Spring Break 2010
On April 8 members of the SX Group began to assemble for the
annual spring meeting at Spruce Creek, Daytona Beach,
Florida. Again Keith and Linda
Phillips hosted the event at their hanger home. We assembled 9 airplanes
for the weekend festivities.
Steve Carter and Mike Manafusco arrived from
Fort
Worth, Texas in Steve’s new
airplane. He had about 50 hours total time on the aircraft at
arrival. He has yet to paint the plane so he was getting plenty of advice
on that subject. I suggested anything but red. He is pleased with
the plane and other members remarked about how well it flew. Other long
distance arrivals included Tuck McAtee from
Williamsburg,
Virginia and Mike and Jane Smith from
Jackson,
Mississippi. Other flying aircraft
included Keith Phillips, Jim Vitale,
Steve
Platt, Harry Hinckley, Jim Cianci and Heinz Pierre.
Greg Zimmerman and I were beaten by the weather and came commercially at the
last minute. Bill Johns drove in from
Kansas
to deliver parts (a wing kit) to John Wilson. Carolyn Sutherland suffered
a broken foot forcing her and Duncan to cancel their plans to attend.
Spruce Creek has become the center of the universe for SX
300’s. Curtis Beers is building a kit and just got his engine from
Lycoming, a 580. Todd Unrah is working on his kit in New Smyrna and is
flying a Glassair 3 in the meantime. John Wilson is rebuilding 2
airplanes at Spruce Creek as well.
Doug Poli was kind to give up his weekend and travel to
Spruce Creek to be with the group. Frank Curry
who built N6L also returned to spend the weekend with Jim Cianci and
participate in the fly-in.
Formation flying was on the agenda as well. Several
sessions were conducted as well as a fly out to Titusville
for Breakfast on Saturday and to Crystal
River for breakfast on
Sunday. Tuck reviewed his suggested engine out landing procedure and I
believe he took a number of people and planes out for practice. We had a
joint dinner meeting with the Bonanza group on Friday evening, a cookout at Keith
and Linda’s on Saturday and a lasagna dinner prepared by Jim and Gwen Cianci on
Sunday evening.
At the business meeting we spent a great deal of time
discussing the gear and some problems we have had with its operation.
Pointers were made by Keith, Harry, Heinz and Doug. Some operational
modifications such as lower gear operation speeds were suggested as well as
maintenance and inspection tips offered. By and large most of the fleet has
had new trunions installed.
We updated contact information for the members
present. We would like updated info on others that wish to participate in
group info and discussions. Please have all interested parties contact us
to make sure your address, email and phone info is current. We are interested
in engaging all people interested to become active participants in our
group. We do everything we can to keep in contact with owners and
builders to further the safety and longevity of this airplane. We try to
make personal contact with all members and interested parties to make certain
they know about our activities and encourage them to participate in the
group. At our last meeting with Ed Swearingen thanked us for our efforts
to develop safe maintenance and offering flight safety information for our plane.
He attributed the good safety record in recent years in part to our
efforts.
We also discussed future events. After considering
options for a fall get together some members presented a proposal to visit the
west this fall and encourage our members from that part of the country to
participate. At this time we are considering a flight to Las
Vegas on Wednesday September 15. Tuck thought he
might be able to get some type of a tour of Nellis Air Force Base arranged on
Thursday September 16. On Friday afternoon September 17 we will depart
for the Reno area and be on hand
for the last two days of the Reno Air Races. Group dismissal would be
Monday AM on September 20. All this is in the early stages and we are
looking for encouragement if this program is of interest. If so we will
further develop our plans. Additional program items are needed as well as
recommendations for airports, hotels etc in Vegas and in Reno.
Stead Field will be closed to arrivals at the time we want to go there so other
arrangements will have to be made. Please let us know your thoughts about
this proposal.
Also keep in mind that during June of 2011 Mike
Smith is hoping to take another SX group to Alaska.
The format will change slightly in that all will meet at a mutually selected
point and proceed to central Alaska
together. Mike and Keith talked about renting housing on
Wolf
Lake near Wasilla and using that as
a central point to fly out and explore other parts of the state instead of
trouping from hotel to hotel. It takes about 2 to 3 weeks to complete
this type of trip but it truly is a lifetime memory and many of our members
have the experience to make a wonderful tour out of this trip. Please
keep this in you future plans.
With recent transfers and completions there are new members
flying SX’s so the Group is excited to have new blood. As usual your
input is highly sought for the direction and success of our organization.
We are very informal but do have a great deal of fun and camaraderie….for the
good of the cause.
Greg Downes