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Editor's Note:  Well the newsletter is finally back from a two month hiatus.  In other words, I finally made time to get the thing put together.  My thanks go out to the folks who've continued to send me news items and announcements.  Nothing makes the newsletter easier than having a short article and photo already preprared for publishing.  Keep the good stuff headed my way and I'll try to keep the newsletter headed yours.  John Jones 

The Air Up There - The June Chapter meeting will feature a visit by representatives of Eglin AFB.  They will be discussing airspace issues in the area with particular attention to the Destin Airport.  Don't miss this informative presentation. 
 
 
Door Prizes - If you haven't gotten yours yet, Bob Sutherland has copies of the 2000 Florida Airport Directory and the 2000 Florida Aeronautical Chart.  For those not familiar with the chart: one side of the chart has a pilots map of the State of Florida, the other has an air mileage chart and a Directory of Public Airports. 

The map is like a sectional but with a larger scale.  Included are blowups of the congested areas of the State around large cities.  While the chart is not legal for use inflight, is can be useful for initial planning in that the whole State is on one page with the airports, nav aids, restricted area's etc.  It must be kept in mind that the information is not updated, so current publications should be used for final flight planning. 
 

Treasurer's Report - In April, the Chapter balance was $653.95. 

SERFI Update - As previously announced, SERFI will be Oct 6-8 2000.  This date does not conflict with the Thomasville, GA fly-in as in previous years.  The Thomasville Fly-in will be the following week.  All members are encouraged to support both SERFI and the Thomasville Fly-in. 

Cliff's Dimples - March Meeting Program - At the March meeting, Cliff Nunnery presented an interesting presentation on the basics of aluminum aircraft construction.  Cliff demonstrated the method of preparing and building a horizontal stabilizer for an RV-6.  Cliff discussed drilling, deburring, priming, dimpling, and riveting.  He expounded on the wonders of clecoes and how he got his wife to run the rivet gun. (He says she's a great riveter...) 

AirVenture 2000 NOTAM - The EAA AirVenture 2000 Aircraft NOTAM has been mailed to Chapter presidents and is available from EAA at 1-800-843-3612.  The NOTAM is also available on the internet at www.asy.faa.gov or www.airventure.org. 

Bill Van Meter - For those of you that may have missed it, Bill Van Meter and his Der Jaeger were featured on Page 79 of the March, 2000 issue of Sport Aviation.  Bill's little blue biplane is finally finished and Bill sent a photo to Sport Aviation to recognize the efforts of Bill Williams, the plane's original builder. 

New Member - Bob Hankins of Niceville, Florida joined Chapter 493 at the May meeting.  Bob is almost done building his RV-4 with an IO 320 E2A engine turning an Ed Serba prop.  He has a basic VFR panel with a moving map GPS and handheld radio. 
 
 

Otto Lillienthal Memorial Pancake Breakfast - On May 20, 2000, over 40 folks showed up at Bob Sikes Airport in Crestview for the annual Otto Lillienthal Memorial breakfast.  The usual suspects cooked the pancakes and sausages which were as tasty as ever.  About a half dozen planes flew in from out of town, most of them from Monroeville.  At least one fellow drove up from Destin where he and his wife were on vacation. 

Chapter Spring Picnic - About 50+ folks turned out for the Chapter's Spring Picnicat Ruckel Airport on April Fools Day, 2000.  The weather was beautiful and several planes made the trip from Destin and Crestview.  A notable change was the attendance of about a half dozen children of chapter members.  However, the kids seemed to enjoy the airport dog, "Happy" as much as they enjoyed the airplanes. 
 
 

Gene Hudkins' Starduster - Not to be outdone by his hangar mate, Gene Hudkins was interviewed at Sun-n-Fun for a future issue of Kitplanes magazine.  For those that don't know, Gene's Starduster is a past Grand Champion of Sun-n-Fun and was featured on the cover of Sport Aviation several years ago. 

At the May, 2000 Chapter Meeting, we heard  from a true American hero and survivor.  Technical Sergeant Jim Brown, US Army Air Corps (ret) (now 79 years old) described his experiences  fighting the Japanese in the Philllipines at the start of WWII and then spending the remainder of the war as a POW.  He talked of abuse, misery, and hunger, but also recalled the small victories and humor that helped him deal with his captivity.  He relates the five beliefs that helped him survive and return to America.  For a full transcript of his talk, click here.

