arizona aviation journal - september/october 2012

Arizona Aviation JournalSeptember/October 2012 Issue #10

Copperstate 2012

Phoenix Hosts2012 AzAA Fall Conference

International Cessna 120/140Association Lands at Ryan

Touching Down at Copperstate Arnie Evdokimo lands his L-39 at Casa Grande Airport

USPA Nationals Held in EloyArizonans Attend AOPA Summit in Palm Springs

ARIZONA AVIATION JOURNAL September/October 2012ARIZONA AVIATION JOURNALPage 2

Publisher/Editor Kim J. StevensGraphic Design Andrew StevensLayout Design Andrew StevensAdvertising Director VacantPhotography Kim Stevens Kenn Potts Contributing Jenny WattsWriters Claire Stern Wendie Davis Grauer

Published by the State Aviation Journal9866 W Lone Cactus Drive, Peoria, AZ 85382. 623-326-1125

Copperstate photo by Kim Stevens

ARIZONA AVIATION JOURNAL September/October 2012 ARIZONA AVIATION JOURNAL Page 3

Contents

Page 8

Page 23

Cessna 120/140 International Group Lands in Tucson

Page 6

AzAA Fall Conference Held in Phoenix

Wings & Wheels Wickenburg Hosts Annual Event

From the Publisher Page 4

2012 CopperstateCasa Grande Airport Hosts

Page 16USPA NationalsHosted by Skydive Arizona

Page 12

AOPA SummitArizonans Attend Palm Springs Event

Page 14

Cover Story

On the Cover

Arnie Evdokimo‘s L-39 was captured beautifully just before touchdown by Jay Beckman, nationally recognized photog-rapher and member of the Arizona Aviation Photographers Association (AzAP). Jay took first place with this photo in a recent contest sponsored by the Arizona Aviation Journal.

ARIZONA AVIATION JOURNAL September/October 2012ARIZONA AVIATION JOURNALPage 4 ARIZONA AVIATION JOURNALPage 4

From the Publisher

It didn’t take long for me to realize that the lifeblood for many organizations, including those in aviation, is their army of volunteers. An excellent example of this is the Copperstate Fly-In, which has been held in Arizona for a whopping forty years. How do they do it? According to Mike Still, President of the organization, it’s through their volunteers. Copperstate is reportedly the largest volunteer fly-in the country with 250 volunteers and no paid staff. Here are some other examples where volunteers make a difference in Arizona: The Aviation Safety Advisory Group of Arizona (ASAG), Arizona Pilots Association (APA), the many other pilot organizations and local chapters of national organizations like the Ex-perimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and with the exception of a part time administrator, the Arizona Airports Association (AzAA). All of these organizations have one thing in common - members with a tremendous passion for aviation and that impacts each of us and benefits the industry like no other. There are many individuals that stand out as I have had the opportunity to intersect the circle of the organizations I mentioned above. I have seen first hand how much time, effort and resources they pour into their respective associations and organizations. I hesitate to single anyone out because each are a valued member and a contributor to this effort, but there is one gentleman that comes to mind. His name is Jim Timm, a tireless warrior in the trenches with his fellow members of both ASAG, APA and I’m sure other groups. Jim is the recent recipient of the Wright Brothers Mas-ter Pilot Award. (See Photo) Jim and so many like him, scattered throughout the state, are the ones that inspire me, encourage me and keep me fired up to continue the mission; to keep aviation alive and well for future generations. And I have found this year that I need encouragement, lots of it. This year I stepped up my own volunteering efforts by taking on more responsibility and do you know what! It is a lot more time consuming, labor intensive and emotionally draining than I had previously thought. It has given me a new appreciation and respect for each of you that roll up your sleeves and get the job done. My hats off to all of the volunteers that make aviation in Arizona what it is today - a vibrant, effective and inspiring industry. My thanks to each of you for your hard work.

