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Sky King News
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Written by Art Lumley
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Friday, 13 August 2010 12:32 |
Don Karpen reports that a property owner near the Gold Ray Dam that is being removed is very upset about aircraft flying low over his place. It’s just west-northwest of the dam site and on the top of a knoll. He bought the house and property for the peace and quiet and has experienced too many buzz jobs. He promises to take formal complaint action against aircraft doing so. The guy is serious.
The FAR 91.119 (Federal Aviation Regulations) say flight isn't allowed any lower than 500 feet above the ground in sparsely populated areas. Since most general aviation aircraft don’t have radar altimeters, it is best to stay well above what is estimated to be your altitude above the terrain, structures, people, etc. The elevation varies due to the hills around there, so the contour lines on the sectionals don’t help.
Thursday, August 12 at 7:30 PM: The program for the August EAA meeting tomorrow evening will be a presentation by the Rogue Eagles radio controlled airplane club. Ben Musolf, Calvin Emigh, and others will be present to tell about the various aspects of building and flying radio controlled airplanes. They will cover the latest radio control technology, and current propulsion technology (internal combustion, jet, and electric). Club members will bring several models representative of the range of airplanes being flown locally. Models to be shown include one large scale airplane (approximately one-third scale of the original).
You may be surprised at the current state of art in this hobby. Did you know that recently a model glider (yes, a model glider) set a speed record of 416 MPH? Did you know that some RC aircraft are being equipped with video cameras and flown with heads up display?
This promises to be a very entertaining and informative program. Some of us may be interested in pursuing, or renewing, this hobby. Rogue Eagles members will eagerly assist and welcome anyone wanting to join their activities. They even have a flying model available for training so a person can see if this is an activity they want to pursue without making the upfront expenditures.
Directions to the CAP Aerospace Center: From Biddle Road, take Cirrus Drive which is next to the static display four engine KC-97. Go past Nebula Drive until you come to a “T” in the road. Turn right and keep going until you reach the Aerospace Center. When you come to a fence and gate, you're there.
Saturday-Tuesday, August 14-17: The Zeppelin, Eureka, will be visiting Medford. Passenger flights will be available. Call 650-969-8100 x111, or check the Mail Tribune for more information.
Saturday, August 21: Pancake breakfast at the Sky King Hangar from 8:30.
Directions to the Sky King Hangar: Take Highway 62 to Cardinal Avenue (1.7 miles from I-5) and drive west past Costco to Lear Way. Turn right and go to Commerce Avenue toward the airport, then left to International Way. Take a right to the hangar at 3727 International Way.
Keep 'em Flying,
Art Lumley
Ladies and Gentleman, this is your captain speaking. We have a small problem. All four engines have stopped. We are doing our damnedest to get them going again. I trust you are not in too much distress. Captain Eric Moody, British Airways, after flying through vocanic ash in a Boeing 747.
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Written by Art Lumley
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Tuesday, 11 May 2010 09:05 |
This issue of the Sky King News celebrates to arrival of many aviation activities in the Rogue Valley. Some entries give times and contact information, while others only remind you of upcoming events so you can block the dates out on your calendars. More details will be available as we approach the dates.
Saturday, May 15: The Fly By Night Aero Club will be serving their monthly pancake breakfast at the Sky King Hangar starting at about 8:30.
Directions to the Sky King Hangar: Take Highway 62 to Cardinal Avenue (1.7 miles from I-5) and drive west past Costco to Lear Way. Turn right and go to Commerce Avenue toward the airport, then left to International Way. Take a right to the hangar at 3727 International Way. 779-3679.
Saturday-Sunday, May 15-16: Rogue Eagles Radio Controlled model aircraft warbirds at Agate Field.
Directions to Agate field: From Highway 62, take Highway 140 toward Klamath Falls for 3.7 miles. Go past Jackson County Sports Park and Stone Ridge Golf Course to East Antelope Road. Turn left, go past the golf course club house for .7 mile to the gate for the Rogue Eagles RC flying field.
Tuesday-Wednesday, May 18-19: The Experimental Aircraft Association's B-17, the Aluminum Overcast, will be at Klamath Falls. Ground tours of the aircraft will cost $5 per adult. For flight reservations, contact the national headquarters in Oshkosh, Wisconsin: (800) 359-6217. Website: www.eaa.org for more information.
Saturday, May 22: Ashland Airport Day. Breakfast and lunch will be served.
Saturday, May 22: Rogue Eagles RC aircraft pylon race.
Thursday-Friday, May 27-28: Bud Liberatore will be exhibiting paper models of real aircraft at the Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport Terminal. These models can be downloaded from a computer. They are very realistic.
Saturday, May 29: National Hang Gliding & Paragliding Day. To be flown from Woodrat Mountain near Rouch in the Applegate area. The event will be hosted by the Rogue Valley Hang Gliders and Paragliders Association, and Fiasco Winery.
Saturday, May 30: Rogue Eagles RC aircraft "Fun Fly" with a pot luck lunch.
