ISSUE #93   USUA CLUB #66, Richard E. Miller Chapter  NEWSLETTER

March-02

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     This month's meeting will be held at the Masonic Lodge in  Windsor on Saturday, March 16.

This is the annual dinner meeting. Bring a spouse, friend or acquaintance interested in our club.  The

cost is $15.00 per person and you have a choice of prime rib or broiled haddock.  Last year's

meal was excellent.   Festivities start at 6PM with lubricants and the meal is at 7PM.

YOU MUST CALL PAUL NULTON WITH YOUR RSVP AND CHOICE OF MEAL BEFORE MARCH 13TH

     Last month's meeting was attended by 17 members .  We had several informative, lively discussions.

     Business at the last meeting involved paying our USUA dues of 45.00.  We also decided to have

Dave set us up with a low fee checking account.

There was a lot of discussion about the Sport pilot license.  It finally looks like it may go through, but

as usual, there will be "imperfections".  As a whole, it should benefit club members and make our

"kindalites" legal. 

There is a fly-in at Mayville on father's day.  Prime attraction will be a flea market.

There is also a highly publicized fly-in scheduled for the Tri-Cities airport in July.  This one will be quite

close and according to some newspaper accounts I've already seen, there should be plenty of

attractions.  Our club and its members have been specifically invited.

Mel suggested the possibility of giving rides at the event to spark interest in the sport in both adults and

kids.

Tom Decker and John Torta are looking at plans for a Sopwith.  Does it come with a long white scarf?

John reported there is also a HiMax in the Barnstormer for 2500.00 (no engine)

Paul Nulton told members he has an industrial grade sewing machine and would be glad to help

members with projects requiring its use.

The club would like to thank John Finn for the use of his place for the last meeting.  It was spacious,

well lit and he had VEGGIES!  It looks like winter meetings in each others' homes is going to be a

regular event.  While it won't be quite so familiar and may involve travel ling a little further, I think

it will serve to solidify the club.  It is no small deal to provide the space, clean it up and provide the

food and refreshments, then clean up the whole mess afterwards.  We should all make it known that

we appreciate the effort our hosts, both past and future, make in setting up for our meetings.

I went flying in the Ercoupe last Tuesday and had a beautiful takoff and climbout, until about 600 feet.

While the winds on the ground were 3-5 Knots and steady and while the sky was blue and clear,

at 601 feet there was this 20 Knot wind with gusts to 195 that wanted to stretch both wings and make

my plane two feet wider!  I had intended to do maneuvers for my private pilot test, so I decided to go

for it.  My S-turn and turns about a point were near impossible to do and keep my altitude +/- 100 ft

which is the requirement.  Upwind, I'd climb at 900FPM+ and downwind, I needed full power to keep it

from dropping at the same rate.  I tried slow flight (into the wind) and didn't do too badly, but when I

cut back power to induce a power off stall, the wind took over and turned me 45 degrees to the right.

My left wing coming up real high made me decide to give it power and not do that no more today!

By the time I got back to the airport, the wind at ground level was 15 Knots with gusts to 28 and was

almost directly crosswind.  The approach was bouncy and the landing was OK (no bounce,

no clanking of landing gear and even lined up on centerline). But I was glad to be down.  I didn't do any

touch and go's.  I don't feel I was ever in any real danger, but I was in a 900 Lb plane.  This would have

been a real rush in my Flightstar.  Before going up this time of year, it's a good idea to check out the

conditions before you do and to plan accordingly.  Fly safe.