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PUFA NEWSLETTER
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September 20, 1998
Beverley Lawrence, President
Tobias Kreisz, Vice-President
Mario LeBel, Treasurer
Debbie Major, Secretary
Mail to: Pacific Ultralight Flying Association
102-16071 82 Avenue
Surrey, B.C. V3S 2L6
PUFA Newsletter published by Glenn Ursel
From The President
by Beverley Lawrence
This has been the most incredible summer for flying and I have been too busy to enjoy much of it, but I hope that has not been the case for most of you and that you have been able to make the most of it. Certainly the weather has cooperated with the flying events that we planned and it was good to see so many participate. Come and tell us your stories at the next meeting.
Don't forget the photographic contest, bring your best pictures along for judging; they are enhanced by matting and framing, but not to worry if you cannot. It is all for fun, although there is a prize for the best picture.
Unfortunately we are no longer able to meet at the Surrey Library after the October meeting. As I do not know the area and Guildford does seem quite central for most people, perhaps someone has some suggestions for a new venue. I was surprised to find that Glenn did not remember the early days of PUFA when we met at the EAA clubhouse at Delta. Bert Sanders, who was one of the founding members, would bring duty free (refreshments) along for us all to enjoy after the meeting. Bit different from coffee and doughnuts, but that was before the days of spot checks on the roadside.
We have been fortunate this summer to be able to carry out many of the planned events, because of the beautiful weather we have been enjoying. Thanks go to Dave and Gail O'Hara for hosting the float flyin at Thetis Island. Seven planes were able to attend and although it turned windy in the afternoon, stranding the pilots on the island until the evening, no one seemed too bothered as they enjoyed an afternoon by the ocean.
The Glen Valley/Golden Ears flyers, hosted a campover and pancake breakfast. They could not understand why I went back to the house to sleep on my comfortable bed instead of pitching a tent along with everyone else. Due to a burning ban, we were not able to have a campfire but wild blackberries sure tasted good in the morning's pancakes.
Larry White and Ray Haynes held the best hands at the conclusion of the poker run. First prize was $30.00 and second $15.00. Thanks to Fred Baron, George Leloup and Fred Glasbergen for the use of their fields. Also thanks to Debbie and Alan Major, Marie White, Ron Nichols and Maryka Nilson for their help in handing out the playing cards. Josef Keitabl, thanks for coming in to visit me at Glen Valley; the only one who landed there.
Editorial Note
by Glenn Ursel
With reference to Beverly’s comment about the early days of PUFA, the reason I didn’t remember those halcyon days of yore is that I only started ultralighting some 11 years ago, not the 15 that she alludes to. Anyway, I persuaded Beverly to write some more about her and Fred’s flight to Watson Lake in the Yukon some years ago in a float equipped RX 550 Beaver ultralight. That is in this issue of the PUFA Newsletter along with my feeble attempt to describe my flight to the Powell River fly-in with Gordon Brogan.
I also have included some emailed humour that Beverly and Mario sent me earlier this summer. Jeff Rochon also faxed me his version of humour too and it is included. I can’t be accused now of excluding humour!
For your information, I was informed recently that Reg’s Air Cooled Engines has gone out of business.
October, 1998 Flying Events*
Sunday, October 4, 1998, 9:00 am to 11:15 am
Delta Airpark, RAA Chapter 85 monthly pancake breakfast
$3, 9:00 am to 11:15 am
Listen to the pre-recorded arrival procedures for Delta Heritage Airpark
phone 878-9050
*Information supplied by Gordon Denham
Flight to the Yukon
To increase the endurance on our journey north, a three way tap was installed to facilitate easy switching from the main tank on the Beaver RX550 seat tank, to the jerry cans carried in the back of the fibreglass faring. It was my job to check the fuel cans and remind Fred to switch over. I became quite good at judging how long a tank would last time wise, then check it for weight before telling Fred that it was nearly empty.
When flying along the inside passage, the water was fairly protected from the wind and waves most of the time; but, in one area, another channel joined it from the side and the passage opened up leaving much rougher water that did not look too inviting to land on even with floats. It was at this time that the engine faltered and began to die. I had forgotten to remind Fred about switching the fuel; luckily he realized what was happening and reacted quickly. The engine recovered! Whew!
When we reached our next destination, we were amazed to see that the plastic jerry can had been sucked inwards until the insides touched. The fuel pump must have a very strong suction to be able to achieve that.
