast focuses on the growth in the use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), also known as drones. The FAA projects the small model hobbyist UAS fleet to more than triple in size from an estimated 1.1
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million vehicles at the end of 2016 to more than 3.5 million units by 2021. The commercial, non-hobbyist UAS fleet is forecast to grow from 42,000 at the end of 2016 to about 442,000 aircraft by 2021, with an upside possibility of as many as 1.6 million UAS in use by 2021. Pilots of these UAS vehicles are expected to increase from 20,000 at the end of 2016 to a range of 10 to 20 times as many by 2021. Predictions for small UAS are more difficult to develop given the dynamic, quickly-evolving market. The FAA has provided high and low ranges around the hobbyist forecast, reflecting uncertainty about the public’s continued adoption of this new technology. The FAA’s non-hobbyist (commercial) UAS fleet size forecasts contain certain broad assumptions about operating limitations for small UAS during the next five years based on the basic constraints of the existing regulations: daytime operations, within visual line of sight, and a single pilot operating only one small UAS at a time. The main difference in the high and low end of the forecasts is differing assumptions about how quickly the regulatory environment will evolve, enabling more widespread routine uses of UAS for commercial purposes. The FAA utilizes a variety of economic data and projections to develop its annual forecast, such as generally accepted projections for the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The FAA annual forecast is consistently considered the industry-wide standard of U.S. aviation-related activities. The report looks at all facets of air travel including commercial airlines, air cargo, private general aviation, and fleet sizes. To read the entire report, visit faa.gov or link directly at www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/ news_story.cfm?newsId=21514.
Flying Into Writing Continued from Page 12 lighthouse, we landed and enjoyed a pleasant dinner of fried clams, coleslaw, and corn on the cob at a waterfront restaurant within walking distance of the airport. Forget the hundred dollar hamburger – this was the way to do it! Finished with our meal, we returned to the plane and departed on runway six putting the setting sun behind us, its golden light casting long shadows pointing toward the near-full moon rising in the east. The flight was smooth and uneventful, and soon we were back at Norwood, saying our goodbyes.
During our brief misadventure, we had only turned about 30 degrees off course and lost just a couple of hundred feet of altitude, but it served as a stark reminder of just how quickly things can go from good to bad if you’re not paying attention. We were fortunate that the situation hadn’t deteriorated any further; too many aircraft have departed controlled flight and spread their parts across the countryside as panicked pilots overstressed their planes in a desperate attempt to recover from spatial disorientation. Don’t let that happen to you! Until next time – fly safe!
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April 2017
Deal to Close Airport in 2028 was ‘Last Straw’
N
By Dan Namowitz, AOPA
ational flight training chain American Flyers will close its flight school at California’s Santa Monica Municipal Airport on April 15. The decision will end the flight school’s 50-year presence on the airport that is now scheduled to close in 2028 under a controversial agreement between the city and the FAA. “It’s certainly a bittersweet decision that the board had to make,” American Flyers President Jill Cole told AOPA in a phone interview on March 23. “The city has done many things over the last three years to drive people away from the airport. We don’t experience that anywhere else.” The departure of American Flyers, which has kept several aircraft at the airport and maintains a self-serve fueling station, marks the second closing of a major flight training tenant of the airport in the past year. Last May, Justice Aviation closed its operation. The city of Santa Monica has long pursued a bid to close the airport and redevelop its 227-acre parcel, despite the facility being obligated to remain open under agreements associated with the airport’s receipt of federal Airport Improvement Program grants. In 2015, American Flyers was one of numerous tenants the city confronted with new and adverse lease conditions. Then came eviction notices last September. They were contested, drawing an investigation and a strong rebuke from the FAA, but the damage was done. “That’s when we saw a really drastic decline,” Cole said. “People don’t want train at an airport when they don’t know what the longevity of that airport is going to be.”
Santa Monica Municipal Airport. (Mike Fizer/Courtesy AOPA)
The surprise agreement that took effect Feb. 1 between the FAA and the city of Santa Monica allows the city to close the airport at the end of 2028. However, AOPA is working with airport supporters in the community to change the makeup of the city council to keep the historic airport, with its importance to the region’s transportation infrastructure and emergency response capabilities, open well into the future. The airport has 173 businesses providing 1,500 jobs and contributing $250 million to the local economy. “The last straw was the agreement between the city and the FAA, which was a surprise to many people in the aviation community,” Cole said, adding that her company was concerned about a provision for special designations of some businesses under which “the city only needs to give them six months to come in and take over their property.” Cole said American Flyers will relocate several aircraft to Scottsdale, Arizona, where the company opened a base on Nov. 1, and where “they genuinely care about the general aviation community.” Addressing the status of the self-serve fuel facility American Flyers maintains in Santa Monica, Cole said the company will “do the best we can to support from afar” by making sure that the fuel operations “get transitioned appropriately.”
Pacific Aviation Museum
Continued from Page 11 Tower, Hangars 37 and 79, and bullet holes in Hangar 79. Through its preservation and restoration of World War II fighter planes and accompanying artifacts in the Museum’s historic hangars, Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor shares the story of the vital role aviation played in the winning of World War II, and its continuing role in maintaining America’s freedom.
Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor is a non-profit organization. Its mission is to develop and maintain an internationally recognized aviation museum on Historic Ford Island that educates young and old alike, honors aviators and their support personnel who defended freedom in The Pacific Region, and to preserve Pacific aviation history. For more information, telephone 808/441-1000 or visit www.pacificaviationmuseum.org.
April 2017
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16
LAST OF ITS LINE – THE GOODYEAR BLIMP
In Flight USA Celebrating 33 Years
W
By David Brown
ith the recent retirement in March 2017 of Goodyear Blimp (N4A) from its base at Carson in Southern California, we have no blimp. On Feb. 14, the blimp was deflated by pulling the rip panel on the top of the blimp to let the helium escape. It took just a couple of minutes to change the proud and rotund shape to a deflated caricature of a blimp lying on the grassy field. A sad and nostalgic moment indeed. Over the years, I have had the privilege of flying in the pilot’s seat of the Goodyear blimp on two occasions, and I have seen it over many sporting events, day and night.
The blimp is an impressive sight, droning at low altitude over Southern California. It’s a massive 192 feet long. (David Brown) The GZ-20A was capable of carrying a pilot and six passengers in the gondola. The envelope was made from polyester fabric threaded with neoprene rubber. However, the envelope was approaching the end of its life, and it was time to go. A newer airship is already being readied to take its place. I have had the good fortune to fly the Goodyear blimp twice, the first as an aviation writer on assignment for a long-gone aviation magazine, and the second when I was an instructor at the USAF Test Pilot School at Edwards AFB. In this position, I was responsible for taking test pilot students on a series of field trips to aerospace facilities in Southern California. One such visit included the Goodyear blimp base at Carson where my students had the opportunity to pilot the blimp, under the supervision of Chief Pilot “Nic” Nicolari.
First Impressions of the Blimp
The first trip was my introduction to the world of airship operations at the
April 2017
Goodyear Carson operating base in Southern California. Together with Goodyear pilot, Tom Matus, I walked out to the ship across the field as it floated at the mooring mast. More than a dozen Goodyear crewmen took up their positions around the ship. Three men held on to each of the two nose mooring ropes while the rest steadied the gondola. The blimp Columbia (N2A) was unhitched from the mast and walked downwind to give us room for takeoff. The six passengers climbed aboard one by one, with the crew removing shot bags to compensate for the weight of each passenger as they boarded. I was the last one in, and I took the right-hand side next to Captain Matus. The door was closed and locked behind me. After a lifetime of strapping into a variety of flying machines, I was surprised to find there were no seat belts. Meanwhile, our pilot was carrying on a conversation with his crew chief through the open window as the final adjustments to trim were made by moving shot bags in and out of the compartments on each side of the gondola. Satisfied with the trim, Matus nodded, and the compartment doors were slammed closed, with the last warning lights on the panel winking out as the doors were locked. At this point, our single wheel was still on the ground. Our pilot told me that normal procedure was for the airship to start off slightly heavy for the first flight of the day. As fuel would burn off, the ship would become lighter. As the helium temperature increased due to the heat of the day, the ship would become progressively more buoyant. There was obviously an art to this lighter-than-air aviating.
In a daytime display the illuminated panel scrolls its messages to the audience below. The airship is reconfigured for sporting events with cameras in the gondola. (David Brown) Matus signaled that it was time to go. With a concerted heave, the crew bounced Columbia on her single wheel. As the ship rebounded gently into the air, our pilot pushed the throttles forward. In a blare of sound, the ship started moving forward, and Matus wound back on the large elevator control wheel to the right Continued on Page 17
April 2017
www.inflightusa.com
The Goodyear Blimp Continued from Page 16 of his seat. The nose rose high into the sky, and with the engines at full power, we climbed at an impossibly steep angle by aircraft standards. Engines snarling, with the propeller noise reverberating back from the taut gray fabric of the airship’s belly, we climbed rapidly to Columbia’s cruising altitude of 1,000 feet. With the nose of the airship still pointed skywards, our pilot pulled back the throttles. I instinctively braced for a stall, but of course the airship just continued to head upwards, slowly pitching down into level flight. Matus grinned at my discomfiture. “That gets all fixed-wing pilots like that the first time,” he commented. I nodded wisely as my heart rate slowly sank back to normal rate. By now, Columbia was headed south at a leisurely 40 knots. The view was superb from the panoramic windows of the gondola. To our right lay the City of Torrance and the sweep of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Ahead of us, Long Beach harbor glinted in the sunlight. Away to our left, the snow-covered San Gabriel mountains rimming the Los Angeles basin appeared to float out of the morning mist. Our pilot indicated that it was time for us to swap seats. Sliding into the pilot’s seat, I took stock of the instruments. The flight instruments, engine controls, and radios were familiar. Not so with a variety of lanyards, dials, and switches labeled Damper Control, Helium Pressure, Helium Terperatured, which were strangers to me. I shifted in my seat, adjusting my grip on the elevator control wheel, and setting my feet on the rudder pedals. “Let’s head over to Long Beach,” said Matus. Using my feet on the rudder pedals, I tried to target the nose on the distant silver dome, which at that time housed the Spruce Goose. (Howard Hughes’s HK1 flying boat, which subsequently moved to its current home in Oregon). Our twin handling ropes dangling beneath the nose started to edge around the horizon toward the dome as I gingerly pushed on one pedal. Becoming impatient with the lack of results, I pushed harder. Matus grinned and said, “You’ll find it’s not like an airplane,” and I wondered why… An age passed before Columbia’s nose started to swing. Then the nose accelerated past the dome and way past to the far side. My heart sank. This was ridiculous. It took a couple of leisurely oscillations over the next minute or so before I got the hang of this delayed response and persuaded the nose back on target. There was a knack to it. This was not like controlling an aircraft. It was
more like trying to get a grazing elephant to head in the right direction. Gentle persuasion was the name of the game with this friendly giant.
The neoprene envelope of the Goodyear blimp is a massive 192 feet long. The gondola houses pilot, passengers, engines, and the lone wheel of the landing gear. When the blimp drones overhead, it blots out the sun and even birds in the garden fall silent. (David Brown)
The nose lifted as we droned under a small cloud and ran into an area of rising air. In a powered aircraft, we would have felt it as turbulence; in a sailplane it would have marked a thermal, but here it was no more than a gentle rocking more appropriate to send a baby to sleep in its crib. Trying to outguess this behemoth, I wound the elevator control wheel forward, too far in fact, and I managed to get the nose well below the horizon. With the nose now pointing down towards an oil refinery, I felt as if we were about to carry out a dive-bombing attack on the unsuspecting citizens of Wilmington below us. Matus was chatting unconcernedly with the other passengers and pointing out landmarks. Then I noticed the altimeter, which still showed us at 1,000 feet, despite the nose-down tilt. It struck me what Matus had meant when he said, “It doesn’t fly like an airplane.” Of course, it didn’t. Despite having flying controls, it was still a balloon, albeit a balloon 192 feet long. Irrespective of whether I pointed the nose up or down, we would float in equilibrium at this altitude, loafing along with engines throttled back. To climb or descend, the engines would have to be used in conjunction with the elevators to power us up or down from this altitude. With an airship this size containing one fifth of a million cubic feet of gas, and with a weight of around six tons, the inertia of the ship was significant.
Flying in a slow circle we droned south almost to Los Angeles Harbor, then headed west over an industrial area, with freeways looking like spaghetti carelessly thrown across the landscape and with railroad marshaling yards patterning the ground below. I continued to turn right until our nose pointed toward King Harbor on the coast at Redondo Beach. King Harbor was almost a second home to the ship and Columbia only weeks before had solemnly been declared the official bird of Redondo Beach. The airship spent a good deal of its working life over the South Bay and Redondo Beach in particular, even monitoring the local 10-kilometer runs, although its normal working area extended from San Diego to San Francisco. In 1984, Columbia had been joined by its sister ship America for the duration of the 1984 Olympic games, and our airspace had been temporarily bursting with blimps.
Sharing the sky. The Goodyear blimp floats over the Palos Verdes Peninsula as a flock of pelicans passes beneath it. (David Brown)
I continued turning to the right, towards the San Gabriel mountains, then back towards the Goodyear Operations field. Matus and I swapped seats again as we neared the field. The landing field looked much smaller from the air, nestled between two intersecting freeways, than it did before we took off. Our pilot took control of his airship. From my lofty perch, I could see the handling crew gathering at the center of the field. The launching mast had now been folded down out of harm’s way, clearing the field for us to land. As we approached the field, our pilot discussed the wind conditions over the radio with his crew chief on the ground. Down on the field a hand-carried windsock showed that the wind was from the east. But the wind at altitude was different as became apparent from Columbia’s drift over the ground. Matus elected to land from the north west. We circled over the freeway, the huge shadow of the blimp drifting over the cars scurrying past below. Nose down and engines roaring, Columbia started to descend. As the airship lurched in the bumpy air at the lower altitude, it was a
17 busy time for our pilot who had to muscle large deflections of wheel and rudder pedals to keep us heading in the right direction. Everything appeared to happen in slow motion as we threaded our way above thickets of power lines bordering the field. We seemed to be settled on our approach when suddenly Columbia started drifting sideways. The wind at ground level had changed again and the tiny hand-held windsock out on the field showed that a southerly wind had sprung up. This wind was blowing us off course at the most inopportune moment. We were completely at the mercy of the weather gods. The ground crew could not catch us this time round. So Matus went forward on the throttles and back on the elevator wheel in a classic go-around. Columbia climbed away for another approach. We circled the field and came in again. There were no problems this time. As the wind stayed on our nose during the approach, the figures of the ground crew slowly grew larger in the windshield. Men grabbed the mooring ropes dangling from the nose and ran out to either side to steady the ship. With a soft jolt, our wheel touched the ground, and we were down. Already the passengers for the next flight were waiting off to our right. At the crew chief’s instructions, we disembarked, one at a time, each person being replaced in turn by a boarding passenger. This ensured that the passenger weight aboard the gondola remained approximately constant, and Columbia did not get too far out of trim. Goodyear ran a slick operation, and it was only minutes before the door closed behind the last passenger. Tom Matus opened the throttles, and in a blare of sound, Columbia climbed away on another flight showing the Goodyear flag over the South Bay once more.
Spirit of Innovation passing the moon. The mooring ropes are visible dangling from the nose during this sunset flight. A 14-member ground crew must chase the mooring ropes as the blimp nears the mooring mast. (David Brown)
My second blimp flight from Goodyear’s Carson base was on N2A, Eagle with Goodyear’s Chief Pilot “Nic” Nicolari flying the ship. Our passengers this time consisted of students from the Continued on Page 18
18
In Flight USA Celebrating 33 Years
April 2017
Last of its Line – The Goodyear Blimp
Continued from Page 17 USAF Test Pilot School, hot from flying jets up at Edwards AFB, and their instructor (me). We had started the afternoon in class as the students were taught the fundamentals of lighter-than air flight, then divided up into groups to fly in the blimp. With Nicolari’s help, the students were introduced into the mysteries of weighing off, trimming the airship, controlling the ballonets, and operating the
dampers. Control was achieved by pulling the various lanyards and flipping switches and pulling levers. In turn, they were introduced into the highly physical world of the manual control of rudder (pedals) and elevator (wheel). It was not at all like the method of operating T-38 supersonic trainers and F-16 fighters, which occupied their daily lives, with their sophisticated flight control systems, side-sticks, and hydraulic-boosted controls. The response of these budding test
pilots and engineers was the same in each case and a joy to watch. Sure, the control surfaces were conventional, but manually controlled, and the response was everso-slow… But it was the greatest fun. Having flown the blimp previously, I could just sit back and enjoy the experience as they came to grips with this reluctant giant. It was indeed an educational experience for all participants. After the students had all had turns flying the blimp, I was offered the pilot seat and set-
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tled in to reacquaint myself with controlling the beast using the pedals and that large elevator control wheel to the right of my seat. With a veteran’s assurance, I headed toward King Harbor, turned inland, and spent a few minutes reconnoitering the City of Torrance from the air. It certainly was a tremendous vantage point to observe the scenery of the South Bay, droning along at 40 knots, when I could not resist asking Nicolari what the singleengine performance was like. “That’s no problem,” was the reply, “Just pull one of the throttles back to idle.” Our twin pusher engines were mounted behind us and were about the same distance offset from the centerline as those on a regular light twin. Expecting the usual drama caused by asymmetric thrust in a piston twin at this low speed, I closed the left throttle and prepared to apply a strong bootful of rudder to the right as we lost speed. The noise level reduced significantly, and the airspeed needle sagged from 40 to 32 knots… and nothing else happened. There was none of the drama associated with losing one engine on a multi-engine fixed-wing aircraft. And I waited… and waited… Nicolari just grinned. We were still heading west, toward the Pacific, pointing into wind and practically stationary. “You might want to bring the power back up.” He said, “ We need to get back to Carson before sunset.” So I did that, bringing the left throttle up, then pressing heavily on the rudder pedals to turn us back inland in a slow reversal of course and floated back to the Carson base in the lowering rays of the sun.
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The cruciform tail has upper and lower rudders for directional control, with elevators controlling pitch. These control surfaces are manually operated and are large and heavy to a fixed-wing pilot. All Goodyear blimps proudly wave the stars and stripes from their tail. (David Brown)
So what happens now that our blimp is no more? The latest news is that the blimp will be replaced by a semi-rigid Zeppelin Wingfoot 2 (N2A) later this year. The Zeppelin is about 50 feet longer than the GZ-20, with modern propulsion Continued on Page 19
April 2017
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Last of its Line – The Goodyear Blimp
Continued from Page 18 and control systems. It will be quieter, faster, and more maneuverable than the blimp. The enlarged gondola will house 12 passengers rather than the six on the blimp. With swiveling engines, ground handling should be much improved.