Volunteers

Jim Timm

ARIZONA AVIATION JOURNAL September/October 2012ARIZONA AVIATION JOURNALPage 6

International Cessna 120 - 140 Association Holds Annual Meeting in Tucson

By David S. Ricker

Ryan Airfield, a city owned, public use airport located 12 miles southwest of the central business district of Tucson, Ariz., played host recently to the annual gather-ing for the International Cessna 120-140 Association, an all volunteer group of over 1,400 owners, pilots and others. Ron Wiener, the organizer of the Tuc-son convention said that 44 planes with their pilots and other members without their planes participated in seminars as well as tourist activities. “A lot of people have driven and some people have flown commercial,” said Vic White, based at the Kestrel Airpark, at Spring Branch, Texas, just north of San Antonio. Tom West, a Cessna 140 pilot based in Phoenix was the “air boss” for the fun and games flying activities on the final day of the convention. Those activities included dropping bean-bags from about 200 feet on a target painted on a taxi way and three-point, touch-and-go landings. The beanbag drops were difficult due to a stiff crosswind and the landings are not easy in a tail-dragger.

The Cessna 120 and Cessna 140 were developed and manu-factured almost simultaneously between 1946-48. “The differ-ence between them were options,” West explained. “Originally, the Cessna 120 had no electrical system, no flaps, no rear window and a limited instrument panel.” The Cessna 120 was popular with pilot training facilities that proliferated after World War II. “The Cessna 140 had all of the

options, flaps, rear windows, and electrical system, a starter and an upgraded instrument panel,” West pointed out. “They made both planes side-by-side on the assembly line. The 140 was a little bit more money.” Between 1949 and 1951, Cessna introduced the 140A, a new variant with aluminum-covered wings and single wing struts instead of the fabric wing covering. “They dropped the 120 and 140 lines,” West said. After that Cessna began production in 1952 of the 150 with tricycle landing gear. “When they went to another engine they called it the 152,” Tom added. “The Cessna 170 was kind of based on the 120and 140. It was kind of a 120, 140 or 140A on steroids. It had a six-cylinder engine and it held four people. The Cessna 180 came from that and was even bigger.” Vic White owns a 1946 Cessna 140. The Cessna 120s and the Cessna 140s flying today are owned and flown by loyal individ-uals. “They are unique. Even in the aviation community there is a mystique around tail wheel airplanes. These are classics from the 1940s,” he said. White has been a member of the association for a number of years. “We have an annual meeting that moves around the country,” he said. “This year we have a lot of people from the Midwest, flat-landers. This is their first time playing with mountains and density altitude.” White said he looks forward to attending the annual conven-tion no matter where it is being held. He made the trip alone this year. “It’s me and my airplane,” he said. “Fellowship, fly-ing and fun, just good times. I know people all over the coun-

Vic White removes a lock that holds the yoke in place when parked.

Ryan Field

Members look at planes parked on the Todd’s Restaurant ramp at Ryan Airfield.

ARIZONA AVIATION JOURNAL September/October 2012

try that I have met only at these conventions and through this association. There’s members of this association that have been doing this for 30 years.” Today’s membership includes the grown children of members from years ago. “This fella right here is from New Mexico and he grew up with that airplane. That was his dad’s airplane. He learned to fly in it and he’s flown it for 39 years,” White pointed out. He served in the United States Air Force as a navigator and weapons system officer on B-52s and B-1s. White said that besides size and speed there is one big difference between those aircraft and his Cessna 140. “I have a window. I can see out-side,” White chuckled. White flies whenever he can. “This is a good year for me. I’m over 100 hours,” he reported. “These airplanes don’t go very fast and we don’t go very far. When we make a big trip like this it’s a big deal.” It took White parts of two days to fly to Tucson from Spring Branch. “I had some head winds in west Texas and getting into eastern Arizona from New Mexico,” he said. “It was six hours the first day, stopping in El Paso overnight and four hours the next morning to get over here.” The top speed of White’s 140 is around 100 mph “The origi-nal air speed indicators are only in miles per hour,” he pointed out. “Knots is a conversion and for us that’s a smaller number so for us we like to compare our speeds in miles per hour.” He said the fuel tank holds 25 gallons and the plane burns five gallons an hour. “You can fly all day. It doesn’t really break the bank,” White said, as he looked at the price display of $5.49 a gallon at the self-fueling pumps. “You get a crowd at the fuel pump everywhere we stop. The older guys talk about how they learned to fly in one of these or they used to own one of these

and they wish they had never sold it.” At 45, Tom West is one of the younger members of the as-sociation. “I just grew up with airplanes,” he related. “I bought my airplane from a bomber pilot who was drafted and when he came out of the war he had a license.” The first owner of West’s 1947 Cessna 140 lived on a farm in Kansas and he actually went to the Cessna factory and ordered his plane. “He kept it in his barn and I actually bought it out of his barn,” West recalled. “I have the original receipt for my plane. I could be wrong but I think it was around $5,200. I bought my airplane for $20,000.” West’s airplane originally had fabric-covered wings. “Mine has wings that were metalized in 1954,” he pointed out.

