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College Time Flights and Buzzes
By Charlie Briggs
To the glee of me and the distress of my fraternity members at Sigma Nu, Kansas state chapter, plus the use of my father’s Luscombe, this really happened. Dad leased “long stem grass” pastures in the Manhattan, Kans. Area, and was there on business, and to see me. Seizing on the opportunity to “get in a little air time,” he agreed to let me take a sightseeing flight of the area.
The year was 1949! I had a fresh new private pilots license and the experience of less than 100 hours of solo time. It is reported that 100 hours is the most dangerous time of a pilot’s career.
Looking back, I believe it. There is little that scares you and much to entice you to “slip the surly bonds” of common sense and do darned fool things. This was one of those things.
Former Marine Military Working Dog Finds New Life in the Air Force
By Air Force Master Sgt. April Lapetoda
380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
(This feature is part of the “Through Airmen’s Eyes” series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)
Senior Airman Samantha Baker gives her partner, Penny, a hug after successfully completing a training session. Baker is a military working dog handler deployed to the 380th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. April Lapetoda)The passion and love between military working dogs and handlers is part of the job, but not always evident. However, for Senior Airman Samantha Baker and her partner for the past four months, military working dog Penny, the two are often seen walking around the base together.
Sometimes Baker carries Penny up makeshift stairs so that her paws don’t get stuck, and instead of working strict patrol and obedience training, the two are often in the training area engaging in a game of catch with lots of hugs, love and praise.
Not only does Baker’s and Penny’s relationship look different from the average military working dog and its handler – it is different in several ways. One of the main factors for the difference in their relationship is that Penny is a fox red Labrador.
Share-A-Flight – Need A Ride? Have A Seat?
Murphy Aircraft Mfg. Ltd. is For Sale
Murphy Aircraft Manufacturing Ltd. has announced that the company is now being offered for sale. They hope to sell to someone who can take the company to the next stage of development.
Mr. Darryl Murphy, Company Founder and President, said “After thirty enjoyable years running Murphy Aircraft Mfg. Ltd., I am approaching retirement, with the desire to spend more time with family and pursue other interests. To that end I find myself in the position of wanting to sell Murphy Aircraft Mfg. Ltd.”
Murphy Aircraft Mfg. Ltd. was founded in 1985 and has been a world leader in the design and production of experimental light aircraft, having sold close to 2,000 aircraft kits in more than 35 countries. Many of these Murphy aircraft are now flying on floats and skis. The Murphy Moose and Murphy Rebel, with their reputation as rugged, roomy bush aircraft, offering utilitarian high useful loads, are especially coveted for their excellent performance on floats.
Weeks after FAA Test Site Designation, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Conducts Drone Research Mission
Just weeks after its designation as one of six federally-approved test sites for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi will conduct several test flights over South Texas ranchland to continue research and training on the RS-16 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
The recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) test site designation, announced Dec. 30, is expected to bring other UAS researchers to the University’s Lone Star UAS Center to expand research on new applications and safe integration of unmanned aerial technology into the national airspace.
A&M-Corpus Christi has an established UAS program, including extensive airspace authorized by the FAA for UAS operations. The University also has established a UAS Command and Control Center at the Coastal Bend Business Innovation Center that will manage the 11 Texas test ranges. The University’s UAV, an RS-16, has participated in several missions since it arrived on campus in 2011.
Skies to Stars: Nothing Stays the Same
By Ed Downs
The Giant Red Spot on Jupiter. (NASA.gov)This amateur astronomer decided that it was time to dabble in the rapidly expanding field of astro photography and bought a new gadget. Sort of like flying, there is always another accessory to buy. That gadget is designed to hold a simple, digital, point and shoot class of camera in the correct position to actually take photos of distant objects. This is a long way from the more advanced levels of amateur astro-photography, which can challenge Hubble Telescope photos, but it is a fun and cheap place to start.