The gondola has panoramic windows for passengers and crew. The two pusher propellers direct air through the airscoops behind them into the air-filled ballonets at front and rear, which enable the pilot to keep the blimp in trim fore and aft. The mooring ropes dangle from the nose during this sunset flight. A 14-member ground crew must chase the mooring ropes as the blimp nears the mooring mast. (David Brown)
In 2011, we saw the blimp with “Lightyear” along its flanks. Who said Goodyear did not have a sense of humor? (A new Toy Story film was opening in nearby Hollywood at the time, and the blimp was undertaking publicity flights for the film). (David Brown)
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Matthew St. John, Chief Pilot at Carson, was the pilot on the blimps last flight above the Academy Awards last month. Of the wait until the new airship appears, he said, “Having flown the new airship, I can assure everyone it will be well worth it.” St. John and the other Carson-based pilots are already being trained for their transition to the Zeppelin. In anticipation of the Zeppelin’s arrival, an inflatable hangar is being constructed at the Carson field. Ground-breaking for
the new facility was held in February. The story of my initial flight in Columbia is based on, “Riding the Friendly Giant,” a chapter from my book View from the Cockpit published by Airlife Publications and available in the USA from amazon.com.
Spirit of Innovation is seen heading into the sunset over Southern California on one of its last flights. The blimp will be replaced by a larger semi-rigid Zeppelin later this year. (David Brown)
THE NORTH IS CALLING: A UNIQUE AND INSPIRING ARCTIC TOUR
20
In Flight USA Celebrating 33 Years
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viation unites people every day regardless of whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a small aircraft or a large jet. With that said, there is nothing more natural than using aviation to unite the entire nation during this very special year where we commemorate Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 150th anniversary. It is from that sentiment the Canadian Arctic Aviation Tour was born, to bring celebration to remote communities across Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Arctic, many of which can only be accessed by flight. The #ArcticTour150 is a unique air show event. In fact, it is a sequence of almost 100 events - 97 air shows across Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Arctic to be precise (yes, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not a typo â&#x20AC;&#x201C; ninety seven air shows!). Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more important â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the Tour will bring the cutting edge of precision aerobatic flying to areas that have only known aviation as a means of survival, not entertainment. Everybody will have a chance to join Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s birthday! In addition to the air shows, this tour offers a large educational component. Many locations along the more than 19,000 miles route are aboriginal communities. Using attention generated through the tour, we hope to educate the rest of Canada about the life, culture and struggles of our indigenous communities, and share their unique experiences. I believe the native culture is rich, fascinating and not known enough. From the art, to the music and food â&#x20AC;&#x201C; we will share with you as much as we can through social media as the journey progresses. Each community we visit is aware of the tour and is planning events of their own to complement our visit. From a music festival, to arts shows, to village barbecues, our performances will be
enhanced by the engagement the community themselves contribute to the event. Even as I write this I get goose bumps just thinking of the scope of what we are about to do. It is truly epic! Why an aviation tour? Northerners have seen planes before. Airplanes are actually an integral part of life in the North â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a lifeline for food, medical supplies, transportation and technology. Yet most of them have never seen an air show in their life. Seeing something they know â&#x20AC;&#x201C; an airplane â&#x20AC;&#x201C; in a totally new upside-down perspective, with a mix of technology, skill and hard work, we expect it to be an inspiration. Inspiration to not necessarily become an aerobatic pilot, but to be a better, stronger, smarter and braver version of themselves; the best they can be. We hope that youth in these communities will learn that nothing will be able to stop them from achieving their dreams. We hope to show them, not just through flying, but also through a real connection that the possibilities exist and that hard work pays off. The sky is not the limit! I feel particularly privileged being the only Canadian female aerobatic performer on the tour and I hope to inspire young girls to push the limits and pursue their dreams. Changing stereotypes is not easy, and I pray that there will be enough girls encouraged and empowered by the end of this summer who will in turn, make a difference in their lives. Butterfly effect. Who is making this epic event a reality? The amazing brains and hearts behind #ArcticTour150 are the organizers of Albertaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rocky Mountain House Air Show: Nancy McClure, Wendy Fowler, Ken Fowler and their team. When I signed Conitnued on Page 21
April 2017
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21
The North is Calling: A Unique and Inspiring Arctic Tour
Continued from Page 20 up for the entire tour a friend of mine asked, “Who are the producers? Have they ever done anything like this before?” The truth is, nobody has ever done anything like this before! This is what makes this initiative unique, audacious, inspiring and – yes! – a little crazy. The #ArcticTour150 requires a lot of support from various companies, sponsors, government and the Canadian military: Everything from flying in fuel (there is not much avgas in the middle of a tundra) to medical support, and funding. The performers traveling with the Tour form another spectacular team. I feel privileged to perform again with the Granley Family, Bud and Ross. Ken Fowler and Eric Hansen from Team Rocket, Dave and Drew Watson from Yellow Thunder, Brent Handy and Stefan Trischuk are among those who responded to the challenge. Some performers are only able to commit to a part of the Tour. Some, like your faithful Sky Dancer, would not want to miss a single day of it. Where and when? The Tour takes off on June 1 from Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, and will head north for its long journey across the Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Northern Quebec and Labrador. We will celebrate Canada Day, July 1, in the geographical centre of Canada – Baker Lake, NT. Another notable location is when the tour will journey as far north as Alert, NU, the most northern permanently inhabited place in the world, only 400 nautical miles from the North Pole! This tour will set a world record for the longest series of air shows North of 60. The final show of the tour will be on Aug. 18 in Nunavut’s capital, Iqaluit, after which I am sure everyone will be sad to see this great summer adventure come to an end. The team knows the reality will be harder and less perfect than the plan. We will fight the weather, have cancellations and technical issues. I was even asked if I would have a gun for polar bear defense. Oh my! I do hope to see muskox (I promise to share pictures!) and find a nice pair of mukluks, even though they are too warm for my home in Vancouver. One question I am asked frequently is, “how can someone join the tour?” The answer is – In a very limited way. Some of our more southern locations like Yellowknife, are reachable by most general aviation planes within a reasonable amount of time and fuel availability (expect to pay a premium for the avgas up North). You should still check with your instructor or more experienced pilots before setting off on such a trip. Often
your nearest alternate airport is beyond your fuel range, and survival in case of an engine failure is difficult. Mountain flying and weather are other challenges in many Northern regions. Most locations in the High Arctic don’t even have avgas available. The Canadian Arctic Aviation Tour, benefitting from military support, will have fuel for performers flown in ahead of time. But these supplies will not be available for the public.
The most important question though is, “how can I support the tour?” and that answer is simple: buy a mile! As one can imagine this project comes at a significant cost and in order to pull this off we need the support of everyone. Please help us to make this a success by buying a mile on our crowdfunding page: www.crowdrise.com/caat2017. We encourage everyone to follow us along our journey by following us on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. We want to hear from you! Anna Sky Dancer’s blog: www.annaskydancer.com The latest version of the schedule is the following: Date:Wheels Down Show Wheels Up Show June 02 2017 Fort Liard Watson Lake June 03 2017 Continued on Page 22
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In Flight USA Celebrating 33 Years
April 2017
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June 03 2017 Teslin June 03 2017 Tagish June 03 2017 Carcross Marsh Lake June 03 2017 June 04 2017 Whitehorse June 04 2017 Ibex Valley June 04 2017 Mt. Lorne June 04 2017 Faro Ross River June 04 2017 June 04 2017 Haines Junction June 04 2017 Carmacks June 04 2017 Destruction Bay June 04 2017 Burwash Landing Dawson City June 05 2017 June 05 2017 Beaver Creek June 05 2017 Pelley Crossing June 05 2017 Mayo June 06 2017 Old Crow June 07 2017 Fort McPherson June 07 2017 Tsiigehtchic June 08 2017 Inuvik June 09 2017 Sachs Harbour June 09 2017 Holman/Ulukhaktok June 09 2017 Paulatuk June 10 2017 Aklavik June 11 2017 Tuktoyaktuk June 12 2017 Fort Good Hope June 12 2017 Colville Lake June 13 2017 Norman Wells June 13 2017 Deline June 13 2017 Tulita June 14 2017 Fort Simpson June 14 2017 Jean Marie River June 14 2017 Wrigley June 14 2017 Nahanni Butte June 14 2017Sambaa K’e-Trout Lake June 14 2017 Fort Providence June 16 2017 Day OFF June 17 2017 Fort Smith June 18 2017 Yellowknife June 18 2017 Kikakisa June 18 2017 Enterprise June 18 2017 Fort Resolution June 18 2017 Lutselk’e June 18 2017 Wekweeti June 18 2017 Behchoko June 18 2017 Waati June 18 2017 Gameti June 19 2017 Kugluktuk June 19 2017 Ulukhaktok June 20 2017 Cambridge Bay June 21 2017 Gjoe Haven June 22 2017 Taloyoak June 23 2017 Kugaaruk June 23 2017 Naujaat - Repulse Bay June 24 2017 Day OFF June 25 2017 Coral Harbour June 26 2017 Chesterfield Inlet June 26 2017 Rankin Inlet June 27 2017 Whale Cove
June 27 2017 June 28 or 29 2017 July 01 2017
Phase Two (2) July 08 2017 July 09 2017 July 10 2017 July 11 2017 July 11 2017 July 12 2017 July 13 2017 July 13 2017 July 14 2017 July 15 2017 July 15 2017 July 15 2017 July 16 2017 July 17 2017 July 18 2017 July 18 2017 July 19 2017 July 19 2017 July 19 2017 July 19 2017 July 19 2017 July 20 2017 July 20 2017 July 20 2017 July 20 2017 July 21 2017 July 21 2017 July 22 2017 July 23 2017 July 24 2017 July 25 2017 July 26 2017 July 27-29 2017 July 28 2017 July 29 2017 July 29 2017 July 30 2017 July 31 2017 August 01 2017 August 02 2017 August 18 2017
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Anna Serbinenko, aka Sky Dancer, is the only Canadian female aerobatic performer. She is a class 1 airplane and class 1 aerobatic instructor. Anna is joining the Canadian Arctic Aviation Tour as a performer for the entire Tour. Sponsorship opportunities available, please contact anna@cfc.aero . Anna also teaches flying in her school Canadian Flight Centre that was established in 1979. The school prides itself in training “from tailwheel to turbine”, and its graduates from over 60
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24
C
SONOMA COUNTY AIRPORT IS GATEWAY TO MUSEUMS AND WINE TASTING ADVENTURES
By Lea Buonocore
harles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport is located in Northern California’s beautiful wine country. The airport has a rich and unique history. Named after Charles M. Schulz, a former Sonoma resident who happens to be the world famous cartoonist responsible for the Peanuts comic strip, this airport is bound to be a place of happiness and entertainment. The airport logo features the one and only famous dog, Snoopy, flying ace attire atop his Sopwith Camel biplane. From a historical perspective, Santa Rosa started as a very small town in 1868 and had only one small municipal airfield that became active in the 1930s. This airfield was owned by Richfield Oil Corporation, which was located near the Redwood Highway, very close to the present airport. The 3,000-foot sod runway at the original airfield was closed to civilian pilots during World War II. In June of 1942, the Fourth Air Force adopted what was known as the Santa Rosa Army Air Field. Some of the other known units of the airfield included the 354th Fighter Group, March-June 1943; the 357th Fighter Group, JuneAug. 1943; the 363rd Fighter Group, Aug.-Oct. 1943; and the 367th Fighter Group, Oct.-Dec. 1943. Fighter Group 478 was permanently assigned to Santa Rosa in Dec. of 1943. There, they began to train replacement pilots, who were sent overseas after they had graduated. The airfield was discontinued in Jan. of 1946 and the War Assets Administration took over and converted it into a civil airport. During the late 1940s, until the mid 1970s, many commercial airlines used the airport. Some of these airlines included Southwest Airlines, Pacific Airlines, Air West, and Hughes Airwest turboprops, which primarily flew to San Francisco (SFO), about 55 miles south. These services continued to San Francisco from STS until the early 2000s. There was also nonstop service to San Jose (SJC). During the 1970s, Eureka Aero was also offering nonstop service from Eureka to Sacramento. In 1985, Westates Airlines operated Convair CV-580 turboprop service to Los Angles (LAX). In July of 1985, there were almost 40 round trips per week between Sonoma and Los Angeles. American Eagle code share service operated by Wings West Airlines for American Airlines provided nonstop service to San Francisco and San Jose
In Flight USA Celebrating 33 Years
with Fairchild Swearingen Metroliners. In 1989, American Eagle was offering up to three departures per day to San Francisco and four departures per day to San Jose with Metro propjets. There were also flights offered to San Jose through Reno Air Express, which were flown by Mid Pacific Air. During early 2007, airline services began to run again through Horizon Air, which was a subsidiary of Alaska Airlines, with flights to Seattle and Los Angeles. To make things more convenient, Horizon created flights to Portland, Los Vegas, and eventually San Diego by 2012. In the earlier part of 2011, Alaska Airlines declared that Horizon would be discontinued, and all Horizon flights would be operated under Alaska Airlines’ name. In the summer of 2012, the airline discontinued flights form STS to Las Vegas. There was an agreement between STS and Alaska Airlines, and the local enotourism industry announced that passengers would be allowed to check a case of bottled wine for free using Alaska Airlines from STS. Currently, the Airport offers daily direct flights on Alaska Airlines to Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego, twice-a-week flights on Allegiant Air to Las Vegas, and now nonstop daily flights to Phoenix Sky Harbor on American Airlines. In February, STS and American Airlines opened a ticketing and check-in facility to accommodate the new daily non-stop service to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Flights operate as American Eagle on their 70-seat Bombardier CRJ-700 aircraft. Also in February, STS announced that United Airlines will offer three nonstop daily flights to San Francisco starting June 8, 2017. Flight will be operated on United’s Bombardier CRJ-200, a 50seat jet aircraft. Tickets for these flights can be purchased from now at www.united.com . And lastly, STS announced that Sun Country Airlines will now be offering seasonal, non-stop flights between Sonoma and Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn. beginning Aug. 24, 2017. The flights are being offered Aug. 24 through Dec. 3 on a seasonal basis. The Charles M. Schulz Airport covers more than 1,000 acres and has an elevation of 129 feet. There are also two asphalt runways: 2/20 is 5,202 by 100 feet, and 14/32 is 6,000 by 150 feet. By 2007, the airport had 128,875 aircraft operations, with 353 being the average
The Charles M. Schultz Sonoma County Airport Terminal Building. (Charles M. Schultz Museum and Research Center)
April 2017
Roll out the Barrels and Fly In for Savor Sonoma Next Year
Savor Sonoma Valley is an exciting “highlight” event in this wine country region. It is known as the ultimate barrel tasting experience in the Valley with 17 wineries participating in the recently held event, March 18-19. Make plans to “do” this event next year on March 1718. Visit www.heartofsonomavalley.com for details and tickets.
Straight out of the barrel, VJB’s Ryan Gregoire pours their 2015 Sonoma Valley Primitivo. (Mike Evangel)
Charlie Brown welcomes guest to the Charles M. Schultz Museum in Sonoma. (Charles M. Schultz Museum and Research Center)
The Charles M. Schultz Museum in Sonoma features a gift shop where Snoopy and his plane take center “sky.” (Charles M. Schultz Museum nd Research Center)
per day, including 95 percent general aviation, four percent being air taxi, one percent airline, and one percent military. Today, more than 350 aircraft call this airport home, 86 percent of them being single engine, 11 percent multi-engine, two percent jet, and one percent glider. In 2013, the airport began to reconstruct the runways and extend the runway by more than 6,000 feet. The project was completed in 2014. Currently on site, GA pilots will find FBOs, Kaiser Air and Sonoma Jet Center, both full service high-quality facilities. Continued on Page 25
Wine tasters quickly turned into wine buyers during Savor Sonoma, especially at Manzanita Creek, where the wines are “obviously” never boring! (Mike Evangel) Seventeen Wineries throughout Kenwood and Glen Ellen pulled out all the stops creating an epic wine tasting and barrel tasting experience last month. Instead of focusing on food and wine pairings this year, the spotlight was on an unbelievable variety of wines and barrels. Sonoma Valley truly offers something for everyone. Tasters and guests met winemakers, tasted reserve wines, sampled barrel wines, mingled with wine lovers in caves and on crush pads, enjoyed live music, toured wineries and vineyards, and savored a wonderful wine country weekend. Most importantly, this event offered guests the chance to take an advance look at what the 2016 vintage is going to be like in bottle! Participating Wineries: Deerfield Ranch Winery, Kenwood Vineyards, La Rochelle, Ledson Winery & Vineyards, Little Vineyards, Loxton Cellars, Madrone Estate Winery, Manzanita Creek Winery, Mayo Family Winery, Muscardini Cellars, Orpheus Wines, Paradise Ridge Winery, Spann Vineyards, Sunce Winery & Vineyards, St. Anne’s Crossing Winery, Ty Caton Vineyards, VJB Vineyards & Cellars.
