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Holding Aviation to a HIGHER STANDARD™
SEPT 2007 FLY-IN SPECIAL EDITION ISSN: 1930-0131
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Fly In Special Edition please read everything in this newsletter ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ What is the Wood, Fabric, & Tailwheels Fly-In ? September 29, 2007 A while back I was reading something from written by Paul Poberezny explaining why they would no longer be having the Sport Aviation Association fly-in. As I moved along the page, I was amazed how much of it related to what we were doing here at Lee Bottom with the Wood, Fabric, & Tailwheels Fly-In.
During Friday, those that are here for the hog roast give rides to neighbors, eat, sit around the campfire, relax, and tell big stories. When Saturday rolls around, everyone gets up to watch hundreds of planes arrive, eat lunch, and hang out with other attendees. That night those that are left go into town for dinner and a visit to Shipley’s Tavern. Those that survive the night get up the next day for a dawn patrol down the river and give some more rides to neighbors before heading home.
A while back another friend of ours made the comment that all aviation events are two day events trying to be five. I happen to think this is right on the money and it is important to know that we are not technically a three day event. The Wood, Fabric, & Tailwheels Fly-In is simply one incredible day of flying that is so much fun a bunch of die-hard aviators show up for it on Friday and stay through Sunday. If this sounds like fun to you, then we hope to see you here and if you are a “die-hard” maybe we’ll see you on Friday.
If you'd like to read the Feb 2007 article in AOPA Pilot Magazine CLICK HERE To view some photos of the 2006 fly-in CLICK HERE If you'd like to watch the SPORT PILOT TV program filmed at the 2006 event CLICK HERE It works with something like Windows Media Player or Real Player. It is 57M in size. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2007 Wood, Fabric, & Tailwheel Sponsors Helping US make YOUR General Aviation event better
T Shirt Title Sponsor
T Shirt Premier Sponsor
T Shirt Grass Roots Sponsor
Hangar Wall Banner Sponsor
Please support our sponsors with your business | |||||
Critical Information for Those Attending the Fly-In
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FLY-IN Survey How much money would you guess we have spent so far getting ready for the fly-in?
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Get In on the Ground Floor Are you interested to know more about the Lee Bottom Aviation Refuge or how you can become a member? If so, look for information near the registration tent. THIS IS THE FUTURE OF LEE BOTTOM FLYING FIELD | |||||
DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE PLANNING TO ATTEND THE 2007 WOOD, FABRIC, & TAILWHEELS FLY-IN ?. . .
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GROWING PAINS This year, we already have 7 times the number of hotel rooms reserved than we used last year, have twice as many registered to eat dinner on Friday night than we did last year, have planes and volunteers planning to arrive earlier than we ever have, have pilots UPS'ing their camping gear ahead of time which has never happened before, and have received phone calls from far away places that have not previously been represented. This is all great !!! However, it means that we feel we need to ask you to be patient and flexible as we sift through the challenges this growth presents. There will most likely be growing pains somewhere and we hope you look at is as a chance to be part of something that is growing and offer up ideas on how best to improve. Thanks . . | |||||
Be sure to check out this overhead diagram. It shows where most everything is or will be for the fly-in. If you take a good look at it now, it will help you when you arrive.
Anyone who plans to camp WITH AN AIRPLANE on Friday night should make a note of the camping area. It is along the hill and that is where you should park. If you are camping with your airplane on Saturday night as a Saturday arrival, you will park where the aircraft parkers assign you. It might be possible to reposition your plane to the hillside row after everyone has left for the day (after 6PM).
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Suggested Arrival and Operating Procedures Please look at and download these suggested procedures. They are not mandatory and safety is your responsibility. They were merely created to give you some ideas on getting here smoothly.
The higher arrival altitude that is suggested is meant to keep planes that are coming from all directions above the traffic pattern. Please be courteous in the pattern and try to keep words to a minimum while on the radio.
Here is the best tip I can give anyone who flies to a airshow or fly-in. IF the field is uncontrolled like it is here, then DO NOT announce your N#. By stating color and type of aircraft instead of your N#, you will be giving anyone else in the pattern everything they need to know while keeping radio time to a minimum. “White Champ entering downwind”, or “yellow biplane left base” are both great examples of how to keep it brief while allowing everything necessary to be transmitted.
Furthermore, no matter how much you want to or feel the need to say something funny, cute, or idiotic while in the pattern, DON’T DO IT.
