Vol 26 No. 1
January 2003
The meeting dates for
the next year are the 4th Monday except in May when it will be the 3rd. The
dates are: Jan27, Feb 24, Mar 24, Apr 28, May 19, Jun 23, Jul 28, Aug 25, Sept
22, Oct 27, Nov 24, and Dec 22.
NEW Meeting Place: Madison Library. 39 Keep Street, Madison, NJ 07940 973 377 0722 (link to map)
NEW Meeting Time: 7 PM
TREASURERS REPORT Ed Chenevey
We had 21 members last year: Barton, Chenevey, Folger, Harmon, Josenhans, Kroll,
Mitchell, Palmer, Perkins, Petry, Pote, Richter, Sager, Shelby, Simpson,
Stoddard, Storm, Thompson, Valand, Watkinson, and Wertz. At $15 each that gave:
INCOME EXPENSES
Membership $315 EAA dues $130
Calendars 80
Calendars 84
Distribution from Gero
Park 240
Multi Chapter
Refreshments 15
Fly-In 84
Postage 88
TOTALS
$479 $557
As I said last year, I will make up the difference. By raising the dues this
year and finding a free meeting place, we will be in much better shape. Since we
don't have a bank account, please make any $20 dues checks payable to me.
REFLECTIONS Ed Chenevey
It's a new year, a cold one I may add
as I watch my gas meter turning furiously. We have new officers, a new meeting
place, and a 7 PM meeting time. A dues increase to $20 was approved at the last
meeting which should offset our expenses this year. Let me again point out that
it is your Chapter and that the activities and programs should reflect your
desires and interests and hopefully, your participation. What do you want? Mike
and I know everything but we are starting to forget it all. I find myself asking
my son about things; oh well!
I went to Cabin Fever last weekend along with Alvin and Art Bianconi. It was
bigger and better than ever. The theme was steam and steamboats and they
displayed the steamboat that the guy from Glen Gardner has. I also found more
train people; the NJ Live Steamers were there this year. After spending the
whole day I still didn't see everything.
Alvin steered me to a model rotary engine that borrowed from the Fairchild-Caminez
engine; a 4 cylinder radial cylinder arrangement with rollers on the pistons
instead of connecting rods which rode on a figure 8 cam to impart reciprocating
action to the pistons. Four tie rods tied the pistons together and held them
against the cam. So far, so good. The Fairchild was ATC'd. But this guy took
that assembly and mounted the crankshaft rigidly making the cylinders attached
to the prop revolve. Then he mounted a stationary ring around the outside of the
whole engine containing the intake, ignition, and exhaust with sealing via a
sliding ring between each cylinder and the outside ring.
While this works in model engine sizes, I don't believe that it will scale up
although the builder does. Thermal expansion will prevent the outer ring from
remaining round and the cylinder seals will be unable to cope. Adequate port
transfer rates for intake and exhaust will also be difficult to accomplish and
the gyroscopic forces are generally a nuisance rather than an asset. But a very
interesting model.
The electrically operated valve engine was there again. The auto companies
have been experimenting with electric valves for years; it's coming, no one
knows when. At that time the computer will control all aspects of engine running
and it will be able to optimize everything to provide the best power for the
least fuel with the least emissions at any rpm or load. All with fewer parts,
less weight, and less friction, (read better efficiency).
Finally, in the Feb 03 Popular Mechanics there is an article on page 74 about
new 4 stroke snowmobiles. All of these are potential candidates for 4 cycle
ultralite engines.
January
2003
Getting
Started
Matt
Thompson
Welcome
to 2003! Well the new slate for this year has Ed Chenevey
continuing
as our secretary /treasurer, Mike Stoddard as the vice
president,
Alvin Sager as our newsletter editor with his son Steven
filling in
as our webmaster between classes at the Air Force Academy,
and me as
your president. For the first time since I've been a member,
we will
meet regularly at a new venue - well perhaps an old new venue. Kudos to Art
Valand for looking into the options in the
Madison
area. We have a meeting place at the Madison Library, in the Historical
Society
Room. I counted 16 chairs in the room, which should be
sufficient
based on our attendance patterns of the last couple of
years. We
will continue to meet on the fourth Monday of the month,
except
those that have holidays in which case we'll shift to the third
Monday of
the month. Another change will be the meeting time - we'll
start at
7:00 PM and need to be out of the library by
closing at 9:00
(which
really means we will adjourn at
8:50).
