EAA Current Newsletter

BRAZOS AREA RECREATIONAL
FLYERS BRAGGING AND GOSSIP

EAA Chapter 983 Newsletter
July, 2004

EAA Chapter 983, P.O. Box 5191, Granbury, Tx. 76049
Website http://www.eaa983.org

Chapter 983 meets on the second Saturday of each month at 10:00 AM. in Ken houseman's hangar. N.E. corner of Pecan Plantation Airpark.

Our July meeting will be back to our old digs at the HOUSEMAN HANGAR. Its been a while since we’ve gotten together so try to get there a little bit early to catch up on the goings on. In case you’ve forgotten where it is, is’s at the NE corner of Pecan Plantation Airpark next to Planeview Park. See you there.

This has been another tough month for 983 members and friends. Bill Mainord had what looks to be a stroke and is recovering at the HealthSouth Rehab Facility and will be there for a while. We will pass on more as we hear it.

Thanks to everybody that made the Hangaritaville Party a big success. Especially Gary Bricker for the forced labor at the grill cooking up all the chicken I was trying to ruin…. Someday I’ll figure it out. A big slap on the back to JIMMY and PAM MATLOCK for hosting the June meeting at their place. Good food and good times were had by all who could make it.

July’s meeting will feature DON SAINT, Engineer, Racer Extraordinaire, Spot landing god and all around nice guy. He will walk us all thru the wonderful world of wiring. If you wanted to know more about that rats nest under the panel, come on down and check it out.

Make Your Reservation for a B-17 Flight Mission Today
Seats Available at EAA AirVenture, Salute to Veterans Tour
EAA’s 2004 Salute to Veterans B-17 Tour resumes in a big way less than a month from now at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2004. There is still a good quantity of seats available, so now may be the best time to reserve yours and fly an actual B-17 mission aboard Fuddy Duddy. This airplane, on loan from the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center (formerly the National Warplane Museum) of Elmira, New York, takes the place of EAA’s B-17 Aluminum Overcast, which was damaged in a May 5 gear collapse in Southern California. Once Fuddy Duddy completes its AirVenture mission, it will head out to resume the postponed tour with 28 stops scheduled from August 6 through November 21 beginning in Waukesha, Wisconsin.

Would you put a note in the next N.L. that myself and Dave Christman would like to offer our services as novice welders to the chapter either Mig, Tig or gas on just about anything they need welded. We need the practice. If it's an important or delicate piece, tell them they still need to get Dick.

The world's newest-and first private-astronaut Mike Melvill atop
SpaceShipOne after the successful mission on Monday, June 21.

June 22, 2004 - EAA President Tom Poberezny was personally contacted by SpaceShipOne designer/builder Burt Rutan late Monday, expressing thanks for the support and congratulations from EAA following Monday's successful flight of SpaceShipOne over California.

Rutan also said he was "looking forward to a good event" at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh this year, including four forum presentations by Rutan, plus his Theater in the Woods evening program "Fun at Mojave" on Thursday, July 29. The longtime EAA member has always been an active participant at Oshkosh, as his aircraft design and building roots with EAA go back more than 30 years.

Following Monday's successful flight, Rutan and new astronaut Mike Melvill, SpaceShipOne pilot, have been making the national media rounds. All major national and many international news media outlets covered the event, chronicling the civilian spaceship's flight to 100 kilometers (62 miles), approximately 328,491 feet above the Earth. That altitude is regarded as the end of the planet's atmosphere and the beginning of space. Rutan and Melvill are scheduled to appear on NBC's Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Tuesday (11:30 ET, 10:30 CT).

Monday's flight was a final test flight in the project's attempt to win the $10 million Ansari X Prize, which will be awarded to the first civilian spacecraft that makes two successful passenger flights in as many weeks.

Rutan and Melvill will arrive at EAA AirVenture in Robert Scherer's Beech Starship that served as the mission's chase plane. The Starship, also a Rutan design, will be parked on the event's showcase AeroShell Square.

Several Rutan aircraft are on display in the EAA AirVenture Museum, including the prototype VariEze; Rutan's original VariViggen design; the Williams V-Jet; and a fuselage of Rutan's famed Voyager airplane.

Gwen and Jason Hutchison have a garage full of RV6 parts. Now I haven’t seen an RV not built from a kit in a while, so I am still very impressed with just how much work there really is in one of these things. The skins are ready to rivet to the fuse and it looks nice and straight. Jason is doing a good job and not much has been built twice.

Since he has moved here, he is really getting with the program and every time I stop by, something new is happening. Bill Steppling and Gary Bricker keep him on his toes and they all go from shop to shop working on each others projects.

Tuesday, July 27- 3:30 p.m.
AeroShell Aerobatic Team, Kirby Chambliss (Edge), Matt Chapman (CAP), Chandy Clanton (Edge), Mary Dilda (T-6), Liberty Parachute Team, Mike Mancuso (Extra), Soucy/Stokes (Show Cat Wing Act), Sean Tucker (Pitts), Bobby Younkin (Decathlon and Twin Beech) and Warbirds of America.

Wednesday, July 28- 3:30 p.m.
"X" Team, Matt Chapman (CAP), Chandy Clanton (Edge), Bob Davis (Sukhoi), Mary Dilda (T-6), Debbie Gary (Marchetti), Mike Goulian (CAP), Randy Henderson (T-Craft), Jim LeRoy (Pitts), Liberty Parachute Team, Mike Mancuso (Extra), Bobby Younkin (Decathlon) and Warbirds of America.