CLICK HERE for the suggested arrival and operating procedures | |||||
Directions to the Airport for Cars and RV’s
If you are driving to Lee Bottom, please see our website for directions. We highly suggest you take the New Bethel Rd off of highway 62 to get here. Mapquest (and other online map services) gives you the run around so only use it to find New Bethel Rd located in Chelsea, Indiana and not exact directions.
Next, if you have a plane you should fly it here. This is a fly-in after all. We've spent thousands of dollars putting in runway extensions and extra parking space for aircraft - the automobile parking is still the same size and very limited. We are not discouraging drive-ins but anyone owning a plane that drives will be subjected to numerous questions and jabs as to why they did not fly.
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A Screw Up on Our Part Speaking of driving in to the airport, a very nice gentleman gave us a donation at the last Sinful Sunday for mowing a spot for drive-in traffic. Somehow in the rush of things, we lost his contact information. He was from Columbus Indiana and if this is you, please contact us so we can get you on the list. | |||||
Hotel Arrangements & Shuttle RiDes
There are just a few rooms left here and there around town. If you need a room, CLICK HERE for latest information on hotels.
If you have a room reserved and decide that you can not use it, please call us first 812-866-3211, there might be someone on the waiting list that could use your room.
If you are staying in a hotel and need a shuttle ride CLICK HERE | |||||
Extremely Important
NOTE: 9/25 Friday night BBQ dinner is at max capacity. We will be making a pizza run for others on the list so go ahead and sign up CLICK HERE
CLICK HERE to sign up . . .
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Fuel During Fly-In Last year was the first year we had fuel at the fly-in and we learned quite a bit from the experience. First, make sure the fuel guy lets you know when he arrives, and second, make sure the person bringing the fuel doesn’t think they are just doing you a favor. If this is the case, they probably won’t be happy with any outcome.
With that said, this year we are glad to welcome Hap’s Aerial Enterprises as our fly-in fuel supplier. Hap’s has been a fixture in our area for a very long time and we are excited to have them here. Not only did they do the simple thing of returning our calls, but they went out of their way to get us a fuel truck for the event. They even had another truck brought in and re-branded at great expense to them so we hope you understand if the fuel isn’t given away.
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Weather Delays The fly-in will not be put off due to fog, winds, or scattered showers. When there is fog, it is gone by 10am, winds (unless extreme) are something you should be trained to handle, and scattered showers are just that. Yet, if some kind of weather pops up that will delay the big day to Sunday, we will post it on our website by 10PM on Friday. NOTE: If you suspect this is the case, don’t forget to refresh you browser occasionally to get the latest updates. And remember, there are thousands of you and only 2 of us with 1 phone. | |||||
Volunteers Yes just like everyone else, we need volunteers. This year more than ever, it will take a rather large group of volunteers to get us through the day. In fact, this year we will have more volunteers than the total number of people that attended the first fly-in.
One volunteer that has been extremely helpful thought there was a bunch of people doing everything to get ready for the fly-in and then came to help one day. He was amazed to find out it was just Ginger and myself. Well, that just won’t work anymore as we find ourselves needing more and more volunteers. If you would like to help park aircraft, work the registration tent, drive the tram or something else, please let us know.
If you see a volunteer . . . thank them for helping to make this General Aviation event special. And, please remember that they are volunteers. | |||||
They owned a commercial printing company in Baton Rouge, LA until 2004 when they sold the business in favor of early retirement. They have been on the road exploring the United States ever since. They are not pilots but are interested in aviation. Jack received his first ride in a small general aviation plane just minutes after arriving on the field.
If you run into either of them, be sure to thank them for all their help - and, maybe offer to take them for a ride in your plane. | |||||
Welcoming New People to the Family The last Sinful Sunday brought up a subject I have been wanting to address for some time. Watching all the planes arrive during the event, I was excited to see another plane new to the airport arrive. The aircraft was a small homebuilt biplane and it looked as though the pilot really enjoyed flying it. Throughout the day, I walked down to the airplane several times hoping to catch the person flying it but missed them every time. I did manage to take many photos of it though.
Anyway, later Ginger mentioned talking to him and that he had said he was new to the place. This got us on the subject of people new to the airport. Last year one couple told Ginger that it seemed everyone here knew each other at they were all hanging out in groups but they didn’t know anyone and felt out of place. Afterwards, I wondered about that couple for a long time because if there is one thing I can say about the people who visit Lee Bottom, it is that they are a friendly down to Earth group.
