Burt Rutan, never one to hold back his words, was quoted in a Wall Street Journal editorial this week. Here he clarifies his comment.
Burt Rutan sets the record straight – Hyperbola.
The original letter that started this is here
That Burt Rutan memo to Congressman Wolf in full – Hyperbola.
The chapter is planning on chartering a bus to go to the Red Bull Air Races in Jersey City on June 20. With the grandstand ticket on race day, it looks like the cost of the trip will be about $100/person. It would be less to get general admission to the park, but I think you end up watching most of it on TV screens then.
The $100 is just an estimate until I hear back if a group ticket rate is available.
I know it’s not even Sun N’ Fun time yet, but for some of us, it’s already time to start planning for the EAA Convention at Oshkosh already.
Commercial airfares have started down for that time period, and it may be best to grab one if you’re going out by airline.
For the past few years, several members have rented a house about 2 miles from the airport. This works out to cost less than a hotel, but we need 5 to 7 people to make the cost reasonable to stay there. They’ve charged $300/night for up to 4 people. $350/night for up to 8 people. The Oshkosh Convention & Visitor’s Bureau maintains on online listing of private residences that are available to rent for that week. If we’re not going to stay at this house, we need to let the owners know as soon as possible so they can offer it to other people.
Things got confusing last year with different people staying on different days, so this year I’m only going to get involved if there’s a consensus on which days everyone will be staying there. This house rental requires a minimum 4 night commitment. There are other homes, or rooms within houses, that are available in the area for fewer nights. In the past we’ve stayed there Monday through Friday nights.
I know it may be tough to make a commitment this early, but I’d like to grab one of those $200 airfares if they pop up.
Please contact a chapter officer if you want to be in on this.
Here’s what we’re planning for this coming year!
Dates Organization Event
2/20 EAA Chapter 1310 Pancake Breakfast (Skylark)
3/20 EAA Chapter 1310 Pancake Breakfast (Skylark)
4/13-18 Sun 'N Fun, Inc. Sun 'N Fun Fly-In, Lakeland, FL
5/8 EAA Chapters 166 & 1310 Young Eagles Flight Day (Brainard)
5/15-16 Hampton Fly Market Hampton, NH - Hampton Airfield (7B3)
5/22 EAA Chapter 1310 Safety Seminar (Skylark)
6/04-06 Joint Effort Boy Scouts Centennial Jamboree ( Hebron Fairgrounds)
6/10 EAA Chapter 27 Young Eagles Rally ( Meriden) (Thursday?)
6/12 EAA Chapter 1035 Young Eagles Rally (Rain Date 6/13) (Danielson)
6/19 EAA Chapter 166 Fly-In (Windham)
6/19-20 Red Bull Air Races New York/Jersey City
6/26-27 RI ANG Airshow - Thunderbirds - Kingston, RI
7/10 EAA Chapter 1310 Cookout (Skylark)
7/17 Joint Effort Bradley Aviation & Space Day (CT ANG & NEAM)
7/26 - 8/1 EAA EAA Convention - Oshkosh
8/14 EAA Chapter 1310 Corn Roast (Skylark)
8/21-22 Mass. ANG Airshow-Thunderbirds - Westfield, MA
9/19 EAA Chapter 324 Simsbury Fly-In (Rain Date 9/26)
9/25 EAA Chapter 1310 & 166 Skylark Young Eagles (Rain Date 10/2)
10/9 EAA Chapter 1310 Taildragger & Vintage safety seminar (Skylark)
12/3 EAA Chapter 1310 Holiday Dinner
Everyone I talked with last night thought the chapter/airport dinner last night went very well. We had 46 people attend, and with the temperature last night in the mid-20’s with wind at about 15 kts, I think it’s safe to say everyone appreciated not being in a hangar that’s hard to heat.
The annual chapter awards were presented to the officers along with:
Web / newsletter editor-Charlie Falke
Technical Counselors-Mike Koczera and John Laroche
Young Eagles Coordinator-Jack Hilditch
Special awards were presented to Donna Weaver and Bill Kulle for their help at our fundraising meals throughout the year. They received a certificate, along with a golden spatula.
Chuck Cohen will receive a certificate for flying the most Young Eagles this year at 34.
Since we’re going to the Royal Buffet for the airport and chapter Christmas Dinner, I feel it is necessary to make sure the members know the best strategy for getting your money’s worth at the dinner.
The All-Inclusive All-You-Can-Eat Buffet Guide « Eating The Road.
It looks like GA is being lumped in the same category with DC-9 aircraft since I don’t see any distinction.
http://greenhellblog.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/boxer-801.pdf
On Page 16
“Part-B Mobile Sources
“Sec. 821. Greenhouse Gas Emission Standards for Mobile Sources.
Pursuant to section 231(a), the Administrator shall promulgate standards applicable to emissions of greenhouse gases from new aircraft and new
engines used in aircraft by December 31, 2012. Not withstanding any requirement in section 231(a), the Administrator, in consultation with the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, shall also promulgate standards applicable to emissions of greenhouse gases from other classes and categories of aircraft and aircraft engines for such classes and
categories as the Administrator determines appropriate and in the timeframe the Administrator determines appropriate. The Administrator may revise
these standards from time to time.
‘‘(2) Standards under section 231(a) applicable to emissions of greenhouse gases from new aircraft and new engines used in aircraft, and any later revisions or additional standards, shall achieve the greatest degree of emission reduction achievable based on the application of technology which the Administrator determines will be available at the time such standards take effect, taking into consideration cost, energy, and safety factors associated with the application of such technology. Any such standards
shall take effect after such period as the Administrator finds necessary to permit the development and application of the requisite technology.
