Gilbert FIre Department BBQ

About 45 of our Whiteplains neighbors and friends gathered on Saturday,
April 30th, for the Gilbert Fire Department BBQ.

We met in Steve Sanderson's hangar and everyone had a great time. We are
sure that nobody went away hungry!

Submitted by: Steve Sanderson

Fun Event - April 28- May 1 (KVDI)

If your looking for a place to fly to this weekend, consider the above event.

By Cessna speed it is only about an hour flight.

AIRPORT:                                      From SC99 Distance is 118 miles.
Vidalia Regional (VDI)
VIDALIA, GA
Elevation: 275

Click below for more information.
 http://www.vidaliaonionfestival.com/

Runway Lite Update 4-26-2011

Our Runway Light Improvement Subcommittee, under the direction of Project Manager Ken Plesser, completed the conversion of six more runway lights this morning.

Only one more light to go!

We even took time out to have Mike Moore, who is used to working hundreds of feet above ground, install a new windsock at the approach end of Runway 27.

Report by: Steve Sanderson

                  Whiteplains Cub reporter

Autogas for everyone: Part II

Click on link  below for information on Autogas for everyone, part II.

http://www.generalaviationnews.com/2011/04/14/autogas-for-everyone-part-ii/?utm_source=The+Pulse+Subscribers&utm_campaign=c205995f09-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email#more-39992

Killdeer Update 1

This video was taken in Vick's lot. We have at least three other nest around up and down the runway. Be on the lookout for them. We have two more eggs to go in this nest.

Update 4-21-2011 - All of the eggs have hatched but no sign of them.

K-Club Photo

Jim Causey Birthday Biscuit

K-mart surprised Jim with a Birthday Biscuit this morning during the Whiteplains breakfast gathering while the group sang "Happy Birthday".

Jeff Cargile A-1B Flight April 2011

Short video of Jeff flying his A-1B on Thursday.

Whiteplains Young Eagles Event this past Friday

A special thanks to all the Pilots and Ground Crew for making this a safe and enjoyable event, to Lt. Col James Tucker, and he Cadets from Lexington and Gilbert High School.

FAA Wings Program

"2011 National Safety Stand Down- Greenville, SC"
Topic: Accident Causal Factors and how to prevent them.
On Saturday, April 30, 2011 at 8:30 AM
Location:
Runway Cafe, Greenville Downtown Airport
Airport Road Ext.

Greenville, SC 29607

Select Number:
SO1337656

Description:

This year's FAASTeam Safety Stand down focuses on four areas that account for the majority of general aviation fatal accidents: 
 --  Positive Flight Attitude:  Keeping Your Standards High 
--  Going Beyond Preflight:  Perfecting Your Preflight Inspection 
--  Enroute Cruise:  Are You On Cruise Control 
--  Maneuvering Flight:  Slow, Steady and Sure

To view further details and registration information for this seminar, click here.

The sponsor for this seminar is: National FAA Safety Team

The following credit(s) are available for the WINGS/AMT Programs:

Basic Knowledge 1 1.00
Basic Knowledge 3 1.00
Basic Knowledge 2 1.00


Click here to view the WINGS help page

What You Need To Know About FAA Civil Penalty Actions

Attorney Greg Reigel goes into depth in his blog at GlobalAir.com about what you need to do if the FAA goes after your certificate.

Click on link below:

http://blog.globalair.com/post/What-You-Need-To-Know-About-FAA-Civil-Penalty-Actions.aspx?utm_source=The+Pulse+Subscribers&utm_campaign=4dcfaea0bb-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email

Top Gun Guest Speaker Joe Grimaud

If you are interested, Joe Grimaud, past Top Gun pilot during the Vietnam
era, congressional candicate several times, and current owner of Chapin
Furniture will speak at our chapter meeting on Sunday, April 17th (next
Sunday) at 3pm at Gaston Airport (2SC8). Feel free to come over and invite
other interested persons, if you like. We also plan lunch before starting
about 2pm, so if you'd like to attend that as well, let me know so that we
can make lunch plans accordingly.

Randy Berry

Classic video of Gladys Ingle of the 13 Black Cats

So you want to be an A&P. See how they did it way back when.

Autogas for everyone: Part I

Kent Misegades | GAfuels | 11 hours ago

The GAfuels Blog is written by two private pilots concerned about the future availability of fuels for piston-engine aircraft: Dean Billing, Sisters, Ore., an expert on autogas and ethanol, and Kent Misegades, Cary, N.C., an aerospace engineer, aviation sales rep for U-Fuel, and president of EAA1114.