Yet, if you are new I suppose you could start to get the feeling you were an outsider. Maybe it’s because you are a little shy about walking up to speak to new people or maybe the people here just assume you are on a mission to do something else, but in either case I can assure you that if you walk up to someone at Lee Bottom, tell them you are new, and ask them for anything, if they can help they will. If not, find me and point them out so we can do some cleaning. Otherwise, hang in there and I’m sure you’ll soon have some new friends. CLICK HERE FOR A FEW PHOTOS FROM THE AUGUST 2007 SINFUL SUNDAY | |||||
The 11th Annual Wood, FAbric, & Tailwheels Fly-in September 29, 2007
Those of you who have been here before may understand what this event is all about but have you ever read the official guiding principles that have made it so much fun? If not, then here they are:
As you can see, we don’t ask for much of anything other than that you have fun, and have a positive attitude. Incredibly, this formula seems to work quite well. If you know anyone who doesn’t need much to keep them entertained, who likes to have fun, and who loves to fly, then maybe you should bring them along. | |||||
We’re all family There are things we all hate and things we all have sworn we will never do. Name tags and arm bands are mine. I’ve never liked either but have decided they are things that should be added to the list of middle-aged markers. Yeah that’s correct; right up there with aching knees, hair loss, and weight gain, the moment you decide either of these two things have a purpose, is a clear indication your life is over. With that said, let me take this opportunity to say it was nice knowing all of you. | |||||
NEW FOR 2007 . . .
For those camping with your airplane, we will have an 8 stall shower available from 6PM on Friday night until 6PM on Saturday Night.
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Fly-In Sponsors
If your goal is to have a large fly-in of everyday pilots and aviation enthusiasts then it goes without saying that rising numbers are a good thing. But, what happens when your other goal is to never sell out your ideals and beliefs and the event grows to the point it needs more funding? This is a tough subject for me. If the event grows any larger or continues for the long haul, more funding will be needed.
Selling out ideals and beliefs for money is not new to the aviation world. It happens every day. In fact, some people believe the biggest events grew to that size by doing just that and I believe they got their by offering what people wanted. Whatever the case, what can we learn from them and do differently? First of all, it doesn’t hurt to have great people on your list.
Our Lee Bottom Family is very fortunate to have many people on the list who think just like we do. Additionally, many of them have a strong desire to support the airport while upholding those ideals. This means that we have a growing list of sponsors who wish to help the airport while not expecting us to plaster their names all over the airport and give them permission to break rules that apply to everyone else. These people understand what the event is all about and simply want to see it continue. If you ever need something any of these people offer, we hope you give them a chance to do business with you. They really helped us out this year.
T Shirt Title Sponsor Shipley's Tavern Shipley's Tavern is the second oldest tavern in the state of Indiana and has been in operation in the same location since 1867. Purchased a few years back by Chris Sauer, a local pilot, it is now the spot to wrap-up the Saturday night Wood, Fabric, & Tailwheels party. Shipley's has been around so long they’ve served everyone from riverboat captains to airline captains. Stick around Saturday and you'll get to see it.
T Shirt Premier Sponsors AirLoan.com Some of you may remember reading about this great bank in a previous NORDO News. One of our readers used them to finance the purchase of a Taylorcraft and came away from the experience with nothing but great things to say about them. We looked into it and found a great bank that understands small (and large) airplanes. If you ever need a loan for the purchase of an airplane, we highly recommend you call these people first.
Alcorn, Goering, & Sage, LLP
Madison Tool Inc.
The owner of the company has recently taken up flying and is taking lessons in his newly purchased Archer. We look forward to seeing him land at Lee Bottom many times in the future.
Poly-Fiber Aircraft Coatings
T Shirt Grass Roots Sponsors Bowman Eagles The Bowman Eagles is the regions largest tailwheel flying club. It seems there isn’t a day that their aircraft don’t land or buzz by here several times a day and the skies just wouldn’t be the same without them. If you’ve always dreamed of owning your own taildragger but don’t have the time or money to support one for yourself, give them a call.
Classic Biplane Tours offers scenic flights around Louisville in a Waco YMF-5 open cockpit biplane. If you have always wanted to experience the romantic days of aviation, give these guys a call. The plane is designed to carry you and a friend so be sure to find someone to share it will. A few minutes in this biplane will give you and your friend memories you will talk about forever.
