Don Staats

Builders Group
In the September issue I suggested that some of the Chapter members may want to start a builder's group around a certain design, use of materials, etc. The first such effort is now under way. Our famous local designer Mark Brown is exploring the possibility of forming a group to build one or more "Starlites." (sp)

As most of you know this was the single place design that Mark later evolved into his two-place Pulsar. Mark still has all the drawings and molds and maybe a few other things. He also knows all the vendor sources and a bulk buy would put everyone in the air a little cheaper than a solo effort.

This design is a real jewel. It is carefully controlled through a pre-preg process and performance on a very small engine is phenominal. It would be a good project and an economical one for someone who is anxious to get in the air. With
Mark serving as the guru a person would have world class advice readily at hand. Give Mark a call if you are interested. Phone 210-496-0915.

From my perspective I would not call Mark unless you are really serious and about ready to move out. He needs to spend his time with those who will spend
their time building rather that talking.

Way to go Mark! Thanks for leading this worthwhile effort. I would really like to see a squadron of those little birds buzzing around our airport and outrunning the C-172s.

ANTIQUE AIRPLANE FLY-IN

The annual Antique Airplane Association Fly-in is held every year at Antique Airfield, just east of Blakesburg, Iowa. It’s a Labor Day weekend event, beginning on Wednesday and ending Monday at noon. From an EAAer’s viewpoint it is not a large event. As Spencer Tracy once said of Kathryn Hepburn, “There is not much there but what is is cherce (choice).” The AAA Fly-in has some of the most choice of all the antiques flying today.

Several notables in flying history have attended, including Mattie Laird and Ken and Royce Rearwin. I had the great pleasure of meeting Ken’s grandson, who is carrying on the tradition. On of my friends, Don Pellegreno who just completed the restoration of a Rose, is now working on a Rearwin. I hope he can bring it to SWRFI this year.

Its not often you see a tailskid on a large bi-plane. The one I saw was on a beautiful Travelaire from the mid-1920’s. The AAA declared this fly-in the year of the Travelaire,. Travelaire was the aircraft company that had Walter Beach, Clyde Cessna and Boeing all working together to produce an airplane. Some say that the Travelaire was one of the finest biplanes ever built. I’ve talked to a few owners and they make that claim after having flown most of the planes of that era.

Also featured, were the flying flivvers. Included on the flight line were Pietenpol’s, an Aeronca K, a Heath Parasol, a Monoprep, a C-3 and others. Its really something to hear an Aeronca C-3 do a fly-by with the Aeronca E-110 engine huffing along on its two cylinders and 37 hp.

Antique Field is situated on a series of rolling hills with very little flat space, including the runways. It has two runways, both grass. They close the shorter one and use it to park airplanes. As usual, the pilot briefing consists of a few comments: “Stay off the radio, we don’t use them here and will not hear you. Keep your head out of the cockpit, fly left hand patterns. Pattern altitude is 700 ft. Look for the flaggers on final. Land on green, go around on red. Fly-bys are OK.’

The pilot briefings are held on the porch at the end of the headquarters building. When setting here you can see the fly-bys and, depending on wind direction, the landings. It is a multi-sensory experience. First you have the sight of the beautiful aircraft, most built before 1947. Then, the sound of round engines, with an occasional OX-5 thrown in. Finally, and perhaps best of all to an old Iowa hand the smell of fresh cut Iowa grass in the late summer.

The porch was the venue for Paul Poborezney to speak of his Sport Aviation Association. He and Bob Taylor (founder of the Antique Airplane Association back in 1953) chatted for a few minutes about the history of their organizations. Paul is a life member of the AAA and comes to the fly-in every year. He compared the AAA to the SAA and complimented Bob on maintaining the grass roots level of his organization. There will be a 3rd SAA Fly-in in Urbana in June 2004 if all goes well.

Paul also talked about the difficulty of putting on a fly-in during these years of litigation. He mentioned that OSH ran about $7 million to put on. He suggested that those who think it is too big should concentrate on the area they are interested in and ignore the rest. This sounds like a good plan to me. I think you need several years to see OSH in its entirety and you should plan your visits with that in mind.

Back to the fly-in. I saw a Grumman Widgeon, “The Port of Branson, Missori” that was De Plane in Fantasy Island. A gorgeous red with gold trim, it was the last one built and sported radial engines. For those interested in Stinsons there were a couple of Juniors and a bunch of 108s. I saw a covey of Rose Parrakeets, some Monocoupes, including a clip-wing and a whole bunch of Fleets. I think there were about 10 Travelaires in attendance. Also on hand were a Spartan biplane, some rare Stearmans, a Fairchild five-seater (pilot in front and two rows behind) that used to belong to the U.S. Park Service, the Pasped Skylark and many others. One pilot did a nice ground loop with a Waco but sustained no damage and we heard of a Travelaire down in a field enroute to the event with no damage.

I had a great time, saw some friends in my nearby hometown of Ottumwa and spent a few days away from radio, television, computers, and cell phones. In effect I journeyed back several decades to a simpler time and place. The drive to the field from the motel in Albia is about 14 miles along country roads that have not changed since the 1930s except for a little asphalt. You pass rolling fields of corn and beans and through the little crossroads of Blakesburg. Three miles east you round a bend and step back in time when you turn into the airfield. Its nice back there and I plan to return in 2004.

Don Staats