This has been an exceptionally challenging time for all with the Covid Pandemic far from over, and the floods and landslides wreaking extensive damage, destruction of highways, and fatalities not seen for many decades.
Restrained by airspace congestion with massive helicopter activity in the Fraser Valley, we have felt the frustration of our desire to be of assistance to those in need.
Fortunately, the flood waters are receding at last, but Covid is poised to bite back with the new Omicron Variant, and our immunization vigilance must be kept on the highest level.
Clubhouse social activities continue on a muted level, observing all public health recommendations, which will likely last through the holiday season.
However, there is something positive to contribute to the spirit of Christmas charity. Pat Ulicki is organizing a collection of donation of gifts for deprived children, toys and games, etc, which can be dropped off at the clubhouse beneath the Christmas Tree, and Pat will take care of distribution through various charity organizations.
I wish you all a happy holiday season, and let us hope for better times in 2022.
Best wishes, Chris palmer
President
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This is your chance to hear directly from each board member. This section will include messages from the directors about upcoming initiatives that they are working on but also news that they want you to know about.
Vice President and Hangar Maintenance Luciano Nisi
Don't miss the Jan 12th zoom meeting - I have lined up two 442 Sqn Cormorant Pilots who will explain how they conduct Search and Rescue Operations
Secretary Bevan Tomm
Treasurer Devin Campbell
So far we have a committee of 2 and are looking for more volunteers. We are going to be working with the other committees to develop a projected spending budget to help plan or costs going ahead
Membership Randy Kelly
Aircraft Maintenance Clark Closkey
Aircraft maintenance continues regardless of those elected to manage the process. But with this portfolio we are fortunate to have past Director, Duncan Poynton remain on board as a committee member. The major event facing our team is the new engine for GIUK. We managed to go "on condition" for around 300 hours but finally decided to go ahead with the engine rebuild. After receiving three estimates from competing companies, we settled on Pro Aero Aviation Ltd in Kamloops to do the work. IUK has been taken off-line and will remain so for a couple of months during these slow times. We will endeavour to keep GGMA in top condition for the intrepid AFC winter pilots.
Please pay attention to all log book entries-- sign on the proper line, check your math and remember to sign! This is legal document that must be carefully maintained.
Enjoy the flying and please report all defects and issues to Duncan or myself.
Flight Safety Warren LeGrice
Many thanks to the members of the Flight Safety Committee, Clark Closkey, Randy Kelly, Ken McKeen, Bevan Tom, Devin and Ken Campbell and Dan Renaud for their assistance this past year. We are planning more learning events for 2022 starting with refresher events focusing on Pilot Decision Making, Mountain Flying and Canadian and US Airspace.
Merry Christmas and a Healthy and Happy New Year.
Newsletter Devin Campbell and Warren LeGrice
Going forward we are going to try a new, club focused, newsletter. Please let us know what you think and what changes you would like to see
Building Maintenance Director Warren LeGrice and Devin Campbell
We are working on getting the flat roof on the east and south sections of the clubhouse replaced.
We have done a walk around the building last month and will be getting a plan and a budget together for maintenance and updating.
Other Directors
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Once a month, Warren will provide us with important safety information and lessons to help make everyone safe. More Information to follow on these safety projects and other safety related information.
This month we are going to have an article submitted by one of the newsletter editors, Ken Bucholz, about an experience with Carb Icing.
IMC Club
Due to the recent significant weather event and the disruption it has created in most of our lives, the upcoming IMC Club session has been postponed until further notice.
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Stories from our Members
Carb Ice
July 19??
I was returning from a “dawn patrol” mission. As I neared my home base, I relax enjoying the flight. It was a beautiful morning. As the rays of sun creep over the mountains the rural landscape below awakens. I start my descent -- captivated by the scene below and the thrill flight.
Suddenly -- “quit your day dreaming”!!
I’m shocked back to reality by my instructor yelling! “Get your carburetor heat on” “One day you’re going to get caught with a load of ice”. I quickly put on the carb heat, cleared the engine and continued my descent. It was hard to think “carb ice” on a warm cloudless day in July. I’m a 17-year-old Air Cadet on a Flying Scholarship, having the time my life, my dream of flying becoming a reality.
