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Chairman: Irene Engard 714-658-2624
Vice Chair: Pat Prentiss 951-533-3341
Past Chair: Rene’ Perrigoue
OC99s website: http:\\oc99s.sws99s.org
December 2014
Calendar of Events
NO December Business Meeting
Dec 9 Tues 6pm—Airport Appreciation
*** RSVP with Colleen: 714-757-2051
(date or time might possibly change)
Dec 10
99s Holiday Party
(see flyer for details )
Jan 7, 2015 Business Meeting—Signature
Jan 14, 2015 General Meeting—Helistream Tour
Jan 24,2015 Southwest Section 99s
Winter Workshop KCMA 9—4:30
http://ninetynines.net/swswm/
Apr 30-May 3, 2015 SWS Meeting Temecula
“Flying to the Stars”
Registration & details:
http://ninetynines.net/sws99sCC/
June 5-10, 2015 International Conference —
Munich, Germany
http://www.ninety-nines.org/index.cfm/conference.htm
Secretary: Carol Bennett
Treasurer: Lianne Oakes
949-212-5690
949-476-2572
OC 99s facebook page: facebook.com/OC99s
Oh what fun we will have at the
Orange County 99s Christmas Party
Wednesday, December 10 -- 6:30 p.m.
5:00 p.m. for those decorating a table.
The meal is always most delicious when
our members bring their favorites.
There is no charge -- however we do need
you to
call or email Becky as soon as possible so we
can plan a great party.
Please let Becky Valdez know what you plan to
bring so that we don’t have all desserts!
[email protected] or 714-306-2329
Our annual Christmas party is always so much
fun. You won't want to miss it.
Location:
Discovery Room--San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary
5 Riparian View, Irvine CA 92612
Unwrapped toys will be collected for the
Orangewood Children's Home as is our tradition
Message from the Left Seat
Wow where did the year go? December already.
Shopping lists, Christmas card lists, event planning lists, agendas. I hope our 99s Holiday Party is on your checklist. Based on the
checklist that Becky, Shavonne (my work wife) and I have created, it will be jolly good fun. Of course with a surprise or two in store
(it’s on the list).
One of the basics of flying that I was taught was to always depend on your checklist. It’s best to use the one specific to the craft
you are flying. Along this mindset, I have developed packing check lists – each labeled by destination or type.…Hawaii….Costa Rica….camping….kayaking….general travel. Checklists can save your life or your vacation.
My “to do before I go” checklist makes sure all those little tasks that I promised to do get handled or assigned.
I live by checklists. At business and general meetings, you will see me with an agenda. It helps me stay focused and cover all the
important business of our chapter.
One of the things I like about a checklist is that you get to check things off as they are addressed or accomplished. Sometimes I use
“strikethrough”, sometimes a star and if it was a really big accomplishment, I write “VICTORY” through the task.
Dear chapter, your help is needed to check off the following items in my “things I want to accomplish while serving as your Chapter
Chairman” list:

Plan ahead and have at least 20 members attend Spring Section in Temecula.

Serve our community and WIN the Public Relations or Aviation and Space Education Award (which will be awarded in Temecula and we will all be there to accept it).

Mentor another member on the volunteerism side of our chapter. It would be very healthy for our chapter if at least two people knew how to create all the wonderful things we do.

I know we race through our days just struggling to get things done. In the press of life, it’s hard to take the time to stop and reflect
on what works and what doesn’t. It’s harder still to take the time to document it. Our chapter is successful due to the many seasoned members who have handled activities on a continuing basis. They don’t even need a checklist. My request is for you to
take the time to create a checklist. It would be the first step in securing the future and continuation of our great chapter.
Let’s have fun together & create more “VICTORIES” for our chapter.
Happy Holidays
Irene
Thank you – Thank you – Thank you to all who created “Stockings for the Troops”
I challenged you as a chapter to exceed lasts years count of 70 stockings. How clever of our members to have created
99 wonderful stockings that will lift the spirits of each recipient.
The stockings were gathered and prepared for transport to the USS Midway in
San Diego by members, Patty Murray, Colleen Handrahan, Shirley McFall and
Pat Prentiss.
Patty and Colleen delivered our contributions to welcoming arms (okay –
really a welcoming container) to the delight of the military coordinator. They
delivered six 33 gallon black heavy duty bags with a ton (or so) of stockings.
