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Breaking News of Interest

20th Century had B-1s and B-2s, but the B-21 is 21st Century

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  Virg Hemphill

The USAF has decided to set aside its hi-tech B-1 Lancer and B-2 Stealth bombers for the new high-altitude, long-range stealth strike bomber, named the B-21 “Raider,” in honor of the famed General Doolittle Tokyo Raiders of WWII fame. This story is once again the result of information supplied by our Aviation News Scout, Virg Hemphill, at left.

This new advanced bomber clearly embodies some of the unique aerodynamic characteristics and shape of the WWII Northrup Aviation experimental Flying Wing, an airplane whose first versions were actually propeller powered.  But this new Northrup creation embodies features not even the material of dreams, when the first Flying Wings took to the air over California’s high desert.

While still a flying-wing airframe, having no vertical stabilizers or rudder, but rather a sharp squared wing, it does clearly remain true to the old Flying Wing theme, since there is no distinction between its fuselage and wing, they being one and the same overall structure.  Here are some informative videos about this new USAF transition.

Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James announces that the B-21 bomber will be called the B-21 Raider. The name represents the historically important role the new long-range stealth bomber will lead for the next 50 years.

Assisting Secretary James on stage (immediately below) to announce the name, was one of the original Doolittle Raiders, in fact, the last living Doolittle Raider, and Jimmy Doolittle’s co-pilot, 101-year-old Air Force Lt. Col. (ret.), Richard Cole.

It is suggested that you view all videos below in full-screen, to appreciate the hi-resolution used. All of the clips also have full complete audio tracks.

This first short (1:39 long) video shows the official USAF announcement of the B-21’s new name:

Second, this short (7:29 long) video by “The Infographics Show:”

Third, this “New Update Defence” video, 4:08 in length (There is some computerized voice used in this clip, so be prepared for some clumsy English):

 

 

Here’s a List of 10 Unusual Varieties of Aircraft to Follow

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Norwegian P2 “Excursion” Team pose in their hangar in front of their new amphibian aircraft.

Some of these flying machines you may have seen before, but likely not all of them.  They are clearly not the standard variety of new aircraft, but this fact alone might motivate one to take and interest in how their actual futures come to pass.  The Video below is only 10:12 in length and was created by “Minds Eye Design,” which has also published other interesting videos, although not all exclusively aviation related.

What Happened to the Dynacam (Revolver-Cam) Engine?

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A Dyna Cam or Revolver Cam engine fitted for aircraft use.

The General Aviation (GENAV) industry and its consumers have been facing a serious dilemma for a number of years now.  As you know, leaded fuel has been banned across the board for ground based vehicles here in the United States for a number of years, but general aviation aircraft are still using high-octane leaded-fuel in most of its fleet.  The EPA has been battling to have leaded aviation gasoline similarly banned, but there has remained a serious problem:  The majority of existing GENAV engines cannot safely operate on un-leaded gasoline.  Competitions have been underway for many years to see if one or more of the major Gasoline Refining Corporations can develop an unleaded gasoline blend that is safe for use in airplanes, but to this date, nothing is yet widely available for purchase.

Leaded gasoline for ground vehicles has already been banned for 24 years (in 1994!), but, while the FAA had targeted unleaded aviation gas’ (AVGAS) introduction to GENAV by 2018, nothing has yet actually happened to make this a reality, even though the FAA’s Fuels Program Office had been tasked to fulfill this objective.  This means that today almost 170,000 GENAV aircraft are still gassing up with fuel containing that otherwise banned nasty Tetraethyl lead.

Although many GENAV airplanes can safely use straight Motor Gas (MOGAS), providing it has no Ethanol in its blend, and many airplanes have been FAA Certificated to legally use it, the supply of MOGAS without any Ethanol is becoming progressively harder to find, and most refiners have simply phased out making their blends without the alcohol.  Additionally, because of EPA requirements and policies, even if the MOGAS is a non-Ethanol blend, it is not required to label it as such, making it a potentially dangerous purchase for an airplane user.

