The Aviator

Volume 19, Issue 1, January 2004

President’s Corner

Hello Everyone,

I hope everyone is staying warm. The cold weather has put a damper on so much. For our members who are trying to work on their projects or go flying, old Mother Nature has really made things difficult. Keep telling yourself spring isn’t too far off.
We had a very nice turn out for the January meeting. Dick Gunter, who was our guest speaker for the evening, gave a very nice talk on what is involved in painting an airplane. It was very interesting to listen to what is required in the various steps of just getting a plane ready to paint. He talked about his experiences at his paint shop and the planes that come in to be painted. The Chapter is invited to come up and visit him at his shop to see the process in action. We will try to set something up with Dick this spring.
Also at the January meeting, I had the pleasure of presenting the “Member of the Year Award for 2003”. This year’s award went to Tom Curcarese who has been a very active member of this Chapter, putting in a lot of hard work over the years.
Tom has also been very active in the Young Eagle Program, taking many young people up for their first rides. He has also graciously given many members rides over the years and even given free flying lessons. He has also been a Trustee for many years and been involved in many important Committees. Congratulations Tom. I would also like to thank Bill Van Nuys for getting the Plaque for this year’s award.
So with the cold weather and not much else to do, now is a good time to catch up on some of the Sport Aviation and Experimenter magazines. There will be some interesting changes occurring in aviation in the upcoming months and Don Green will try to keep you abreast of these. And by the way, Don has soloed. He has been taking flying lessons with Dinny Walford at Ohio County Airport. Now on to getting that Private Ticket.
In the upcoming months we are planning on many more interesting meetings.
If you have an idea for a meeting, let us know. I was told to keep this short, so I’ll leave you with this: bring some one new to a meeting and introduce them to aviation. And if you see someone new at our meeting, introduce yourself and make him or her feel at home.
Until next the meeting, stay warm
Dave

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President
- David Tulenko

304-748-0522
dtulenko*@weir.net

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Vice President
- Rick Ramsey

740–765-4827

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Secretary
- Tom Cucarese

740-266-9305
tictoc*@clover.net

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Treasurer
- Cathy Stiehler

740–266-9305
tictoc*@clover.net

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Newsletter Editor
- Don Green

304-723-4553
don*@123oy.com

Trustees

Dick Hawkins
304-723-2694

Dick Hazelip
740-544-5012

Bob Miller
330-532-2575

 

The Proposed Sport Pilot & Aircraft Category

Overall the sport-pilot proposal will make becoming a pilot and owning an aircraft more affordable and less time consuming for many people.

How will it make flying easier/more hassle-free for me?
New pilots seeking a sport pilot certificate will be able to learn how to fly powered aircraft (fixed-wing airplanes, weight-shift trikes, powered parachutes, gyroplanes, or airships) in as little as 20 hours of flight instruction, saving both time and money.
Student pilots currently working on a private pilot certificate will be able to apply their training toward a sport pilot certificate and operate under sport pilot privileges until such time as they choose to complete the requirements for a private pilot rating. All time logged as a sport pilot can be applied toward higher ratings.
Private pilots or higher with a current medical certificate and flight review can fly any light-sport aircraft in the categories and classes for which they are rated, creating more opportunities for them to own or rent light-sport aircraft.
A valid U.S. driver's license or a valid third-class medical will satisfy physical eligibility requirements for the sport pilot certificate.
SFAR 89 Section 73 (b)(1) says a Sport Pilot may not operate a Light-Sport aircraft at night.

How will the new light-sport aircraft category make it easier for me to own an airplane?

The sport pilot/light-sport aircraft (LSA) proposal would also create a new category of affordable aircraft-light-sport aircraft. It would establish two new airworthiness certificates:
" Special" light-sport aircraft; that is, aircraft sold ready-to-fly that could be used for flight training, rental, or personal flight, including personal flight instruction.
" Experimental" light-sport aircraft; that is, an aircraft sold in a kit form that could be used for personal recreational flight or personal flight training. However, the aircraft kit could be as much as 99-percent completed, with the owner only having to add placards or other minor parts.
Many would-be aviation enthusiasts find the cost of current type-certificated, ready-to-fly aircraft too expensive for their budgets. The new "special" LSA aircraft category will offer an opportunity for such individuals to buy new aircraft at prices substantially less than what is available in the current ready-to-fly market.

If I become a sport pilot, what can I fly?

