August, 2003 Edition                  

 

Chapter # 407                                                www.eaa407.org

                        South East Idaho

 

 

Officers and Contacts:

          Hal Johansen, President                            522-7297              haledie@ida.net

        John Bakken, Vice President                    238-0754              bakkjohn@isu.edu

          Harold Turvey, Secretary/Treasurer        785-2552              happyharold@cableone.net

          Austin Moses, Newsletter                          684-3922              mosescpa@srv.net

          Greg Miller, Webmaster                                                        gvm@cableone.net

 

 

NEXT MEETING: Saturday, August 16, 11:30 A.M.

Hoffs Rainbow Ranch Airport (10623 S. Hoff Lane, Idaho Falls).

 

       This is a POTLUCK barbecue and hopefully ICE CREAM SOCIAL so as they say “Bring your Grandmothers favorite dish to share” with your friends”. 

I.                            Bring your own item to barbecue as well as your table setting.  In case you forget we can probably find some plastic utensils and a plate. Grill(s) will be provided as will liquid refreshments courtesy of your Chapter.

II.                          Jerry Philips, Special Activities Committee Chirman, is looking for volunteers to produce their homemade ice cream for this gathering so call him at 523-3981.  I know from years past that there are many good homemade ice cream recipes lurking in the files of our members so step up to the plate, Call Jerry!.

III.                    Fly-In O.K. - Bob and Jane said you may fly your airplane to this event, landing on their neat grass runway (CTAF 122.8)

          So there You have it: Potluck, Barbecue, Ice Cream, Fly- In, socialize with your fellow aviation enthusiasts.  LIFE IS GOOD!! 

 

 

 


 

From the Prez: 

 

Lancairs to Alaska:

 

          Chuck Werner and I recently went as a flight of two to Alaska and back.  Chuck is president of Chapter 157 in Redding, CA and built and flies a Lancair 360 which he completed in 1992. (He and I have previously gone as a flight of two to Sun n’Fun, Oshkosh, etc). We flew GPS direct between airports except when low ceilings dictated we follow the Alaskan Highway.  It was a bit nostalgic for me as I worked on building a section of the original highway in 1942,  but since Lancairs move  faster than heavy earth moving equipment the nostalgia was rather short lived.  Tach time to Fairbanks and back was 22.2 hours.  We tried to land at as many different airports along the way as we could. Chuck keeps a “diary” of his airplane travels and invariably has a person at each airport sign his “log” along with their business card if available.  If anyone is interested in reading his diary of this trip advise me and I will e-mail it to you or print a copy.  Flying to Alaska was a great experience and we saw  Alaska from Fairbanks to Seward.   Had breakfast at The Northernmost Denny’s In The World.

 

B & B :  Badges & Bucks

 

If you fail to turn in your name tag badge at the end of a Chapter meeting be sure to bring it to the next meeting, and wear it.  I noticed at the last meeting that a couple of our stalwart members were not wearing theirs and I warned them they might hear about it in the next newsletter.  Not to mention any names but how about it John & Frank!!

          The Bring A Buck/ Win a few Bucks program is doing nicely so be sure to participate by bringing your dollar bill.

                                                                             Hal

 

From the Mailbox:

Dear Sir,
 
I am volunteering with the Historic Wendover Airfield airshow for 2003.  The airfield is hosting our 3rd annual airshow in with the support of the Utah EAA chapter.  I would like to extend an invitation to all of the Snake River Valley EAA members to fly over to Wendover for the September 20th airshow. 
 
You can review our musuem site at www.wendoverairbase.com as well as a planned schedule of events for the airshow.  If everything looks good to you please let your chapter members know about our event.  Additionally, we would love to have any warbird come and be a part of the static display if anyone is so inclined.
 
Thank you,
 
Thomas Petersen

 


Mountain Home Open House

 

Mountain Home AFB is having an open house and the Thunder Birds on September 14. Should be a good show.   Mike Nitzel, a pilot friend of mine,  is waiting to hear if he can fly in.  I will keep you informed. 

 

Jerry Phillips

 

Arco Air Show Report

 

Mary Ellen and Jerry Phillips volunteered for EAA 407 at the air show on Saturday and Sunday July 26th and 27th.  On Saturday there were two teenagers from Arco who helped us.  We sold $1700 worth of soft drinks, water, candy and frozen Minute Maid Lemonade and Strawberry deserts. 

 

On Sunday we sold $2700 worth of goodies.  Mary Ellen and Jerry were on their own until their two sons, Ben and Craig and their two friends came into watch the air show.  They all were recruited and everybody was working for a while since we were so busy. 

 

The air show was great especially the Blue Angles – they were worth going to the show.  We also enjoyed the F-117 flyby. 

 

Our club should get some money from the sales.  Part of the profits are shared with the Arco Chamber and with our club.    I will keep you informed of any money we received. 

 

Jerry Phillips.

 

 


RADIO RODEO

 

I recently completed a very time consuming radio project on the mighty Apache, N64M, which I undertook because of the demands of training for the Multi-commercial-instrument check ride.  The equipment in the aircraft at the time of purchase was marginal for VFR and completely unacceptable for an IFR training regime.  This realization led to the afore mentioned very time consuming radio project.

 

In this installment I want to share some of the resources that I turned to in order to acquire the minimum IFR equipment in my price range.  My first stop was my local FBO.  I got permission to go to their bone yard and see what was available.  I was very lucky.  They had a Narco Nav 121 that needed some repairs.  They also had a couple of other key pieces of the puzzle.  These were a Narco 810 com and a Trimble TLN 2000 panel mount GPS unit.