The use of the room is
free,
which should be a major help for our budget. If we decide that
we are
having a problem fitting because of the demand for our programs,
we can
always look into the
Chase Room at the Library, which is $25 a
night.
Unlike the arrangement in
Millburn,
we can pay for only the
nights we
use rather than the entire year.
Thinking of programs, we're beginning to get some lined up for this
year.
We'll have a video and discussion this month, to let everyone to
get into
the swing of being at the new location and time. Ed will have
a
treasurer's report so we understand where our budget is starting from
this year.
In the way of future programs, Tom Watkinson has volunteered
to do a
program on towing. For those that don't know, he's been busy
towing
banners and gliders the last couple of years. Art Valand has
volunteered to do one on slow flying models. Art Storm told me about a
guest,
John Loofbourrow, who will do a program on his Defiant project,
based at
Morristown, which is getting ready for the
first flight. Mike
Stoddard
has talked to Jim Massengill to do a program on the
modifications that he's in the process of making to his Glassair III.
I'm
planning on a program covering the Lycoming rebuild that I'm doing
for my
RV-6 project. So you can see that we should have something to
look
forward to in the coming months.
Thinking of my RV-6 project, I'm finally finishing the second wing and
starting
into the fuselage. I've got a number of the bulkheads made
up. The
jig is square and level and waiting for the remainder of the
bulkheads
to populate it. My Christmas present came in the form of a
yellow tag
on my crankshaft, which is really good news for my wallet. I'll have more about
the whole process and the details behind it when I
do the
program. My travel schedule continues to impact the amount of
free time
I have for the project. However, the ride I received from
Bill
Shannon in his 6A last October has given me a shot of enthusiasm
that has
kick started me back into working on it a little bit on most of
the days
that I'm home.
I'm
looking forward to a great year serving as the president for the
chapter.
I'd like to say a special thanks to Mike Stoddard, who will be
backing me
up for those nights when the corporate world has me on the
road.
Don't be surprised when I come knocking for a program. I think
everyone
has a story to share. So please say yes when I ask. I'm
going to
try to get the program calendar out with a couple months lead
so that
everyone has something to look forward to and have the
opportunity to invite a guest and know that there will be someone
talking on
something of interest. That's all for now. See you Monday
night!
Off & Closed…Brakes and Contact!!!
Cygnet Chatter by Alvin Sager
Received an e-mail from Dave Harmon. He is planning on giving about ten youngsters Young Eagle rides sometime in the spring. A ground crew will be helpful keeping the kids that are not flying entertained, and helping with any questions and paperwork. Let’s see what he has in mind and lend a hand.
The only Chatter that’s been happening is from my teeth. I have started it up as low as 25 degrees, but I will wait till it gets a little warmer.
Al
Rapcon VFR Position
Mike and Bill,
It looks like we may finally have a dedicated VFR advisory scope/frequency here at McGuire. This is something I’ve been pushing for some time. Now I’ve got to collect as much supporting information and documentation to support this cause. I’d appreciate your input and thoughts concerning this proposal. If you have any info regarding incidents where GA pilots are denied VFR advisories due to workload, that would be helpful. I’ve got a deadline of Friday to forward this info. Thanks for your help.
Jonathan W. Spare, Major, USAFR
From: Shreiner Glenn F MSgt 305OSS/OSAD
Sent: Tuesday, January 14, 2003 3:31 PM
Subject: Rapcon VFR position
Sir,
The Airfield Operations Flight is forwarding a request to AFFSA regarding a new VFR scope position. What this will do is allow a separate controller to talk with/monitor VFR aircraft requesting advisories through McGuire's airspace. This will not be a control position, but an advisory position. Because there will be two controllers "monitoring" the same airspace (approach and the VFR scope), AFFSA needs to approve a waiver. We have the OG's recommendation to press ahead with the waiver and are now seeking further data inputs. I'd like to get as much information you can provide on HATRs, incidents, etc. that involve your aircraft and VFR aircraft in our airspace (dates/number of incidents/altitudes). This information will be included with the waiver package helping to justify a VFR scope. We strongly believe that with an extra set of eyes watching the VFR folks the number of "close calls" should be significantly reduced. Also, I would appreciate any info on the impact this will have on the MACA program.
Please let me know if you have any questions. I appreciate your time and help with this matter.
V/R,
Glenn
GLENN F. SHREINER,
MSgt, USAF
Assistant Chief Controller, RAPCON