Judging from the reaction to the Aviation Fuel Club, interest at airports and among pilots regarding the “other” aviation fuel, autogas, has never been stronger, especially with avgas prices exceeding a stunning $9 a gallon at some FBOs. Many pilots are now asking if autogas is a legal and safe alternative for their aircraft. This three-part series of articles seeks to answer this question. In Part I, we’ll review the history of the autogas Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs) that allow us to use the fuel in hundreds of different legacy aircraft and engines. Part II will describe efforts to modify higher compression ratio engines that are currently not covered by these STCs. In Part III, we’ll describe the growing list of new aircraft and aircraft powerplants designed from the outset to operate on autogas.

New Jersey pilot Stuart Brown is a big advocate for autogas, which he uses in his Bonanza.

To understand the history of autogas STCs, start by reading this summary article that appeared in EAA’s Sport Aviation in 1982. It describes how, in the aftermath of the oil crisis of the early 1970s, the 80/87 octane grade of avgas started disappearing from airports. Thankfully, Paul Poberezny, Dick Roemer, Harold Zeisloft, and other EAA leaders embarked on an effort to gain approval for autogas, despite fierce resistance from the FAA and industry. Their tenaciousness, and a near-perfect record of safe operation in test aircraft, led to the FAA’s issuance of the first STC to the EAA on Aug. 5, 1982. This was followed by numerous additional STCs, all for 87 octane AKI unleaded autogas, that are available today from the EAA. In the author’s opinion, the autogas STC ranks among the top three or four achivemenents in the illustrious 58-year history of the EAA, right up there with homebuilding in general, the establishment of nearly 1,000 local EAA chapters around the world, the Young Eagles program, and the Sport Pilot Certificate and Light Sport Airplane category.

For those who incorrectly assume that an autogas STC involves its owner doing little more than submitting paperwork and money to the FAA, the following comments made last year by my recently departed friend Jack Cox, former editor of the EAA’s Sport Aviation, provide evidence that gaining the original STCs was a Herculean effort: “With no one left at the EAA today who was there when we were working with the FAA to get the STCs, I don’t know how much you know about the effort that went into the program. Harry Zeisloft, who had been a research engineer with General Motors for most of his career, conducted the program. He had to work with the FAA office in Chicago and they really put him through the wringer, requiring proof testing of everything. I remember one time when — with FAA personnel observing — we heated a big can of mogas to a required temperature by dipping it into a 50 gallon drum filled with hot water, then quickly poured the gas into a big Stinson Jr. and climbed to a specified altitude (and temperature) to see if vapor lock would result. (It didn’t.) Reid vapor pressure and attendant vapor lock took up most of the time during the program. Alcohol (ethyl and methyl) were extensively tested. Harry and his assistants had containers of the stuff all over the Weeks Hangar with samples of all the materials used in aircraft fuel systems to see what sort of deterioration would result — and that included materials used in airplanes from the 1930s that were no longer in use in currently produced planes. There was deterioration and that was why the EAA STCs do not allow the use of fuel containing ethanol. Of course Harry had to document everything, but I have no idea if the EAA retains any of it today. Having been a part of the EAA program to get STCs for the use of mogas, of course I know it can be safely used in the aircraft for which those STCs were obtained . . . and I know that myths still persist regarding its use. Every problem that occurs in engines that have been burning mogas is blamed on the fuel — by people who have never been involved in any sort of testing. And, sadly, the coming of ethanol by politically influenced government fiat has just added to the confusion.”

Among those who followed the EAA’s autogas initiative closely was Charles O. Petersen and his son Todd, crop dusters based in Minden, Neb. Todd, still heavily involved in autogas-related research at his Petersen Aviation and a founding director of the Aviation Fuel Club, describes how they got started: “Flying a fleet of six Grumman AgCats in the early 1980s, we knew that our planes’ Pratt & Whitney R-985 radials would probably run just fine on autogas. With advice from Harry Zeisloft and Dick Roemer, we established the same testing methods used by the EAA and embarked on an effort to gain FAA approval for the R-985. Once this was achieved, we started testing many other airplanes and have to date sold over 34,000 autogas STCs around the world.”

One of the most critical and expensive aspects of obtaining a new autogas STC is determining if vapor lock will occur using autogas. Petersen describes the procedure: “Each model of airplane had to be flight tested. Differences in fuel systems had to be taken into account so that if you tested an early model but the fuel system was altered in any way two or three model years later, that model had to be flight tested again if we expected the STC to include the later models. We are required to take winter blend gas (RVP 12.5 or higher), keep it 52F or colder until we tested, then put it in the airplane cold, on a day that’s at least 85F (hotter is better because the tests are more valid), then we would heat it in the airplane to 85F. As soon as it hit 85F, we would hop in and fly to 12,500 at Vmc. If it missed, surged or quit, or if the fuel pressure fell below 1 psi, then it was considered a failure. If it passed, we would do it all over again, but this time heating the fuel to 110F. Once you pass both sets of tests, the FAA runs the same tests all over again and if it passed the FAA tests, then you had the airframe STC.”

