EAA Sport Aviation - September 2009

EAAers in action
members forum
Loved the July Cover!

The July cover alone is worth more than the price of a subscription. Absolutely beautiful! My thanks to Jon Scholl and his family for sharing his work of art with us. I bet the grass under that classic Cessna is greener due to the drool of admirers. That’s about the only Cessna I have never flown, but I certainly wish I had.

Larry Partridge, EAA 637849

La Conner, Washington

Clarifying About the Caudron’s Prop

To add a thought to Budd Davisson’s excellent article on the Caudron C.460, the rarity of the “…two-position pneumatic prop that was in course pitch for takeoff and climb, and when the airplane was at speed…kicked into fine pitch” may have been due to lack of demand. Most pilots prefer the opposite behavior.

More seriously, many thanks to Budd for the research, writing, and photography that gave us an interesting read and great pictures of a truly rare airplane, and for the opportunity to poke a little humor at a far rarer “oops.” And kudos to Tom Wathen and Mark Lightsey for creating an airplane so deserving of Budd’s attention and readers’ admiration.

David F. Shaw, EAA 48341 Lifetime

Penn Yan, New York

Security?

I agree with Mary Jones’ comments in the July Editor’s Log about TSA 8G. The main effect of this directive is unnecessary hassling of honest people. It really does very little to improve our security. If and when the enemy strikes, they will not bother to check in with the local FBO. If we close the “front door,” they will use the “back door.” I wonder if flying as we know it today will be gone by the time we finish our RV-9A.

I am glad EAA and other aviation organizations are pushing back on these unreasonable attempts to limit or eliminate our freedoms. I have e-mailed my representative and senators, but I am sure they won’t even read my messages.

Enjoy your flying while you still can.

Raymond Hicks, EAA 200338
To Help Promote Aviation

As a longtime pilot, aircraft owner, and homebuilder I am a great fan of general aviation. As such, it really hurts to see the decline that is happening not just economically, but in the attitudes of the public brought on by security, financial, and other issues, some real and some imagined.

I recently started a program called the Southern California Aviation Mentoring Program to involve local youth in aviation by partnering with homebuilders and pilots. We offer participation in homebuilding as well as actual flying experience and guidance on scholarships and other opportunities for youth. We hope to take this program national, and based on the reaction we have had so far, that seems a real possibility. But to make a big difference, every one of us has to get actively involved in saving the future of general aviation. Holding Young Eagles meets and such are great steps, but we need a national and concerted effort by everyone in the aviation community to get involved. Maybe in the process we will save not only general aviation, but our country as well.

Maybe if EAA’s publications could focus even more attention on what people are doing in the trenches, as well as being or creating the “clearinghouse” for nascent programs, we as individuals can become an even greater organization than we already are by our affiliation with EAA.