Will Whiteside: Fast and Fearless

Charles M. Schulz – Sonoma County Airport
January 2009 • Issue 18
Newsletter
Will Whiteside:
Fast and Fearless
Some pretty amazing people are found around the
Airport and Will Whiteside is one of them. The Santa
Rosa native is a corporate pilot but his aviation interests
don’t end there. Will spends his free time dedicated to air
racing, the world’s fastest motor sport.
Since 2005 Will has competed in the Reno Air
Races Unlimited Class where pilots race extremely
Will Whiteside in “Steadfast” at the 2008 Reno Air Races
high-performing aircraft at speeds up to 500 mph over a
pyloned course. Pilots manuever their aircraft at heights of about 50-150 feet off the ground. Will mostly flies his Yakovlev3U-R2000 (Yak), competing against about thirty other aircraft in each race. His Yak is named “Steadfast” after Reno’s Stead
Field where the races are held. Assisting Will in this effort is Team Steadfast, eight volunteers, who along with Will, modify,
rebuild, and maintain the Yak to increase maneuverability and achieve ever higher speeds in flight.
Commitment and dedication are hallmarks of Whiteside’s life. He spent many hours as a child racing radio-controlled
aircraft and building model planes with his late father, Bill Whiteside. After a few years in his teens working alongside his dad
as a commercial fisherman in Bodega Bay, Will’s daring nature lead him to spend five years as a professional dirt motorcycle
speedway racer. He started flying lessons at STS in 1994 at age 23 while earning money fueling aircraft. He soon earned
a private license and advanced certification as a jet pilot. He became a flight instructor himself in 1996. Since then, Will
Continued on page 3
Horizon Air Looking Good!
New Co-op Billboard is Up
By Melinda Gay, Sonoma County Airport
Airport Express Gets Handier . . . . . . . 2
Snoopy Store Goes Live . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Ho Ho Ho - Hello Santa! . . . . . . . . . . 2
Airport Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Horizon Numbers Stay Strong . . . . . . . 5
Air Show Wins Award . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Terminal Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Airport Tenant Directory . . . . . . . . . . 7
Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Many businesses are entering into cooperative advertising agreements
as a way to stretch their marketing dollars. The Airport and Wine Country
Radio joined forces to do just that. In exchange for space on the Airport’s
billboard, Wine Country Radio is running radio spots extolling the virtues
of flying locally from STS. The spots can be heard at random times throught
the day on The Krush 95.9 and 96.7 Bob FM The billboard is located just
south of the Hearn Avenue exit on northbound Highway 101 in Santa
Rosa. The billboard will remain up through June when the co-op portion
will be replaced by NorthBay Biz magazine.
1
Airport Express Gets Handier
By Tony Geraldi, Sonoma County Airport Express
Mobile hand web accessible devices like the I-Phone, Blackberry, Palm, Q-Phone,
and others are becoming more and more popular. So much so that we at Airport Express
have just added our own mobile version website. The site is much more user friendly
then our regular website when it comes to navigation and viewing on handheld devices.
Whenever anyone with a handheld device accesses our regular site they are immediately
connected to our mobile version web site instead.
One special feature of the mobile site is that the person accessing it will be able to
confirm when the next Airport Express bus will start boarding at the location where
they are waiting. This will be an extremely valuable feature for passengers arriving to
board one of our buses. Using the Airport Express mobile website is free, but your
network operator may charge you for the data you use
to access the mobile web.
Along with the explosion in popularity of mobile web
enabled devices are Quick Response (QR) codes. QR codes are similar to bar
codes; they store web addresses and may appear in magazines, on signs, buses, business cards or
just about any object where users might need to find information. Users with a camera phone
equipped with the correct reader software can scan the image of the QR code prompting the
phone's browser to launch and redirect to a website at high speed. A sign featuring the Airport
Express QR code has been placed inside the bus shelter outside the Airport terminal so that bus
passengers can easily access our website while waiting for a bus.
Scan this code with your
QR codes are already a big part of the culture in Japan and Europe and technology experts
mobile phone and the
Airport Express mobile
predict QR codes will be huge in the U.S. within the next 12 months.
website site will open up.
Airport Express’s mobile website is available at http://www.airportexpressmobile.com.
Snoopy Store Goes Live!
You no longer have to wander over to the Airport Manager’s office to purchase items from our fun selection of logo
merchandise; you can now make purchases online at sonomacountyairport.org!