A sport pilot can fly any aircraft that meets the definition of a light-sport aircraft (LSA). In the current proposal, a LSA is defined (note: the final rule may vary slightly from this definition) as a two-place, single-engine aircraft with:
A maximum gross takeoff weight of 1,232 pounds or less. (Note: A lighter-than-air LSA must have a maximum takeoff weight of 660 pounds or less.)
A maximum stall speed of 44 mph in the landing configuration AND a maximum stall speed of 51 mph with flaps retracted, if so equipped.
A maximum speed in level flight of 132 mph.
A fixed or ground-adjustable propeller.
A fixed landing gear, with the exception that seaplanes may have landing gear that can be rotated for amphibious operation.
An aircraft that meets this definition may hold an airworthiness certificate in any one of the following categories of FAA certification:
An Experimental aircraft, including amateur-built aircraft, for which the owner must construct more than 51-percent of the aircraft.
A Standard category aircraft; that is, a ready-to-fly aircraft that is type-certificated in accordance with FAR Part 43.category aircraft; that is, a ready-to-fly aircraft that is type-certificated in accordance with Primary category regulations.
A "special" light-sport aircraft or an "experimental" light-sport aircraft.

Information and further
http://www.sportpilot.org/
http://www.lightaircraftmanufacturersassociation.com/
http://www.eaa.org

News

Wheeling Airport Cookout, June 29 at 5 pm—Guest speakers include past world aerobatic champions Sean T. Tucker and Mike ?. This is always a spectacular event with great food and a lot of fun. Don’t miss this one - Ed

Cleveland Air show (www.clevelandairshow.com) - Sat. Sept 4th, Please contact Dean Haun (phaun@comcast.net) or tel: 304-748 8099 for reservations. More information will be available shortly.

Our Chapter Business meeting date will be the third Wednesday of each month.
Starting on Apri 21
Time 7:00pm
At the Airport.

If you are interested in aviation and don't receive the Avweb newsletter I highly recommend you take a look at it and subscribe. It is also free. So what is your national EAA organization doing? Please visit their website. If you have any comments or feedback about this newsletter or articles you would like to have included please let me know - Ed

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So You Want To Paint Your Plane!

Well, you should have been at the January meeting. Dick Guenther, owner of Dial Eastern States Aircraft Painting inc (DESAPI) from Harrison County Airport in Cadiz, an A&P, IA and CFI who has painted over 800 aircraft, kept us entertained and bemused with his anecdotes, stories and recommendations. He paints aircraft from as far west as Colorado and everywhere north of Florida. I hope this summary does a little justice for an exceptional evening. Thanks Dick.

So why would you want to paint your plane? To keep up with the Jones’s? No. Dick suggests you keep it simple so minor repairs are easier and cheaper, although he has done some very intricate work, make it look nice but do it to protect your investment and prevent corrosion. It all starts with an initial inspection with the owners. The cowlings, wingtips, ailerons, inspection covers among other things are removed and painted separately. Everything is evaluated and suggestions are made to what needs replacing. It is recommended that you wait at least a year after applying corrosion protection before painting.

Stripping:
Start by masking with Aluminum or 3M Blue vinyl tape about 2 inches away from the windows since paint stripper will damage them. Use only non acid, water soluble strippers such as a Hydrogen Peroxide. Dick uses a product called “Clean Strip” out of Vincennes, Indiana. He related a story about a company applying an acid stripper to a small jet and then the staff went home for the weekend. You can just guess as to the carnage by Monday. Subsequently the company shut down. (Mmm, this should make you think seriously when selecting a paint shop.) Use Methane Chloride “Clean Strip” and scrub and then remove with water. Dick says that he will use as much as a thousand gallons of water. Pressure washing is acceptable. The next step is to use Phosphoric acid to etch to clear and remove impurities. A stainless steel brush or Scotch Brite can be used to apply this. Avoid bead blasting or baking soda.

Preparing the surface:
Alodine, a chromic acid solution is applied to stabilize the metal, makes the primer stick better and prevents corrosion. After this the primer must be applied within 48 hours. The prep work is critical to getting a good paint finish and considering all these toxic chemicals and effort, a reputable paint shop (DESAPI) is certainly going to be easier and probably better than doing it yourself. At this point you will want to make sure the shop is spotless as any dust will ruin your day. It is also suggested to wet the floor and walls if possible to keep the dust down.

Priming:
An epoxy primer is recommended (e.g. Veraprime) since it will give a smooth, very strong and flexible finish and it also etches the surface giving an exceptionally good mechanical bond. A buildup of 3 to 5 mil is recommended. Avoid touching the surface with bare hands as the oil from your skin will cause problems with the top coat bonding.
A C-172 will require about 5.5 gallons of base paint.

Top Coat:
Within 24 hours of priming the top coat must be applied so a chemical bond occurs. If doing a single coat Dick suggests using DuPont Imron 500 Single Stage paint, but this is highly toxic containing isocyanate and the use of a fresh air system is an absolute must. Do the whole aircraft at the same time without stopping, then do the stripes within 72 hours so they chemically bond as well. If you plan on applying the same stripes as the aircraft had originally, then take photos beforehand for reference. Lay the stripes out by hand. All control surfaces and inspection plates should be painted separately. The control surfaces must be rebalanced when replacing . There are various ways to do this and a logbook entry must be recorded. Dick says he generally uses a spray gun pressure at about 50 to 60 PSI.