MOGAS with Ethanol is actually hazardous to aircraft engines, and, in fact, it is also damaging to many older automobiles and trucks, which were not designed to safely use gasoline containing Ethanol.  Because the Ethanol absorbs moisture, it tends to seriously corrode old styled rubber fuel lines and other components in older vehicles.

The Dynacam Engine is very different from conventional reciprocating type airplane engines, and is enough different that it has no trouble using MOGAS.  However, that is only one of the superior features of this radical engine design.  There are a number of additional advantages over regular AVGAS powered aircraft engines.  The photo above shows what this new engine design looks like.

Here, below, are some other views of the engine with its significantly different configuration:

Dyna or Revolver Cam Engine showing its lack of externally exposed cylinders.  It take a form more like a jet engine.

Here, above, is a cut-a-way view of one of the Dyna Cam engines such as those intended for GENAV aircraft.

Here is an illustration of the unique piston movement seen inside a Dyna Cam engine.

Here is a general introduction to this unique new engine, one that has been patented, but not yet introduced to the GENAV market in a serious way:

The original engine is patented and the Company (Axial Vector Energy) has now made patent applications and received patent pending status for additional features that have been refined. Activity and contacts from the website indicate that there are a lot of buyers for this new engine technology.  The first production engine has been assembled and has completed its initial testing. The Company has had to design and build a custom dynamometer on which to complete engine testing. After testing has been completed on the first engine, it was installed in a Cessna 182 light aircraft.  It has also been installed in a Piper Cherokee in order to be able to demonstrate the engine’s superior performance capability.

Additional installations are being discussed with owners of several experimental homebuilt aircraft here in the U.S., including, a LancAir, an RV6, a custom designed pusher fashioned after the Long Easy canard plane (a newly designed homebuilt called the Atlantica), and several others, including a SeaBee, a Seawind homebuilt, and it will also possibly end up in a Cessna 185.

The initial Dyna-Cam Engine to be manufactured and sold is rated at 200 HP. That would make it equivalent in HP to the Lycoming O, or IO 360 opposed-cylinder air-cooled engine already in widespread use throughout the GENAV industry (See below photo).  But this Dyna-Cam engine is only 13″ in diameter, 40″ long, and weighs but 300 pounds with basic accessories. It has unique features and major benefits over conventional engines of similar weight and power. The benefits include:

  • 50% smaller size,
  • 50% fewer replacement parts,
  • Lower manufacturing costs in equal production,
  • Better fuel economy,
  • Smoother operation – it can idle as slowly as only 150 RPM!,
  • Lighter weight per torque HP output compared to conventional air-cooled engines,
  • Plus nearly 100% higher torque enabling the engine to turn high-efficiency propellers with lower noise output at lower RPMs,
  • Liquid, rather than air-cooled

Below is one of most popular GENAV four-cylinder air-cooled engines with about the same power as the above Dyna Cam Engine.  The following video explaining the new Dyna-Cam engine is about 12:00 minutes long.  Remember to turn your speakers on to hear the audio.

 

Lycoming IO-360 Four cylinder 180 HP Air-Cooled Aircraft Engine

Below is another short clip of this same type of new engine, which shows it in action in a cut-a-way video format, but here it is called the Axial Vector Engine – the video is less than 1:00 long:

A Short Video Up Date On The Chinese Navy’s War Readiness

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   Virg Hemphill

Thanks once again to our very alert Aviation News Scout, Virg Hemphill (at left), we bring you this insightful recruiting video of how the Chinese Navy stands battle-ready at the present time.

This is not a comparative video, but primarily a view of what the Chinese are up to at the moment.  Unfortunately, this degree of readiness for war requires that the U.S. react in kind, in order to maintain a balance of arms and general military preparedness.

The exceptional degree of high-caliber Chinese precision, coupled with their extreme level of teamwork and surprisingly high degree synchronous formations within their military ranks, as seen in this video, should certainly keep us alert in respect to their capacity, if not readiness, for effective warfare.