Thanks to the rigor of such test procedures, autogas has enjoyed an excellent record of safety as an FAA-approved aviation fuel for nearly 30 years since the first STC was issued, and pilots have saved millions in lower fuel and maintenance costs while producing exactly zero lead pollution in the environment. With the end of leaded avgas on the horizon, these STCs are more impotant than ever. Unfortunately, myths about autogas still abound. We tried to dispell some of these in a recent posting, “10 Mogas Myths” Another misconception is that autogas STCs are only available for low-powered planes like Paul Poberezny’s Wag-Aero CUBy and the EAA’s Cessna 150 used in the initial testing. A quick review of the list of aircraft and engines supported by the EAA and Petersen Aviation reveals, however, a wide range of aircraft for which STCs exist. These run the gamut from classic light aircraft (Beech, Cessna, Grumman, Piper) to vintage ones (Fairchild, Funk, Bellanca), warbirds (DC-3/C-47, Be-18, O-1, T-6/SNJ, Stearmans), crop dusters, bush planes (Husky, Maule, SuperCub), aerobatic designs (Citabria, Great Lakes), seaplanes (Goose), and even helicopters (Robinson, Schweizer). Petersen STCs cover many high-performance singles, including 15 different models of the Beech Bonanza/Debonair.

The benefit to pilots who use autogas are significant savings in fuel and maintenance costs related to lead fouling. Take for instance the G35 Bonanza shown here, owned by Stuart Brown of Marlton, N.J., whose autogas-burning plane won “Bragging Rights” distinction in April 2010 from the American Bonanza Society. In cruise at around 150 knots, its fuel-injected Continental E-225-8 engine consumes approximately 10 gph. For this G35 pilot making the annual trek to Oshkosh from his home base, South Jersey Regional Airport (VAY), a distance of 658 nm, one might figure roughly 100 gallons of fuel burned for the round trip. Using the current national average prices for avgas ($5.45) and autogas ($4), an autogas user would save $145 compared to avgas burners flying the same plane over the same distance. That will buy a pilot his nightly beers, an update to his GPS database, and plenty of souvenirs from EAA AirVenture. For a nominal 100 hours of flying annually, the same Bonanza G35 owner might expect to save $1,450 (1,000 gallons X $1.45 fuel price differential) — in essence a free annual or a large portion of the yearly hangar rent. Imagine what the savings would be for the owner of a DC-3, Beech-18 or AirTractor crop duster when using autogas instead of avgas at current prices, especially if your home base is charging $7 a gallon or more for avgas as some are today.

What about the cost of the STC itself? In most instances, you’ll pay a one-time price of a few hundred dollars to the STC’s owner, make a notation in the aircraft and engine logbooks and affix a few fuel-related placards on your airframe. In a few cases, modificatons to fuel pumps and other engine components are required, but these too are modest expenses that will be quickly amortized even for pleasure aircraft. For actual prices and details, contact Petersen Aviation and the EAA.

In the next installment in this three-part series, we’ll describe efforts to modify higher compression ratio engines that are currently not covered by these STCs. As a teaster – they are an extension of Petersen Aviation’s 30 years of research, have already gained FAA approval, and are only a few months from being released. Owners of later model Barons, Bonanzas, Cessnas, Dukes, Mooneys, and other high-performance singles and twins will want to pay particular attention to Part II of “Autogas for Everyone.”
http://www.generalaviationnews.com/2011/04/11/autogas-for-everyone-part-i/

Pilots Meeting Tonight 7 PM

REMINDER

 

 TONIGHT -  TUESDAY - 4/12/11

  JIM WHEAT'S HANGER

  7:00 PM

Blue Angels Video

http://rightnetwork.com/episodes/horsemen-pay-homage-to-the-blue-angels-then-and-now

Pilot's Meeting 4-12-2011

COME ONE - COME ALL

 

Pilot's Association Meeting

Tuesday - April 12, 2011

Jim Wheat's Hangar.

 

You are requested to attend this very important meeting.

 

Many things to be discussed  to mention a few -- --

 

Work day for fly-in.

Fly - in.

Grass cutting.

Runway incursions.

Etc......................

 

Please show an interest in Whiteplains by attending this Very Important Meeting.

 

Look forward to seeing you there.

 

Regards,

Jim Wheat

President

Whiteplains Pilot's Association.

Judges from Sun-N-Fun 2011

Last week four of us from the neighborhood, Jack Fastnaught, Dick Hitt, Mike Moore and your editor, joined thousands of other aviation enthusiasts in Lakeland, Florida for the event known as Sun N Fun. Mike worked in the transportation area and Jack, Dick and I worked in Aircraft Judging.  Jack and Mike camped in Jack’s camper trailer, and Dick and I camped in a rental motor home.  The weather kept many planes and spectators from attending, but those of us who were there had a great time.  Here is a photo of the judges:

Nice Video of B17 & B25 Bomber

H5 – WWII Bombers over Arizona Landscape from H5 Productions on Vimeo.

