Presidents Corner
by Darrel Cook

First I would like to thank Richard and Don for their years on the board. They are both remaining active, so we haven't lost their knowledge or support; they are just taking a well-deserved break.

We are starting a new year at Coastal Fliers and I would like to introduce you to the board.

• President -- Darrel Cook
• Vice-President -- Chris Jensen
• Treasurer -- Terry Paik
• Secretary -- David Cooksy
• Safety Officer -- Carey Peterson
• Operations -- Robert Finnin
• Information -- Donn Larson

I hope you will help to support these officers. Our first concern this year is to make sure the club is in good financial condition. We try to keep a reserve in the bank to cover scheduled maintenance and new paint every few years. Terry Paik has been doing a great job forecasting future costs and we have always had the money in the bank when large expenditures arrive.

I would also like to congratulate Carey Peterson on getting the opportunity to go fly with the big guys. He is leaving for training this month and is hoping to get an assignment close to San Diego so he can remain active in the Club.

Several People have advanced this month in aviation:

• Jeff Damschen -- Private Pilot
• Doug Grande -- Private Pilot
• Grafton Houston -- Instrument
• Darrel Cook -- Commercial

This month's meeting will be a Wash Day, September 15th. We have had a lot of help recently and it really makes the job go by quickly. If you enjoy having the airplanes look good come out and help. We start at 8:00 am and are usually done by 12:00 noon.

See you Saturday the 15th.

From The Old Timer
by Harry McCoy

A LOVE OF MY LIFE
Part 16--1951

China Lake turned out to be a great duty station. Some days we wouldn't even have a flight. Even though we were Enlisted we were allowed to congregate in the "Ready Room" which normally is "Officer's Country" and you only went when invited!! There were only a few Officer Pilots and 7 of us AP's outnumbered them, so I guess they gave up!!

Probably my most interesting flight here was a trip to Key West, Florida. The folding fin rocket had just been developed and now they wanted it tested in the fleet. I was assigned to take a load of them in the R4D; (DC-3). I was accompanied by a Lt. and a LCDR, neither of which had ever been in the R4D before!! Great!!!! This meant that I would have to fly it all the way myself to Key West, and straight through other than refueling stops. And to top it all off, it was June 30, and Congress hadn't approved the Navy budget yet so I might not be able to buy gas! The Skipper said, "Chief, go as far as you can!" Luckily, at 2:30 in the morning as we approached Dallas, the Congress approved.

Our first stop was Biggs AFB, El Paso that was a SAC (Strategic Air Command) Base and very restricted. As I taxied in, a Jeep loaded with Air Force Personnel came steaming out to meet us. They were all loaded to the teeth with sawed off shot guns, rifles, and all the small arms they could hang on themselves. The LCDR was co-piloting on this first leg, so the Lt. went to the door and they informed him that we didn't have a flight plan. The Lt. said the Plane Commander would be there in a minute. I was securing the cockpit, and the LCDR went back and gave the same comment. I finally got back to the door in my grungy flight suit and my Chiefs hat. That really threw them for a loss, an "Enlisted" man in charge? This made us look all the more suspicious. They herded us into the Operations Office after surrounding the airplane, and an Air Force Captain was the Duty Officer. He insisted something was wrong, because they didn't get a flight plan. I assured him I had filed one, and proceeded to fill out my next flight plan. Now he was completely confused and informed me that I couldn't file a flight plan, I was an "Enlisted" man! I advised him that if he didn't sign it, I would call the Commanding Officer of China Lake and he could explain it to him. He was in a quandary!! I could see the Officers standing behind me were almost laughing behind their hands, but finally the LCDR said, "Captain, if I were you, I'd sign that!" That did the trick, and he signed.

We went into McCoy AFB near Orlando, Florida the next morning, and a similar routine except that it was an Air Force Lt. Col., who was Executive Officer of the base and asked for "Captain" McCoy. A minute or so behind him was the Skipper of the base, a Bird Colonel. They were both waiting for Captain McCoy. When I appeared in the door and said I was "Chief" McCoy, the Colonel glared at the Executive Officer and if looks could have killed, he would have dropped dead on the spot. They both went storming off, and we began to deduce maybe what happened. My Official designation was a "CAP", Chief Aviation Pilot, and was listed that way on the teletype flight plan. They probably assumed that it was a typo error and it was "Captain" McCoy who might have been some relation to the person the base was named for. At least that's what we "deduced". I thought it was funny, it was the first time I had ever been greeted by a "Lt. Col. and Colonel" !!!!.

We made Key West that afternoon, and crew rested that night. I turned the plane over to the officers and they traded legs all the way home. I co-piloted for both of them, but all in all it was a nice trip.

To be continued...

Operations Report
by Bob Finnin

46404: 404 has had no problems this month.

8788E: 88E has been providing great service this month. 88E will be going in for its annual inspection during September.

3015U: 15U has been running well. The only recent problem was a flat tire on the nose wheel, this has been repaired and the plane is in great shape.

2904K: 04K has had no major problems noted this month. All systems seem to be working as they should.

Thanks for the help and fly safe!

Treasure's Report
by Terry Paik

August 2001

As of August 1, we had $9,127 in the bank. July P&L net was $387; YTD was -$20854. All accounts payable are current.

This month's receivables are $11,566.07 and we flew 183 hrs, including 59 hours in 88E and an all-time record 61 hours in 404! Unfortunately, 04k only flew 18 hours last month.

Don't forget to send or fax copies of your Medicals and BFR's to me; the dates we have are on the top of your monthly statement. We must have proof of your currency for you to schedule aircraft or fly.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me: Club phone: (619) 441-2610; fax: (619) 401-7135; email: tpdvm@home.com .

Remember, the more we fly, the cheaper we fly!