The June chapter meetings was small, as expected during this pandemic. There were 7 members and one guest present for a meeting lasting about 45 minutes. We will be holding another chapter meeting in July. Please spread out when taking a seat and consider wearing a mask.
Illinois guidelines allow for gatherings the size of our chapter, but we will need to space out the tables.
Bob Pegg has taken over the running of the kitchen. This will include food acquisition since Keith Claypool is temporarily unable to do so.
Greg is getting quotes for an exhaust fan and associated items for the kitchen. The bathroom and kitchen repainting are delayed until fall.
In their June Chapter Video, HQ announced a virtual "celebration of aviation" in place of OSH, including on-line forums. Insurance for chapter events remains available so long as the event conforms to CDC guidelines. They also mentioned again their support for flying clubs associated with a chapter, but not part of the chapter.
Both the Bloomington-Normal and LaSalle-Peru chapters are interested in a fly-in for experimental aircraft. The tentative date is the weekend either side of Labor Day, although the weekend OSH was to be has been mentioned.
Jayson Presley, the 2019 Ray scholarship recipient at 563, has passed his check ride to complete the program. He had been delayed when the pandemic halted operations at Bradley Flying, but was able to resume training there a few weeks ago. Weather caused his June 20 exam to be delayed to July 3:
It went great! I now have my temporary certificate for 120 days and the real one coming in the mail! We started at 8 and got lunch around 12 and then flew after we got done and finished up around 15:00-16:00. It was a long day but well worth it!
Dean Lake, Jayson's flight instructor, noted the examiner was very thorough, with about an hour spent inspecting paperwork and then over 2 hours of oral exam. Thanks go to Morrie Caudill who tutored Jayson for his written exam, and who on hearing of Jayson's success replied: "Good news for Jayson. It was a pleasure to work with him."
Eliza Fletcher, who was awarded our 2020 Ray Scholarship, is racing to finish her Private Pilot training yet this summer. She had started at Marshall Co before the award and planned to do her Ray work there, with Barry Logan. The pandemic combined with a tight schedule led to Barry being consulted, and she has transferred to BFA to try to get in 10 hours per week this summer. She hopes to finish the Ray program by the end of summer, before she leaves for SIU's flight program this fall. At such a rate, she might get ahead of Ray payments received from HQ, but the board has agreed to fund her flights pending payments.
SIU does not encourage students to arrive with their Private Pilot, preferring to train them themselves. If she's nearly finished by the time she moves, she may be able to finish weekends here or at a small airport there. Otherwise, she'll have to finish at SIU. HQ is not eager to have their money go to college training in place of local training and mentorship; however, given the pandemic, HQ will consider it if she has given it her best effort over the summer.
Eliza has phoned to volunteer for work at the chapter, but we aren't doing much during the pandemic, and her flying takes precedence. Still, she will need to record some work here, to be logged for the Ray paperwork. EAA looks at these kids as future chapter leaders and wants them involved in chapter operations during the program.
This note was received from Eliza in late June:
Hi everybody. I am currently in Wyoming for summer vacation, but I can't stop thinking about flying! As many of you know, I was selected to receive the Ray Aviation Scholarship, and with this comes a major commitment to my life in aviation. For a while, I felt that I would not be able to continue working towards my private license throughout summer due to COVID-19, but Rob Meyer has encouraged me to start back up at Byerly Aviation with Sam Neff. Sam is a great instructor, both on the ground and in the air, and I already have around 20 hours. And don't worry...I'm still studying my books out here in the mountains! Thank you all for your ongoing support, and I look forward to (hopefully) meeting up with everyone again next weekend.
You might recall Eliza was to be sponsored by us to attend the summer camp as OSH this year, but with OSH canceled, the summer camps are also canceled. Eliza is interested in 2021's Senior Camp, so our $200 deposit remains with HQ to secure her that spot next summer. We'll provide the remaining $600 at that time.
Bill Hounshell donated two more book shelves, 3 boxes of books, a box of pictures, DVD's, and hats. Greg LePine, Tim Threw, and Tim Coverstone fetched it all in a rented truck.