The timing is also good as a favorite local, Jupiter, is positioned for the best viewing in two years. The gas giant Jupiter and it’s four largest moons, Io, Europa, Ganymede and Calisto make for terrific photos. Even a small telescope will give the amateur a great view, and a telescope such as owned by this writer (12” reflector) will allow one to resolve some surface details on the moons. Yes, these are big moons, the least of which (Europa) is a bit smaller than our moon and the largest (Ganymede) being bigger than the planet Mercury. But why, one might ask, bother taking a rudimentary photo when incredible images are already available from the likes of the Hubble Space Telescope, the Galileo and New Horizons spacecraft plus highly advanced ground based telescopes?
An Early Trip to Texas and a Unique Grass Seeding System
By Charlie Briggs
The year was 1946. The plane was small. The hour was early. The weather was good. The destination was Seminole, Texas. For me this was like going to another country. I looked it up on the map. It was 420 air miles. Going another direction we could have been going to Denver or Kansas City!
My father’s plane was a new Luscombe 8E. All metal and sturdy, it boasted a continental engine that purred along at a neat 100 miles per hour from the efforts of the 85 horses stored in the four dependable cylinders up front. No big appetite for fuel either, and using a miserly four gallons per hour at less than 30 cents per gallon, it was a real bargain in transportation.
The pre-flight was quite simple and took all of about five minutes. Check the controls, drain the sump, check the oil, make sure no owls made a nest under the cowl, and it basically was time to get cranking.
Senate Introduces Sleep Apnea Bill
By Elizabeth A Tennyson, AOPA
GA supporters in the Senate on Jan. 16 introduced a measure that would compel the FAA to go through the rulemaking process before implementing any policy changes related to sleep disorders. The legislation was introduced by AOPA members Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), and co-sponsored by Sens. Mark Begich (D-Alaska) and Mike Johanns (R-Neb.). (Begich and Johanns co-chair the Senate GA Caucus and both Manchin and Inhofe are caucus members.)
The language in the Senate bill, S. 1941, mirrors that of H.R. 3578, introduced in November by House aviation subcommittee Chairman Frank LoBiondo (R-N.J.) and Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-Wash.). That bill passed the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Dec. 4, 2013, positioning it for a vote by the full House.
GAMA and NATA Applaud The Long-Awaited Repair Station Security Final Rule
The National Air Transportation Association welcomes the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) release of the long awaited Aircraft Repair Station Security regulation. The final rule appeared in the Jan. 13 Federal Register.
The regulation requires repair stations certificated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under 14 CFR Part 145 to comply with TSA security directives and implement security measures as directed by TSA. It also allows TSA and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials to conduct security inspections in these facilities. Most importantly the completion of this final rule will now lift the long-standing ban on certification of repair stations overseas.
“NATA is pleased to see the final TSA repair station security rule published. The completion of the final rule lifts the FAA’s moratorium on new foreign repair station certifications, allowing U.S. companies to expand MRO operations globally. This is a great boost to our aviation repair businesses, jobs and our nation’s economy,” said NATA President and CEO Thomas L. Hendricks.
“NATA commends the collaborative spirit of those who worked to see this rule through completion. The industry’s unity in its continual discussions with legislators and the Department of Homeland Security resulted in a positive outcome for all involved,” added Hendricks.
San Diego Air & Space Museum Mourns Loss of Jerry Coleman
Jerry Coleman standing in front jof the Museum’s F4U-7 corsair plane dedicated to him in 2011. The following statement is from Jim Kidrick, President & CEO of the San Diego Air & Space Museum on the passing of Jerry Coleman:
“We at the San Diego Air & Space Museum are saddened about the passing of our friend Colonel Jerry Coleman. From his unwavering loyalty to his nation as a Marine Corps Aviator to his dedication to the San Diego community, he was a true hero. We were fortunate to know Jerry and in 2011 the Museum inducted him into the International Air & Space Hall of Fame for his accomplishments in both WWII and the Korean War. The Museum’s F4U-7 Corsair bears his name and will forever remind us of his support, passion and friendship. We will miss you Jerry.”
