M eadow Lak e Airport - C o l o r a d o S p r i n g s, C o l o r a d o. Pike s Peak Flyer. The Voice of EAA 72

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1 M eadow Lak e Airport - C o l o r a d o S p r i n g s, C o l o r a d o Pike s Peak Flyer The Voice of EAA 72 May 2008 Firecracker Home At Last By Pat Halloran Last summer a newly built replica of a 1930's air racer made an appearance at the annual Oshkosh air show. It was called the 'Schoenfeldt Firecracker" and the original had been a famous winner in a series of National Air Race contests. It was flown by a young Tony LeVier, later to become one of Lockheed's most famous test pilots. The replica is owned by Tom Wathen, who also owns Flabob Airport in California. He likes to build replicas of the Golden Age of Air Racing machines and this was his latest selection. I had been given the project by Tom and took it to my home in Colorado Springs where I had it built by Bruce and Evan McCombs, a gifted father and son team who do beautiful restoration work. The original plane had a high powered Super Buccaneer Menasco engine, but they are pretty much history so we had components from 3 inverted Ranger 200 engines which were used to build up a beautiful and superbly running engine. Tony had flown the original to 300 mph and I've had the replica close to 200 mph. I cruised the plane at about 175 mph TAS and burned 9-10 gph. We have 40 gallons of gas so it has a reasonable cross country capability. Three hours in that tiny cockpit was about all I could handle anyway. A word on how this plane flies. It has a very small tail and is as dynamically unstable as anything I've ever flown. It wants to go all sorts of places that I object to. The cockpit is cramped, uncomfortable, noisy and cold. You NEVER let go of the stick and you are also applying constant rudder corrections (Continued page 3) Ben Kelly How sad we all were to hear of Ben Kelly s sudden death. We have lost someone very special and are all so fortunate to have known him. Ben shown with Bob Hall photo by Richard Martin Goodbye dear friend!

2 S PAGE 2 Thanks to those who Contributed to this issue of the Newsletter: Important Dates: Next Meeting: May 20, 2008, Arrive 6:30 PM Bruce McCombs Little Wing Hot Web Links: NOAA Weather Virtual Flight Surgeons (VFS) Young Eagle 2008 Rally Schedule YE 2008 Goal 250 March 22 February 23rd* January 19* * Not a scheduled YE rally PIKE S PEAK FLYER THE VOICE OF EAA 72 Firecracker Home At Last in an attempt to keep the ball some place near the center. Any distraction in the cockpit, such as folding a map or making frequency changes in the radio (it's on the floor of course) is cause for great excitement. At the conclusion of the Oshkosh show it was decided to leave the plane there and then fly it to the Sun & Fun show in Lakeland, FL. in the spring. At the end of March I proceeded to Oshkosh where I prepared the plane for this very extended flight attempt. After a 4 day delay for weather, I headed south for a test leg to Terra Haute, IN. All went well so the next leg took me to Tullahoma, TN where weather forced a 3 day delay. It was also an opportunity for a first time visit to the fantastic Beech Stagger Wing Museum. It also just happened that the FBO at Tullahoma was a classmate of mine from Aviation Cadet class 50-E days in the Air Force. The next leg took me to Eufaula, AL and weather again forced an overnight stay. This happened to be the home of one of my early U-2/SR-71 pilot buddies so another free bed and breakfast was offered. The next morning I was able to finally head out on the last leg to Lakeland, but thunderstorms in northern FL required climbing the little racer to 11,000' to get around some of the fast building storms. Bad weather for the preceding week had blocked most Sun & Fun arrivals so when I arrived I found myself making the controlled entry procedures all by myself. They even let me land on the main (read wide) runway as visibility from this little machine is really, really bad. After an 8 day stay at Lakeland where I enjoyed the company of Ron Alexander and the Poly Fiber gang from Flabob, I headed out to California on what would be the final cross country test for both man & machine After all, when Tony was flying the original it was trailer'd between races and had only flown the conventional "go fast, turn left" patterns involved in racing. Anyway, I headed for Appalachicola, FL for my first stop and spent the night with an old U-2 buddy, the guy who discovered the missiles in Cuba. From there I headed for Hattiesburg, MS but had to make a diversionary landing at Mobile when a minor emergency developed. That was the place of highest gas prices...$5.57/gal!! After some corrective maintenance I headed for College Station, TX and a hotel. The next leg took me to Ft Stockton for fuel and then on to Santa Theresa Airport just west of El Paso. This was the worst leg of the whole flight as turbulence was extreme at every flight level and small, light planes aren't much fun in such conditions. It was also the location of the toughest landing as winds were 30, gusts to 45 and 30 degrees cross. It's the gusts that get you in a light plane! The next day I flew a comfortable flight to Tucson where I spent the night with my old SR-71 instructor pilot and then on into Riverside, CA for the delivery. Shortly after finishing the plane I modified it by putting a small lipstick" camera under the nose and a small video screen in the cockpit to help me see where I was going during takeoff and landing, or in an emergency. It is also great for taxiing. The main reason I did that was because I was concerned about eventually having to land on that 50' wide runway at Flabob. I would never have been able to make that approach with any confidence without the