The three way switching system is very effective as an extra ten gallons can be carried. However it is very important to remember to switch before the tank is empty. I have not forgotten since.
Beverly Lawrence
1998 Powell River Fly-in
I arrived at the Glen Valley Airfield at 8:30 am via my 1986 (old) Suzuki touring type (i.e. heavy pig) motorcycle on Saturday, August 22nd and set to work preparing my 1987 (almost as old) Spectrum Beaver RX 550 ultralight float (puddle jumper) plane for the flight to Powell River. This consisted of carefully checking it over and then loading it with two 15 litre plastic jerry cans connected with my rear seat tank holding 32 litres via a three way switch. I also loaded in another plastic jerry can holding 25 litres onto the rear seat for a grand total of 87 litres of fuel on board.
I then loaded my tent, sleeping bag and small toiletries bag into the floor area of the cockpit, started the plane and, after warming it up, taxed slowly to the east end of the airstrip to await my flying partner for the trip.
Gordon Brogan had phoned me a couple of evenings before to invite me to fly with him to the Powell River fly-in event. After considering it for a brief moment, I readily agreed. We arranged that he would arrive at 9:30 am and I would hopefully be ready then to take off to join him thereby obviating his landing at our rather rough grass strip.
Exactly on schedule, I could hear the approaching dulcet sound of his Subaru powered ultralight, also a two seater Spectrum Beaver float plane but using a single Full Lotus float stabilized with rather large sponsons of Gordon’s own design.
I eagerly started my Rotax 532 to rewarm it for the takeoff and, within a minute, was ready for the takeoff. Just as I was about to commence the takeoff roll, Gordon Denham arrived and I waited to explain to him who was circling overhead and where I was going.
Then I roared off down the runway and was off the ground only a little later than normal. As I climbed, I called Gordon on my ICOM A20 radio to enquire as to our route. He suggested we fly along the Fraser River through the Pitt Meadows control zone and then cut across to Port Moody to Burrard Inlet. We each called in to the Pitt Meadows Tower and advised the controller of our intentions. As we drew closer, Gordon called and requested permission to take a short cut over the middle of the airport to save flying time. The controller granted this permission and we were on our way!
The next hurdle was to request clearance through Vancouver Harbour by calling the Harbour Tower controller just east of the Second Narrows Bridge. As we were granted clearance, we could hear another ultralight calling the tower. It was Allan Major and Daryl Hegyi flying one of Airflow Ultralight Aviation’s Rans Couriers.
We flew on at 1500 feet above sea level and cleared the Harbour Tower zone at Point Atkinson. As we flew over Bowen Island, we had to dip to about 1,000 feet to get under a low cloud. There was a little turbulence in the vicinity which I more or less expected due to the usual winds blowing out of the Howe Sound area.
The rest of the flight was uneventful except for the sheer beauty of the scenery punctuated occasionally by Gordon’s complaints that I was flying too fast for his thirsty Subaru. I explained that I was flying as slow as I could at about 5300 rpm without lifting the nose and applying more power to maintain altitude.
We arrived at Powell River after a great flight about 11:30 am and immediately joined the circuit for landing on the paved runway. There was a steady stream of planes coming in for a landing but, by judiciously extending my downward leg, I was able to cut in for a relatively short final leg. Gordon was behind me and had to do a similar downwind extension before he was able to follow me in. Upon landing, we were directed over to the west part of the grass parking area nearby to fellow ultralighters Allan and Daryl.
Soon other familiar faces arrived: Bob McLellan, Guy Shaddock, Greg Powell, James Shepherd, Jason Systrom, Ken Hicks, Al Trautman, Josef Kietaibl, Jeff Rochon and Ron Smit.
The dinner that evening was replete with huge mounds of prawns, barbequed salmon and halibut with potates and carrots. It was a fine feast although someone offered the observation that the prawns may have been slightly over done due to the unusual effort it took to shell them.
Most of us hit the sack early due to the busy day we had enjoyed. At breakfast the next morning, Bob McLellan entertained our table with his scary, but funny, tale of the “Killer Weeds” wherein he landed his Super Kola ultralight at a strip near his property at Darcy, north of Pemberton not realizing that there were some very tall woody like weeds next to the runway which struck and damaged the fabric of his wings. While we were laughing with Bob, I jokingly suggested to Greg Powell that he tell us his version of the Killer Weeds some day...
