Presidents Message

By Bruce Wortmann

Bruce will be out of town from April 4^th until the 9^th. If necessary he can be contacted at bwortma@njn.org

Victor Holmlund on the Podium

Thank you Victor for a great job of giving us some helpful hints for checking out torque wrenches. This information should be an inspiration for all of us to be safety minded regarding the maintenance of our tools, during construction of aircraft.

Photo presented by Don Tarcza

Meeting Reminder for April 11^th

For members who want to have there torque wrenches checked, bring them to the meeting and Vic Holmlund will show you how to do it.

Notice for members who have not sent

Your annual dinner check

You can contact Joe Raimondo by calling him at 609-587-9047 to make arrangements for your dinner reservations.

Complete information is located on page 3.

Program Committee Roster

April Committee 2003

Chairperson Rommell, Joe Astrin, Jordan

Kianka, Bill Reside, John

Tarcza, Don Weasner, Bill

May Committee 2003

Chairperson Baxter, Bill Batterman, Eric

Bomgardner, Gene Pramer, Andrew

Schreib, Bob Vaughn,Georage

June Committee 2003

Chairperson Frank, Kevin Corlette,Douglas

McAlinden, Jerry Mccaa, Tom

McDonnell, John Vitali, Hank

July Committee 2003

Chairperson Platzer, Dave Baldassari, Roy

Curbishley, Tom Eckel, John

Hutnik, Andrew Whitticar, Elliott

Calender of Events

April 2-8 Sun ‘n Fun

April 12 Annual Chapter Dinner (Washington Crossing Inn)

May 17 Young Eagles at Robbinsville

Jun 14 Young Eagles at Twin Pine

Jul 29 – Aug 4 EAA Airventure at Oshkosh

Sep 6 Annual Chapter picnic at Twin Pine

Oct? Young Eagles at Central Jersey

Fly Ins

May 3&4 - Cross Keys, N.J.-Pancake breakfast
May 18 - Warwick, N.Y. (Great Fly-in)
May 25 -Smoke town, Pa. -Pancake breakfast (Good fly-in)
June 18 thru 21- Sentimental Journey, Lock haven Pa. (Great fly-in if you like Cubs and Stearmans)
August 9 - Cape May, N.J. (never been to this one)
Sept. 13&14 -New Garden Pa., E.A.A. East Coast fly-in (Great show)

Minutes of the March l4,2003 Meeting of EAA Chapter 176

Meeting was called to order at 7:40 PM by President Bruce Wortmann. Twenty-three members attended, plus one guest.
Minutes of the February l4, 2003 meeting as published in the Newsletter were approved.
Treasurer's Report
The Treasurer's Report for the close of business February 28,2003 was read by Frank Catchings and approved.
Technical Counselor -- No Report
Flight Advisor -- No Report
Membership -- No Report
Young Eagles -- No Report
Chapter Housing -- No Report
Flight Coordinator -- No Report
Joe Raimondo reminded the membership of time and place of the April 12^th Chapter dinner, and urged all who plan to attend to notify him and get their checks to him.

Q and A
Steve Bryk reported on his discovery of low cost/high quality/fully sealed relays, and discussed his Velocity panel. Joe Raimondo, is building a Pietenpol. He reported on the numerous jigs he has made to expedite construction, including ones allowing him to construct two ribs per day.

Old Business

President Wortmann requested any members who had not filled out our new Skills Survey sheet to do so.

Joe Raimondo reported our new Club patches were on hand, and that he still had a few calendars left for sale.
New Business
Bud Bachman reported on a locally owned Grumman Tiger (or Yankee) for sale-- in fairly good shape except for its engine -- way past TBO. He also announced he was selling his own C-l50 --with a fresh engine and new paintjob. Pete Gruendeman reported one share available in a C-l82.
After a discussion of possible flights for Chapter members to make, Joe Raimondo offered to prepare a list of interesting and not-too-distant places to go -- some for specific events at specific times, and others to go to almost anytime. List to be put on bulletin board and/or published in Newsletter.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:27 PM

Ted’s Place

By Victor Holmlund

Chapter 1

We had been planning a trip to Maine since the beginning of the year. Janet was reading a travel magazine about the 10 best places that served lobster. I thought that would be a great weekend fly away. Besides, last year Ted Griffith had invited Janet and I, to come up to visit his vacation place in Maine. It was in the back of my mind, but you know how sometimes people say these things just to be polite, so I didn’t give it much serious thought. Summers usually get filled up pretty fast anyway with family visits, church commitments, barbecues, short trips, weddings, funerals and just a whole bunch of things to do that you don’t plan, but they just happen. Despite all the commitments, we decided to make a date for a trip to Maine for some lobster; it would be sometime in September.

