PRA Chapter 40

PRA Chapter 40
Serving Southern Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Eastern Indiana
Newsletter Editors Notes:
When I flew over Double J’s FBO I
could see that we had a GREAT
turn out of GA, Sport Planes and
Rotorcraft. Besides me there were 6
gyros and 1 helicopter.
Photos of this can be found in this
newsletter.
The fly in was GREAT. The bomb
drop went well ( I think I came in
second to last ) Scott Biser and his
Dominator saved the good name of
gyros by being one of the winners. Above: This is Doug Smith about to take his check ride with Gary
Goldsberry in Indiana for Sport Pilot. Doug Gaudette will be
The Rotorcraft present were:
traveling to see Gary for his check ride soon also. (photo: Sue
Goldsberry)
Me - Twinstarr
Ed Newbold and Doug Gaudette - Below: Chapter 40 President Randy Workman arrives at the June
meeting in style sporting his new Lycoming powered Marchetti.
Sparrow Hawk (flew in from
(photo: Scott Biser)
Newark Ohio!)
Johnny Hay - Custom design
Tom - Stock RAF
Randy - Marchetti
Scott Beiser - Dominator Single
Place
Doug Smith - Sport Copter Single
Place
Mark - Brantley B2B
PRA Chapter 40
Serving Southern Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Eastern Indiana
After the meetings (and food) Ed, Doug, Doug, and I flew to Greene County Airport for the Helicopter fly
in. We were told that a number of choppers had left after lunch but there were still quite a few there. About
30 minutes after we arrived a gaggle of Enstroms few in. I think about a dozen helicopters were there and
of course our 3 gyro and one Aerothruster.
Ed gave a ride to Doug Gaudette’s wife. The first thing he did was a vertical decent over the runway. I told
the guy next to me that ‘Ed just sealed Doug’s fate, she’s going to be scared and Doug will be selling his
Dominator tonight!”
I gave Tim Herr his first gyro ride. It was a short flight because I wanted to keep 1/2 of a state between me
and a squall line that had been moving aross IN.
Doug Smith showed me what must be the coolest and best gyro trailer EVER. Even painted with style!
Check out the markings!
Doug packed up his machine and Ed and I headed home. Ed was on his way East to Newark and I South
to Batavia. While over a large lake on the way home I noticed an American Flag “Appear” right before my
eyes about 1000 feet above me. I was looking right at that spot in the sky when ‘foop’ there was a flag. A
BIG flag. I was one of those surreal moments and I would have rubbed my eyes if I could have. Closer
examination revealed a small parachute just above the flag.
Finally, I landed back home and hangared the gyro. Flying time = 3 hours.
Upcoming Events:
July Meeting, Details inside this newsletter!
July 24-27 Mid-Ohio Vintage Motorcycle Days
July 24-26 Homer Bell Helicopter Fly-In
July 26-27 Dayton Air Show
July 28 - Aug 3 Oshkosh
Aug 4-10 PRA International Rotorcraft Convention, Mentone IN. (see info following pages)
September 13-14 Blue Ash Airport Days
September 20-21 Middletown Wings of Freedom Air Show (www.daytonaviator.com)
September 21 R/C SeaPlane Fly-In East Fork State Park
September 27th Lee Bottom Fly In
Photo: Scott Biser
PRA Chapter 40
Serving Southern Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Eastern Indiana
I am sad to report that legendary Autogiro
pilot Johnny Miller has passed away at the
age of 102.
He was a part of aviation from shortly after
the Wright Bros to his stint as an airline
captain. He maintained his CFI until his
late 90’s and was still flying his Bonanza at
100.
Even nearing 100 years old Johnny could
tell fascinating stories and remember most
of the hundreds of different aircraft he had
flown in the war and before- he could recall how many horsepower each had and how they handled,
etc.
Here is a post from Dr. Bruce Charnov on the passing of Captain Miler:
“Johnny was amazing - we filmed him over a two yr period for “Gyroplane Refrain”, at the
Pitcairn hanger, his home and at a local airport - he was then 101 and flying - the FAA required
him to have a co-pilot but I heard him tell the co-pilot that he (Miller) would break his arm is he
touched the controls. He can be seen in the 1935 film “Ladies Crave Excitement” doing two
loops in his PCA-2 and also flying the the newsreel film “Pylon Dusters” when Al Wilson suffered
a fatal crash in a Curtiss Biplane when he got caught in Miller’s updraft.
