April Meeting
The next meeting will be held Wednesday, April 25th at 7:30 PM in hangar J3-110. The topic of the meeting will be the Light Sport Aircraft rules and regulations
Beginning around 5:00 PM at hangar J3-110, Bruce Samulin will be showing the Evector SportStar LSA.
 
 
President’s Message
This past month I talked with people interested in both ends of the aircraft spectrum: Light Sport Aircraft (LSA), and high performance single engine.

The LSA interest comes from both those wanting to learn to fly and those who are worried about passing an FAA physical examination and the “Catch 22” rule that states you can not have an FAA physical denied.

Paul du Kor and I have been looking into the LSA market with the idea of starting some sort of club or training center.

This month’s meeting will give everyone a chance to look and perhaps fly the Evector SportStar. Bruce Samulin will bring his aircraft down from Vandenberg for the event which will start at 5 PM at my hangar J3-110.

At 7:30 PM he will give a brief talk about the new LSA rules and regulations. In order to save him some time for the trip back home Bruce will give his presentation before our regular meeting.

Another advantage of having an airplane like this available to members is that the airplane feels similar to the Van’s series of aircraft.

It would also be an ideal aircraft for the Young Eagle program.

As with other informational presentations we have had recently, this meeting is on the FAA’s SPANS network. Chapter members need not register for these meetings since they are built into the program.

At the other end, I spoke with Fred Goldman this morning about a group of pilots getting together in a high performance aircraft. Fred has a lot of time in Mooney’s.

I will continue to look at our Yahoo Group to help spread the word. If you have not signed up yet, please respond to the invitation I sent to everyone on the EAA 190 Web Site. If you have not received an invitation, go to www.yahoogroups.com and search for eaa180.

When I can, I will begin to add every one to the list. You can elect to get individual messages, a daily summary, or manually going to the group web site. As long as everyone stays civil and limits their posts to aviation related matters, the forum will be un-moderated.

I’ll be happy to assist if you have any problems.

Martin Sobel
President EAA 180
 
 
 
 
EAA FLIGHT ADVISOR PROGRAM
Amateur-Built Fatal Accidents in FY05 and FY06

The FAA Office of Accident Investigation recently provided the following information:

Most fatal accidents occurred during VMC in the warm weather months.

First and second flights accounted for 6% of fatal accidents
Loss of control was the most common cause for each year
17 (40%) in FY06
34 (55%) on FY05

25% of accidents in amateur-builts were fatal vs. 18% for all of GA.

This data drives home the need for the Flight Advisor program and transition training.

I’ll discuss the Flight Advisor Program in next month’s newsletter
 
.Minutes of the March Meeting
The meeting was held at several hangars on the northwest side of SRQ:

President Martin Sobel opened the meeting at 7:41pm. 31 members and guests were present. Martin presented service awards to the chapter's officers from last year, Blaise Pierson, Chip Miller, Frank Hurlburt, Ray Whiting and Martin Sobel.

Treasurer's Report: Treasurer Brad Smith reported no new expenses, and about 50% of the members have paid their dues for 2007. Martin added we are looking to put some of the chapter money into investments that would yield more interest.

Secretary's Report: The minutes of the February meeting was approved as printed online in the chapter newsletter.

Young Eagles: Chip Miller reported 24 kids received flights at last month's event. Two aircraft were used for the flights, Curt Eskew's and a Mooney.

Builder Reports: Brad Smith is installing the fuel pump selector switch on his RV-6A. The skins are complete, with work being done on the floor and hooking up the brakes. He is getting ready for the canopy. Mike Weed is working on the firewall forward of his RV-6A. Vance Noles reports his RV-7A is ready to take to the airport. Robert Mueller's Sonex has the skin on the left wing fitted, and he is doing the dimpling. Rob Brooke is putting a turbo on his Tiger Moth's Suzuki engine. Jim Ellis has polished his RV-9A to a mirror finish. Earle Swan is bonding the canopy of his RV-8. The next step is bolting it on. Frank Hurlburt is building the electrical system for his Lancair IV, and is beginning the panel. He says there is 'a lot of wiring to do'. John Schussler recently flew his Pulsar XP to Savannah. He has been flying it for 6 years and has put 400 hours on it. Siggy Feurersanger has completed stage one restrictions in his Zodiac with 42 hours on it now.

Martin reported the SRQ board has been discussing the noise of departures on runway 32.

Sun 'n Fun: Martin, Frank, and the chapter's attorney have met concerning the dispute with the Sun 'n Fun management. Martin explained the current situation to the newer members.

Blaise Pierson says it's 'crunch time' for the chapter's involvement in the Mid-Atlantic Fly-in. Blaise and Frank will be flying up a week before the event starts. We are still needing volunteers to help out. Free RV and aircraft parking will be given to volunteers. Both Blaise and Frank believe we have enough tie downs for this year's event.

Martin reported the Chapter 180 Yahoo internet group is up to 23 members.

Phil Agnes says Henry Schlossing's BD-5 project and Kestrel project are up for sale. Phil also has a helicopter for sale.

The remainder of the evening was touring member hangars to see their ongoing projects and completed aircraft.
Respectfully submitted,
Rolf Bostrom, Secretary