We will have our photo and information
on the 99s and our on chapter in the
Midway Magazine. Patty’s sister in law,
Louisa, who lives in San Diego, looks
forward to helping each year.
To quote the driving force behind this – Patty Murray “It has been a great project
that our 99s and others who have heard about it have enjoyed being part of, our
stockings for the troops.”
My hat is off to all of you (or maybe I’ve lost my head).
Irene
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Year End Planning—Pay your $20 Chapter dues (which are voluntary)
Prior to December 31, 2014 for a 2014 tax write-off.
Please make your check payable to the Orange County 99s, and send to our Treasurer:
Lianne Oakes, 1400 Quail St., Ste. 220, Newport Beach, CA 92660
Paying chapter dues is now available thru Pay Pal. Simply go to the website:
http://oc99s.sws99s.org/
Membership: Diane Titterington-Machado
Webmaster:
Scholarships:
Barbara Ward &
Eleanor Todd
Publicity & PR: Ewurabena Mensa-Wood
Seminars:
Pat Prentiss
Fly– Ins:
Colleen Handrahan
Facebook:
Rene’ Perrigoue
Historian:
Bev Allen
Aviation & Space Education: — open—
Hospitality:
Cheryl Cotman
PT Distribution:
Diane Myers
2014 Holiday Party:
PT Editor:
Diane Myers &
Rene’ Perrigoue
Arlene Wilske
99 News:
Shirley McFall
Becky Valdez
2015 POY Banquet:
** Volunteers needed!!
Join us for our annual John Wayne Airport Appreciation night!
We are pleased to announce that this year the Orange County Ninety-Nines will continue the season of
giving by delivering cookies to those individuals who help to keep us safe.
On Tuesday, December 9th at 6:00 pm, (yes, the night before our Holiday party) the Orange County
Chapter will gather at the end of Paularino Ave (John Wayne Airport Administration Building parking lot)
just outside the gate below the control tower to distribute holiday treats.
Those on our list this year include the airport fire station (Orange County Fire Department), the aviation
division of the Orange County Sheriff's Department, and one other deeply appreciated resident on the
airport, to thank them all for the services they provide throughout the year.
For those of you who have never participated in this event, it is truly a lot of fun and those we visit have
always been very appreciative and hospitable. In years past, we are sometimes fortunate enough to be
provided short tours of that organization’s facilities.
To be part of this holiday's spirit of giving, all you need to do is:

RSVP for this event (required)
Please contact:
Colleen Handrahan 714-757-2051 text or call
Put together 3 plates of cookies, any kind. (covered please - plates cannot be returned)
Arrive on time at the designated location so you can be escorted through the gate onto JWA.
If you have a KSNA AOA badge and plan to attend, please bring your AOA badge
so you can help all who attend gain easier access as a group.
Orange County Chapter of the Ninety-Nines
Holiday Celebration
Wednesday December 10, 2014
5:00—table decoration
6:30—Holiday Hangar Flying
7:00—Dinner is served (Pot Luck)
Bring a dish to share (4-5 servings).
Let Becky Valdez know ([email protected] or 714-306-2329)

what you are bringing (so we don’t end up with all desserts)

who is coming with you (so we can have enough chairs)

Thank you to the 8 members who have volunteered to decorate a
table. Be sure to have your table ready by 6:30pm.
Keeping with tradition—unwrapped gifts (toddlers to age 18) will
be collected for Orangewood Children’s Home.
Location: Discovery Room—San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary
aka Duck Club—5 Riparian View, Irvine CA
It is a test of your navigation skills to arrive on time to this fun event.
Do plan on attending. We have a special surprise in store for you.
Map and directions in this issue.
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Ninety-Nines honored by San Diego Air & Space Museum
At its 2014 induction ceremonies and celebration on Saturday evening, November 1, the Ninety-Nines were
welcomed into the ranks of some of the world’s most impressive aviation greats at the San Diego Air & Space
Museum’s Legends of Flight Hall of Fame. The 200 some inductees to date include pilots, crew members,
inventors, business leaders, designers, visionaries, and space pioneers who have been at the forefront of the
human endeavor in air and space.