A member of the association prepares to fuel his plane at the self-service fueling pumps.

A member of the association maneuvers his plane by hand.

Photos by David Ricker


Arizona Airports Hold Fall Conference in Phoenix

Michael Johson of Tucson is congratulated by Corinne Nystrom, President of AzAA. Johnson’s name was read into the Congres-sional Record for 22 years of dedicated service at the Tucson Airport Authority.

Deena Norton and David Sperling The color guard was from the Civil Air Patrol’s Glendale Composite Squadron 308 .

The Arizona Airports Association (AzAA) 2012 ‘Walter Burg’ Fall Conference was held in Phoenix on October 11-12, 2012 with more than 110 members and guests attending from across the state. The AzAA Board of Directors met during the day on Thurs-day, followed by an evening welcome reception. Sessions were held throughout the day on Friday on topics ranging from pollution liability as it pertains to airports to the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter soon to be based at both Marine Corps Air Sta-tion Yuma and Luke Air Force Base. Included on the agenda was an update from Michael Klein, Aeronautics Group Manager for the ADOT Multimodal Plan-ning Division and David Cushing, FAA Manager of the Los Angeles Airports District Office (ADO). Corinne Nystrom, AzAA President and Airport Director for Mesa Falcon Field welcomed attendees and introduced Danny Murphy, Airport Director for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport who in-turn introduced Thelda Williams, District 1 Councilwoman for the City of Phoenix. Williams has been a longtime supporter of aviation in the Valley. Conference namesake, Walter Burg, was a 36-year career veteran with the Tucson Airport Authority (TAA). He served 23 years at the airport authority helm and became one of the industry’s most highly regarded professionals, nationally and internationally. The expansion to Tucson International Airport, which Burg initiated and directed, is his legacy to the commu-nity.

During the conference special recognition was give to Michael Johnson, Executive Emeritus and former TAA employee. John-son, who served as President of AzAA in 2000/01, was honored earlier this year by the Honorable Raul M. Grijalva reading his name into the Congressional Record for twenty-two years of dedicated service at theTucson Airport Authority. AzAA will be hosting the 8th Annual ‘Aviation Day at the Capitol’ on January 15th. The AzAA (More photos on page 10.)


Tammy Carr, left and Stephanie Munoz.

Nicole Snyder, DWL, left and Kelly Phelps, PSM2, Inc.

Michael Halpin Steve Rao, DWL, left and Scott Bell, Morrison-Maierle.

Brian Ready, left, Steven Johnson and Nancy Wiley.

From left, Thelda Williams, Jennifer Maples, Danny Murphy, Casy Denney, and Alice Bimrose.

Conference Speaker, Bill McMillan, Cress Insurance Consultants.

David Cushing, left and Tim Morrison.See more photos on page 10.


Kenn Potts, ADOT and Dee Anne Thomas, Mesa, Falcon Field.

LaDell Blistline, Colorado City and Jay Ruegner, Ennis-Flint.

Lorena de Rodriguez models a new AzAA shirt. Brian Gall is to her right.

Jason Musselman, Armstrong Consultants, left and Raymond Law, Payson Airport Coordinator.

With C&S Companies, from left, Richard Graham, Michael Hotaling and Derek Rogers.

Matt Quick, Coffman Associates, left and Edward ‘Mac’ McCall, Mac McCall Consulting, LLC.

AzAA President, Corinne Nystrom and Danny Murphy, Director, Sky Harbor International Airport.


Thelda Williams Tammy Martelle Michael Klein Lt Bradford Shields

From left are, Andy Klakulak, Nicholas Engineering, Lynn Kusy, Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport and Gladys Wiggins-Brown, Yuma Airport Authority.

AzAA members Jennifer Maples, Jeremy Keating and Chris Read.

Scott Bell

Mike Semjkal, TAA, left and Ryan Toner, Dibble Engineering.