While part of what helped the U.S. prevail against both the Japanese and Germans during WWII was our superior equipment, it was also our exceptionally smooth teamwork, particularly among our pilots in their capacity fo fly as efficient fighting teams – – – in highly coordinated formation flights – – –  that led to our overwhelming success.

Clearly, the Chinese have not only learned from our skilled and superior military, naval, and aviation technology – and techniques – but they may have even surpassed us in regard to such military dynamics as in their smooth unified team movements, as is witnessed in their below formations – – and in their impressively sharp mass drill skills.

Also, one cannot help but notice the astounding similarity their aircraft, surface and underwater vessels have to some of our own war weaponry.  Have the Chinese actually, literally,  copied some of our military equipment designs?

Mayor Martha Skinner, one of FASF Founders, Goes West

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One of our small group of FASF Founders, Mayor Martha Skinner, has died.  Martha had been the Mayor of Columbus, NM at the time of the founding of the FASF, had been one of its most enthusiastic supporters, and sat on its Board of Trustees for many years, before retiring to work full-time managing her unique Columbus Hotel, “Martha’s Place.“

Your writer first met Martha on his initial visit to the small Southwest town, in 1999, and within about half an hour, had purchased his home at a nearby AirPark from the charming lady who owned and operated her own local Real Estate Brokerage Firm.  If it happened in Columbus, you would soon discover that Ms. Skinner was right in the middle of whatever it was.

She was an active Thespian, often performing roles in the local dinner-theater, “The Tumbleweed Theater,” Ms. Skinner got together with some of her close acting lady friends to form an investment group called “The Three Blondes.”  Her group, among other interesting investments, purchased  the old Historic Hoover Hotel, which had largely fallen into a ruined relic of its old self.  Within no time at all, her group managed to do some basic repairs to the old place, and soon had parts of it rented out, including to a new Organic Food Cooperative, “Columbus Co-Opportunity,” which she also helped get successfully underway.  She later sold the Hoover to two-time Pulitzer Prize winning Journalist, Paul Salopek and his professional artist wife, Linda Lynch, who managed to turn the now active facility into a beautiful “House Beautiful” caliber residence.  The Hotel is today marked with a metal plaque to signify its historic importance to the town and the infamous raid by Mexican revolutionary, Pancho Villa.

Martha Skinner as a Southern CA teenager.

Martha was born in 1937 in Alamogordo, NM, but soon moved with her family to Southern California, where she graduated from Compton High School, soon married, and remained in the greater Los Angeles area to raise her family.  She later moved to Columbus, where she quickly became deeply involved in local and statewide politics, and became Mayor some years later, after having actively served on the Columbus City Council.  She was also active with various utilities, sitting on the Telephone Cooperative Board of Directors, and also taking part in local environmental and related projects.  She leaves behind her son, Addison Bachman, his children, and her brother, also a former Columbus Mayor, Philip Skinner, as well.

 

_____Mayor Martha Skinner when active with the FASF______

Martha was also an active performer, as a vocalist, during her early years in California, so her transition to acting was not at all difficult.  She immensely enjoyed taking active character roles in many local productions.  She was a talented Bridge Player, too, according to her younger brother, Philip.  Her brilliant foresight led her build her successful Martha’s Place Hotel in 1990, and, shortly before moving to the East Coast in 2017, to be close to her son, Addison and his family in the Carolinas, she sold the Hotel to her brother who renamed it the Los Milagros Hotel, which is still the favored place to stay whenever visiting Columbus or its nearby neighbor across the border in Mexico, Palomas. 

We will miss you, Martha, and are forever indebted to your help in getting the First Aero Squadron Airfield project successfully underway!

EAA and FASF’s Bob Dockendorf Inducted into Hall of Fame

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   Long time FASF and EAA Member, Bob Dockendorf poses proudly with his new Hall of Fame medal about his neck.