The Airport, in partnership with Sonoma Designs and Apparel, now has an online store that lets you order cool stuff
from the comfort of home, office, or wherever you take your laptop or other devices. The online store has opened with our
most popular items and new merchandise will be added over the coming months. Shirts, mugs, challenge coins, and more,
there is something for the Snoopy collector and Airport fan alike. Sonoma Designs and Apparel is based in Santa Rosa and
does much of the embroidery and screen printing onsite. If you have an idea for a new product, let us know! We may be able
to add it to the store.
4.
On Saturday, December 20, the Pacific Coast Air Museum welcomed a very
special guest. Santa flew in to hear the wishes and dreams of some very lucky
girls and boys who came out on a cold winter morning to greet him.
Photos by Paul Heck
2
Will Whiteside
has piloted Learjets and Gulfstreams for Clay Lacy Aviation, a corporate
aviations services company in Van Nuys, and Gulfstreams for Warren Buffet
Continued from page 1
at NetJets International. Will also flew 737s and 757 jets for American Trans
Airlines (ATA) out of Los Angeles.
Will returned to Santa Rosa five
years ago to work as corporate pilot
for Codding Enterprises and Trione
Vineyards, where his flexible schedule
allows him time to pursue his passion
for racing. Will replaced Codding pilot
C.J. Stephens when Stephens retired
aces
R
ir
and he credits Stephens for hooking
A
o
en
R
08
Will at the 20
him on air racing after flying the course at Reno’s
Stead Field. Will bought a RV4 so he could learn formation flying with Stevens.
In 2006 Will bought Steadfast, Russia’s final variation of its renowned Yak 3 fighter
line and considered one of the best fighters of WWII. Built in Romania in 2005, it was
new, untested, and unfinished. The plane needed a lot of work before it could be safely Will with “Voodoo,” a
fast-flying
raced in the Unlimited Class and Team Steadfast got busy. When asked for a memorable
P-51 Mustang
highlight of his racing career Will said,
“Winning our first Bronze race in 2006 after an incredible amount of
Yak Stats and the
work to get the airplane from a barely flyable to race ready.”
Amazing Team Steadfast
“It’s a non-technical airplane,” says Will, “It goes fast but only by
• Powered by Pratt & Whitney R-2000 7M2
light weight, brute power, and tiny wings, a late 1930’s design unlike the
Twin Wasp radial
highly refined P-51s we race against.” In 2008, Will placed in multiple
• Grunman HU-16 Albatross propeller w/
races with the Yak with speeds up to 388 MPH. Asked what his fastest
reprofiled blades
speed was in 2008, Will responded, “460 MPH in ‘Voodoo,’ the highly
• Wheels and brakes from Cessna 421
modified, P-51 Mustang I fly for Bob Button out of Yolo Airport. The
• Tailwheel is lockable from control stick
race engine blew up at 460 MPH at 50 feet in practice. We then put the
• 145-gallon (548 litre) fuel capacity
stock engine in and I won the Unlimited Bronze race on Sunday’s trophy
• Rated horsepower is in 1,650hp (500NM) range
race. We would have
• Added race spinner and water spray bar to oil
coolers and manually closable oil coller exits
been the 3rd fastest
Reno Air Races
• Added anti-detonation injection system to
fighter at Reno in
From the Reno Air Races website:
carburetor for more power
2008 if the engine
http://www.airrace.org/indexJS.php)
• Rebuilt wings and flaps to refine aerodynamics
hadn’t gone south.”
Held each September at the Reno Stead
• Added servo tabs to lighten the controls
Competition
Airport, the five-day event attracts around
• Team constantly works to reform
and maintenance
aerodynamics and to make plane faster
200,000 people. The competitions consist of
is expensive, purses
• In 2008 new paint, courtesy of Jim Cook,
races around courses marked by pylons for six
are usually under
Hawley’s Paint
classes of extremely high performing aircraft:
$100,000 and do not
Unlimited, Formula One, Sport Biplane, ATtypically cover costs. Sponsors are required and new sponsors are always
6, Sport and Jet. Courses range between 3 and
welcomed. However, air racers are not inspired by visions of profit, but
8 miles in length.
by their passion, competitive spirit, flying talent, mechanical skills, and
Aircraft in the Unlimited class consist
willingness to devote time to the sport. Will is
mostly of modified and stock World War II
grateful to the friends, sponsors, and supporters
fighters. The aircraft routinely reach speeds
(many of whom are here at Sonoma County
in excess of 400 miles per hour. In 2003, Skip
Airport) who assist with funding the rebuilding
Holm piloted Terry Bland’s modified P-51D
and maintenance of Steadfast.