USPA National Skydiving Championships

Held in Eloy For the second year in a row, Skydive Arizona in Eloy, hosted the top 500 skydivers from around the country as they competed in the 2012 United States Parachute Association (USPA) National Skydiving Championships, October 25 through November 3. The event, which is the world’s largest annual skydiving competition, is an opportunity for top competitors to earn a position on the U.S. team for the World Parachuting Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from Nov.28-Dec.9.

There were five disciplines at this competition: formation diving, free-fall style and accuracy landing, vertical formation, canopy formation and artistic events. Each discipline included at least two events. In artistic events, for example, there are free-flying and freestyle events. In free flying, three-person teams free-fall in orchestrated formations, usually upright or upside down. Free-style competitors perform individual aerial ballets as gravity calls them home.

Arizona Airspeed and Arizona Arsenal, both local four-way formation teams, and the Army Golden Knights were among those competing this year.

For more information on USPA you can visit their website at: http://www.uspa.org/


Spectators watch as skydivers descend on one of several drop zone. Inset - a team exits the drop zone.


AOPA Summit Draws Arizona Pilots to Palm Springs

Jim Anderson with Starr Aviation in Scottsdale.

Representing Guidance Aviation in Prescott are from left, Guy Roginson, Kristina Lawrence and David Roy. Guidance Aviation has donated the use of the Cirrus aircraft to Think Global Flight.

Taylor Hinz, Hawker Beechcraft, left and Embry-Riddle flight check instructor, Ken Fukayama.

Attendees see a demonstration of AOPA’s FlyQ.

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Summit returned to Palm Springs, California this fall, bringing more than 10,000 attendees to the valley. The Summit is the city’s largest convention showcasing more than 75 airplanes parked on the streets around the convention center with attendees filling up local hotels and restaurants. A number of aviation enthusi-asts from Arizona were among them. Guy Roginson, with Guidance Aviation in Prescott, said the AOPA Summit 2012 in Palm Springs was an extraordinarily productive event for the Think Global Flight crew and Guidance Aviation, a premier donor-sponsor of ThinkGlobalFlight.org. “Thanks to the AOPA, a prime location was donated to Think Global Flight outside at the Airport Fest, allowing Think Global and Guidance Aviation to spread the word about the around the world flight to promote S.T.E.M. education,” said Roginson. Additionally, Think Global met with Cirrus’ founder and CEO, Dale Klapmeier, to discuss Cirrus’ role as the flight crew prepares the Cirrus SR20G3, donated by Guid-ance Aviation, to fly around the world next year. Think Global also met with Starr Aviation and iFlightPlan-ner. Starr and iFlightPlanner have recently joined the ranks of AOPA, Jeppesen, Garmin, Fly to Learn, Spidertracks and others, in supporting the Think Global mission. “Starr was proud to be an exhibitor and a bronze sponsor at AOPA Summit in Palm Springs,” said Jim Anderson, who resides in Scottsdale. “Weather was great, show was well at-tended and the City of Palm Springs has always been a good friend to general aviation.” “The highlight of the show for us was giving away an iPad to a lucky attendee who stopped by our booth and filled out a simple card,” said Anderson.


Photos by Kim StevensShown above at the Recreational Aviation Foundation exhibit were, from left, Arizonans Mark Spencer, Terry Brandt, Stephanie Spencer and Andrew Meyer.

Cirrus Aircraft display in the exhibit hall.

Judy Zimet and Peter Rork at the Dog is My Copilot booth. Judy is a Scottsale, AZ resident.


COPPERSTATE

Beech 19 Photo by Jay Beckman


COPPERSTATEFor eight years running, the City of Casa Grande and the Casa Grande Municipal Airport have hosted the Southwest’s premier aviation event, COPPERSTATE.

Continued on next page.


