EAA Chapter 648
Longmont, Colorado 80503
Our Next Meeting will be June 10th at 7pm at the Colorado Classic Aircraft Building at Vance Brand
Airport
June 2013
www.648.eaachapter.org
Contents
. May Meeting Photos
May Meeting Photos
. June Program
. A Message from the Chapter President
. Minutes of the May Meeting
. Newsletter Quiz
. Other Items of Interest
. List of Officers for Chapter 648
.
.
Editor
Ed Spengler
303-898-0321
[email protected]
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EAA Chapter 648
Longmont, Colorado 80503
Our Next Meeting will be June 10th at 7pm at the Colorado Classic Aircraft Building at Vance Brand
Airport
2
EAA Chapter 648
Longmont, Colorado 80503
Our Next Meeting will be June 10th at 7pm at the Colorado Classic Aircraft Building at Vance Brand
Airport
3
EAA Chapter 648
Longmont, Colorado 80503
Our Next Meeting will be June 10th at 7pm at the Colorado Classic Aircraft Building at Vance Brand
Airport
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EAA Chapter 648
Longmont, Colorado 80503
Our Next Meeting will be June 10th at 7pm at the Colorado Classic Aircraft Building at Vance Brand
Airport
June Program
AVIATION TECHNICAL DISCUSSION SESSION
The June 10, 2013 meeting of EAA Chapter 648 will include an open discussion on topics related to aircraft
building, performance, engine operation, and recommended operating and maintenance procedures. How does one
separate fact from fiction and identify commonly held opinions that are "flat-out" wrong? There are strongly held
and widely varying opinions on RPM versus manifold pressure, pre-heating, leaning, use of automotive gasoline,
etc. These are some of the topics that come up almost daily and impact operating costs and engine life and safe
operations. These sessions typically have a short list of suggested topics but often pick up on questions and/or
suggestions from attendees. Join us as topics of interest are discussed by members and guests. Our Chapter members
have built or restored over thirty airplanes and have many thousands of hours of flying and maintenance experience
which is shared at this annual program. We don't pretend to have all the answers and can certainly benefit from the
knowledge and experience of others involved in general aviation activities. FAR/AIM provides information on the
rules and principals of general aviation but there's no substitute for live discussions with experienced people. Come
out and join us and help make this a beneficial session for all.
A Message from the President
2013 Longmont Airport (LMO) Expo
Powered by PrestigeDodge.com
Mark your calendar for Saturday, June 22, 2013 at Vance Brand Airport, Longmont, CO
Pancake breakfast at 7 a.m. | Activities start at 9 a.m. | Gates close at 4 p.m.
On Saturday of this month, June 22nd, we have the Longmont Air Expo at the Longmont Airport. Our Chapter is
planning to share a booth at the Expo with several other aviation-related organizations. This message is a call for
help. Plan on attending this event and please, lend a hand manning the booth for an hour or so. Our booth
participation provides a good opportunity to inform visitors to the Expo about Chapter 648 and what EAA is all
about. No prior experience as required, just a willingness to meet and talk with a lot of interesting people who stop
by and to answer their questions about or organization.
For more information on the expo, go to:
http://lmoexpo.org/
Dick Socash
President, EAA Chapter 648
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EAA Chapter 648
Longmont, Colorado 80503
Our Next Meeting will be June 10th at 7pm at the Colorado Classic Aircraft Building at Vance Brand
Airport
MeetingMinutes for May 13th, 2013:
Upcoming events:
• June 22 Longmont Airport expo - EAA banner is needed.
• Steerman fly-in this year? Bill Mitchell will look into this.
• Next Month's meeting: a discussion on flying topics.
• In a few months, Bob Sancetta will give a talk about FAA medical-related items.
• EAA picnic maybe early September. Earl Bolton will get back to us about dates.
Group flights - any interest?
Miscellaneous:
• Scott Delouise has a Twin baron prop jet and will consider showing us his plane in the future.
• Gail has a tape reader he is trying to get rid of; it uses a reel.
• AOPA magazines available - see Dave Shenk.
Trip reports:
• Dave Shenk flew to Abilene, TX
Our speaker: Barry Barnow
• 30 years in Boulder
• 10000 hours flying instruction, all ratings
• Has been flying for 50 years
Barry bought property at the Boulder Airport which included a “through-the-fence” agreement. The city pushed
eminent domain on the property, claiming the access was considered “unsafe.” Barry took his case to court and
won!! The city of Boulder must reimburse for costs related to the value of the access rights, his legal fees and
interest. This case has been ongoing for 7 years.
