March 2007

From the President

Welcome to the first newsletter of the new year. The weather seems to be more settled but the 2007 year will be remembered as the year of no summer, but flying and club activity has continued with a number of new planes and members arriving .Microlighting is strong in Canterbury and it’s good to see new people and new planes arriving in increasing numbers. The local building ‘Industry’ is strong with many garages around the district housing particially completed aeroplanes ranging from my single seat Pixie to the beautiful Fisher Tiger Moths by Ivan, Russell and Peter, the D18 by Bevan and new member Russell Woods, the new Rans S6 by Dave Mitchell just to name a few. If you have a project under way in your garage give me a call and share you knowledge and experience with other who may need a hand. Send a photo for the news letter, members are always keen to see what is going on .

The skies of Rangiora are becoming busier with the arrival of new aircraft and with the increased activity of commercial aircraft. We must be more vigilant with this increased activity and make sure we observe correct joining ,radio and circuit procedures to ensure we are not the brunt of any criticism aimed at incorrect procedures on the field. We are well trained, competent pilots so lets continue to be that as activity increase.

The new aircraft is clocking up the hours and JOL is having its 4th engine change having clocked up over 900 hours on the airframe with only a minor mishap with he from front wheel . JOR is approaching it’s first 100 hour rapidly and is very proving popular.

Activity on our new hangar complex has been slow to date but background work is continuing with the council to have the area levelled very soon. Plans are still a little unsure whether we will build one or two hangars. We have got two pre-paid slots in one hangar and we are keen to talk to anyone who is looking for long term hangarage in our new complex. Please ring me on 327 6448 if you would like to secure a slot.

We are planning to get quotations in the next month an then decide on how many we build. If you don’t need a hangar you may be able to help with the supply of materials.

One of the first cost we must endure is the concrete floor. If you have a concrete company or know where you can get concrete let me know. It’s not what you know it’s who! This complex will be for all for a long time to come so if you can help now is the time to put your hand up. Any kind of contribution would be appreciated.


The club AGM is coming up on April 11th at 1900 at the clubhouse. All club committee positions are up for election so if you see yourself being able to help run the club or would like to make a contribution to the club give me a call or get a mate to nominate you for a position. A description of the positions is elsewhere in this newsletter.


Calendar Dates

11th March flyin to Duncan and Jane Frazer’s Strip

Briefing at 9.30am

Flying competition 24th March -Briefing at 10am

Friday Night BBQ -First one on 24th March at 6.00pm


So What’s Been Happening Out There?

The WOODSIDE AIRFIELD is being worked on . Woodside is located in Oxford just as you leave the Western end. The strip is approximately 700metres lon at the base of a terrace with a river running down on side. It has a great picnic area and members are presently planning the construction of facilities that will make the place very comfortable . We plan to have the strip ready for a flyin next year. So if you can lend a hand it would be much appreciated. If you have anything that may be of use such as outdoor furniture, toilet bowls, sink units or building materials give Dave McPherson a ring .

We need a good keen man (or woman) to take on the task of organising an ablutions block for the new strip. We would like to build a portable unit into a container that would be based at Rangiora and move elsewhere when needed. If this sound like a project for you ring Dave on 0312 4194.

A working bee was held on the 3rd to prepare the strip for grading . Eight keen men arrived and picked up all the stray bits of wood and scrub. After a couple of hours it was all burned and Dave and Ngarie put on a quick BBQ for us. Thanks to all thaose who came and thanks to Dave and Ngarie whose hospitality is always the tops.

Peter Parkinson has completed his Fisher Tiger Moth making it the third in the club. Soon ,I am sure we will see a formation flying over Rangiora. Peter, Russell and Ivan have made great jobs of their planes, each with it’s own personel touch . Peter has powered his with a Rotax 912 and it sounds very powerful and quiet.

Terry Salmon has taken delivery of his new Corby Starlett powered by a 1600 VW . He is very impressed with the performance, so watch out for the new fighter pilot with his new toy. Now Ivan has someone to dogfight with!

Dave Mitchell is busy painting his Rans S6 with a UV protectant clear coating . A lot ot work and a great shiny finish will keep it looking it’s best for many years to come.

Phil Heyward has taken delivery of his Jabiru . Brent flew it across the ditch for him and is now showing Phil the ropes to go solo in his new baby.

