NOVEMBER 2005
NEWSLETTER
CORONA PILOTS ASSOCIATION
President Paul Bricker
V. President Shane Reichardt
Secretary Margaret Nunnaly
Treasurer Susan Brunner
Editor John Elwell
NEXT MEETING
By John Elwell
The next meeting will be held Sunday November 13th at 5:00 PM on the terrace at Corona Aero Partners. This will be your chance
to talk about this year’s Air Faire. You read the President’s column and then be ready to say how you feel about this event.
Be sure to bring a toy for Wings of Faith and their Christmas program. CPA has provided support for this effort by having our members bring unwrapped toys to our fall meetings and by providing planes and pilots to deliver toys to Indian reservations and other worthy children. Toys should be brought to this meeting; if you forget they can be dropped off later.
Wings of faith will be looking for volunteers to fly the gifts to the various locations. We have been big supporters of this effort in the past and we hope to do even more this year.
After our meeting we will share our food and have an evening of fellowship. Don’t forget to leave something in the drink kitty if you take liquid from the refrigerator.
Don’t forget that Sunday is also the show date for our antique aircraft. Let’s make this one a good one as part of the joy of being open again.
LAST MEETING
By Margaret Nunally
On October 8, 2005, the meeting was called to order by our President Paul Bricker at 5 pm. After the minutes of the last meeting were read and approved, Paul Bricker gave a brief overview of the Air Faire (see article that follows). Approximately $4,000.00 net profit was made at this year’s Air Faire. Richard Brodeur, our airport manager, informed us the city of Corona provided $800.00 insurance for the Air Faire, as well as other aids. Terry Kaiser is creating an Educational Committee for the scholarship program,
and anyone interested is invited to contact Terry. Nick Nicolary suggested a fly-in to Oceanside for October 15, arrival time 11 am (see CPA Fly-in article this newsletter). Yolanda Anselen gave the latest update on the merchandise that is available. Dave Querner requested AOPA members to respond to the proposed changes in airspace violations and the proposed fines for the violations (see www.aopa.org for details). Dale Whiner reported that the Wings of Faith is now collecting items for Christmas for delivery to missionaries in remote areas. Anthony Longodardo reported that a banner tow operation at Corona will begin in January. Meeting
was adjourned at 6 pm, followed by pot luck and good fellowship.
FROM THE PREZ
By Paul Bricker
Well, the Air Faire for 2005 is behind us now, so the first thing we did was start planning for 2006. More on that in a bit, but first, I‘d like to talk about this years Air Faire.
In almost every regards I’d consider it a success. We had a good turn-out, with something around 1000 paid attendees, and many others were there as our guests. Many of us had the opportunity to meet Tyler Fortney and his mother Debbie. If you don’t know, Tyler is an honor student at Corona High who also takes care of Debbie, who is wheelchair bound. Tyler has the dream of learning
to fly, and he and his mom have been regular attendees to the Air Faire. Together they are quite a team and they were there with us from the very start.
Several groups brought their special aircraft to the Air Faire. This included the only flying H-21 in existence and a just restored Huey, complete with Viet Nam war era marking and equipment. Tethered Hot Air Balloon rides were quite the hit, and when they finally had to strike the balloon due to it getting too warm, there was still a line. The Planes of Fame Museum did a fly-by with their Vought F4U-1A Corsair, which they had graciously offered to do for free. They then surprised us by also making a low pass with the one of kind restored Northrop N9MB Flying Wing. This was topped off by flight demonstrations of several of the aircraft from AJO, covering quite a range of size and performance. All in all, we had an interesting collection of aircraft flying over Corona this year.
At the Air Faire we announced that the CPA has established a scholarship program to help young men and women who have the drive and desire, but need a little help, to learn to fly. This is something that has been talked about for many years, but with the help of Terry Keiser we were finally able to get off the ground. The intent is to provide $1000 toward learning to fly that can be used at any recognized flight school on the airport. While $1000 certainly won’t get you a license, it is a significant push in the right direction. Applications for the scholarship were available at the Air Faire, and if it isn’t already will soon be available on the web site. If you know any deserving young man or woman, get them an application or direct them to www.coronapilots.org. We have established evaluation criteria and will be looking at them as they come in.
Another measure of this year’s success was that this year the Air Faire was profitable. After expenses, including fuel for several of the aircraft, we cleared about $4000. Remember, the dues to the CPA do little more than cover basic costs for meetings, postage, supplies, etc. One of the reasons we do the Air Faire is to raise funds to allow us to do things like offer scholarships to help introduce more young people to flying.
