EAA Chapter 430 Newsletter, August 2020

Serving the Port Angeles & Sequim Area EAA 430 FLYER AUGUST 2020 Dedicated to having fun with airplanes and promoting General Aviation CHAPTER CHATTER With President Ken Brown August, the month of having outdoor fun with family and friends. Fire pits, picnics, family reunions, hot dogs and s’mores. Instead, we find ourselves so- cially distanced, masked and untouchable. It is all too surreal. However, in your airplane you have the ability to socially distance yourself and family member (s) from the humdrum to special places. Even the $$$ burger is still possible if you plan. Many airport and off airport restaurants are open and willing to make it happen. I have found that always having a mask around my neck allows more mental freedom than I would have thought. Always available and easy to pull up and cover. (We used to practice duck and cover but this is just a little different) The chapter is not languishing without the gatherings as many of our members are still seeing each other but in smaller groups. The fly-outs provide a destination to enjoy as a group and be separated as necessary. The board continues to plan on expansion by investing in the Build-n-Fly program headed up by Al Gross. The goal is to interest youngsters 14-17 to be involved in building an r/c flying model and learn how to fly it. More information on this program is located in the newsletter. The pavers we have purchased are at Sequim Valley airport by the memorial rock as you enter the parking lot. Come by and take a look. You can also go online at https://polarengraving.com/eaa430 and buy a paver for a special person or event. We will continue to use ZOOM for all of our meetings and gatherings until the county allows in-person gath- erings. In the meantime, smile, be thankful, and remember we are pilots and we can get up and go. Ken

P a g e 2 E A A 4 3 0 F L Y E R IN THIS ISSUE Page Chapter Chatter (Ken Brown) 1 Calendar of Events 2 YE Build & Fly Program 3 Meet Al Gross 4-5 Congratulations Madeline Patterson 6 Gathering Minutes 8 VMC Club (Ray Ballantyne) 9 Board & Directors 9 August 2020  VMC Club Meeting August 12 2nd Wednesday of the Month ZOOM MEETING  EAA Chapter 430 Board Meeting August 21 9:00 am ZOOM MEETING  EAA Chapter 430 Chapter Gathering August 29 10:00 ZOOM MEETING The first pavers set in the new EAA Memorial Patio

P a g e 3 E A A 4 3 0 F L Y E R Young Eagles Build and Fly Program EAA 430 is now sponsoring an EAA Young Eagles Build and Fly program. This is an intensive RC model build- ing and flying initiative to introduce youth to aircraft construction and the fundamentals of flight. This is a “program-in-a-box” designed for a chapter to partner with local Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) clubs. The program can either be a follow-up to or lead to an EAA Young Eagles flight and is intended to further a young person’s passion for aviation. We have purchased the kit which includes an EAA-exclusive, SIG electric-powered eKadet LT-40 kit, all build- ing materials, electronics, and accessories; a Horizon Hobby Vapor indoor RC model, and a copy of the Real- Flight 9 RC flight simulator. The SIG electric-powered eKadet LT-40 kit is an electric motor version of the tra- ditional SIG LT-40 Glo Plug engine powered model, only available through this program. Al Gross has agreed to head up the program and would like a couple of volunteers to assist him. Dan Gase, manager of Fairchild airport in Port Angeles, has offered their meeting room for the program. Ken Brown has furnished a computer to run the software, RealFlight 9. We will start the program when Clallam County is in Phase 3, when up to 10 people can meet together. Meanwhile if you are interested in volunteering, please contact Al akgross2@q.com or 360-928-1064. For additional information regarding this program: https://www.eaa.org/eaa/eaa-chapters/eaa-chapter- resources/chapter-programs-and-activities/EAA-Young-Eagles-Build-and-Fly-Program See page 4-5 for Al Gross’s bio