Accepting the honor on behalf of the organization and all its women pilot members was former international
president of the Ninety-Nines Pat Prentiss who was deeply touched by the moment and rightly proud of our
group. She was joined at the lectern by Fran Bera, a “legend” and hall-of-famer in her own right, having been
inducted several years ago. In the audience were at least two dozen members of the Ninety-Nines, basking in
the glow of the honor and the attention given the inductees.
The museum’s recognition includes a “portrait” of the honoree along with
a plaque stating his/her significance and accomplishments. Our portrait
includes ten different women of achievement; Amelia Earhart, Emily Howell Warner, Fran Bera, Pat Prentiss, Gene Nora Jessen, Eileen Collins, Nicole Malachowski, Jacqueline Cochran, Julie Clark and Nancy Byrd Walton.
For the ceremony, each inductee was given a five-to-seven minute slide
presentation that made everyone present sit in awe and amazement of
their accomplishments. The one for the Ninety-Nines gave some of the
details of its founding history—the reason for its name—as well as the flying events it became famous for and several of its leading ladies. It was
fully noted that our purpose continues to be mutual support of women in
aviation through scholarships and fellowship with each other.
This year’s class of inductees included African-American woman aviator Bessie Coleman, of whom the NinetyNines is also proud even though she died before the Ninety-Nines was formed. Her niece was present to
accept the honor and told the audience that she has established a flying school for black would-be aviators in
her—and Bessie’s—home town of Chicago. Other members of the class were five outstanding men as well as
everyone’s essential “tool,” WD-40, a decades-long San Diego company and star performer.
The San Diego Air & Space Museum is a top attraction in San Diego and fittingly chronicles the many contributions and records set by individuals and companies in aviation in its area of Southern California. The local
chapter of Ninety-Nines has partnered with the museum in numerous ways through the years, and now the
Ninety-Nines is recognized on its walls and among its many heroes.
(Left to right—the participants and inductees)
San Diego Air & Space Museum President and
CEO Jim Kidrick, Gary Ridge (WD-40 Company),
Joe Engle (former X-15 pilot), Fitz Fulton (retired Air
Force Pilot), Pat Prentiss (99s), Roger Schaufele
(aviation engineer), Gigi Coleman (Grand niece of
inductee Bessie Coleman), Brad Bernard (Boeing) &
Jack Dailey (retired Marine Corps General & pilot).
To learn more about all the inductees:
San Diego Union Article.
Our November 19, New Members--All Members Meeting was a great success with lots of energy and new faces. We
welcome Julie Morrison, Sunny Reifel and Jen Doidge to their first 99 meeting. These three quickly fit in with our group
and we look forward to having them in our chapter.
Starting Left: Julie Morrison, Sunny Reifel, Jen Doidge, Diane Titterington-Machado
Lena Wilson, Lina Shi, Jennifer Allen (floating head, Chairman Irene Engard)
As of this meeting, Julie Morrison has eight flight hours with her flight instructor, Carol Bennett. Julie's enthusiasm is
infectious and her description of her first on-the-field experience brought back memories to many of us. We will be
cheering you on Julie and will enjoy following your progress.
Alaska Airline pilot Sunny Reifel flies most of the time. When she isn't flying the B-737 out of LAX for the airlines, she
will soon be teaching her true love--aerobatics--with 5-G at SNA. We will have our very own 99 aerobatic instructor
for upset and aerobatic training. It's a great coup for SNA to have this enthusiastic and experienced instructor on our
field.
Jen Doidge is another who probably never sits still. She is a SkyWest Airline pilot flying out of LAX, a scuba instructor,
a snowboard instructor, and she races boats. She has flown a list of celebrity who's who in her corporate flying days.
She has a personality that makes you want to join her on something adventurous.
Lena Wilson is one of our new pilots as of August. She has been treating her various family members to flights and
hopes to get her tailwheel endorsement shortly.
Lina Shi is very close to getting her PPL, with her checkride scheduled just weeks away. We know she will do a great
job and have her license for Christmas.
Jennifer Allen is taking ground school classes at Orange Coast Community College while she waits for a resolution to a
medical certificate issue. All fingers crossed, she will soon have her medical.
We were happy to see our Horizon Airline pilot Rene' Perrigoue. Juggling motherhood while going through training,
she definitely deserves a Wonder Woman T-shirt. We celebrate your success, Rene'. Congratulations!
Thank you, Carol Bennett, for generously hosting the meeting in your beautiful home.