Last of the Flying B29's

Movie link:    http://vimeo.com/17388627

Gilbert-Summit Fire Department BBQ

(Whiteplains Plantation Announcement)

The Gilbert-Summit Fire Department Annual BBQ will be held on Saturday, April 30^th.  Whiteplains is their largest single order each year, and they truly appreciate our help.   Pork or Chicken plates are available for only $8.00 each.  Donations are also appreciated. 

Tickets are available from Jim Wheat, Steve Sanderson, or me.  If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at 358-1138 or 730-8090.

Steve Sanderson has volunteered his hangar and arrangements will be made for all the meals to be delivered there on Saturday, April 30^th at 11:30 am.  You can take them home or eat there if you like.

For your information, the Gilbert-Summit Station is now staffed around the clock.  In event of a fire or emergency their response time will be even better.  Let’s all pitch in and support our local fire department.

 

Jeff

Spring Breakfast 3-27-2011

Special thanks to Alice & Willem Meiners for hosting this mornings Spring Time Breakfast.

Spring Break Breakfast - 3-27-2011

Hello neighbors!

We're serving our Welcome Spring! breakfast in our hangar this Sunday morning, March 27. Everyone is invited! There'll be eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits+sausage gravy, grits, coffee, orange juice.

Walk in at any time between 7:30 - 10AM. If you have guests over for the weekend, bring them too. The more, the merrier. Everybody loves Springtime!
RSVPs (email or 803 808 3568) are certainly encouraged, but last-minute deciders are just as welcome. Be careful crossing the runway if you're parking off the taxiway.
Once again the Heli Deli is looking forward to seeing and feeding you.

Happy Spring!
--Alice & Willem Meiners

Garmin GTN Flight Trial

Check out the new Garmin GTN. I want one.

K-Club 3-21,2011

Photos from this morning. It was almost a record. 
 
Thanks to all for helping welcome Dr. Dr. Mike Wilson as our guest.
 
Best regards.........................ss    
 

EAA 242 - Young Eagles Event 3-26-2011

EAA chapter 242 is having a Young Eagles event Saturday 3-26-2011 at Owens Airport. The pilots meeting starts at 8:30 AM.  They are meeting at the Eagle Aviation hanger, not the EAA 242 club house.  If you can help out plan on making the 8:30 pilots meeting.

Thanks,

Don Cook
Whiteplains Young Eagle Director

Arno Froese

You may be interested in this artical about Micah's dad.

New FAA Wings Program

61-91J - WINGS - Pilot Proficiency Programs

Date Issued: February 16, 2011

Responsible Office - AFS-800

 

Description

The objective of the WINGS—Pilot Proficiency Program is to reduce the number of accidents in General Aviation (GA) by assisting airmen to find educational opportunities designed to help them apply the principles of risk assessment and risk management (RM). When properly applied, these principles will help mitigate accident causal factors associated with common pilot errors, lack of proficiency, and faulty knowledge. The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) purpose is to encourage the majority of GA pilots, through WINGS, to engage in ongoing, targeted flying tasks and learning activities keyed to identified risks and which are designed to mitigate those risks. The FAA continually collects and assesses its databases to identify the risks associated with GA flying and incorporates risk mitigation strategies into initial and ongoing pilot education.

PDF File:  http://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC%2061-91J.pdf

Runway Light Update 3-17-2011

The Runway Light Improvement Committee, under the leadership of Ken Plesser,
made great progress yesterday afternoon.

Photos by the camera shy Steve Sanderson

GPS threat update

Click on this link for update on GPS and Cell Phone issues.
http://www.generalaviationnews.com/2011/03/13/fcc-action-poses-threat-to-gps/?utm_source=The+Pulse+Subscribers&utm_campaign=f66ffe6aab-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email

Chicken Bog Fundraiser 3-19-2011

Hello Whiteplains Neighbors,

I am Trevor Black of 204 Cirrus Lane. I am a Gilbert High School Varsity Baseball Player.  We are holding our annual GHS Baseball Chicken Bog Fundraiser Saturday, March 19th from 11:30-1:30 at the GHS Cafeteria.  This is our biggest fundraiser of the year. The plates are 5:00 a piece. 

As a bonus to all my neighbors here at Whiteplains, I will deliver your plate to your door at no extra charge!  Thats a $5.00 meal delivered to your door!  To place your order you may email me at we4fly@windstream.net, or leave a message at 808-6890.  Please place your order by March 15th.   Make sure to include your name, street address, and number of plates you would like.  You can pay at the time of delivery.  We will start delivering the plates around 12:00.  (If you prefer to pick up your plate at the Cafeteria let me know and Ill sell you a ticket in advance.  Just call me and Ill bring the ticket to you)

Thank you for supporting the GHS Baseball Program!