 

A word about Narco and their repair policy.  Not long ago Narco ceased supporting their dealership network and had all their equipment sent to the factory for repairs.  My mentor, John Bakken, had very good luck some time back with this protocol, but times have changed.  Turn time can be as much as 10 weeks.  If one works that into the plan, if you have a plan, the 10 weeks is okay.  I was not enamored with the 10 week wait because I was thinking AOG: now or right now!  That being said, I endured two experiences with Narco and feel like I have good recent background that others might be interested in knowing.

 

I still needed a piece of equipment that could do an ILS.  KX155!  In a perfect world I would have two of these in the panel and that would be the end of the story.  My price range was not quite at that level.  I happened to be in Idaho Falls for the monthly EAA meeting and strolled down the hall and asked Andy Andrews, owner of IA Tech, Inc., if he had any units in the bone pile.  “Wish I had a few, everybody want one!” was his reply.  He opened up his computer and went to Ebay and found three units.  “Buy this one” he said.  I took his advice and started bidding on the unit.  I will admit I was skeptical about using Ebay for aircraft parts and equipment.  As the closing time approached the price started to rise to a more realistic level.  Bidding started around twenty dollars, and did not stay there long.  I had been advised to really focus on the last five minutes of the bidding.  Old Murphy knocked me offline with not much time left, and I scrambled to get back to the Ebay site and make my last bid. 714.00 dollars later I owned a Narco Nav 122.  The sellers turned out to be Orlando Avionics in Orlando Florida.  They did not want to mess with the Narco guys and chose to sell this unit at auction.  I had them drop ship it to the Narco Factory and you guessed it, nine weeks later the unit was in my hands.

 

The last piece of the puzzle was a KLN26 audio panel with marker beacon and built in intercom.  The guys as Western Aircraft Avionic in Boise have a fairly large stock, from time to time, of take outs and other things.  This unit made the trip from Switzerland in a new Pilatus and was promptly taken out and put on the shelve.  This like new unit had a 8130 airworthiness tag and is more that I had hoped for.

 

If I had the money I would have put matching KX155s and had them installed.  My only involvement would have been, “call me when your done!”  Like most people, what I want and what I get, is often not the same.  That is the case here.  I spent months digging and scrounging and shopping for the equipment I needed, at a price I could afford.  My partners and I agreed on each of the transactions and I contacted the FSDO to get approval.  That process is the most difficult in our litigious times.  Article number two will address some of the challenges of getting approval in certified aircraft by the folks at FSDO.

 

My advice to others who are trying to find equipment is this: look everywhere.  Ask lots of people questions.  I still think Ebay is a crap shoot, but it worked for me.  Your local airport can be a hiding place for removed equipment.  The area shops have used stuff lying around, but the question is does this equipment meet your needs.  Western Aircraft in Boise has a large Avionic shop, and from time to time has the stuff that is in demand.  The Nav 121, and especially the 122 were not very plentiful in Trade-a-Plane and other trade magazines.  A yellow tagged 121 is 1495.00, and the Nav 122 is 1995.00 any day of the week.  If you can find one.  For under 1000.00 you can get a variety of audio panel options, your choice.  It is the same with the Narco 810.  Most any day of the week they can be found with yellow tag for under 1000.00.  I shopped and scrounged and bartered my way to an out of pocket total of less than 3000.00 dollars.  I feel lucky.  I also worked night and day for many weeks putting this installation together.  That is also another story, part 3.

 

I hope that sharing this information with the members will help provide usable information in our quest for the ultimate radio installation.

 Thanks,

Gary Shipley in Pocatello.

 

Chapter Minutes

 

E. A. A. Chapter 407

July 19, 2003

Idaho Falls, Idaho

 

 

The group met at 9:30 a.m. at The Red Baron terminal building, and walked a short distance to the hanger of Tom Piper.  Tom has been building a metal Murphy Rebel for the past 11 years.  It has a Subaru Legacy engine with 180 h.p., and will spin a 74" electrically adjustable prop.  It is planned to have 40 gallons of fuel available.  It appears to be nearing completion.  Next stop was at the garage of Brad Fell, to see his metal RV 6 that is under construction.  The wings appeared to be finished, and were standing against the wall, while the fuselage was on stands being worked on.  The final stop was at the home of our chapter President, Hal Johansen.  There on display was a Hatz Classic, which is of wood and fabric construction.  The 4 wing halves and fuselage appear to have been mostly completed, and waiting to be covered.

(The following are my personal impressions of the tour.  I was amazed at the quality of work done by all of the builders.  There were improvements made to the original designs to make things better and/or safer.  It takes a lot of dedication to follow through on such a task, and I am now aware that I do not possess the patience needed for such a project.  I will be happy to sign a check and yell “clear prop” if that day ever comes.  As for this year, I will be driving to Oshkosh.  My hat is off to these and others who have undertaken such a large adventure.  You continue to carry on the tradition of flying for fun.)

After the tour was complete, we were treated to some fine hot dogs, cooked under the watchful eyes of Jerry Phillips, along with salads, drinks, and condiments.

The business meeting was called to order by President Hal Johansen at 1:02 p.m.  The minutes of the June 21st meeting as posted on the eaa407.org website were approved.  Jerry Phillips was thanked as well others in making the BBQ a fun happening.  August 16th will be the next meeting, at Bob Hoff’s Rainbow Ranch.  Please check the eaa407.org website for details.  The Bring-A-Buck drawing was then held, with the winner being Jerry Phillips.  Meeting was then adjourned at 1:09 p.m.  (Special note: there are five 2002 calendars as well as six 2003 calendars left over.  Hal said donations will be accepted on a first come first served basis at the next meeting.)