District XI - 2012/08
Mike Mosbrooker, Vice President
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.
Joe Nall at Triple Tree
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:
- a float-fly pond
- electric-only areas
- 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
- one thunderstorm
It is a long way from District XI (2,900 miles), but everyone should attend this event at least once.
University of Washington senior projects
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 an 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.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
