Presidents Corner
by Darrel Cook

Dear Fellow Members,

Great News! The enhanced class bravo air space encompassing Gillespie Field is once again open to VFR pilots. However, everyone must still use common sense. For example, a flight instructor and student in Florida decided to do ground reference maneuvers over a power plant and were soon joined by two F18's. We are on probation and we need to show we are responsible and able to use common sense. The fact that general aviation is a privilege and not a right has never been so clear. Please don't loiter around power generators, dams, military facilities, or large gatherings of people¾but do fly!

With most of our pilots being unable to fly for the past month and a half, the board was forced to assess $50.00 per member assessment this month. This assessment was needed to pay bills that were due. We will most likely need to have one more assessment next month to make up for the lack of hours flown. Hopefully with the restrictions removed more pilots will fly and future assessments will not be needed.

I would like to publicly congratulate Carey Peterson who started flying with Sky West this month. Carey has worked long and hard and has finally started a great career as a professional pilot.

Daylight savings time has ended. There is a nip in the air and it will be getting dark sooner. Please make sure you are night current if you are flying after dark. Also make sure you know when sunset is and don't get caught out after dark if you are not certified.

From The Old Timer
by Harry McCoy

A LOVE OF MY LIFE
Part 18--1951

Not only was the AD Skyraider a great airplane to fly, it was RUGGED!! One of the fellows had one out on a project in which he went into a steep dive from 15,000 feet. Not long after entering, the engine seized, came to a screeching halt and threw oil all over the airplane. The Pilot of course, knew he was in trouble, so called the base for emergency landing. He was 8 miles away, near the town of Inyokern. He headed toward the base and was cleared for a straight in approach. As he approached the field he realized he was too fast, so he made a circle and landed in the other direction. He used high emergency gear extension pressure bottle to blow the gear down and made a flaps up landing, looking out the side since the windshield was covered with oil and he couldn't see a thing. He had everything off, and of course the Fire Crew met him, but there was no fire. He climbed out of the cockpit and to his amazement, he had no propeller blades!! It seems when the engine froze up, it slung all 4 blades out of the hub. He did have a helical crack in the nose section of the engine that had widened to almost 2", but was still on the engine.

The Maintenance Crew went out on the range and brought in all 4 blades. On examination, they discovered that the force that slung them out of the hub was so great that the approximately 4" of threads that were used to hold each blade in, was completely clean as if it had been machined.

You sat ahead of the leading edge of the wing and a pilot in Jacksonville, Florida took off with the wings folded up. About half of the wing folded. Apparently he had enough power with that engine, he got airborne without anyone saying anything and when he realized what had happened, he flew straight ahead until he got out over the water and ended up ditching it. Its the only folding wing airplane I ever heard of that got off the ground----much less continued to fly!!!! With the AD's huge engine and about 15' of stub wing, he made it!!!

To be continued...

Operations Report
by Bob Finnin

46404: is working well and has had no squawks this month. The new fuel tank inspection step and hand hold has been installed on the left side and the right side will be completed soon.

3015U: is in good working order and has been giving excellent service. The AI was overhauled last week and is in great shape. All other systems are functioning, as they should.

8788E: is on line and has had the right seat back repaired and is in good order.

2904K: is on line again. The root of all the trouble with the high oil temperature appears to have been a defective temperature gauge and or sender unit. A new kit has been installed and the oil temperature appears to read well in the green range. Please do not practice touch and go landings with this aircraft yet as we still need to build time on the engine with more cross-country flying.

Welcome back to flying.

Treasure's Report
by Terry Paik

October 2001

As of October 1, we had $7,498 in the bank. September P&L net was -$4,643; YTD was -$21,706. The balance on the a/c loan is ~$62,000, due and payable February 2003.

Despite the NYTC disaster, we still managed to fly 96 hours this month. With this month's assessment, this month's Accounts Receivable is $12,506. So, we should be in pretty good shape as long as we can all get flying again like we were before.

I trust that you are all doing well.