With each of these meetings, we learn more about our regular members too. Colleen Handrahan, Celia Vanderpool,
Andrea Rinebold, Patty Murray, Carol Bennett, Diane Myers, Shirley McFall, Pam Hengsteler, Pat Noyes Prentiss and
Linda Eldridge shared a bit about their flying. Such an impressive group of women gathered in one room, I'm proud
to be associated with all of you.
Diane Titterington-Machado, Membership Chairman
GONE !
11-13 November 2014
We did it again. This time when the Naughty Nines headed north, the sunshine and arctic cold
front forced us spiraling down into Seattle, WA at KSEA. Our rental car had Kansas license plates
reminding us of OC 99 Vicki Anderson, who was once a scarecrow in a Section
Meeting skit. Vicki was with us in spirit, as we drove to the Inn at the Market by
Post Alley and Pike Place Market. We enjoyed a little warming of the visa cards
in temps of 38°, followed by a delicious commemorative dinner at the infamous Pink Door. Hard to believe
that not one of us was tempted to try out the trapeze
Celia & Susan & “Kansas”
swing across ceiling in the dining room! We must be
getting older. But the champagne was
delicious, and the toast was to our Veteran
fathers, all those who defend us, and to
Trap
those 99s who have flown onward.
ez
Pike Place Market
e—
The most spectacular day was the next one. Walking in chilly 25-39°
temperatures felt great after 6 months of SoCal heat. We spent the
morning dodging for warmth into art museums, quaint shops, and the
Brooklyn restaurant for chowder.
After lunch we were met at Boeing by Warren Tichenor II, a former
student of Captain Myers. With an outstanding education (USC and
Cambridge universities) earning degrees in aerospace engineering and
economics, Warren simultaneously acquired a fist full of flight ratings
and logged aircraft time that makes most of his peer group drool.
Brooklyn Restaurant—chowder & wine
Warren has had leadership and work experience success that seems
far beyond his 25 years, along with honors, awards, skill certifications and most importantly, ME
and MEI sign offs from our own Diane Myers! It is wonderful to think she may have taught a
future president of this country to fly!
We suited up in gorgeous yellow neon safety jackets with cheery
badges, and bright goggles, and then were treated to a very special
private tour of the flight test engineering department at Boeing
(KBFI) which included the ramp and the hangars. No pictures were
allowed which was extremely difficult for one or two of us, but what
we were fortunate to see and hear is unforgettable. Probably the
best part was the sense of pride and teamwork we saw at all levels;
all ages of employees were enthusiastic, and thrilled to share their
part of the process of flight test. Warren proudly sported us about,
patiently explaining all of the current programs, and then met us for
a delicious Italian dinner. We are certain to be hearing more about
this wonderful, humble, accomplished young man.
Diane, Warren, & Celia outside Boeing
Onward and upward! An old bold pilot once said, “It may be turkey one day and feathers the next”,
so enjoy each day, and those around you.
Happy Holidays!
Celia Vanderpool
Diane Myers
SusanTheurkauf
Got Air? (Good Air, That Is…)
Now that cooler weather is upon us and we’re probably flying with cabin heaters on during the flight, I
thought I’d re-visit the issue of carbon monoxide and give you a few facts about what it is and why we as
pilots need to be especially concerned about avoiding it. To understand better how this works, please put
your “science hat” on, and read further. 
Carbon Monoxide (also known in chemical shorthand as “CO”) is a somewhat chemically “unstable”
molecule made up of one atom of Carbon and one of Oxygen. These molecules are very ready and willing
to make another, stronger chemical bond with some other molecule or atom that will make
them more stable. (This may sound familiar to those who had high school chemistry!)
Usually, that’s another Oxygen atom, and the molecule becomes Carbon Dioxide or CO 2,
which is part of every breath we exhale. Anyway, back to “CO”. Once the CO molecules
make that additional bond, they’ll become stable and quite content to “stick like glue” to
whatever it was they bonded with.
Like most of the rest of the “air” around us, CO is tasteless, odorless, and colorless, so you get no initial clue
as to whether you’re breathing it or not. Mostly, CO is a by-product of combustion. It’s one of the things that
make up smoke and smog - so well known to all of us here in SoCal. Internal combustion engines, including
aircraft engines (jets, too), are major producers of CO. Normally, when things are operating according to
design specifications, the CO is all vented out the engine exhaust pipe and kept away from people.