Items to note:
• Boulder airport goes back to 1928 - used to be a factory for building planes there. It was a school during
WW2.
• Gliders have been at the Boulder airport since 1965.
• Barry’s agreement went back to the 1950’s. Recent legislation gives leniency to existing through-the-fence
property owners.
• Boulder failed to purchase the property earlier when they had the chance.
• Claims were made that the required modifications to make the condition “safe” (implementing an “endaround taxiway”) would cost $1 million.
NEWSLETTER QUIZ
Each month, we will ask a "question" in the newsletter. Answers can only be given if you attend the meeting
referenced in the newsletter. At the end of the year, there will be a prize to the person who has the most correct
answers. Some will be easy and some difficult.
May Question: It takes as much energy to go from a 10,000 foot altitude to sea level as it does to go from
sea level to a 10,000 foot altitude. Burning fuel provides the energy to go up. What provides the energy to get
down?
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EAA Chapter 648
Longmont, Colorado 80503
Our Next Meeting will be June 10th at 7pm at the Colorado Classic Aircraft Building at Vance Brand
Airport
May Answer: As an airplane gains altitude, it gains gravitational potential energy equal to mgh where m is
the mass of the airplane, g is the gravitational constant and h is the height above ground. ( The particular units of m,
g, and h determine the units of energy) In physics terms, the work done on the airplane as it descends is the integral
of the force of gravity times the distance. Potential energy is converted into kinetic energy. Drag and lift dissipate
this energy as the plane descends.
June Question:
Some say that if you need to descend at the maximum possible rate you should lower the
nose and go to full power. In reality, there is only one condition where this advice applies, what is it?
(Question courtesy of Bill Hannahan)
Other Items of Interest….
Santa Fe, New Mexico - Trip
The Memorial Day weekend was a
good time to take a trip together.
Connie and I departed Boulder for a
flight to Santa Fe. Filed a flight plan
and engaged Flight Following on the
flight down and the return. Planned a
stop at Twin Peaks (Walsenburg) to
load up on cheap fuel and make a
food and rest stop. A combination of
winds and absence of personal needs
allowed us to proceed non-stop in
2.77 hours. It’s difficult to see the
detail but at 50% power and 2160
rpm, we were averaging a ground speed of 154 knots at 6.8 gal/hr consumption. That gave us a 25.9 statute miles
per gallon at 174 mph. When we were considering building our plane, John Stewart who was our mentor, said we’d
get 20 miles to the gallon at 200 mph. We’re pretty close. Many thanks to Barry Barnow, who gave our last
program, for suggesting the 2150 rpm as opposed to 2350 which I was accustomed to. More efficient burning and
less engine wear. (A possible point for our next discussion)
Edge on view of the Sangre de Christos
Always an enjoyable view and an excellent landmark. We decided
to keep out of the higher ground and “dog-leg into Santa Fe. Winds
from the surface up through 12,000 were moderate with some
interesting gusts. A lot of up and down drafts
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EAA Chapter 648
Longmont, Colorado 80503
Our Next Meeting will be June 10th at 7pm at the Colorado Classic Aircraft Building at Vance Brand
Airport
passing higher ground.
Connie at the Santa Fe Airport
Learned an expensive lesson at Santa Fe. On
landing, Ground directed us to follow the truck with
the flashing light which took us to the FBO site.
Nice treatment, free coffee, etc., and a $22 tie-down
fee. When leaving, we added fuel at the self serve
pump and saw a sign “Self-Service Tie-Down, $6,”
so be advised if staying overnight at Santa Fe.
Spent the afternoon and evening in the down-town area of
Santa Fe. Got to see the end procession of a wedding and
was treated to a bit of Mariachi music. Perfect for the
setting!
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EAA Chapter 648
Longmont, Colorado 80503
Our Next Meeting will be June 10th at 7pm at the Colorado Classic Aircraft Building at Vance Brand
Airport
The shops were still open and so we decided to see some of the art work the city is known for. Can’t beat the booted
birds!!!
Check out these water dishes. I wonder if even a most intelligent pet would notice the intricate designs. And of
course, there’s an impressive amount of Native American jewelry. It’s getting hard to tell the difference between
authentic and “manufactured turquoise. Above is the real thing and it’s not cheap. One of the local up-scale shop
managers said, “Where you buy,” is the easiest way to guarantee not getting taken.
Our most important action was a “refueling
stop” at the Pink Adobe restaurant. For
anyone visiting Santa Fe and looking for a
good local-atmosphere restaurant, we
highly recommend this place. The food
was excellent, service was very good and
the beer was cold. Reminds me of the old
television ads for a national beer (I forgot
which one),
“It doesn’t get any better than this.”
