Date: 3/12/2001

Time 7:00 pm Social

7:30 pm Program

Location: Christ Lutheran Church in Lake Elmo

Topic: Mark Mathison- Chief Pilot for  Wipaire, Inc.

Here it is the first of March and I've got the worst case of cabin fever! I've been hibernating all winter and I'm getting pretty tired of it. Being retired is nice because I don't have to go to work, but I wish the weather could be nicer. I look out the window and still see large piles of snow on the boulevard. I'm sick of shoveling the stuff! It seems Iike I have been shoveling my sidewalks about three times a week lately. It's enough to make a person goofy!

Now that I've gotten that off of my chest, I guess I should look forward to spring with some optimism. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and allow us to get our airplanes out to do the fixing up, dusting off and flying of them. It should be a good flying spring what with all the airplanes around getting anxious to fly. I am looking forward to getting acquainted with Marlon Gunderson's new acquisition, the Piper J-5. We should be doing a lot of flying. Tim Reberg and I are both getting anxious to get his Citabria back in the air after the repairs to the damage from the August storm of 2000. I know that Roger Rand is also looking forward to getting back in the air after a long layoff. All of the people over at the Anderson's Hangar have been working hard all winter preparing their fleet with great anticipation of the coming spring flying season. The Apache has had some gremlins in the hydraulic system and they have been chasing them around. From my observation, I think that they are catching up to them and chasing them away. The skyhawk has been undergoing an extensive annual this year and I believe that it's going to be in great flying condition. Dennis Hoffman has been going through every nut, bolt, washer and cotter pin of the Cessna 170 and is reassembling the old girl. A little polishing (we-e-ell maybe a lot of polishing) and he's ready to go. The Midget Mustang sits in the hangar almost trembling it is so excited about the coming warm weather. Dennis is also quivering in anticipation too! I think, after he has upped the horsepower and installed a starter in the L-4, he is waiting for a chance to get back at "Elvira" the Taylorcraft L2-B. in order to see if he can make her eat his dust. And speaking of the Taylorcraft L2-B, I think both her and I would very much like to see some blue sky between us and the ground. If I do that, I will certainly have to give equal time to my biplane so as not to create any jealousy or hard feelings. Jerry Sarracco, how's your fleet coming? Gary Miller, you got that engine back in the bonanza and running yet? Paul Leidl, I know your fleet of airplanes is all ready, let's get going! Bob-a-louie, is the Fairchild F-24 all set? I'm looking forward to seeing Hoover's shiny fleet of silver airplanes setting outside with a nice green grass background. Man! Wouldn't it be great to see all of these airplanes lined up in a row on the grass ready to fly? C'mo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-n Springtime!!!!!

There is one harbinger of Spring that should be appearing elsewhere in the March newsletter. The announcement of the annual banquet on Monday, May 14. Tim Reberg, the Events Chairman, has been hard at work organizing that program. He has been in contact with Leif Erickson, the past Chairman, getting the details ironed out and being brought up to date. The Restaurant, Mancinis, is confirmed for the 14th of May and we have a speaker lined up (Norm Petersen). We need some help coming up with a good assortment of door prizes. We should have some dinners for two at a nice restaurant for a door prize. The Kupferschmidts are getting hungry. (Don't they always win that prize?)

The date for the fly-in Pancake Breakfast is also set. Sunday, August 12. It's not too early to start planning for that event. I'll be looking in to the possibility of our Chapter running a food concession booth at the Anoka County Airport's Aviation Days in May. I lost the guy's number and name for a contact due to a computer glitch. Hopefully Jerry Sarracco still has that information.

I hope to schedule a board meeting for March. It's imperative that we discuss what needs to be done to achieve tax exempt 501C-3 status for our Chapter. I would like to hold the meeting on one of these Saturdays. Tell me your thoughts and schedules to see if a Saturday meeting would be possible. The general meeting will take place for the Chapter members on Monday, March 12, at 7:30 PM. The location for the meeting will, as usual, be at Christ Lutheran Church of Lake Elmo. There is the possibility that the speaker will be Mark Mathison, Chief Pilot for Wipaire, Inc. Also, Norm Weston is planning to do a presentation on a scale model that he has designed.

I'm looking forward to seeing you all there.

                                                        ------ Bill Schanks

Here's a report I read in the magazine-Northern Pilot, the 2000-2001 winter edition. I just got the magazine the other day. It would have been better to have gotten this info last fall, but here it is anyway, it might help for next winter.

PHILLIPS 66 ANTI-RUST OIL

Bartlesville, Okla. - Aircraft owners and operators now have a hefty weapon against rust or corrosion during prolonged aircraft storage.