P a g e 4 E A A 4 3 0 F L Y E R Meet Al Gross … Our New Chairman Build & Fly Program When he was only 3 or 4 years old, Al was fascinated with the NACA (NASA) flyovers from the Cleveland Hopkins Air- port as the planes flew over his home. Early on, he remem- bers seeing the early B35 flying wing and B36 bombers. As he was growing up, his dad worked at Cleveland Model & Supply, producing model airplanes for military identification purposes. During WWII, the company played a pivotal role in the development of true scale models. In his spare time, his dad carved model propellers and sold them to hobbyists. At age eight, Al built his first model plane, a PA 12, learning the principal of nose heavy (difficult to fly) and tail heavy (you only fly once). At age 24, he had his first flight in a Cessna, and in 1972, he received his private pilot’s license in Cleveland. When he did his first solo cross country flight, his VOR seemed inoperative and, as he climbed to 6000 feet, he could still see the ground but was flying in marginal VFR conditions. Luckily he looked down and saw the iron compass (railroad tracks) and a lake he recognized, so he followed the road back to the airport. After landing, he realized he had the wrong frequency. When he had read his paper map, the frequency was written in a crease, which caused him to read a wrong number. Al’s first plane in which he received his instruction was a tail dragger Citabria. He then went on to obtain his license in a Cessna 150. He has built two ultralights, one from scratch and one he assembled. Along the way he has gained experience with experimental and production aircraft through family and friends. He attended Cleveland State University, ma- joring in business and graduating with a BBA, which took him to GE and Honeywell, first in Minneapolis for two years, then to Sacramento for 6 -7 years. From there he went to Seattle where he worked as a man- ager. When he retired in 2003, he and his wife, Kitty, had acreage and a small house on Freshwater Bay west of Port Angeles where Al would spend week-ends fishing with friends and enjoying the property. In 2004, after a week-end on their property, Kitty said she didn’t need to return to Seattle, so they decided to move to Port Angeles per- manently. (continued on next page)

P a g e 5 E A A 4 3 0 F L Y E R One of the activities Al enjoyed was taking Zoey, his chocolate lab therapy dog, to the local hospital to visit patients, to nursing homes and to schools and libraries to read to the children. He also enjoys hiking, kayaking and anything that takes him outdoors. For 24 years he was an aircraft judge at the Arlington Fly-In. He has been a member of EAA (#52697) since 1971 when joined the Cleveland EAA 325 Chapter. He was a member of a Minneapolis chapter and joined EAA 430 in February 2020. He attended Oshkosh in 1974. Al is a member of AMA (Academy of Model Aeronautics) and Safety Officer of Olympic RC Modelers in Port Angeles. One of the many RC models he is currently working on is an RC Horton IX, a German prototype fighter/bomber flying wing, initial- ly designed by Reimar and Walter Horten late in World War II. It was the first World War II combat flying wing and was to be powered by jet engines. His model RC Horton IX will also have electric ducted fan jet engines. He enjoys mentoring the building and flying of model planes and has years of experience with radio control flying. He flies model planes almost every day, explaining it’s an addiction or “way of life.” He brings his enthusiasm and experience to this new pro- gram for our chapter. Besides airplanes, two of his favorite things are food & being outdoors. On his bucket list is food, flying and completing his Wing Horen IX. He and Kitty have three children and two granddaughters. He lives by his motto “Every day needs to be a good day “ and “Keep moving ahead.”

P a g e 6 E A A 4 3 0 F L Y E R CONGRATULATIONS MADELINE PATTERSON My interest in aviation stems from my family’s love for travel. I took my first commercial flight when I was two and a half to be a flower girl at my Aunt’s Hawaiian wedding. For several years my family made it a priority to take a family vacation, usually to Disneyland or to Florida to visit my great grandmother and I began to fall in love with the SeaTac airport. My sister and I would call dibs on the bed closest to the window at a nearby hotel and we would watch the air traffic come and go. Growing up, I didn’t consider aviation as a ca- reer. I joined the Civil Air Patrol when I was 12 and set my sights on the Coast Guard Academy. In the summer of 2016, my grandfather said he had an airplane and proposed I begin flight training at Port Angeles Airport. I took my first flight July 25, 2016, and through several ups and downs, starts and stops, and three CFIs, exactly four years later, on July 25 2020, I passed my PPL check ride. Along the way I decided to postpone my plans to join the Coast Guard because I knew that flight school wasn’t a guarantee for me, and I was hopelessly in love with flying and didn’t want to do anything else. I decided in November 2019 I wanted to go to the University of North Dakota for a Bachelor of Aeronautical Sciences in Commercial Aviation. After applying and being accepted into the program as a sophomore transfer student, I met with my new (and amazing) CFI Keith to make plans to finish my PPL before August. I have no harrowing tales or life stories to add to this biography, as I have many more years to gather nuggets of wisdom. I write this brief biog- raphy on Highway 200 traveling through the Montana wilderness enroute to Grand Forks, North Dakota. I will remain the membership chair, as long as it’s possible through digital connectivity, and will continue to repre- sent Chapter 430 all the way out here in the Northern Plains.

