Hello GPA!
In the last 2 weeks we have had 55 new members join, let us hope that this trend of 2-4 people a day continues.
As an interesting fact, our 1055 members own more than half of all the Grumman registered in the United States! Yes, that is right, some of our members own more than one Grumman. The winner, who is shy, owns 11. Now in truth they are all not flying, but still an impressive number.
Two Major Events Back-To-Back
We have in June two events that will flow seamlessly into each other bridging the way with a Hangar Party featuring a live singer.
Both at KHAO, Hamilton, OH.
The first event is the 'Midwest Wrench and Elbow Bending Weekend' the third of these events that we have held around the country. Here come the details:
This is a 3 day event which is intended to advance the delicate maintenance our aircraft require. As Ken will say, “This is about teaching how our planes need to be maintained, not free mechanical work!” It is officially sponsored and hosted by Yankee Aviation, presenting interesting seminars as will a couple of other Grumman Savvy mechanics. There will be hands on maintenance demos and plenty of opportunity for questions and answers during, and following, the sessions.
Rental Cars:
Enterprise 513-737-4100 ($45/day)
Hertz 513-870-0745 (Need your Gold Number)
Avis 513-860-2254 (Need Wizard Number)
What To Expect If Yours is a Demo Airplane
If your airplane is used for instruction purposes showing how to maintain or fix a problem, then you can expect to pay for any parts and material used in that process. The labor is donated by the gurus to educate others, and the hosting shop is donating the workspace and tools, so if you want to make a donation, make it to the hosting organization GPA.
There is plenty of aircraft parking on the ramp and there will be ample “on site” food prepared by Roscoe and other volunteers on Friday evening, Saturday lunch, and possibly Saturday evening so plan to “chip in” on the food (and beverage) runs made to local stores. (There will be a recommended amount announced.) We may have one meal at one of the nearby restaurants, possibly Saturday evening.
One of the lessons learned at the first Wrench and Elbow Bending Weekend was that any schedule is no good after the first plane. You find stuff not expected and so cover stuff out of schedule. So, like our planes, we will be winging it! We’ll try and get all the subject in in some order.
Subjects to be Covered
- Engine overhauls and who to do it. Costs to expect and the pros & cons of choices
- Sparkplugs, Cleaning, Testing, & Gaping. Type of plugs best for which engines
- Tires, fairing mounts, modifying for access to air tires, cleanups available & benefits
- Repairing plastic parts with DevCon Plastic Welder & screen material & alternatives
- AD 79-22-04 & AMOC. SB 163A, SK-150 and the history of this AD and alternate
- Split nose cowling STCs & Field Approvals. Power Point on doing the ADC STC.
- Vertical split vs. horizontal. Deviating from the basic STC. How far off can you go.
- R&R Canopy, clean & service tracks, explain changing seals, bumpers, lubrication
- Removing seats. Checking security of brackets to spar. Inspecting seat mechanics.
- Bleeding brakes. Inspecting and changing rudder springs & forward fuselage floor
- Torque tube and Yoke Assembly inspection. Repaired and modified replacements
- Rigging the Rudder. Checking clevis bolts and hardware for condition & replacing
- Engine compartment, Baffles, Seals, Cowl Latches (condition & adjustment) all models. Fixing cracks and wear areas, prevention methods you should do.
- Corrosion. What to look for, how to fix, and how to prevent it or stop in its tracks
- Engine mount extrusions and corrosion, inspection and prevention
- Nose gear, Fork adjustment, Axle tightness, Proper maintenance and fork bushings
- Elevator & Trim Tab alignment, freefall test & proper maintenance & lubrication
- Torque tubes, Supports & bearings. Changing bearings & shimming with tape.
- Rigging, using fixtures, limits and fudging as much as is legal. Flap tricks for speed
- A “Super Pre-Flight” inspection. Using spray silicone on canopy tracks and bearings
We will start about noon on Friday so folks can fly in. Saturday and Sunday we will meet at 9am and chat and look at planes before moving in for the next subject airplane.
Expenses to cover:
This event is sponsored by Roscoe & Yankee Aviation and Ken Blackman of Air Mods NW
and there is no charge for the seminars and demonstrations. The food and supplies, provided, are
paid supplied by the host and it is requested all make a donation to “the Kitty” to reimburse him. Use your own judgment but an amount of around $10 each for lunches and perhaps $5 for coffee
and muffins seems appropriate. The meal(s) at hotels and restaurants will be paid direct to them.