During breakfast, it was decided by some of us - Josef Kietaibl, Guy Shaddock, Ken Hicks, Al Trautman, Gordon Brogan and myself - that we would fly home via Qualicum. Gordon and I took off first since we had the slowest planes and the others followed. They, of course, beat us but we soon joined them for coffee at Qualicum after an hour’s flight across a fairly rough looking (from 1500 feet above) Johnstone Straits.
After coffee, Gordon and I departed for Duncan to obtain fuel while the rest flew home via Active Pass. We had a most enjoyable flight via Duncan and around the south end of Saltspring Island and over Winter Harbour home to White Rock. I followed Gordon to his home landing strip at 232 Street and then carried on to my home airfield at Glen Valley. My hour meter indicated that the flight home had been 4 hours and 24 minutes. It was a wonderful flight and weekend!
Glenn Ursel
Humour received by email from Mario LeBel
Three Canadians and three Americans are traveling by train across the country. When they approach the ticket booth, the Americans buy three tickets for the train, then they watch as the Canadians buy one ticket for the three of them. Curious, they ask how this is going to work and the Canadians reply "just watch"!
They board the train and the three Americans take their seats. The three Canadians pile into the washroom. The train starts to leave the station and the conductor comes along and says "ticket please " and the three Americans hand over their tickets. The conductor knocks on the bathroom door and says "ticket please” at which the bathroom door opens a crack and a hand reaches out with the ticket and the conductor takes it and carries on.
So the three Canadians and three Americans go their way and have their holiday and a couple of weeks later they meet again at the train station for the return trip. The Americans approach the ticket booth and, having learned their lesson from their Canadian friends, they buy just one ticket. The Canadians walk right past without buying any tickets. The Americans, curious again, ask how this will work and the Canadians reply "just watch"!
They board the train and the three Americans pile in the washroom and the Canadians pile in a second washroom. The train starts to leave and, at that time, one of the Canadians leaves his washroom, knocks on the washroom door with the Americans and says, "ticket please"!
Humour received by email from Beverly Lawrence
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"After marriage, husband and wife become two sides of a coin; they
just can't face each other, but still they stay together." -- Hemant Joshi
Last day of June, and I spent the day at my brother's (Not Al, but Carl's) helping him work on my car. Actually, the way it works, I grab a tool, hand it to him, and make sure that the car doesn't fall on him. His son's going to check the onboard computers tomorrow, cause it seems to want to gulp gas without coming up for air!
Anyway, here's a kid's eye view of love and marriage! Questions about love, marriage and sex were posed to kids ages 5 - 10
WHAT IS THE PROPER AGE TO GET MARRIED??
"Eighty-four! Because at that age, you don't have to work anymore and you can spend all your time loving each other in your bedroom." (Judy, 8)
"Once I'm done with kindergarten, I'm going to find me a wife!" (Tom, 5)
WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE??
"On the first date, they just tell each other lies, and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date." (Mike, 10)
WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE??
"You should never kiss a girl unless you have enough bucks to buy her a big ring and her own VCR, 'cause she'll want to have videos of the wedding." (Jim, 10)
"Never kiss in front of other people. It's a big embarrassing thing if anybody sees you. But, if nobody sees you, I might be willing to try it with a handsome boy, but just for a few hours." (Kally, 9)
THE GREAT DEBATE: IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED??
