February 2005 Edition Chapter #407

 

                                                             www.eaa407.org

 

South East Idaho Officers:

    Austin Moses, President

    Gary Shipley, Vice President

    Pete Stewart, Secretary

    Harold Mothersill, Treasurer/Website

    Dale Cresap, Newsletter

 

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 FROM YOUR EX-PRES:

         For those of you who were not at the last (January) meeting you will see in the minutes of that meeting that Chapter 407 honored me for being your president for the past two years.  A very nice quartz clock inscribed "Hal Johansen, 2003-2004 President, EAA Chapter 407" was presented to me and now resides atop my computer monitor.

         I wish to not only thank everyone for that honorarium, but additionally recognize that our achievements over the past two years were due to an incredibly supportive group of officers, chairpersons and members.  People were unhesitating in giving their time and talents to make our activities a success.  We not only achieved our stated strategy of improving communications and member participation, but much more.  As for me personally: Any efforts I put forth were amply rewarded by working with dedicated folks who "stepped up to the plate".

Very Best Regards and Thanks,  Hal Johansen

 

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E.A.A. Chapter 407

Minutes of January 18, 2005

I.S.U. Hanger, Pocatello, Idaho

                                                                       

 

The meeting was called to order at 6:30 P.M. by our new President, Austin Moses.  This meeting was held in conjunction with the FAA Safety Presentation about the new Sport Pilot Regulations.

Twenty members were present.  Austin reviewed this years schedule of meetings which are posted on the website.  The only change to date is that Williams International, manufacturers of the Williams jet engines in Ogden, has declined our request for a visit in May in conjunction with the proposed trip to the Hill AFB Museum.  Members were advised of the new Go Fly Magazine

 

During a January 9th the executive committee meeting the suggestion was made that during each meeting a member be asked to recount a brief history of his/her flying during the next meeting.  In keeping with this suggestion, Austin asked Hal Johansen if he would regale us with his flying experiences.

 

Hal’s interest in flying started when he was a child in Minnesota.  He never missed an opportunity to visit with the barnstormers that visited his area.  During WW II he trained with the Army Air Corps and at the age of 19 became a B-17 pilot.  He was never deployed overseas and after the War pursued and received an Aerospace Engineering Degree.  He worked for Aerojet for 20 years, both in California and at the site in Idaho.  During his time with Aerojet in California he and 9 other pilots bought and flew a Waco.  After his retirement from the Site here in Idaho, he bought a Lancair Kit and completed it in 4 years, that was in 1992.  Always looking for more speed, he bought another Lancair, this one a 360 hp, in 1995 and completed it in another four years in 1999.  He is presently working on a Hatz Biplane and expects to have it flying some time this year.

 

In recognition of his years of dedication to the EAA, and especially as president for the past two years, Hal was presented with a plaque honoring his service.

 

Bill Smith won the “bring a buck” drawing - again!

 

The February 19 meeting will be held at Aero Mark in Idaho Falls. An Airport Tower operator will give a presentation.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 7:00 PM

 

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Dues are Due. $24

 

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Winter Preflight Blues

 

I have a sudden opportunity to take my son Jesse flying. He is available, and a call to Hart Aviation confirms the Tomahawk is available in Rexburg. I gather my stuff and we drive there to find 3 taildraggers in the pattern.

 

The plane is in a snowbank. Lewis Hart tries to pull it out with a small tractor, without success. The wheels are frozen to the ground, and the brakes packed with snow. The three of us rock it back and forth to free it, and finally it can be towed to the hangar where it can thaw out. The heat in the hangar softens the snow so it can be removed without damaging the plane. It doesn't help that the flaps were left down. This makes a gap that is full of ice and snow. The battery is dead also. It is frozen and will not take a charge. Lewis finds another one to replace it. He thinks this is too much work for short flight, but is a good sport about it.

 

Eldon Hart (89, father of Lewis) comes out with a screwdriver to remove ice chunks from the wing.  Jesse moves to assist, but I motion to him not to. I suspect that Lewis will not approve, and I am correct. I don't want him yelling at my son. He can make his own peace with his dad.

 

Finally the plane is thawed out. The fuel and oil are OK. Lewis and I agree that the worst that could happen with the flaps is that they would freeze in the up position, which is not serious, but Jesse is having misgivings about all these delays and problems. I note that the tires are low, and find an air tank, but not a nozzle.  Lewis says it will be OK, go ahead and fly anyhow. Jesse and I get buckled in and crank it over. It will barely turn. I go to get Lewis again, and he comes out to hand prop us, at which time he hears a noise in the spinner. He gets a screwdriver and removes it, breaking a bit in the process. Inside the spinner were 2 large chunks of ice. Who knew? In the course of conversation it comes out that this plane has not been flown in 2 months, and is parked out in the weather. Lewis says, ‘this poor plane’, and I am beginning to feel uneasy about flying it over the mountains.

 

Lewis replaces the spinner, and tries to hand prop us again, no luck. Then he goes to get a truck and jumper cables. This works about as well as the weak battery and we finally decide to call it off. Much effort for no flying, but perhaps I don’t want to be the first one to fly this plane under these circumstances.

 

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Balance Sheet

 

ASSETS

      Cash and Bank Accounts

            EAA 407 Checking Account            1,190.11

            2 Year CD                           4,000.00

            ISU Savings                            25.00

                                                --------

      TOTAL Cash and Bank Accounts              5,215.11

 

LIABILITIES & EQUITY

      LIABILITIES                                   0.00

      EQUITY                                    5,215.11

                                                --------

TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY                      5,215.11

 

 

            Profit & Loss Statement

 

INCOME

      Calendar Sales                              195.00

      Dues                                        192.00

      Raffle                                      13.00

                                                --------

  TOTAL INCOME                                    400.00

 

EXPENSES

      Website                                      147.87

  TOTAL EXPENSES

                                                ---------

TOTAL INCOME – EXPENSES                            252.13

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