FAA Exemption for Transition Flight Training in Homebuilt Aircraft  - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted an exemption allowing transition flight training in amateur-built Experimental category aircraft.  The exemption will allow pilots who will be flying amateur-built (or "homebuilt") aircraft to receive training in similar aircraft to better prepare for their future flying. In the past, most pilots who were transitioning to homebuilt aircraft never had an opportunity to receive dual training in that type of aircraft. 

Experimental aircraft used for transition training must comply with all FAA airworthiness and maintenance regulations for those aircraft. Instructors must develop proper flight training procedures and keep records of training given.  However, FAA removed an allowance for transition training in Experimental-Exhibition aircraft such as warbirds. EAA and NAFI officials said they would petition FAA to amend the exemption to include these aircraft. 
 

Another important part of AIR-21 is the "Hoover Bill" which allows a pilot to challenge FAA’s emergency revocation of a pilot certificate and seek an expedited hearing before the National Transportation Safety Board.  The legislation also sets out specific requirements for commercial air tours over national parks and allows the FAA to  retain responsibility for airspace management over federal lands. 

The bill will also move aeronautical charting from the Department of Commerce to FAA and increases funding for new OASIS computers for Flight Service Stations.  The bill provides money to upgrade automated AWOS/ASOS weather-reporting stations and protects airport airspace and property by prohibiting new landfills near airports and makes it harder to convert airport land to non-aviation uses. 

One Chapter member observed that, although both Florida senators voted for the bill, our Representative, Joe Scarborough, did not.  It should also be noted that the Clinton Administration is still pushing for user fees for the use of ATC. 

 After the mission and debrief, the class was planning to fire model rockets to investigate that aspect of flight.  When the rocket flight were complete, a Young Eagle flight was planned for members of the class at the Destin Airport.  Well that was the plan and it was a good plan.  While the weather was almost perfect, the wind was blowing briskly from the northwest and the rocket mission had to be canceled for high winds. 

 After the rocket mission was canceled, the future Young Eagles were presented with a preflight briefing in their classroom in preparation for the Young Eagle flights.  The explanation of what makes an airplane fly and the manor in which control in maintained was presented.  The actions a pilot takes in flight preparation and other preflight actions were explored.  Then the events of the flight and the sights they might see were explored.  The Y.E. candidates were employed to stay away from the propeller and not to move anything in the airplane without getting permission from the pilot as either could cause injury.  The object was to have a great time and if anyone was injured then we would not have a good time.  The aspirants that were going to fly in the red airplane were informed that if they wanted to pull the pilot's leg a little, they could make a comment on the pretty deep pink color of the airplane.  From the comments that pilot at a recent meeting, at least one Young Eagle took advantage of the information. 

The wind was of sufficient strength to postpone the rocket launches however it was directly down runway 32, and, though was blowing with spirit, it was steady and not too bumpy and the Young Eagle flight could take place. The pilots that participated in this event were Jim Jansa, Gerry Poltorak, and Cliff Nunnery.  They ushered thirteen young people into the realm of being a Young Eagle and the thrill of aviation in the process of attaining that status.  Without exception, the grin on the face of each newly initiated Young Eagle told the story, and the whole story of their experience. 

The parents were invited to observe and participate and several were attendance, both at the preflight briefing and the flight operations.  However not all of the children were allowed to participate in the Young Eagles flights due to parental concerns.  Each pilot and the pre-flight briefer/ground coordinator received a thank you card from not only each participant but also the children that only evolved in the briefing and only observed the flight operations. 

As an aside, some of the Chapter members knew Trow Sebree, who was active in aviation from before the airmail days through the Boeing 747.  His granddaughter was one of the students that flew, and she wore one of her Grandfather's flight jackets.  With patches from many EAA events from around the U.S., his jacket flew once again and that provided her and her observing Mother, a special meaning to the event.  Cliff Nunnery 

Editor's Note:  A few weeks after the Young Eagles day, several members of the Chapter received thank-you notes from the students.  Each child in the class (even those that did not participate) made a card of construction paper and decorated it with drawings of airplanes.  Several children took special note of the "dark pink" airplane... 

Don Marco's plane is an Avid Mk IV Aerobat Speedwing.  It is very similar to the Mk IV built by John Oglesby, but Don chose the shorter wing and John the longer one.  Don spent about 1500 hours on the plane over three and one half years and finished the plane in 1996.  Fabrication of some parts was difficult, but the fabric covering was a breeze.  Don built the panel himself from scratch using several plywood mock-ups to evaluate various configurations.  The plane is built strictly by the plans with the addition of electric trim. 
 