Mike Small is working away in the background helping members gain their exams. He and other instructors spen many volentry hours keeping training going and getting members through the rigors of the dreaded exam. Thank Mike and all those that do so much work behind the scenes to keep the club active.

Mike’S Karatoo has now completed 500hrs on the airframe(but it;s had a few engines!) and soon will undergo a major inspection . I has performed very well and is a cretit to Paul, Mike and Brent who worked on it.

Ross Marfell is having to carry out a bit of maintenence og the Alpi 300. It seems he has a fuel leak in the most difficult place that has necessitaed the removal of the wing. Good luck Ross we hope you have it back in the air soon.

Stop Press: Ross has the problem fixed only after a botch up welding job that still leaked and stuffed the fuel level sensor. Don’t go to Otamatata for welding ,instead go to Paul or if you are feeling adventurous go to Oamaru where a company that specializes in building replica Jaguars and other exotic cars do a geat job.

Mike Sheffield has finished painting the Pober Pixie and is now working on the cockpit finishing before starting the metal coaming upto the fire wall. It looks pretty good if I do say so myself!!!

Word has it that Roger Ward is almost ready to bring out his Titan for final assembly. This is a new plane that Ross imported . It will be great to see the finished product(even though it bright orange!!). About time you got yours finished too Kim Twentyman .

Mike Kindon has kindly donated his weather station and computer to the club. It will be installed in the next few weeks and the computer set up in the club house. Details of any changes to access it will be posted soon.

All pilots, please check to see if you are still current on JOL and JOR. The information in the red log book in the club house must be up to date to fly. Check your medical, your licence and your RAANZ membership ,you need ALL THREE to fly! See your instructor and get you details updated before you next fly.

There is a new field to vist . Graeme and Valarie Main have opened their new hangar,house and reunway at Thistledome in Rolleston. An open day was held on March the 4th .

Location details are 43:36:44S. & 172:24:05E. Give them a ring before you turn up.

Approach from South of Rolleston Township and circuits are to the south (over the irrigator)

You will see that our Mirage,EZO is up for hire at only $38/hr. This is an excellent rate. Unfortunatley if the plane does not get used it will have to go. So if you want a taste of flying by the seat of your pants take it for a spin on a calm morning, but get an instructor to rate you first.


E-Mail Update

Could all those with e-mail addresses please send me an e-mail at mike.sheffield@ihug.co.nz. I get a lot of failures when I do a club wide e-mail, soit’s obvious I need to update some.


ATTENTION ALL THOSE WITH A STRIP!!

We are trying to compile a list and produce a Pocket Book of all local club memebers strips . If you are happy for members to drop in now and then please send me details by e-mail of your srtip,its local requirements, circuits and when you allow visitors. I know we have an increasing amount of members with strips . It’s always interesting visiting other site. So send in your coordinates and a photo of the strip.


0penning Graeme and Valarie’s Strip at Rolleston

Graeme and Valarie have moved into a new house not far from their old one but this one has a strip and hangar. It has long been a dream of Graeme’s to have his own stip nest to his house . He say’s it has been a long time coming but the day has arrived when it all has come together. Well done Graeme and Valarie the place is fantastic and may you both enjoy the fruit of all your hard work. I am sure you will be getting a few aerial visitors from time to time .

Graeme and Valarie put on a great day and it was good to see a good turn out from the club. Mike Small and Brent flew in and gave all those watching an excellent display of good piloting . It’s strange how,when you get into an aeroplane everyone want to wave at you !



The Clock - Who & Why

As with any organization we need a team of people to make the clock tick. Our clock ticks pretty well but some of the cogs are getting a little worn out and are in need of replacement or re-juvination. New cogs are the life of the club. Old cogs can stop and tell the same time day after day until someone gives the pendulum a push and the clocks starts ticking again . The AGM is the time the clock gets a push and hopefully starts ticking again. The chief cog admits this cogs are worn a bit but thinks with a bit of oil will be able to do another reveloution of the dial.You may wonder what some of the cogs actually do .

The component parts of the clock are few and not very complex. But in order to keep the clock ticking they must work together, one cog meshing against another and another until all the moving cogs make the dial move . That’s what the committee does.

When all the cogs are new they decide which way the dail will move, whether it move slowly to 3 then go faster to 6 or start at 10 and go flat out to 12. The cogs, when new are well meshed and keen to perform but as time goes on things wear and time slows, the numbers on the dial are raeched slowly or never at all.