3 MAY 2008 PIKE S PEAK FLYER PAGE 3 Young Eagles - We had some disappointed kids in April when we couldn t fly due to really strong winds. Let s hope for much better weather on for this one on May 24th. Everyone, please come out. Pilots and ground support, we need you all here. Bring the family and stay for the cookout. Electric Range - A big Thank you goes out to the Jennifer Patterson and family for the donation of an electric range and to John Lingwall and Richard Martin for getting it all hooked up. Jennifer needed a two ovens to keep up with all those wondercamera. You can't slip this plane with that tiny tail or it will snap on you (I discovered at 10,000' one day) so a straight in approach is pretty standard. A turning, navy approach on a wide runway also works fine. As I turned final at Flabob that last flight, I had a beautiful view of the full runway and an inviting centerline. God bless that camera!! President s Message ful treats she send over for us. Project Tour - The project tour is next month s meeting. We have a list of some folks that we are going to contact. If you would like us to visit your hangar, please let me know. This is one of our most popular programs because those thinking about starting a project get some first hand information about to get started and/or stay with it. AEFCO Summer Academy - Reminder that June 18-27th, several young people will be attending the academy daily from 8:30AM - 4:30PM. Extended Young Eagle flights will be appreciated. If you have time during the week days and can volunteer for those, please contact Richard ( / wemartin@sprintmail.com). Chapter Appreciation Picnic - Mark your calendars for June 21st for a chapter picnic. There will be more information coming but please hold that day open. It was a fascinating and challenging 3,000 mile trip and I'm sure Tony LeVier would have been dumbfounded to think that we would even attempt it. My hat is off to a guy named Stan Rackleff who, though no longer with us, had the vision of picking this particular airplane and starting the project 30 years ago at Flabob. And, also to Tom Wathen for making resources available to continue the project and to the Evan McCombs EAA Chapter 72 Fly-in 2005 McCombs who did the bulk of the work on building this beautiful replica. Let's go fly!! See you Tuesday, Date: May 20, 2008 Time: Arrive 6:30 Program starts at 7:00 PM Place: MLAA Hangar Address: Piper Lane (Map back page) Program: Bruce McCombs will be bringing his Little Wing over to the hangar. Some of you will remember the first time your saw it. He just waiting on the air worthiness certificate to take his first flight. Boy Scouts will be here and start serving dinner at 6:15 PM $5.