 
 
The Mk IV is powered by a Rotax 582 that pulls the plane along at 95 mph (maybe 100 mph on a good day).  The engine is great says Don, but he's had a tough time finding the right propellor.  He started with a wood prop, but soon installed a three-blade, ground-adjustable Ivoprop.  He later installed an in-flight adjustable Ivoprop, but experience extreme vibration due to the prop blades moving in the prob hub.  He is now flying a two-blade Ivoprop.  Don says that through all his prop changes, Ivoprop has been very helpful. 

Don's "day" job is flying bizjets for a fractional ownership company.  He says he mostly flies the Avid as a fun break from the high and fast world of jets.  He prefers to fly the Mk IV at about 1500 ft AGL and has never flown it farther than the restaurant at Monroeville, Alabama.  He occasionally does a little acro, but mostly just watches the world go by. 
 
 

When Don prepared to test fly the Avid, he received a little help from a test pilot friend at Edwards AFB.  The friend had developed a flight test protocol for homebuilt aircraft as his class project during the Air Force's test pilot school.  That same document was also a major source for the development of the FAA's Advisory Circular for testing homebuilt aircraft. 
John Jones 

Chapter 108 - 2000 Calendar of Events 
July 22 - Ice Cream Fly-in - Bob Sikes Airport, Crestview, FL 
July 26-August 1 - EAA Airventure - Oshkosh, WI 
September 23 - Chapter Breakfast - Ruckel Airport, Niceville, FL 
October 6-8 - Southeast Regional Fly-In (SERFI) - Evergreen, AL 
December 8 - Christmas Party - Technical College Conference Building, FWB, FL 

Air Fair 2000 - July 1 & 2, 2000, Homestead General Aviation Airport (X51) Homestead, Florida.  Sponsored by EAA Ultralight Chapter 103.  For more information call 305-460-3356 or check the internet at www.lafa.com.  John Jones has fliers, too. 

If you are a homebuilder willing to be a part of this database please e-mail Aviation Information Services at infoserv@eaa.org with the following information: 

Name 
EAA# 
Address 
Day Phone 
Home Phone 
E-Mail Address 
Please specify how you would prefer to be contacted (e.g. email, phone, 
and/or letter) 
If Kit, Kit Mfg: 
If Kit, Kit Model: 
If Plans, Model (e.g. Steen Skybolt): 
Date Started: 
Date Completed: 
Registration ("N") Number: 
Engine Make, Model and HP: 

Remember, it is EAA's policy not to sell or distribute personal information to any other companies or organizations.  This information is for use by EAA & EAA members only. 
 

Maurine Saulnier 
 
 
Several years ago, a former Chapter 108 Member, Bill Jones began a replica of a WW I Maurine Saulnier.  The original Maurine Saulnier was the first fighter to use a forward firing machine gun.  Roland Garros bolted steel plates to the prop and mounted a forward firing machine gun.  He surmised that since the prop was only a small part of the circle most of the bullets would get through.  The experiment was not without serious problems, however, as one of his good friends was killed by a ricochet during ground testing.  Garros quickly shot down five enemy aircraft with the system, and was the impetus for the design of the interrupter system for fighter aircraft. 

Bill sold the almost completed project and it left the area.  I had the privilege to go up to Elba, AL, with Bill to see the airplane.  It's finished except for some paint and decals.  The metal parts will be painted red, and there are some insigna and numbers to apply.  Cliff Nunnery 

$$ For Sale $$ 
  
Avid Mk IV 
 
Features: 
  Subaru conversion by Stratus, Inc. 
  Dual Ignition 
  Dual Fuel Tanks 
  3-Blade Warp Drive Ground-Adjustable Prop 
  Mode C Transponder 
  Intercom 
  ELT 
  Whelen Strobes and Nav Lights 
  Stainless Steel Muffler 
  Aluminum Radiator (mounted on belly) 
 
Great Condition! 
  360 Hours Total Time 
  Built in 1996 
  Always hangared 

Great fun! 
  Sightsee at 3.5 gph 
  Cruise at 115 mph 
  A very affordable flyer! 

Reduced to $21,000 
  John Oglesby 
  850-654-1051 
  Destin, Florida 
  Click Here to See More 
 

June 20, 2000 - Monthly Chapter Meeting - 7 p.m. at Okaloosa Applied Technology Center 

July 18, 2000 - Monthly Chapter Meeting - 7 p.m. at Okaloosa Applied Technology Center 
July 22, 2000 - Ice Cream Fly-in - Bob Sikes Airport, Crestview, FL 
July 26-August 1, 2000 - EAA Airventure, Oshkosh, Wisconsin. 

August 15, 2000 - Monthly Chapter Meeting - 7 p.m. at Okaloosa Applied Technology Center