MONUMENTal Musings
EAA Chapter 712, LaPorte, Texas
March Meeting
The Chapter 712 March meeting will again be a Saturday event. Weather permitting, we will fly in to Wharton Regional
Airport on March 28th to visit with Carl Eldridge, who is building Onex no. 0172. Wharton (KARM) is 70 air miles east southeast of La Porte just off highway 59, traffic is 122.7 mhz. Carl's project is housed in hanger A, which is on the east side of the
airport near the approach end of runway 14. Carl has only been working on his project since November, but he is an experienced RV builder and is making astonishing progress. Plan your flights for an ETA of about 10:30 a.m. and park on the ramp
in front of hanger A (marked by an engine-less twin out front). The runway is asphalt, about 4,800 feet long. All parking is
on the east side. For lunch, Carl and some of the folks from his EAA chapter will shuttle us over to the nearby BBQ restaurant.
Wharton Regional
MONUMENTal Musings
EAA Chapter 712, LaPorte, Texas
President's Message
Don Pusch
Just after last month's newsletter came out, I got a call from Don Loggins about a Tailwind project he was about to start. He
had been looking to purchase one for several months and finally found what he wanted through the Tailwind Yahoo group.
This is a formerly flight-worthy W-8, and he plans to pick it up later this month and trailer it back from Augusta, Kansas. The
aircraft (N3064) was damaged in a ground accident in August 1986 when it was hand-propped without being properly constrained. The aircraft attempted its own solo takeoff and struck a building, sustaining damage that included a badly crumpled
wing. The repair work was started—including an upgrade to W-10 wings—but was never completed, so Don will pick up
where the previous owner left off. At present, the project will likely also include an overhaul of the Tailwind's Continental
C145 engine. Don tells me he has already spent a lot of time getting his workshop in order and studying up on Tailwinds.
Said he also appreciates the advice Ralph Mains has been giving him. Perhaps the chapter can visit Don' project later this
year.
Don Loggins' Tailwind project
One of the big news items this month was Harrison Ford's March 5th crash landing on the fairway at Penmar Golf Course in
Venice, California. Ford (the only one aboard) had just departed Santa Monica Municipal in his vintage, open-cockpit Ryan
ST-3KR (AKA PT-22) when the engine conked out. Details are still coming out, but it appears that he took off on runway 21,
lost power, and then attempted a 180° turn back onto runway 3, coming down about 800 feet from the threshold. Although
injured, he is expected to recover. He's lucky. I checked out the crash area on Google Earth, and the Penmar Golf Course
contains the only patch of clear ground within several miles of the airport. As for the aircraft, from the photos I've seen, it
appears to have been a real beauty. I love polished aluminum, and this thing had a fair amount (now somewhat mangled).
The damage seems to have resulted from a really hard—but flat—landing that sheared off the mains and the tail wheel and
MONUMENTal Musings
EAA Chapter 712, LaPorte, Texas
caused a prop strike that drove the Kinner radial into the dirt and crumpled everything forward of the cockpit. It's not a total
loss, however, and will likely fly again someday.
Before the crash
Shortly after the crash
Another item I saw in the news this month was that the so-called "Pilot's Bill of Rights II" was finally introduced in both the
Senate and House on February 26th. It appears as Senate Bill 571 and House Resolution 1062 and has a fairly large number
of co-sponsors on both sides of the aisle. The main item in both bills is an expansion of the exemption from the third-class
medical requirements, one that will cover most recreational airmen. Specifically, the bills widens the envelope to include
the piloting of aircraft up to 6,000 pounds, the carrying of up to five passengers, and the conducting of flights in both VFR
and IFR conditions up to 14,000 feet. Wow! That would just about cover any kind of flying I'd ever want to do. On the slightly
negative side, I've heard that this would be a kick in the pants to manufacturers of light sport aircraft and kits, whose potential customers might shift their interests to higher performance aircraft. Thing is, it might also breath some new life into
general aviation, which has been on life support for a long time. For more information on the bills, go to EAA’s Rally Congress
website, where you can read about them and express to Congress your support.
MONUMENTal Musings
EAA Chapter 712, LaPorte, Texas
On the home front, I'm back to work on my Onex after a
month off doing other stuff. My focus the last couple of
on the rudder-cable pulleys, rudder horn, tail wheel, and tailwhich are all linked together. As usual, the drawings did not
especially in regard to the pulleys, for which I had to
offs in order to get the alignment correct. Here's picture of
required realignment along two axes. The stand-off is
pulley bracket and the vertical channel of the bulkhead.
couple
of
weeks has been
wheel pushrod,
help
much,
fabricate standone
that
between the
That all worked out OK, but later I messed up drilling a hole in the tail-wheel push-rod plate. As a result, I went over to see
Dodie Miller at Miller's Machine & Welding in Seabrook, and he was kind enough to get out his arc welding equipment and
fill in the hole for me. (I wanted him to just move the hole over a smidgen, but he said he didn't have the right equipment. . . dang!) Turns out, Dodie has done a lot of work around the area for people I know, including Stephen Hoffman on
his Fieseler F-156 project, now in progress at Bob Wagstaff's shop in La Poste. He also did some of the work on Terry Dunham's 1951 "John Deere" Chevy pickup, the award winning show truck Terry had before he built the super-charged 1956
“John Deere” which you've probably all seen at one of the Dunham-Field fish-fries. I'm sure I'll be going back to see Dodie in
the future if (and when) I screw up something else.
