November 2008 Newsletter

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BRIEFINGS
November, 2008	The Newsletter of the Yellow Rose Squadron	Vol. 11-11
	Briefings e-mail address: B25YR@msn.com

LEADER'S WORDS

By Ron Dietes, Squadron Leader

     Work is progressing on the Rose. The last time I spoke to Global, he was still waiting for the master rod bearings to be reconditioned. He also assured me that he was not using the replater that had the reported problems. Roy told me the engine parts we took him were good and he would return the unused engine parts to us. Roy also was going to investigate what happened to the parts engine to cause the diffuser plate to break. He was very surprised that the cylinders did not have metal in them. The corrosion work also continues. If you can spare some time and want to help out the maintenance gang, come to the hangar and help out. There are lots of things that need to be done and I am sure the assistance will be appreciated.

     I still have tickets to the Centex Dinner Dance. So if you want to sit with the Yellow Rose crowd, send me an email (t6cpilot@satx.rr.com) or call me on my cell (210-827-0866) and I’ll get the tickets to you. The Centex dance is always a lot of fun and in some cases, it’s the only time we see some of these people. All the fun begins at 6pm on November 8^th. So come on out.

     The quest for a sample shirt for the squadron to wear at our social function continues. Mike Stanley assured me that he would have a sample Maize shirt for our next squadron meeting. I don’t know what seems to the problem getting a sample shirt, but after many stops to the shop, Mike told me the shirt had been ordered. I am planning to pick the shirt up when I get down that way again. This shirt comes in a men’s short sleeve as well as long sleeve and also in a style for the ladies. Also contact Bob Gardner (bob@rhga.com) for getting your jacket or in some cases jackets monogrammed. He has all the information and the monogrammed jackets look great.

     By the time you read this the Houston Airshow will be history and although Letty and I were not able to attend this year, the weather appeared to cooperate. I sincerely hope their show was successful as Texas Raiders really needs the funds generated by this event. Last I heard, Raiders is planning to be in the air next year. That would be really great as most of you know that I am hoping that they will do a multi city tour and I am hoping we would be welcome to join them. So to all you retired squadron members, keep this n mind as we may need your support should this all come together.

     Don’t forget the squadron elections will be held at our next squadron meeting. It is on Tuesday November 11^th at 6pm. The nomination committee made named their recommendations at the October squadron meeting. So, please come to the November meeting so you can vote. Of course, nominations can be made from the floor and I am fairly certain the nominees will offer a few words to the squadron regarding their plans for their term in office. We will also have the latest news for the Christmas Party that will be held in Fredericksburg at the Hangar Hotel. I am happy to report the block of rooms reserved for the Yellow Rose is nearly full, so contact Bubba if you have any problems in reserving a room. Of course, there are other motels in the area should you not want to stay in the Hangar Hotel. The food will again be German this year, so it should be really good. The party will begin with cocktails (cash bar) in the Officers Club beginning at 6pm on December 6^thfollowed by the dinner.

MINUTES of the SEPTEMBER 9, 2008 MEETING of the YELLOW ROSE B-25 SQUADRON

By Pat Moore, Squadron Adjutant

Meeting commenced at 1805 hrs

Jim Liles made a motion to accept the minutes of the last meeting as printed in the newsletter, Tim Black seconded, motion passed.

New members were introduced.

REPORTS

Executive Officer, Finance Officer and Adjutant were absent.

OPERATIONS-No report.

FINANCE- -Grant Lannon gave the financial report for the Finance Officer. Bob Gardner motioned and Jim Liles seconded approval of the Finance report-Approved

MAINTENANCE.- : Jim Liles made note of the article in Airman Magazine on the Doolittle event at Drake Field, FL. He reported that the right wing is off, some corrosion was found inside, and repair of the wing by Dave Boudreaux is on hold pending assessment of repairs. Oil coolers are ready to be shipped for overhaul. Re-overhaul of the left engine is on schedule but the rework of the bearings from the spare engine is the long pole in the schedule. Global has agreed to take another spare engine in exchange for some labor for the rework. Billy Parker is putting up “out of town workers” for the wing repair in his guest house. The Auxiliary tank was taken out of the right wing and it was a difficult task but the tank is good.

PX- Greg Young reported that nothing new has been ordered but that crew shirts and hats are in stock. Ron Dietes reported that the new squadron shirts are in limbo at the moment

SAFETY-No report

NEWSLETTER - Ron Dietes reminded people to get their articles in on time.

