( Download as a PDF for Printing: October_2007.pdf )

Welcome to this months newsletter. It has not been great weather for flying lately with the normal spring nor wester turning up with avengence. Jeff Bannister has been trying to have the flyaway to Kaikoura but it has not happened yet. Maybe next weekend!! He thought he was on a roll when the trip to Hamner went so well, but I tell you Jeff, the weather gremlins love interfering with flyaways.

Talking of flyaways, a major trip is being talked about for November. This one is to Tony and Christine Denhaan’s old stamping ground in Northland. This would be a fantastic trip for those able to make it. The best suggestion is to get in touch with Tony and Christine (03) 312 5359 to register your interest.

We had a very interesting night, taken by Dr Terry Salmon on Human Factors as they affect our flying. This was very well presented by Terry and well received by all those that attended the evening. Thank you Terry, for all the research and work you did, and the excellent presentation to make this such an informative evening.

Hopefully with daylight saving we will have some nice evenings for some twilight flying. Turn up on a Friday night and if there are enough of us there interested we will get the BBQ out and make a real evening of it.

The new events field in Oxford is coming together well. Hopefully if the weather behaves it will be sown down next week.

Cheers, Dave McPherson

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An Important Notice

SUB’S. Please make sure you pay your sub’s. If you are not a financial member of a club you are not allowed to fly. There are many advantages in belonging to our club. We have a great club facility, good support with our instructors, plus of course you get this fine mag sent to you each month. All these things cost so we would appreciate your membership fee. You can pay by putting your money in the safe at the club in a clearly marked envelope with your name or your can post it to: - CRAC P.O. Box 440 Rangiora. Please do this soon as it will save James the hassle of sending out account rendered and make his life much easier.

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I

was in the Kiwi Karatoo factory a while back when Logan Shearer came in. “Hey Mike. I need to do my BFR. Will you do it for me?” “Sure” Mike replied, “ Why don’t you get JOL out and we will do it now.” “Ah no.” Logan replied. “ I want to do it in the Bantam. Can I fly down next week” The hangar went deathly quiet. Anyone who knows Mike knows his dislike for Bantams. How was he going to get out of this one? Mike glanced around. Hmmm, he thought. Too many witnesses around here. “Ok” he said. “You fly down and I will do your BFR. But make it during the week. I don’t want anybody else to see this. And don’t bring your camera.”

Well Mike was cunning enough not to get photographed while he was in the Bantam but we have got this photo to prove at least how close he got.

Instructors Roster

OCT

13^th Kim Tweetyman

20^th Dave Mitchell

27^th Tony Denhaan

NOV

3^rd Brent Thompson

10^th Mike Small

17^th Peter Small

Just remember this roster can change. Keep in touch with your instructors.

New Member

Welcome to David Leefe, a new member in the club

From the president

HANGAR NEWS

A special general meeting was held at the clubrooms to discuss the adoption of a report to build a new hangar for the club on the Western end of the airfield.

A report was read out by the president, Mike Sheffield, outlining options for the club. A number of quotations were received from around 8 suppliers and the list was narrowed to 3 suppliers. Our budget for the project is around $70,000. Prices ranged from $71,500. to $113,500 for various sizes of hangars.

Prices were put on an equal footing and various functions accessed. All 3 short listed designs called for the club to build the building itself. Alpine sheds tender for a 20m x 20m hangar with two door openings was selected as the best option for the club as it allowed us to build it, was acceptable to the Council, had a good price and allowed the storage of up to 10 aircraft. This design is easy to build but will require the members to get behind the project and participate when required.

The meeting participants were unanimous in adopting the motion.

The club has taken out a loan with Trust bank for $50,000 and has two prepaid hangar spots of around $20,000. With a full hangar, the rent will cover the cost to build and run the hangar.

We hope to start construction in the New Year and have it complete by June. We are now in the process of compiling information for a building consent.

We are going to need commitment from YOU over the next year and I look forward to having you on the team. Any help you can offer will be taken up. Just because you may not have any technical skills does not exclude you from the project. Your support and help will be required whatever your skills are. We can find you a job.

As in all projects like this the “OLD BOY” network is very valuable. A building committee will be formed to coordinate the effort and a list of requirements drawn up and circulated to members. If you can help, or know of a mate or whatever to source materials at a good rate let me know. We will keep you informed of progress and areas where you can help.

This is another big project in the history of the club and YOU can make your mark by getting behind the project.

SAFETY

It is good to see that we have both aircraft flying regularly and incident free. Remember we have to keep on top of our game and make sure we and the aircraft are fit to fly. We all play a part in this. Make sure you check yourself before every flight –AM I FIT TO FLY? Do I feel like it? What is my attitude? What is the weather like? Is it going to change? Have I filled in the log and the intentions board in the clubhouse? OK you are going to fly. Do your pre-flight as if it were your first, be methodical, thorough and if you have a doubt about the aircraft’s condition ask or put it back in the hangar and leave a note on the dash.