April 2017
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25
Sonoma County Airport Continued from Page 24 Barron Air is a maintenance operation that provides annual inspections, along with both major and minor repairs and alterations. Propjet Aviation specializes in providing full-spectrum aviation services for both turbine and piston aircraft, along with inspections and routine maintenance. North Coast Air is the place to find flight training services, aircraft rentals, and other services, including scenic air tours. Another interesting site at the Santa Rosa Airport is the Pacific Coast Air Museum. The museum is located at the southeast corner of the airport. The Hollywood comedy movie, It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, is featured in the museum. The airplane hangar that was used in the movie in 1963 still resides in the Butler Building. The hangar was built during World War II, and it is still being used today. As for the museum, this is a handson experience. Many of the well-caredfor aircraft are open to viewing, as well as sitting in, inspecting the wheel wells and bomb bays, checking out the cockpits, and enjoying every inch of them. In fact, the next open cockpit day is on Top Gun Weekend, April 15 and 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Here’s a chance to look inside the F-5E Tiger II, F-16N viper, and the might Grumman F-14A Tomcat! For more information about the museum, visit www.pacificcoastairmuseum.org . While there are many great reasons to visit Sonoma, not to be missed is the wine country experience. Sonoma County has 17 unique regions, and more than 60 grape varieties. Each growing region and every vineyard is distinctive, with climate, soils, and site creating unique characteristics. Many small vineyards are home to boutique-style wineries. In fact, 40 percent of Sonoma County’s vineyards are less than 40 acres, and 80 percent are less than 100 acres. More than 85 percent of Sonoma County’s vineyards are still familyowned and operated. Chardonnay is the most abundant varietal in Sonoma County, with more than 15,000 vineyard acres planted. More Pinot Noir is planted in Sonoma County than any other red grape at over 12,500 acres. With events spread throughout the year, two stand-outs are the Taste of Sonoma wine day, slated for Sept. 2-3 and the recently passed, Savor Sonoma Valley wine barrel tasting – save the date for next March 17-18, 2018. Sonoma County Vintners recently announced the exciting news that the 2017 “Taste of Sonoma,” one of Sonoma Wine Country Weekend’s most significant wine
La Rochelle Winery greets guests to Savor Sonoma barrel tasting. (Mike Evangel)
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Paradise Ridge’s “The Convict” is named for the labor used by the sheriff, Tennessee Carter Bishop, in the 1870’s to carve a 15-mile road to his property in the rugged mountainous terrain of Rockpile. The depth and complexity of this wine comes from Paradise Ridge’s four old vine zinfandel clones planted on steep rocky terraces overlooking Lake Sonoma. (Mike Evangel) and food events, will be held at a new location: the beautiful Sonoma State University and the Donald & Maureen Green Music Center. Additionally, the event will expand to two days, occurring over Labor Day weekend (Sept. 2-3). For more information and tickets, visit www.sonomawine.com. Heart of Sonoma Valley Winery Association says the 2018 event (March 17-18) will be the ultimate wine barreltasting event with current releases often being served straight from the barrel by the winemaker. For more information, visit www.heartofsonomavalley.com. Also, see our photo coverage of this year’s Savor Sonoma on page 24. Save a little time in Sonoma for Snoopy and the gang! Today, more than a decade after Charles M. Schulz’s death, “Peanuts” continues to be rerun in many newspapers by popular demand. In fact, papers that conduct polls find that Peanuts consistently ranks #1 or #2 with their readers. So, who was the artist behind this phenomenon? What were his sources of inspiration? How was he able to keep producing intriguing, funny, and exquisitely drawn strips for half a century? Why Continued on Page 26
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NATA’S CSR WORKSHOP FOR FBO OPERATORS SET FOR APRIL 18-19
In Flight USA Celebrating 33 Years
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Set the tone for successful FBO customer service experiences at the Customer Service Representative (CSR) Certification Workshop, presented by NATA, Aviation Business Strategies Group and Air Culinaire on April 18-19 in Tampa, Fla. Learn how to build a foundation for successful customer service and turn marginal customer transactions into fulfilled client transformations. With a growing aviation industry and a need for in-flight catering, FBO and CSR professionals must be trained for success. NATA and Air Culinaire Worldwide added a new aspect to the program this year with a new one-day Aviation Food Safety Certification class to demonstrate the importance of food handling. Passengers expect their catering to be prepared, packaged and cared
April 2017
for with a level of expertise, creating a need for proper education. Upon completion of this course, you will be able to handle orders with ease and will receive a national certificate as well as an Air Culinaire Worldwide and Aircare Facts certificate. The conference will feature a wide variety of topics including the following: • Building long-term profitable customer relationships. • Setting service standards and bringing them to life. • Making a good first impression. • Teamwork and leadership skills • Fuel and service invoicing. • Up-selling fuel and other services. • Conflict resolution. • Anticipating customer needs. Continued on Page 27
Sonoma County Airport
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Continued from Page 25 do people love this comic strip and its characters so much? How did Charles M. Schulz revolutionize the art of the comic strip? These are some of the questions that are explored in the exhibitions and programs of the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center, which opened to the public on Aug. 17, 2002. Visitors will find much more than answers to their questions about Schulz’s art and influence when they pass inside the walls of what some may characterize as a Mecca for Peanuts fans. Nearly 100 original strips are on view at any one time to illustrate the development of Schulz’s characters and line a re-creation of his studio, which includes his well-used drawing board, and biographical materials chronicle his early artistic abilities as well as his devotion to family and friends. For more information about the museum, including hours, location, and other details, visit www.schulzmuseum.org . When it’s time to wind down and relax, head for downtown Sonoma, more specifically the Sonoma Plaza, known as the cornerstone of downtown. What started as a little town of ranchos under the Mexican government in the mid-1800s is now a charming downtown filled with shops, tasting rooms, and a wide variety of restaurants. If time permits, explore the parish-turned-museum Mission San Francisco Solano de Sonoma. One of California’s famed missions, this is a site to see and relish. History and military buffs will also enjoy the Sonoma
Barracks military post and cannon arsenal, and the former home of Lieutenant Colonel Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, commander general of the Northern Alta California’s frontier forces and founder of the town of Sonoma. And, if you wish to pair your history with wine, visit Three Sticks at the Adobe, set inside the historic 1842 home of Vallejo-Casteñada. The nearby Pangloss Cellars Tasting Lounge, meanwhile, revels in a historic stone property built more than a century ago, offering wine flights paired with bites like caviar, Cowgirl Creamery crème fraîche, and capers on crackers. And don’t miss Bartholomew Memorial Park nearby, home to Bartholomew Park Winery: Its on-site museum details the long history of Sonoma winemaking since the park’s first villa was built in 1861, and features a display of primitive agricultural tools. To help you plan, visit www.visitcalifornia.com/attraction/downt own-sonoma or the Sonoma Plaza website at www.sonomaplaza.com. On a sad note, Wings Over the Wine Country, an annual airshow, that normally takes place at the airport in September has been cancelled for this year due to financial constraints. It may return in 2018. In Flight USA will post updates in future issues. Meanwhile, with a vibrant airport, interesting museums, a charming downtown, and a world-renowned wine region, there is every reason to make plans to visit Sonoma this spring, summer, or wine-harvest autumn.
April 2017
2017 EAA AIRCRAFT SWEEPSTAKES
The 2017 edition of the EAA Aircraft Sweepstakes is now open and accepting entries. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Grand Prize is a brand-new beautiful Vanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s RV12. Vanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s has designed the fun into flying with this S-LSA aircraft, and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll experience the pure joy of flying each time you take to the skies. This striking aircraft, painted Tahoe Blue, will remind you just why you love to fly. The aircraft boasts a Rotax 912ULS engine and a dual display Dynon SkyView HDX avionics system for power and ease. The low empty weight allows a generous useful load â&#x20AC;&#x201C; up to two 210-pound passengers, 20 gallons of fuel, and 50 pounds of gear â&#x20AC;&#x201C; something rare in the light sport category. Enter today for your chance to win, and see what the â&#x20AC;&#x153;RV Grinâ&#x20AC;? is all about. A special thanks to Vanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Aircraft and Richard VanGrunsven for their generous support of this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sweepstakes, along with Dynon Avionics and Rotax Aircraft Engines. The second prize winner will receive an EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2018 VIP package. Experience Oshkosh like never before with weekly passes for two plus camping, a $500 merchandise voucher, special rides on EAAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bell Helicopter, B-17, and Ford Tri-Motor, and more. Second Prize: EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2018* VIP Package Enjoy AirVenture Oshkosh 2018 with this incredible package which includes: â&#x20AC;˘ Two weekly AirVenture wristbands â&#x20AC;˘ One weekly AirVenture general camping pass â&#x20AC;˘ Two Bell Helicopter flight passes â&#x20AC;˘ Two Ford Triâ&#x20AC;˘Motor flight passes
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A Vanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s RV-12 is this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s EAA Sweepstakes grand prize. Go to eaa.org to enter for a chance to win. (Photo courtesy EAA) â&#x20AC;˘ Two Bâ&#x20AC;˘17 flight passes â&#x20AC;˘ Two Flightline Pavilion passes â&#x20AC;˘ Lunch for two at the Aviatorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Club for one day (day is determined by EAA) â&#x20AC;˘ VIP tour of AirVenture grounds â&#x20AC;˘ EAA Lifetime Membership â&#x20AC;˘ $500 EAA merchandise voucher
Enter to win by going online to https://www.eaa.org/en/eaa/contributeâ&#x20AC;˘to â&#x20AC;˘eaa/eaaâ&#x20AC;˘aircraftâ&#x20AC;˘sweepstakes, mailing in an official entry form included in select issues of Sport Aviation, or by visiting the sweepstakes building during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2017. When you make a donation with your sweepstakes entry youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re supporting EAA programs that educate, engage, empower, and inspire the aviators of tomorrow. No purchase or donation necessary. A purchase or donation will not improve your chances of winning. The Sweepstake and all entries are governed by the 2017 Sweepstakes Official Rules available at w w w. e a a . o r g / e n / e a a / c o n t r i b u t e â&#x20AC;˘toâ&#x20AC;˘eaa/%7E/media/0cf5f58ea51642dbb4 821faa93a443a4.ashx. The winner is responsible for all applicable taxes.
NATAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s CSR Workshop Continued from Page 26 â&#x20AC;˘ Customer service dos and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ts. â&#x20AC;˘ Aviation / FBO Food Safety
The conference is designed to help FBO Customer Service Representatives (CSRs), Aircraft Greeters and Facilitators, Concierge Personnel, Schedulers and Dispatchers, Managers and Supervisors and anyone involved in delivering a great customer service experience. The costs are as follows: Certified
27
CSR Program with Food Safety Certification: $425/NATA Members; $650/Non-Members. Certified CSR Program only: $325/NATA Members; $450/Non-Members and Aviation Food Safety Certification only: $200/NATA Members; $300/Non-Members. For question or additional information, visit http://nata.aero/Events/2017-CertifiedCSR-Program.aspx or email or call kuko@nata.aero or 202/774-1513.
Have an event coming up? Submit it for publication in the online events calendar at www.inflightusa.com
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28
HEALTH PROGRAMS HELP
IN
WEIGHT LOSS SUCCESS STORY
In Flight USA Celebrating 33 Years
By Sara Francis
Team Eglin Public Affairs
(This feature is part of the “Through Airmen’s Eyes” series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story). Retired Master Sgt. Steve Fleming, 65, did not make a New Year’s resolution to lose weight. He did make a commitment to get his health back, and his dedi-
cation paid off in many ways. “I was having difficulty putting on my socks and shoes, and I couldn’t tie my shoes at all,” said Fleming, a 20-year veteran from Oroville, Calif. “I was having difficulty getting in and out of the car. That’s why I knew I had to make a change.” In the nearly two years since Fleming decided to pursue a better and healthier lifestyle, he lost nearly 130 pounds and reduced his body fat to 17.7 percent. While that achievement is
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impressive enough, the change that affected his life the most was being taken off insulin. He had been a Type 2 diabetic for 20 years, with an insulin pump for the last five. “Now my doctor said I’m pre-diabetic, but a few more pounds, and I won’t even be in that category,” Fleming said. In May 2015, Fleming began dieting and trying to move more in hopes of reducing his weight from 320 pounds to a weight that felt healthy. He began to eat less and walk more, which yielded some slow but gratifying results. A few months later, he attended Eat2Live, a nutrition class provided through the Eglin Health Promotion Clinic that helps individuals learn tactics and strategies for healthier eating. Through that class, Fleming learned how to eat better, not just less. “I learned about balancing my carbohydrates, fats, and proteins,” Fleming said. “I learned how many calories a gram of each is worth, so I could choose my calories better. I never knew any of that before.” After attending Eat2Live, Fleming’s wife told him about Go4Life. The program is designed for individuals over 50 who need reintroduction to physical fitness. Alison DeCaro, a 96th Medical Group health promotion coordinator and Go4Life instructor, teaches class participants better lifting form and muscle balance, which gradually builds up endurance and agility. “I spent a lot of time at the gym, but
SALES
April 2017
Retired Master Sgt. Steve Fleming has lost more than 130 pounds since starting his weight loss journey in May 2015. Fleming was 320 pounds at left, and 189 pounds at right. (Courtesy Graphic Photo)
coming (to Go4Life) gave me a better idea for how to spend that time,” Fleming said. Fleming learned how to control his lifting and fine-tune his workout routine to form better fitness habits. He worked his new techniques into his existing gym routine and saw better results. “I remember when I lost 50 pounds, and I was really excited about it, but no one else really noticed,” Fleming said. “It didn’t become a real success until other people noticed, probably once I had lost about 75 pounds.” Another aspect of the class DeCaro said contributed to Fleming’s success is the social accountability of the class setting. She noticed how classes tend to make very strong connections, which leads to more frequent and habitual attendance. “When I took vacation earlier this year, I left the class a four-week workout plan they could finish on their own,” Continued on Page 33
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April 2017
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Flying With Faber
S
THE BAY AREA 75 YEARS AGO
eventy-five years ago, I stepped off the porch of our Presidio home at 540-B East Terrace, a street of houses called “Officer’s Row.” I commenced my walk down the hill to school. The road curved slightly. As it straightened and leveled, the long yellow buildings of Letterman General Hospital with their red tiled roofs came into view. Like most hospitals, there was little, if any joy within these buildings. Letterman was the military base that received the sick and injured from their WWII tours in the Pacific. Young kids, some of them no more than 10 years my senior, (a huge difference to a 10-year-old; insignificant difference between, say a 70-year old and an 80-year old), were lounging on the lawn in the front of the hospital. Many were in wheelchairs. Others were bereft of appendages. All displayed the same empty stare. My dad, a medical officer, dutifully and successfully, applied his exquisitely trained skills to many of these boys. Skill was beyond the reach of some. Beyond the buildings, the ubiquitous daily fog embraced the Golden Gate Bridge. Characteristically, the fog teased the viewer with wisps of the structure’s majesty – almost like a nubilous skein of fabric carefully draped over the sinuous frame of a young, delicate ballerina. On the waterfront, the tower at Crissy Field released an occasional fabric-covered observation plane. Most flew low-level scud runs along the coast. Some, with their rudimentary instruments, were swallowed as they ascended into the early-morning mist. All this activity was orchestrated to the sonorous perfectly timed cry of the foghorn. To my recollection, it performed it’s oboe-like note every 30 seconds. East Terrace flowed into Presidio Boulevard. Within a few more blocks, I reached the gatehouse. Huge, heavily armed military guys with MP blazoned on their armbands, waved me past the gate to the public street. Some of these guys I knew by name – we always exchanged friendly military salutes. I walked to Lombard Street, along the curve, which encircled the Palace of Fine Arts (the same spot where, a year or so later, I saw President Truman as he rode in a convertible toward a nascent meeting of the United Nations), and strolled to my school. I followed the same route on the way home and would divert
AND
TODAY Stuart J. Faber and Aunt Bea
The shore at Monterey.
my walk to visit with the soldier-patients who were sitting on the lawn, warming themselves from occasional rays of sun as they peeked through the inveterate overcast. Some of these guys became friends with whom I maintained correspondence for many years thereafter. Just last month, at the Arguello Boulevard entrance, I drove a shiny new car, the likes of which, three quarters of a century prior, I never dreamed would ever exist. I cruised along a road, a forest of eucalyptus trees on either side. Eventually, I reached East Terrace and 540-B. I drove down the familiar hill. The fog, reliably present for the past 75 years, continued to embrace the bridge. Crissy Field is gone. So are the injured kids. So are the dedicated medical officers and staff. The empty stares on the faces of the kids have been replaced by happy, gawking stares of tourists. I drove past the gatehouse. The MPs have been gone for decades. So has Mr. Truman. I return each year to visit a city from which I gathered many of my life’s building blocks – which formed whatever good and bad that resides within me today. During each visit, I travel many of the streets I roamed as a boy. I pause along the waterfront and gaze at the fishing boats. I observe the decrepit buildings of Alcatraz pop their heads through the fog. No longer is it an island that harbored evil and despair. Today, it brings pleasure to its visitors. The stately Victorian homes, the gritty storefronts, and the arms of the jutting piers remain intact and steadfast. They fight with valor as the intruding high rises attempt to displace them. Most
(Cheryl Wilson)
will not be displaced. As efforts to do so intensifies, these icons only become stronger and more valuable. Gritty has become stylish. The waterfront defies obliteration. So they should, and will, learn to co-exist. Miles down the coast, along the craggy Monterey shore, the huge boulders, in their crusade against high rises, and with the fortitude of Victorian homes, assert themselves against the pounding waves. For the past 100 years, the Highland Highlands in Carmel has stood as a stoic witness to this battle. Further down the road, Big Sur was not as fortunate. With the authority of an alpha male wolf, nature, through its agents of sea and rain, exerts its territorial mandate upon regions over which man has trespassed. It captures the power and vigor no man can match. The proud Highway 1, which has transported millions to Big Sur, has momentarily abdicated. We worked our way to and from Los Angeles along our customary route. We stopped at several of our favorite airports, a few hotels, and visited some of our beloved scenic spots, coffee shops, and factory outlets. Here is a selection of the highlights of this year’s excursion. I’ve included some landmarks of the past, several places that are merging into a more recent past, plus a few brand new places, which are destined to become new, popular icons. Hyatt Regency, 5 Embarcadero Center, San Francisco, CA., 415/788-1234, www.sanfrancisco.regency.hyatt.com. Although constructed after San Francisco’s golden age of architecture, this 806-room, pet friendly hotel gracefully blends in with
the historic waterfront, the Embarcadero, and the iconic Ferry Building. In one setting, we enjoyed the best of old and new San Francisco. The luxurious guestrooms and suites have floor-to-ceiling windows, which afford spectacular views of the Bay, the city, or Bay Bridge. Rooms are furnished with ample sitting space, a work desk with plenty of outlets, and the most comfy beds in the city. Free premium WiFi flows throughout the hotel and in your room. The exclusive Regency Club on the top floor has 360-degree views of the city and the Bay. Club access provides snacks virtually around the clock, a happy hour feast, and a breakfast buffet with everything from eggs to smoked salmon. To work off the calories, visit the 24-hour Hyatt StayFit gym with state-of-the-art exercise cycles, elliptical, treadmills, and weight machines. Or, rent a bike from the hotel concession and pedal around town. For meetings, weddings, or other functions, you have a choice of 39 hightech meeting rooms distributed among 72,000 square feet. The hotel is strategically located close to the business district, the Embarcadero, and Market Street. Travel by foot, cab, or just hop on one the historic streetcars. Hilton San Francisco Union Square, 333 O’Farrell St., San Francisco, CA., 855/213-0582, www.hotelsone.com/sanfrancisco-hotels-us/hilton-san-franciscounion-square. In the heart of the city, just a block from Union Square, this energetic 1,900-room hotel never sleeps. However, you can stake out your private space in one of several towers and sleep like a baby in one of their luxurious rooms or suites. This hotel is ideal for both business and leisure visits. The Urban Contemporary guestrooms include complimentary Internet access, a 37-inch HDTV, a continental breakfast, and gorgeous views of the San Francisco skyline or the Bay. The spacious junior suites are ideal for a small business function. Business amenities include conference room rentals, business center, data Continued on Page 30
30
In Flight USA Celebrating 33 Years
Flying With Faber
Continued from Page 29 phones with web access, express mail, computer workstation, printers, secretarial service, onsite FedEx, and a notary. I love the hustle-bustle of this hotel, plus the tranquil seclusion of the guestroom areas. At sunset, I whisked myself up to Cityscape Bar and Lounge where I met friends, enjoyed luscious refreshments, and witnessed the sun as it set over this glorious city.