Another big reason for the Air Faire is to encourage the residents of Corona to come to the airport. We all have stories of people who live in Corona but don’t know there is an airport, or if they do, don’t know exactly where it is, and certainly wouldn’t feel comfortable coming here. We need to change that, and this year we had over 1000 Corona residents come by and see the airport. With them were several officials from the city of Corona, including the new Director of Parks and Recreation, who administers AJO. We need these people to understand that AJO is a valuable asset for the City.
Now about next year … Two weeks after the Air Faire we had a wrap-up and lessons learned meeting. It was announced at the monthly CPA meeting the week before, and we invited all members who wanted to comment on the Air Faire to come and let their opinions be known, and help determine what we will do in 2006. The turn-out was the same people who worked this year to pull the Air Faire together and essentially no one else. In the weeks prior to the Air Faire many of us heard many of the members of the CPA complain about the Air Faire, including the fact that we intended to charge an entrance fee, the vendors and exhibits to be included, the location on the airports grounds, and many other subjects. None of these people were present, and therefore none of these
opinions were heard. Perhaps it is not clear what is involved in putting on the Air Faire. One of the reasons we don’t have as many unique aircraft and aviation related vendors is they set their schedules almost a year in advance, and we don’t get the planning going
in time to book them. Why? Because we can’t get people to help plan and start the Air Faire when it needs to done (NOW!) and the same small group of people step in and do it because they don’t want it to be a failure.
Several of our stalwart volunteers who make the Air Faire happen have already said they will not do it again. Why? They are tired of putting in 30+ hour weeks of volunteer time for several months, and then hearing from people, who did nothing themselves despite multiple calls for help in the months ahead of time, about what they did wrong. I’m sorry if this offends you, but it’s just the truth. This is your association. You can step in and be part of decision making process, but that requires involvement and participation. Otherwise, please just say thank you to the people who do give of themselves and their time.
I would like to recognize the following people who did participate in making the Air Faire work this year. While the list is in no particular order I do feel it is necessary to single out Susan Brunner. Many of you might not be able to tell from the incredible amount of time and effort that she put in, but she does have a job and a life outside the CPA. Without her it would not have happened, and I want to again thank her for her large contribution to the Air Faire. The others are: Terry Keiser, George and Irma Bougeokles, Andrea and John Binder (and the whole CAP team), Jim and Margaret Nunally, Beth Brannigan, Shane Reichardt, Sandi Palacios, Woodrow Anselen, Mike Nolan, John Elwell, Bob Herr, and our dear departed friend Steve Johnson. We’ll miss you Steve.I’m sure I’ve missed several key people and the pilots who brought out the aircraft for the public to view and enjoy. For this I can only say thank you, you know who you are, and the work you did was appreciated.
CORONA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT
By Rich Brodeur, Airport Manager
Events: Hangar inspections were conducted and completed October 10th through October 14, 2005. Letters have been forwarded to the Master Lease Holders which identifies hangars in need of corrective action. Some of the problems noted include outdated fire extinguishers and some hangars with too much clutter. As most of you are aware, City Building Inspectors accompanied me during this year’s inspections. The building inspector noted wiring, lighting and safety concerns regarding many of the lofts or attached shelves to the hangar structure. The inspector’s will perform a follow-up visit to issue recommendations and in some cases citations to correct these safety issues. One of my concerns was the fact that some hangar tenants are leaving open containers of fuel, oil or other contaminants on the floor. Some had old batteries stored in hangars. These hazardous materials need to be removed from the airport premises and appropriately disposed. Please do not throw these items into a waste management container on the airport property. Take Hazardous materials to a recycling location. Anyone discovered disposing of hazardous materials inappropriately will incur a very expensive fine.
We are entering into the rainy season and by now you should all know what that means. In the event of a flood, please ensure that you can move all items out of your hangar within a short period of time. My recommendation is to move all non essential items out of your hangars and off the airport premises during the months of October through January.
• Do not perform annuals during this time period.
• Make sure that your master Lease Holder has your correct phone numbers.
• Have a back-up plan to move your hangar items off the airport if you are out of the area
• Do not leave any haz mat in your hangar and clean up oil or fuel spills immediately.
• If your aircraft is not airworthy, please place it on a trailer to facilitate removal off the airport to your own back-up storage facility.