# 21 Trevor Black

Runway Light Update 3 3 2011

Pictures and Photoshow by: Don Cook

Progress is being made on the runway lights. To date, 10 lights have been done. Thanks to everyone that helped so far.

If you didn't get a chance to help, your in luck, we have many more to go.

Whiteplains Calendar March 2011

Runway Light update 2-28-2011

Reported by: Steve Sanderson

We completed four runway lights yesterday.

Chief Engineer Ken Plesser will notify us when the next work group is to assemble.

Lake City Lunch Trip.avi

Photos by: Don Cook

Two planes from Whiteplains flew over to Lake City for lunch. Short Photoshow of our trip this past Saturday. 2-26-2011

Whiteplains Pilots Trash Pickup 2-26-2011

Pictures by: Don Coook

Short video from this mornings "Trash Pickup" for Windy Road.

Thanks to Jack and Diane Fastnaught for hosting this event and to all the great folks of Whiteplains for turning out.

Runway Light update 2-25-2011

 Photos & Report by: Steve Sanderson

The engineering team of Fastnaught, Moore, Plesser and Sanderson, under the guidance of Chief Engineer Ken Plesser, started the next phase of the runway light improvements on Monday, February 25th.

After much research and searching, appropriate rubber mats were located; and these mats could be cut down to make the grass shield to put around every runway light. Each mat had to be divided into six 2 x 2 foot squares, then each mat was cut in a bandsaw to make a rubber disc about 22 inches in diameter. Jack's power tools made the job easy and we already have 12 mats done. See photos.


The always shy Sanderson once again hid behind the camera.

Lunch in Greenville Downtown Airport GMU

2-23-2011 Photos by: Don Cook

A flight of three planes left Whiteplains this afternoon and flew over to Greenvill Downtown (GMU) airport for lunch. We also wanted to check out the Video Crew that was shooting a segment for the Discovery Channel on airport resturants. They had a good turn out, and the food was very good.

Runway Light Upgrade finished

The team of Plesser, Moore and Sanderson, with considerable supervision, finished installing the stakes for the runway light improvements on Monday.

High levels of guidance and wisdom were generously provided by various
neighbors and Board of Directors members during the process.

Our Labor Union mandated coffee break was hosted by Dick Hitt in his hangar.

Your editor lost control of his camera and appears in this photo, taken by
Dick Hitt.  I have already joined the Witness Protection Program.

K-Club Group Photo - 2-21-2011

The lady at K-mart took this picture of the Whiteplains Pilots group last Monday.

Wednesday Lunch Suggestion - Runway Cafe

Got the following message from the manager at Runway Cafe.  Anyone interested in going this Wednesday.
Don Cook
Lara KaufmannFebruary 21, 2011 at 11:14pm
Subject: Runway Cafe


Hi,


A TV production crew will be at the Runway Cafe for about 15 hours this Wednesday shooting a pilot for a show called Road Eats. Just fyi... if you want to fly in for a meal at Runway Cafe on Wednesday.


Please share this with your friends. I just remember that you flew in at least once.


Lara Kaufmann
GMU

K-Club - New Record Attendance

Photo & Story line by: Steve Sanderson 

Whiteplains Cub reporter

Always a great way to start the week…………….breakfast with our fellow pilot neighbors.  We call ourselves the “K-Club”, and we enjoy fine dining at the K-Mart in Lexington, SC.

We had a large turnout this morning and were honored to have Al Force and Frank Young join us as our guests.  Markus Steiger was also with us, but he has been visiting from Brazil for three months, so he was confirmed as a member (with full voting rights) a long time ago!

Road Cleanup Notice for 2-26-2011

Hello to all,

Just a reminder for the Windy Road cleanup. Meet this Saturday 8:30 AM at the Fastnaught's for a light breakfast and then a hour of fun ;0)

See you then.
Jack & Diane

Thank you!

Thank you to everyone that turned out for the runway workday yesterday. We worked hard, enjoyed good fellowship, and had great weather. Due to everyone’s hard work we got a lot done in record time. I appreciate all that everyone did and thank you for all the help.


Jeff

Picture from todays SCBC

This is the Whiteplains gang at the South Carolina Breakfast Club at RockHill on Sunday.

Steve Sanderson continues to hide behind his camera!

Dick Hit - Inside Vintage Airplane February 2011

Our very own, Dick Hit, is featured in Vintage Airplane magazine in the February 2011 issue. As you probably know, the Vintage Aircraft Association is a sub part of the EAA and dedicated to people who enjoy older classic and antique airplanes.