The FASF’s long-standing member from El Paso, Bob Dockendorf,  has just been elected by the Board of Directors of the El Paso Aviation Association and the local Aviation Community to be inducted into the El Paso Aviation Hall of Fame.  This past weekend celebrated this significant event with a special banquet, packed with area aviation celebrities and held at the Dona Ana Country International Jetport‘s famed War Eagles Air Museum (“WEAM”).

Most know Bob as the Executive Director of WEAM, but there is more you may not know:

Not just for his accomplishments as Director of WEAM, where, as its Executive Director, he has taken the historical facility to a new level of admirable excellence, but he was a key founder among the few local area aviators who started the highly successful new EAA chapter 1570 at the Dona Ana County International Jetport.

He also directed the start of the John and Betty MacGuire student Pilot scholarship as part of that same EAA 1570 project. This student contribution provides both an aircraft and flight instruction for young adults up to and including their first solo flight.

Those are but just a few of his aviation contributions to our local communities.  Besides his personal membership in the FASF, Bob’s beloved WEAM is one of our proud Local Business Supporters, too.

Here is a quote from the official Aviation Hall of Fame Award plaque created in Bob’s Honor:

Even in his childhood days, Robert J. (Bob) Dockendorf had a passion for history,
aviation and museums.  Born and educated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, several job
promotions and opportunities eventually brought him, his wife Mary and their
family to El Paso, Texas.

He served proudly as the Squadron Leader of the Sun Country Squadron of the
Commemorative Air Force as well as an Officer of Chapter 1570 of the Experimental
Aircraft Association.

While completing his career as a property and casualty insurance broker, he served
in a professional advisory capacity to the newly formed War Eagles Air Museum.  When
he retired from his successful insurance career, he was offered the opportunity and
challenge to serve as the War Eagles Air Museum’s Executive Director.

Being armed with aircraft, automobiles, memorabilia, and a deep desire to succeed, he
led the staff and volunteers at War Eagles to the accomplishment of the mission of the
museum, “To Educate and Encourage,” paying specific attention to youth.  All those efforts
helped bring new life and energy to the Dona Ana County International Jetport at Santa
Teresa, New Mexico, adjacent to El Paso, Texas.

The following photographs were taken this past weekend at the ceremony and Banquet held in Bob’s honor, where Bob was inducted into the El Paso Texas Aviation Hall of Fame.

L to R: John Keithly, President of the EAA Chapter 1570 chats with Virg Hemphill, FASF Aviation News Scout and Volunteer Docent at WEAM.  To Virg’s right in background, is FASF member and also Docent, Charlie Overstreet.

L to R: Docent Charlie Overstreet talking with Mario Campos, also a Docent at WEAM. Both are members of the FASF.

L to R: Ammber Valverde, Daedalian Aviation Scholarship winner, engaged in a lively discussion with her table mate, former El Paso, TX Mayor and renown local Aviator, Suzie Azar, who is also one of the FASF’s Advisors.  Ammber is a Junior at the University of Texas El Paso (UTEP) and also a member of the New Mexico State University (NMSU) AFROTC.  She plans to be an Air Force Pilot.

L to R: at the Daedalian Society Table is: Virg and Jenine Hemphill, Roger Nichols, Mayre Sue and Charlie Overstreet, and Mario and Judy Campos.  All are active FASF members.

The El Paso CAP Table with two prior Hall of Fame awardees, Roland and Debbie Torres, along with their Cadet Honor Guard: From (R to L), Cadet Captain Hunter Spier in Dress Blue uniform, and C/CMSgt Jonathan Herl, C/Amn Eryal Martinez, C/MSgt Daniel Erives, , and  C/A1C Vida Rote. This is the group of CAP Cadets who conducted the Flag Ceremonies at the opening and closing of the event.

L to R: Virg Hemphill, Honored Hall of Famer, Bob Dockendorf, Roger Nichols, and Jenine Hemphill.

                           Bob Dockendorf after accepting the Hall of Fame Award, speaking to the guests.

View of the tables and attendees at the Banquet.

Guest speaker and aviation enthusiast, “Doppler” Dave Spielman, long time Chief Meteorologist for the ABC Network TV Channel in El Paso, TX, KVIA.