Member John Tillotson had offered to our Ray scholars an extra flight bag he has, and Eliza has claimed it.
Various donated parts stored around the hangar have been sold. Advertising for these has mostly been word of mouth. The motor on the donated Miller gas powered welder is frozen, and it's unlikely it can be fixed.
The various donated bookshelves have been installed, 4 in the hangar and 2 in the end-cap. All 6 were shimmed level and then fastened to the walls to prevent their tipping over. Doors are being built for the two largest bookcases in the hangar to protect the books inside from gathering dust.
Fat Karl tilts a bookcase while
Little Karl tests its shims
The VMC Club for June was very lightly attended, with only 2 people present. July's meeting this past Sunday had 4 people sitting in 90 F weather. Instead of the FBO, these meetings were held in the hangar, where attendees can sit further apart. While WiFi can be hit or miss in the hangar, the presentation's recordings had been transferred to USB memory and played on the TV directly.
The IMC Club meets this coming Sunday in the hangar.
This month's VFR refresher question is:
When approaching to land on a runway served by a visual approach slope indicator (VASI), the pilot shall:
- Maintain an altitude that captures the glide slope at least 2 miles downwind from the runway threshold.
- Maintain an altitude at or above the glide slope.
- Remain in the glide slope and land between the two-light bar.
Check the answer below.
Treasury reports net worth, much of which is in long term investments, has mostly recovered. There currently are 63 chapter members. The Cat matching funds have been received. Jayson's Ray account will be emptied, and Eliza's has received its initial $4,000.
Rob popped a tendon on a major leg muscle and had surgery to fix it. He'll be months in recovery and is in a leg brace, so he won't soon be at meetings but will continue as treasurer.
Saturday May 31 a small gathering of members, hosted by the Lynch's, was held to send off Andrew Barth, who's moving to California for his first job out of college. He was a board member and will be replaced in the election this fall, a position Greg is now looking to fill: Step forward, volunteers.
Christian Sloat, who visited the chapter last summer while a Caterpillar intern, has accepted a position with Cat and plans to join the chapter after he settles in.
Former chapter members Andy and Loreena Plouse stopped by the hangar in late June. Her job with Caterpillar took them to North Carolina about 15 years ago, and it sounds as if they may be returning to this area.
Greg attended the most recent board meeting at PIA. While there had been rumors hangar renters would receive a 5% fuel discount, that has been rejected. They did confirm that the state is monitoring radio traffic at 3MY to determine how much the field is used, so please use your radio for all take-offs and landings. There are plans to put a white circle around the windsock, to improve visibility from the air. Lastly, while they still plan to pour two concrete pads near the FBO for the picnic tables Richard LaHood acquired for us, there is no set date.
That said, the next week work had begun on pouring three pads for the tables:
This was received from the Havana chapter just in time for publication here:
Havana EAA Chapter 1420 invites pilots and their crews to a Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, July 19 at Havana Regional Airport. This weekend will also mark the official opening of the club’s Air Camping.
In addition to a lovely green space and the darkest night sky you will enjoy anywhere, we have added spacious indoor bathrooms with hot showers for men and women. There will be a cook-out Saturday night featuring the club's famous "Rotators" fried potatoes. Campers are invited to fly in on Saturday night for Sunday’s breakfast. A breakfast of sausages and pancakes will be served al fresco from 7 a.m., to 10 a.m.
Havana Regional (9I0) is a 2,200' E-W turf strip in great condition. In the event of poor weather, the rain date will be July 25-26. Campers: Don't forget your night-sky optics—telescopes and binoculars!
For more information or any question feel free to contact me, Evan Houghton, by phone: (309)397-6926.
Quiz Answer
Answer B is correct. (14 CFR 91.129) An airplane approaching to land on a runway served by a VASI shall maintain an altitude at or above the glide slope until a lower altitude is necessary for a safe landing.
Answer A is incorrect. A VASI should not be used for descent until the airplane is visually lined up with the runway. Answer C is incorrect. It is unsafe to concentrate on the VASI after nearing the approach end of the runway, i.e. turn your attention to landing the airplane.