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Thursday

Thursday began with Walt Simendinger's presentation on his $100,000 repaneling project for his Cessna 336. I can't do justice to summarizing his presentation, but it was fun, and very informative. Walt provided a packet of manufacturers literature and 8 x 10 panel photos to every attendee, as well as some other neat giveaways during his presentation. Walt really did a complete restoration of his 336, and is restoring another now. I saw his airplane on the ramp - beautiful.

(Click the picture at right for a larger image. The image is huge, be patient.)

After Walt, I gave a talk about crossing the Rocky Mountains in a normally aspirated 337. I began by talking about how many eastern pilots see the U.S. this way:

We talked about the differences between crossing mountains (fun and easy) and mountain flying (way fun, but takes expert instruction and practice). The picture at right is mountain flying, as I defined it.

We talked about density alititude strategies, human performance (heat, hypoxia, fatigue), the IFR/VFR decision, wind and weather. We also talked about arrival and departure planning in a mountainous area.

Lastly, we discussed a proposed trip between Minnesota and Las Vegas, the various possible routes, and the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Next came Paul Rooy with a presentation entitled "Skymaster vs. The Volcano: How to Fly the Caribbean". Or at least that is what he hoped to talk about... Due to strong interest from the audience, his presentation turned into "All About Life Rafts On Your Way to the Carbbean". I learned a lot from Paul about the difference between a real ocean life raft, and what I had always thought of as a raft. Real life rafts have shelter, an air insulation layer in the floor between you and the ocean, ropes and other gizmos to help you get into the raft (not easy, I tried that once), a sea anchor to keep you from drifting, and more... I will never take a raft for granted again.

After Paul came Mary Lightfine who wins the award for longest presentation title: "How To Sell Your Significant Other on Flying to the West Indies, Stay Healthy When You Get There, Barter For Weather, and Other Survival Tactics". (Unfortunately, my camera flash had long failed, and when Mary speaks, she never stops moving, so getting a picture of her at slow shutter speed led to the art shot at right. Sorry Mary.) Mary is a nurse who works in war zones and disaster areas internationally. She has been to a huge number of countries, and lectures professionally about her experiences. Mary is quite comfortable in front of a microphone.

Mary's talk was especially aimed at the non-flying spouse. Mary talked about her love for flying and travel in a Skymaster, her recent flight training, and the joys that can be had when accompanying your pilot husband or wife. Mary also talked some about travel in foreign countries. For example, Mary showed a length of cloth, which has different names in different countries, and is worn in a wide variety of ways. At right is Mary demonstrating this to the group with Liza Mackenzie as her model.

After Mary, we broke for lunch.

During lunchtime, I excused myself to go back to the airport and take pictures of all the attendees airplanes. (The pictures are included at the end of this article.) This made me late getting back, and I missed Owen Bell's presentation on his modifications and available Skymaster parts. Perhaps someone else can offer a report on what he covered.

With Owen's presentation complete, we turned to the Rich of Peak/Lean of Peak debate. This was moderated very effectively by Keven Kenison (practicing for a future judgeship I imagine). Paul Rooy took the Lean of Peak point of view, and Ernie Martin argued for Rich of Peak. (The picture at right is Paul, Keven and Ernie from left to right.)

I was worried about this part of the agenda, because this subject has been so divisive in the past. Paul and Ernie each covered their respective points of view fairly, and with enthusiasm. Several audience members contributed their thoughts, and the hour that we allocated to this subject went by in a flash. No blood was drawn, and we all remained friends in the end. I learned more about the subject than I knew beforehand, and the presentations had to be pretty well done to keep my interest in a subject I feel has been beaten to death. I was glad we did it.

After a short break, Tom Reed (below) was introduced by Keven Kenison (at right). Tom gave a presentation on real-time weather delivered to the cockpit via XM radio to a PDA/GPS.

This looks like a product with a lot of benefits. The GPS and sat receiver is packaged in one unit that sits on your dash.You also need a PDA for your display. The power and data wires would be a pain, but for under $3K (not including the PDA), you would have the real time strategic weather info that we have all wished for. The monthly was quite reasonable too. Tom passed around a PDA so we could see what the actual display of Nexrad radar looked like - it seemed very clear and easy to read. I think a PDA in a brightly sunlit cockpit would be a problem to read, but you could manage it.

The same XM (or their competitor, WSI) data delivered in a panel mount would be the best solution I think, but short of that, this looks like something every pilot would have on his Christmas list.

Ray Torres finished our day by telling us about how he completely restored his 60's era 337 from a basket case (an "abandoned hulk") to his current nicely put together working airplane, which he uses in his business. Most of the mods Ray sells are a direct result of modifications Ray made to his own airplane to get what he wanted. Ray's folding bench seat for the baggage compartment/sixth seat row is an example of this.

Thus ended our first full day of presentations. Next, we were off to board the schooner Appledore II for drinks, hors d'oeuvres, and a different place to watch the Key West sunset...

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