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BRIEFINGS

February, 20003 The Yellow Rose B-25 Squadron Newsletter Vol. 06-02

Leader’s Words

By Grant Lannon

The work continues on the Rose while we were keeping her operational so that Ron could take his Type Ride. Ron successfully flew the ride on Sunday, January 18^th, and is now the proud owner of a new Temporary Certificate. Times are changing. When I e-mailed Howard that I wouldn’t be available for a particular airshow, he jokingly e-mailed back to remind me that I wasn’t the only PIC. Believe me, this is a welcome change. I am going to have to stop my joking now also. No longer when I adjust the left seat will I be able to say, “Who the hell has been in my seat?”

We still have a few people that regularly show up to work on the Rose, no matter how unpleasant it is in the hanger with the winter weather. Others have shown to help with the training rides that prepared Ron for his achievement. Jim Liles has continued his hard work on keeping the Rose operational. Bob Gardner is continuing to develop the website and other PR items, as well as items that we can create ourselves to generate revenue. Judy has worked all last year and this making required financial reports to headquarters and setting aside money for early payment of this year’s fees at a discount. Thanks to William Foster and Howard Martin, our ground school is on E-bay for 5 visitors who provide the highest bid. We welcome all other squadron members (new and old) in any capacity where they feel they can help. Howard is booking appearances for a very full schedule, though he is not sure how it will turn out should the “balloon go up”, since several are at military bases.

Happy New Year to you all. I am confident that 2003 will be a success!!!

2003 Airshow Schedule

March

8-9 Amigo Airshow
Brownsville, Texas

14,15,16 Luke Days 2003*
Luke AFB, AZ

21,22,23 Gulf Coast Salute
Tyndall AFB
Panama City, Florida

26,27 Randolph AFB Tattoo*
San Antonio, Texas

April

4,5,6 NASCorpus Christi
Corpus Christi, Texas

12 Bluebonnet Airshow*
Burnet, Texas

15-18 Doolittle Reunion
Travis AFB, California

May

3-4 Temple Airshow*
Temple, Texas

9,10,11 Barksdale AFB
Bossier City, Louisiana

16 Big Country Salute*
Dyess AFB
Abilene, Texas

31-1 Little Rock AFB Airshow
Jacksonville, Arkansas

June

7-8 3^rd Coast Squadron Airshow*
Alice, Texas

13,14,15 Sheppard AFB ‘03 Airshow*
Wichita Falls, Texas

21-22 2003 Regional Air Fest
Cape Girardeau, Missouri

July

4 4th of July Airshow
Bay City, Texas

18,19,20 Wings Over Angel Fire
AngelFire, New Mexico

August

15,16,17 KC Aviation Expo
Kansas City, Missouri

September

5,6,7 Airshow Oklahoma Fnd.
Mukogee, Oklahoma

20-21 Autumn in the Air
Wichita, Kansas

27-28 Airsho 2003
Midland, Texas

October

11-12 Amigo Airshow
El Paso, Texas

18-19 Wings Over Houston 2003*
Houston, Texas

November

1-2 N’awlins Airshow*
NAS New Orleans, LA

* Indicates Confirmed Appearance

Maintenance Matters

By Ron Dietes

     As most of you already know it is time for the annual "B" Inspection. The ”Rose” is now down for this inspection and so far, good progress has been made.
     The wings have been lubricated and inspected as well as the rudder and elevators. The nose wheel well has been lubricated and we think we have found the source of the hydraulic fluid that drips out of the nose wheel well. It seems to be the nose gear actuator cylinder. The new seals have been ordered from AeroTrader in California.
     The engines have also been washed and about eight pushrod tube hoses need to be replaced. When we accomplish the retract check, we will work on the problems with the gear indicator lights. The problems are intermittent so this one will be a little tough. Right now we are targeting to have the inspection complete by March 3rd as our Airshow's begin the next weekend with Brownsville.
     Once again, if you can spare some time and would like to get dirty and greasy, come on out to the hangar on Saturdays and lend a hand.