Returning home, I join the “Hometown Flying Club” and buy a 1/20th share in an Aeronca 7AC (no electrics) for the princely sum of $100. Shareholders get to fly it “wet” for $6.00 an hour. I work at the local super market for $1.17 an hour to pay for my flying habit.
Even though I have a pilot’s license and a share in an aircraft, I still don’t feel a part of the local flying fraternity. Most all the other pilots are old enough to be my father. They had been flying for years. They had hundreds of flying hours. Etc, etc. I have the feeling they look down on this young, new pilot. I complete my checkout in the Champ and after a couple of flights, I now have a grand total of 45.5 flying hours.
A cadet in my squadron, named Eric, expressed an interest in flying so I volunteer to give him a familiarization flight. On Sat Dec 5, we take off of Hometown airport. The weather is overcast, light wind, temperature is just above freezing, the air is smooth. After a little sight seeing and some gentle maneuvers demonstrating the controls, I ask Eric if he wanted to experience a stall. With his affirmation, I carry out a pre stall check, close the throttle and ease back on the stick to maintain level flight. My objective is to demonstrate the stall buffet and then make a gentle recovery. I remind my passenger of the theory of flight lessons he had taken in air cadets. “Ok Eric, remember its not like a car. When an aircraft stalls the engine does not quit”.
My mouth remains open – speechless – the prop had just STOPPED! I quickly put the aircraft in a glide and commence a forced landing procedure. The seriousness of the situation sinks in as I do a cockpit check; I look to my left and AARCH!! The words of my instructor echoes in my head “Someday you are going to get caught”. Carb Heat!! The knob is still in the cold position. I quickly pull it on knowing it is too late.
Wait a minute; I knew of one of the local pilots who would regularly shut down his Cub and, after using ridge lift to maintain flight for a few minutes, would then restart his engine by diving the aircraft. I pushed the nose down -- my hopes soar, only to be crushed as the prop moved through several compressions then stops. What am I doing? I don’t have the time or the altitude to be messing around. Besides, the carburetor is iced up. I’m approximately 2000 feet over Hometown. I realize there is no way I can make the airport, but glide in that direction as there are a couple of fields just clear of town. I remember my passenger. He is sightseeing, oblivious to the situation we were in. “Oh, by the way Eric, this is for real”. So much for my passenger briefing. As I continue my glide clear of the built-up area, I realize I’m committed to a straight in approach to a field just beyond. I have the field made. On the approach edge of the field were several garden plots with some rather formidable looking fences. I certainly don’t want to end up short! It was then I noticed some small poles across the middle of the field with a telephone wire strung across as low as 10 ft in the middle of the span. I plan (hope) to touch down and roll under the wire. I sideslip over the garden plots and flare -- my speed a couple of miles too fast. Still airborne, I fly under the telephone wire before touching down!
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As I roll to a stop, there is another obstacle I hadn’t seen -- a single strand electric fence supported by 2 ft stakes. The oleos snag the wire, stretching it and pulling out a couple of the stakes. We are down.
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Shakely, I climb out of the aircraft. There are water droplets coming from the bottom of the cowling as the residual heat of the engine melts the carb ice. The only marks on the aircraft are pencil like graphite marks on the oleos. You could rub them off. A feeling of relief and thankfulness envelope me. What an experience! A safe forced landing – No damage to the aircraft or property. Thank you, Lord!
Finger trouble, engine failure, forced landing. What are the local pilots going to think now?
“Son, it’s like riding a horse – if you fall or get bucked off, you have to get right back on or you will lose your nerve”.
Uhhuh – It was the evening of my forced landing.
“I’ve talked to Smitty and he’s taking you flying tomorrow” (What?! No! my mind called out) Smitty was notorious. He owned an 85 hp J-3. He is a skillful stick handler and probably the best Cub pilot in the country, but I was convinced he was somewhat crazy. “Uh – sure, Dad”. Smitty’s aircraft was painted in such a way that witnesses of his low flying escapades could never positively identify the aircraft. Some said it was blue, some green, some yellow. Also, there were several aircraft on the field, with similar registrations, that were blue or green or yellow. So, witnesses would have the right registration but wrong colours, or right colours but the wrong registration. There was always that element of doubt. Also, if any of the other pilots did yield to temptation to do the odd beat-up or low flying – invariably Smitty would get blamed.
