The Brazos Breeze

** May 11th Chapter 983‘s “Best Dang Fly-In In The World” **

“How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you was?’ Satchel Paige

   I don’t think Lee Simms knows how old he is. “You’re 11 Lee!” “You are expected to be more interested in video games than video training tapes.”
   Lee is one of our newest members and came to our attention when his instructor, Bill Mainord, brought him to a meeting and told us a little about his love of flying and to what lengths he’d gone to follow that love. While his father, Don, actively supports his flying, it’s a trade/reward for maintaining good grades. Dad’s a pilot and took him and his mom, Vicki, flying when Lee was 6 and it was Hook, Line and Sinker. He’s flown with several instructors and in a few different planes for a variety of experience. He’s not just along for the ride either. Checklists, radio, take off and landing, airwork and hoodwork are part of his training just like any other student. The only noticeable difference is the two cushions he uses to reach the rudders.(and that won’t be for very much longer) Lee is planning on the Air Force Academy and commercial aviation in the future. Let’s try and do our part to help him and others like him stay motivated. If you see him at a meeting let him know that you’re encouraged by his direction and focus. That’s part of what we’re all about.

March Program Highlights

   Larry Prentiss, Safety Program Manager for the local FSDO talked about several aspects of aviation safety and regulatory life in these United States. There is a National Runway Safety Program directed at towered and non-towered airports. Runway incursions and landing/taxiing conflicts are high profile and common occurances in our increasingly crowded airports. The hottest exchanges came when he got into the TFR’s, Temporary Flight Restrictions, and their effects on our increasingly harassed VFR flying. Crawford, Texas being the one nearest and dearest to our hearts. Violate that one and you get 6 hrs. of mandatory flight and ground remedial training and a 2 year letter in your file (OH MY GOD, not my FILE!!) . Homeland Security now controls the Nat’l. Airspace System and they pushed for license suspension for violators but the FAA worked out this training program instead. Everyone agrees on one thing, when you fly somewhere get a briefing from FSS and ask for TFR’s along your route. Or, plan on attending the Comedy School of Flying.

April Program Highlights

  Rex Havis, owner of Spectro Oil Analysis came and talked about the life blood of our engines. The oil and all the various things it can tell us. His testing is very much like a blood analysis and uses several of the same machines. They not only look for metals in the oil but also the story told by the oil condition; breakdown and fuel dilution. Some of his opinions: Additives are not useful except Avblend or Marvel Mystery Oil at about 600 hrs. to break up carbon deposits. Synthetics are not good because they are unable to hold particles in suspension. All commercial oil brands are good products.

APRIL MINUTES

• Pancake breakfast at Granbury netted $400 for the chapter coffers.

• Don Saint and Rick Chapman avoided injury when they had to land Dons Glasair in a field after a crankshaft failure. A more detailed article in next months newsletter. The seat cushions were damaged beyond repair.

• Bob and Marilyn Satterwhites Lancair Columbia is finally home. About thirty folks were on hand when they arrived and spent a couple of hours looking that beautiful ship over.

• Welcome to visitors Richard Chapman (Ricks Dad) from Chapter 35, Wilford McCloud and Lee Simms Mom, Vicki Ratleff.

• Bring your surplus parts and aviation gear to sell at the Spring Fly-In FLY MART. It will be located in Gary Brickers hangar and will be a fundraiser for the Chapter. A 10% donation is requested.

• Debbie Scanlon missed the meeting, Bill said she had to mow the lawn.

• Bill Mainord is in the thinking stage about an aviation facility at Granbury Airport for groups like the CAP, EAA and others. He’d like input or involvement from anyone interested.