Epic Steakhouse
Fog Harbor Fish House, Pier 39, San Francisco, CA., 415/421-2442, www.fog harbor.com. Standing proudly on Pier 39, Fog Harbor serves bounty from the seatreasures that are part of San Franciscoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s maritime history. These folks have been serving 100 percent sustainable seafood for more than three decades. While overlooking spectacular views of the bay, guests will enjoy fresh fish, whole crab, shrimp, or lobster. In my view, the cioppino is the best in the Bay Area. Be careful not to overload on the outstanding sourdough bread.
April 2017
www.urbantavernsf.com. This place is my annual must-stop. If for no other reason, to visit the sculptured horse that stands guard over the restaurant. With a full menu of locally inspired cuisine, Urban Tavern has the distinctive personality of a cozy metropolitan gastro pub, which highlights 50 local wines, Bay Area beers, and indigenous spirits. The diverse menu showcases premium products with a local flair, including candied pork belly, ahi-salmon hamachi poke, pasta Bolognese with a short rib sauce, grilled octopus, devil fried duck eggs, wild mushrooms, and blackened cauliflower. They also serve outstanding burgers, steaks, and pork chops.
(Aubrie Pick)
Epic Steakhouse, 369 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA., 415/369-9955, www.epicsteak.com. The architecture of Epic does not challenge its historic surroundings; it celebrates and embraces them. In my relentless search for the ultimate steak, I discovered one of the best. Super-chef Parke Ulrich knows his way around both seafood and steak. Epic designed and built a wood burning grill and oven, along with a massive fireplace â&#x20AC;&#x201C; mandatory requirements for a masterfully seared and flavored steak. Superb cuisine begins and ends with outstanding products. Chef Ulrich relies on organic local produce and sustainable seafood. Neither hormones nor antibiotics enter the bodies of the pastureraised cattle. Pasta lovers and those who prefer game or poultry wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be left out. We launched with a crab cocktail and a plate of oysters. We crafted our own salad with multiple selections of dressings and toppings. Then, we devoured a USDA prime bone-in rib eye steak accompanied with a few lobster tails. Other choices include a Miyazaki Wagyu Steak, wild sea bass, a slab of salt-roasted prime rib, or a giant Porterhouse. Sides include spatzle gratin, French fries, asparagus, or broccoli.
Absinthe Restaurant (Aubrie Pick) Absinthe Restaurant, 398 Hayes St., San Francisco, CA., 415/551-1590, www.absinthe.com. Absinthe has combined a touch of San Francisco history with the ambiance of a Parisian bistro of the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;20s. Absinthe serves what I refer to as truthful cuisine. The offerings speak for themselves: fresh ingredients exquisitely crafted. The French onion soup was extraordinary. We loved the Caesar salad and the roasted beet salad. For entrees, the potato-crusted salmon and the pork osso buco were remarkable. After dinner, folks wander along the streets, which were mine as a boy â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and today, we share them together.
Urban Tavern (Hilton Hotel, San Francisco)
Urban Tavern, 333 Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Farrell Street, San Francisco, CA., 415/923-4400,
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Tap 415 Restaurant
(Yuri Krasov)
Tap415, 845 Market St., San Francisco, CA., 415/266-7900, www.tap 415.com. Located in the Westfield Shopping Center, this is a convenient place for an interlude from shopping â&#x20AC;&#x201C; or a place to rendezvous with friends. Fabulous sandwiches, Reubens, burgers, fried chicken, salads â&#x20AC;&#x201C; incredible fried chips join a wide selection of specially brewed beers. Save room for the chocolate chip ice cream sandwich.
Hyatt Regency SFO (Jeff Zaruba) Hyatt Regency Airport, 1333 Old Bayshore Hwy, Burlingame, CA., 650/347-1234, www.sanfranciscoair port.regency.airport.com. If you park your
airplane at SFO, the best place to overnight is the Hyatt Regency Airport. If you are organizing a get-together for a group, whether a small pilot association assemblage or a high powered corporate huddle, this hotel has the most versatile space of any airport hotel in Northern California. With more than 69,000 square feet of function space, you can round up your most intimate friends in the 18,000 square foot grand ballroom â&#x20AC;&#x201C; or just hang out with your small group at the poolside pavilion. This hotel exudes a resort feeling. A 24-hour Stayfit gym is stocked with the latest equipment. Bayside jogging, nearby downtown Burlingame shopping, a golf course two miles down the street, and a beach 20 minutes away â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all of this, plus the most luxurious rooms around. Free Wi-Fi, lush beds, a Regency floor, plus a pet-friendly attitude â&#x20AC;&#x201C; you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to leave. Park your plane either at Signature Aviation, ARSI 128.925, 650/877-6800 or Kaiserair, ASRI 129.85, 800/538-2625, and they will arrange a free lift to the hotel. Clement Hotel, 711 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA., 650/322-7111, www.theclementpaloalto.com. One aspect of travel writing that continues to inspire me is that, whenever I think Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen everything hoteliers have to offer, someone creates an innovative and unique product. This all-inclusive hotel delivers a serene, suburban experience. Each onebedroom suite offers an array of carefully crafted amenities. State-of-the-art technology is combined with high-quality comfort, including Matouk linens, Frette towls and robes, Nespresso coffee machines, stocked fridges, heated bathroom floors, soaking tubs, and rain head showers. The display kitchen adjoins a casual dining room. A fully stocked pantry contains multiple goodies â&#x20AC;&#x201C; guests can raid the pantry 24 hours a day. Magnificent breakfast, lunch, dinner, and room service offerings are also included in the rate. The Clement is within walking distance to the upscale Stanford Shopping Center. Continued on Page 32
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April 2017
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SPIRIT
32
OF
FLIGHT
In Flight USA Celebrating 33 Years
I
By Denise Donegan
love to fly. Whether it’s in the air or on the ground, the spirit of flight is within all of us. From as far back as I can remember, my dad, Chuck Donegan, was looking up to the sky and pointing out every different kind of aircraft that flew overhead. He loved planes and lived his life with that core feeling of flight deep within his soul. I too carry that high-flying, wide-eyed excitement and feel my dad smiling down each time I look up to the sky or log another mile in my flight log. This month, Ana and I will take you to the San Carlos Airport on the San Francisco Peninsula. San Carlos is our home airport and is filled with an array of exciting places to see within a unique region that overflows with talented local artists, unique galleries, restaurants, and boutique wineries along with breathtaking views. The San Carlos airport sits next to the bay, between the San Francisco and San Jose International airports. Come to the café and enjoy the excitement that surrounds you while sitting down for a bite. My favorite – a Reuben Sandwich with extra dressing and a cup of fruit. Take a seat at the counter or grab a table with friends, and you will be sure to find a clear view of the runway and the back-
Ladies who fly.
Flying with Ana
(Denise Donegan)
(Denise Donegan)
side of the Hiller Aviation Museum across the runway.
Flying With Faber
Continued from Page 30
April 2017
Hyatt Carmel Highlands, 120 Highland Dr, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA., 831/620-1234, www.highlandsinn.hyatt .com. This architectural icon, poised 100 feet on a cliff above the stunning Big Sur coast, has been standing guard with an authoritative stare as a fortress overlooking the sea for 100 years. Opened in July, 1917, this structure has the cultivated look
Highlands Carmel Hyatt. (Hyatt Highlands Hotel)
Hiller Museum
(Denise Donegan)
Here you will often find the Young Eagles hard at work or my pilot, Ana
of its age with every modern amenity that will satisfy even the fussiest guest. We were ushered to a commodious, two-room cottage with a huge patio and wood-burning fireplace. We took our seats and observed the never-ending show of the mighty surf as it relentlessly assaulted boulders the size of houses. At sunset, we enjoyed a fabulous sunset dinner. I’ll be back next year. I’ll drive the same roads through the Presidio. I will be
Ruiz, and the Worldwide Women of Aviation discussing fun issues of the day while planning local events to help introduce girls and young women of all ages to the exciting world of flight. After landing at San Carlos and filling up at the airport cafe, head over to the Hiller Aviation Museum, a magical place and a must see, which is fun for kids of all ages – especially the over-50 crowd that seems to grow younger each year. Here you can enjoy classes and camps, get lost for hours walking the roped isles of the museum, roam the store, and take in the spirit that surrounds you. Try walking into a flight simulator and feel the tilt shift or sit down at a computer and fly one for yourself. Either way, you can’t go wrong. The Spirit of Flight surrounds you. Here are some fun local spots to see while you’re in town: Branner Spangenberg Gallery at 275 Linden Street in Redwood City in PROJECT 275. Currently showing the art of Jan Karlton. A retrospective. Russian Ridge, Flying Suitcase Winery, and Dominico Winery are walking distance from one another and have many flights to choose from. Enjoy your stay. Denise and Ana
delighted that there are no more injured soldiers. I will be sad that Crissy Field is gone. I will be delighted that the Palace of Fine Arts has not been supplanted by condos. I will be equally delighted and sad that the modern present has only partially replaced the past. Nature, Big Sur, and the San Francisco of yesterday and today should eternally reside together.
WE INVITE YOU TO BUY A KILOMETER FOR $25 AND BE PART OF THIS EPIC JOURNEY The Canadian Arctic Aviation Tour is an epic project to celebrate Canada’s 150th Anniversary that will bring an airshow to EVERY indigenous and northern community across Canada's Arctic region – that's 97 airshows!
Website: www.caat2017.com Crowdfunding: www.crowdrise.com/caat2017
The Canadian Arctic Aviation Tour, along with the help of aviators and aviation enthusiasts such as you, will assist talented pilots to fly 16,000 nautical miles to perform airshows and flybys.
TO U R
R EC C A EIV ER E TI FI C AT E!
April 2017
GAMA BOARD MEMBER TESTIFIES ON U.S. AVIATION MANUFACTURING BEFORE SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE www.inflightusa.com
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General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) Board Member and Sabreliner Aviation President and Innova Aerospace Executive Vice President of Corporate Development Greg Fedele testified on March 23 before the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Aviation Operations about the regulatory and certification processes at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and reforms to improve U.S. competitiveness in the global marketplace for aviation products and manufacturing. In his testimony, Fedele explained the incredibly competitive nature of the global aviation marketplace and how being first to market is essential for many of his company’s projects. Any unforeseen delay in the certification of a product can be devastating for a business.
“A good idea can be squandered if the implementation of that solution is not timely,” he said. “As one solution is being certified, others may enter the market, and for many different reasons get to market faster if their certification program is completed more efficiently.” Citing inefficiencies with the FAA’s use of the Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) program, Fedele said manufacturers and the FAA have invested significant resources in establishing and qualifying ODA organizations, but the utilization of the ODA program has been inconsistent, adding significant delay and cost to certification programs. “We look forward to working with the Committee on this important issue,” he told the Subcommittee, which is chaired by U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (R-
MO). “If you can help us bring efficiencies through reform, the industry will respond with growth and improved safety technology.” Discussing improvement of the efficiency and effectiveness of the certification process, Fedele said he believes risk analysis tools and techniques need to be incorporated to inform the level of involvement of the FAA’s limited resources. This will drive consistent decision making and eliminate redundant activities throughout the system. “The demand for validations of the FAA Type Certification from other countries and turn times can be very long and costly,” said Fedele. “This is a high priority for the industry and a focus of the FAA and we would appreciate any support you can give us to address these challenges.”
Fedele stressed the importance of the development of the ODA scorecard, the implementation of the Aircraft Certification Service (AIR) transformation initiative, and he expressed support for the certification title the Senate passed in 2016 as part of its FAA Reauthorization bill. “This would help support FAA certification reform by addressing key issues I have discussed in my testimony – fully embracing the ODA authorization to the benefit of industry and the FAA, directing FAA engagement and leadership with other aviation authorities to help facilitate efficient validation and acceptance of FAA safety standards and product approvals globally, and ensuring an effective risk-based aviation safety system,” he said. Fedele’s full testimony can be found at gama.aero.
SimCom Training Aviation is pleased to announce that they have partnered with Patty Wagstaff Aviation Safety to provide high quality Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRTA). SimCom, through its partnership with Patty Wagstaff Aviation Safety, will now be able to add another layer of safety training for its customers. The UPRTA training will give pilots the skills needed to handle any upset situation that presents itself. It will instill more confidence and will help pilots gain more enjoyment from their flying. “Demand for in-aircraft UPRTA is rising and we are proud to partner with Patty Wagstaff Aviation Safety as the logical choice based on her knowledge and exceptional reputation in the industry,”
said John Warnk, Lee Vista Training Center Manager. “For pilots of any skill level, this is the right thing to do,” said Patty Wagstaff, whose career of flying in extreme attitudes spans more than three decades. She added, “This training helps pilots become more professional and ultimately safer. We are excited about partnering with SimCom, the perfect choice to support this unique training as a leader in the training and safety industry.”
dent at the controls. Led by the most celebrated female aerobatic pilot in history, Wagstaff and her team of instructors have walked hundreds of students from around the world through the school’s signature airmanship, confidence, and aerobatic competition courses. With headquarters in St. Augustine, Fla., the training would be conducted at Odyssey Aviation in Kissimmee, Fla. using the Extra 300L, gold standards of aerobatic training equipment.
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traffic control from the FAA. With the Sept. 30 FAA reauthorization deadline approaching, the letters ask for “ample opportunity” to review and debate legislation that might change air traffic control funding and oversight.
The letters note that some large airlines are pushing for a new model ‘based on systems in other parts of the world.’ The letters also bring up the potential impact of user fees as well as “real and long-standing concerns… based on our operating experiences
in these foreign systems.” The letters were sent to House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Aviation Subcommittee leadership as well as Senate Commerce Committee and Aviation Subcommittee leadership.
“It helps to keep changing the routine,” Fleming said. “It protects my joints and keeps me from getting bored.” While extraordinary results are to be applauded, DeCaro pointed out that this is not a weight loss class. Go4Life is about
lifestyle improvements. Using that measure, all of her students are success stories. “I think all of the participants have had success, whether it is improving balance, strength, flexibility, or activities of daily living,” DeCaro said.
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UPSET
AOPA, INDUSTRY GROUPS ASK FOR SPECIFICS ON ATC PRIVATIZATION
By Joe Kildea, AOPA
AOPA and 15 other general aviation industry groups late last month signed letters to congressional leaders raising concerns over recent calls to separate air
Weight Loss Success Story
Continued from Page 28 DeCaro said. “What I didn’t expect was the class deciding to still meet up every week over at the fitness annex to complete the workouts together.” Fleming credits his success to dedi-
cation, consistency, and old-fashioned diet and exercise. He regularly changes up his workout routine to include everything from water aerobics to Zumba, as well as his regular weightlifting and Go4Life graduate class.
In Flight USA Celebrating 33 Years
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Th e Py lon P lac e
INTIMACY
Marilyn Dash’s
AND
April 2017
AIRPLANES
Complex Relationships and Inanimate Objects
This month, I wanted to share a story a friend of mine wrote about Relationships and Airplanes. So, consider this a Guest Writer. And, thank you, Stephen Koewler!