Next day with some trepidation, I climb in and strap myself in the front seat of the Cub. (Great I’ll be first on the scene.)
“You ready? Let’s go flying” (Lets get this over with.) We take-off to the east and Smitty turns south east towards the hill! What? We can’t out climb that hill! It was surreal – it was like I was in a helicopter. In slow motion that Cub climbed that hill, and the next one, with the wheels barely skimming the ground. I start to breathe again after we went over the power lines and not under. We turn south over DND land, flying low between hills. All of a sudden Smitty gives a maniacal laugh and rolls the Cub into what seems like a vertical bank. I look around, wondering where the point of impact is going to be; the hill to the east, the hill to the west or the ground below. I then see what attracted the attention of this seemingly sane business man gone mad. Directly below is a couple making out in the back seat of a car. “Hahaha! I betcha that’s the first time they’ve been caught with an aircraft”. laughs Smitty. After harassing the couple with some 360s and a few buzz jobs, Smitty fills me in on some of the finer points of buzz jobs and low flying. Change directions, never fly straight over and pullup, always lift your wing with the registration underneath so any ground observers can’t see your ident- plus a few other points I wont reveal. Finally, we climb, I breathe again. Over the lake to about 1000 ft agl. It seems like 5000 ft after that low flying.
“You ever been in a loop?” “Uh, no Sir” “You want to do one?” “Uh- sure” I question my own sanity for agreeing. Shallow dive, pull, Full power, engine straining, prop clawing the air, horizon disappears, over the top, down the backside, throttle coming back, I’m looking straight down at the water – pull- pull- back level “That wasn’t so bad” says Smitty “uh, no Sir” “Let’s head back to the barn” Yes! I had survived a flight with Smitty. (Little did I know that within 2 yrs. he would be challenging me to a head-to-head dogfight - - - in the circuit, no less. But that’s another story.)
Well - - - like a lot of things that happen in a small-town, news of my forced landing spread quickly. Funny thing, all my worry and concern about the reactions of the Flying Club members, my envision of being ‘tarred and feathered’ and run off the airport, never happened. On the contrary, pilots who previously would hardly say hello, come up to me, shake my hand and congratulate me on bringing the aircraft down safely. Then they would express their wonderment as to how they would react in an emergency, because they had never had a problem. They would say “At least you know”
It’s tough being a new pilot at any age.
Remember the words and wisdom of your instructors.
Learn and draw from the experiences and knowledge of your fellow pilots, whether they have 35 hrs or 20000 hrs
Watch out for Carb ice. Know it’s formation etc.
My thanks to instructors Bill Brolin and John Spronk
Oh, by the way. Some years later I met Eric. He had gotten his Pilots Licence.
Kilo Charlie
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Ever wondered why someone hasn't been around the club lately. Are there any milestones in careers or birthdays that you wish to celebrate with someone. Welcome to Adrian's Good and Welfare. This is where Adrian will inform us of upcoming milestones in our membership and let you know if someone needs some well wishes. If you would like Adrian to make an announcement here or at the General meeting please reach out to him and he will add it
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Ever wondered who just walked into the club, or wondering how to break the ice with a member. This is the place. Starting Next month we will be focusing on 2 or 3 members a month to write a little about themselves so that we can get to know who our membership is and break down walls. We will set-up a random selector and will notify the members as soon as possible to get them in the newsletter.
Due to time constraints and current weather predicaments, we are going to shine the light on Devin Campbell and Chris Hibbert
Chris Hibbert
How long have you been a member?
I believe it is approximately ten years since I first became an associate member.
Why did you join the flying club?
Previously I had frequented the TGIF nights as an invited guest or walk-in visitor and enjoyed the fellow pilots' camaraderie, helpful hints and tips, plus of course the (albeit sometimes exaggerated!) stories around the bar.
I started to feel a sensation of guilt, here I was benefiting from all this fun, and reasonably priced alcoholic beverages that were being made available to me and not actually a participating member. So it was time to throw my support into this great club and become a signed up, paying member.