Small Dents:
Bodywork can be fixed with Polyester resin with an aluminum paste filler added.

Summary:
Dick can paint almost any design from buffalos to stripes. A small single aircraft usually takes about 3 weeks. This can include speed kits, gap seals, skin repairs and replacement of various fairings. He does recommend that you wait 2 months after painting before applying anti-corrosion spray. Cracked and sun damaged plastics are generally not worth repairing. When having an aircraft painted it is a good time to consider replacing any deteriorating Plexiglas. Do not prime or paint antennas including GPS and stormscopes. It is best to paint in the winter since there are no bugs or pollen and, since it is cooler, the paint will flow better. A humidity of at least 50 % also helps the paint flow. Retractable gear should be tested with aircraft on stands after painting. Landing gear should be masked and carefully painted so as not to damage electronics etc. Never pressure wash this area. A new weight and balance should be done and recorded. The paint on a C-172 will weigh about 17 pounds and total cost will be about $9500.

Dick warranties his work for one year and can be reached at Tel: 740 942 2316. Further information can be found at his web site www.desapi.com

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Jim Hockenberry’s Mini 500 is for sale. Jim is a member pilot and A& P mechanic. Contact him at jrhock*@earthlink.net or 724-695-7802. FAA certified & registered, 3.2 hours total time, com radio, transponder with mode C,
Hand held GPS mounted on console, Power enhancement package (pep system).

My First Solo

A riye of passage, an endorsement by an instructor that I have attained entry level experience. Finally turned loose after his relentless hollering, “Watch your airspeed, altitude, course, flaps!” over and over again. And while the echo of this and “Slow down, reduce power, too high, too low, oh forget it, and go around” still rang very loud in my head. And, of course, after wearing out a perfectly good set of tires and many times wondering at just how much stress this little plane can endure.

So I have soloed and the boys at the hanger have invited me to “BS” with them. Finally accepted as an apprentice to listen to a lot of tall stories. Qualified to take the plane up on the most perfect of days, blue skies and calm. It sure brings a smile to my face.

So what’s it like? Well, every pilot will give a different story. Many will say that when you look over to the right seat as you ascend on your first flight alone the reality sinks in. I just figured “don’t dare” and pretended he was still there and enjoyed the ride. The reality sank in during the second and third take off and landing when I started missing the constant admonishments. Oh, believe me, I smile and laugh a lot, but you’ve never seen me smile so much. Peace at last.

To get here entails learning the basics, like stalls and turns, departures and arrivals. Pretty simple stuff, at least that’s the way it looked in the videos. Patty Wagstaff always looks so cheery while flying aerobatics with her face contorted and breathing as if she is in final stages of labor and I imagine an instructor is calmly saying, “Push, Push.”

Oh well, roller coasters will never be the same again! Yes, there are times I wondered why I was doing this, am I really having any fun, will this basic training ever end, and oh boy, I sure am not as smart as I would like to be. My first solo feels like conquering a mountain. You plan and study; you climb your way through the flight lessons and are rewarded with reaching the first summit. The view is beautiful; the exhilaration is hard to explain. You sit at the top and soak up the satisfaction of accomplishment. I have been fortunate to have many friends who have climbed this hill before me, encouraging me, gently guiding me and sharing the experience all the way. I sincerely thank my wife Sharon and all of them.

So I have reached this small peak and look out over the mountains that tower ahead. Endless challenges and many wonderful trails to explore. To those who have not gotten here yet, I highly recommend trying. Mountains are climbed one step at a time. I sometimes doubted my abilities and had to learn not to be frustrated and impatient, that learning takes time and a lot of repetition. I have discovered that instructors are not just suckers for punishment, but passionate about teaching and very, very patient. I have discovered much about my self and how big I can smile.

Don Green Jan 1, 2004

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Dates to remember:

"Wings" Safety Seminar, Wheeling Airport, June 29, 5 pm

Wheeling Airport Cookout, June 29 at 5 pm

EAA AirVenture, Oshkosh, July 27 to August 2

Cleveland Air show, Sept 4th

Next Chapter Business meeting
April 21
Time 7:00pm
At the Airport.

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The Prop Busters have three openings in their Flying Club…

If you are interest in some real affordable flying, contact Dick Hawkins (Prop Buster President) or Tom Cucarese (Treasurer ) 740 266-9305 for more details on becoming a Flying Club Member.

Their airplane is a Cessna 150 and is based at the airpark.

What does it cost to belong:     Initiation  Fee      $250.00

                                                    Dues:                   $200.00 a year

Aircraft Flying Rate:                Per Hour               $35.00 wet.

Your Flying Insurance is included in with your membership to the Flying Club. 

There is also a web page flying calendar, so flying times can be seen by the club members.

Aircraft is based at its Jefferson County Airpark hanger.

So if your looking for very affordable flying, this is the place for you.