• Listen to weather reports and plan ahead
• Get a back-up pilot to fly your aircraft off the field.
(This is not an all inclusive list of items but I do want to remind everyone that Safety is First!)
If anyone has any suggestions regarding this issue, please submit them to your Master Lease Holder or to me. If I am not here, please place your written suggestion through the mail slot at the Airport Manager’s office.
I am working with the FAA, City and The Army, to begin construction of the New AWSS (Automated Weather Sensor System). We are awaiting the final draft of the FAAs AWSS Lease Agreement and hope to present this to the City Council on November 16, 2005. Once approval is received, the FAA can proceed with the construction of this facility. We are hoping for the FAA to begin construction late November or early December, 2005. It will then be tested for a period of 60 days and if there are no problems with the system, it will be commissioned in late March, 2006 or early April, 2006.
RPZ and Ditch Clearing: As some of you may have noticed, we have been unable to continue the RPZ clearing due to the recent fires problems and rain. It is my intention to coordinate the return of the CDF (California Department of Forestry) crews to return to complete this work as soon as possible. The public works crews will also attempt to complete the repair to the North and South flood walls damaged by the floods in Jan and Feb/05 and they are looking for more rip/rap to finish the west end project. All of this is pending the weather and the availability of materials to complete these repairs.
The South Ditch Area: I recently found a washer or dryer in this area and I have a volunteer who will be removing this item from the ditch. Needless to say this discovery is disappointing and the last thing the Army Corps of Engineers needs to see. If you see anyone dumping anything into this area or any area on the airport, please do something about it. Call me; get a description of the vehicle or person. Call your Master Lease Holder, or call the police.
Airport Appearance: I am trying my best to keep the airport neat, clean and presentable but I am only one person. I could really use your help. If everyone will just keep their own area clean, this would make a great difference. Some of you have volunteered to take care of areas outside of your own spaces and I very much appreciate your help. Special thanks to Jim and Margaret Nunally for their assistance in coordinating a Corona Municipal Airport Beautification plan and to those of you who have signed up to help them. Also wish to thank Dorothy Balija and the 99’s for volunteering to repaint the runway lines.
Security Alert: On Saturday October 29, 2005, it was reported to me that some fuel had been stolen from an aircraft parked in the Corona Air Ventures tie down area. It was stated to me that this occurred sometime around the middle of September of this year and that fuel has been stolen out of this aircraft on three occasions since then. A Dave Clarke headset was taken from the owner’s car or from the cockpit of the aircraft. Also reported missing is airworthiness and registration. If anyone has any information regarding this incident please report it to the police, Corona Air Ventures or to me.
Insurance: Please make sure your insurance is current and up to date and indicates The City of Corona and the Army Corps of Engineers as additionally insured. It would also help if you would identify the name of your master lease holder on the insurance form. A current phone number would be very helpful as well.
Together we can make a big difference!
CPA TREASURERS REPORT
By Susan Brunner
CPA FLY-IN OCT 15th 2005
By Nick Nicolary
Four Aircraft and eight CPA’ers arrived at Corona Airport with every intention of flying to Oceanside for what looked like a “picture
perfect” flying day. However, as per our usual run of great luck, ole mom nature stepped in, dangling the overcast (and an
approaching front) which prevented any foray toward OKB! Undaunted, three Cherokee’s and one “L3” headed southeastward (non-
stop!) to French Valley. The weather was great, (even though one could see the overcast stretching out to the west) the company
better, and the French valley service was, well you know, typical French Valley!
The next fly-in is scheduled for November 19th, to Gillespi Field (SEE). Hopefully, we should plan to arrive around 11:00 am.
PILOT PROFILE
By Margaret Nunally
In Phil Boukather’s own words:
I became interested in flying (1972) after an early retirement from the Los Angeles Fire Department. I was building a home in
Parker, Arizona, and commuting five hours from Orange County by automobile. A friend who was making the trip from El Monte,
California, took 1 hour 30 minutes in his Cessna 182. I instantly became interested in flying and getting my pilot’s license. Flying
seemed like the next experience in life waiting for me. Since I enjoyed traveling and being a high performance mechanic, I had
experience in about every type of car and boat racing. (I was a mechanic on the Ford factory racing team and a Parnelli Jones pit
mechanic for several years.)
In 1974 I earned my private pilot license and after logging approximately 100 hours I purchased my first airplane, a 1957 Cessna
182, for $12,000.00.
