Mercer Flying Club

D

      Hi Fellow Members of MFC. My son and I drove my VW to the Reading WWII airshow on Saturday June 4th. The traffic was backed up on Rt 222 for 5 miles, but the police were directing the traffic. It went pretty well, considering the amount of cars that were there. We had to park at remote parking lots and get a bus. The busses were fairly new and were clean and most of all ran often. We didn’t have to wait too long for the bus. And the best thing of all they didn’t charge for  parking, or for the bus.  Admission was $24 for an adult. Sorry no senior discounts.

     This event is billed as ” The largest and most well-known event of its type anywhere in the world”. I believe it . This year there was some 1,500 reenactors, about 80 aircraft, and 200 military vehicles.  About 30 flew in the show. Some of the planes that took to the sky were fighters like a British Spitfire, a Corsair, and the beloved P-51 Mustang. And some of the bombers were B-25 Mitchell, a B-17 Flying Fortress, and the grandaddy of them all “FIFI” the only flying B-29 Superfortress in the world.  Rides on a War Bird are available. On a B-25 will run you $450 for 30 min, a B-17 will be $450 for a 25 minute flight, a B-29 go for $600 to $1300 for 30 min, and any of you that have deep pockets a 20 minute ride starts at $1500 up to $2400 for a 40 minute ride of your life in the North American P-51D “Mustang”. Don’t eat anything before going on this. There are some lesser rides like a Stearman trainer for $175 for 20 minutes.   This would be a great fly out for MFC or any other club that wants to come along.  Lets plan to go Saturday June 2nd with a rain date of   June 3rd 2012.

June 26th! We have a big trip planned of which is weather permitting.Free flight Aviation based at the Flying W Airport, and our club have agreed to team up for a joint trip to Tangier Island VA. Our club has had its best outings in Tangier! Our departure time is 10am, and we will look to spend the day with folks that look to be extended friends with us pilots!

Our future pro Pilot Jeremy, is having a birthday being hosted by his dad Tuesday June 21st at N87! Party time is late in the afternoon around 5ish. (Check ride is that day too)

Meeting is also on the 17th at 7pm over at Airmods. Any topic  to hat about will provide a livleyness in our crowd alongwith food, and drinks! See everyone soon! Lets keep flying baby, and give MFC a rocking month! Dave.

All,

I was looking at finishing my commercial requirements ASAP and in the interests of only spending the money I have to, here’s what I was thinking:

Since I need about 23 additional hours to meet the 250 hour total time requirement, I was thinking I would take advantage of using a simulator instead of paying for an aircraft for as much of that time as possible.

At Airmods, this cuts the cost from $110+ to $15 per hour.  I still need another 7 hours of complex instruction, so that brings the number of hours I could do in the simulator to about 16. The way I see it, that saves at least $1520 that I can put toward the more expensive complex dual time.

That being said, please offer any thoughts you all have on making a constructive experience out of 16 hours of simulator time. . . .

Bobby

Our buddy Jeremy, wrote a very informative articale in regards to the skidded turn. Check out his illustrations as well!

Thanks Jeremy!

Dave.

Courtesy of Phil Abrams, check out this Martian as he “negotiates” and off-airport landing in the busy airspace in the country!

There is only one person in my life that I can say had my life in his hands – on more than one occasion. There is only one person that I can say has saved my life. There are few people who have played such a profound role in one of my greatest passions. And there are few people who are so deserving of the great things that are to come.

Today I learned that my CFI is moving on to the “majors” – a bitter sweet moment for me. No more LONG cross country flights to some of the nation’s busiest airports. No more threading red paint, or just-in-time landings. No more busted trim cables and 0/0 takeoffs – at least not with my CFI.

For him, now flying through ATL Class B will be just an everyday thing. “Maintain 150 kts until FAF” will no longer illicit a raised eyebrow. Instead, he’ll be shaking his head at GA guys like me trying to squeeze into the sequence at CLT or RIC right at push.

I just hope that the pilot sitting to the left of this newly minted first officer realizes the honor that has been bestowed upon him. The only better wish I could have for him is that he got his gig with Continental that I could have the honor of being on one his flights (plus, maybe he’d let me ride in the jump seat).

Best of luck D.B.

Apparently, a huge storm with a possible tornado hit Sun n Fun late this morning.  Here is a link to continuing coverage:
http://www.avweb.com/news/snf/SunNFun2011_SunnFunHitByViciousWindsRainExtensiveDamage_204378-1.html

The pictures look grim, and there are stories of collapsed buildings and trapped people.  Let’s all hope for the best!

Mike

For those that missed the meeting last Friday, our main discussion was actully ‘finding something to do’ this month interms of a group trip. Mike noted that the local EAA Chapter based at TTN(176) Is heading to KMIV this weekend for breakfest. Since we have been wanting to conduct a ‘combo’ outing for years, we felt the time has come! Alternate event should a TFR be a factor, or if EAA cancels, is Mikes mystery trip we havent flown yet. If interested in going, hear is who is all attending so far.

Dave ,and possibly Mike- Tomahawk N2426F

Bill Prinz, and possibly Critter if going on Sunday- One of N87S Warriors, or Archers

Steve Richardson, and Phil Abrams in one of the Warriors. (Thier going, but didnt reserve yet)

Possibly Manish in Warrior N31922.

OK, this fleet, plus those in EAA going will entail an awesome turnout! If anyone would like to take the sky aloft with us, please dont hesitate to drop a line. 856-

I hope they can do this at Willow Grove.  There’s lots of opposition.
http://warminster.patch.com/articles/bucks-county-airport-authority-applies-for-base-runway-4

Excerpt:

The Bucks County Airport Authority made the largest acreage request, for a total of 681.57 acres. Dubbed the Pitcairn Aviation Business Center, the authority, in conjunction with the Federal Aviation Administration, is proposing using the runway for general aviation and corporate flight operations.

As part of the Airport Improvement Program and the Military Airport Program, grants would be sought for future development and maintenance projects, according to the submission.

“The airport is seen as a major driver of future economic developments,” the application states.

Residents, as well as Horsham Township elected officials have spoken out against continued use of the runway once the military leaves. At last week’s HLRA meeting, airport proponents said the 8,000-foot-long runway should remain.

In addition to the Bucks County Airport Authority, Montgomery County, as announced last week, expressed an interest in the runway. The county submitted an application for 540 acres consisting of the runways, taxiways, hangars, maintenance buildings and resources specific to aviation.