March 3rd 2021 - Wednesday 7:00 PM
Board Meeting

March 23rd 2021 - Tuesday 7:00 PM
Chapter Meeting

April 7th 2021 - Wednesday 7:00 PM
Board Meeting

Jun 17th, 2021 - McCarthy fly-out / drive-out

Friends, Pioneers and Aviators:

This is an invitation and reminder of details on our upcoming Aviators and Pioneers of Alaska fly-out/drive-out to Fireweed (0AK8) near McCarthy set for June 17-21, 2021.

Directions for those coming over the road are in the attachments. Pilots, please announce intentions on 122.9 for landing at “Fireweed” which appears on FAA chart as (0AK8). Elevation is 1250 feet, packed gravel surface with 2000 feet between the orange cones marking the preferred northern end of the airstrip. Runways 01-19. Right traffic for 01. Unless otherwise instructed, park at the south end of the strip with nose pointed NW. For noise abatement on departures to the south on 19, turn left (east) toward the Kennicott River as soon as able. Call me if you plan to fly in and I will share more local information. See attached map for directions over the road.

For the ambitious, who have brought their planes or can bum a ride, we hope to have a work party improving Solo Creek on Park Service land about 30 air miles to the east on Saturday. In the alternative, you may join the work party of the Pioneers of Alaska installing panels publishing the biographies of those buried in the historic Kennicott Cemetery with the cooperation of the National Park Service.

The itinerary:

Thursday, June 17

A few early arrivals would be welcome to mow the grass, trim some brush and make sure we have firewood for the firepit.

Friday, June 18

0800 – 1400 Hosts Al Clayton and Ray Huot get Gladys the bus, picnic tables, BBQs and the buildings/systems up and running 1400 – 1800 Air boss Ray Huot helps inbound landing traffic park at Dave Felts ramp at his green hangar midfield and Ground boss Bob Waldron gets people and gear from strip to meadow for camping or other lodging 1800 – 1815 Safety briefing for optional Saturday mission to Solo Creek 1815 – 2200 Potluck dinner at fire-pit 2200 Lights out

Saturday, June 19

0700 – 0900 Pancake breakfast and picnic lunch preparation at the firepit/grill (Al will supply the pancake batter, potluck additions to the breakfast menu welcome) 0830 - 0845 Pancake flipping competition (pan only, no flippers allowed) 0900 – 0915 Additional instructions and flight plan briefing for work crew outbound to Solo Creek; discussion of Pioneer cemetery restoration and local historic attractions for those staying in McCarthy/Kennicott 0930 – 1030 Air boss controls outbound flights and shuttle between Fireweed and Solo.

1030 – 1530 volunteers at Solo trimming brush/trees and improving surface (bring work gloves/clothes, safety glasses and limb nippers) 1530 – 1730 Air boss controls return shuttle from Solo to Fireweed 1800 – 1815 IFFR/EAA42/C180 – C185 planning meeting at fire-pit for additional 2021 activities 1815 – 2400 Potluck dinner at fire-pit with tall tales, embellishments and outright lies

Sunday, June 20 (Official Summer Solstice at 7:31PM AK time)

0700 – 0900 Pancake breakfast and picnic lunch preparation at the firepit/grill (Al will supply the pancake batter, potluck additions to the breakfast menu welcome) 0830 - 0845 Pancake flipping competition (pan only, no flippers allowed) 0900 – 1500 Self-help tour of McCarthy/Kennicott mine and historic railroad features (vans available on the east side of walking bridge over Kennecott R. will take you to Mine buildings, etc.) With coordination with NPS, this might be the day for the official unveiling of the Kennicott Cemetery panels, with McCarthy panels installed Saturday. To be confirmed) 1500 - 2200 Pioneers of Alaska Summer Solstice party with initiation of honorary members and related ceremony (If you have them, bring your ice axes and crampons for the glacier crossing and inevitable rescue.)

Monday, June 21

0700 – 0900 Pancake breakfast and picnic lunch preparation at the firepit/grill (Al will supply the pancake batter, potluck additions to the breakfast menu welcome) 0830 - 0845 Pancake flipping competition (pan only, no flippers allowed) 0900 – 1500 Wind up, clean up, and depart the pattern.

Of Interest to Pilots on Floats:

Mike Collins of Cordova is the owner of the beautiful property with the grass strip which parallels the road at the west end of Long Lake, 20 miles west of my place at Fireweed Strip. He has kindly given permission for float planes involved in this effort to park at his two docks and the beach there at the west end of the lake near his cabins and the grass airstrip. Operations are at your own risk, of course. If you buzz us at Fireweed and radio us on 122.9, I am sure we will have someone on wheels who can come over, pick you up from the grass strip at Long Lake, so you can enjoy McCarthy and Kennicott with us, and shuttle you back in the evening so you can watch over your parked planes.

It would be great to know you are coming and I would appreciate an RSVP in advance of June 16th. Hit reply all so that Beth can help me keep track of the potential size of the group.

I may depart to set up Wednesday and then might be off the grid and unable to provide further local knowledge. Email, Call or text me at 9072501649 and let me know. If you do not want to camp, email me and I can provide several other options for accommodations at B&Bs and Lodges.

