FEBRUARY, 2013 NEWSLETTER

Transcription

1 FEBRUARY, 2013 NEWSLETTER TAKE A TRIP ON AIR FORCE ONE On Saturday, March 23rd the Candler Field Museum will host its annual Benefit Dinner featuring retired Air Force Colonel William Leachman. Col. Leachman was the commander of the squadron that maintained Air Force One and several other airplanes used to fly our government officials. He has a very interesting slide presentation with pictures and stories of past Presidents and their

2 use of the Air Force One aircraft. Col. Leachman will tell the audience how a trip for the President is planned, how much it costs, and all associated problems and challenges that go with transporting VIPs. This is a story you will not want to miss. Ticket prices are $50 per person with the proceeds going to Candler Field Museum. Your ticket includes an excellent dinner served by the Barnstormer's Grill and the chance to purchase raffle tickets on several interesting items. So, put it down on your calendar - Saturday, March 23rd beginning at 6 PM at Candler Field Museum in Williamson, GA.

3 TO PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS PLEASE CLICK HERE AND GO TO THE "JOIN MUSEUM" BUTTON

4 WACO 10 DONATED TO MUSEUM This beautiful 1928 OX-5 powered Waco 10 was recently donated to Candler Field Museum. Steve Sachs who lives in Lebanon, TN, recently completed a full restoration on the airplane. Steve decided to donate the Waco so other people can enjoy seeing it on display and watching it fly. The airplane was disassembled and trailered to Candler Field last month. Museum members Bill Hammond, Clay Hammond, Nate Hammond, Sam Alexander, Glen Marsh, and Drew Walker volunteered to disassemble the airplane and bring it to Georgia. Currently, the Waco is being reassembled by museum member Bill Hammond and other volunteers. We hope to fly the airplane by the end of this month. The airplane will be flown at special events. The museum is very appreciative of this donation by Steve. You may remember that Steve also donated a Model T fuel truck to the museum.

5 Steve Sachs pictured with the disassembled Waco 10. Pictures courtesy of Clay Hammond. See the article below for more about Steve. The following excerpts are taken from an article written by Jake Bell, a native of Danville, KY. Jake wrote the article for a journalism class. He is now a first officer with Express Jet. All Things Airplanes: Steve Sachs and his passion for flying by Jake Bell Steve Sachs might just be one of the luckiest pilots on earth, and he has certainly spent his fair share of time in the skies above it. In the over 31,000 hours in his logbook that s the equivalent of 3 1/2 years aloft he has only had one emergency. And that one, well, he was lucky. Sachs was flying a de Havilland Beaver for the Army over the deserts of Iran one afternoon in the late 60s when the big Pratt & Whitney out front began to spew oil in all directions. The engine was running fine, but the fact that it was jettisoning all its lubrication meant a landing was going to happen sooner rather than later. By virtue of their desolation, deserts offer ample space for forced landings, but they offer far less in the survival department. That is, unless you have Sachs luck.

6 Whereas most pilots with average fortune would have been searching for ways to survive following a forced landing in the desert, Sachs did what any smart pilot would have done if given the same choice in that situation. He simply sat the Beaver down in, of all places, a watermelon patch. That s right, a watermelon patch in the desert. We actually did land in the desert in a melon patch, says Sachs with as nonchalant a chuckle as anyone could muster, as if that happens every day. So that was a pretty interesting little flight. Nowadays, the soft-spoken Sachs, whose open manner and laid-back humor make him both approachable and relatable, spends most of his time at his home at the Fall Creek Airpark near Lebanon, Tenn. It s a community as unique as Sachs forced landing history. The entrance to Fall Creek isn t flashy or extravagant or particularly inviting. In fact, it s quite the opposite and is more akin to the entrance of a sketchy section of middle Tennessee woodland than a pilot s paradise. It s just the right place for somebody like Sachs, whose house sits at the north end of the runway, perched picturesquely in the woods next to his faded green hangar. Inside the hangar, Sachs tools around in a pair of dirty blue jeans and an oil stained Niagara Falls Canada sweatshirt. He is working diligently to finish up an annual on a friend s Cherokee 180 so he can get back to work on his pride and joy; a gray, 1946 Stearman, whose 220-horsepower Continental W-670 engine sits mounted on a stand next to the wing like a piece of mechanical modern art. It hasn t been running right since it tangled with the hangar door two months ago, and those two months were chock full of great flying days. Sachs flew for the Army for four years with the goal of one day flying for a major airline. Once out of the Army, and with more than enough flight time, Sachs was hired by Delta and continued to fly for the National Guard. Sachs career at Delta spanned 30 years, where he flew the DC-8, DC-9, 727, 757 and 767. He retired in 2003 at the then-mandatory age of 60. If you think Sachs flying career is impressive, just ask him about working on airplanes. Having always been mechanically minded, Sachs picked up an A&P in He is now an IA as well, and one with a reputation for knowing pretty much all things airplanes. A tour of Sachs 50-by-72 foot hangar will take the better part of a couple of hours and will uncover as much of Sachs knowledge as it will interesting parts. The hangar itself is like a small museum. There are airplane parts literally everywhere and Sachs is quick to point out that it is not usually so cluttered, as if that s a bad thing. All the requisite tools and machines you would expect in a maintenance shop are along the back wall. A Stearman aileron hangs on the wall next to a collection of air