My Journey to the Left Seat

By Ron Dietes

On January 19^tha goal that I set for myself five years ago, finally happened. I passed the B-25 type ride. I can tell you it really felt good. It seemed as though I would never have that coveted B-25 on my pilot license. But even though it took me two attempts, I can now say it may have made me a better pilot. But, you know, it almost didn't happen. When I arrived at the hangar on Saturday, I walked back to the Rose and I heard a very bad sound. It was air leaking out of the left main tire. Ok, now what! So we talked about it during lunch and Jim Liles volunteered to take a spare rim, a spare tire and a new tube to the Texaco truck stop in San Marcos to see if they could change the tire. Well, they took pity on our situation and although it took them until 10pm that night they were able to change the tire. So Jim Liles left the Centex Awards banquet a little early and picked up the tire. Then bright and early Sunday morning (the day of the scheduled ride) Bob Gardner, Jim McKinley, Jim Liles, and I swapped the wheels. I don't think we have ever changed a main wheel that fast. If you have ever changed one you would understand what a feat that actually was. We were ready five minutes before the examiner was to arrive. After I changed out of my greasy work clothes, the exam began. We reviewed what I had completed on the previous ride and what areas were left to be done. So, with those things all written down and after a walk around and being assured that the oil had been serviced and fuel added, we climbed in and began the flight test. After the previous failure, needless to say I was extremely nervous, but for some reason, I was confident that I would fly well. And I did. The steep turns that I was so worried about were almost perfect. The stall series was also very good. Not excellent but well within limits. The single engine work and emergency procedures went exactly as we had practiced them. When we got back to the hangar, the examiner said the words I had been waiting to hear for five years "Let's go inside an write out a new ticket". He later told me he could not say I had passed until we were stopped and shutdown as I could have hit the hangar while taxiing back. Boy! What a bummer that would have been.

Thinking back on my journey to a B-25 type rating, I can say there were times when I really believed it was just not ever going to happen. I can't remember how many times I prepared for the exam and then something would happen to prevent my taking the test. Think about it. Before you even begin the training, if you use a CAF aircraft, you need an upgrade letter. This letter must come from Midland. Then you have to be interviewed by the CAF staff officers. Then you need to find an instructor to give you the training. He or she not only must be a CFI, but they must also be approved by the CAF to give the training in a CAF aircraft. There are not very many instructors that can do that and then have the FAA approval to sign your log book that you have been given the training and are ready for the practical test. Then there is the schedules of the people involved as you also need to arrange for a flight mechanic. Sometimes we would try to do some training at an air show. But, anyone that has gone on an air show trip knows that trying to get in any training flights is almost impossible. It's just too busy. So that leaves Saturday's and Sunday's. Well, as most of you squadron members know, Saturday and Sunday is when most of our maintenance is done. So that means you need to schedule around those times. Remember that whenever you are at the hangar that means you are not with your family and that has to be a choice that you and your family make. I am very fortunate in that regard. Letty has always been supportive and stands behind my decisions 100%. No matter how many weekends I was not there to help, she was always interested in how my weekend went and did I fly good. In my opinion, you absolutely need that kind of support. Then there's the plane. It has also to be mechanically ready. Grant knows only too well that mechanical things that are 60 years old can cause plenty of grief and often do exactly that. He had to re-take his oral because the first two times he took the exam, the plane broke and he could not take the test. That is very disappointing. You have spent the past two weeks preparing and now you know it has to be done all over again. I know in my case, opening that book was really tough. Seemed like all I was doing was preparing. I don't know how many times I did the 601 paperwork. Anyone that has done a 601, knows that it is not a trivial task. Even if you have a logbook program to keep your time, it's not in the format that the 601requires.

But, after it is over and you have the rating, it was definitely worth it. Coming from a general aviation background with out any military or airline experience, I think getting a type rating in heavy aircraft is an accomplishment. Not only a type rating,, but a type rating in a WWII bomber.

Thanks to everyone that helped me achieve my goal. I could not have done it without their help.

Operational Checklist as set forth by the U.S. Air Service in 1920

Copied from "A History of Military Aviation in San Antonio" Courtesy Bob Gardner

1. Don't take the machine into the air unless you are satisfied it will fly.

2. Never leave the ground with the motor leaking

3. Don't turn sharply when taxing. Instead of turning short, have someone lift the tail around

4. Never get out of the machine with the motor running until the pilot relieving you can reach the engine controls.

5. Pilots should carry hankies in a handy position to wipe off goggles

6. Riding on steps, wings, or tail of a machine is prohibited.

7. In case the engine fails on takeoff, land straight ahead regardless of obstacles.

8. No machine must taxi faster then a man can walk.

9. Do not trust instruments