Janet had searched the Internet for things to see and do in Maine. She also contacted AAA to get whatever information they had. Before you knew it, we had all kinds of brochures about Maine. The plan was laid out to visit the southern coastline and to stop at one or two of the restaurants listed in the magazine for lobster. The date was to be the latter part of September or early October, when the crowds die down.

You all know what happens when you plan ahead to fly to your destination. Everything depends on the weather and this trip was no exception. I started watching the Weather Channel’s six-day forecast to see if our trip would happen. As luck would have it, a stationary front had moved in covering the northeast with a thick blanket of clouds. The front extended from Ohio, through the lower part of New York, Connecticut, up through Boston, and then out to sea. Five days of wishing didn’t change a thing. When I broke the news to Janet, that the trip may be postponed, her heart fell to the floor, especially after all of the planning she did. There was still hope that the front would move out by the weekend, but the winds were just not there. The clouds just sat there. So I had to come up with an alternate plan to save the weekend. Checking south of the front, the weather was clear.

“I have a great idea,” I said, “Lets go to Maryland for some crabs, the season was still good for crabs.” The thought of crabs replacing lobster was not looked on as the best choice, but in a pinch it would do. The plan was set -- Saturday we go for crabs.

I pulled out the AOPA Airport Directory and started looking for a place to get crabs. After reviewing a few listings, we decided to go to Annapolis. The Crab House was just a short walk from the airport.

Saturday morning we awoke, had some breakfast, and planned to leave for Maryland just after twelve o’clock. The weather was looking fine, VFR there and back. We dressed comfortably, checked the map, entered coordinates in the GPS, and headed for the airport. I planned to fly east of Philly on the way down and west of Philly on the way back. This helps to change the scenery, and produces a more sight-seeing adventure.

The sun was high and just barely visible through the clouds. There wasn’t much traffic, talking with Trenton tower, and McGuire, then Atlantic City, none of which had any reports of targets on my route. We crossed over Delaware Bay, then into Maryland, enjoying the farmlands in their different stages of harvested land. Some fields were already plowed under, and others were still producing. As we passed north of Easton, heading for the Chesapeake Bay near the Bay Bridge, we started our decent for Annapolis. There wasn’t much happening in the air but the Bay sure was busy. There was boat traffic everywhere. Lee Airport is just south of the city and we flew over the beautiful city with it’s wonderful buildings and unique architecture. The Naval Academy campus is a sight to behold. It brought back memories of the times we used to visit there. Our daughter was dating a Midshipman at the Academy whom she eventually married. It was easy to recognize the harbor, the chapel, and the entrance where two cannons face each other. Legend has it that the cannons will go off if a virgin passed through.

With the airport in sight, we banked right for a left downwind to runway 9. The runway is narrow and bumpy, just the way 61V likes it. It also gives a challenge keeping the wheels on the ground.

All the way up the Chesapeake, you could see people

enjoying the weekend.

The water skiers were zigzagging across the wake of the

boats. Sailors on their sailboats, some just enjoying the

summer, moving slowly where the breeze takes them and

others full bent to capture the full energy of the wind. There

were still others just sitting there with their barbecues

attached to the rail just smoking away. I’m sure the smell of fried

chicken or steak was all over the bay.

Heading back home, the north end of the bay leads you to the West Side of New Castle, Delaware, then over to the farms, just out of reach of the big cities. We flew further north and the houses started to get closer together. The day was just so easy that I didn’t even contact Philadelphia approach control. Air traffic was light, and the frequencies were unusually quiet. We passed over MODINA VOR, made a slight easterly course correction and on a beeline to Central Jersey Regional. Maintaining below 3000 feet to stay clear of the Philly Class “B” airspace, we passed the Schuylkill River, Wings field, Willow Grove Naval Air Station. We passed about five miles south of Doylestown Airport, crossed over the Delaware River near Edwina, pulled the throttle back to 2200 rpm and started our descent. Coming in from the west is always easy to find the airport, the Sour land Mountains point directly to Central Jersey.