GAMA Mourns the Loss of Henry Ogrodzinski
Green News: Shell Removes Lead from Light Aircraft Fuel
Shell has become the first major oil company to develop a lead-free replacement for Aviation Gasoline (Avgas 100 and 100LL), which will now begin a strict regulatory approvals process. Avgas is one of the last common transportation fuels to contain lead and is used by light aircraft and helicopters. Shell’s new lead-free formulation comes after 10 years of exhaustive research and development, as well as successful initial testing, carried out in the last two months by two original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
Xinsheng (Sheng) Zhang, Vice-President of Shell Aviation, said: “We are proud of this first for Shell Aviation. This advanced product is the latest milestone in our long history of innovation. We believe that with industry support, a stringent approvals process can be completed for this new lead-free product within a short timeframe. We look forward to working alongside our technical partners and authorities to progress the necessary approvals needed to make this product a reality for use in light aircraft engines of all types.”
GAMA Testifies Before U.S. House Aviation Subcommittee on the State of American Aviation
The U.S. House Aviation Subcommittee, chaired by Congressman Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), held a hearing in December to discuss the state of American aviation. Pete Bunce, President and CEO, testified on behalf of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA).
General aviation is an essential part of the U.S. transportation system, serving as an economic lifeline to small communities, delivering disaster relief supplies to those in need, assisting in medical evacuations and facilitating the development of the growing energy industry. General aviation supports more than 1.2 million jobs and over $150 billion in economic activity annually. General aviation manufacturing employs individuals in more than 40 states and generated $4.8 billion in exports in 2012.
D. Rae’s Aviatrix Training
By Denise Rae Donegan
Denise Rae DoneganSome of my favorite memories of my dad are of the two of us sitting in “The Boat,” our family’s white Buick Electra, parked alongside San Francisco Bay, eating lunch while watching the planes take off and land at SFO. I can still hear him saying, with binoculars in hand, “Look Denise, that’s a DC10,” or a 7, or whichever type of aircraft was flying overhead. It seemed that no matter where we were, up until the day he died, he always had an eye on the sky, fascinated with aircraft of all shapes and sizes. My own passion for flight began under his wing.
Earlier this year, I began to fly with my dear friend Ana Uribe Ruiz, Aviatrix Extraordinaire and member of Women of Aviation Worldwide (WOAW.) After our first breathtaking flight together I told her how I wished I could become a private pilot myself. Ana said, “Then why don’t you?” “Because I wear prescription glasses.” “You don’t have to worry about that for a private pilot’s license. You just have to wear your glasses.” My heart skipped a beat. “Really?” I said out loud, “How cool would that be!” I stared up to the sky, past the scattered clouds and thought, “Dad, what do you think?”
Allergic Rhinitis – Tis the Season!
By Susan Biegel M.D.
Do you ever experience post-nasal drip and find yourself having to clear your throat on and off all day? Or, do you have cold symptoms such as sore throat and cough that have lasted for two to three weeks off and on without letting up? There would be no problem for you to try over the counter Claritin or Allegra to see if it works. If Claritin or Allegra do help, you have likely made your diagnosis. Allergies can be seasonal, or all year long. Seasonal allergic rhinitis flares when certain trees or grasses are blooming or growing; or when we get rainfall that encourages the growth of grasses, molds, or spores.
The root cause: Allergens of all types, including pollens and dog or cat dander land on the nasal mucosal lining, causing the mast cells there to release a chemical cascade which leads to the swelling, itching, sneezing, and dripping that is so common with allergy sufferers. This is why using a Netty pot or at least a nasal rinse to wash the nasal passages of pollens will help control or eliminate a lot of the allergy flare ups.