"It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need somebody to clean up after them!" (Lynette, 9)
"It gives me a headache to think about that stuff. I'm just a kid. I don't need that kind of trouble." (Kenny, 7)
CONCERNING WHY LOVE HAPPENS BETWEEN TWO PARTICULAR PEOPLE
"No one is sure why it happens, but I heard it has something to do with how you smell. That's why perfume and deodorant are so popular." (Jan, 9)
"I think you're supposed to get shot with an arrow or something, but the rest of it isn't supposed to be so painful." (Harlen, 8)
ON WHAT FALLING IN LOVE IS LIKE
"Like an avalanche where you have to run for your life." (Roger, 9)
"If falling in love is anything like learning how to spell, I don't want to do it. It takes too long." (Leo, 7)
ON THE ROLE OF GOOD LOOKS IN LOVE
"If you want to be loved by somebody who isn't already in your family, it doesn't hurt to be beautiful."(Jeanne,8)
"It isn't always just how you look. Look at me. I'm handsome like anything and I haven't got anybody to marry me yet." (Gary, 7)
"Beauty is skin deep. But how rich you are can last a long time." (Christine, 9)
CONCERNING WHY LOVERS OFTEN HOLD HANDS
"They want to make sure their rings don't fall off because they paid good money for them." (Dave, 8)
CONFIDENTIAL OPINIONS ABOUT LOVE
"I'm in favor of love as long as it doesn't happen when 'The Simpsons' is on television." (Anita, 6)
"Love will find you, even if you are trying to hide from it. I have been trying to hide from it since I was five, but the girls keep finding me." (Bobby, 8)
"I'm not rushing into being in love. I'm finding fourth grade hard enough." (Regina, 10)
THE PERSONAL QUALITIES NECESSARY TO BE A GOOD LOVER
"One of you should know how to write a cheque. Because, even if you have tons of love, there is still going to be a lot of bills." (Ava, 8)
SOME SUREFIRE WAYS TO MAKE A PERSON FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU
"Tell them that you own a whole bunch of candy stores." (Del, 6)
"Don't do things like have smelly, green sneakers. You might get attention, but attention ain't the same thing as love." (Alonzo, 9)
"One way is to take the girl out to eat. Make sure it's something she likes to eat. French fries usually works for me." (Bart, 9)
HOW CAN YOU TELL IF TWO ADULTS EATING DINNER AT A RESTAURANT
ARE IN LOVE?
"Just see if the man picks up the check. That's how you can tell if he's in love." (John, 9)
"Lovers will just be staring at each other and their food will get cold. Other people care more about the food." (Brad, 8)
"It's love if they order one of those desserts that are on fire. They like to order those because it's just like how their hearts are... on fire." (Christine, 9)
WHAT MOST PEOPLE ARE THINKING WHEN THEY SAY "I LOVE YOU"
"The person is thinking: Yeah, I really do love him. But I hope he showers at least once a day." (Michelle, 9)
HOW A PERSON LEARNS TO KISS
"You learn it right on the spot when the gooshy feelings get the best of you." (Doug, 7)
"It might help to watch soap operas all day." (Carin, 9)
WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?
"It's never okay to kiss a boy. They always slobber all over you... That's why I stopped doing it." (Jean, 10)
HOW TO MAKE LOVE ENDURE
"Spend most of your time loving instead of going to work." (Tom, 7)
"Don't forget your wife's name... That will mess up the love." (Roger, 8)
"Be a good kisser. It might make your wife forget that you never take out the trash." (Randy, 8)
REALLY USELESS TRIVIA:
TODAY'S COMMENTS:
Readers Write:
Here's a limerick from the L-Man, a man who looks forward to using his putter to sink one in the hole!
There was a young couple named Kelly. They were found belly-to-belly. You see in their haste, they'd used library paste. Instead of petroleum jelly!
“Squawks” as submitted by Jeff Rochon
Squawks are problem listings that pilots generally leave for maintenance crews and are normally accompanied by a response from the maintenance worker. (Don’t let these scare you about air travel any more than any other tidbits you hear in the news.)
Problem:
“Left inside main tire almost needs replacement”
Solution: “Almost replaced left inside main tire.”
Problem: “Test flight OK, except autoland very rough.”
Solution: “Autoland not installed on this aircraft.”
Problem #1: “#2 Propeller seeping prop fluid.”
Solution #: #2 Propeller seepage normal.”
Problem #2: #1, #3 and #4 Propellers lack normal seepage.”
Problem: “The autopilot doesn’t.”
Solution: “IT DOES NOW.”
Problem: “Something loose in cockpit.”
Solution: “Something tightened in cockpit.”
Problem: “Evidence of hydraulic leak on right main landing gear.”
Solution: “Evidence removed.”
Problem: “Number three engine missing.”
Solution: “Engine found on right wing after brief search.”
Problem: “DME volume unbelievably loud.”
Solution: “Volume set to more believable level.”
Problem: “Dead bugs on windshield.”
Solution: “Live bugs on order.”
Problem: “Autopilot in altitude hold mode produces a 200 fpm descent.”
Solution: “Cannot reproduce problem on ground.”
Problem: “IFF inoperative.”
Solution: “IFF inoperative in OFF mode.”
Problem: “Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.”
Solution: “That’s what they’re there for.”