Thursday, July 29- 3:30 p.m.
"X" Team, AeroShell Team, Kirby Chambliss (Edge), Bob Davis (Sukhoi), Mary Dilda (T-6), Debbie Gary (Marchetti), Mike Goulian (CAP), Randy Henderson (T-Craft), Lauderback & Shipley (Dual Mustangs), Liberty Parachute Team, Mike Mancuso (Extra), Soucy & Stokes (Show Cat Wing Act), Sean Tucker (Pitts), Patty Wagstaff (Extra) and Bobby Younkin (Twin Beech).

Friday, July 30- 3:30 p.m.
"X" Team, Chandy Clanton (Edge), Jim Franklin (Jet Waco Wing Act), Lauderback & Shipley (Dual Mustangs), Jim LeRoy (Pitts), Liberty Parachute Team, Greg Poe (Edge), Red Baron Squadron (Stearmans), Bobby Younkin (Decathlon), Marine Corps Harrier and Warbirds of America.

Saturday, July 31- 3:30 p.m.
"X "Team, AeroShell Team, Mike Goulian (CAP), Lauderback & Shipley (Dual Mustangs), Liberty Parachute Team, Mike Mancuso (Extra), Sean Tucker (Pitts), Patty Wagstaff (Extra), Marine Corps Harrier and Warbirds of America.

Sunday, August 1- 3:30 p.m.
"X" Team, AeroShell Team, Eric Beard (Yak 24), Kirby Chambliss (Edge), Jim Franklin (Jet Waco Wing Act), Ed Hamill (Pitts), Randy Henderson (T-Craft), Liberty Parachute Team, Greg Poe (Edge), Soucy & Stokes (Show Cat Wing Act), Marine Corps Harrier and Warbirds of America.

Monday, August 2- 2:00 p.m.
AeroShell Team, Eric Beard (Yak 54), Debbie Gary (Marchetti), Ed Hamill (Pitts), Jim LeRoy (Pitts), Liberty Parachute Team, Mike Mancuso (Extra), Greg Poe (Edge) and Patty Wagstaff (Extra).

RV6-A Project: Includes assembled empennage and wing kits, fuselage at quick build stage. Fuselage is a slider canopy with electric flaps, dual steps installed and dual brakes included. $15000 Tom Lewis 817-573-4388

If you have need of 4130 plate stock under 3/16^th thick. Better buy some now. It is getting difficult to find this stuff, so if you need some, I’d get it soon. The supply is tight and nobody has a real answer on when mills will be running it again.

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh offers special parking and prop cards for prior Grand Champion, Auto Engine Aircraft, Classic (more than 20 years old), and any homebuilt aircraft with more than 1,000 hours of flight time. The special parking area is around the Homebuilders Headquarters. If you qualify and want to reserve your spot,
contact Aviation Services at info@eaa.org or 888/EAA-INFO, ext. 4821

Just when you thought there weren’t any more factories in Texas, we find this gem. Located in LaGrange, this is another rebirth of the classic airplane. Next month we’ll find another, but until then, enjoy…………

The wonderfully designed and fun to fly Taylorcraft airplane is back in production. The new owner and president, Harry Ingram, is a pilot and an enthusiast of the plane's quality and technical design. He's talked with many Taylorcraft owners and has found that to own a Taylorcraft is to fall in love. Some owners of multiple different aircraft told him they would never sell their Taylorcraft. They goal of the company is and always has been to preserve the history, technology, safety, and classic design of the longest continuously produced airplane in aviation history. When you buy a Taylorcraft you are getting a time-tested, quality, hand-built aircraft that will last a lifetime.

The company and manufacturing facility is located in La Grange, TX between Houston and Austin. The 54,000 sq. ft plant will produce certified F-22 series airplanes, and after the start up phase will service and sell parts for all Taylorcrafts

Feel free to stop by our 54,000 square foot factory in La Grange, TX. We'll be happy to give you a tour anytime! La Grange is mid-way between Houston and Austin.

The nearest airport is Fayette regional Air Center (3T5), and we have a scheduled EAA Factory Tour the first Saturday of each month.

Now Available: complete factory restoration! Includes paint and fabric! We also do factory annuals, 100 hour inspections, repairs, and upgrades.

Ask for Winston at 800-217-1399. No repair too large or too small.

F22
"Classic"

Conventional Gear

Lycoming O-235

$59,995

F22A
"Tracker"

Tricycle Gear

Lycoming O-235

$63,995

F22B
"Trooper"

Conventional Gear

Lycoming O-360

$69,995

F22C
"Ranger"

Tricycle Gear

Lycoming O-360

$73,995

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Sport Pilot Rule Returned to OMB
June 3, 2004 - The sport pilot/light-sport aircraft rulemaking package has been returned to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for final approval. OMB's website acknowledges receipt of the rule on June 1, 2004. No deadline for final action is listed on the website. However, when EAA Vice President of Government and Industry Affairs Earl Lawrence visited OMB, along with fellow ASTM Committee chairmen Phillip Lockwood and Eric Tucker, they stressed the need for swift approval of the rule.

The rule, which had been withdrawn from the Office of Management and Budget by FAA in late March, is now back at OMB for what is hoped to be the final review before publication. FAA had withdrawn the rule to answer questions presented by OMB, in a procedural move that would keep the rule on-track instead of creating a major setback if it was completely rejected by OMB. This advancement is another major step forward for the rule. Once OMB approves the rulemaking package, it will be returned to FAA for publication in the Federal Register. This year's AirVenture event will include a major focus on sport pilot as it provides an exciting opportunity for growth in many areas of the aviation community.

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Call me and I’ll add your project to this list. Experimental or not. Bold letters mean completed projects.