[Pilots] Coffee and Donuts 8:30 am Saturday‏

Reminder Runway Workday, Tomorrow

There will be coffee and donuts available at 8:30 am @ Ray Ackerman's hangar. After that we will fill washed and eroded areas along the runway. We will be moving some dirt from the west end to fill the low spots. We will have a backhoe, dump truck and tractors available to help with the heavy stuff. Please bring a rake or shovel with you and meet at Ray's hangar tomorrow morning.

If you have any questions please call me at 730-8090. See you there.

Jeff Cargile

LightSquared & Garmin GPS Face Off

Garmin Says 4G System A Threat To GPS

Garmin is standing by its position that a proposal to build a network of 40,000 broadband transmission towers around the U.S. could severely disrupt GPS service. As we reported last week, LightSquared has received conditional FCC approval to install the massive system to carry 4G signals, the conditions being that it restrict its signals to their assigned frequencies on the L Band 1 (1525 MHz—1559 MHz) and test existing GPS devices to see what kind of interference the transmitters might cause. GPS uses the a frequency range of 1159-1610 MHz, which is right next to the LightSquared signal. Garmin's Jessica Myers told AVweb in a podcast interview that Garmin has done testing on its own and determined there's no practical way for the two systems to coexist.

Myers said even if the LightSquared signals stay within their boundaries, they will be so strong compared to the very low-power GPS signals that reach Earth from the satellites that the GPS equipment will simply be overwhelmed. She said it may be technically possible to build filters that will block the LightSquared signals but they would be cost-prohibitive. Myers said that because the transmitters are ground-based, the biggest impact on GPS will occur in critical phases of flight like approach. She also noted that there are millions of marine and auto GPS units that could be affected. LightSquared says Garmin's tests are suspect because it didn't use the actual equipment that will be installed on the broadband towers. Real-world testing is expected to begin this month.
Reported in: AVwebBiz This Week

Runway Work Day 2-19-2011

Reminder Runway Workday, February 19th

We will have a workday this Saturday, February 19th at 9:00 a.m. to fill washed and eroded areas along the runway.  We will be moving some dirt from the west end to fill the low spots.  Lucky for us we will have a backhoe, dump truck and tractor available to help with the heavy stuff.  Please bring a rake or shovel with you and meet at the west end overrun at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday the 19th.  Many hands will make light work.
If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please call me at 730-8090.

Jeff Cargile

Trip Report - From Steve Sanderson 2-13-2011

One squadron of the Whiteplains Air Force assembled at Greenville Downtown for lunch on Sunday, February 13^th.

Steve Sanderson hid behind the camera!

4G Broadband May Jam GPS

The GPS industry is warning that a proposed broadband Internet network could effectively jam GPS signals. For full story, click on link below.

http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archives/avflash/1830-full.html

Update:

GPS Interference Worry over LightSquared Satellites


By: Andrew Wood

February 3, 2011

Avionics

The U.S. Departments of Defense, Transportation, Commerce and Homeland Security, as well as the civil GPS Industry Council–of which NBAA is a member–have filed objections with the FCC over a new satellite-enabled cellular broadband service from LightSquared. According to the numerous objections, the company’s two satellites will transmit in the L-Band spectrum, close enough to the GPS spectrum to cause “significant interference concerns” with GPS signals. LightSquared launched its first satellite, Sky Terra 1, on November 14, and at 72 feet in diameter it has the biggest commercial antenna in space. When Sky Terra 2 is launched next year, the two satellites will beam down 4G broadband data to a nationwide network of 40,000 cellular base stations to ensure connectivity to 92 percent of the U.S. population by 2015, with the aim of reaching 100 percent a few years later. The FCC has responded with the requirement that LightSquared may not start operations before an independent expert panel has agreed, over the next three months, that no risk of interference to GPS or other aviation or marine satellite services exists.

Whiteplains Pilots Association - Road Clean Up Day 2-26-2011

Hello to all,

It's that time again. We have set aside the morning of February 26 for the road clean-up.

We will meet at the Fastnaught's at 8:30 AM for a light breakfast and then go to work. 

With the help we have had in the past it only takes about an hour. We would sure like to 

see you there. It's another chance to fellowship with our neighbors and catch up on the 

goings-on around here while providing a great service for our community. Please bring 

gloves and dress warmly; even though this really is South Carolina it could be on the 

nippy side. We thank you all for your help. See you then.

Jack & Diane Fastnaught

New well being drilled.

Mr. Wayne Steele, under neighborhood supervision, drilling a well for the Burchfields.

SCBC Trip Report - Lancaster

Cody and I flew yesterday to the South Carolina Breakfast Club at Lancaster.  Our
neighbors, the Burchfields, let their granddaughter Savannah ride along with us
and we had a great time.  Cody handled the flying duties on the ride home and
did a very fine job.