A
By Stephen Koewler
irplanes have personalities. Some airplanes are characters; some are basic bitches. Any pilot can tell you that an airplane is much more than folded sheet metal and an engine. No two are the same, each requires a different feel, a different touch, and they each offer a different reward, as each presents a unique set of challenges. But expressing these challenges and rewards in layperson’s terms is nearly impossible. Through the use of complicated terms like adverse yaw and positive dynamic stability, pilots can easily articulate the challenges airplanes offer to other pilots, but a non-pilot’s eyes quickly glaze over when such phrases become part of a conversation. What follows is a classless attempt to characterize the challenges and rewards a few airplanes offer to pilots in a manner any adult can understand. In flying, there is a set of universal rules applicable to all winged craft that a pilot must follow if he or she is to be successful and safe. The simplest of airplanes make the best trainers; they lack any systems that are not absolutely critical to the control of the airplane, including a starter or electrical system. The absence of systems is crucial to pilot development, as it allows the student to focus entirely on flying the machine thereby learning and embracing the most basic rules of airmanship. Take the Aeronca 7AC “Champ,” the perfect trainer. The airplane has no switches, only a half dozen gauges in the cockpit, and great visibility, forcing the student to develop skills based on outside references rather than fixating on instrumentation. She is stable but won’t do any of the work for you. She is very forgiving to the green operator who has yet to learn the rules of airmanship. Make no mistake, there’s nothing easy about the Champ to the student pilot. She is a squirrelly bitch to anybody with lazy feet or poor technique, but nearly every situation is saveable by a competent instructor, offering one of those precious learning moments that pilots never forget. The lovable Champ is a lot like your high school girlfriend. She’s not a show
stopper, but she’s plenty cute and you get to see her all the time, but there’s always an element of mystery to her. There’s so much you don’t know about women that your relationship is constantly evolving as you learn. When you first meet, you awkwardly hold hands, and there’s a great deal of ambivalence toward the whole thing. But as the relationship picks up steam, there’s some heavy petting and kissing involved. It’s not everything you’ve ever wanted, ahem, but it sustains you. She begins to treat you better and better as you learn to give her exactly what she wants. You’re beginning to learn how to make a girl happy, and as you grow, so does your relationship, and you begin to reap the rewards of your efforts, but only after great tribulation. When you misstep, she lets you know, but she always takes you back with that characteristic dimpled smile and you grow. Eventually, you reach the climax of the relationship: prom. You drive over with great anticipation, not entirely sure how the event will pan out, but you’re optimistic. The door opens, and there she is, she is the same girl she’s always been but today, she is more beautiful than ever, and you can’t help but smile as she takes your hand and you head to the dance. Everything is going great, it’s as fun as you could ever expect it to be just like all the dances with her have been, until she tells you she’s ready to spend some time together, just the two of you. Your teenage mind (and body) leaps at the opportunity. You recall all the advice you’ve ever heard as your heart races toward everything you’ve ever wanted. Neither of you really know what you’re doing, but you know enough to get the job done. It’s not particularly graceful and it’s over way too fast, but as you taxi back to your instructor as the sole occupant of an airplane for the first time, you know it’s something you’ll never forget. You were respectful, gentle, and you followed the rules, and for the first time, you felt the fullness and satisfaction of the rewards achieved in overcoming a challenge. Unfortunately though, your relationship is doomed. Graduation looms ever nearer, followed by the next big life move: college. You’ll promise to keep in touch but ultimately, your days with her are numbered. The Champ will always hold a special place in your heart and you’ll look back fondly on those forma-
tive flights you spent together, and of course you’ll never forget your first. College is where you really start to learn a lot about yourself and who you are as a pilot. You’re ready for the next level; enter the Naval Aircraft Factory N3N. The N3N was one of the primary trainers used by the U.S. Navy during World War II, she bears a few more gauges and systems to manage, but nothing you can’t handle. She is far more independent and hard-nosed than your last girlfriend, but she too will teach you to follow the same set of rules but will give you much less slack. She’s not as forgiving and oftentimes she has a mind of her own. She’s got inertia, she wants to do what she wants to do and she wants to go where she wants to go, you must use your skills to influence her as necessary, it will keep you both out of trouble. Where the Champ prohibited you from entering irrecoverable situations, the “N” will follow happily along with you until she has backed you deep into a corner. With the right set of moves, she’ll let you up for air, but they have to be performed at the right time and in the right sequence. Your high school girlfriend wouldn’t let you spend every Friday night with the boys, she would simply say no, disallowing you to get yourself in major trouble, protecting your relationship. But your college girlfriend doesn’t play that game. She expects you to know where the line is, and if you express any intention of crossing it, she’ll subtly say, “Fine, do what you want.” Next thing you know she’s pulled the rug out from under you, and your ego, along with your ass, comes crashing down and your instructor has to bail you out. College is the time where you begin to recognize your strengths and weaknesses, and for you to find out exactly where that line is, and if you treat her right, you pay attention to the subtle hints and cues, your girlfriend will show you just what you need to know to make it in the real world. Along the way, she’ll turn you from a boy into a man. You’ll get your first taste of just how much fun you can have with a girl, you’ll get a basic introduction to loops, rolls, and spins and the rules associated with such maneuvers. You won’t master the techniques in the short time you spend with your college girl, but you will learn the rules. You’ll find the line that you cannot cross, and you’ll learn to
operate comfortably within mere inches of it. You’ve enjoyed your time with her, but at the end of your time together, you’ll each be ready to go your separate ways. There’ll be very little heartbreak because you’re excited about entering the real world, but you’ll forever cherish the growth you experienced with her. Cocksure and maybe even a little arrogant, you’ll enter the real world expecting to grab life by the balls and make your millions. But the real world won – hard. You decide you’re ready for a woman, not a girl. You’re not quite ready to settle down; you’re still after some excitement but on a new level. After a little searching, you’ll find the one, and she’ll be a Texan. The North American AT-6 “Texan” is the penultimate trainer, no question why she was dubbed The Pilot Maker during the Second World War. She held that title in the United States for over a decade but saw service worldwide as an advanced military trainer for more than half a century. She is the girl you date after college. She gives you no slack, and if you stray from the rules, she will kick you in the shins and storm off into the night, but she is honest, fair, and pure. She represents the real world. She’s not designed to be easy, she’s designed to be difficult, as the real world assuredly is. She’s older than you are, and she’s been around the block, that’s not to say she’s loose, only that she’s seen it all. She won’t put up with any of your college shenanigans, there is no tolerance. She is a complicated machine – retractable landing gear, flaps, a constant speed propeller, and 600 horsepower. She moves fast, but you better be faster if you’re going to dance with the Texan. You have to be two steps ahead of her if you’re going to be successful. You have to be proactive to her desires, not merely reactive. When she asks you to bring home milk and butter from the store, they’d better be in the fridge already. As you’re getting to know her, you’ll get discouraged and ask yourself why you continue to put yourself through such trials, but the answer is simple: you love her. She’s high maintenance and demanding, but you love her deeply. In the right hands, the two of you are capable of anything you ever wanted to accomplish. The two of you become one, and anything is possible: loops, rolls, hammerContinued on Page 36
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April 2017 www.inflightusa.com 35
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In Flight USA Celebrating 33 Years
Pylon Place: Intimacy and Airplanes
Continued from Page 34 head turns, and the tightest spins you’ve ever seen. As you begin to master the Texan, you’ll find that she has enhanced every skill you have, and you’ve learned the most critical lesson: that you can never cross her. If you get sideways with her, she’ll leave you in an instant, but with a little effort, you’ll find she makes you happier than any of your prior girlfriends ever could, and she is far more rewarding. And the aerobatics! Oh she teaches you a thing or two about aerobatics, as she aims to teach as well as to please. She’ll be your longest relationship yet, and by far the most satisfying, as it has been the most challenging. But in time you’ll outgrow her, and she you. She’s ready for the next fresh graduate and you’re feeling like something is lacking from your relationship although you can’t quite figure out what it is. You’ll always love her, and this breakup will leave you with serious heartache, but you know that the “one” is still out there. In your search, you’ll have a few flings here and there. You’ll luck into some situations and fly some of the easy girls: your average General Aviation airplanes, your 172s, Cherokees, Bonanzas, and Cirruses. They’re fine airplanes, but they’re not rewarding in that they offer no great challenges. With minimal effort and only a basic understanding of the rules, anybody can make one of these girls their own. They’re floozies who hang around bars waiting for their chance to dance, but you know you have no future with such a gal. And if you ever find yourself in the depths of desperation, you may have to pay for some of your action. A girl who’ll do whatever you want her to do, as long as it’s within her skill set, but she’ll charge you an hourly rate. Sure there’ll be some thrills along the way, but ultimately you’ll be left dissatisfied by a girl who is most assuredly unloved, it’s tragic on several levels. Just as you begin to accept the futility of your existence, you’ll walk out onto the ramp as you have done hundreds of times before, and it’ll be love at first sight. What’s a woman like that doing in a place like this, you’ll ask yourself. You’ll be immediately captivated by her sleek lines and large bust, as well as by her voice. She’s got just a hint of a British accent that’s simultaneously smooth and throaty. When she walks into the room, people stop what they’re doing and watch. You’ve seen pictures of girls like this, but seeing her in the flesh makes your heart pound against your rib cage. She is the one – and you must have her, you’ll do anything.
The Mustang. One of the most famous and successful piston aircraft ever designed. It came along at just the right time, and its exploits are legendary. She’s successful, beautiful, graceful, and she’s a keeper. She’s everything you’ve ever wanted in a companion: smooth, sexy, understanding. She’s got the heart of a saint, but the spirit of a fighter; if you treat her right, she’ll give you everything you ever wanted, and more. She’s competitive with the best of the best in all the subjects that matter, and she does it with unparalleled grace. She’s got all the power you could ever need, and all of her switches, knobs, and buttons are right where they should be, you’ll find yourself familiar and comfortable in her presence in no time. She expects you to adhere to all the rules you’ve sometimes struggled to follow in the past, but you’ll find it easy as you aim to please her at every opportunity. There are a few things you could do that are unforgivable, like mismanage the coolant system or a fatal full power goaround, but you wouldn’t dare cross her like that, and she loves you for it. She’s fast and loud, and she always draws attention to herself, but that’s okay, she deserves it, and as long as she has you in tow, it won’t bother you much either. She’s the last one you’ll ever need; you’ll make your vows and wear the ring everywhere you go. You relish the opportunity to tell the other guys that she’s with you, and they will look at you with a strange combination of jealousy and awe. With her, you have a meaningful relationship, loops and rolls are effortless and better than ever, but she doesn’t like to be spun, and that’s okay, it bears no consequence on your feelings for her. You’ll have every intention of living happily ever after if you’re lucky enough to find a girl like the Mustang. You’ll never take your wife for granted, but every now and then she’ll need some space, a new set of heads and banks there, an oil cooler and radiator there, and those can be monumental setbacks to your relationship. As you grow old together, you may catch yourself lusting after other women, eyeing those pointy-nosed jets, the natural born athletes and supermodels that are way out of your league. But it’s impossible. You know you could never keep up with a girl like that, and she wouldn’t even notice you. Besides, the younger generation lacks the class, success, and overall respectability that your wife embodies; not to mention they’re obnoxiously loud, extremely high-maintenance, and they stink. But you can’t help but fantasize about the wild ride it would be, but you’re too old for that now
– or so you think. One day, you may allow your lustful desires to drive your fantasies, and you’ll wonder, what could possibly lure you away from the wonderful creature in your hangar. Well, maybe if she had a round engine that might be an exciting change, she’d have to be a few years younger too. Perhaps it would be nice if she were exotic and rare, European maybe. And she’d have to outperform her in every way. Such a girl doesn’t exist, you’ll say. But you’d be wrong. At the end of World War II, the British continued developing piston fighter aircraft despite the development and refinement of the jet engine. And by war’s end, Hawker had built and flown the premier example of a piston fighter, and dubbed it the Fury, its success was cut short as the Royal Air Force decided the fighter couldn’t keep up with its turbine-powered competitors, but the Navy was interested. So Hawker slapped on a tail hook and a hydraulic actuator to make the wings fold and called it a Sea Fury. She will be the object of your lustful desire. She’s the sultry vixen that will wreck your marriage without a care in the world. She’s got what you want, and she knows it. And in a weak and shameful moment, testosterone may get the better of you. From the moment that Bristol Centaurus snaps to life, you’ll know this is a different game than any you’ve played before. Acceleration down the runway is your first major indication. She’s a fast mover, no doubt; she boasts more than a thousand more horsepower and it takes a lot of rudder to keep her straight, left rudder that is. The gear comes up smartly, and the airspeed just keeps building. You pull the propeller control lever into auto and forget about it. As you move the throttle, she adjusts the RPM and manifold pressure for you to give you the most thrust possible for that amount of throttle. Within mere moments, you’ll find yourself deep in the throes of passion with the machine. Loops and rolls and even the Cuban eight are effortless and more impressive than in the Mustang. She’ll do the kinky stuff too; rolls on takeoff and even vertical rolls are not out of the question. She has no G-limit; she’ll stick with you no matter how hard you pull on her. Your relationship with her is an invigorating thrill. You’ll feel all the guilt an adulterer should, but the sheer exhilaration will keep you coming back for more. She doesn’t have the success, beauty, or general presence that the Mustang does, but there isn’t any shred of doubt, she is a thoroughbred. She’ll take everything you can give her, and she’ll be begging for more long after you’re spent. Her youth and stamina far exceeds your own, even at your peak. She’s high drama, it’s often a production to
April 2017
get her all done up and ready to go, but once she is, look out, there’s no stopping her. Your relationship with her quickly becomes mechanical. She’s a complicated girl, an English one at that. She’s hard to please and downright demanding at times, but you’re so enthralled by her performance that you are forever beholden to her. She owns you. You want what she’s got to offer, and she’s not giving it away for free. But all that is forgotten after you shut down the engine and roll open the canopy and your knees are still shaking with adrenaline. She’s a sexy beast and she rocks your world. She doesn’t turn heads like the Mustang does, and she’s certainly not as famous as the Mustang is, but she can hold her own. She lacks the success and elegance of the Mustang, but she more than makes up for it in performance. She is the ultimate thrill and challenge, and the most rewarding airplane a warbird fanatic could ever fly, but admittedly there is something special about the Mustang that the Sea Fury simply can’t touch. It could be the wooden floorboards, old style fuel gauges, the snappy snarl of the Rolls-Royce Merlin V-12, or simply pure nostalgia, but it is a certainty that the Sea Fury outperforms the Mustang in every area by a considerable margin. It’s no wonder pilots so frequently bounce from relationship to relationship, and many times from marriage to marriage. The accomplished aviator strives for diversity in the pages of his or her logbook, and it’s a damned good thing airplanes don’t ever get jealous of other airplanes, if they did, there would be a lot more spiteful incidents perpetrated by airplanes against their pilots. And what a unique perspective it gives a pilot to go back and revisit their high school girlfriend. Chances are she’s exactly the way she was when you last flew her, the only thing that’s changed is you, and how far you’ve come. This exercise in metaphor may seem like a stretch to the uninitiated, but if you ever doubt it, ask a pilot about their favorite airplanes they’ve flown over the years and you’ll see the corners of their mouth curl upward as though they were recalling a past love affair. To the layperson, airplanes are merely inanimate objects that serve a single purpose, but to an aviator, they are living, breathing beings. And when a pilot and an airplane have an intimate relationship, they truly do become one, and the line between man and machine becomes blurred. When I fly, I don’t feel my hand on the stick and my feet on the pedals, rather I feel the air blowing across the wings. I am the airplane and the airplane is me. It’s the strangest thing, but I promise you it’s real.
SINGAPORE AF ENHANCES RED FLAG 17-2
April 2017
www.inflightusa.com
Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape specialists wait to jump out of a CH-47 Chinook over the Nevada Test and Training Range, during Red Flag 17-2, March 7, 2017. Red Flag provides combat training in a degraded and operationally limited environment making the training missions as realistic as possible. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Kevin Tanenbaum)
By Airman 1st Class Kevin Tanenbaum
99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs As the Singapore CH-47 Chinook’s twin rotors build speed and spin in unison, a loud but calming hum fills the interior of the helicopter. Seven Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape specialists sit with their gear in front of them,
parachutes on their backs. As the drop zone nears, they all stand, connect to a static line back-toback, and countdown from 10 minutes, to six, to one. One by one, the specialists jump out of the Chinook. As the static line pulls each parachute, they float to the Nevada Test and Training Range completing a combat insertion training mission during
A Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape specialist performs a static line jump out of a CH-47 Chinook during a Red Flag 17-2 mission over the Nevada Test and Training Range, March 7, 2017. Red Flag provides vital training and real world scenarios that helped Republic of Singapore Air Force air crews progress to the next level in their skills. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Kevin Tanenbaum)
Red Flag 17-2, hosted at Nellis Air Force Base. Red Flag is a large exercise that provides combat training in a degraded and operationally limited environment making the training missions as realistic as possible. It includes the U.S. Air Force and its allies and coalition partners. For 20 years in Grand Prairie, Texas, the Republic of Singapore Air Force has
worked in unison with its pilots, air crews and the U.S. Army. The unit came to Red Flag 17-2 to train and lend its unique skill set in a multitude of different mission sets. “The primary mission while here at Red Flag is combat search and rescue, and personnel recovery, with a secondary mission of a few paradrops for the Continued on Page 38
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AOPA BACKS SANTA MONICA IN COURT
AOPA has sought court recognition to support future intervention as the nation’s second-highest court weighs the fate of Santa Monica Municipal Airport in California. The association on March 15 filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit a notice of intent to participate as a “friend of the court” in a case brought by the National Business Aviation Association and five individual petitioners in February challenging the FAA settlement with the city. That controversial deal took many by surprise in January (including airport tenants and advocacy groups), and while it does require the city to operate the longembattled airport through 2028, it also allows the city to shorten the runway from 4,973 feet to 3,500 feet. The latest AOPA legal action is effectively a request for recognition by federal courts that will allow any airport user to enforce the city’s various obligations under the agreement, establishing with certainty that the agreement leaves intact a process through which the public can seek relief should an airport host community fail to live up to its responsibilities and obligations under federal law. AOPA has asked the federal court to affirm that airport users will have legal
In Flight USA Celebrating 33 Years
standing to oppose the city in the event Santa Monica violates any of the terms of its agreement with the FAA in the years ahead. The ruling AOPA seeks will affirm that the public has a well-established legal interest in the safe and efficient functioning of the entire transportation system, including public-use airports. “The FAA and the city should not be allowed to bargain away this public right, and AOPA believes its participation in this case will help to prevent the loss of this ability to preserve our nation’s airports,” said AOPA General Counsel Ken Mead. The settlement between the FAA and Santa Monica city officials was a surprise twist in a battle that has raged for decades, the FAA having consistently sided with airport tenants and advocates against the city’s repeated efforts to strangle and close the airport, which was once a point of civic pride. NBAA challenged the validity of the agreement in February, and asked the D.C. Circuit to delay implementation of the settlement–and with that, any attempt to alter what is almost certainly now America’s most litigated runway–while the court reviews the challenge to the agreement. The FAA in February asked
the D.C. Circuit to dismiss the challenge, putting the agency on the opposite side of airport tenants and advocates. By joining the D.C. Circuit case through the filing of an amicus brief, AOPA is positioning all airport users to take action if the city violates any provisions in the FAA agreement, including stipulations that require the city to provide fuel and other aviation services through 2028. Mead explained that the legal move also positions AOPA to act if the federal government does not. “We want enforcement rights to ensure the city lives up to its obligations,” Mead said. “If the city does not live up to its obligations and the FAA and Justice Department do not step up to enforce this agreement, AOPA wants users to have the right to enforce it in court.” This latest legal move is part of the association’s long-term strategy to build support for extending the airport’s life far beyond 2028. That will require a coordinated effort by pilots, business leaders, and advocacy groups to shift deeply entrenched opposition stemming from a vocal minority of city residents who oppose the airport and have elected politicians sympathetic to their cause. “Santa Monica Airport is an economic engine for the city, but it also
Singapore AF Enhances Red Flag 17-2
Continued from Page 37 pararescuemen; and then also internal loading and regular troop insertions into the combat area,” said U.S. Army Warrant Officer Jeffry Epperson, a standardization pilot assigned to the U.S. Army flight training detachment, Grand Prairie Armed Forces Reserve Complex Hensley Field, Grand Prairie, Texas. While at Red Flag, the RSAF is tasked with lending their talents to CSAR and personnel recovery, but these training missions are not executed without meticulous planning. Mission planning begins the day prior in the Red Flag building, and when you take into account the maintenance and operations side, it becomes a very lengthy and thorough process, Epperson said. In performing these missions, Red Flag allows the members of the RSAF to extend their skill set by working and learning how coalition partners operate. “It’s good for Singapore to broaden their scope, rather than just seeing the Army that augments them,” Epperson said. “They now see the Navy, Spain, Dutch, and France and run the gamut of
Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape specialists enter a CH-47 Chinook after performing static-line jumps during Red Flag 17-2, March 7, 2017. SERE specialists lead the Air Force emergency parachuting program and conduct extensive testing of parachuting systems. They are uniquely suited to analyze the operating environment to plan for evasion, captivity and recovery considerations. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Kevin Tanenbaum) countries that they can work with. Not only does it broaden the scope of their abilities, but also fosters relationships.” Along with exposing the crew to new allies, Red Flag has served to place
the RSAF into new exercise conditions. “Red Flag has helped them a lot,” Epperson said. “It’s a unique exercise where they can get the mission set that the Army doesn’t provide in their exercis-
April 2017
AOPA has asked federal courts to affirm any airport user will have standing to challenge any future violation of Santa Monica's obligations to operate the embattled California airport through 2028, at least. (AOPA File photo)
touches people in ways they may not realize,” AOPA President Mark Baker said in February. “From organ donation transportation to emergency preparedness, the airport is an enormous asset, and over the next 12 years we will ensure everyone knows what they will be giving up if it goes away.” With many election cycles to come, AOPA hopes that a combination of education and persuasion will build recognition in the community of all the benefits the airport provides. For more information, visit www.aopa.org.
es. Those exercises are more troop insertion, air assault type missions, but this is CSAR, personnel recovery, and working with fighters that they don’t get a lot of. The Singapore air force’s bread and butter back home is CSAR around the ocean and their islands, so it helps them get better here and also when they go back to their home station.” Not only has Red Flag exposed the RSAF to new variables such as air assault and troop insertion, it also granted new pilots with leadership experience. “Red Flag has helped Singapore in progressing their younger fliers, helping them learn to not only mission plan, but be leads,” said U.S. Army Capt. Eric Maldando, the USAFTD operations officer. “They set out the mission set, spoke to what they expected, and led the mission. It helps their junior pilots become more experienced and seasoned.” With these new missions and leadership experiences provided to the RSAF by Red Flag, they leave Nellis AFB with new experiences and a bolstered skill set added to their repertoire.