My second attempt at marking and drilling the hole in the push-rod plate worked out much better, and I managed to get
back on my phantom schedule with only a couple hours' delay. As things stand now, the rudder and the tail wheel line up
well, the rudder cables and their pulleys track properly, and the overall system moves nice and smooth. All this, however,
has yet to be interfaced with the forward fuselage and the pedals, so it's too early to celebrate. I may, in fact, not know the
outcome of this effort for several more months, as it will take at least that long before I can join the fuselage sections. Next
immediate step will be to fit on the turtle back. And of course, the entire aft fuselage will have to be disassembled, deburred, partially primed, and the skins polished.
At our February birthday bash, we agreed on some upcoming meeting dates. The one for March had originally been set for
the 21st but, as mentioned above, has been rescheduled for March 28th, a fly-in meeting to Wharton Regional. The spring
fish-fry will be at Al Muller's hanger in La Porte on April 11th (combined fish-fry and meeting). For May, we are planning a
Young Eagles' event for May 23rd (rain day May 30th). We haven't picked a definite place yet, but last year's event at La
Porte worked out well, so perhaps we will be back there, possibly at Al's hanger. We are still looking for interesting things
to do and see, so if you know of something, please get in touch of me or with Mack Graves and we will follow up.
Addendum
Don Loggins
I had just purchased Tailwind plans from Aircraft Spruce and was looking at the TailwindForum web site. Here builders can
get information about building the W-10 Tailwind.
And, as I was reading down, there was a blog that had a Tailwind for sale for $4,000 with these photos of the project and a
phone number. I called the guy in Augusta, Kansas and he said he had just put the ad up. He told me about it and put me
down as the first to call.
MONUMENTal Musings
EAA Chapter 712, LaPorte, Texas
The owner had died and this fellow was selling it for the family. The C-145 needs an overhaul, the fuselage needs covering.
Instruments, fuel tank and wheel pants are there and the wings need the top skins. He had the fuselage sandblasted and
primed; had a little surface rust.
The seller is in EAA and owned a couple of planes before. He said he has had a lot of calls on the Tailwind. I am driving up
March 27th to pick it up.
Returning to the Air
Mark Barlow
Hi, guys!
After too many years to want to remember, I have again flown my Bonanza. The weather wasn’t great on Saturday but I
had an hour of flying about and landing in the old girl. I was accompanied by my transition training instructor and fellow
Bonanza owner, Debby Rihn-Harvey (multiple US aerobatic champion and US world competitor), so I was in good
hands. After flying a Citabria, a Decathlon, a Cherokee and a Mooney, it definitely felt “bigger” and not nearly as responsive as the aerobatic types. Lots of power, though, and the overhauled engine/prop combo was very smooth. I was indicating 170 mph at 23”/2300 rpm flying down low so I am sure that I have picked up some cruise performance as well. I do
need to work on my patterns, though! The oleos are amazingly forgiving but I need my brain to work a little faster again.
Hope all is well with you,
Mark
Free to a good home
A friend is trying to open space in his hanger at Dunham Field. He has the following for anyone who can use it:
A/C Spruce plywood
A/C Cypress strips
Call Randy @ (281)213-4581 or [email protected]
Addendum to last months’ article on ADS-B
Yesterday I found an article which centered on “existing equipment” in our flying airplanes as it applies to future
ADS-B installations. It very clearly states that our installed Mode C transponders will work just fine as long as we
MONUMENTal Musings
EAA Chapter 712, LaPorte, Texas
are installing the 978 MHz UAT transceiver. Since very few of us, even Valerie in her Tailwind, will be flying in Class
A airspace that is all we will need. This news means that the installation will be that much cheaper, which is not
to say cheap, than it originally seemed. There also seem to be new, non TSOed, devices coming out now for our
homebuilts that integrate a WAAS GPS with the transceiver almost monthly. By the time the mandate is upon us
we should have suitable equipment available to be able to install exactly the level of compliance that fits our
budgets. I’m not looking forward to it, but now it seems almost bearable.
Editorial Comments
Alan Arnold
Since the last newsletter I have received the Shock Monster assemblies and installed, pressured them up, taxied
around, adjusted, taxied, adjusted, etc. The starting pressure as recommended by Tony @TK1 Racing is 180psi.
He also said Steve Henry, his first customer, was at 150psi. I started at 170. I am now at 160 and might go eventually to 150 as well. The only way to adjust the pressure properly is to lift the airplane off the ground completely
so the regulator on the N2 bottle can be used to set the actual, resting, pressure. The indicated pressure changes
dramatically when the weight of the airplane is added.
The installation now has 6 landings and has carried its’ first passenger, Ralph Mains. He (says) he likes them. ;-) I
like them so far. They aren’t as stiff as the bungees and I don’t think I have bounced much since installation, but
the weather has kept me from giving them a really good test, as in a series of stop-n-goes on several different
airstrips.
