EAA Chapter 563
The Beacon
July, 2024
The old supply of chapter coffee mugs is gone, and Greg LePine has had a new batch made up. Karl Kleimenhagen prepared the artwork, and PIP printers here in Peoria set up the order with the manufacturer.
The new mugs feature EAA's Homebuilders logo printed on both sides. The logo was to be printed on only one side, but the manufacturer produced two defective batches with the logo on the side opposite of what was specified. PIP has graciously donated the incorrectly made mugs to the chapter to be given to Young Eagles and to the teens building the Cruzer project.
The new, correctly printed mugs are $10 with the proceeds going to the chapter treasury. Contact Greg for yours.
For July, both clubs meet at their usual time and day of the month, namely VMC on the first Sunday at 6:30 and IMC on the second Sunday at 6:00.
Tim Threw's Lycoming rebuild continues. The parts have been collected from Tulsa, and a mechanic in Pekin is assisting with the assembly.
Dean Lake reports an interesting offer:
I ran across a person who picked up some neat old aircraft drawings at a sale. I've attached a few pictures. There are quite a few drawings, possibly 20 or so. Some are as big as 18x24. They won't be free, but the owner will consider an offer. I can get a list of the drawings available and... if there's interest, I'll try to press for a price.
The list included around 50 sheets covering about 20 racing airplanes from the Golden Age, such as the Gee Bee Z. The sample images aren't the clearest, but it appears they include many internal details. Contact Dean or use the chapter e-mail for more information.
Weather led to the early June flights being canceled. The late June flights were successful, and the Young Eagles coordinator, Todd Moore, said it: "went well. We had 11 register, 3 back out the night before, then one chose not to fly with her brother, so 7 kids flew."
The next flights are to be Saturday July 13, and volunteer pilots and ground crew are welcome; contact Todd.
Julian Sturm, this years scholarship recipient, sent a note to the chapter:
Dear EAA 563 members and Scholarshia Coordinators,
I am very excited and thankful to be the Ray Scholarship recipient for this year. The Chapter has presented many opportunities for me to meet individuals in the aviation career.
My interest in flight started from a very young age during our family's annual vacation to AirVenture Oshkosh. I took my first flight during a young Eagles rally in Springfield, IL flying a Cessna 177 Cardinal.
From there, I have flown in aircraft of all types. I am currently receiving flight training from the Bradley Flying Association. My instructor is Carson C. I am very thrilled for this next stage of my life. I have been greatly inspired by many of the scholars before me and fellow builders of the Zenith 750 Cruzer.
I will be entering my junior year of high school at Peoria Notre Dame this fall and am active in cross-Country, truck, Scouts SA, and 4-H Teen Teachers.
Thank you again for this opportunity and support.
Mounting the tail surfaces on the Zenith Cruzer continues to be a slow slog. Up front, Greg LePine has guided the crew in forming the stainless braided fuel lines, and all the fuel lines inside the cabin are ready. Assembly of the doors is next in the queue.
Ordering of the avionics has begun, and the second wing is being skinned, although riveting cannot be done until the internal lines are installed.
This project should be completed towards the end of winter, and the mentors have begun to discuss the next project. While we will have sufficient funds to acquire a new kit, an engine, etc, they would like to offer the services of the crew to anyone who'd like help building their airplane. You provide the hardware, we provide the labor. A donation to cover the use of the space in the hangar would be requested. If you assist in the build, you can also earn the repairman's certificate for your airplane. Contact any of the mentors if interested.
Last month, new member Kurt Ayres was introduced. When asked about the Hummel H5 he is building:
I'm not very far along with my build, but more of my story with the design can be seen at the Facebook page I started. I haven't flown one, but Kitplanes did an extensive write-up on the design a few years ago. One reason a lot of Oshkosh-goers don't know about it is because Hummel sets up down at the ultralight area where they emphasize their Ultra Cruiser design.
The H5 is the "big sister" of the Ultra Cruiser, expanded for light sport pilots. It is a good alternative to Sonex. Although the performance is less than the Onex, for example, the nice thing is that you can buy just plans for us scratch-builders on the lower end of the aviation economic ladder, which Sonex doesn't allow.
The designated alloy is 6061, but I have used 2024 I already had here and there. There are some solid rivets used for the spar and up around the firewall (to support the bed-mounted engine), but the vast majority are the Zenith-style pulled type... the flush Avex rivets that become a dome head... I use a hand puller.
The 30% lower wing loading and increased aspect ratio of the H5 should give it better short field performance as compared to the Onex but at the expense of top speed of course. Both are light single seaters powered by a modified VW engine. The H5 doesn't have the folding wings of the Onex, but this allows for the nearly ¼ lighter structure. While three Onex and several Sonex having been flown by chapter members, the H5 is a new design among the chapter members. The factory has a set of construction videos on its YouTube channel.
The first week of June was Jet Week at the field. This Cessna Citation Sovereign stayed overnight. Take-off performance of the lightly loaded jet was impressive. Departing on 18 into a 15 mph wind it was airborne at the FBO. Later that week, an Embraer Phenom 300 based in northeastern Ohio dropped off a passenger and flew back later that same day to retrieve him. Using 36, it was airborne before the windsock.
Roma Albrecht has visited 3MY on several occasions. In addition to a Cessna 180 she flies out of Peru, she also has this Cessna 140 in which she visited the chapter mid June.
eaa563.org
Mt. Hawley Airport, Peoria, Illinois