On Friday, aviation legend Bob Hoover spoke at the EAA Museum. I’ve heard parts of his life story before, but there’s always a few new, or forgotten, items brought up.
Bob was a test pilot during WWII. He relentlessly kept working for a combat assignment, but his flying skills were in too much demand testing planes before they became operational. One assignment had him testing planes after they were repaired from battle damage. Another period had him testing the first 60 P-51’s that were going to North Africa.
He finally got that combat assignment in Algiers, but then got reassigned to training and ferry flights. He led a flight of P-40’s from Algiers to Sicily.
During a mission, he was attacked by Folke-Wolfe 190’s. He felt that one that was 90 degrees to him wasn’t a threat since that would have to be a very difficult shot to make, but he did get hit. He had to invert the plane to bail out, but he came out of that uninjured.
After the war he was able to use his experience test flying planes that were built by the enemy.
If you ever get the opportunity to hear Bob speak, I recommend not letting the opportunity pass by. You’ll probably regret missing him.
I wasted a good part of Friday morning. I put my camera’s memory card in my computer to copy the files and clear the card. Forgot to put it back in the camera. The EAA shops only had XD cards, and I needed SD. Tried the two battery vendors in the display buildings. One didn’t carry them, and the others were out at all 3 of their locations. Next try was the media building to see if they knew where to get one, but Canon was right next door so I tried there first. They must have dealt with people like me before since they had a sign out on their counter saying that they were available at a vendor called Camera Casino in building C. I had walked by there twice already without knowing they were in there. They weren’t listed in the exhibitor guide either.
Oh well, got the card. Oh joy! As I’m typing this I see that this high speed (SDHC) card can’t be read with either of my computers. One major lesson I learned working with computers is that there’s usually another way to get things done. I’ll have to transfer the photos and movie clips over through the camera. We’ve got lots of photos and video to post. It will take a few days to sort through them though.
Thursday brought steady rain early in the day, but only occasional showers in the afternoon. We attended a “Tent Talk” session with Burt Rutan. He opened with discussing how the X-15 had two of its flights to over 100 km. He wanted Space Ship 1 to go higher than the X-15. On his flight, Brian Binnie let the engine run a couple seconds longer than necessary to achieve the X-Prize award in order to go higher than the X-15. At the peak of the flight, the ship was flying at Mach 3.3 with an indicated airspeed of 18 knots.
The rest of the session was questions and answers. Few were about aviation.
Alternative Energy-How do we know we won’t have higher reserves in the future. We will move to alternatives when it’s cheaper.
Climate Change-The Earth’s primary thermostat is cloud formations and precipitation. a 1.2% increase in those will offset a 100% CO2 increase.
Attention span and Jim Bede-Cap and trade proponents are charletons. They sell something without buying it themselves.
Health care-He was able to choose a doctor and got a defibrillator. He wouldn’t be able to under ObamaCare. He believes his dad wouldn’t be alive today under federal care since it wouldn’t be cost effective.
He has this info on a friend’s web site bobscherer.com
NASA should give engineers the opportunity to discover breakthroughs. There have been no improvements in safety or costs in getting people to orbit since the Gemini program
Transportation-He is a proponent of air taxis. The Eclipse didn’t have payload or range-only speed. Dr. Williams and Mr. Rutan left that project because of that.
Terrorist threats-Homeland security person appointed is not the right person. US is not increasing the population enough. Europe is even worse. The makeup of the population with have a major change in the next generation.
I’ll be posting more of the news summaries when we get back on Sunday.
Attendance is still looking better than last year. On Tuesday 1098 international visitors were registered vs. 1000 at this time last year.
I attended a seminar on obtaining 501(c)3 status for chapters. We received that status last year, but I was looking for additional tips. Patty Arthur mentioned that we need to receive at least 1/3 of our support from the general public. An airport can be a 501(c)4 organization which would make them tax exempt, but would not allow donor tax deductions. We also may want to keep a log book of viistors to record our educational activities.
AOPA and EAA made a joint announcement on a Memo of Understanding for collaboration between the organizations. They want to protect GA, promote safety and grow the aviation community. AOPA will be supporting the Young Eagles program while EAA will add their support to the GA Serves America program. Both organizations will cooperate on legislative and safety issues.
I attended a seminar on A380 braking systems. The plane has 16 wheels with brakes out of the 20 main wheels. A system has been developed where the flight crew can program the runway and desired turnoff information into the autobrake system. The system will adjust braking to minimize heating, and warns if the plane can’t stop before the end of a runway.
Ford Motor Company held a reception for chapter presidents last night. It’s a unique opportunity to discuss our chapters with other people. Besides Tom Poberenzy, (He’s everywhere this week) Edsel Ford III, Harrison Ford and Capt. Chesley Sullenberger were in attendance. I was able to thank Mr. Edsel Ford for hosting the event. He stated that he often flies into Westfield, MA because he has a child attending Deerfield Academy. He thinks very highly of the FBO’s at the airport there.
Pete & I arrived at the show about 12:30 today. I had to get up at 3:30 (2:30 CDT) to get here. Tom Poberezny reports that camping levels are at their highest level ever.
The A380 arrived on time and gave an impressive demo. Will try to get a tour on it tomorrow.
Rob Holland and Mike Goulian were part of today’s air show. The AeroShell team performed with 4 planes.
I was invited to the lifetime member’s dinner tonight. If you attend AirVenture regularily, the lifetime membership is a very good value from the additional perks that come with the membership.
Tomorrow, Tom and AOPA President Craig Fuller will make an announcent on the cooperation of the organizations.