OTHER BUSINTES - Ron Dietes announced that B-25 Ground school will be on 2/22/09

Grant Lannon reported the new officer nominees are in the newsletter, the election will be held in November, the election committee has been chosen (Note: a majority of the Squadron staff approved the committee after the meeting), and there has been requests for absentee ballots. These will be sent out after the election.

Ron Dietes encouraged people to let Bret Renfro know if they are coming to the Christmas dinner in Fredericksburg on Dec 6^th so the count can be confirmed. He also reminded everyone if they want to sit at the Yellow Rose table at the CENTEX dinner dance on Nov 6^th, they need buy tickets from him.

Buzz Perez announced that a motorcycle club will be coming to tour the hanger soon.

Sick Call - Ed Linscomb is losing strength rapidly; there will be a get well card for Ed Horton in the CENTEX meeting for people to sign.

Greg Young motioned and Jim Liles seconded adjournment of the meeting.

Meeting adjourned at 1833 hours.

TRIPLE NICKEL SERIOUSLY DAMAGED IN OHIO

By Grant Lannon

On landing at Green County Airport in Xenia, OH, when the tailwheel came down, I was not able to overcome the severe oscillation of the tailwheel and the aircraft departed the runway. Unfortunately, there was a ditch that ran alongside the runway and the left main gear collapsed leaving the nose in the middle of the parallel taxiway. First estimates of repair costs exceed insurance coverage and we (co-owner Ron Dietes and I) are waiting to see what the insurance company is willing to pay and what the salvage value of the aircraft will be. Below is the narrative I put in the NTSB report:

This day and the previous day (Sept 27 and 28, 2008) the aircraft was flown at the L-bird fly-in behind the National Museum of the USAF. Operations were off a temporary 2100 foot grass strip in waivered airspace. On Sep 27, four missions were flown where the aircraft was taxied on rough terrain adjacent to the prepared temporary runway. After realizing the tailwheel was taking a beating, I requested the airshow boss let me taxi on the closed hard surface runway to the grass strip. This was approved and taxiing was much easier since I only had to taxi on unprepared terrain for about 20 yards to get to the runway. Two sorties were flown on September 28^th. All landings behind the museum were wheel landings on the main gear where the tailwheel was held up during braking until the airspeed was so low it came down gently. At the end of the event, the plane was refueled, my passenger was loaded and we departed the temporary strip for Greene County-Lewis A. Jackson Regional Airport (I19) at approximately 1515 EDT. Approximately 10 minutes later, we landed on runway 25 at Greene County. I lowered the tailwheel to apply brakes to turn off at the high speed taxiway 2/3 of the way down the runway. After the tail wheel came down, there was severe oscillation but I had always been able to control the direction of the aircraft with brakes even with a tail wheel shimmy. I continued differential braking and this time, the aircraft went off on the right side of the runway at about 70 degrees to the centerline and hit a ditch, collapsing the left main gear. The aircraft skidded partially into the parallel taxiway where the propeller hit the hard surface several times. Ignition and battery switches were turned off and both of us pulled back the canopies and exited the aircraft by walking on the wing. I scraped the back of my hand but it did not require medical attention and the passenger was not injured.

I notified CAF Headquarters of the accident as required by CAF regulations and was approved for further flight in CAF aircraft. You can see more pictures of the accident and recovery of the aircraft at http://dayav.com/da/lta555/

Triple Nickel before incident

Three views after incident

MAINTENANCE MATTERS

By Jim Liles

     The work on the Rose goes on. As you can see from the pictures below, the wing is off and arrangements are in process to have the necessary parts fabricated and replaced.   Treating corrosion and cleaning the areas are the current projects. The oil coolers have been shipped for overhaul and arrived safely. Re-overhaul of the engine at Global is on schedule, but the bearing surfacing is taking time. The left auxiliary tank (manufactured in 1945) was removed and determined to be in good condition.

     We currently are cleaning all of the areas that we could not get to until the wing was removed and we could access them. The accumulated dirt can create corrosion, so it is essential that we clean all that we can now.

     I cannot thank those who have come out to help, whether it is during the week or on the weekends. We cannot do it without you!

LEFT WING REMOVAL IN PROCESS

Photos from Jim Liles

SQUADRON ELECTION

NOVEMBER 11

The nominating committee announced the candidates for the following Squadron Leadership positions starting January 1st:

Squadron Leader Greg Young

Operations Officer Mike Renck

Squadron Adjutant Pat Moore

Maintenance Officer Ray Clausen

The election committee will follow the following schedule for the Yellow Rose election:

Election and announcement of results on November11, if no absentee ballots requested.