Déjà vu All Over Again
By Steve Weaver
Without question, the U.S. aviation fleet is growing long in tooth. While new aircraft are being built, their numbers are infinitesimally small when compared to the huge number of aircraft the industry pumped out in the 60s, 70s and very early 80s. The bulk of those earlier aircraft still exist, most of them on U.S. registry and the average age of registered aircraft goes up yearly. Today, those old aircraft actually make up the largest percentage of the aircraft population in our country.
Yet it seems like I’m always taken by surprise when I run into an airplane that I’ve known from the past, and especially if it’s from a much earlier time in my life.
Sometimes it’s a familiar registration number that sparks recognition, and other times an examination of the logs reveals an event that I remember. Once in a while I even come across my own name in the aircraft log books, a younger me signing off an item of maintenance.
Falling Upwards Chronicles the Oft Overlooked but Fascinating History of Early Ballooning
By S. Mark Rhodes
Many believe that the history of aviation begins with the Wright Brothers or maybe some less well-known (at least to the public) aviation pioneers like John Montgomery or Alberto Santos-Dumont. Interestingly enough, you could make an argument that the history of aviation starts with individuals like Dr. Jacques Alexander Charles, Felix Nadar, Charles Green and Thaddeus Lowe who all in one way or another helped pioneer and popularize the notion of balloon flight in the 18th and 19th century. This history and these figures remain, if not forgotten, at least considerably overshadowed by their early 20th century counterparts like the Wrights and so on.
The very fine historian Richard Holmes’ new book Falling Upwards: How We Took to the Air (Pantheon) offers a corrective to this and gives the history of ballooning its fascinating, long overdue credit in the annals of the histories of aviation, the military and even society. Mr. Holmes was nice enough to correspond with In Flight’s Mark Rhodes about his books and the colorful history and characters associated with man’s first successful forays into flight.
CAP’s Cell Phone Forensics Leads Searchers to Six Found Alive in Nevada
Two adults and four children missing nearly two days in bitter winter conditions in rural northwestern Nevada’s rugged, mountainous Seven Troughs Range were found alive and well on Dec. 10 by Civil Air Patrol in coordination with Pershing County Sheriff’s Office, Fallon Naval Air Station, Washoe County Regional Aviation Enforcement Unit, Nevada National Guard Lakota helicopters and the state Division of Emergency Management.
Nevada Wing Commander Col. Tim Hahn said Maj. Justin Ogden and Col. Brian Ready, CAP’s cell phone forensics experts, played a critical role in helping rescuers narrow the search area.
“The cell phone forensics team pinpointed where they could not possibly be and their efforts were very time-consuming. They provided a key clue that redirected the search and led to the rescue.”
Learning to Fly in the 1940s
By Charlie Briggs
Charles BriggsAviation buffs read a lot of flying stories from pros who write articles on a regular basis. While often entertaining and informative, hearing from professional pilots sometimes lacks the real world experiences of the hundreds of thousands of aircraft owners and flyers who were never professional pilots, but simply lived with an airplane as a permanent family member. Such is the case with Charlie Briggs, a pilot for more than 65 years, having a career that included ranching, agricultural services and consulting, computer technologies and business concept development. In Flight USA invites readers to join Charlie as he reminisces about flying and life. You will experience a side of aviation that is informative, entertaining and personal. Enjoy.
My father was always interested in flying. He started flying Culver Cadets just as WWII occurred. Of course this stopped all private aviation. At the end of the “curfew,” after the defeat of Japan, Dad resumed his flying, mostly for business purposes. Being in the cattle “order” buying business, having your own plane was a real creative help, especially before the super superhighways and extensive commercial airline network matured.
NASA’s Orion Travels Country
See If You Can #SpotOrion
This map shows the route the Orion mockup will travel through on its way to its final destination in California. Image Credit: Google Earth.A test version of NASA’s Orion spacecraft has taken to the road, as it makes its way across country for recovery tests off the coast of California.
The mockup rolled away from NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., on Dec. 11, and will arrive at Naval Base San Diego in California in early January. There, the Orion stand-in will be used in February to support tests simulating the recovery of Orion following its return from space.