October Meeting
The next meeting will be held Wednesday, October 24th at 7:30 PM at McClure Auditorium.
The B-17 is coming, so we will be organizing that and watching The Memphis Bell
 
President’s Message
 
Rarely do we have a chance to interface with the general public…that is people who are not members of the EAA or who have little knowledge in aviation matters.
With the arrival of the “Aluminum Overcast” next month, we have an opportunity to show the general public who we are.
 
So, I am attempting to put a program together that will allow us to show off our wares. To help pull this off, we need as many guys and gals helping as we can. There will be lots of questions from the public and hopefully the press.
I would like to have several aircraft on static display. These will include amateur built and hopefully a few LSA’s.
 
I would like a table manned with information about the EAA and also our Young Eagles Program.
 
In association with this year’s media event on PBS, Ken Burn’s “The War,” I am hoping to have a few flyers from that era speak and answer questions at the Dan P. McClure Auditorium. If anyone knows of someone who flew during the War, please let us know.
Andrew Ghorski has volunteered to speak. This time I hope to get him on videotape. For those who missed his talk a few months ago, this will be a chance to catch up. As a 19-year-old escapee from Siberia, where his family was exiled, he managed to find his way to Great Britain and qualify as a Lancaster Bomber Commander.
 
Last time the B-17 was in town, we received very little publicity. The chapter still made a bit over $2,000. This year we should do much better. I have had several conversations with both EAA and the publicity firm that is helping with the tour.
The airplane should be arriving at around noon on November 12th. A press flight is scheduled for 1:00 PM.
 
The schedules for the 13th and 14th are available on the yahoo group web site under "Files". See the B-17 Folder. In it are two files, a Word file with the schedule, and a pdf file that serves as a poster. Print the word file on to the poster and you have the poster and the information about the tour stop at SRQ.
 
Double clicking on each file will download it to where ever you’ve selected files to go.
Addition information may be found on: www.b17.org  and www.b17.org/tourstops.
 
The aircraft ferries to Lakeland on the 15th. There are 10 seats we can use, but we have to find our way back to SRQ. I think we did this two years ago.
 
I thought that our program would be the movie “Memphis Belle.” Our B-17 was probably one of the stars of the movie.
 
See you at the meeting
 
B-17 Visit
In case you haven't heard, the EAA B-17 will be at SRQ November 13-14. Chapter 180 is once again sponsoring the visit, so we’re going to need volunteers to help out. Plan to sign up at the meeting.
 
Some Days are Better than Others
 
As I boarded the Embraer Regional Jet for my flight to Columbus, Ohio, I asked the pilot if he might do me a favor. As my girlfriend and I settled into our seats, the pilot made his initial announcements followed by a question to the passengers: “One of your fellow passengers is interested in how many of you are flying to Columbus to attend the Mustang Roundup” (aka The Gathering of Mustangs and Legends). Probably a dozen or so hands went up along with some “whoops” and “yeahs”. The next couple of days would be some to remember.
 
A cold front pushed through Columbus the day we flew up and ushered in perfect airshow weather. CAVU and mild temperatures for the Friday and Saturday shows we attended. After slogging through a healthy traffic jam Friday morning, we were greeted with row upon row of P-51’s. The official count was 75 P-51’s, 2 P-47’s, 2 P-38’s, 2 P-40’s, 1 P-63, 2 B-17’s, 2 B-25’s, 1 Lancaster, and just about every operational plane the Air Force has. Sensory overload for a 51 lover. Near the military vehicle collectors display I noticed a 51 parked on the grass. Extending out from the leading edge was a line of people. I soon realized that they were allowing folks to sit in the plane. I quickly altered my trajectory and staked a claim in the line. The P-51 was Quicksilver,
a mint restoration dedicated to all veterans. After waiting in line for about 40 minutes I got my turn. I was so overwhelmed that I barely remember anything, but I did get a couple photos. This demanded a call to my buddy back at work in Florida to ask him what he was doing…”um, filling out my timecard.” Haaaa! Yep, some days are better than others.
 
Other highlights of the show included touring one of only two Lancaster bombers still flying. My girlfriend managed to get a minute in the pilot seat while I looked on in envy. I was also able to talk with some of the Tuskeegee airman, WASP’s, other 51 pilots and aces, and a very interesting veteran who was staying at our motel. He had been stationed in Sarasota for a while instructing in P-40’s after flying P-51’s in Corsica. The daily airshows were very good and included flying of most types of the warbirds, aerobatic performers, F-16, F-15, and F-22 demos, the Thunderbirds, and of course P-51’s. Some of my favorite moments were the P-51 group run-ups and takeoffs. 20 or so Merlins running up, taxing by, and taking off one after another or in pairs is a sound not to be forgotten. Here’s a link to some video I took:
Be sure to check out the galleries on the Gathering of Mustangs and Legends webpage. Expect to see lots of articles in the near future about this event, and I know of at least one book that is being worked on.
 
EAA Ford Partner Program
 
EAA sent me a bunch of flyers about the Ford Partner Recognition X-Plan Vehicle Pricing. This covers all Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mazda and Volvo cars. Some products are not offered. I will bring them to the next meeting. But basically you get a PIN from Ford thru www.eaa.org. Log on to Members Only and select the Partner Recognition . From the Home Page menu select Get PIN. Visit a participating dealer and provide him with your EAA membership card and PIN. If anyone participates in this program, let us know how it turned out.
Martin
 
For Sale
 
Craftsman floor model drill press. Model 150, 15” swing. 1960’s vintage I think. Nice condition, tight spindle. $100
 
Couple of arbor presses, 1 ton II Phase brand and one that looks to be a 2 ton. $25 and $40.
 
Vans Tachometer sender. Transducer for systems with Vacuum Pump Equipped Engines (has an extension to clear the vacuum pump) Part Number = IE VTACHGEN 12
New in the box. $45
 
Vans Shunt for ammeter. Part Number = IE VAMSHUNT40
New in the box. $12

 
Mike 941-356-1318


Minutes From the September Meeting

President Martin Sobel opened the meeting at 7:35pm.  17 members and guests were present.

Secretary's Report:  The minutes of the August meeting were approved.
Builder Reports: Vance Noles expects to have his RV-7A ready for inspection 'one of these days'.  Jim Ellis is making improvements on his RV-9.

Young Eagles:  Chip Miller reported about a dozen kids attended the latest event.  He also told the group an article has been recently published in the Southwest Florida Parrot about our Young Eagle events.

Martin gave some details about the EAA's B-17 visit to Sarasota November 12-15.  Press day will be held on the 12th, with static display and rides the 13th and 14th.  The plane will be departing on the 15th.  Next month's program will be a video on the 'Memphis Belle'.

A break was taken for refreshments.

Scott Becker related a bit about his 4th year attending the Reno Air Races in Nevada, followed by a video of the 2006 Reno highlights.

Martin closed the meeting at 9:15pm

Respectfully submitted, Rolf Bostrom, Secretary.