The main cog (President) is the implementer, facilitator and motivator of the pinions (or is it minions) . He makes sure the cogs have a plan to meet and makes sure the cogs mesh to achieve the numbers on the dial. The next biggest cog ( some say the most important cog( the secretary/Treasurer)) is the cog that makes sure the other cogs mesh at the correct speed and are lubricated (with money) so that the points on the dial are acheived on time and without using up all of the grease. For our clock we have some very special cogs that enable us to be a unique clock. We have the Safety Cog who makes sure that all the little cogs in the world of our clock and safe and secure and free from harm.

We have the maintenance cog who looks after the vechicles which all the little cogs travel in. This is a very inportant and uinque cog that operates when all the other cogs are busy doing other things .Without this cog, as with all others, the clock stops. He makes sure the vechicles have fuel, are bathed, changed and kept in good running order.

Then we have the very outgoing entertainment cog(Club Captain). This cog provides the entertainment for all the cogs by providing them new and fresh activities in which to use their vechicles. We have the training Cog who’s job it is to look after a specially trained group of Cogs that from a separate mechanism in the bowles of the clock and ensure all the other Cogs know what the hell they are doing . Some cogs will forever keep going around in circles in the bowles of the clock and never see daylight but we can’t all be good round Cogs.

The last , but not least, as all cogs are vital to ensure the Cogs provide a power train that the arms that drive the dial, are the committee Cogs, the Worker Cogs, the wheels that make the rest of the Cogs turn without whom the clock would stop. We need them all to form a working clock.

If you see yourself as a hard flat thing with a serated edge and a will of Brass and a desire to help other Cog perform then think about JOINING THE CRAC COMMITTEE!!.



Our On-site Experts

We are very luckly being part of a hobby/sport/passion/past-time/ or some sort of brain disorder that has so many experts living close to us. I think it’s about time we made a little fuss of those people who work away doing what they do in our backyard. Those who make the atmosphere so interesting and motivating to those that can only stand and admire their skill and dedication to what they do.Those who are so generous with their time and and who part with their knowledge to anyone who asks.

We have a number of such people at our field and I would like to mention just a few. These people are modest, skilled people that make a modest living from doing what they love. These are people who know nothing of this article and who will be embarressed by my mentioning them so I will only talk of their exploits and other things.

Rangiora airfield is home to Rangiora Aircraft Engineering . A large hangar always full of interesting aircraft and home to Thomas the cat who welcomes all who pass through the hallowed doorway. Thomas’s Keeper is a kindly gentlman who is only to willing to help any stricken avaitor out of a spot. He will gladly empart his knowledge to all at no charge and is only too happy to help with your little problem. His knowlege is based on many many man… years of playing with aeroplanes and flying them all over the world. What he does’nt know about planes are things that have not been invented yet. Thanks Thomas’s keeper and may all your rats have gold teeth.

Just down the way is another interesting, but smaller hangar, occupied by the Woody fella. He prides himself on a clean work shop and a dirty plane !(or is it the other way around). Either way Woody (no not Arnolds dog) is an expert manufacturer of aircraft, aircraft parts, covering, painting and giving of good down to earth practical and by the book advice. He will give advice freely to those who want to listen and step back and listen to those who have some thing valuable to say. His skill is for all to see and all to admire. His business, yes it is a business, and he does need to pay the bills, is young and growing in reputation throught the country. Take your work to Woody and you will receive a top class job . The information and friendly knowledgeable advice is free, but please pay the guy as we want him to stay around.


Just a little further along the line of hangers is a little workshop that produces the best wooden propellers in the world. Brent’s innovative machine shop can turn out custom made props for your project . You can have any combination of selected woors to produce you own unique prop for your engine . He will design the prop to suit your engine and the performance you require from your plane. The prop will be perfectly balanced and look a million dollars but it won’t cost you that . He is an expert painter, fibreglass maker, metal worker and all round perfectionist when it comes to aircraft. He will pass on his knowledge and offer advice to those that ask and work away quietly( except when his machine is cutting props) until another perfect prop leaves his workshop.

If it’s parts you want for your project call in a see Steve Noad at Aircraft Logistics and Support. His name says it all. He will aquire any part for you at the best possible price and source any unusual thing you might need. He offers tremendous advice and terms to suit all . He is there to help with our projects and is always keen to hear what is going on and how he can offer assistance.