Mustang, Dago Red, and reached an all-time
The challenges of air racing do not deter Will.
speed record of 507.105 mph in a six-lap race
When asked what his goals are for 2009 he says,
around the eight-and-a-half mile course.
“I’d like to win the Unlimited Gold Race with the
Reno’s
46th
Annual
National
P-51 Mustang, “Voodoo,” and win the Unlimited
Championship Air Races and Air Show will
Silver with Steadfast. Oh, and have fun!”
be held September 16 – 20, 2009.
(Photos courtesy of Team Steadfast: http://www.teamsteadfast.com/index.html)
3
By Lidia Herbert, Sonoma County Airport
The Airport Manager’s Office is currently updating
its tenant contact information. Please send us a current
email address so that we can use it as a way to
communicate and update tenants
on various Airport issues. You
can either call (565-7243)
or email the office (gcote@
sonoma-county.org) with your
current email address. Email addresses
will be used for Airport news and
updates only.
Please notify the
Airport Manager’s Office
if you have any changes to your
contact or aircraft information.
These changes
may include
your mailing address, email
address, contact phone number,
aircraft registration, etc.
If you have any questions
or would like to update
your information, please call the Airport
Manager’s Office at 565-7243 or email
gcote@sonoma-county.org.
Lunardi Electric is currently completing Phase III
of the Apron F (Gun Club) electrical upgrade project.
This last phase consists of an electrical upgrade in the
middle row of privately and County owned hangars.
Lunardi is working on isolating all of the electrical and
metering for each hangar, cleaning up all wires on the
ground, and pulling new wires inside of the hangars. In
the future, if you are a private hangar owner and would
like to have power in your hangar, please contact the
Airport Manager’s Office and we will put
you in contact with a County approved
electrician.
Tree Removal
The Airport is in the process of
removing and topping trees in the Runway
Protection Zones, which are located at the
end of all of the runways. The project started
in the beginning of November and, as long as the
weather cooperates, the work should be completed
by February 15, 2009. There is a noticeable difference
where the trees are being removed and topped.
Several companies are conducting the work which
is expected to remove or top a total of roughly 200
trees. They have completed the project for both the
Runway 14 and 19 approaches and are currently
working on the Runway 32 approach.
Beautiful as they are, tall trees are
dangerous hazards when too close
to airport runways.
4
Starting in January all
pedestrian walk-through gate
codes will be changed on a quarterly, instead of
monthly, basis. Each pedestrian gate will have
the same code and will be changed at the same
time. The codes will be posted on the inside of
each gate. The Airport Manager’s Office will
not give out the code over the phone and it
is the tenant’s responsibility to write down or
remember the code before leaving through a
pedestrian gate. If you need assistance with
entering the Airport through a pedestrian gate,
please contact the Duty phone at 484-0236
and an Airport Operations Specialist will meet
you at one of the gates. Codes will be changed
on the first business day of January, April, July,
and October.
Beginning in January, the Airport Manager’s Office will
conduct its annual Gate Device Audit. Letters will be sent
to all Airport tenants who have a gate device listed in their
name. If you are part of an Airport business (such as an
FBO or flight school), an audit letter will be sent to the main
business and not to individual employees. If you are a member
of a flying club, a letter will be sent to the head of the flying
club requesting the appropriate updated information, as well
as an updated membership list. If you are the owner of 5 or
more gate devices, you will need to justify, in writing, why
you need the 5 or more gate devices (i.e. you have an aircraft
partner, you have family members who have access to your
hangar, etc).
All confirmations must be in writing via fax (707-5425303), mail or email (lherbert@sonoma-county.org or gcote@
sonoma-county.org). All devices not accounted for by the
date specified in the audit letter will be deactivated per
Transportation Security Administration requirements. A
$10 reactivation fee will be charged for those who would like
to have their devices re-enabled.
Twice a day the Airport Operations staff
performs runway and taxiway inspections
to look for Foreign Object Debris (FOD).
The materials found over the years fill at least two boxes and include various items that pilots have lost. Some of
the items include a visor used for instrument training, a laptop computer, GPS equipment, numerous fuel sampling
supplies, tools, and enough nuts, bolts, and screws to build a small aircraft. FOD’s can be costly. They can damage
engines, tires and flight controls if they are swept up by an aircraft that passes over them on a taxiway or runway.
Mechanics and pilots know the importance of accounting for all tools, parts, and materials used in and around
an aircraft. The next time you perform your pre-flight checks, or finish a maintenance project on your aircraft, please
take the time to make sure that all parts and tools are accounted for in order to help reduce the amount of FOD’s
that are collected. If you have lost an item and believe that it was on a taxiway or runway, you can call the Airport
Manager’s Office and we can take down the information for the item and see if it was picked up by an Airport
Operations’ Specialist.