April 2017
www.inflightusa.com
Green News
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NASA STUDY CONFIRMS BIOFUELS REDUCE JET ENGINE POLLUTION
Using biofuels to help power jet engines reduces particle emissions in their exhaust by as much as 50 to 70 percent, in a new study conclusion that bodes well for airline economics and Earth’s environment. The findings are the result of a cooperative international research program led by NASA and involving agencies from Germany and Canada, and are detailed in a study published in the journal Nature. During flight tests in 2013 and 2014 near NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, Calif., data was collected on the effects of alternative fuels on engine performance, emissions and aircraft-generated contrails at altitudes flown by commercial airliners. The test series were part of the Alternative Fuel Effects on Contrails and Cruise Emissions Study, or ACCESS. Contrails are produced by hot aircraft engine exhaust mixing with the cold air that is typical at cruise altitudes several miles above Earth’s surface, and are composed primarily of water in the form of ice crystals. Researchers are most interested in persistent contrails because they create long-lasting, and sometimes extensive, clouds that would not normally form in the atmosphere, and are believed to be a
AOPA FLY-IN: CALIFORNIA DREAMING: CAMARILLO KICKS OFF FLY-IN SEASON
By Julie Summers Walker AOPA
The DC-8's four engines burned either JP-8 jet fuel or a 50-50 blend of JP-8 and renewable alternative fuel of hydro processed esters and fatty acids produced from camelina plant oil. (Photo courtesy NASA/SSAI Edward Winstead) factor in influencing Earth’s environthem, have a larger impact on Earth’s ment. atmosphere than all the aviation-related “Soot emissions also are a major carbon dioxide emissions since the first driver of contrail properties and their forpowered flight by the Wright brothers. mation,” said Bruce Anderson, ACCESS The tests involved flying NASA’s project scientist at NASA’s Langley workhorse DC-8 as high as 40,000 feet Research Center in Hampton, VA. “As a while its four engines burned a 50-50 result, the observed particle redtions blend of aviation fuel and a renewable we’ve measured during ACCESS should alternative fuel of hydro processed esters directly translate into reduced ice crystal and fatty acids produced from camelina concentrations in contrails, which in turn plant oil. A trio of research aircraft took should help minimize their impact on turns flying behind the DC-8 at distances Earth’s environment.” ranging from 300 feet to more than 20 That’s important because contrails, miles to take measurements on emissions and the cirrus clouds that evolve from and study contrail formation as the differ-
ent fuels were burned. “This was the first time we have quantified the amount of soot particles emitted by jet engines while burning a 50-50 blend of biofuel in flight,” said Rich Moore, lead author of the Nature report. The trailing aircraft included NASA’s HU-25C Guardian jet based at Langley, a Falcon 20-E5 jet owned by the German Aerospace Center (DLR), and a CT-133 jet provided by the National Research Council of Canada. “Measurements in the wake of aircraft require highly experienced crew members and proven measuring equipment, which DLR has built up over many years,” said report co-author Hans Schlager of the DLR Institute of Atmospheric Physics. “Since 2000, the DLR Falcon has been used in numerous measurement campaigns to investigate the emissions and contrails of commercial airliners.” Researchers plan on continuing these studies to understand and demonstrate the potential benefits of replacing current fuels in aircraft with biofuels. It’s NASA’s goal to demonstrate biofuels on their proposed supersonic X-plane. For more information about NASA’s aeronautics research, visit: www.nasa.gov/ aero.
Mark your calendars for April 28 and 29, when AOPA kicks off fly-in season with the AOPA Fly-In at Camarillo, Calif., presented by California Aeronautical University. Just an hour outside of Los Angeles, this bucolic agricultural town couldn’t be less Hollywood and more casual California. In addition to strawberry fields and superb weather, Camarillo is home to a remarkable general-aviationfriendly airport, and its four FBOs, ultralight fliers, great airport restaurant, and almost-famous hangar owners are anxious to show off their wonderful facilities. Channel Islands Aviation is the host FBO for the event show center. This familyrun, full-service FBO has been serving Ventura County for more than 40 years. Established in 1976 by Mark Oberman, Channel Islands Aviation offers jet charter,
fuel sales, hangar space, flight training, aircraft sales, aircraft maintenance, and flights to Channel Islands National Park. Channel Islands Aviation has the exclusive contract to fly to the Channel Islands, and a flight in the FBO’s Britten-Norman Islander to the windswept islands off the coast of Camarillo is not to be missed. The other Camarillo FBOs–Air 7, Sun Air Jets, and Western Cardinal–also will welcome visitors. The world’s largest TBM sales and service center, Avex Inc., will be open for tours. AOPA has expanded its fly-in events to two days, increasing the opportunities for pilots to learn, explore, and enjoy the camaraderie and educational offerings that are the hallmark of an AOPA Fly-In. On Friday, attendees can sign up for one of four intensive workshops designed to increase and enhance the flying experience. For just $105, members will learn from aviation experts during a seven-hour experience that will expand their aviation knowledge.
Attendees can choose from clinics on overwater and mountain flying; maintenance tips for owners and renters; sharing their aircraft experiences with others; and an instrument refresher course. After this informative day, exhibits open, a happy hour commences at 4 p.m., and the Barnstormers Party gets underway at 6 p.m. Camarillo Airport (CMA) will open its doors to visitors on Saturday beginning at 8 a.m. The traditional pancake breakfast is served with the assistance of local volunteers and AOPA staff. Throughout the day are free seminars and product demonstrations. Visitors can view the aircraft display with their families, share a catered luncheon, and enjoy an ice cream social. AOPA President Mark Baker concludes the day with updates and messages from the association’s headquarters. There’s so much more to an AOPA Fly-In; see what the aviation community is buzzing about at www.aopa.org/kcma17.
Camarillo airport is nestled in the California coastal mountains. Aerial photography of Camarillo Airport (CMA) and the surrounding area. (Photo by Mike Fizer and courtesy AOPA)
2017 AOPA Fly-Ins
April 28-29 Camarillo, California (CMA) September 8-9 Norman, Oklahoma (OUN) October 6-7 Groton, Connecticut (GON) October 27-28 Tampa, Florida (TPF)
40
In Flight USA Celebrating 33 Years
April 2017
It has been said that the only voluntary act in aviation is the decision to take-off. Every action after take-off involves the skillful management of risk, the enjoyment of flight and a continuous stream of decisions that result in a safe landing. In 1974, NASA created the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) to allow aviation professionals to share experiences in a frank, non-punitive manner. The ASRS structure allows pilots and other aviation professionals to file an anonymous report of an incident, error or occurrence that the contributor feels might be of value to others. These reports are gathered, analyzed and data based by NASA experts and made available to all interested parties as a tool for creating proactive aviation safety programs. Additionally, NASA distributes an electronic publication, CALLBACK, which contains selected, de-identified, reports on a free subscription basis. In Flight USA is proud to reprint selected reports, exerpted from CALLBACK, for our readers to read, study, occasionally laugh at, and always learn from. Visit http://asrs.arc.nasa.gov/ to learn how you can participate in the ASRS program.
“Defined as overconfidence from repeated experience on a specific activity, complacency has been implicated as a contributing factor in numerous aviation accidents and incidents. Like fatigue, complacency reduces the pilot’s effectiveness in the flight deck. However, complacency is harder to recognize than fatigue, since everything is perceived to be progressing smoothly.” Complacency plagues more aviation professionals than just pilots. It can occur to anyone while accomplishing the most routine function or the most complex task in any sector of aviation operations. Because immunity from complacency simply does not exist, proactive techniques and procedures are necessary to mitigate its detrimental effects. ASRS receives numerous reports suggesting that complacency is a significant factor in reported incidents across various aviation professions. CALLBACK examines a cross section of those reports and shows how complacency can combine with other factors to create undesirable circumstances that would be better avoided.
Fueling Complacency
This C182 pilot experienced an embarrassing loss of engine power. The pilot attributed his loss of power and subsequent off-field landing to pilot complacency when he overlooked a portion of the checklist procedures. • [I] began to experience engine roughness followed quickly by a complete loss of power. I had already closed the IFR flight plan and was… inbound to land. The engine lost power at 1,500 feet AGL, about four miles from [the airport] with 18 knots of headwind. Given the proximity to the ground and distance to the runway, [I] reversed course… and began searching for a place to land. Seeing that there was no immediate traffic on the highway, I decided to land [there], and the landing proceeded without incident. Upon inspection of the aircraft, the cause was discovered for my loss of power. It was… fuel starvation. The fuel selector switch had been set to the right tank, and the previous flight had
NO PLACE
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been conducted while on only one tank. The chain of events… was set in motion by the complacency of the Pilot in Command (PIC) and failure to properly… abide by checklist procedures in the cockpit. Familiarity with the aircraft led to a level of complacency on my part… [with] the fuel selector switch and checklist flow during preflight. My belief that the selector switch was always on BOTH allowed the checklist item to go unnoticed. The… flight [was] conducted with the aid of the autopilot, which prevented me from noticing the aircraft flying more and more out of trim while one [fuel] tank was being exhausted. Approaching the airport and disconnecting the autopilot, [I] noticed the trim situation, which was promptly overshadowed as the engine lost power. Ground proximity, aircraft configuration, airspeed, and the urgency of the situation prevented me from attempting corrective measures that might have restored engine power.
Dueling Complacency
A Tower Controller’s complacency, compounded by a pilot’s perfectly timed mistake, resulted in a ground conflict that could have had more serious consequences. • The Ground Controller advised me that an aircraft had taxied out and taken a wrong turn and that an aircraft would be holding short of the runway, waiting to cross. At that time, a Bonanza advised me that he was holding short of the runway, ready for departure. I advised Ground Control that the aircraft that taxied the wrong way could wait until the Bonanza departed. I had a Cessna that was on short final for a touch and go. Once I had sufficient spacing, [I issued], “Bonanza, Runway 3, cleared for takeoff.” The Bonanza read back the runway and “Cleared for takeoff.” During this time of day, the sun was setting to the southwest, and we had the double shades pulled, making it difficult to see the approach end of the runway. My attention was focused to the approach
COMPLACENCY
end of the runway, looking for the Bonanza to depart, when I noticed an aircraft pass the tower departing the opposite direction runway [Runway 21]. I felt that complacency on my part was to blame. I should have observed the Bonanza at the approach end of the runway instead of taking his word for it. The pilot couldn’t read a compass, read a runway sign depicting which way the runway goes, or familiarize himself with an airfield layout. This is a situation that I will probably never see again.
Automating Complacency
A G-V pilot was surprised when his automation did not capture the altitude as it always had. Contemplating the incident, he discovered the underlying problem. • I was given a clearance to cross an arrival intersection at 14,000 feet. I reset the altitude alerter to 14,000 feet and selected VPATH for the vertical mode of operation. The autopilot was [engaged in] the descent mode. The Pilot Not Flying (PNF), was out of the seat to use the lavatory prior to landing. All was in order, so I looked at the FMS to review the ATIS information and to further review the arrival. During this time, my attention was diverted from the primary flight display. The automation did not…capture the assigned altitude. It kept descending until I looked and saw the altimeter at 13,300 feet. I immediately disconnected the autopilot and auto-throttles and corrected the aircraft back to 14,000 feet as assigned. As I was leveling at 14,000 feet, the PNF returned to his station and asked me what had happened. A short exchange took place, and we pressed on with the flight. No instruction or challenge was made by ATC, and no conflict was indicated by the TCAS. For a long time after this flight concluded, I evaluated the performance of my duties. I failed to adequately monitor the specific flight path of the aircraft during a critical time in the flight. I got complacent, and I believe it was because for so many years of operating this equipment, never had the automation failed to perform as it had been set up. I
believed that it would do as always. I allowed myself to occupy my attention with other aspects of the flight. Worse, I allowed this to happen when the other pilot was away from his station. I did not discipline myself to avoid distraction from the primary duty. Complacency contributed directly to this deviation and… has no place on the flight deck.
Functional Complacency
During the initial takeoff on what seemed to be a routine day, a B767-300 First Officer made a simple but significant error. Making no excuses, he describes how complacency was the most probable culprit. • After becoming airborne on our initial takeoff, the Captain called, “Gear up.” Inexplicably, I raised the flap handle instead of the gear handle. Over the next several seconds, the flaps retracted while I confirmed lateral navigation (LNAV) at 400 feet AGL, selected vertical navigation (VNAV) at 1,000 feet AGL, and responded to Tower’s call to change to Departure Control. During this time, the flaps were retracting, and the minimum airspeed indicator “hook” increased until the stick shaker activated. When this happened, I looked at the flap indicator, realized my error, and extended the flaps to takeoff position (Flaps 5). Simultaneously, the Captain reduced the climb angle, I raised the gear handle, the aircraft accelerated, and the stick shaker stopped. The rest of the departure was normal. I screwed up… No excuses. I have no idea why I reached for the flaps instead of the gear. I have successfully raised the gear – without error – for decades and buckets of hours. Slow down. Don’t rush. Fight complacency. Don’t think it can’t happen to you!
Procedural Complacency
This Mechanic erred while performing a procedure on a CRJ-700 engine. Only after extensive damage was done to Continued on Page 41
April 2017
BIGGEST LITTLE AIRSHOW
www.inflightusa.com
IN
HAWAII
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Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor’s Biggest Little Airshow in Hawaii
Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor’s popular remote control Biggest Little Airshow in Hawaii is back for its tenth year, Saturday and Sunday, June 3 and 4, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Guests will be able to drive on to Ford Island for this event, or take the free shuttle from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. Parking is free. A family favorite, the Airshow features local and nationally acclaimed remote control pilots and their award winning Giant Scale aircraft. Other attractions include open cockpits, hangar tours, restored World War II aircraft displays, and the return of “Snow Fields in June” for kids. For two days, Ford Island will come alive with remote-control flying, static aircraft and full-size aircraft on display, “candy bombings” over historic Ford Island Runway for kids, hands-on modeling sta-
Safe Landings
Continued from Page 40 the engine during run-up testing, did he realize the mistake and distinguish between the apparent and root causes. From the right seat Mechanic’s report: • I had performed a Fan Blade Pin change on the Right Engine in accordance with the appropriate work card. We taxied the aircraft to the testing ramp, and after the required time had elapsed, we began the test by increasing the engine speed to full power. All indications up to this time had been normal. After several seconds at full power, the vibration began to very quickly increase to 1.1. Upon arrival [back] at the hangar, it was discovered that extensive damage had occurred within the engine. I very quickly… discovered that a ratchet I had been using to perform the pin change was missing. I then went to the acting Supervisor’s office and reported the damage and my missing tool. Several factors may have contributed to this incident. It was very early in the morning on my first day back to work after three days off. This is a job I have performed often, and overconfidence or complacency may have figured in. From the left seat Mechanic’s report: • The procedure was not followed.
Combating Complacency
This Flight Attendant, who recognized an ongoing situation where com-
When they say the biggest little airshow, they aren’t kidding… more than 12,000 people are expect to come see airplanes big and small! (Courtesy Pacific Air Museum)
Sponsorship Opportunities
tions, a Kids Zone with rides, food, drinks, retail, music, entertainment, and other activities. Hangar 79 will be open, providing access to see the Museum’s many aircraft exhibits, plus the B-17E Swamp Ghost and Nakajima Kate, in restoration.
Sponsorship of the 2017 Biggest Little Airshow on Ford Island at Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor, a remote control aircraft Airshow, provides the fol-
placency could generate a real hazard, attempted to mitigate the threat by making the hazard known. We applaud both the Flight Attendant and the effort. ■ This report is to highlight my concern about personnel who are not active working crewmembers on a flight
(jumpseaters) but take it upon themselves to arm and disarm aircraft doors. I have personally had this situation happen, and I have witnessed it happening to fellow working crewmembers. My intent… is to bring to the attention of the company… an action that should be discouraged and
lowing: a demonstration of your commitment to the community, your outstanding support of the history and cultural importance of the Museum, support for restoration and programming at this Historic Landmark Site, and of course, fun for you, your clients, and your staff. Located at the historic airstrip on Ford Island, Joint Base Pearl HarborHickam, the Biggest Little Airshow is the only show of its kind in Hawaii. Drawing crowds of approximately 12,000, it is the largest two-day event at Ford Island. This family friendly Airshow allows sponsors unprecedented access to the show, and exposure to the community. For sponsorship or additional information, visit www.pacificaviationmuseum.org/events/ bigairshow.
discontinued due to its ability to impact the safety and security of an armed aircraft door. I think a note or bulletin needs to be sent out to each and every flight attendant explaining proper procedures so that complacency does not breed an opportunity for a fatal outcome.
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AIR SHOW PERFORMER VICKY BENZING TEAMS UP WITH CALIFORNIA AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY TO ENCOURAGE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN TO SEEK AVIATION CAREERS 42
In Flight USA Celebrating 33 Years
Celebrated airshow performer Vicky Benzing and California Aeronautical University are working together to prepare the next generation of aviation professionals. Appearing together at airshows, the duo is opening the eyes of young people to the possibility of starting careers as professional pilots, aircraft mechanics, and other aviation professionals. “I am thrilled to be working with CAU,” exclaims Benzing. “California Aeronautical University perfectly unites the two things that I am very passionate about, education and aviation.” Benzing, who dazzles airshow visitors in her vintage 1940 Boeing Stearman and in her high-performance Extra 300 monoplane, holds a PhD in chemistry and is a strong proponent of aviation and people pursuing their education. “Most students don’t even consider careers as pilots, because they think it’s out of reach,” said California Aeronautical
VISIT PLANES
F-86 Sabre
OF
(Planes of Fame)
University President, Matthew Johnston. “Through our outreach efforts, we’re able to show students that becoming a professional pilot is not only possible but a realistic long-term career option. “When young people interact with Vicky you can see their eyes light up,” said Johnston. “She’s not only an amazing performer but a terrific advocate for aviation education.” The University’s Mobile Flight Experience team appears together with Benzing at airshows throughout California. The University’s Mobile Flight Experience offers flight simulators that allow first-time aviators the ability to take flight in a highly realistic setting. “Learning to fly absolutely changed my life,” said Benzing. “It’s such a confidence builder for young people. There are so many different facets and career possibilities in the aviation world that the opportunities are almost unlimited, especially in today’s world. It’s a very excit-
ing time.” “Through this partnership, we hope to help many students realize their potential,” Johnston said. “Showing them what’s possible is the first step.” Vicky Benzing is an accomplished pilot, skydiver, aerobatic performer, and air racer. With more than 7500 hours of flight time and over 1200 parachute jumps, Vicky has a passion for everything airborne. Her flying career has spanned over 30 years flying everything from antique taildraggers to modern day corporate jets. She holds an Airline Transport Pilot rating as well as a commercial rating in helicopters, seaplanes, and gliders. Visit www.vickybenzing.com for more information. California Aeronautical University prepares students for exciting careers in aviation. The University offers professional pilot degree programs and other aviation-related training programs from its unparalleled purpose-built flight train-
The Planes of Fame Air Museum was founded in 1957 by Edward Maloney. It is the oldest independently operated aviation museum in the United States The museum collection spans the history of manned flight from the Wright Flyer to the space age Apollo Capsule. We house more than 150 Aircraft and displays. Many of the Aircraft are flyable, including the P-51 Mustang, F4U Corsair, P-47 Thunderbolt, P-40 Warhawk, B-25 Mitchell, P-38 Lightning, F-86 Sabre & Russian Mig
15.