That said, I now take a trip to the world of human physiology long enough to talk about our red blood cells
and the fact that they circulate into our lungs just looking to bond up with some oxygen molecules. They
take this oxygen back out of the lungs and off to our brains and the rest of our body parts which all need
oxygen to keep going. The more of these oxygen molecules (usually coming in “chemically stable” pairs in
the form of O2) that are available, the better, which is why we carry supplemental oxygen at high altitudes
where air/oxygen molecules in general are scarcer, or we pressurize the cabin to pack them in tighter and
make sure there are as many oxygen molecules available as we need.
Because of its somewhat “unstable” nature, CO will stick to blood cells in a chemical bond 200 times
stronger than regular oxygen (O2) in your lungs. There’s no contest. CO wins every time. If it’s in your
lungs, it’ll be in your bloodstream as quick as your next breath. It’s also completely useless to your body – it
can’t be processed into useable energy like O2 can. CO disables and eventually kills by
attaching itself to so many blood cells that there are not enough cells left to carry the O2 the
body needs. Pretty soon, all the red cells are glued together with CO, and the brain doesn’t
have enough oxygen to be able to think straight any more. If you’re lucky, before it’s too
late, it’ll make you feel sick or hypoxic so you’ll realize what might be happening to you.
Otherwise, you just lose consciousness and “bye-bye”. NOT a good option!
The only way for the body to get rid of CO is for the affected blood cells to die. The ER will treat suspected
CO victims with a blood transfusion. What that means is that “carbon monoxide poisoning” is just that –
poisoning - and it isn’t something you can “fix” while you’re flying. It takes a human body about 72 hours to
recover. Unlike altitude hypoxia, you can’t just go to a lower altitude or use your oxygen system and be “all
better”. It takes 3 DAYS to replace those contaminated blood cells, and that’s why it’s so important to
prevent CO poisoning. It’s not “fixable”, except with a transfusion.
How can you protect yourself? Well, cracks in the exhaust system are usually the ways CO can get into
airplane cabins. Most of our single-engine airplane heaters warm the air to heat the cabin by passing it over
the outside of the muffler. This method works really well, but it is vital to check on a regular basis that there
are no cracks in that muffler. Given the age of most of our planes, the metal can be fatigued and crack more
easily than when it was new. In flight, shut the heater off if you suspect it is causing trouble, and open any
vents/windows that you can to dilute the CO as much as possible, and land asap. Don’t count on being
able to smell exhaust fumes. BTW, do you take a warm jacket when you fly? If the heater is off, you may
need it!
Probably the best thing you can do to protect yourself, after good maintenance, is to put a
warning device in your cockpit. There are several different devices that can be bought to warn
of CO presence in the cockpit. They range from very simple to rather high-tech. You can buy
an inexpensive little card that has a specially treated disc mounted on it, and if CO is present, it
turns black. These cards work well as long as you remember to give a glance now and then during your
flight, and replace them at their expiration date. They are also small and you can stick them just about
anywhere. If you rent, you can stick it to your clipboard or something you take with you and can keep within
sight. There are other much more sophisticated devices that act similar to like the smoke detectors in your
house. They will measure the CO and set off an aural alarm if too much is present. These are a bit more
convenient in that they don’t necessarily require you to scan them. There are also some very scientific
detectors that will give a continuous readout of the ratio of CO to air molecules in PPM (parts per million).
As a last emergency option, an oxygen system with a mask (vs. the nasal cannula tube which won’t seal you
off from the CO) can help if CO presence is suspected. Sealing yourself off from the CO and breathing pure
O2 will help your body get as much oxygen as it is still capable of absorbing. It won’t cure you, but it may
keep things from getting worse. Of course, it goes without saying that you need to land as soon as
practicable and get yourself out of the CO-polluted cockpit! You also need to make sure the aircraft exhaust
system is thoroughly inspected, and repaired if necessary, before it flies again.
So, there’s my little aviation science message. It’s not meant to be a “Chicken Little” story, but just a bit of
useful information that might help you have a safer flight. And that’s what it’s all about!
Have a safe flight!