7 hoses and a Boeing 757/767 flight deck poster. A wonderful plethora of assorted nuts, bolts and fasteners are everywhere; some are organized neatly in little boxes and some are scattered about on work benches and tables. A parts cart near one wall holds numerous quarts of Aeroshell, a few random magnetos, two Stearman props, a red spinner and, among other things, a radiator that will cool the Curtiss OX-5 V-8 engine that will power Sachs 1928 Waco GXE, which he is currently restoring. The Waco s truly stunning navy blue and orange fuselage sits nearly complete on the floor near the work bench. When Sachs is finished with it, the airplane will be almost entirely stock. And yes, for you Waco aficionados, he does plan to use the original Curtiss engine. When the Curtiss OX-5 was introduced in 1915, it became the world s first massproduced airplane engine despite its reputation for being less than reliable. Sachs has modified the engine with electronic ignition (the FAA even approved it) in hopes of keeping the prop turning with the dependability you want in an engine propelling such a beautiful, classic airplane. In 1930, this was the most common airplane in the United States, explains Sachs. And of the ones flying this horrible ol engine, there are probably seven or eight in the whole country right now, and that s all. Although well into retirement, Sachs stays busy in his shop. He performs around 15 annuals each year, and he makes a habit of completely restoring or rebuilding one airplane per year. Over the last few years, he has turned out a Waco, two Stearmans, three Piper Cubs and various assorted Citabrias, Scouts and Champs. Sachs regularly gives airplane rides to kids through the EAA s Young Eagles program, and throughout the 20 years he has owned his Stearman, he has introduced over 1000 people to the pure joy that is flying around in a World War II era, open cockpit biplane. There are very few times it goes up and stays straight-and-level, says Sachs. He pauses and begins to smile. It does have an extra set of seat belts because we do a lot of aerobatics and I don t want the kids to fall out. I don t want anybody to fall out. The paperwork would be awful. Fortunately Sachs hasn t lost anyone yet, and, he adds, essentially no one lands without a smile on their face, even when they got what they weren t expecting. Take, for instance, the day Sachs spent most of the afternoon giving rides to guests at an airpark neighbor s wedding. It had been a long day of flying when the groom s 80-year-old mother showed up and wanted a ride in the Stearman. Sachs agreed and, once in the air, he asked if she would like to do some aerobatics. OK, was her only reply. That s a strange answer, thought Sachs, so he asked again just to be safe. He got the same response, so he began to wring the airplane out. After a few minutes, Sachs and the old lady landed and her son came running up to the airplane.

8 Why were you doing that, he asked, amazed that Sachs had done anything beyond simply flying straight and level with his 80-year-old mother. I asked your mom if she wanted to do aerobatics, replied Sachs. She didn t have her hearing aid in, exclaimed the son. She didn t have a clue what you were saying! Sachs is pretty sure she enjoyed the ride. Of all the rides he has given, Sachs has confirmed that at least two kids began to seriously pursue careers in aviation. It is almost certain that, in a time where flying is as expensive and prohibitive as it has ever been, those kids are dreaming of a career like Sachs. Come to think of it, Sachs isn t just one of the luckiest pilots on earth, he is one of the luckiest people in general. Most of my flying has been a heck of a lot of fun, he says. It s been an incredibly fun career. I can t imagine doing anything that could be as rewarding. FLABOB NEWS (news from our sister airport located in Riverside, CA) Flabob Antique Airplane Association Clubhouse by Jon Goldenbaum Flabob s Antique Airplane Association Chapter recently completed the renovation of

9 an airport office to be used as a new headquarters and clubhouse. The two room office suite had been in decay for years and was suitable only for rough storage. The Flabob AAA chapter was formed over 40 years ago by Flabob aviation notables including Ray Stits, Ed Marquart and Bill Hill; but interest decreased and it eventually became inactive. Flabob s rebirth after Tom Wathen s purchase of the airport ten years ago led to renewed interest in antique airplanes. Soon, numerous vintage airplanes were restored on the field and the population of antiques grew. Enter Mark Lightsey, who s well known Aerocraftsman restoration shop moved to Flabob and began cranking out award winning Travel Airs, Waco s and Stearmans. Mark, assisted by former San Diego AAA chapter president Don Pops Newman had the vision of re-activating the chapter and a year ago the charter was re-issued. The chapter immediately set out to improve the grass infield as a grass runway suitable for operating antiques with long time Flabobian Travis Gammill taking charge as grounds keeper. Soon the chapter s primary goal of establishing a large antique fly-in at Flabob resulted in the highly successful Flabob Flying Circus with over 120 vintage aircraft participating. The success of the Flying Circus insured that it will now become a major southwest annual event. The Chapter realized it needed a permanent location for meetings and venue for Flying Circus headquarters, so they negotiated with the airport to secure the derelict office in return for the chapter taking on a full facility restoration. Two months after starting the project, the place looks new with fresh drywall, tile flooring, paint, windows, complete re-wiring and furniture to include a me eting area, conference room, bar and lounge. Mark your calendar for next year s Flying Circus: Sept 26th through 29th then stop by for a tour of the new Flabob AAA clubhouse. For more information go to STORY OF JOHN ORR A couple of months ago I received a visit from two special pilots - Johnny Orr, Jr. and Charlie Weems. Both of them had a story to tell. Johnny worked at the original Candler Field for Beeler Blevins. Beeler Blevins had built the second hangar on Candler Field around 1925 and Johnny worked for Blevins beginning in After working a full week, Johnny had the option of working the weekends. In exchange, he got to fly 1 hour in a J-3 Cub. He also earned time in a Monocoupe in exchange for keeping the airplane clean. In 1955, Johnny was hired at Eastern Airlines flying the Martin 404. He recounted stories of flying the old radio range approaches. Johnny brought me pictures and stories about another early aviation pioneer - Colonel Emmett Plunkett. Plunkett started