With 500 plus aircraft and more than five thousand aviation enthusiasts walking through the admission gate, there were plenty of smiles on both the faces of attendees and for organiz-ers as well, during this year’s 40th annual Fly-In and Aviation Expo which ran October 25-27. “Light sport aircraft definitely turned out this year,” said Mike Still, President of Copperstate Fly-In, Inc. “We also had some really unique aircraft that were new to COPPERSTATE, too.” One of those aircraft was a 1940 Porterfield, a two-place high-wing aircraft. The owner spent 25 years restoring it and this was its first show. “It won an Antique Aircraft Award,” said Still. Thursday attendance was one of the best turnouts on opening day that they’ve experienced in the past eight years. Admission on Thursday was only $5 compared to $15 for the rest of the week. “All the figures aren’t in yet, but we’re about on par with last year’s fly-in, in terms of attendance and pilot participa-tion,” said Still. “Also, there was good activity in the big tent, so our vendors seemed pleased overall.” This year more than 800 people attended workshops and forums and there were about 50 exhibitors on hand. Accord-ing to Lynn Wessely, Assistant Forums Chair, a lot of the food vendors were pleased with the event and said no fly-in treats them as well as COPPERSTATE does, not even Oshkosh [EAA AirVenture]. John Winter of Tucson said this was the first COP-PERSTATE he has attended and he is looking forward to next year. Ninety-five people attended the awards banquet on Saturday night. “The general perception is that this year’s fly-in ran smoothly,” said Still. “We were ahead of schedule, and we ended up with lots of good ideas to work on for 2013, organiza-tionally.” (See more photos on pages 20 through 22)

Light Sport Aircraft Has Large Showing at

COPPERSTATE

Continued from previous page.

A shuttle driver watches a fly-by.

An AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopter attracted a lot of attention.

COPPERSTATE


Vicki Tolmachoff and Mike Doles of Phoenix.

CAF’s Rick Paylor is interviewed by “Dr. Sky” Steven Kates. Scott Plummer, Director of Media Production for AirShowVid.com is in the foreground with earphones.

Arnie Evdokimo’s L-39.

CAF’s C-47


Copperstate

Commemorative Air Force (CAF) members Dick Markgraf, left, from Casa Grande and Mike Selk of Phoenix with the CAF’s SNJ 5.

On the ramp at Casa Grande for Copperstate 2012. An L-39 does a fly-by in the background.

An SNJ taxis in after a flight.


Entries in the Arizona Aviation Journal’s cover photo contest included Arizona Aviation Photographers (AzAP) Joe Copalman with his photo of a Long-EZ, left, (3rd Place) and Bill Word’s L-39 with Arnie Evdokimo and Chris Barger (2rd Place) Both shots were taken during Copper-state 2012 in Casa Grande. The cover photo was taken by Jay Beckman, also a member of the AzAP.

Arizona Aviation Journal Arizona Aviation Journal


Copperstate 2012


Wickenburg Holds 18thAnnual Fly-In & Classic Car ShowHosts Air Race

The Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce, Town of Wick-enburg, Wickenburg Airport Advisory Commission and the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), “Wickenburg Dust Devils” Chapter 883, co-sponsored this year’s Aircraft Fly-In & Classic Car Show at the Municipal Airport /Wellik Field off Highway 60 on Saturday, October 13. The 18th annual event started at 7:30 a.m. and featured an array of aircraft that flew in from all across Arizona to partici-pate. Pilots were available to describe their aircraft throughout the morning. The Classy Classic Car Club was on hand and displayed classic automobiles for spectators to view and learn about as well. The 2012 Thunderbird 150 Wickenburg Race was held in conjunction with the day’s activities. It started at 11:00am. The Thunderbird Air Race is a timed speed event for propeller driven fixed wing aircraft over a set route of 150 statute miles located North and West of Wickenburg, AZ. The race is open to all pilots of experimental and factory production aircraft according to SARL classes. To assure maximum safety for all participants, aircraft were launched in speed order, fastest first. The race is a sanctioned Sport Air Racing League event. Points will be awarded toward the Sport Air Racing League 2012 championship. A pancake breakfast sponsored by EAA was served from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., followed by the Lions Club “Lunch Stop” trailer with many more good things to eat. Vendors and information booths were on site throughout the morning and attendees had the opportunity to view the various aircraft flying into Wickenburg and learn about the services available at the airport. (See more photos on next page.)

Attendees check out aircraft on the ramp.

Aircraft line-up for departure.


Photos by Kenn Potts

Wickenburg Fly-In

Ms. Jan Dupre poses with the mascot from the Animal Humane Society of Wickenburg.

Jason Rovey taxis his plane in preparation for the air race. Rovey was in charge of the race and is a member of the Wickenburg Airport Advisory Commission.


Email: [email protected]: 623-326-1125

Publisher - Kim Stevens9866 W Lone Cactus Dr

Peoria, AZ 85382

www.stateaviationjournal.com

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arizona aviation journal - september/october 2012

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army of volunteers