Our instructors are doing a great job at refining systems and carrying out training but most of all SAFETY relies on you doing your checks and balances. Keep up the good work. We have a great club because of your attitudes and participation. Thanks for your professionalism – keep up the good work, look out for each other and FLY SAFE.

Brent Thompson

As most of you know Brent has been involved with building a solar power car to compete in an international competition in Australia this month. By the time you read this he will have left to compete. Brent has put many hours into the project and the club wishes him all the best of luck in the competition. It will be a long hot trip. I hope Brent will give a talk on the project when he gets back. Good Luck Brent.

President Mike

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1^st SOLO

Congratulations to Robin McDonald on his first solo. There is to be a presentation night, to present our many new pilots with there, “first solo” wings. Watch this space for a date

What’s Happening Out There

Jeff Bannister has kindly taken over the Flyaway co-ordinators role. If you have any suggestions of a good place to fly to as a group, please give Jeff a call. (027) 071 2852

The flyaway to Kaikoura is still on. The last attempt will on Sunday 14^th

Les Eade is building a RANS S6. His hanger needs to be altered a little to accommodate his new aircraft.

Nigel Forrester has put his order in for a J6 Karatoo. He has asked for a custom made version even down to the dog box in the back.

Mike Kindon has, it is rumoured, sold his Luton Minor to Mike Fleming.

Wayne Wilson and Mike Kindon have bought a Skyranger each. Apparently they will be fitted with VW engines.

Chris Hagen has sold his Alpi Pioneer 200 and is waiting for his 300 to arrive.

Mike Cron has flown his Titan T51 Mustang. By all accounts it looks and sounds the part.

Peter Dyer’s, RANS S9 Chaos is almost ready to fly.

Doug Anderson has a new Airborne 912 trike

Kerry Millar’s T51 Mustang is nearly ready to fly.

Russell Byfield has bought Rod Webb’s Hi-Max

Dave Mitchell’s Rans S6 (Kermit) is getting closer to flying day by day. The story around the hangar is, that it is the journey that is important, not the destination. It is going to be one smart machine. There are lots of wires going here and there to do this and that.

JOL has new transponder. If you want your advanced national rating, you will now be able to do it in JOL. You don’t have to get a rating in JOL to do it. Just get an instructor to do the flying and you do all the radio work. See an instructor to arrange a time to do it.

Tony Denhaan has donated a new fuel pump to the club for refuelling the club aircraft.

Richard Maxwell has given the club a new ladder to help with refuelling our aircraft. Thankyou Tony and Richard

Apparently, there are two cub look-alikes on the airfield. They are called a Savage and made by Zlin. I don’t know much about them except from what I have seen in advertisements. It fits into the micro category. I can’t wait to see one flying. I think they will be fantastic.

In the last newsletter, it was reported that Brent Thompson was building Noel Vallance a new trike. It is going to be is powered with a Suzuki Swift Metro Geo engine. This is a three cylinder, turbo charged 1000cc monster. It will driven through a SPC-2 gearbox, which is made in the Ukraine. Noel is doing a lot of research and development on this combination. He is planning on making an attempt on the altitude record.

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GIANT GARAGE SALE

Ross Marfell is having a garage sale in his hanger on Saturday November 3^rd.

He has offered to sell any items that club members would like to sell with a small percentage going to the club. This is a generous offer by Ross. He is prepared to man it on the day, but I am sure he would accept offers of help. He would also like to have the club BBQ up and running. It is a good chance to show off our facilities to people who might not ordinarily go to the airfield. We would also like to offer trial flights. Anyone who can help on the day please get in touch with Ross

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I haven’t seen the van de Velden’s around for a while. Is it possible they have opened a café somewhere in Australia? This is a photograph that was taken in Aussie recently.

FOR SALE

VW HAPI AERO ENGINE

Brand new, never been started but has been assembled.

Electric start, chrome molly push rods, separate SCAT heads and barrels per cylinder, forged crankshaft, alternator, Brazilian crankcases. Claimed 79 horsepower. Ideal power plant for your next project. Needs inlet and exhaust manifold. Comes with standard VW solex card or Poss card. Also needs ignition system.

This is a genuine factory specified motor machined to very high standards and is a proven aero modification for VW motors.

Comes with various manuals.

This is well below replacement cost and is a steal for only $3500 to CRAC members.

Call Mike on 327 6448 to view.

For Sale

Western Hemlock for sale suitable for building wings.

Taylorcraft project for sale.

Also Subaru engines and parts for sale

See Mike Small at the Karatoo Factory or ring him on ph 027 436 2609 or Ah 03 313 7663

Well that’s it from me until next month. Please send me articles to put in the newsletter. I get bored with the stuff I write so it must be bad for you guys.

Send to dbmcp@xtra.co.nz

Safe flying, Dave McPherson