April 2017
Benzing’s beautiful monoplane was designed and built by Extra Aircraft for use in world level aerobatic competition. It is capable of +/- 10 G maneuvers with roll rates in excess of 400 degrees per second and has a top speed of 250 mph. (Photo by Scott Plummer, courtesy Vicky Benzing Aerosports)
ing facility at Bakersfield International Airport. The University has developed career opportunities for its graduates with airlines across the nation. For information, visit www.calaero.com or call 661/ 615-5915.
FAME AIR MUSEUM AT HISTORIC CAL AERO FIELD IN CHINO, CALIFORNIA Our Mission is to preserve aviation history, inspire interest in aviation, educate the public, and honor aviation pioneers and veterans. We are a non profit 501 (c)(3) organization that has grown for the past 57 years through donations. We receive no monies from the government. For more information please visit: www.planes offame.org. The address is 7000 Merrill Avenue #17, Chino, CA 91710 and the telephone number is 909/597-3722.
Airshow Fans
AAR AWARDED 15-YEAR $909M LANDING GEAR CONTRACT
F4U1 Corsair
(Planes of Fame)
Heritage Flight
(Planes of Fame)
BY
Company Will Leverage its Broad Range of Aviation Services and Facilities Across the U.S.
AAR announced on March 27 that it has been awarded a $909,394,297 fixedprice contract from the U.S. Air Force for the Landing Gear Performance-Based Logistics One program, work expected to be completed by 2032. “This award is affirmation of AAR’s expertise and leadership position forged over 30 years in managing the repair, maintenance and logistics of landing
gear,” said John Holmes, Chief Operating Officer, Aviation Services. “We are very honored to support the U.S. Air Force fleet and the critical missions they perform. We will work tirelessly everyday to make them proud of their selection.” AAR will provide total supply chain management including purchasing, remanufacturing, distribution and inventory control to support all Air Force depot
and field-level, foreign military sales, other services, and contractor requisitions received for all C-130, KC-135 and E-3 landing gear parts. “AAR is a strong fit to serve as prime on this contract because we can utilize our broad range of services and facilities across the country to not only overhaul landing gear for these three fleets but also procure and manage all the parts needed to
USAF
(Planes of Fame)
keep them in service,” said Nicholas Gross, Senior Vice President, Government Supply Chain Solutions. Repair work will be done at AAR’s Landing Gear Services facility in Miami. Inventory supply and management will be handled via AAR offices and warehouses in Wood Dale, ILL., and Ogden, Utah. Continued on Page 43
CONCORDE’S HIGH CAPACITY RG-427 NOW AVAILABLE 407 AND BELL 427
April 2017
www.inflightusa.com
Concorde Battery Corporation has announced that Rotorcraft Support Inc. of Van Nuys, Calif., has received a FAA STC to install the RG-427, 34 Ah battery in Bell 407 and Bell 427 helicopters. Operators have requested a highercapacity battery for the Bell 407 as this helicopter is often used in high cyclic and short leg operations. In these types of operations, the original equipment 28 Ah battery is not getting fully recharged causing starting performance during successive engine starts to degrade and shorten battery life. The decrease in power also causes unnecessary wear on engine components.
Air Ambulance and Oil & Gas fleets conduct some of the highest cycle operations. These operators will realize an increase in starting power and improved performance after upgrading to the RG-427, 34 Ah, 24 volt battery that is packed with more than 20 percent more power than the 28 Ah battery. Rotorcraft Support Inc. has added the RG-427 to their FAA approved STC SR01456LA for the Bell 407. This STC was also upgraded to include RG-407, 27 Ah, and RG-427 installation approval on Bell 427 helicopters. This is the first FAA STC approved for Recombinant Gas (RG®) sealed lead
acid batteries in the Bell 427! Concorde has supplied lead acid batteries as original equipment and direct replacements for fixed wing, rotorcraft and unmanned aircraft for decades. Concorde offers more than 100 unique batteries installed as original equipment by the majority of aircraft manufacturers and adopted by military aircraft operators worldwide. Rotorcraft Support, Inc., has been in business since 1986, and is a full service helicopter maintenance facility located at the Van Nuys Airport in Southern California. RSI’s helicopter maintenance and helicopter repair services are beyond compare. Their reputation for safety, pre-
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cision work and responsiveness has earned them respect in the helicopter community. They value that respect, and continuously strive to maintain this level of excellence in their organization. For more information, visit www.concordebattery.com
GULFSTREAM G500 ON SCHEDULE FOR CERTIFICATION Test Fleet Has More Than 2,600 Flying Hours And 600 Flights
Gulfstream Aerospace Corp.'s G500 flight-test program continues to make significant progress toward the aircraft's anticipated 2017 certification by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The five G500 test aircraft, including a fully outfitted production aircraft, have surpassed 2,600 flying hours and accumulated more than 600 flights. “Development testing is complete; company testing is well under way, and FAA certification has started, putting us right on track for certification and customer deliveries later this year,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream. “The maturity, discipline and rigor of our program give us great confidence as we look forward to our first delivery.” Gulfstream designed the G500 interior after extensive customer feedback, and that collaboration continues. Recently, members of Gulfstream's Advanced Technology Customer Advisory Team (ATCAT) spent an hour flying in the fully
outfitted production aircraft, which serves as the testbed for the cabin. “The feedback during and after these flights was extremely positive,” Burns said. “Our customers tell us that the added flexibility of the cabin, the comfort of our newly designed seats and the enhanced satellite communications will ensure that the G500 customer experience is second to none.” The flight was an unforgettable one for ATCAT member Peter Zeeb, the director of maintenance for Oregonbased Ochoco Administrative Services, which operates three Gulfstream aircraft.
“Thank you for letting me have the opportunity to be part of the ATCAT program for the last six years,” Zeeb said. “I truly believe the G500 will be a gamechanger for business aviation. The flight was a 'career' moment for me. I will never forget it!”
About the G500
The G500 outfitted aircraft has flown more than 180 hours since its first flight Aug. 5, 2016. The other four flighttest aircraft have amassed more than
Gulfstream Aerospace Corp.’s G500 flighttest program continues to make significant progress toward the aircraft's anticipated 2017 certification by the Federal Aviation Administration. (Photo courtesy Gulfstream) 2,450 hours in the air. For more information, visit www.gulfstream.com.
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Continued from Page 42 “This contract is another great example of how AAR can apply commercial MRO and supply chain best practices to help the government increase efficiencies and decrease costs,” said David P. Storch, Chairman, President and CEO. “In this time of reduced budgets, government can rely on a trusted partner like AAR that has been providing aviation aftermarket services for more than 60 years.” For more information on AAR Aviation Services and product information, visit www.aarcorp.com.
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HANGAR DANCE BRINGS BACK
THE
1940S, NOSTALGIA
In Flight USA Celebrating 33 Years
April 2017
Benefits CAF Dixie Wing Flying Museum
The glamour and romance of the Big Band-era will return April 22, 2017 when the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Dixie Wing hosts “Keep ‘em Flying,” a hangar dance and dinner fundraiser set in a flying museum surrounded by historic World War II aircraft and decorated to recreate the iconic mood of the 1940s. The festivities will take place from 6 p.m.-11 p.m. at the CAF Dixie Wing Warbird Museum, Atlanta Regional Airport-Falcon Field, Peachtree City. “Keep ‘em Flying” guests will hear the Peachtree Jazz Edition perform standards made famous by Glen Miller, Tommy Dorsey and Benny Goodman. Described as one of the best bands in Atlanta, the Peachtree Jazz Edition has a loyal swingdance following and is returning to “Keep ‘em Flying” for the14th straight year. Also performing are the Freedom Belles, a female trio that performs 40’s classics by the Andrews Sisters and other stars. The dinner dance is one of several highlights scheduled during WWII Heritage Days,April 22-23. The history festival is the largest World War II and 1940s-
theme event in Georgia and a can’t-miss experience for anyone who enjoys nostalgia, big band music, swing dance, historic aircraft and military vehicles, antique cars and vintage fashion. The program features re-enactors portraying Axis and Allied troops, sailors, airmen and Women Army Service Pilots (WASP). “A 1940s-theme hangar dance is a wonderful capstone for the weekend,” said Jennifer Johnson, Executive Director of the Peachtree City Convention and Visitors Bureau. “WWII Heritage Days is unique and entertaining, but it also helps the public connect with the service and accomplishments of family members and all Americans during the Second World War.” The event brings hundreds of participants and guests to the area from throughout the southeast. All proceeds from the dance help cover costs associated with WWII Heritage Days, as well as the ongoing preservation of the group’s historic aircraft. Advance tickets for “Keep ‘em Flying” are $55 before April 17 and $65 after. Reserved tables and group dis-
counts are available. Black tie, uniforms or 1940s attire encouraged. The dance will take place rain or shine ¬– no pets or refunds. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 678/654-2464. For more information, visit www.wwiidays.org.
Concorde Battery Corporation has announced the TSO C173a approved RG-332 series batteries exclusively designed as drop in replacements for Airbus Helicopters AS332C, AS332C1, AS332L, AS332L1, AS332L2, and EC225LP Aircraft. The RG-332 series consists of a non-heated (RG-332-1) and heated (RG-332-2) 44 Ah, 24 volt battery designed to replace the original equipment 43 Ah nickel cadmium battery with
no modification to the aircraft. The RG-332 design also allows for rotation of the temperature sensor and internal battery heater connector for proper orientation in any aircraft. RG-332 batteries can be installed using Concorde’s FAA STC SR02588LA covering single or dual installations. Recombinant Gas (RG) Sealed Lead Acid Batteries provide a more economical option to operators through lower acquisition cost, maintenance free design and hazmat free trans-
portation. Concorde has supplied lead acid batteries as original equipment and direct replacements for fixed wing, rotorcraft and unmanned aircraft for decades. Concorde offers more than 100 unique batteries installed as original equipment by the majority of aircraft manufacturers and adopted by military aircraft operators worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.concordebattery.com.
By Jerry Impellezzeri
then before, but the enthusiasm for the faithful Taylorcraft’s remain. The Rendezvous has become like a family reunion with all the welcoming smiles and stories from a year of being apart. Some from the group have remained in contact during the year and have taken group trips like the one Ron Sawyer, Ken Andrews and three others took to the Hood River Museum’s annual open house in Hood River, Oreg. last Sept.,
about 700 miles each way. These types of trips bond people together just like mountain climbers that are tied together with a rope. The Taylorcraft designed by Clarence Taylor more than 81 years ago, designated as a Model A, was first flown in May 1936 at Butler, Penn. The twoplace side-by-side seating and efficient and low-cost design was popular during the depression era, powered with only 40
About the CAF Dixie Wing Warbird Museum
The CAF Dixie Wing, based in Peachtree City, Ga., was founded in 1987. The Wing, one of the largest units of the Commemorative Air Force, maintains and flies seven WWII aircraft including a P-51 Mustang, an FG-1D Corsair and rare types such as the SBD Dauntless dive bomber and P-63A Kingcobra. The Dixie Wing organizes two large events a year – WWII Heritage Days and the Atlanta Warbird Weekend. The unit, composed of 300 volunteers, is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization that relies on contributions of time and funds to carry out the mission of the CAF. For more information, visit www.dixiewing.org. The Commemorative Air Force is a
nonprofit organization dedicated to flying and restoring World War II aircraft. Based in Dallas, Texas, the organization has more than 13,000 members and operates a fleet of more than 166 World War II aircraft. For more information about CAF, visit www.commemorativeairforce.org .
CONCORDE BATTERY CORPORATION ANNOUNCES NEW RG SERIES BATTERIES APPROVED FOR INSTALLATION ON THE SUPER PUMA USING CONCORDE STC SR02588LA
2017 WEST COAST TAYLORCRAFT RENDEZVOUS
This year Taylorcraft and their aircraft owners are celebrating 28 years since the first Taylorcraft Rendezvous was organized by Ron Sawyer in central California after returning from a round trip to Lock Haven, Penn. in his Taylorcraft. The fly-in has changed some over the years – mostly more older characters
horsepower engines. Today, the surviving aircraft, of some 9,900 built, are lovingly cared for and most flying have 65 horsepower or larger engines with no electrical system. The annual Rendezvous promotes the restoration, upkeep and flying of these classic aircraft for all to enjoy. Some say they are time machines as well since their father or grandfather flew the aircraft they now own. Continued on Page 46
April 2017
THE PACIFIC COAST DREAM MACHINES SHOW: www.inflightusa.com
Registration is open for the Pacific Coast Dream Machines Show, one of the west coastâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest, baddest, most fascinating gatherings of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coolest cars, trucks, motorcycles, aircraft and assorted contraptions representing every era and style of wheeled wonders in history. The spectacular 27th annual show will be held on Sunday April 30, 2017, a one-day mega-show, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Half Moon Bay Airport, located in the picturesque seaside town of Half Moon Bay, Calif. about 20 miles south of San Francisco. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nothing quite like this whimsical, fascinating, amusing, curious and absolutely unique show and tell spectacle featuring 2,000 magnificent driving, flying, and working machines from the 20th and 21st centuries. The worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coolest cars of every era and style, model-T fire engines, vintage busses, custom motorcycles, tricked out trucks, sleek streamliners, one-of-a-kind antique engines and tractors, and historic military aircraft will be among the mesmerizing displays. Proud owners show up in cars that come in all shapes, colors, and sizes. Spectators will get a rare up-close look at antique horseless carriages and Ford Model Tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, fanciful touring and luxury cars, powerful sports cars, custom cars and street rods, muscle cars, vintage and modern era high-performance race cars, quirky
â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Coolest Show On Earthâ&#x20AC;? Marks 27 Years
One of the first planes used in World War II was the Curtiss P-40. Dubbed the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Warhawkâ&#x20AC;? by U.S. forces and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kittyhawkâ&#x20AC;? by British forces, the P-40 first flew in 1938. (Photo courtesy Miramar Events, Pacific Coast Dream Machines) art and pedal cars, modified street â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all flown in memory of the late Eddie machines with cutting edge styles, exotic Andreini Sr., world-renown aerobatics high-performance cars, stylish European pilot, founding Dream Machines contribucars, ultra cool low-riders, sporty comtor and pillar in the Half Moon Bay compacts, modified imports with flashy graphmunity. Plus thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s P-51 Mustang ics, fashionable hip-hop urban show cars, Madness â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a spectacular display of homebuilt kit cars, super-charged turbo Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premier World War II fighter cars and trucks, â&#x20AC;&#x153;greenâ&#x20AC;? technoloalong with YAK Russian fighters and an gy/alternative fuel vehicles, streamliners, impressive array of T-6 and T-28 military dragsters, funny cars, gassers, and jet cars. fighters and trainers. Thrilling rides will be Hundreds of aviation wonders are offered in helicopters and vintage bi-planes. expected to be on display â&#x20AC;&#x201C; headlined by Among the scheduled attractions are legendary vintage warbirds like the B-25 spectacular skydiving performances from Bomber and C-47 Skytrain plus stylish the C-47 with military style jumps by the homebuilts, classics from the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;40s and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;50s, experts at Precision Skydiving and a spesport and ultralight aircraft. Inspiring flycial appearance by Shane Skull Krusher, overs by some of our nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most storied military aircraft promise to be a fan favorite
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the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s youngest mini monster truck driver. For electrifying showstoppers, the showâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s extreme attractions return â&#x20AC;&#x201C; freestyle motocross shows, unimotorcycle drags and monster truck rides. The â&#x20AC;&#x153;DRIVE Magazine Dream Machine of the Yearâ&#x20AC;? returns with editors from Beckett Mediaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s DRIVE Magazine on hand to select a winner from the thousands of magnificent machines on display. A special trophy will be awarded at a recognition ceremony during the show. To show a car, the registration fee is $40 ($50 for entries postmarked after April 15) and includes a dash plaque and admission for two people. Spectator admission is $25 for adults (age 18-69), $15 for ages 11-17 and 70+, Free for kids age 10 and under. Tickets are available at the gate only. Half Moon Bay Airport, at 9850 N. Cabrillo Highway, is located on Highway 1, about 20 miles south of San Francisco and five miles north of Highway 92. The show benefits the nonprofit Coastside Adult Day Health Center. For more information, call 650/726-2328 or visit www.miramarevents.com/dreammachines. Register at dreammachines.miramar events .com/registration.html.
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S
SKY KING, FLAGSHIP
By Nicholas Viggiano
ky King, C-47-DL, SN 42-32832 is one of the most documented (if not the most) surviving World War II aircraft. With several aircraft with significant history in the Mid America Flight Museums collection, it is Sky King that holds the title of “Flagship.” C-47-DL, SN 42-32832 was built in 1943 and delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force on Feb. 11, 1943, and was assigned to the 53rd Troop Carrier Squadron. On May 4, 1943. Secret orders were received. Sky King, with Lt. John L. Wood as pilot and 2nd Lt. Donald E. King as copilot, T/Sgt. Clifford V. Meadows, Engineer and Pvt. Walton E. Schryvor, Radioman were to proceed to the North African Theater of Operations. The orders read: “ ... proceed in aircraft as indicated from Morrison Field, West Palm Beach, Fla. via Marreckech, French Morocco, North Africa to Western Task Force, reporting upon arrival there to the Commanding General, North African Theater of Operations for duty and assignment.” From North Africa, Sky King conducted supply missions, which are indicated by the “camel markings.” On July 9, 1943, Sky King and crew were to be part of the first squadron to drop paratroopers in Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily. The first mission, Husky 1 was to fly troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Drop Zone near the town of Gela. This mission was mostly uneventful with minimal and ineffectual anti-aircraft fire. However, after a scrubbed mission on the 10th, due to weather, the July 11, mission would be anything but uneventful! Sky King would be part of one of the costliest friendly fire incidents of WWII! July 11 was Lt. King’s 24th birthday and could have been his last. This was Husky II and the Drop Zone for this mission was the Gela-Farelo Airport outside
OF THE
MID AMERICA FLIGHT MUSEUM
In Flight USA Celebrating 33 Years
Andrew Kiest landing Sky King with veterans and their families. (Nicholas Viggiano) of Gela. As the 53rd Squadron approached the coast, an allied naval ship opened fire on the formation. Sky King was hit, but not bad from this AA barrage and continued to the drop zone. Over Sicily, the squadron encountered intense ack-ack from enemy and friendly forces! It was this round of AAA which broke up the formation. Sky King like every C-47 was on its own to get to the drop zone. They made it to the DZ and successfully dropped the troops and egressed through the same fusillade they encountered on the way in. During the flight back to base, Sky King sustained many hits and was badly damaged! Husky II saw 23 planes shot down and 37 damaged, resulting in 318 casualties, with 60 airmen and 81 paratroopers killed. C-47 Sky King was repaired, and over the next two months, her missions were to transport troops and supplies to Sicily and medevac troops out. It was during this time that the squadron was moved to a new base near Licata, Sicily. It was from this base in Sicily that the 53rd Troop Carrier Squadron participated in Operation Avalanche, the invasion of Italy.