We landed on runway 25, turned off at the taxiway and proceeded to the home of 61V. Janet and I pushed 61V back, unloaded, tied down, and made sure every thing was secure. On the way, home we talked about the trip and it's enjoyment. Janet made it clear even though everything was enjoyable it wasn’t Maine.

Annual Chapter Dinner

WHEN: Date: Saturday, April 12,2003

Time: 6:45 pm -7:15pm, Cash Bar

Dinner @ 7:15pm

WHERE: Washington Crossing Inn

Routes 532 & 32

Washington Crossing Pa.

(215) 493-3634

Menu Choices: 1. Chicken Roulade ($27.50)

2. Prime Rib of Beef ($33.50)

3. Flounder Florentine ($33.50)

All prices are per person and include tax and gratuity

Reservation Deadline: April 4,2003

Send payment to: Joe Raimondo

16 Cavalier Drive

Mercerville N.J. 08619

Make checks payable to Chapter 176 and indicate dinner choices on check

Directions to Twin Pine Airport

Twin Pine Airport is located in Pennington NJ, just off the Pennington Circle. Go east on Blackwell Rd. and turn right on Pennington Lawrenceville Rd.

********************************

Chapter 176 Information

President Bruce Wortmann

215-736-0438 5043 Grace Drive

Morrisville, Pa. 19067

Vice President Joe Raimondo

609-587-9047 16 Cavalier Dr.

Mercerville, NJ 08619

Secretary William S. Conway

908-782-8412 30 Britton Road

Stockton N.J. 08559

Treasurer Frank Catchings

908-788-5870 213 Thatchers Hill Rd.

Flemington, NJ 08822

Young Eagles Representative

215-493-5603 Ray Bertles

Technical Counselors

Ray Bertles 215-493-5603

Dick Blair 609-859-3234

Don Osmundson 609-829-6460

Michael Arsics 908-657-8497

Victor Holmlund 908-359-8007

Flight Advisors

Ray Bertles 215-493-5603

Michael Arsics 908-657-8497

Chapter 176 Website

http://www.princetonol.com/groups/eaa176/

Requirement

To be a regular EAA chapter member, EAA bylaws stipulate that the EAA chapter member also be a member of EAA!!

(We will rely on the honor system to stay current.)

Newsletter Policy Flight levels is published solely to provide information to members of EAA Chapter 176. The opinions presented are not necessarily the official opinions of the Chapter. Use of technical information is strictly at the user’s risk, as we do not claim to be authorities in any technical field. Letters, articles, ideas, etc., are welcome. The editor reserves the right to correct, shorten, and reject items at his/her discretion. Items will be printed on a space available basis. Any submissions over 200 words MUST be emailed or handed in on 3.5 inch diskette (Word or good old ASCII text) unless previously arranged with the editor

Paid advertising is welcome; inquire of editor. Members may place announcements, requests for information, etc., in the newsletter free of charge.

Editors of other aviation publications are welcome to reprint articles from this newsletter. We do ask, however, that author and source be acknowledged.

Subscription to newsletter is a member benefit. Friends of EAA Chapter 176 who do not receive the newsletter under the newsletter program may subscribe at $10 per year. Visitors are welcome at Chapter meetings. Contact any officer for time, date, and place.

News Letter Editor Apprentice in Training

Ben Brooks

609-538-8334

benjamin.jr5@verizon.net

Web Manager Tom Curbishley

609-882-3828 TomCurbishley@yahoo.com

News letter Changes

The changes for the January 2003 newsletter Chapter 176 Information page is
as follows:
President Bruce Wortmann
215-736-0486 5093 Grace Drive
Morrisville, PA 19067
Vice President No change.
Secretary William S. Conway
908-782-8412 20 Britton Rd.
Stockton, NJ 08559
Treasurer No change.
Technical Counselors
Remove Dick Blair.
All others remain the same.

Editor Benjamin Brooks
609-538-8334 19 Wardman AveTrenton, NJ 08638 benjamin.jr5@verizon.net