   Ammber Valverde with Daedalian Flight Captain, Roger Nichols.  Roger’s flight is helping mentor Ms. Valverde

 Amber poses with Mr. Dockendorf along with Laura Ditlevson, former winner of the EAA MacGuire Student Pilot Scholarship.

 

Ammber intently listens to former FASF Trustee and present FASF Advisor and Chair of the Dona Ana County International Jetport’s Board of Directors, Col. John Orton.  An ex USAF JAG officer, John continues to fly his own Experimental Aircraft.

Watch the One-And-Only Svetlana Showing Off Over Russia

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Svetlana Kapanina

      Svetlana exits her plane after a show.

Kapanina was born on December 28, 1968 in Shchuchinsk,  Kazakhstan.   And, now at 50, she remains active in the European and American Air Show circuit.

She dedicated herself to a number of different sports at school and always enjoyed motorcycles – and  other motor vehicles, as well. She enrolled at medical school in Tselinograd, where she graduated in medical support sciences. She started flying at 19, in 1988, in a Sukhoi Su-26M3,  (see below right) while working as a technician at the Kurgan Sports Aviation Club.

The Sukhoi S-26M in which Svetlana learned aerobatics.

By 1991 she was already an instructor pilot at DOSAAF‘s (Volunteer Society for Cooperation with the Army, Aviation, and Navy) Irkutsk Club, and then went back to Kurgan. In 1991, she became a member of the Russian national aerobatic team. In 1995 she graduated from Kaluga Aeronautical  Technical School.

She is now lives in Moscow with her husband and two children.

in aerobatics Kapanina was World Aerobatic Champion in the women’s category in 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2011 and has won the title more times than any other pilot in that (women’s) category.  In addition, she was overall World Air Games Champion in 1997 and 2001.

Russian President, Vladimir Putin, poses with Svetalna after awarding her National Order of Courage

Together with Mikhail Mamistov and Oleg Spolyansky, she won the team gold medal in the 16th FAI European Aerobatic Championships in 2008 in Hradec Králové (Czech Republic). She placed fourth overall and was best female participant.

In 1997, she received the Paul Tissandier Diploma by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI).  In 2005 she was awarded the Sabiha Gökçen Medal[2] and the Centenary Medal by the FAI. She was awarded Russia’s Order of Courage by President Vladimir Putin on December 22, 2014 (see photo immediately above to the left), just 6 days before her 46th birthday.

Watch Svetlana run through one of her Airshow routines over her home country, after greeting the crowd over the loudspeakers.  This video is about 17 minutes long.  Turn your sound up and go to full screen to fully appreciate the excellent high-resolution videography.

And also, below, watch her airplane cavorting through the sky with her hallmark precision in one of her World Aerobatic Competitions.  You will witness Svetlana performing some extremely difficult manuevers with astounding accuracy. It’s a short clip, only 3:57 in length.  Like an accomplished Prima Donna ballerina, this woman aviator may make these manuevers look easy, but they are, as you might expect, extraordinarily difficult – often involving Svetlana pulling fairly severe positive and negative “G’s” (Gravity Forces).

CAP Squadron Commander, Natalie Franc, Briefs Daedalians

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Major Natalie Franc, a native of Glenhrothes, Scotland, is the current commanding officer of the El Paso, TX Civil Air Patrol (CAP) “Composite” Squadron. As distinguished from a regular squadron, a Composite Squadron includes a CAP Cadet Corps, along with its Senior Members.

Natalie began her career with the CAP when living in Hawaii after having been in the Royal Air Force (RAF), in which she enlisted when 18 years old, after having first served, since she was 13, in the Air Training Corps of Great Britain.  In the RAF she was assigned to Intelligence, where she used her skills as a linguist with a fluency in the Russian Language.