So, Sky King and crew would again be flying into harm’s way to deliver the 82nd to a Drop Zone behind the lines of the Salerno beachhead. This was another uneventful, successful mission. That would be the last combat mission for a while, though the squadron would be busy with non-combat missions and training. Feb. 1944 would see Sky King and the 53rd Troop Carrier Squadron move to Barkston Heath Field, England. In March, the training would begin for what would be called “The Day of Days,” Operation Overlord, D-Day! Sky King and crew were assigned to a 72-ship formation with the target Drop Zone being on the Cherbourg Peninsula. Though many planes and squadrons encountered heavy and accurate A-A fire, per Lt. Don King’s diary, his formation saw sporadic and ineffective enemy fire. Upon returning to base, the crew found only one hole in the tail. For the next few months, there were no combat drops, only supply and medevac missions. The next combat mission came on Sept. 16, 1944, Operation
2017 West Coast Taylorcraft Rendezvous Continued from Page 44 All are welcome to attend the largest gathering of Taylorcrafts on the West coast this May 12 to 14 at the Reedley Airport (032), California, about 18 miles south east of Fresno. The group is excited to see what new Taylorcrafts will attend for the first time. Mark your calendar now, get the aircraft ready and plan for the adventure and invite your friends as well, all are welcome. Plan on coming on Friday, May 12 and stay as long as
you like. A camping area is available but for people who want it, there are motels nearby and host Ken Andrews will help get you to and from. Activities include a fly-out Saturday for breakfast (8:30 a.m. departure) to Woodlake (042) and a spotlanding contest. Of course, there will be plenty of time to relax and renew old friendships. Ken may show a few slides about his Hood River Fly-in adventure trip last year, which are most enjoyable. Please RSVP for Friday and/or
Saturday night dinners to Ken Andrews at 559/259-0876 to let him know you are coming or if you have any questions. You can also contact Ken on the West Coast Taylorcrafts facebook page.
Jerry Impellezzeri in his 1941 Taylorcraft BC12-65 on his way to the Rendezvous (Photo by Roger Cain, courtesy Taylorcraft Rendezvous)
April 2017
Market-Garden. This mission went well during the day. They encountered heavy flak on the way to the Drop Zone, but Allied fighters suppressed the guns. There was no AAA over the DZ, and they successfully dropped the troopers. No Ack Ack on the way out, but they noticed gliders in the water as they crossed the coast. Sky King broke formation to drop a raft to the men in the water. They poured on the coals to get back in formation and make it home. The next day, there was another another mission to Holland, only this time Sky King would be towing a glider. The Waco glider is carrying a jeep and five troopers. The formation encountered accurate anti-aircraft fire in route to the DZ, over the DZ, and on the way out, but the glider is released over the DZ. Sky King had many holes in her, but nothing major, and she was ready for the next mission. The 18th brings another mission, three days in a row flying to Holland. This mission was a supply drop, and the DZ will be on the front lines. Bad weather and flak makes this flight a tough one. Over the drop zone they get a hit that blows the cargo door open! The racket, noise, and vibration from the door slamming against the fuselage only makes this tough mission tougher. Sky King, as she always has done, got the crew home! Don King flew all of these missions as 1st Pilot or Co-Pilot, however, this mission would be his last in Sky King. Sky King, C-47-DL, SN 42-32832 went on to fly the very last paratroop mission of WWII into Germany, operation Varsity, March 24, 1945. This was the mission to drop troopers on the east side of the Rhine River in western Germany. Sky King flew hundreds of supply and medevac missions between the eight “behind the lines” combat missions. Of the 13 planes that flew the southern route to North Africa in May of 1943, Sky King was the only C-47 to make it Continued on Page 49
CONCORDE BATTERY CORPORATION CELEBRATES 40TH ANNIVERSARY
April 2017
Concorde Battery Corporation, established in 1977, is celebrating 40 years in business. Concorde is proud to have provided quality batteries with world-renowned support to the general aviation community for four decades out of our West Covina, Calif. facility. Concorde has developed a culture dedicated to the success and satisfaction of our employees and customers. Our commitment is to consistently bring the highest quality product to market through continuous improvement, research and development, quality assurance, and employee satisfaction. Concorde’s customer service guarantee is realized through world-class customer and product support. Sensitivity to customer’s needs has been one of the cornerstones of Concorde’s unique approach to designing application specific, drop-in replacement, batteries that do not require modification to the airframe.
www.inflightusa.com
After 39 years of exclusively manufacturing out of West Covina, Calif., 2016 marked the opening of a second facility on the east coast in Austell, Ga. The facility received FAA PMA approval in 2017, which has expanded Concorde’s manufacturing ability. “We are excited to be entering our 40th year with the new facility! Looking ahead, we are developing a line of lithium ion aircraft batteries that will provide the same record of reliability and safety that is expected of a Concorde battery,” said company officials. Concorde supplies more than 100 models of original equipment and direct replacement valve regulated sealed lead acid batteries for fixed wing, rotorcraft and unmanned aircraft. Concorde batteries are installed as original equipment by the majority of aircraft manufacturers and adopted by military aircraft operators worldwide. For more information, visit www.concordebattery.com.
FLIGHT: IT’S ALL ABOUT ATTITUDE!
If you have been thinking about learning aerobatic flying or just expanding your flying horizons, then check out Attitude Aviation, Inc., with their five aerobatic airplanes ranging from a Citabria to an Extra 300 for every aerobatic skill level. Along with their aircraft, Attitude has a staff of qualified instructors, including Wayne Handley. Wayne is a well-respected aerobatics instructor who has taught many championship level competitors. Attitude Aviation is working on having seminars for aerobatic competitors of all levels. They are also in the process of planning several weekend events throughout the year. These events will include a videotape of each pilot’s performance with Wayne giving commentary during the performance. This will allow each pilot to review his or her sequence and listen to the comments to help them improve their performance. Also at these events, safety pilots will be on hand to help those newer aerobatic pilots gain experience. Attitude Aviation has always been the most unique flight school in anyone’s experience. Now, it’s also one of the fastest growing FBOs in the San
(Photo Courtesy Attitude Aviation) Francisco Bay Area. Sam Rivinius, who bought the operation in 2016, is determined to create the best flying experience with the best equipment anywhere. Attitude has its own maintenance facility, does all the maintenance on its own fleet and offers outstanding maintenance to outside aircraft. Attitude offers complete training from basic pilot to full competition aerobatic training, instrument, commercial, and CFI. Attitude is the place for Upset Training as well. Attitude guarantees a fun learning experience for all pilots and wanna-be pilots. Visit Attitude Aviation at attitudeaviation.com or call 925/456-2276. Located at the Livermore, Calif., airport, Attitude has easy access from the Bay Area and greater Central Valley by both car and plane.
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Office Space & Tie Downs Available for Rent Robert Coutches
Cell - (510) 783-2711 • (925) 449-5151 550 Airway Blvd. • Livermore, CA 94551• Livermore Airport (KLVK)
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In Flight USA Celebrating 33 Years
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AIRCRAFT We have moved! American Aircraft Sales, now at Livermore Airport, CA, www.americanaircraft.net, cell (510) 783-2711, (925) 449-5151. 3/13 From Trade-ins to Aircraft Management, financing and appraisals. T.J. Aircraft Sales, Novato, CA, (415) 8985151, www.tjair.com. 3/13
Husky - America's Favorite Taildragger. Call to schedule your own Husky Experience. Aviat Aircraft, Afton, WY, (307) 885-3151, husky.aviataircraft.com. 12504:TFN J.T. Evans Aircraft Sales. Specializing in landing gear & control surfaces. Also recovery & storage for singles & light twins. (800) 421-1729, Orlando, FL. 11/14
Largest variety of quality aircraft, plus training and other services. Alliance International Aviation Flight Centers at Chino, Riverside and Brackett Field, CA, airports. www.AIAFlight.com. 11/13 AirplanesUSA Aircraft Sales, new office at San Carlos, CA, Airport, www. airplanesusa.com, (650) 394-7610.1/16
Fly right, fly better & fly with Attitude. Under new management. Check out our expanded fleet. Attitude Aviation, Livermore, CA, (925) 456-2276, www. attitudeaviation.com. 11/16
HOMEBUILTS Now for Sale: Hollmann's Super Stallion & Production Rights Faster, farther, carry more for less cost. Aircraft Designs, www.aircraftdesigns. com. Contact Rita at (831) 621-8760 or email jets@mbay.net. 161000:TFN
Kitfox Aircraft. Building kits for 30 years. Homedale Municipal Airport, ID, www.kitfoxaircraft.com, (208) 3375111. 8/14
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complete aircraft kits. Wicks Aircraft Supply, Highland, IL, www.wicksaircraft. com, (618) 654-7447, (800) 221-9425. 2/17
Aerial Avionics, FAA CRS 7IAR379B. Reid-Hillview Airport, San Jose, CA, (408) 258-5858, www.aerialavionics.com. 10/16
your single source for quality educational aviation products— always at a good price fax 1.800.543.8633 phone 1.800.SPORTYS Clermont County/Sporty’s Airport Batavia, OH 45103 2522:TFN
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ENGINES Quality, Service & Price, keeping the cost of aircraft engine maintenance down. Aircraft Specialties Services, Tulsa OK, (918) 836-6872. 10/06 Corona Aircraft Engines. Complete engine overhauls on all Continental & Lycoming engines. ECI Titans in stock. Corona Airport, CA, (951) 736-6452, www.coronaengines.com. 8/14 Aircraft Engine Parts & Service. Gibson-Aviation, El Reno, OK, (800) 9924880, gibsonaviation@msn.com. 11/14
Oil coolers and more. Buy, sell, repair, overhaul or exchange. Pacific Oil Cooler Service, La Verne, CA, (800) 866-7335, www.oilcoolers.com. 4/17
FUEL Fuel Cells. Repair, overhaul or new. New tanks with 10-year warranty. Hartwig Aircraft Fuel Cell Repair, www. hartwigfuelcell.com. 2/09
PROPELLERS Complete Propeller & Governor Service. Tiffin Aire, Tiffin, OH, (800) 5537767, (419) 447-4263. 2/08
OXYGEN SUPPLIES
FLIGHT INSTRUCTION Old School Aviation. Advanced Warbird training. Contact Dan Vance (707) 972-1293 at Sonoma Jet Center, Santa Rosa, CA. 8/14
Arizona Type Ratings CE-500/CE-525 type ratings or recurrent. Insurance approved, staff examiner. www.arizonatyperatings. com, (602) 614-7994. 9309:TFN
Aerobatics instruction and air shows. Anna Serbinenko's Sky Dancer, (604) 946-7744, www.cfc.aero. 7/15
SIMULATORS Full-Motion Sim Training. Aircraft Sim– ulator Training, Santa Rosa, CA, (707) 528-4359 or bertairsim@gmail.com. 4/17
PILOT POSITION WANTED SoCal pilot desires Turbine/Jet SIC time. Comm/Instru/Multi-Eng with SIC for Gulfstream G-IV. Many years of aircraft design/flight test/aerospace industry experience. Willing to travel as needed (and for repositioning). Contact Paul at (562) 714-6686 or ptglessner@ aol.com. 17400:6
AVIONICS Avionics for Every Mission. Installation, bench repair, a/p specialist, all major brands. Airtronics, Calaveras County
SERVICES Protect your assets. Legally avoid California Aircraft Sales and Use taxes. Call for free consultation. Associated Sales Tax Consultants Inc., (916) 3691200 or visit www.astc.com. 3/06 Divorce-Paternity Cases. Contact Lawyers for Men's Rights, (213) 3848886, www.mensrightslawyers.com. Offices of Stuart J. Faber. 4/10 Susan Biegel, MD, Certified FAA Medical Examiner, Upland, CA, (909) 985-1908, wwww.susanbiegelmd.com. 11/16
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AVIATION CONSULTANTS “Doing it right the first time” Home of Peninsula avionics, sales & service. Jorgenson-Lawrence Aircraft Sales & Management, Palo Alto, CA, Airport. Larry Shapiro, (650) 424-1801. 6107:TFN
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AIRCRAFT PARTS Aircraft Tool Supply. Ring jobs just got easier. www.aircraft-tool.com. 8/14
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Specializing in oil coolers, fuel heaters, valves and more. Buy, sell, repair, overhaul, exchange. Pacific Oil Cooler Service, La Verne, CA, (800) 866-7335, www.oilcoolers.com. 1/16
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Aircraft Sales & Corporate Aircraft Management NAAA-certified appraisals, FDIC & RTC approved. Sterling Air, Carson City, NV, (800) 770-5908, (775) 885-6800, www. sterling-air.com. 11601:TFN
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HOMES/AIRPARKS Aviation Property Specialists in California. Nickson & Associates, (530) 677-9760, www.nickson.biz. 11/16
The Airport Shoppe, Reid-Hillview Airport, San Jose, CA, orders (800) 634-4744, www.airportshozppe.com. 10/06
The Valley Airport Homes & lots for sale in an airport community on the White River, Cotter, Ark. www.thevalleyairport.com. (870) 430-5088. 2/17
DuraCharts — Best print quality, resistant to tearing and liquids. Produced by pilots for pilots. www. DURACHARTS.com. 8/14
Aviation Building Systems, custom designed hangars for 44 years. R&M Steel Co., Caldwell, ID, (208) 454-1800, (866) 454-1800, www.aviationbuildingsystem.com. 51217:TFN
Aircraft Spruce & Supply. Free 700page catalog, Corona, CA, & Peachtree City, GA, www.aircraftspruce.com. 10/06
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One-piece doors. Hydraulic or bifold. Schweissdoors.com, (800) 746-8273.1/15 Save hangar energy costs. Re–place metal halide & HPS lamps with LED Direct Replacement bulbs. Energy Solutions, (888) 539-0447, OEO.com. 2/17
April 2017
FBOs
AVIATION TRAVEL
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FLYING CLUBS West Valley Flying Club, San Francisco Bay Area. Palo Alto (650) 856-2030, San Carlos (650) 595-5912, www.wvfc. org. 4/16 Charter Members Wanted for New Flying Club Bring back the thrill of flying in a Cherokee 180 or a Cessna 182 Whether you’re an aircraft owner, a seasoned pilot, a flight instructor, a student, or just want an affordable way to get back into the sky, join our new Inland Empire Flying Club — an organization that makes flying fun again in well-equipped, clean aircraft. Membership includes maintenance, insurance, servicing or other costs involved in individual ownership. Contact Richard: (562) 208-5280 or ryardusa.com INLAND EMPIRE FLYING CLUB Corona, Chino and Riverside, CA 151100:TFN Tabooma Flyers Not-for-profit flying club on historic Pearson Field, Vancouver, WA, www. taboomaflyers.org. 4/16
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230 VIDEOS/PHOTOGRAPHY Specializing in aviation photography. www.horizontalrain.com. 1/15
PUBLICATIONS Avionics Checklists & Quick Reference gudes. Available in book, card & new iPad editions. www.Qref. com or from your favorite supply shop. 8/14 The World Beneath Their Wings, A New Millennium of Female Aviators" by Julie Jervis. Dealer inquiries invited. To reserve your copy, call (650) 358-9908. 51108:TFN
Things My Flight Instructor Never Told Me & other lessons for aviators of all levels. (561) 752-3261, www.tmfintm. com. 11/07
HELP WANTED IN FLIGHT USA, the leading source of general aviation news, seeks writers and photographers to cover all aspects of aviation. Send an SASE for writer’s guidelines to: In Flight USA, P.O. Box 5402, San Mateo, CA 94402. TFN
MUSEUMS American Helicopter Museum West Chester, PA, (610) 436-9600 www.americanhelicopter.museum Yanks Air Museum Chino, CA www.yanksair.com Palm Springs Air Museum Palm Springs, CA (760)778-6262, www.psam.org Planes of Fame Air Museum Chino, CA (909) 597-3722 www.planesoffame.org Warbirds West Air Museum Gillespie Field, El Cajon, CA (858) 414-6258/www.wwam.org WACO Airfield & Museum Troy, OH, (937) 335-9226 www.wacoairmuseum.org Pacific Coast Air Museum (707) 575-7900 www.pacificcoastairmuseum.org
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Veterans and their families after a ride in Sky King.
Sky King
Continued from Page 46 back home to the U.S. She was converted to a DC-3 with an executive interior after the war and was sold to General Motors. Sky King went through several owners until Scott Glover bought her in 2000. By this time, she received the registration number N5106X. In 2010, she flew for the first time after her restoration. The exterior does not represent any specific date but is more of a combination to show all the combat missions. She has the drop marking for Market-Garden and the D-Day Invasion Stripes. The stripes would not have be on the aircraft during Market-Garden. The Camel marking represents supply drops, and the Red Crosses represent medevac missions. These missions became so common that the crews stop painting them after a while. The parachute markings with a trooper represent the seven combat drops. Husky I and II, Avalanche, D-Day and Market-Garden. The Chute with the bundle is the supply drop and the marking with the glider represents the two other missions during Market-Garden. Scott brought Sky King to “The Last
(Nicholas Viggiano)
Time” Gathering of DC-3s, held at the Whiteside Airport, outside of Sterling Rock Falls, Ill. This event was held on July 23-26, 2010, that Sunday, July 25, was celebrating the Douglas DC-3 “75th Anniversary.” This event attracted 26 DC-3s and one DC-2. Though her combat flying ended more than 70 years ago, Sky King is still flying meaningful missions. Scott Glover and the Mid America Flight Museum’s crew fly to airshows and fly-ins and give military veterans, first responders, and show sponsors free rides. From the smiles and the stories that the vets tell, these missions are 100 percent successful. Scott estimates that Sky King gives between 400 and 500 free rides a year. Sky King, C-47-DL, SN 42-32832 is not finished flying missions and will continue to provide smiles, fun, and memories in the future. On the Mid America Flight Museum’s website, you will find a copy of the Atlantic Travel Orders, Don King’s flight log and his personal diary of his combat missions.
Sky King at sunrise.
(Nicholas Viggiano)
Andrew Kiest and Gary Gingrich flying Sky King .
(Nicholas Viggiano)
50
In Flight USA Celebrating 33 Years
April 2017
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“Still Specializing In First Time Buyers And Student Pilots Needs" Best Wishes for Passover and Easter
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THE PLACE TO FLY 1976 C421C ...$800 /hr.
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