Claudia Ferguson
San Fernando Valley 99s, Safety Chairman
Aviation Safety Counselor
© CK Ferguson 2014
Short Final
We did not have digital radar in the TRACON 25 years ago when I was an air traffic controller. With our
analog radar, spring and fall waterfowl migrations of ducks, geese, and cranes always created a cluster of
raw radar returns on the scope. It was one of those days when the scope was almost white with more raw
radar returns coming from flocks of birds than from transponder-equipped or non-transponder-equipped
aircraft returns (of which there were and still are MANY in Alaska!). It is always a long flight to Alaska, and
the captain was chatty, with a sense of humor. Delta checks on with the standard information arriving the
airport. ... DAL 123: "XXX approach, this is DAL 123 descending out of 8,000 with information Bravo. Direct
the VOR." ... Approach (me): "DAL123, XXX approach. Traffic 12 o'clock, five miles opposite direction,
altitude unknown. Multiple targets, most likely waterfowl." ... DAL: "Approach, how do you know that? Do
they have a transponder?" ... Approach: "DAL 123, no sir, but they are squawking!" -- Dan Brady
SURF AIR EXPANDS SERVICE TO CARLSBAD WITH DELIVERY OF NEW PILATUS PC-12NG
AIRCRAFT
All-You-Can-Fly Membership Airline Increases Value of Membership with Expanded Offering
(Santa Monica, CA) – October 4, 2014 – SurfAir, the nation’s first All-You-Can-Fly private membership airline,
announced today that it will expand its service to Carlsbad, California, beginning November 18. This expansion occurs in
conjunction with the delivery of the first three new Pilatus PC-12NG of Surf Air’s recent order of 65 aircraft to be delivered
over the next five years. As part of that order, Surf Air will take delivery of an additional nine aircraft during 2015.
The inaugural flight of SurfAir into CRQ was flown by our own Arlene Wilske. The media was
there to capture the moment, along with invited guests, including Arlene’s parents who
drove down from Santa Barbara (!!) and OC 99 Diane Myers, to capture the moment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujkK6Wp-Xos
Arlene's inaugural flight into CRQ - smooth landing, of course!
(I brought my hand-held to listen to the tower & SurfAir’s first officer on comm.)
The media is ready to record this event
Arlene’s very proud parents,
Llew & Marilyn
SurfAir executives on the ramp
Captain Arlene Wilske & her SurfAir airplane
Here she comes (SurfAir’s landing light)
San Diego Fox News:
http://fox5sandiego.com/2014/11/17/surf-air-attempts-to-disrupt-the-way-we-fly/
Arlene shows off the panel on her beautiful BRAND NEW airplane!
Marilyn, Captain Arlene Wilske, Llew, & Diane Myers.
Marilyn & Llew have invited the OC 99s to fly into SBA—
and have promised us a very warm welcome, by taking us
to their yacht club!
A
Fuel Stop!
Thanksgiving flight to Lubbock, TX.
On Tuesday morning, Nov 25, Ralph & I departed CRQ for Lubbock, TX, to share Thanksgiving with his family.
We made our customary fuel stop at St Johns, AZ (in the NE part of the state—friendly airport manager and cheap
fuel). After my (very soft) landing, Ralph got out and announced that we had lost the left brake—
hydraulic fluid was under the left main gear.
Suddenly hydraulic fluid gushed out and the left strut collapsed!
The left brake was fine, but the strut dropped from 5-6” to 0”.
Grounded in St Johns—NO on-field maintenance, NO rental cars, and only a couple
of dingy motels. The airport manager gave us the names of two maintenance
guys at other airports—we called both. One called back from Taylor, an hour
drive away. We put him in touch with our maintenance guy at CRQ who sent
pages of the MX manual and parts manual, and ordered the necessary parts.
Gary, the airport manager, gave us the keys to the loaner pick-up, and we drove to Show Low (an hour) to find a nice
new HI Express. We had dinner at the Cattlemen’s, along with a (needed) margarita. Wednesday morning we
drove to Taylor to meet Ray, the maintenance guy who would fix (hopefully) our airplane. The part arrived at Ray’s
shop at 1pm and he drove the hour to St Johns, with jacks and lots of tools. Ray’s father, Ray Sr. (former heavy
equipment maintenance) arrived at the airport to assist the repair.
Ooops—one large obstacle—with the left wing lowered, the jack would not fit under the
wing! So we scrounged wood from the airport and lined it up behind the left wheel,
and all pushed the wheel up onto the wood. Ray & Ray Sr. jacked up the
airplane and went to work. As many of you know, airplane wheels are MUCH more
complicated than auto wheels—many parts that are difficult to access!