4 PAGE 4 PIKE S PEAK FLYER THE VOICE OF EAA 72 FOR SALE 1973 T18 N380G 1050TT 506TT on O-320-A38, Icom A200, HIS, O2 Sensor, Transponder, Ignition1 electronic, 1 mag. Seen at Oshkosh $22,000 Contact: Gil Gildersleeve ( 719) Lyc (160 hp), Warp Drive prop (4 blades), Hydro electric retract gear, numerous mods upgrades, always hangared. TTA&E only102 hrs SEAHAWKER AMPHIBIAN project This is a good solid amphibian which deserves a multi-lakes environment for a home instead of its current home in Colorado where seaplane water operations are illegal. $18,000 Contact: (719) , ask for "old salty" who has quit flying for medical reasons. ISON EROS W/ ROTAX 503 DCDI, OIL INJECTION, 50 TOTAL HOURS BUILT BY OWNER OVER A PERIOD OF 26 MONTHS IN AIRCRAFT RADIO PERMANENTLY INSTALLED IN INSTRUMENT PANEL DEGITAL INSTRUMENTS MECHANICAL BRAKES CHROM-MOLY LANDING GEAR STRUTS WARP DRIVE GROUND ADJUSTABLE PROP N NUMBERED AS EXPERIMENTAL HOMEBUILT TWO CANOPIES-CONVERTIBLE AND ENCLOSED ELECTRIC START AND STROBE LIGHT TWO FIVE GALLON WING TANKS WHEEL PANTS AND DROOPED WINGTIPS EXCELLENT CONDI- TION ISON EROS PRICE $9750 Contact: David Loucks ( 719) barlock74@msn.com

5 MAY 2008 PIKE S PEAK FLYER PAGE 75 Tuesday May 20, 2008 Saturday May 24, 2008 Chapter Events / Activities Unless noted otherwise, all meetings at MLAA Hangar (Map below) Chapter Meeting Arrive 6:30 Meeting 7:00 PM Bruce McCombs brings his Little Wing YOUNG EAGLE RALLY Launch Flights 8:30 AM EAA Chapter 72 Cookout - 11:00 AM Location for EAA Chapter 72 Meetings YE Rallies EVAN S AIRCRAFT BODY SHOP Since 1972 Aluminum, steel tubing, wood & composites our specialty. Complete recovering & painting. Build or rebuild from start to finish Judge Orr Rd Meadow Lake Airport Call Evan: Peyton, CO A Travel Advantage Joan Spratford, Owner (719) (800) Fax (719) MLAA Hangar Piper Lane EXECUTIVE MEADOW LAKE AIRPORT WANTED: Hangar space 00v or COS for RV-8 project. MARK S. SHOOK = mark@meadowlakeairport.com 8484 Cessna Drive Peyton, CO Cell (719) Office & Fax Please contact Paul Antoinette or pauleaa72ad@densmore.org. Paul Antoinette who is relocating back to Colorado Springs after a several year hiatus. Many thanks to Unni Pattippara January 2008 Phil Cable Wiring Your Plane. February 2008 Jerry Limoge, AME FAA Medical Issues.

6 MEA DOW L AKE AIRPORT - COLOR A DO SPRINGS, COLORADO Sandra Martin Newsletter Publisher 7505 Mallard Drive Peyton, CO Phone: (719) wemartin@sprintmail.com Visit our website: Next Meeting Tuesday May 20, 2008 Starts at 6:30 PM Chapter 72 Officers President: Sandy Martin Membership Chairman: Vice President: Steve Straka Vann Norred Secretary: Garret Myers Programs Director: Treasurer: John Read Joe Kuberka Newsletter : Sandy Martin Librarian: ssmartin2@fedex.com or Scott Benger wemartin@sprintmail.com Young Eagles Coordinators: Sandy Martin Technical Counselors/Advisors: Loyd Remus Burrall Sanders Fred Carter Flight Advisor: Burrall Sanders About Our Chapter EAA Chapter 72 meets at Meadow Lake Airport. Meetings start at 6:30 PM on the 3rd Tuesday of each month with a Chapter cookout the following Saturday most of the warm months April November. Look for the calendar of events to highlight special chapter events like Young Eagle Rallies, fly-outs, and all other chapter sponsored activities. The Chapter Newsletter is published monthly, normally mailed and available on the website a few days before each meeting. Readers are encouraged to contribute articles, photos, etc. by submitting them to the Newsletter Editor in hard copy , pen/ paper, as long as it s not verbal by the first Saturday of each month. Annual membership is $20. Send to Sandy Martin, at 7505 Mallard Drive, Peyton, CO and start receiving the newsletter each month, attending the meetings and having a great time with sport aviation.