The trip to Parker, Arizona, became a flight that I took every opportunity to make. Soon I realized that the airplane could not give me the dependable transportation that I needed due to weather (I was flying out of Orange County) and I got my instrument ticket in 1978. My Instrument Rating was my new “E” ticket, but I wanted to go faster and “watch the rollers go up”, and soon purchased a 1964 Cessna 210 for $26,000.00. The trip to Parker, Arizona now took 1 hour and 15 minutes. Since then I have logged over 2500 hours in Cessna 210’s and enjoyed making long cross country trips.
I then became interested in flying to out-of-the-way place with no asphalt runways, and a tail wheel airplane soon became my next challenge (almost like learning to fly all over again). I purchased my first Cessna 180 in 1983, a 1978 (almost new!) for $32,000.00. After taking mountain flying courses, it seemed like dirt was in and asphalt was out (except for going to airports to purchase fuel). I went to every dirt strip I could find, using Auto Club county road maps to find many of them. Wanting to take off and land on shorter strips, I purchased a Cessna 185, and planned trips to higher elevation strips. I was based in Chino where rebuilding all types of aircraft was popular, and I soon purchased a 1960 Cessna 182 with only 1040 hours total time, and restored it to like new condition. This airplane won National Grand Champion in its class at Oshkosh in 1994.
In 1994 I took a sabbatical from aviation, sold my airplanes, and tried motor home travel. I realized I was a true “wing nut” because every town I went through I stopped and checked out the airport.
In 1997 I purchased a 1979 Cessna 180 with 320 hours total time that had been stored in a hangar for 10 years at the Tonopah, Nevada airport. I won’t tell you how much it cost (I was flabbergasted).
I rented a hangar at Corona that same year, and have since done a total overhaul on the engine, installed new radios, and added all the other stuff you just gotta have! The Cessna 180 does it all very well, cross country trips, dirt strips, and of course, searching for the perfect $180.00 hamburger!
I have recently moved to Riverside, where I have a larger hanger. It’s a pleasure being a member of the Corona Pilot’s Association, where we share flying, comradery, great gossip, and service to the community. My flying experience has spanned 31 years and 4200 hours, and I still find it hard not to pick up a Flying magazine instead of Newsweek!
NEWS YOU REALLY NEED
By John Elwell
We have had more than our share of bad news this last month. On October 2nd Steve Johnson passed away suddenly, only one day after his great day of dedication to the Air Faire. CPA assisted the family in a memorial service held at the airport in Dorin Machin’s Hanger. Steve was a strong aviation enthusiast and was truly dedicated to improving both aviation and our own municipal airport. He will be sorely missed. Our condolences to his brother Pete and the rest of Steve’s family.
We also Lost Ted Heinemann. Though Ted currently was not a member of CPA, he was well known, especially on the west end. Ted suffered a stroke and was taken to his home where he passed away October 16th. A small service with family and friends was held October 22nd. Our condolences to the family.
A number of tenants have received questionnaires from their master Leaseholders requesting evacuation information. This is to emphasize the need to be prepared to make an evacuation in the event of another major Flood.
Last winters big flood taught us that we each need to have an evacuation plan for all that we keep in our hangers if and when we ever have to make such a move. The survey and agreement you received is to make sure you have your own evacuation plan and that you understand that all hazardous material is removed in the event of an evacuation order. Everyone should also remove anything that could float or end up as trash to be cleaned up after we return.
Don't forget the PANCAKE BREAKFAST held the first Saturday of each month from 7 to 9 am at Bobs Café. Bob donates a portion of the proceeds to CPA. The food is great and there is one more chance for fellowship.
EDITORS NOTE: Let’s not forget that there are still plenty of the Airplanes of Corona Postcards left. You get a set of 16 different postcards for only $10.00. It would be fun to go around and get each pilot to sign their aircraft’s picture. Contact Susan Brunner, get them at the Meeting, or contact any of the officers on the letterhead.
AVIATION GLOSSARY
Courtesy of Denny Drop of the Confederate Air Force
AIR CARRIER – Any container or vehicle used primarily for the purpose of carrying air.
AIRCRAFT FLIGHT REPORT – A loud noise accompanying the termination of an aircraft flight; usually preceded by a rapid descent.
AIRFOIL – (Reynolds Wrap) For manufacturing modern light aircraft.
AIRFRAME – A frame constructed around a body of air; or A body of air surrounding something.