Field repairs are much more difficult than shop repairs because the tools and supplies
may not be in the truck, which is the work bench!
Ray jacking up the left wing, tire on wood
Airplane on jacks, Ray Sr., Ray, & Ralph at
the truck work station
Ray Sr, Ray, & Ralph under the left wingLeft tire removed
Ray & Ray Sr. removing the bad O-ring
and installing the new O-ring on the strut
The O-rings and snap rings were very difficult to remove and even more difficult to reinstall. Finally the strut was
repaired and with everyone’s assistance replaced under the wing. The wheel was mounted, and the brakes (which
are in several parts) replaced. Hydraulic fluid was slowly pumped into the strut, followed by nitrogen. These last
items were accomplished by flashlight and car headlights! Finally, the airplane could be lowered from the jacks.
After collecting all his tools, Ray was on his way back to his home airport,
and we were on our way to Lubbock, taking off into a black hole, and
pushing against 65kt quartering headwinds!
Thanksgiving was indeed a day to celebrate this year!
Story & photos by Diane Myers
AN AVIATION CHRISTMAS CAROL
On my first day of flight training my instructor gave to me,
A landing in a spruce tree.
On my second day of flight training my instructor gave to me,
Two run-up checks,
And a landing in a spruce tree.
On my third day of flight training my instructor gave to me,
Three radio calls,
Two run-up checks,
And a landing in a spruce tree.
On my fourth day of flight training my instructor gave to me,
Four departure stalls,
Three radio calls,
Two run-up checks,
And a landing in a spruce tree.
On my fifth day of flight training my instructor gave to me,
FIVE TOUCH AND GO’S,
Four Departure stalls,
Three radio calls,
Two run-up checks,
And a landing in a spruce tree.
On my sixth day of flight training my instructor gave to me,
Six hours holding,
FIVE TOUCH AND GO’S,
Four Departure stalls,
Three radio calls,
Two run-up checks,
And a landing in a spruce tree.
On my seventh day of flight training my instructor gave to me,
Seven gliding spirals,
Six hours holding,
FIVE TOUCH AND GO’S,
Four Departure stalls,
Three radio calls,
Two run-up checks,
And a landing in a spruce tree.
On my eighth day of flight training my instructor gave to me,
Eight missed approaches,
Seven gliding spirals,
Six hours holding,
FIVE TOUCH AND GO’S,
Four Departure stalls,
Three radio calls,
Two run-up checks,
And a landing in a spruce tree.
By R. Degenhardt, CFI (Alaska 99s)
On my ninth day of flight training my instructor gave to me,
Nine ILS’s,
Eight missed approaches,
Seven gliding spirals,
Six hours holding,
FIVE TOUCH AND GO’S,
Four Departure stalls,
Three radio calls,
Two run-up checks,
And a landing in a spruce tree.
On my tenth day of flight training my instructor gave to me,
Ten engine failures,
Nine ILS’s,
Eight missed approaches,Seven gliding spirals,
Six hours holding,
FIVE TOUCH AND GO’S,
Four Departure stalls,
Three radio calls,
Two run-up checks,
And a landing in a spruce tree.
On my eleventh day of flight training my instructor gave to me,
Eleven short field landings,
Ten engine failures,
Nine ILS’s,
Eight missed approaches,
Seven gliding spirals,
Six hours holding,
FIVE TOUCH AND GO’S,
Four Departure stalls,
Three radio calls,
Two run-up checks,
And a landing in a spruce tree.
On my twelfth day of flight training my instructor gave to me,
Twelve hours ground school,
Eleven short field landings,
Ten engine failures,
Nine ILS’s,
Eight missed approaches,
Seven gliding spirals,
Six hours holding,
FIVE TOUCH AND GO’S,
Four Departure stalls,
Three radio calls,
Two run-up checks,
And a landing in a spruce tree
(From the Utah Chapter of the 99s, December 2008 Newsletter)
Happy December Birthday
Dec 27 Ewurabena Mensa-Wood
If your birthday was not recognized this year,
or if the date was incorrect,
please let your editors know when it is so that
we can all celebrate!
[email protected] or [email protected]
http:\\oc99s.sws99s.org/new
All Ninety-Nines!