There are at least two good hotels near the airport which are:
Holiday Inn Express Fairfield 3.4 miles
LaQuinta Inn Cincinnati North 4.8 miles
Mariott Courtyard Hamilton 4.7 miles Ask for Cincinnati Jet Center Discount ($90 / night)
Information will be posted on The Grumman Gang as well as here on the GPA website. Plans are still being made and soon will be more formal so watch for updates. For now, just put these dates on your calendar and make whatever plans needed to attend. Please contact me with your RSVP as soon as possible at roscoe@yankee-aviation.com or call me at 513-519-7008 for questions on lodging and other things yet to be posted.
Now the ‘Wrench Bending’ ends about 2-3 pm, followed by a BBQ and hangar party that goes till?
The welcome reception for the National Gathering will begin with the social event of the Hangar Party and continue Monday through Wednesday.
Here are the details for that:
Scheduled immediately after the Midwest Wrench and Elbow Bending this National Gathering will be held early in the summer when the weather is very nice. There has been some interest in a beginners Formation Flying Clinic.
The Hogan Brothers will be offering rides in their historic Waco for a fuel donation. We are also trying to get a open 2-holer Waco for rides. Stay Tuned!
Sunday June 11
3pm – 5pm Social time and arrivals
5 pm – Till BBQ and social Mixer, Cash Bar (Live Music – Easy Listening)
Monday June 12
6am – 9am Morning Flights, Photo Flights,
9am – 11 am Tour – Jungle Jim’s International Market
Lunch on own
1pm – 5-pm Airplane Games (or seminars if wx bad)
Dinner on own
Tuesday June 13
6am – 9am Morning Flights
9am – 12 pm Seminars (or games in wx yesterday was bad)
Lunch on own
1pm – 5pm Discussion and Seminars
5pm – 7pm Dinner on own
7pm – 8pm Ice Cream
8pm – 11pm Hangar Party (Live Music, Cash Bar, Hangar flying, etc)
Wednesday June 14
9am – 12 pm Finish Reindeer airplane games
12pm – 2 pm Lunch on own
2pm – 6pm Free time to explore/social time
6pm – 9pm Banquet
Thursday June 15
Departures
Airplane Games (Events)
Spot Parking
Precision Taxi
Rigged Preflight
Rodeo Tiedown
Broken Towbar (Mens and Women)
We will have a First and Second place Trophy for each event
Other Awards
Most Recent Private Pilot
Most Recent Instrument
Most Recent Advanced Rating (Commercial, ATP)
Most Recent Mechanic
People’s Choice Award
Mechanics Award
Fire Awards
Hotels:
Holiday Inn Express Fairfield 3.4 miles
LaQuinta Inn Cincinnati North 4.8 miles
Mariott Courtyard Hamilton 4.7 miles
Discounts: Ask for the ‘Cincinnati Jet Center’ Discount
Rental Cars
Enterprise 513-737-4100 ($45/day)
Hertz 513-870-0745 (Need your Gold Number
Avis 513-860-2254 (Need Wizard Number)
If you are interested in presenting a seminar, please get in touch with us. We have a few planned that we know you will enjoy.
A new T-shirt design is in the works for the event and it will feature a pocket.
We have kept this short and sweet.
Be sure and Book your reservation for the event, we expect the total fee to be $50 for this event which will include the banquet, reception, and the hangar party.
Hope to see you in June, fly safe.
Your GPA
Registering For The Events
You can register for either or both events by clicking on the event either in the Menu Pick ‘Gatherings’ or by selecting it from the upcoming Event widget on any page of the website. We gave you three ways to get to it. Also, all the info has been put into this email newsletter so you do have to go to the website to see all the details.
Registration for the National Gathering right now is $50 via the website. After April 30, it will be raised to 75 since it will cause a scramble to prepare for the event coming. So register early. You can always pay at the door and we will work to make sure we have room and food for all who attend.
So, register TODAY, and we will see you in June!
You GPA.
‘Grumman Pilots’ YouTube Channel Videos
We have 226 videos now on the channel covering many aspects of our airplane. If you have a request, just send it in and we will try and make that video. Thanks!