Below is this years Cash winner at Lancaster.

Kim Boykin won the tax exempt pot at the South Carolina Breakfast Club today.

All American Aviation : Airmail Pick-up

Video from the psst.

Aircraft Engine Failure IMC

When things go wrong, they can go wrong in a hurry. Cool head prevails in this case.

Whiteplains Plantation Announcement - Tree Removal

Tree Update
 
Work is scheduled to start this Friday, February 4th on tree removal
on the approach end of Runway 9.  We can thank Kathy Singleton, our
neighbor to the west for allowing us to cut the trees on her property.
 Although the trees we have permission to cut will not give us a
completely clear approach, it’s a start.  Expect to see some equipment
in that area over the next few weeks.
 
As always if you have questions, comments or concerns, please let me know.
Jeff

FAA aircraft re-registration under way

FAA is requiring all owners of aircraft, to re-register all aircraft in the USA. You should receive a notice in the month that your plane was registered. This can be done online, at the link below.

http://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/aircraft_certification/aircraft_registry/

Working upside down

Dick Hitt is trying out a new seating position in his airplane

ICub: An Airplane Wrapped Around an iPad (Plus an iPhone)

Looking for an off field Light Sport plane, here it is.

Click-and-Control Interactive Heli Video

To control the video, click inside the player and drag your cursor in the direction you want to move the camera.

Sikorsky X2 Technology helicopter achieves 250kt - Sep 2010

Now this is fast! 250 Kt top speed.

Whiteplains Plantation Homeowners Meeting 2011

Video by: Don Cook

Short video shot during the meeting for the 20011 Whiteplains Homeowners Annual meeting held on 1-18-2011.

A special thanks to Willem & Alice Meiners' for hosting this even.

Whiteplains Plantation Announcement 1-24-2011

As we begin our business for 2011, the Whiteplains Plantation
 
Association Board of Directors has completed our first official act of
 
electing officers for the year. We are pleased to pass along this
 
information to everyone. Please continue to share your thoughts and
 
ideas with the Board as we make progress in the coming year.
 
 
 
Jeff Cargile, President/Chairman of Board
 
Dennis Perry, Vice President
 
Terry Yon, Treasurer
 
Steve Crimm, Secretary
 
Micah Froese, Board Member at Large
 
 
 
We all will appreciate your support and help in 2011.

Jeff Cargile  

Seafire Mk.15: A Hooked Spitfire

Check out this video on the SeaFire MK15

Link:  http://www.eaavideo.org/video.aspx?v=652189715001

Thanks to Steve Sanderson for sharing with us.

Lunch trip - Greenville Downtown Airport

Good Afternoon,

It is a BEAUTIFUL day in South Carolina as we send you our very best Thursday greetings.  As we predicted yesterday, your editor cranked up the Cessna this morning and took Jenny’s mom Ada Bloom and Jenny’s aunt Linda Evans for a plane ride.  Linda sat up front with me and flew the plane from the right seat, and did a very good job of following the GPS directly to the Greenville Downtown Airport, where we had lunch. 

Much to our delight as we taxied up to the front door of the airport restaurant, a bus full of senior citizens had also arrived for lunch.  We took our seats along side of them and sadly we fit right in,  as we did not look much different.  We were treated to a brief overview of the airport by Lara Kaufmann from the airport authority, and I announced to the group that we often fly there for lunch and pointed out our plane out front.

Here is a shot from our back yard after we returned to our home airpark:

Posted by: Steve Sanderson

GPS TEST

FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
FLIGHT ADVISORY
GPS Testing
CSFTL GPS 11-01
January 20-February 11, 2011
February 15-February 22, 2011
Brunswick, GA
The Department of Defense will conduct GPS tests on January 20th through February
22nd, 2011. During testing, the GPS signal may be unreliable or unavailable.
A. Location: Centered at 304906N/0802811W or the location know as 105.25
degrees and 52.1 NM from the SSI VOR.
B. Dates and times: GPS testing is scheduled on January 20th through February 11th,
2011 from 0000-0245 UTC daily and February 15th through February 22nd, 2011
from 0000-0245 UTC daily. These tests may not be concurrent so pilots are
advised to check NOTAMS frequently for possible changes prior to operating in the
area.
C. Duration: Several test events will be conducted and will be active for 45 minutes
followed by 15 minutes of off time.
D. During testing, GPS will be unreliable and may be unavailable with in a circle with
a radius of 370NM and centered at 304906N/0802811W or the location known as
105.25 degrees and 52.1 NM from the SSI VOR at FL400; decreasing in area with
a decrease in altitude to a circle with a radius of 325NM at FL250; a circle with a
radius of 260NM at 10,000FT MSL and a circle with a radius of 215NM at 4,000FT
AGL.
E. Pilots are highly recommended to report anomalies during testing to the
appropriate ARTCC to assist in the determination of the extent of GPS degradation
during tests.
The NOTAMs discussed in this advisory may change with little or no notice.
Pilots are advised to check NOTAMs frequently for possible changes prior to
operations in the area. NOTAMs will be published at least 24 hours in advance
of any GPS tests.

