The official Newsletter of EAA Chapter 445
Tallahassee, Fl.
www.eaa445.org
JUNE 2002

"Looks like we might be wasting our time",  one member said as we set up the tarp the afternoon before the fly-in.   The forecast was calling for an 80% chance of rain . The wind was blowing so hard it almost lifted us all off the ground.   Ernie Newberry was directing the set up of his huge tarp with the help of Ed Budzyna and members Frank Smith, Marc Matthews, Carl Hayes, Dave Schamber, and John Sivyer.  As it turned out, the rain held off the next morning and the fly-in was held as scheduled.  Click here for pictures.

  QUINCY - Dylan Coley flew an airplane for the very first time Saturday. The 8-year-old, with a little help from Panacea flight instructor Al Fitzgerald, took the yoke for a few minutes during a flight more than 1,000 feet over downtown Quincy. "I'd say Dylan's got a lot of potential," Fitzgerald said after landing his Cessna four-seater in the grass at Quincy-Gadsden County Airport. "If I can do it, anybody can. Right, Dylan?"

 The high-altitude adventure was part of the 29th annual Quincy Fly-In, sponsored by the capital chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association. The event featured food, airplane rides, parachute drops and aircraft from ultralights to World War II-era biplanes.  Last year, more than 80 airplanes flew in for the event, but not as many pilots participated this year because of rainy weather. "Usually, we get aircraft from several hundred miles around," said Frank Smith, secretary of the association's local chapter and director of the Fly-In. "But because of the front coming through right at the time of the Fly-In, most of those folks decided not to come."  Spirits were high, nonetheless. Ultralights buzzed overhead, and parachutists tumbled out of airplanes when the weather allowed. Pilots offered airplane rides for $25, but kids flew free as part of the association's Young Eagles program. The association started the program nearly a decade ago with hopes of giving a million kids airplane rides by December 2003, the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers' historic first flight near Kitty Hawk, N.C.

  Fitzgerald, who has spent his entire life in aviation, has been involved in the Young Eagles program since it started. So far, he's
flown some 400 youngsters.  "It's just my passion," Fitzgerald said. "I've got the greatest life there is. And I want to share it with these kids."

15 kids got a chance to experience flight , in some cases for the first time at the Fly-in.   Al Fitzgerald,  Jeff Owens,  Scott O'Brien and John Sivyer made flights on what turned out to be a pretty smoothe morning. Gar Braun and Frank Smith were a big help on the ground, filling out forms and giving  some ground instruction to the youngsters.  Many thanks to Flightline and Eagle for their support.  Click here to see some pictures. 

 For more information about Young Eagles click here. 

Richard "Justin" Caese (pronounced "case") and Dick Coyner flew with John Sivyer at the Quincy Fly-in.  After the flight, John commented that Young Eagles was for kids 8-17 , but we needed something for kids over 55. What would we call it?  Justin laughed and said how about the "Bald Eagles"?  And so a new club has emerged with Justin and Dick being the charter members.   If you know some kids over 55, why not take them flying?  Send in their name and picture if available and we will put it on the website.
 

Frank got his start in aviation in the US Army training instrument pilots in a simulator before he ever flew a real plane.  In 1968 while still in the Army, Frank received his private pilot's license.   It didn't take long before he had his commercial, CFI, CFII and multi-engine rating.   After being an instructor for many years, Frank began flying air freight.  He then became a corporate pilot, flying mostly Kingair 200's.  He has amassed over 5,000 hours. One of Frank's scariest experiences was flying with a student in a Cessna 150 when their windshield darkend up with what turned out to be small twin engine on a collision course with them.  They managed to fly by each other without trading paint, but it was too close for comfort.  Frank lost his medical to a heart attack about 15 years ago.   He joined Eaa 445 in 1990 and has served as treasurer twice.  Frank was the head of this year's fly-in committee and did an excellent job putting everything together. Frank is hoping the sport pilot classification passes so he can get back into flying. 

 A pilot can expect a wind-shear zone in a temperature inversion whenever the windspeed at 2,000 to 4,000 feet above the surface is at least
    A) 10 knots. 
    B) 15 knots. 
    C) 25 knots.

Click here to send your answer. 

LAST MONTH'S SAFETY QUIZ

Which aircraft has the right-of-way over the other aircraft listed?   

A) Airship.  
B) Aircraft towing other aircraft.  
C) Gyroplane. 

The correct answer is B) Aircraft towing other aircraft

If you have a question for the SAFETY QUIZ,  click here to submit it. Please include the answer! 

So far we have three people who have signed up to be safety pilots. If you need a Safety Pilot, click here to go to the safety pilot page and send an e-mail or call one of the pilots on the list.  They will be happy to schedule time to be your safety pilot. 

6-14-02   Final plans were made for the Fly-in .  At the next general meeting, we will form a nominating commitee to elect new officers. 

We had two new members join,  Scott O'Brien who just moved here from Oklhoma City , a CFII at Flightline who owns  his own  Citabria, and Marc Dupuis  a student pilot at Flightline who is very close to getting his Private Rating.

Lee Hilliard gave an excellent account ofwhat it was like to serve under one of the greatest Generals of all time, George Patton.  His talk was over an hour long but it seemed like only minutes. 

Next  EAA 445 Meeting 06/11/2002 

This will be a general business meeting. 

                                                          FLIGHT ACROSS AMERICA TO HONOR 9/11 VICTIMS
   This summer volunteer pilots will honor victims of the September 11 tragedy by  flying across the country. Starting on August 11 from Paine Field in Everett,  Washington, Flight Across America will link with other flights and converge in New  York City on the one-year anniversary. Fifty state flags will be delivered to the city. The goal is to have at least one aircraft take off and land from every airport in the country during the month-long celebration of flight. There will also be fly-in picnics. Flight Across America was dreamed up by Molly Peebles, who has a newly discovered passion for flight and a desire to make a difference after September 11.  See the Web site. 
 

PRESIDENT            Marc Matthews         342-3587             matthews.marc@worldnet.att.net 
VICE PRESIDENT    Bill Johnson             893-6418             Bill@FloridaAirports.org 
SECRETARY            Frank Smith             576-3312                   
TREASURER            Dave Schamber        962-2768             dbschamb@netscape.net 
YOUNG EAGLES     John Sivyer              668-0480             Sivyer@Tallahassee.net