Look forward to seeing you there! Safe Travels. My cell phone sometimes works in McCarthy (907-250-1649).

Thanks, Al

Al Clayton - Alaska State Liaison Recreational Aviation Foundation (907) 276-2999 aclayton@theraf.org | theRAF.org https://theraf.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/raf-email-logo-5.png The Recreational Aviation Foundation preserves, maintains, and creates airstrips for recreational access.

Feb 8th, 2021 - Tom Lawhorn's Glastar update

Tom has his engine mounted and is starting to fit all the engine accessories. He's also making some cabin interior pieces. Looking good Tom!!

Jan 25th, 2021 - Chapter scales rental fee

The chapter has a set of scales that chapter members can use to weigh there aircraft. Since we no longer have an FBO that is paying to keep the scales certified, the board has decided to charge a small fee for the use of the scales to offset the biannual calibration/ certification cost. For chapter members the rental fee is $50. Non-chapter members can rent the scales for $100. Non-chapter members can join the chapter for $24. And then rent the scales for $50, saving $26.

We hope most people won’t mind the fee in order to have certified scales at our disposal.

Jan 1st, 2021 - Welcome in the new year!

I am sure all of us are glad 2020 is behind us. Although it will probably be mid year before we are all back to some semblance of normalcy. I am definitely looking forward to meeting you all once again in person.

I would like to welcome the new members that joined us last year: J Faigant Rick Farrell Bill Hinton Gary Jamieson (was a member previously in 2015) David Karalunas (was a member previously in 2017) Asia McKnight Scott McEwen Martin Rhett Paul Rupple Scott Selzer (was a member previously in 2018) John Tomsic Kristina Votaw Steve Willis

Where ever you are in your aviation journey, I am glad you have decided to be part of ours. Aviation is why we get together but it really is about the people, aviation people are the best and I am looking forward to learning your story.

The board of directors is always looking for ideas for meetings and what the members are interested in. You can email me directly with ideas or suggestions.

Regards Tom Lawhorn Chapter president tomlawhorn@gci.net

Dec 17th, 2020 - Chris Gill - update

Here’s a couple of my Murphy SR2500 at Red Shirt Lake this summer.
I have been flying this plane since 2001 – still tons of fun.

Nov 30th, 2020 - Bob Edison - Fly By photo

Bob Edison in his RV-7 doing an impressive fly-by at Lake Hood this summer. Photo by Rob Stapleton

Nov 30th, 2020 - Zach Kelley - update

I put about 110 hours on the Bearhawk this year. Hopefully a couple more next month before I get into some changes that'll have it down for a bit.

Nov 30th, 2020 - Shaun Mikle - update

Well I don’t keep it in Anchorage, but do I owe an update on my other experimental. Last night I finished ferrying my Cassutt IIIM from Rapid City to San Diego. Planning to race it at Reno in Formula One as long as it isn’t canceled again this year 🤞Here’s a picture from the big cross country where the tailwheel broke just before the final leg of the trip. Fortunately, my friend with the twin airplane to my Quickie lives just an hour flight away and was able to shuttle me around for parts!

Nov 30th, 2020 - Rick Henry - update

I've moved the experimental Mustang II into a shared hangar with what I think is a pretty cool-looking airplane: a Yak 52 (owned by another guy). My 'winter project' is to put a Garmin GMA-345 audio panel in the Mustang II which will have Bluetooth Music input. A month ago, we added a 1972 Cardinal - primarily for my sons to fly and build time. I feel fortunate enough to have found one that was very well taken care of by a Boeing engineer in Everett, WA for the last 35 years. My Student pilot son Matt got a 'super-duper' dual cross-country flying it from WA to TN.

Nov 30th, 2020 - Nick Cassara - Kolb Kolbra update

Here are a couple pictures of my Kolb Kolbra, experimental light sport project. Unlike Lars, I like Oratex covered aircraft…:) I hope to have this ten year project done in the spring. A Conex shipping container is a safe place to store a small folding plane away from the Palmer winds, but it is also like a walk in freezer in the winter...

Nov 30th, 2020 - Burke Wick - update

Here is a photo of my RV8 during Condition Inspection this fall. Note my use of water bottle to catch any fuel spill during fuel system checks. Did discover Magneto in need of overhaul during this inspection. OH of Mag greatly improved the starting on the engine under all conditions including hot start.

Nov 30th, 2020 - David Baldwin update

From David:

Nov 30th, 2020 - Tom Lawhorn's Glastar update

Working on Glastar cargo door. Since I am building mine as a tail wheel, as soon as you open the door it will want to close, so I wanted something that was automatic. So I made a simple over center latch. It attaches to the fuselage with an adel clamp and is attached to the door with a couple of machine screws into “tee” nuts bedded in the fiberglass. Here is a video link: Tom's video

The Glastar was originally built with the side windows glued to the doors. I wanted the option of being able to open them. It required me to make a mold of the door to fit the compound curves of the door. Then I needed to make a deeper jam. The hinges are attached, and ready to bond in the plexiglass. There are 15 photos so they are in a drop box: Tom's dropbox - 15 photos

Nov 30th, 2020 - Lars Gleitsmann's updates

Flyable-finished Lockheed and Seabee restoration Project.