Saturday, June 5: Fly-in at the Medford Air Service presented by the State of Jefferson Flying Circus. For more information, check their website at www.PropSpinner.net. call (541) 864-1022, or email him at
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Wednesday-Friday, June 16-18: The Collings Foundation will be bringing their B-24 Liberator, B-17 Flying Fortress, and P-51 Mustang to the Jet Center. Rides can be purchased in all three aircraft or walk-through tours can be enjoyed for $12 for adults and $6 for children. For flight reservations or questions, call (800) 568-8924 or go to www.cfdn.org.
Saturday, June 26: The AirEventure at Grants Pass (Merlin) from 8:00 to 3:00.
Contact: Dennis Crawford at (541) 846-6866. Website: www.eaa725.org
Friday-Sunday, July 9-11: Balloon Rally.
Don Karpen has had a few people ask if he's going to give another ground school. This is a “feeler” to see if people are, in fact, serious. If you know of someone, please ask them to contact him and he'll be glad to answer any questions. His email is
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Yvonne Hoopingarner, widow of the late Randy Hoopingarner, has MAGELLAN GPS 2000, LIGHTSPEED HEADSET (never used), ICOM VHF BAND TRANSCEIVER (new in box). Anyone interested can reach her at email thehoopsrv@yahoo,com and make an offer.
Regards,
Art Lumley
When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return. — Leonardo da Vinci. |
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Written by Art Lumley
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Wednesday, 10 February 2010 07:23 |
Breakfast will be served at the Sky King Hangar twice this month. A Valentines Day breakfast this Saturday, the 13th, even though Valentines Day is on the 14th, and the regular third Saturday pancake breakfast on the 20th. Times will be from about 8:00 until???? Everyone is welcome.
Ground directions to the Sky King Hangar: Take Highway 62 to Cardinal Avenue (1.7 miles from I-5) and drive west past Costco to Lear Way. Turn right and go to Commerce Avenue, then turn left to International Way. Take a right to the hangar at 3727 International Way. For more information, call 779-3679.
The local Chapter 319 of the Experimental Aircraft Association meets this Thursday, the 11th, at the Civil Air Patrol hangar at 7:30 PM. The program will be presented by Tom Williams, who is the airport control chief. If you have any questions about control tower operations, this will be the time to get your answers. Sharri, Carole, and Chuck will be offering a heavy snack, so it might be advisable not to eat dinner before you come to the meeting. Again, all are welcome.
Directions to the CAP Aerospace Center: From Biddle Road, take Cirrus Drive which is next to the static display four engine KC-97. Go past Nebula Drive until you come to a “T” in the road. Turn right and keep going past the Jet Center until you reach the Aerospace Center. When you reach a fence and gate, you are there.
Cheers,
Art Lumley
The energy spent in struggling against the inevitable could often prevent it from becoming inevitable. |
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Written by Art Lumley
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Monday, 08 February 2010 08:29 |
I don't usually email anything like this via the Sky King News, but I served in the Navy and flew for United Airlines. I feel strongly about both experiences.
It is about aviation.
Art Lumley
This airline pilot did it right
My lead flight attendant came to me and said, "We have an H.R. on this flight." (H.R. stands for human remains)
"Are they military?" I asked.
'Yes', she said.
'Is there an escort?' I asked.
'Yes.
'Would you please tell him to come to the flight deck? You can board him early," I said.
A short while later a young army sergeant entered the flight deck. He was the image of the perfectly dressed soldier. He introduced himself and I asked him about his soldier. The escorts of these fallen soldiers talk about them as if they are still alive and still with us.
'My soldier is on his way back to Virginia', he said. He proceeded to answer my questions, but offered no words on his own.
I asked him if there was anything I could do for him and he said no. I told him that he had the toughest job in the military and that I appreciated the work that he does for the families of our fallen soldiers. The first officer and I got up out of our seats to shake his hand. He left the flight deck to find his seat.
We completed our preflight checks, pushed back and performed an uneventful departure. About 30 minutes into our flight I received a call from the lead flight attendant in the cabin.
'I just found out the family of the soldier we are carrying, is on board', he said. He then proceeded to tell me that the father, mother, wife and 2-year old daughter were escorting their son, husband, and father home. The family was upset because they were unable to see the container that the soldier was in before we left. We were on our way to a major hub at which the family was going to wait four hours for the connecting flight home to Virginia.
The father of the soldier told the flight attendant that knowing his son was below him in the cargo compartment and being unable to see him was too much for him and the family to bear. He had asked the flight attendant if there was anything that could be done to allow them to see him upon our arrival. The family wanted to be outside by the cargo door to watch the soldier being taken off the airplane. I could hear the desperation in the flight attendant's voice when he asked me if there was anything I could do..
'I'm on it', I said. I told him that I would get back to him.
Airborne communication with my company normally occurs in the form of e-mail like messages. I decided to bypass this system and contact my flight dispatcher directly on a secondary radio. There is a radio operator in the operations control center who connects you to the telephone of the dispatcher. I was in direct contact with the dispatcher. I explained the situation I had on board with the family and what it was the family wanted. He said he understood and that he would get back to me.