Absentee ballots (if requested) mailed out 5 days after the election (November16—by the election committee) to be returned in thirty days (14 December).

Announcement of new staff (if absentee ballots requested) at flyday on Sunday 14 December.

If you would like an absentee ballot, let a member of the election committee know. The election committee is:

Mark Marando
Kelly Garvin
Scott Campbell

ANALYSIS OF POTENTIAL DESTRUCTION OF RIDE FOR HIRE

By Grant Lannon

The Transportation Security Agency (TSA) has proposed that aircraft over 12,500 pounds be required to meet the same security requirements of Commercial Airlines and Non-scheduled large aircraft. This includes passenger screening and flightline control of riders. This will effectively kill the CAF ride for hire program in these aircraft. The alphabet organizations (CAF, AOPA, EAA, etc) are organizing to try to kill this proposed rule. This proposed rule is an unprecedented imposition of security requirements on the general aviation community, affecting 10,000 individual operators and hundreds of airports," said Andy Cebula, AOPA executive vice president of government affairs. The huge 260-page TSA proposal would require all U.S. operators of aircraft exceeding 12,500 pounds maximum takeoff weight to implement a TSA-approved security program. Mandated measures would include fingerprinting and background checks of flight crews, vetting passengers against terrorist watch lists, and security requirements for GA airports.

The following is from the EAA website (www.eaa.org):

     October 16, 2008 — EAA is continuing its review of the Transportation Security Administration’s proposed Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP), which would require all U.S. operators of aircraft exceeding 12,500 pounds maximum take-off weight (MTOW) to implement extensive TSA-approved security programs. As noted last week, EAA is concerned about the proposed security measures, which would include fingerprinting and background checks of flight crews; vetting passengers against the government’s terrorist watch lists prior to every flight; and security requirements for airports serving “large” aircraft.

     TSA estimates that the proposal would affect more than 15,000 aircraft and more than 10,000 operators. The proposal caused immediate concern to operators of large business aircraft, but what has become increasingly clear is that many historic aircraft familiar to EAA members at air shows and other aviation events around the country would also be subject to the requirements.

EAA is concerned that the new proposals are very likely to impose highly restrictive operating requirements on these aircraft, many of which are flown in tribute to those who fought to secure the very freedoms now being threatened.

     Over the past week EAA has begun to compile a list of historic aircraft examples that would fall under the proposed security regulations. EAA will continue to work with EAA Warbirds of America and the Vintage Aircraft Association to review the proposal and develop an appropriate response.

FROM THE XO

Hey gang,

     Sorry for my long absence. I've been working in Houma LA for the past 8 weeks and still have a long way to go. I'll be back for good one of these days. I miss you guys and working on the Rose.

     I wanted to give y’all an update on the Christmas party. I have been in contact with the gal at the Hangar Hotel and of today Oct. 21, eleven rooms have been booked out of the 15 I had blocked off. Those of you planning to stay should make your reservations soon. Their phone # is 830-997-9990 and reference the Yellow Rose. The cost is $159.00.

     The menu this year is Bratwurst, Knackwurst and Pepperwurst. Also served with mashed potatoes, vegetable medley, done German style and cole slaw. Included will be rolls, butter, coffee and tea. Dessert will be apple strudel. The cost per person is $18.95 plus tip and gratuity. They will also have a cash bar and will pay as you go.

     Y’all keep me posted on who's planning to either stay at the hotel and go the party or just attend the party. My e-mail is bubba@gvtc.com.   Hug the airplane for me, Bubba

2008 Yellow Rose B-25
Squadron Staff Officers

Squadron Leader - Ron Dietes

t6cpilot@netzero.net

Executive Officer - Bret Renfro

bubba@gvtc.com

Finance Officer - Judy McMillan

heyjude@texas.net

Adjutant - Pat Moore

patrickmoore99@mail.ev1.net

Operations Officer - Steve Gladwin

skgladwin@suddenlink.net

Maintenance Officer - Jim Liles

james.liles@gte.net

Safety Officer - Buzz Perez

dabuzzard@austin.rr.com

PX Officer - Greg Young

tbolt52@hotmail.com

Publicity Officer - Bob Gardner

bob@rhga.com

Squadron Leader	Greg Young
Operations Officer	Mike Renck
Squadron Adjutant	Pat Moore
Maintenance Officer	Ray Clausen