Translated Chinese Video: First Flight of J-20 "Stealth Fighter" January...

Translated Chinese Video: First Flight of J-20 "Stealth Fighter" January 11, 2011

S.C. panel urges aircraft tax reduction

>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

 For more information click on link below.

http://www.aopa.org/advocacy/articles/2011/110110south_carolina_panel_urges_aircraft_tax_reduction.html?WT.mc_id=110114epilot&WT.mc_sect=adv&utm_source=The+Pulse+Subscribers&utm_campaign=ec49a24fe7-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email

J3 Cub Landing - Pilot Dick Hitt 1-14-2011

Video by: Don Cook

Dick Hitt and Jack Fastnaught returning just before sunset, after some dual instruction in Dick's Piper J-3 Cub. Nice landing Dick.

Pilot Mike Kelly in his Cessna L-19 Birddog

Pictures by: Steve Sanderson

Dick Hitt got to fly in Mike Kelly's Cessna L-19

Birddog. Mike has his own private airport near Wangener.  




 

Click on picture to see full size.

Charles Lindbergh Film

Check out this link http://www.airportappraisals.com/qualifications/ to see some really old film of Charles Lindbergh flight to France.

I suggest you first click on   "CONTACT"  on the left side and then select #1, (in the middle of the picture will
have  an    >)    Click on it and then watch each reel in order, #1 through #4.  After each one, go back to CONTACT, click it again and then go to the next one.

Snow At Whiteplains 1-10/1-11-2011

Video and Pictures by; Don Cook

Video of some of the snow for Monday and Tuesday. Oh what fun. Come on Summer.

Just a reminder of the.....

Just a reminder of the Whiteplains Plantation Homeowners Association,
2011 Annual Meeting
Tuesday, January 18, 2011 at 6:30 PM

Willem & Alice Meiners’ Hangar
200 Whiteplains Court

The meal will be from Hudson BBQ, $10 per person, pay at the door.

If you haven't called already, please RSVP to jeff.cargile@gmail.com
or call 803-358-1138.

Be present to vote on the 2011 budget.

NextGen Briefing

This is funny, yet this is again, the FAA.

Is 3rd Class medial on the way out?

 

Commenting on the 3rd class medical

Posted by Janice Wood · January 4, 2011

David Wartofsky, owner/operator of Potomac Airfield, closest of the Maryland 3 airports to downtown Washington D.C., who has filed petition to replace the FAA’s 3rd class medical with a driver’s license for private flying, passes along this recent comment to his petition from Dr. Donald Senter. You can read the full comment below, but we wanted to highlight Dr. Senter’s closing salvo: “If they are safe to drive in the horrible traffic to get to an airport, they are safe to fly a light aircraft.”
Here is his full comment:
“This comment is in support of David Wartofsky’s excellent petition. I am a practicing physician of 45 years, a pilot for 44 years with private and commercial ratings. I was the Director of Aeromedical Services and Chief Flight Surgeon for the USAF 4th Tac Fighter Wing from 1966 to 1968. For many years was a FAA Senior Flight Medical Examiner. Have done in the past 100’s to thousands of flight medical exams for both civilian and military purposes.
“For private flying, the bureaucratic hassle of flight physicals has always been an burden that is not needed. It is my opinion that it’s a self-serving bureaucracy more interested in prolonging its power and control over citizens and frequently discriminates against pilots and those who want to be pilots. They stay 10 to 20 years behind the current practice of medicine in updating their regulations. Changes in the rules are frequently only after NTSB mandates or lawsuits.
“I wrote a much more lengthy comment but the time out lost all of it, perhaps this is another Washington error.
“Pilots do their own medical certification every time they get in their car or in their plane. This is not like flying a U-2 or SR-71 where a medical exam precedes every flight. If they are safe to drive in the horrible traffic to get to an airport, they are safe to fly a light aircraft.”

Whiteplains Calendar January 2011

Whiteplains Plantation Homeowners Association Meeting

Whiteplains Plantation Homeowners Association, 2011 Annual Meeting
Tuesday, January 18, 2011  at 6:30 PM
 
Willem & Alice Meiners’ Hangar
200 Whiteplains Court
 
The meal will be from Hudson BBQ, $10 per person, pay at the door.
Please RSVP to jeff.cargile@gmail.com or call 803-358-1138.
 
Be present to vote on the 2011 budget.