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EAA Chapter 648
Longmont, Colorado 80503
Our Next Meeting will be June 10th at 7pm at the Colorado Classic Aircraft Building at Vance Brand
Airport
Since it was Sunday, a visit to the Cathedral de San Francisco was appropriate. A beautiful building, inside and out,
built around the 1880’s and a great place to sit and watch the people.
The shadows show that the sun was close to setting so after this and a doubledip strawberry ice cream cone for me, we headed back to our motel.
Cleared into Bravo
There’s an advantage to filing a flight plan and using
Flight Following that goes beyond the safety and
convenience. It’s economy. Connie was cleared into
Bravo and Delta airspace, saving us the trouble of going
around and making altitude changes. We were on a direct
leg from Meadow Lake to Boulder and Center and Denver
Approach vectored us straight through.
Have to say, the air was quite choppy on the return flight.
Twice we literally hit our heads on the canopy top, and
that’s why our ground speed was reduced to 124 knots. While inside Bravo, we got a nice side-by-side view of a
multi-engine plane passing head-on close on our left courtesy of traffic control. Once again, I have to say the Air
Traffic Controllers did a great job. Ours were polite, clear speaking and very accommodating.
A great trip with good weather and one that I’d recommend to anyone wanting a scenic and easy flight to a charming
town.
Dick and Connie Socash
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EAA Chapter 648
Longmont, Colorado 80503
Our Next Meeting will be June 10th at 7pm at the Colorado Classic Aircraft Building at Vance Brand
Airport
A final toast for the Doolittle Raiders
By Bob Greene
(This article was provided by Haiko Eichler for the chapter)
Lt. Col. James Doolittle leans over a bomb on the USS Hornet deck just before his "Raiders" began the bombing
raid on Tokyo .
In 1942 80 men bombed Tokyo in death-defying mission, a retaliation for Pearl Harbor
A case of 80 goblets is brought to their annual reunions. When a Raider dies a cup is upended.
This year, there are four left. They'll toast the Raiders with aged cognac, and end the reunions.
It's the cup of brandy that no one wants to drink. In Fort Walton Beach , Florida, the surviving Doolittle Raiders will
gather publicly for the last time. They once were among the most universally admired and revered men in the
United States. There were 80 of the Raiders in April 1942, when they carried out one of the most courageous and
heart-stirring military operations in this nation's history. The mere mention of their unit's name, in those years,
would bring tears to the eyes of grateful Americans. Now only four survive.
After Japan 's sneak attack on Pearl Harbor, with the United States reeling and wounded, something dramatic was
needed to turn the war effort around. Even though there were no friendly airfields close enough to Japan for the
United States to launch a retaliation, a daring plan was devised. Sixteen B-25s were modified so that they could
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EAA Chapter 648
Longmont, Colorado 80503
Our Next Meeting will be June 10th at 7pm at the Colorado Classic Aircraft Building at Vance Brand
Airport
take off from the deck of an aircraft carrier. This had never been tried before.. bombers being launched from a
carrier.The 16 five-man crews, under the command of Lt. Col. James Doolittle, who himself flew the lead plane off
the USS Hornet, knew that they would not be able to return to the carrier. They would have to bomb Japan and
then hope to make it to China for a safe landing. But on the day of the raid, the Japanese military detected them at
sea. The Raiders were told that they would have to take off from much farther out in the Pacific Ocean than they
had counted on. They were told that because of this they would not have enough fuel to make it to safety.
And those brave young men went anyway.
They bombed Tokyo , and then flew as far as they could. Four planes crash-landed; 11 more crews bailed out, and
three of the Raiders died. Eight more were captured; three were executed. Another died of starvation in a
Japanese prison camp. One crew made it to Russia .
The Doolittle Raid sent a message from the United States to its enemies, and to the rest of the world: We will fight.
And, no matter what it takes, we will win.
Of the 80 Raiders, 62 survived the war. They were celebrated as national heroes, models of bravery. MetroGoldwyn-Mayer produced a motion picture based on the raid; "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo," starring Spencer Tracy
and Van Johnson, which proved to be a patriotic and emotional box-office hit, and the phrase became part of the
national lexicon. In the movie-theater previews for the film, MGM proclaimed that it was presenting the story
"with supreme pride." Beginning in 1946, the surviving Raiders have held a reunion each April, to commemorate
the mission. The reunion is in a different city each year. In 1959, the city of Tucson , Arizona , as a gesture of
respect and gratitude, presented the Doolittle Raiders with a set of 80 silver goblets. Each goblet was engraved
with the name of a Raider.
