Our next meeting will be held in South Montrose, Pa. at the Zaverton Airport .  This meeting will take place on the 16th of July at around noon.  To get there, go south on route 29 out of Montrose.  Go past the blinker light at South Montrose and up the hill for .5 of a mile.  As you start coming down the hill, turn left at the white sign saying Endless Mountain RC Club Flying Site.   Please try to come and if you can, bring a friend.  The food will be supplied by Dave Thomas and his relatives.  It should be quite a spread so the picnic alone will be worth while.  Let's hope we have more desirable weather and an end to this so so stuff.  Oh yes, beware of the falling coconuts at the West end of the runway it may ruin your day especially if one drops on your prop.

     We had 12 guys at the meeting on 6/18/05 this is including Matt Garbett who tried to make headcount but decided otherwise and gave us a pass and review instead.  We need to thank our President Mel McKinney and Dave Schwartz for the meeting place and the meal was put on by Mel McKinney.  Many thanks; the food was great as usual.

     The meeting started at 12:57 P.M.  by our President Mel McKinney who had us give the Pledge of Allegiance.  There was talk about John Moody and how he is doing.  By the sound of things he still has a ways to go before his wounds are completely healed.  He has been regarded as the Father of Ultralights.

     A discussion was given on LSA's rulings and also the EAA is running a 2 year study for 360 pound ultralights.  This would give allowance for floats, chutes, and basic instruments.  By the year of 2008 it would be the end of 2 place trainers.  We are depressed on getting more young people into the club because we have no means of teaching them to fly.

     A new pilot was brought to our organization by Tom Lewis. His name is John Stopka.  John had some interesting stories to tell about his life in the military during World War 2.  He went in to be a navigator and they told him they needed pilots.  He got some flying time with Uncle Sam, however they washed him out.  He got out and later on he and his wife learned to fly on a Cessna 150.  They later found the 150 was just too small so they purchased a Cessna 172 which was better for the family.   We give him lots of credit for sticking with it and we're sure he would have made a fine Army Aviator. 

    He at one time had an experience around Washington DC .  He got forced down in a rain storm and was very lucky to land on a long road without trees or telephone poles.  He and his wife were flying a 172 Skyhawk at the time.  He must have had a guardian angel....... 

    John thanked everyone for inviting him to the club and we hope he comes around again soon and becomes a member.

     Gil Aitchison gave his treasures report of $963.60.  He had $130.00 cash and $50.00 was used for Ralph Arnold's Funeral, for flowers and a gift to the Montrose Cemetery Association.

     Our round table review started with Dave Schwartz who had a couple of gages to put into N42FY (Purple).  He talked a little about the guy that built his Purple. The guy lost interest in it so he sold it to Dave.

     George Smith has factory changes on his Savanah.  He managed to get 2 hours in on his Quicksilver so he now has a total of 14 hours in this year.

     Tom Lewis was glad to be back with us again. He discussed with us about AV Flash.  Tom said he would add the AV web site address to this publication (see below). 

    Dave Thomas has been busy flying every day that he can when the weather is good.  He said he did something crazy:  He flew when the sock stuck out straight.  He had his first famous cross wind landing.  He said now that was scary!  He wouldn't try that again.

    Dave's brother is looking forward to have us come to Zaverton's Field.  There is approximately 2300 feet of runway there.  His brother is planning on making us some Jumbuliah, chicken, water melon, corn on the cobb and all kinds of great foods for our lunch.  So let's be free with the purse strings.  ALSO HE SAID, TO BRING OUR OWN CHAIRS.....

     Huck Littlejohn had suffered a stroke a year and a half ago and then 6 months later discovered a herniated disc.  He still has his colt and flies with John Rebeck an instructor.

     Mel Wightman talked about how he found Harm Johnson's Tri-Pacer on the internet.  His son Matthew put in N7409D into Google Search and up pops the Tri-Pacer at a 2003 EAA in Wisconsin .  It was parked next to the tents and other old classics.

     Gil Aitchison has been doing a lot of flying; about 20 hours the same as Duane Ross in their Hawks.  Duane was at a Father's Day Fly-In at Shereaves Port Pa.

     Harry Henson has been flying everyday that is flyable in his J-3 Kitten.  He said, he's been flying around about 20 times so far.

     Jim Croisant has been busy flying his lawn mower and picking up limbs from storms.

     Charlie Olbrich has been busy taking care of his mom.  He had to break the news and tell her that he has an airplane and has flown it.  He said, his brother got killed in a motor cycle accident and it has been 2 yrs since he has flown.  He said, the F&F airport is a Soccer Field now and that he is looking for someone to give him dual instruction and an update on ground school.  

    Matt Garbett has been doing some flying; we know that because of his pass and review he gave us at the last meeting.  We were sorry he decided to go back home but sure it was the right thing for him to do, for it is pilot's discretion, always first and foremost.

     The meeting was over at 3 PM everybody enjoyed much prop wash as much as I always do.  The food and hospitality was great as well.

         Your Secretary,

            Mel Wightman      PS  It is election time this month so be thinking..........

  Following is what I have put together from reading and talking with an FAA rep at Sun-N-Fun:

 Sport Pilot Rules That Affect Ultralights

  Part 103 will remain as-is; you can still fly and maintain and fly your “True”, less-than-254 pound ultralight as before.  But if it’s a heavier machine or doesn’t meet other Part 103 requirements keep reading.

  If you are “fat”, after January 31, 2008 you will no longer be legal.  Thus you will have to get an N number, a fireproof dataplate, an airworthiness certificate and a Sport Pilot (or higher) certificate for yourself.  Also required is an airworthiness inspection, a flight test prior to carrying passengers and also an ELT for the two-seater.  The inspection is conducted by an FAA examiner or a designated airworthiness representative (DAR).  The inspection will cost up to $325 but USUA an EAA may provide relief. 

  Lots of incidentals include having proper switch, control and instrument markings.  The word “Experimental” must be prominently displayed near the cabin entrance.  You also must have a weight and balance sheet.

  Now there are two options:  one is to convert to Experimental/Amateur-Built.  The other is to convert to Experimental Light-Sport Aircraft (ELSA).  Following is a review of the advantages and disadvantages of both:

 Amateur-Built:

+   You can do your own maintenance and inspections with a Repairman
      Certificate without  supplemental training.       
+   There are no prohibitions against flying over FAA-defined congested areas.
-          You can not use the plane for commercial purposes including flight training.
-          You may be required to fly off anywhere from 10 to 40 hours regardless of how much time has already been           flown.
-          The 51 % rule applies and you have to prove it with documentation.
-          If you sell it, the repairman certificate is not transferable (it dies).
-          You will need a private pilot license and a medical to fly it.

  ELSA:

            +  The 51 % rule does not apply.
            +  You need only 5 hours to fly off. 
            +  If sold, the new owner can get a repairman certificate with training.
            +  You can use the two-place plane for training until Jan 31, 2010.
            +  You only need a sport pilot license and a drivers license to fly it.
            +  You can do preventive and overall maintenance BUT
            -       You must take a 16 hour course to earn the Light Sport Inspector Repairman Certificate to perform 100-hour 
                    or annual inspections.  
            -          You can’t fly over congested areas.
            -          The DAR must have a special LSA endorsement to issue a certificate.  Finding such a DAR is an issue at the 
                    moment.

If you have any additions or corrections to this let me know.

Also, here is the AV Web site:  http://www.avweb.com/

Tom Lewis