By Jerry Rosie (USUA #A86096)

Here we are in the New Year of 2004 and my front yard is covered with snow (as is the runway at Bermudian Valley Airpark). There were a minimum number of newsletters to review this month indicating that hibernation has, indeed, hit the Ultralight community.

With a view toward spring, however, we have received a communique from the good folks at Sun N Fun advising us of the plans for the "Seabirds" for this year. Beginning in 1992, float equipped airplanes have been participating in a yearly 'Splash-In' at Lake Parker in Florida. This year the organizers announce that it will be a two day event with the first day (Thursday 15 April) reserved strictly for Homebuilts and Ultralights. The Seaplaner's Dinner will be held in the Blue Heron Pavilion on Friday evening with the Brat and Corn Roast starting at about 5:30 PM. The usual 10:00 AM pilot briefing will be required for all participants in the competitions and the Fly-By over Lakeland Linder Field scheduled for 11:00 AM on Friday. Comments and questions may be addressed to George "Joe" Hindall, Sun n Fun Seabird Chairman, 936 Bayshore Drive Englewood, FL 34223 Phone number 941-475-3870 Fax 941-473-3871 or eMail to ghindall@ewol.com.

In this month's edition of the Top Fun Flyers News from USUA Club #45 in Boise, ID, member Barry Wester gives us a most interesting story of his trip to Montana to pick up his newly purchased Flightstar. Like many odysseys, his trip was a series of unplanned events to include running into "no vacancy" signs so that their first night's stop on their return trip had to be delayed until about 3:00AM. All ended well, however, and after a couple of false starts occasioned by the weather, he has made that memorable FIRST FLIGHT!! Congrats, Barry, and thanks for a great story.

The Light Blue News from Pensacola, Florida also contains a "First flight" story with a less happy ending. This author (who is not identified in the article) tells of his first flight in his newly acquired T-Bird powered by that old standby - the Rotax 277. On this first flight he discovered that this valiant little engine didn't have quite the "Umph" needed to lift his 200+ pounds into the air and over some wires at the end of his runway. Perceiving that he would not make it over the top of these wires, he decided to fly under them. Not good - he ended up flying directly into them and getting hung up in the middle wire. Engine still running (like a good little 277) he developed enough thrust to snap the wire and "fly" to a sideways landing in a field after clipping a fence post. This unconventional landing was terminated by a collision with a tree and a fence. Good news! He was uninjured and the airplane only slightly damaged.

After repairs, he decided to have a smaller and lighter friend fly his plane to a field with a longer runway for a second attempt. This fight ended with an engine out landing on a busy highway - again - no one hurt and minimal damage to the airplane. Back home awaiting repairs, the airplane had a close encounter with a neighborhood cow and is now needing some new tailfeathers. We thank the author for his account of his tribulations and wish him all good fortune in getting his new airplane repaired and back in the air. He, and his airplane, remain undaunted.

Since this is the season for 'hanger flying' I am tempted to finish this issue of Around The Patch with my own 'first flight' story.

My saga starts last September while 'surfing' eBay. There was an Aeronca Chief for sale that no one had bid on yet. I had been having so much fun with my MiniMax 103 that I had been wanting to share it with someone else. The Chief's side-by-side seating plus the sellers statement that the airplane met Sport Pilot criteria sounded like just the ticket so I entered a bid (not really thinking that I'd be the top bidder 'cause this airplane came equipped with a radio, transponder and LORAN).

Five days later, I (and the bank) were proud owners of a 1939 Aeronca Chief located about 100 miles northeast of St. Louis. After a number of phone calls and eMails, all was arranged for my CFI and I to fly to St. Louis and pick up my new airplane.

After spending the night at a local motel we were transported to the airfield by the seller and proceeded to do a quick 'preflight' and signing of the appropriate paperwork. We strapped in and the, now, previous owner spun the prop. The engine started after only a couple of turns and sounded good so we taxied out and took off heading east for the 990 miles toward home. The weather was great, the airplane was flying well and we were really enjoying ourselves.

About an hour out, I started my descent to our first planned fuel/potty stop in Casey, Illinois. Suddenly the windshield started to 'fog up' and I'm thinking what is this? The sky was deep blue, and the temperature is in the mid 70's.... Then I remembered the old WWII movies of the pilots returning from a raid on some enemy position and leaning around to wipe the oil from the windshield. Yep - we are spewing oil all over the place. Following a partially blind landing, and while we are gassing up, I borrowed a screwdriver from the mechanic and popped the cowling to see what was going on in the engine compartment. The whole compartment was dripping oil and the mechanic, looking over my left shoulder, said "That don't look good". I agreed with him - not good at all.

He invited me to roll the airplane over to his hangar so we could clean it up and try to determine where the oil was coming form. This disclosed some "gunk" had been applied to the juncture between the engine block and the accessory case. Starting the engine as he looked proved that this was, in fact, the source of the oil which was coming out like an Oklahoma gusher.

After much head shaking and 'what iffing' we decided to, first, clean off the gunk and see what it was hiding. About a half hour of scraping and wire brushing we discovered that nothing was broken and the gunk was apparently an attempt to seal off a gasket leak. There was no way we were going to be able to locate and install a gasket for a 1939 Lycoming engine in Casey, Illinois, so we decided to try the mechanic's suggestion that we attempt to reseal it with some better 'gunk'. As this 'new patch' was being applied, my CFI asked the mechanic, "How long does it take for this stuff to set up?". He turned the tube over and reading the instructions replied, "Twenty-four hours."

"Oh (expletive deleted)!" We had planned to be home that night because Tom's wife has scheduled for surgery in two days and she had let it be known that she'd prefer that he be there. At this point, however, there was nothing else to do but to finish the repair, wait the 24 hours and hope for the best. (There aren't many alternatives in Casey, Illinois) The FBO folks put the airplane in a hangar overnight, provided us with a car, directions to the motel and suggestions as to places to eat. We checked in and spent the entire evening watching the Weather Channel 'cause there was weather brewing to the west and the wind had picked up to about 25-30 knots. (This is 'touchy' weather for a tube and fabric tail dragger)

The next morning we had breakfast and drove out to the airport. It was only 22 hours since the patch had been applied but it did seem hard, so we decided to give it a try and rolled the airplane out to the apron.

A couple of cranks on the prop, the engine started and "VOILA!!" No oil! We decided to try to make the remaining 800 miles home.

After replacing the cowling, I walked into the FBO reaching for my wallet. Remember now, we had about four hours of mechanic time, overnight in a hangar, and the overnight use of a car. I'm thinking about four, maybe five, hundred dollars and good thing I brought my credit cards. I asked the mechanic who had been helping us "How much do I owe you?"

His reply, I'll never forget, "Let's see - that was 6.2 gallons of gas and two quarts of oil. That will be $14.95." I was almost speechless!

Sandy Staszak and Howard Hunt the A&P's at "Sky's the Limit" FBO in Casey, Illinois, are two of the finest folks you would ever want to meet anywhere. It is the chance to give them nationwide recognition here on ATP that makes me hope Carol will let this little story stand. Any of you who happen to get out that way, be sure to stop in and say "HI". They are the warmest, friendliest, most helpful people you will ever meet!

The trip is not over yet, but I've gone on long enough for this issue. I'll finish the story in the next issue of ATP....