10 his career with the famous Mable Cody Flying Circus. His story will be shared in a future article. Along with Johnnie was another notable pilot - Charlie Weems. I have known Charlie for quite some time but did not realize his aviation accomplishments. Charlie was the very first pilot for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. The bureau eventually acquired 10 airplanes mostly Cessna 172's, Cessna 182's, and Cessna 210's. They were used widely for surveillance. Charlie ended up being the Chief Pilot for the Bureau prior to his retirement. Left to right - Charlie Weems, Johnny Orr, Jr., Johnny Orr 4th. ENGINE DONATED Museum member Don Swords, owner of Don's Dream Machines, built up a mock Continental 65 engine to display at the museum. As you can see from the picture below the engine is absolutely perfect. Bill Hammond mounted the engine on the stand shown so that it can be moved and properly displayed. Our thanks to Don for this donation.

11 For more information on Don's Dream Machines please go to EASTERN AIRLINES NEWSLETTERS Museum member Skipper Hyle brought a stack of old Eastern Airlines newsletters to me several months ago. They date back to the first days of Eastern. The collection belonged to Skipper's grandfather Frank Isreal Cauthorn. Skipper recounts his grandfather's days with Eastern below. "Frank Cauthorn was born in 1912, one of seven brothers. They all lived upstairs above Cauthorn's Store at the corner of Charles City Road and Miller's Dairy Road in the eastern end of Henrico County, outside Richmond, VA. The store had been there since the end of the Civil War and was the typical country store that sold everything. Finishing school at the 8th grade he helped around the place as kids were expected to do. In 1927, after Lindbergh, the city and the county decided they needed an airport and took Miller's Dairy about a mile down Charles City Road, it was one of the places Lindbergh stopped when he toured the country. About the same time, Harold Pitcairn was awarded CAM 19 and Richmond became a stop.

12 In 1928, Sid Shannon was the station manager (later to retire as VP, Operations, Eastern Air Lines) and offered this kid (grandpa) a job since he would leave the mule in the field and help turn the mail planes anyway. So, he became a mechanic's apprentice. In 1930, Mr. Pitcarin sold the mail routes to GM and they became Eastern Air Transport. In 1932 he got his A&E (airplanes had engines then). A&E is a misnomer, they did what was needed. From loading, deicing (manually), pushing up the airstairs, parking, and fixing the airplanes. Somewhere in there, his little brother, Mike, was also hired at Richmond station. Mike did 32 years, retiring as Station Manager of Cleveland. Grandpa lived off the end of runway 16 and would walk down the railroad tracks to the airport for work. In 1949 he was transferred to Miami and soon after moved out of line maintenance to the Engine Shop. There he stayed until 1972 when he was retired medically. He worked on the PA-5 and the DC-3 hanging in the NASM when they flew the line and the last aircraft he worked on was the L1011, so all the way from open-cockpit biplane to TriStar." We are in the process of scanning all of these newsletters and placing them on our website. Please visit and click on the Candler Field Museum and go to Photos and Old Documents section to view these newsletters. CANDLER FIELD FLYING CLUB The Candler Field Flying Club will have its quarterly safety meeting on Saturday February 16th at 10:30 AM in the library at Candler Field Museum. All members should plan to attend. If you have any interest in joining this active flying club you are also welcome to attend. For more information on Candler Field Flying Club please go to JENNY UPDATE

13 Most of you know that we are rebuilding a Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny" that will reside at the Candler Field Museum. Brian Karli sent me this picture last night showing the latest progress. We hope to fly the airplane in the late spring or early summer. If you would like to see Brian's blog and a detailed discussion of the construction of the airplane please go to : FACEBOOK PAGE Please CLICK HERE and go to our Facebook page. Click on the "Like" button and you will receive museum updates when we update the page. This is a very effective way for us to communicate with you.

14 Barnstormer's Grill has a new menu. Please visit and try our new items. We also do catering. Let us host your next event or cater it onsite. go to