Johnny’s middle name was McDonald.
He was the last of the great classic era American Autogiro pilots - the other was the late George
Townson. I was privileged, honored and pleased to have met both several times.
Those days will not come again - they were truly autorotational giants.
John’s reported last words to his son “I guess my flying days are over . . .” were, I suggest,
uncharacteristically incorrect . . . now he flies with the angels.
We are better for having known him . . .
Bruce Charnov”
PRA Chapter 40
Serving Southern Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Eastern Indiana
Rare Rotorcraft Flies Will Appear at Oshkosh
Jack and Kate
Tiffany and the crew
of Leading Edge
Restorations have
completed the
restoration of the only
flying Pitcairn PA-18
Autogiro in existence,
originally built in
1932.
Experienced
antique aircraft
restorer and pilot
Andrew King was
asked to perform the
first test flights. After
a taxi mishap in mid-June resulted in damage to the rotor blades and top of the vertical fin and
rudder, repairs were done and first flights were made on July 10 at Andy Barnhart Memorial Airport
near Dayton, Ohio.
In a phone interview, Jack Tiffany was ecstatic. “It flies beautifully - slowly, but beautifully,” he
effused. Tiffany said that plans were now back on track to bring the exceedingly rare rotorcraft to
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2008. Look for it in front of the Vintage Aircraft Association’s Red Barn,
just south of AeroShell Square.
PRA Chapter 40
Serving Southern Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Eastern Indiana
Scott Biser
Scott Biser has sent Chapter 40 a wealth of info for
the July newsletter! We will start out with a photo journal of
Scotts RAM video camera mounts he arranged on his single
place Dominator gyroplane. He used these mounts to great
effect in his YouTube movie that can be found on the
internet here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WExI3lkesQ8
Scott also sent us some fantastic photos of the June meeting! Lets get started:
PRA Chapter 40
Serving Southern Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Eastern Indiana
All photos this page:
Scott Biser
PRA Chapter 40
Serving Southern Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Eastern Indiana
June PRA Chapter 40 Meeting
Continued. Photos: Tim O’Connor
PRA Chapter 40
Serving Southern Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Eastern Indiana
PRA Chapter 40
Serving Southern Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Eastern Indiana
Gyroplane Documentary DVD!
A FIRST CLASS production by Bruce Charnov PhD professor at Hofstra University and author of
the aclaimed history of rotorcraft: From Autogyro to Gyroplane. (Book Avaiable on Amazon.com)
A copy may be ordered by sending a check for $19.95 + $3.50 shipping & handling to:
Bruce Charnov
134 Hofstra University
Hempstead, NY
11549
The film has gotten great reviews from test showings. Where else can you get Marilyn Monroe, the
Monkees + a lost film of the first Autogiro flight in America and a whole lot more!
Order it now, you won’t be disappointed!
PRA Chapter 40
Serving Southern Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Eastern Indiana
Next Meeting!
GA, Sport Pilot and Rotorcraft Fly-in
July 19 at Double J (1OA5) Airport
21184 Fayeteville-Blanchester Road
BLANCHESTER, OH 45107
Fayetteville, Ohio
Call Brenda (513) 460-5869 for help with directions
Double Meeting!
Tristate Sport Pilots Association & Popular Rotorcraft Association Chapter 40
Open 9:00am,
Poker Run
Lunch at Noon,
Meetings following.
Runway Information
Runway 9/27 Dimensions: 2400 x 100 ft. / 732 x 30 m
Surface: turf, Traffic pattern: Left UNICOM: (note announce using 123.45)
Lat/Long: 39-13-10.2240N / 083-57-09.7490W
39-13.170400N / 083-57.162483W----39.2195067 / -83.9527081
PRA Chapter 40
Serving Southern Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Eastern Indiana
Directions to Double J Airport Call Brenda (513) 460-5869 for help with directions
Take Interstate 275 towards Ky.
