MARY JONES
Vol. 59 No. 8 | August 2010
Mesmerizing...
Great videos accompany this month’s features
WHAT A VARIETY OF CONTENT we have for you
this month, both in print and electronically,
with several engaging photo galleries and
videos. This issue has been especially fun to
put together; we’ve been introduced to some
new experiences and met some interesting
people, and we’re delighted to share that
with you.
The video that accompanies the feature
“The Ultimate Light Aircraft” (page 48)
mesmerized me when I watched it. So, before
you read the rest of this issue, go to www.
SportAviation.org and click on the link to the
video that accompanies this feature. EAA
videographer Jim Soyk definitely captured
the essence of the sport of free-flight models.
Imagine watching such a model fly for an
hour uncontrolled.
Recently, EAA and the Academy of Model
Aeronautics (AMA) met and discussed
cooperative efforts. In conjunction with that
meeting, the two associations compared
membership rosters. More than one-third of
EAA members are also AMA members. That
doesn’t surprise me; I can’t tell you how many
EAA homebuilders/restorers I’ve interviewed
over the years who have told me that model
aircraft set them on the path to becoming a
pilot/builder/restorer.
But, free-flight models were a whole
new experience for me, and I can’t wait to
watch these models fly. I will go to the free-flight event that will be held at the EAA
AirVenture Museum next spring. I’ll just
have to remember to walk slowly. You’ll have
to read the article and watch the video to
understand why. We don’t plan to run lots of
model airplane articles; that’s AMA’s turf, but
we felt this story was quite compelling for
homebuilders and aviation enthusiasts.
At the other end of the flight spectrum, we
sent Lauran Paine Jr. and EAA multimedia
journalist Brady Lane to Yellowknife,
Northwest Territories, Canada, in early
May to visit with the Buffalo Airways folks,
who operate the last surviving daily DC- 3
passenger flights. Our Canadian members
will know the Buffalo Airways folks from Ice
Pilots, a popular reality show in that country.
Think of a cross between Ice Road Truckers
and a family reality show that holds nothing
back. I’ve watched some episodes on DVD
(Omni Film Productions Ltd. is working on
getting the show on a network in the U.S.),
and during AirVenture I can’t wait to meet
Buffalo Joe and the rest of the McBryan
family who own/operate Buffalo Airways.
What better way to highlight the 75th
anniversary of this workhorse aircraft than to
show it in operation every day…and chronicle
how the people who keep it going...keep it
going. You’ll find a great video about Buffalo
Airways on SportAviation.org, too.
Then, there’s the story of Jack Kearbey,
who eschews being bored, which led him to
spend some 11,900 hours re-creating a full-scale replica of a World War I S.E.5a after he
retired. Can you imagine devoting that much
time to a project? I don’t have that kind of
patience or perseverance. But, Jack does, and
his story…and his airplane…are incredible.
You can read about it here and see it in person
at AirVenture Oshkosh 2010. Jim Soyk has
also produced an interesting video that shows
the unique starting procedure for the Hisso
engine that powers the S.E.5a. Again, check it
out at SportAviation.org.
The world of aviation never ceases to
offer opportunities to showcase people
living life to its fullest. When my non-
aviation friends ask me why I endure month
after month of endless deadlines, I tell
them, “Because I get to meet some of the
most interesting, positive-thinking people in
the world.”
Welcome to Oshkosh and this issue of
Sport Aviation. We’ve had fun putting it
together for you; we hope you enjoy reading
it and viewing the accompanying videos and
photo galleries online. Dare I say it’s not just
about print anymore? Our online content
definitely provides the “rest of the story.”
EDITORIAL
Publisher: Tom Poberezny
Vice President-Membership: Adam Smith
Director of Publications & Editor: Mary Jones
Associate Editor: Kelly Nelson
Senior Art Director: Phil Norton
Art Director: Michael Annino, Olivia Trabbold
News Editor: Ric Reynolds
Copy Editor: Colleen Walsh
Proofreader: Rachel Krubsack
Editorial Assistant: Dana Heimos, Meghan Plummer
Editorial Intern: Katie Wainfan
Multimedia Journalist: Brady Lane
Webmaster: Sue Delrow
Photography Staff: Jim Koepnick, Bonnie Kratz
Production/Special Projects: Kathleen Witman
Contributing Writers: Mike Busch, Dave Matheny,
Lauran Paine, Jr., Robert Rossier, Max Trescott,
Ron Wanttaja
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Phone: 920-426-6127 Fax: 920-426-4828
Coordinator/Classified: Lesley Poberezny
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Phone: +498841/487515
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Mailing Address:
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