Two hours went by and I had not heard from the dispatcher. We were going to get busy soon and I needed to know what to tell the family. I sent a text message asking for an update. I saved the return message from the dispatcher and this following is the text:
'Captain, sorry it has taken so long to get back to you. There is policy on this now and I had to check on a few things. Upon your arrival a dedicated escort team will meet the aircraft. The team will escort the family to the ramp and plane side. A van will be used to load the remains with a secondary van for the family. The family will be taken to their departure area and escorted into the terminal where the remains can be seen on the ramp. It is a private area for the family only. When the connecting aircraft arrives, the family will be escorted onto the ramp and plane side to watch the remains being loaded for the final leg home. Captain, most of us here in flight control are veterans. Please pass our condolences on to the family. Thanks.'
I sent a message back telling flight control thanks for a good job. I printed out the message and gave it to the lead flight attendant to pass on to the father. The lead flight attendant was very thankful and told me, 'You have no idea how much this will mean to them.'
Things started getting busy for the descent, approach and landing. After landing, we cleared the runway and taxied to the ramp area. The ramp is huge with 15 gates on either side of the alleyway. It is always a busy area with aircraft maneuvering every which way to enter and exit. When we entered the ramp and checked in with the ramp controller, we were told that all traffic was being held for us.
'There is a team in place to meet the aircraft', we were told. It looked like it was all coming together, then I realized that once we turned the seat belt sign off, everyone would stand up at once and delay the family from getting off the airplane. As we approached our gate, I asked the copilot to tell the ramp controller we were going to stop short of the gate to make an announcement to the passengers. He did that and the ramp controller said, 'Take your time.'
I stopped the aircraft and set the parking brake. I pushed the public address button and said, 'Ladies and gentleman, this is your Captain speaking I have stopped short of our gate to make a special announcement. We have a passenger on board who deserves our honor and respect. His Name is Private XXXXXX, a soldier who recently lost his life. Private XXXXXX is under your feet in the cargo hold. Escorting him today is Army Sergeant XXXXXXX. Also, on board are his father, mother, wife, and daughter. Your entire flight crew is asking for all passengers to remain in their seats to allow the family to exit the aircraft first. Thank you.'
We continued the turn to the gate, came to a stop and started our shutdown procedures. A couple of minutes later I opened the cockpit door. I found the two forward flight attendants crying, something you just do not see. I was told that after we came to a stop, every passenger on the aircraft stayed in their seats, waiting for the family to exit the aircraft.
When the family got up and gathered their things, a passenger slowly started to clap his hands. Moments later more passengers joined in and soon the entire aircraft was clapping. Words of 'God Bless You', I'm sorry, thank you, be proud, and other kind words were uttered to the family as they made their way down the aisle and out of the airplane. They were escorted down to the ramp to finally be with their loved one.
Many of the passengers disembarking thanked me for the announcement I had made. They were just words, I told them, I could say them over and over again, but nothing I say will bring back that brave soldier.
I respectfully ask that all of you reflect on this event and the sacrifices that millions of our men and women have made to ensure our freedom and safety in these United States of America . |
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Written by Art Lumley
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Thursday, 14 January 2010 07:42 |
It’s been about a month since the last Sky King News was sent out. Not a lot has happened in aviation activities around the valley, but that will change this Saturday, the 16th. The Fly By Night Aero Club gang will be serving their first pancake breakfast of the year. Come on out! You’ll be glad you did. The grill will be hot by 8:00.
Ground directions to the Sky King Hangar: Take Highway 62 to Cardinal Avenue (1.7 miles from I-5) and drive west past Costco to Lear Way. Turn right and go to Commerce Avenue, then turn left to International Way. Take a right to the hangar at 3727 International Way. For more information, call 779-3679.
For those of you who receive the ACE News, you probably read an article about the Civil Air Patrol’s new Cessna 182 with the glass cockpit. This article was picked up by Paul Fattig, reporter for the Mail Tribune. He made arrangements to meet at the CAP hangar to gather more information for an article for the newspaper. He and their photographer, Bob Pennell, came to the hangar on Tuesday, the 5th, and a fine article was published the next day.
The CAP meets on the first four Tuesdays of the month at 6:30. All are welcome to visit. Directions to the CAP hangar: Take Cirrus Drive off Biddle Road past Medford Air Service and the static KC-97. Go past Nebula Drive to the “T” at the end of Cirrus Drive. Follow the sign to the CAP hangar. Go past the Jet Center to a fence and gate, and you’re at the CAP Aerospace Center.
Cheers,
Art Lumley
A reckless driver endangers others in four ways—north, south, east, and west.
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September, 8 2010Our next meeting will be: Thursday, September 9 th at 7:30PM Active members: 46 We meet at:Aerospace Center 5060 Cirrus Drive Medford Oregon Click Here for Map
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