Every year, a wooden display case bearing all 80 goblets is transported to the reunion city. Each time a Raider
passes away, his goblet is turned upside down in the case at the next reunion, as his old friends bear solemn
witness. Also in the wooden case is a bottle of 1896 Hennessy Very Special cognac. The year is not happenstance:
1896 was when Jimmy Doolittle was born. There has always been a plan: When there are only two surviving
Raiders, they would open the bottle, at last drink from it, and toast their comrades who preceded them in death.
As 2013 began, there were five living Raiders; then, in February, Tom Griffin passed away at age 96. What a man
he was. After bailing out of his plane over a mountainous Chinese forest after the Tokyo raid, he became ill with
malaria, and almost died. When he recovered, he was sent to Europe to fly more combat missions. He was shot
down, captured, and spent 22 months in a German prisoner of war camp.
The selflessness of these men, the sheer guts ... there was a passage in the Cincinnati Enquirer obituary for Mr.
Griffin that, on the surface, had nothing to do with the war, but that emblematizes the depth of his sense of duty
and devotion: "When his wife became ill and needed to go into a nursing home, he visited her every day. He
walked from his house to the nursing home, fed his wife and at the end of the day brought home her clothes. At
night, he washed and ironed her clothes. Then he walked them up to her room the next morning. He did that for
three years until her death in 2005."
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EAA Chapter 648
Longmont, Colorado 80503
Our Next Meeting will be June 10th at 7pm at the Colorado Classic Aircraft Building at Vance Brand
Airport
So now, out of the original 80, only four Raiders remain: Dick Cole (Doolittle's co-pilot on the Tokyo raid), Robert
Hite, Edward Saylor and David Thatcher. All are in their 90s. They have decided that there are too few of them for
the public reunions to continue. The events in Fort Walton Beach this week will mark the end. It has come full
circle; Florida 's nearby Eglin Field was where the Raiders trained in secrecy for the Tokyo mission. The town is
planning to do all it can to honor the men: a six-day celebration of their valor, including luncheons, a dinner and a
parade.
Do the men ever wonder if those of us for whom they helped save the country have tended to it in a way that is
worthy of their sacrifice? They don't talk about that, at least not around other people. But if you find yourself near
Fort Walton Beach this week, and if you should encounter any of the Raiders, you might want to offer them a word
of thanks. I can tell you from firsthand observation that they appreciate hearing that they are remembered. The
men have decided that after this final public reunion they will wait until a later date -- some time this year -- to get
together once more, informally and in absolute privacy. That is when they will open the bottle of brandy. The years
are flowing by too swiftly now; they are not going to wait until there are only two of them.
They will fill the four remaining upturned goblets…….and raise a toast to those who are gone.
Webinars
You can view EAA Webinars at: www.eaavideo.org. You can find the webinars featuring Mike Busch such as
“Leaning Basics” and “All about Spark Plugs”. Check it out….
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EAA Chapter 648
Longmont, Colorado 80503
Our Next Meeting will be June 10th at 7pm at the Colorado Classic Aircraft Building at Vance Brand
Airport
Officers:
•
•
•
•
•
•
President:
o Richard Socash
V. President:
o Ted Keryluk
Secretary:
o Connie Socash
Treasurer:
o Haiko Eichler
Tech Counselor:
o Bill Hannahan
Newsletter Editor:
o
Ed Spengler
303-499-3169
[email protected]
303-651-7669
[email protected]
720-890-7763
[email protected]
970-344-4599
[email protected]
303-618-7921
[email protected]
303-898-0321
[email protected]
Disclaimer: Be aware that as always, in past, present, and future, any communications issued by Experimental
Aircraft Association Chapter 648, regardless of format, and/or media used, which includes, but is not limited to,
this newsletter and audio/visual recordings, is presented only in the context of a clearing house of ideas, opinion
and personal experience accounts. Anyone using ideas, opinions, information, etc., does so at their own risk.
Therefore, no liability is expressed or implied by the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 648, or any of its
members. Any event announced and/or listed herein, except as noted, is done as a matter of information and
does not constitute approval, sponsorship, control, or endorsement of said event.
This newsletter is published by Chapter 648 of the Experimental Aircraft Association for the use, education, and
enjoyment of the members and others to whom it is provided. No claim is made for technical accuracy of
material presented. Editorial content is the opinion of the contributor and does not reflect the position of
Chapter 648 or the Experimental Aircraft Association. Submission of articles, comments, or inquiries for
publication in the newsletter are encouraged. Meetings are normally held on the second Monday
of each month at 7:00 P.M. The place is determined each month.
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