Not too far away from the airfield is a large hangar off a shingle road where wondorous things are produced. From safety helmets for the world market to 90% scale Mk26 Spitfires and 75% Mustangs, Loburn Abbey is a place out of charater with thesurrounding area. Mobs of sheep ,deer and horses are occassionally disturbed by a low flying replica Tiger Moth or Mustang. Here in our own area is a world class manufacturering facility for the warbird enthusiast. Loburn Abbey is a specialist manufacturing facility and home of Ivan and Sandra and while they are only too happy to welcome visitors and offer advice on your project a quick phone call to them before you fly or drive in the courteous thing to do.

While the above mentioned facilities are all active businesses there are many people in the club with vast experience in building and maintaining aircraft . Talk to other menbers and thay will point you in the right direction .


I Learned About Flying From That


One nice Saturday I decided to go for a local fly. It was such a nice day so I thought I would fly to Duncan and Jane Frasers up in the Hurunui. I flew out over Amberly and up to Greta Valley flying around areas that I hadn’t flown over before. Then I popped over the hill to the Hurunui River. As I was flying up the river I saw “Budgie”, Dunc and Jane’s Ragabond aircraft, sitting in one of their paddocks. Duncan uses his plane like a farm motorbike so you may see it parked anywhere around his farm. That’s good I thought, I can land at the airstrip beside the house as I knew that’s where Duncan keeps his plane so the strip must be ok. I did a couple of low passes to make sure that it was ok and landed there. When I landed I pulled up quite quickly in the longish grass.


I was just having a stretch and talking with Dunc and Jane’s boy’s when we heard “Budgie” coming back. It must be time for a cuppa. Of course, it is always time for a cuppa. Jane is an awesome hostess so a cuppa to Jane is like a 3 course meal to the rest of us. Time to go home. Duncan suggested that he fly back to Rangiora in “Budgie” with me. Jane, who is a keen flyer, decided to come with us. Why don’t you go with Dave, Duncan said. I wasn’t over keen as I was a bit nervous about the long grass and whether I would get off the strip ok. Duncan said that he gets off fine two up so I should be ok as well.


I loaded Jane into the Karatoo and climbed in. Duncan was already started and warmed up so he was away. I watched to see how much of the strip he used. He was off the ground in no time at all. That’s good I thought, we should get off no sweat. I opened the throttle and headed off down the runway. We soon got up speed but not quite flying speed. The long grass was just holding us back. I eased the stick back thinking we might unstick but no way so I pushed the stick forward, kept the tail up, made sure the throttle was jammed up against the firewall, closed my eyes,(no not really but I wanted to) and just waited to gain a little more speed. The fence seemed to be looming up large and fast. The Karatoo was near to flying speed so I pulled back hard on the stick, we staggered into the air, I pushed the stick forward to gain some more speed. The fence whistled under our wheels and we were away. Phew!!!


The rest of the trip was uneventful. What did I learn from this incident? It reiterated the fact that if you are the pilot you make the decisions, and are responsible for your decisions. Because I had some doubts about being able to get off the strip, because of the long grass, I should have done a circuit on my own before taking the extra weight of a passenger and the extra responsibility of another person. Even though “Budgie” got off the ground easily only I knew what my aircrafts performance was. I was a low time pilot so my ability to handle the situation was probably not as good as someone with a lot more experience. The good thing was there was no damage to man or machine and I learned from the experience.


P.S. Duncan measured the distance from where I left the ground up to the fence. It was 80 metres. So even though we seemed very close to the fence, there was still some strip left.


Dave McPherson


Heard at the Airfield Recently;

‘If you dip you stick make sure you know what your looking for’ Paul to Dave McP


‘Dave, your fuse is so shinny,I hope you don’t side off it’

Anon!


Fom one Tiger to another(to another) ‘Are you sure that’s not mine? It’s the same colour as the mine’’

‘ No it is mine’said the other

‘Well whose is that other one over there? Its the same bloody colour!!

‘Whoose the guy flying the little Starlet?’

‘Not sure but he’s sure wearing it and the sky out!’


‘Have’nt you finished it yet Bevan?’

‘No but it’s getting very close’


‘I see you have been cleaning the hangar again P..

‘Oh Yea’


‘Did you have a good flight today Russell’

‘Every flight is a good on Mike’


Well said Russell and with that I end my stint as Editor and hand over to Dave McPherson who I am sure will carry on to provide some good reading and humour in months to come .Thanks to all those who helped me out over my 5 years. I have enjoyed it and will continue to contribute.


Mike Sheffield

March 2007