Note: The most recent item lost was a pair of needle nose
If you hav
e questio
ns or nee
on any of
pliers in the runway 14 run-up area. A pilot called the tower
d clarifica
the items
tion
here, ple
the Air po
to report that they were lying near the runway hold bars. If
ase conta
rt Manag
ct
er’s Offic
e at 565-7
you believe that this item is yours, please contact the Airport
243.
Manager’s Office at 565-7243.
Horizon Numbers Stay Strong
Horizon Air flew 15,991 passengers in and out of the Airport in November
and a total of 190,490 from January - November 2008. Average load factors
(percentages of airline seats filled) at STS have been around 74% for the year,
a little higher than Horizon’s average load factors for their whole system.
5
“Wings Over Wine Country”
TV Ad Wins Award
From the Pacific Coast Air Museum
Terminal Update
The International Council of Air Shows
(ICAS) awarded the Pacific Coast Air
Museum (PCAM) third place in the large
show category for their Wings Over Wine Country
television commercial promoting the August 2008 Air
Show. The award was announced in December at the
2008 ICAS Convention in Las Vegas. Hundreds of
contest entries were supplied by major air shows in the
U.S., Canada, and Latin America.
“To compete with the country’s largest Air Shows...
and win third place in the TV Ad category is an absolute
honor,” said Dave Pinsky, PCAM Executive Director.
Roger Olson, PCAM Marketing Director, stated, “To
see our Wings Over Wine Country TV commercial win
3rd place before the 1400 convention delegates was
heartwarming. We were up against other air shows
that host the Blue Angels, Thunderbirds and Canadian
Snow Birds...with around 100,000 attendees.”
JBL Advertising of Santa Rosa produced the spot.
View the ad on YouTube at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0ww6dQtL8s
The Wings Over Wine Country Air Show showcases
restored military and other aircraft in flyby and static
displays. Planning for the 2009 show is underway.
Pinsky reports they already have an exciting lineup
including Gene Soucy in his Ag Cat along with Wing
Walker Theresa Stokes, Julia Clark and the USA T-34
show, Greg Poe in is MX-2, Team Rocket from Canada,
Dan Buchanan and his towed Hang Glider, a Lockheed
P-38 Lightning, P-40, P-51s and other warbirds, the Air
Force reserve C-17, an Air Force U-2 and lots more. To
watch for updates visit www.pacificcoastairmuseum.org.
On December 9, 2008, the Board of Supervisors approved
the Agreement for Professional Services with Mead & Hunt,
Inc., for Design of the Terminal Remodel. The remodel is
expected to begin in the spring of 2009.
The Board also authorized the Department of
Transportation and Public Works Director, upon final approval
from the Federal Aviation Administration and County Counsel,
to execute a Professional Services Agreement with RS&H
California, Inc, for the preparation of the Environmental
Assessment (EA) and Environmental Impact Report (EIR)
to support the adoption of Draft Airport Master Plan.
Existing and potential environmental effects and
appropriate mitigating measures will be considered throughout
the Environmental Review process. After the Environmental
Review is complete the Board of Supervisors will consider
certifying the Environmental Review and the adoption of the
Master Plan Update. This is anticipated to take place in 2010.
Send an email to airport@sonoma-county.org if you would
like to be included on the Master Plan Update email list.
Hangar For Sale
$3,500 or best offer.
Contact Doug (707) 433-3810
New Schedule! Daily Nonstop Service to
Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Portland, and Seattle!
Sonoma County to Portland
Depart 5:20 p.m. Arrive 7:10 p.m. Daily
Sonoma County to Las Vegas
Depart 12:05 p.m. Arrive 2:10 p.m. Daily
Las Vegas to Sonoma County
Depart 2:40 p.m. Arrive 4:45 p.m. Daily
Sonoma County (STS) to LAX
Depart 6:00 a.m. Arrive 7:30 a.m. Daily
Depart 3:50 p.m. Arrive 5:25 p.m. M-F
LAX to Sonoma County
Depart 8:15 a.m. Arrive 9:55 a.m. Daily
Depart 7:40 p.m. Arrive 9:20 p.m. Sun-Fri
Portland to Sonoma County
Depart 9:40 a.m. Arrive 11:30 a.m. Daily
Sonoma County to Seattle
Depart 10:25 a.m. Arrive 12:35 p.m. Daily
For flight schedules,
reservations and tickets visit
horizonair.com
or call
1-800-547-9308
Seattle to Sonoma County
Depart 12:55 p.m. Arrive 3:05 p.m. Daily
Call Horizon Air or check online for
the latest schedule updates.