Exit 57 Milford/Blanchester
Go left on 28 stay in the left lane during this trip up 28
You will go 13 miles on St Rt 28 during this time . You will go thru Goshen, (BP and UDF on corners)
You will see a Marathon Station of the left at Woodville
Go up just a little and turn right onto Woodville Rd
Go 1.8 miles Stop sign
Go straight .02 mile stop
Straight 2.5 miles to Adams Rd (brown mobile home on corner)
Turn left go 1.1 mile Road ends
Turn right .04 drive on the left. You will see 3 red buildings and Windsox on hanger
PRA Chapter 40
Serving Southern Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Eastern Indiana
PRA Chapter 40
Serving Southern Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Eastern Indiana
Cordinating Mentone Trips for PRA Chapter 40
If you are driving or flying up please let me know and we well start an email list. This will help people save
money and gas by car pooling, hotel sharing and the added fun of flying up with a friend!
Brent Drake: Flying up Wed, Returning on Sunday. Staying at Ramada and has a rental car.
Doug Gaudette: Driving up on the 5th (Tuesday) returning on the 7th (Thursday). Plans on staying at the
Super 8 in Rochester. Will be attending the LSA Repairman’s course.
Tim O’Connor, Flying up Tuesday returing Sunday, camping. Connie will be up later in the week with a
rental truck.
Rick Gilley, Driving up date uncertain, camping driving back date uncertain.
Share your plans! email gyro.pilot@yahoo.com to get on the list.
ALSO: A company offing gyroplane insurance will be at Mentone on Saturday.
Left:
Tim O’Connor’s
Twinstarr reciently
underwent a fireavoidance upgrade.
Including a fully automated fire extinguisher
between the passinger
and engine compartments.
PRA Chapter 40
Serving Southern Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Eastern Indiana
PRA Convention 2008 Mentone, IN
The dates for the 2008 convention have been set for Tuesday, August 5 through Saturday, August 9.
The Banquet will be held on Saturday night. The Board decided to keep the PRA convention in the
week after the EAA convention at Oshkosh. This is to avoid instructors and others from having to leave
the PRA convention early in order to get set up at the EAA convention.
Jane Feldman and John Gillmore are the co-Chairpersons for 2008. They need volunteers to help
organize, plan and work at the convention. If you are able to help, please contact the PRA office at (574353-7227)
Hotels
Super 8:
Hampton Inn & Suites Warsaw
209 McDonald Dr.
3328 East Center Street, Warsaw, IN 46580 |
Map
Rochester, IN, 46975 US
574-224-8080
3014 Frontage Road
Warsaw, IN, 46580 US
219-268-2888
Reservations: www.super8.com
Comfort Inn Rochester
289 McDonald Dr., Rochester, IN 46975-8029 |
Map
12.6 Miles Southwest of Mentone (City Center)
12.8 Miles East of Mentone (City Center)
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites
WARSAW
3825 LAKE CITY HWY, Warsaw, IN 46580 |
Map
12.4 Miles East of Mentone (City Center)
Ramada Plaza Hotel Warsaw
2519 E. Center Street, Warsaw, IN 46580 |
Map
12 Miles East of Mentone (City Center)
PRA Chapter 40
Serving Southern Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Eastern Indiana
Classifieds:
------------------FOR SALE: AEROLITE 103
SHOW plane @ Sun and Fun, 447 Rotax, Electric Start, Wheel
Pants, BRS, Strobes, Brakes, Instruments and More, Aprox
20 hours total time, $12, 900. Call Glenn 937-866-8300
------------------------Dominator Gyroplane for sale. Camarillo, California (1 hr north of LA)
asking $12.5k. I have a terific road trailer which I will add for
$800 more than the settled sell price. Can drive at 70MPH no
sweat.Pictures available on request.
John Benham 805/384-9882 Home after 6pm Pac. Time
David Glassmeyer is selling the following parts:
Single place complete flying commuter helicopter with airframe and engine logs 0-200 Contintal
And other commuter parts.
Contact David at: davidglassmeyer@yahoo.com or (513) 646-7061
---------------582 blue head still in box... With E drive.. Carbs, side exhaust, and radiators.. CPS is asking $8234.00... Will
sell all for $6000.00.. Call Mike Peters 937-531-6680. Dayton area
----------------Wanted: Used motorcycles 50-1000cc any condition. Contact gyro.pilot@yahoo.com
Wanted: Used Transponder, must meet FAA standards. Contact gyro.pilot@yahoo.com
Wanted: Ercoupe, D or C/D model. Contact gyro.pilot@yahoo.com
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