Of course I soon realised there was much more than just TGIF; there were talks from various interesting people and organizations on a Wednesday, shared information and help with projects and educational safety sessions etc. and always updates on matters of concern with aviation issues and safety. Not to forget, organised flyouts, BBQs, Kids First Flights and so forth.
Do you fly and if so what do you fly?
I fly a Bellanca Super Viking that I have owned since 1992. It is a low wing, retractable aircraft with a 300hp Continental engine and three bladed constant speed prop, offering a stable and good cruising speed, cross country aircraft.
Tell us a little about yourself
I studied and graduated in Mechanical, Production and Aeronautical Engineering back in London but always dreamed of flying, however it was cost prohibitive for me to take that up in England.
Hence when I immigrated to Vancouver in summer of 1975 I started flying and got my PPL in 1976 following up with my commercial, multi engines and floats over the next couple of years.
All of my training was out of YVR which was a great learning experience.
I had mostly flown Cessna and Piper aircraft prior to getting the Bellanca although I was in a partnership with a Republic Seabee flying boat for a couple of years. In fact we formed a new company to remanufacture the Seabee having acquired the rights to the type certificate. Aso did manage to sneak and log an hour or two in a Lear 35, a totally inspiring experience.
I have been a realtor for thirty five plus years and am still actively working in that field, obviously I have to support my Bellanca and flying.
Devin Campbell
How long have you been a member?
I have been a member of the flying club for about 5 years now. I have also been hanging around the club for about 35 years.
Why did you join the flying club?
I joined the club partly out of tradition. I have been helping out around the club that it was time for me to join and continue to help as a member. I also wanted to connect and support my local aviation community and felt the club would be a good resource for that
Do you fly and if so what do you fly?
I have flown the club planes once a while in the past but I mainly fly a Kitfox IV 1200 with conventional gear. Not only do I fly the Kitfox, I have been helping build a Sonex Legacy A also in conventional gear configuration. Most of my flying has been in amateur built aircraft, But I have also had the opportunity to get 2 hours simulator time in an Airbus A320.
Tell us a little about yourself
I am married and a father of two children, a 6 year old girl (Sofia) and a 12 year old boy (Liam). You may see them around the airport with me on a regular basis. My wife, Vanessa, does come flying with me from time to time and you can usually be found at TGIF with the rest of us.
I work at TELUS as an Acting Manager and trained as a Field Technician. I have been doing that now for 11 years.
I also maintain the Kitfox with my Dad and we are building our second plane together. We are always around the airport on the weekends helping out some of the other amateur built pilots. We can also be found at TGIF on Friday nights and Sunday Morning Flyout
Clark Closkey
Check out this interview to learn more about Clark Closkey.
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You come to the airport to fly on of the planes and you see a hangar door open and see someone working on something. Ever wondered who that is and what they are working on. We will shine the spotlight here on projects that are being worked on by your fellow members. This will be an opportunity for you to learn what we are working on and maybe lend some expertise or hand if needed or just to learn some interesting tips and tricks.
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What is happening at TGIF? Where is the Sunday Morning Flyout group heading this month? Are there any upcoming social or volunteer activities coming? If you have an event you want to advertise to the membership, or you are wondering the answer to the questions about, this is the spot to it.
Ongoing Events
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Wednesdays: Dutch Lunch
12:00 - 13:00
Fridays: TGIF
18:00 -
Sundays: Breakfast Fly-out
08:30 - 12:00
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General Meetings: 19:30 Second Wednesday of the Month
Executive Meetings: 19:30 Fourth Wednesday of the Month
Programs: December 8, Speaker TBA
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AFC 2021 Executive
Chris Palmer - President
Luciano Nisi - Vice President
Bevan Tomm - Secretary
Devin Campbell - Treasurer
- Building Maintenance
- Newsletter
- Flyout
Randy Kelley - Membership
Clark Closkey - Aircraft Maintenance
Warren LeGrice - Aircraft Safety
- Building Maintenance
- Newsletter
Cole Foreman - Director
Ken McKeen - Director
Mark Thibault - Director
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AFC Airshow Directors
Steve Stewart
Tom Timm
Ruth Wiebbe
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