6
Airport Operations Duty Officer 484-0236  Airport Maintenance Shop 544-6198  Complaint Line 544-4787
Organization
Description
Location
Phone*
Airport Express
Bus Service
5807 Old Redwood Hwy
837-8700
Barron Air
Aircraft Maintenance
2290 Becker Blvd
284-9786
Avis Rent A Car
Car Rental Agency
CalFire
Firefighting
Civil Air Patrol
Non-Profit
Dragonfly Aviation
Flight School
Enterprise
Car Rental Agency
Experimental Aircraft Assoc.
Non-Profit
Federal Aviation Admin. Tower
Government Agency
Hertz
Car Rental Agency
Horizon Air
Airline
KaiserAir - Santa Rosa Jet Center
North Coast Air
Makin Air Helicopters
Terminal
2235 Airport Blvd
2243 Airport Blvd
2222 Airport Blvd
Terminal
5550 Windsor Road
2245 Airport Blvd
Terminal
Terminal
Full Service FBO
2240 Airport Blvd
Historical Museum
2230 Becker Blvd
Flight School
5010 Flightline Dr
Helicopter Training/Photos/Tours
Pacific Coast Air Museum
PropJet Aviation
Aircraft Maintenance
2282 Becker Blvd
Republic Parking
Parking Lot Management
2200 Airport Blvd
REACH Air Medical Services
Air Ambulance
Santa Rosa Ninety-Nines
Women Pilots Non-Profit
Sky Lounge Restaurant
Restaurant
Sonoma Helicopters
451 Aviation Blvd #201
2247 Airport Blvd
Terminal
Helicopter Training/Photos/Tours 5790 Flightline Dr.
Sonoma Jet Center
Sunset Aviation
Full Service FBO
6030 Flightline Dr
Security
Terminal
Aircraft Charter
Trinity Technology Group
* Area Code 707 unless otherwise noted.
Office Space and
Storeroom for Rent
Call Gloria at (707)565-7243
3742 Becker Blvd
571-0465
576-2586
545-7488
575-8750
570-3600
545-3606
546-4294
528-0834
1-800-547-9308
528-7400
542-8687
(415) 686-6101
575-7900
284-9777
575-6886
523-2186
sr99s@sonic.net
542-9400
528-4883
523-2800
523-2180
527-7226
Private Hangar For Rent at STS
Gun Club location, has electricity and lights.
41.5 ft wide, 33 ft deep, 10.5 ft high, $375 per month.
To view, call Paul at (707) 479-4479.
Advertise in the Red Baron Flyer
Call Gloria (707) 565-7243, Melinda (707) 565-7241 or email mgay@sonoma-county.org for information.
7
Charles M. Schulz - Sonoma County Airport
2290 Airport Boulevard
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Aviation Commission Meetings
Meetings are held at the Airport Manager’s
Office Conference Room, 2290 Airport Blvd,
Santa Rosa. All meetings are Thursday mornings
at 8 a.m. unless otherwise noted.
January 15, 2009
February 19, 2009
March 19, 2009
April 16, 2009
The public is welcome and encouraged to attend.
Aviation Commissioners
District 1: Tom Walters, waltersaerial@sbcglobal.net, 545-9244
District 2: Don Smith, donaldsmith@comcast.net
District 3: Don Doherty, f8u4doc@hotmail.com, 328-8795
District 4: Del Starrett, 526-9645
District 5: Art Hayssen, burnside@sonic.net, 829-5232
At Large: Tim Delaney, tdelaney@linkcpa.com, 546-0272
At Large: Marlon Young, myoung@majlaw.com, 528-2882
All phone numbers are in area code 707.
Climb Aboard Historic Aircraft
Sat-Sun, 10AM - 4PM
January 17-18, 2009
February 21-22, 2009
March 21-22, 2009
Pacific Coast Air Museum
(707) 575-7900
www.pacificcoastairmuseum.org
Phone (707) 565-7243
E-mail: airport@sonoma-county.org
Web Site: sonomacountyairport.org
Newsletter published quarterly
Next deadline: March 15 for April publication
Share Your News in the Red Baron Flyer!
Calendar items, story ideas, and submissions are always appreciated.
Please submit them to mgay@sonoma-county.org. Questions? Call Jon Stout,
565-7243, or Melinda Gay, Desktop Publisher, 565-7241.
8