Sun-n-Fun is coming! Like I told Doug last year, we don’t always go but this year will be 27 years that I’ve attended.
And Doug, if you don’t go this year I’ll be ahead of you!  Those aren’t consecutive years but still you can tell I
like it. In contrast I have only been to Oshkosh 7 times, and those trips were a long time ago. Maybe this year I’ll
find a really cheap, light weight, easy to install, cheap, power adder for the Rotax 912. Maybe some of that stuff
they found in Michael Waltrips’ intake manifold a couple of years ago. You never know.
Blaze on guard! Note the $10 Momentum airplane stands
Installed, inflated, adjusted, and ready for the first flight
MONUMENTal Musings
EAA Chapter 712, LaPorte, Texas
Calendar of Events
1st Saturday, Fly-in Lunch, Leesville, LA (L39) EAA Chapter 1356
2nd Saturday, Lufkin, TX, The Cook’s Choice Fly-in, Angelina County, (KLFK)
April, June, August, October.
2nd Saturday, Tiki Bar Fly-in, Crystal Beach TX (Bolivar Peninsula/Galveston
TX): Courtesy of Chapter 12’s Dan Lafon, [email protected]: Passing
this along for those who might be interested, I believe Coda Riley has made
arrangements for a monthly breakfast fly-in at the Tiki Beach Bar and Grill
starting at 8am.
2nd Saturday, Kingsland TX. You and your friends are always welcome at EAA 889
(44TE), Kingsland, Texas. Our meetings are every SECOND SATURDAY OF EACH
MONTH (WITH ROTATION) - PANCAKES at 9:00a.m one month - alternating
with grilled HAMBURGERS the next month at 1100a.m. Please spread the word and
come visit us soon.
2nd Sunday - Bulverde, TX. Bulverde Airpark (1T8). Anderson Aviation Lunch Fly-In. Join
Anderson Aviation at Bulverde Airpark at Noon for our monthly lunch fly-in. Food and
Refreshments will be provided. Fly-In or Drive-In for a time to gather with other pilots
from the area. See You There! Contact Thomas Anderson, (830)438-4359.
MONUMENTal Musings
EAA Chapter 712, LaPorte, Texas
3rd Saturday, Fish-fry Lunch, Disc. Fuel, Jasper TX (KJAS)
4th Saturday, Fly-in Breakfast, 8-11am., Tyler, TX, Pounds Field (KTYR)
$100 Hamburgers
Lone Star Executive Airport (CXO) Conroe, TX. Black Walnut Cafe atop the new Galaxy FBO. See the
link below for menus and photos. Indoor and outdoor seating with view of runway 14/32. (936) 202-2824
Brenham, TX (11R) - Southern Flyer Restaurant in terminal ... 979-836-5462
The Picket House, which is in Woodville Tyler County (09R). It’s about a mile walk from the airport
or if you call them, they will send someone over to pick you up. Its family style all you can eat fried
chicken, mashed potatoes, collard greens, peach cobbler.
Airport Diner - Located next door to the Hangar Hotel, in Fredericksburg, Texas.
Fly in to Fredericksburg, Texas, Gillespie County Airport, T82.
The Hangar Hotel is a replica of a WWII aircraft hangar. The restaurant resembles a classic
1940's railroad car.
See http://www.hangarhotel.com/
“Ensure you call ahead to the Diner to check on hours as they sometime change on the
weekend due to catering requirements. (830) 997-9990
Mustang Beach Airport (KRAS) AKA: Port Aransas, TX
Numerous outstanding restaurants less than 2 miles away. Trolley/bus service, cab service, or stay
overnight at Amelia's Landing aviation themed hotel and have access to their free courtesy car. Call
888-671-8088 for details. www.AmeliasLanding.com
Call before you go!
Links that may be of interest to our members
www.funplacestofly.com
https://www.airnav.com/
http://www.avweb.com/
MONUMENTal Musings
EAA Chapter 712, LaPorte, Texas
http://generalaviationnews.com/
http://www.redbullairrace.com/en_US
http://blackwalnutcafe.com/runway1432/
www.sportairrace.org
http://www.theflightline.tv/
http://www.eaa.org/calendar/
http://www.wingsforum.com/
http://www.oopslist.com/
Position
President
Vice President /
Program Chairman
Assistant Program
Chairman
Treasurer
Flight Adviser
Newsletter Editor
Technical Counselor
Young Eagles
Coordinator
Name
Don
Pusch
Mack
Graves
René
Oostrum
Jared
Ryan
Valerie
Vaughn
Alan
Arnold
Richard
Payne
Al Muller
Telephone
e-mail link
281-828-0378
[email protected]
281-843-2244
[email protected]
713-489-5432
[email protected]
713-299-9565
[email protected]
281-723-6249
[email protected]
281-814-0898
[email protected]
832-385-0630
[email protected]
281-639-1031
[email protected]
Herb
281-777-0915
[email protected]
Cottle
LaPorteMunicipalAirport (T41) aeronautical information from airnav.com Click Here
Chapter Fisherman