Disrict XI - 2012/08

Let me introduce our newest associate
vice president (AVP), Al Watson, from
Bellevue, Washington. Al has been
active in the Jet Pilot’s Organization,
Pylon Racing, and the Marymoor RC
Club for many years. He will be a
useful asset to those who have concerns
in western Washington. Welcome to
the district team, Al.
I just returned from my first visit to the
Joe Nall event in South Carolina. The
Triple Tree venue is amazing: more
than 500 acres with six flying sites, two
of which—helicopter and CL—have
three flying locations each. There is
a museum and the site has multiple
bathing facilities for campers.
The other flying sites featured all
types of flying including the float-fly
pond, electric-only, and 3-D areas.
Roughly 1,200 pilots were registered
and most came with several aircraft.
CD Mike Gregory said that
preparation for the next Joe Nall
starts immediately after the event.
Something like this is not put together
overnight. Our hosts were friendly and
helpful.
Pilots who were so young that their
main problem was seeing over the
top of the pilot stations, were flying
3-D, needing assistance only with
starting the engines and spotting. Two
60% clipped-wing Cubs seemed large
enough to accommodate some of the
younger pilots. A third one was painted
as an L-4 and was on floats.
I saw 4-meter gliders, two of which
were motor sailers powered by small
turbines, courtesy of the large German
contingent. The Germans also brought
a Delta-shaped jet with canards and
vectored thrust that could hover and
perform Lomcevaks on takeoff.
There was too much to describe. The
CL fliers were the most friendly and
ready to explain what they were doing.
The only thing I didn’t see was FF, and
with the number of trees it was easy to
see why.
Many vendors were there including
Horizon whose representatives let
people try its newest Spektrum radio
in a Piper Pawnee that included a full
telemetry package. Pilots were allowed
to fly at an altitude of about 1,500
feet, which showed what a 400-foot
restriction might look like.
The week also included the
famous Triple Tree barbecue, an
AMA membership meeting, and one
thunderstorm. It is a long way from
District XI (2,900 miles), but everyone
should attend this event at least once.
Many college graduates do not find
employment immediately upon
graduation. This is evidently partially
dependent on the field of education pursued.
University of Washington students
pursuing degrees in aeronautical
engineering generally have jobs or have
been accepted into graduate school
by the time they graduate. One of our
AVPs, Chuck Bower, has been advising
and assisting these students and their
faculty adviser for more than six years
with a senior project that involves the
design and construction of an aircraft
with a specific purpose.
Although these students are
knowledgeable about design and
manufacturing techniques, they are
usually not pilots. Enter Chuck, who
among other talents, is a turbine
waiver holder and accomplished test
pilot. This does not mean that Chuck
does not suffer knee bruises when he
tries to fly some of their creations.
So far, all have flown with design
objectives accomplished, even the one
that somebody with connections to
an auto body shop, made pretty with
Bondo and paint. The aircraft weighed
37 pounds at flight time—but it was
pretty. Chuck, congratulations and
thanks for improving community
relations and helping advance aviation
technology with your unselfish
efforts.