This preventative maintenance tool, now available in gallon containers, is Phillips 66 Anti-Rust 20W-50 all mineral aviation oil. The oil, specifically formulated with corrosion inhibitors, has an active polar chemistry that adheres to metal parts to produce a superior barrier against rust and corrosion.

"Phillips 66 Anti-Rust oil is effective on all piston engines and offers the greatest protection to those with steel cylinders," said Harold Tucker, technical director for Phillips 66 lubricants. "If an aircraft is often inactive for periods of one to three months, it can get added rust protection ... especially in geographic areas where high humidity or excessive condensation is a problem. It was not, however, designed to be an operational aviation oil."

The anti-rust oils meet military specification MIL-C-6529-C for oil types offering corrosion protection and MIL-L-6082-E for approved base oils. Operators who fly infrequently, with several months between flights, may also use the oil.

Tucker says that Phillips 66 Anti-Rust oil should never be added to regular aviation oil and vice-versa, to avoid diluting the effectiveness of both oils. Another word of caution: once the anti-rust oil has been added, the engine should not exceed 25 operational hours before the oil is switched to an ashless dispersant aviation oil.

Tucker offered additional recommendations for long-term aircraft storage, emphasizing that each aircraft owner/operator should check with their engine manufacturer for proper storage procedures.

For airplane storage of three to six months: cover the exhaust enough to allow air movement to the cylinder area, but prevent birds or insects from building nests.

For airplane storage of six months or longer: seal off the exhaust manifold, the crank case breather and oil filler tube to curb moisture from entering the cylinders.

If you have questions about anti-rust oil or other Phillips 66 Aviation Oil products, please contact the Phillips 66 aviation lubricants technical advisors at 800-766-0050.

-Unknown

3 UL-Light plane seminar held in Wausau-Mosinee, WI. at the Holiday Inn at the Cedar Creek mall.

8-14 Lakeland, Fl   Sun ’n Fun EAA Fly-In

14 EAA Chapter 54 Spring Banquet. Location is Mancini's Char House. The guest speaker is Norm Petersen from EAA Oshkosh.

August 2001

12 - EAA Chapter 54 Fly-in.

Your Chapter is looking for someone to publish the Newsletter. You would get to make 85 copies of the newsletter each month, and attach mailing labels and stamps. The pay is not very good, but the work is not very hard. You would receive the newsletter on Friday and should have it at the Post Office early Monday. If you are looking for an exciting change in career, and want to do something that would look really good on your next resume, please contact Bob Waldron at 651-430-9178, or send your application to:

EAA Chapter 54
3275 Manning Ave N #7
Lake Elmo, MN 55042

GENERAL AVIATION FLYING IS SAFER THAN EVER, REPORT SAYS
The general aviation accident rate continues to decline, with a new record low set in 1999, AOPA's Air Safety Foundation (ASF) reported this week. "[The results] show that a combination of improved technology and
pilot education appears to be working," said Bruce Landsberg, ASF executive director. Low-level maneuvering flight and adverse weather conditions were the two largest fatal accident categories for GA pilots
in 1999, unchanged from previous years, according to the report. Mechanical and maintenance issues accounted for 15 percent of all accidents, with just under half of those attributable to engine or
propeller problems. Meanwhile, the Civil Air Patrol also announced this week that 2000 was its safest year ever, with a low accident rate and no fatalities.


SUN 'N FUN RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER...
Now's the time to start making your plans, if you plan to be in Lakeland, Fla., for EAA's Sun 'n Fun 2001. Sun 'n Fun, running April 8 to 14, kicks off the fly-in and airshow season with the second-largest aviation event in the U.S., surpassed only by EAA's annual gathering in Oshkosh. Display aircraft will include homebuilts, vintage aircraft, warbirds, ultralights and seaplanes. Visitors can browse through more than 500 exhibits, attend workshops on a variety of topics and watch some of the world's best aerobatic pilots perform daily. And if you can't be there in person, AVweb will be there to bring you all the news online.

...AND LOTS OF HELP AVAILABLE FOR ARRIVAL PROCEDURES...
The FAA has issued a NOTAM for aircraft arriving and operating at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport during Sun 'n Fun. Class D airspace will be in effect from 6:30 a.m. till 9:30 p.m. during the convention, and special procedures will be in effect from 7 a.m. till 8 p.m. from April 6 to 14. The airport will close during aerobatic demonstrations, but will reopen at the conclusion of each show. For even more flight-planning help, the FAA offers a detailed "tour" at its Web site, plus a video that you can borrow from your local FSDO.




CHEAP SEATS INTO OUTER SPACE FOR SALE SOON:

Submissions for publication are encouraged, and should be sent to:
EAA Chapter 54 Editor
3275 Manning Ave. N. Suite #7
Lake Elmo MN 55042.

Bill Schanks 651-645-2420
President - FrBilly@EarthLink.net