FlyInHomes.com Lorraine and Ken Morris are probably known to most of you as fixtures in the antique and classic aircraft community. But, did you know they have a service that helps you find or sell a “fly-in home”? Their easy to use service allows you to list your property online and to view others that are for sale. Contained within their website are many of the nicest airpark or fly-in homes and lots out there. If you hate complicated websites that make you struggle for what you are after, then you will love this site. With that in mind, if you have a fly-in home for sale, this is the easiest place for you to get your property in front of buyers. Check it out
Jim Hadley Chevrolet Cadillac Jim Hadley Chevrolet Cadillac serves Cincinnati, Louisville, and everywhere in between with great service and friendly people. Yet, what tells you most about this local car dealership is the great entrepreneurial story behind it. Several years ago, Jim Hadley was working for a dealership in Cincinnati but dreaming of owning his own. When one came up for sale in Madison, he literally sold everything to finance the purchase and never looked back. Today, he has a successful dealership all his own because he knew what he wanted and pursued it with great passion. Hadley’s dealership is a full service one that also happens to be one of the places people rent cars for the Wood, Fabric, & Tailwheels Fly-In. Did I mention they service the airport managers car? Thanks to the Hadley Family for supporting our event.
McCubbin Motors McCubbin Motors expanded its already established Ford line in the 1980's to include Lincoln, Mercury, Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep. In addition to new and used cars, they offer parts and service from expertly trained technicians. They keep our airport truck going for us. Kevin McCubbin is not only a 2nd generation automobile dealer, but he is also a pilot. He gets a smile on his face just talking about his jaunt across the Atlantic, with a friend, in a Piper Comanche. Stop in and take a look at their line of cars and ask Kevin about this trip. River Valley Financial Bank River Valley Financial Bank is a local bank that goes out of its way to care for the local community. In fact, River Valley Financial Bank even goes so far as to say they are committed to the financial well being of the citizens of our community. And that’s exactly what we have seen. Being the only locally owned and operated bank, insures customers get nothing less than exceptional service. A big thanks goes out to them for seeing the value of our events to the community.
Signature Engines Signature Engines Inc. is a well known and respected aircraft engine overhaul shop that stands behind its service. Based at Lunken Field, Cincinnati, this shop believes so much in what they do that they have been known to take on the FAA to stop questionable methods allowed by the same. If you want an engine you can trust, give Signature Engines a call. They care about their customers and do what it takes to put the best product out the door.
Tannis Aircraft Products Tanis Aircraft Products is the home of the original internal aircraft engine preheater. Located in Glenwood Minnesota, but known world wide for its engine preheaters, Tanis is one of the few companies with a product so well recognized for value that it is often included in aircraft classifieds. But that’s not the only thing for which Tanis is known. This company never sleeps and continually searches out new ways to protect your aircraft valuables. One such product is their recently introduced aircraft engine dehydrator. Anyone who has spent any time around aircraft engines can tell you this product has long been needed and Tanis is leading the way. See for yourself . . .
Vintage Corvettes is located in Northern Georgia and owned and operated by one of the nicest, most honest people you could hope to do business with; Greg Wyatt. Greg’s shop is like a giant toy box full of vintage Corvettes that is always rotating. Look at his website and you will see that many of the nicest “Vettes” out there have either been through his operation or are currently there awaiting new owners. If you have a thing for antique and classic cars, then you should give Greg’s operation a visit. You won’t be disappointed. And who knows, maybe you will find something you just have to have.
Hangar Wall Banner Sponsors Louisville Executive Aviation
Please support our sponsors with your business | |||||
REMINDER OF IMPORTANT LINKS CLICK HERE IF YOU ARE ARRIVING FRIDAY NIGHT AND WANT TO EAT PIZZA CLICK HERE IF YOU ARE STAYING SATURDAY NIGHT AND WANT TO EAT WITH THE GROUP IN MADISON CLICK HERE If you are staying in a hotel and need a shuttle ride CLICK HERE TO PRINT OFF DRIVING DIRECTIONS CLICK HERE for latest information on hotels | |||||
We are guessing that each of you know at least one other pilot that would like to see aviation continue for future generations to enjoy. If you do, NORDO News asks would like you to forward this newsletter to a friend and ask them to Sign-Up. Let's grow our group that is focused on "Holding Aviation to a Higher Standard". Sign up for our FREE e-Pub, click here | |||||
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