P a g e 7 E A A 4 3 0 F L Y E R Ken opened the gathering on Zoom teleconference at 1005 and greeted the 14 participants. Ken provided a summary of the July Board of Directors meeting on July 17. The treasurer reported $6419.20 in the bank. Paver Project: there will be a project to lay the 15 paver stones, already purchased, at the memorial rock at W28. Work has begun on a brochure to outline and explain the paver project. Flyout Chairman Barry Halsted reported that 10 airplanes and 17 people joined the fly-out to Friday Harbor on July 14, 2020. A fine time of social distancing was had by all. The August fly-out will go to Packwood, WA. More information to follow. Build and Fly Program – Al Gross introduced himself as an EAA member since 1971, and an avid Radio Control (RC) enthusiast. Al has accepted chair of this model aircraft project for youth. The board agreed to use Young Eagle credits to purchase the program. Tracy Boulton agreed to help with the EAA430 Facebook page for advertising. Election of officers - Vice President, Programs, and Tool Crib chair will be vacant at the end of the year, and in need of candidates. Backcountry Flying/ RAF – Ray Ballantyne gave a presentation discussing flying in the backcountry of the Pacific Northwest. He described what constitutes “backcountry airstrips” and how to prepare for the flying challenges. He also presented the mission and accomplishments of the Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF). He ended with a cool video of flying into Moose Creek, ID. The meeting was closed by Ken at 10:45 am. Respectfully Submitted, Ray Ballantyne, Secretary EAA Chapter 430 Monthly Zoom Gathering Minutes July 25, 2020

P a g e 8 E A A 4 3 0 F L Y E R 2020 BOARD AND OFFICERS Chapter Phone Toll free 877-EAA-0430 (877-322-0430) Position Name Phone Ext Email Address President Ken Brown 1 president@eaa430.org Vice-President Ernie Hansen 2 vicepresident@eaa430.org Secretary Ray Ballantyne 3 secretary@eaa430.org Treasurer Skip Brown 4 treasurer@eaa430.org Class II Directors Programs Deb Cox 5 programs@eaa430.org Membership Madelaine Patterson 6 membership@eaa430.org Newsletter Skip Brown 7 newsletter@eaa430.org Scholarship David Miller 8 scholarship@eaa430.org Young Eagles Bud Davies 9 youngeagles@eaa430.org Web Editor Andy Sallee webeditor@eaa430.org Tech Advisor Harry Cook techhc@eaa430.org Tech Advisor Barry Halstead techbh@eaa430.org Tech Advisor Ernie Hansen techeh@eaa430.org Tech Advisor Rick Vaux techrv@eaa430.org WHAT: VMC - Visual Meteorological Conditions (flying VFR - visual flight rules) Discussions involving flying airplanes visually led by Ray Ballantyne WHERE: Mariner’s Café 609 W Washington St. Sequim, WA Food and beverages are available for purchase during the meetings. WHEN: 2nd Wednesday of the month starting at 7:00 pm. WHO: Anyone interested in flying is welcome to attend. It is a great place to meet new people and have some fun! WHY: The one hour meetings use real-world scenarios to engage members and allow a free exchange of information that improves awareness and skills. Designed to provide organized “hangar flying” focused on building proficiency in VFR flying. We hope to create a community of aviators willing to share practical knowledge, nurture communication, improve safety and build proficiency.