When on active duty with the RAF she met and married her husband, Michael, who was also in the Intelligence branch of the U. S. Army.  When he was transferred back to the U.S. in 2002, she moved there with him.  Before finally settling in El Paso, Texas, Natalie had lived in Maryland, Hawaii, Arizona, and Germany.  As a civilian, in addition to her work with the CAP, she has worked in various capacities in Emergency Services and has been a volunteer with Army Family Programs and has also been an Armed Forces Caseworker.  Natalie now runs her own business in El Paso.

The Major showed a custom prepared Power Point slide show to the Daedalian Flight members, who are also members of the FASF.  The following photographs of this event are all in high-resolution, and can be seen full-size by simply clicking on them as they appear below.

L to R: Major Natalie Franc, Colonels Mario Campos and Bob Pitt.

L to R: FASF Aviation News Scout, Virgil Hemphill, Colonels Norman Rice (back to camera) and Alan Fisher. Colonel Fisher is also an active volunteer pilot for the Las Cruces, NM Squadron of the CAP.

L to R: Mark Pfluger, Active Duty Army Rotary Wing Pilot from Ft. Bliss’ Biggs Army Airfield, and his mentor, Flight Captain, Roger Nichols.

L to R: Maj. Franc, Col. Campos and his wife, Judy, Julie and Col. Bob Pitt, Retired USAF Colonels, Melissa and Alan Fisher, Virg Hemphill and Roger Springstead (USNR Ret.) Anselmo Rocha, Assistant to Col. Norman and Mrs. Ulla Rice, Jerry Dixon (USMC), Dave Ginn, Charlie Overstreet,  Jim Brandon, Col. Pete Brandon’s visiting brother, and just out of camera range to Pete’s left is his guest,  Skip Orrell.

Major Franc adjusts computer projector . . . as she explains that the CAP has the largest single-engined fleet of Cessna Aircraft in the world.  The powered aircraft total is about 560, and she reported that the CAP also owns 47 glider-sailplanes, which are used to train Cadet members, along with several Hot Air Balloons, which select Cadets are also taught to operate and fly.

The Major explains the National CAP organization’s composition . . . which inlcudes the Continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

In this set of slides, Major Franc gives some examples of the CAP role in Search and Rescue Operatrions (“SAR” Ops).

L to R: Melissa and Alan Fisher and Virg Hemphill listen to Maj. Franc explaining her El Paso TX CAP operation . . .

Here the CAP Commander explains the role of the CAP in disaster Relief Operations, noting her own squadron’s heavy involvement in Hurricane Harvey, which struck East Texas, in particular, the Houston area.

In this slide the Major explains that the CAP mission also includes other roles in addition to Search and Rescue and Disater Relief . . . pointing out that her squadron plays an important role in Border and National Air Space Security.

Here Natalie describes the numerouis mission qualifications in which CAP members work throughout the Squadrons.

And here she shows the Daedalians and their guests how the CAP stays in constant radio contact with its mission personnel and aircraft during operations . . .

Major Franc sums up her presentation and takes questions from the audience . . .

L to R: Major Franc and Flight Captain Roger Nichols study one of the slides shown during the presentation.

L to R: Col. Bob Pitt, Major Natalie Franc, Flight Captain Roger Nichols, and Colonel Campos, who invited the Major to make the presentation . . .

L to R: Flght Captain Nichols and newly inducted Daedalian, Dave Ginn, and Colonel Bob Pitt.

FASF’s John Read Schools Daedalians on Punitive Expedition

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By simply clicking on any of the below photos, they may be seen in high resolution, and either downloaded or copied, should you care to have them for your personal use.

John Read, one of the FASF’s original members, long time historian on the Punitive Expedition, and Chief Ranger at the New Mexico Pancho Villa State Park in Columbus, looks out over El Paso and into Juarez, Mexico, from the El Paso Club, where he just presented a special progam to the Daedalian Society’s Flilght 24.

John takes in more of the spectacular view to the South over El Paso, from the El Paso Club’s picture windows.  The Daedalian Flight meets once a month to listen to educational presentations from local leaders.  John did a great deal of flying as a young man with his Dentist father, who owned a Cessna 182 Skylane.  Today, he regularly flies drones over SW New Mexico and shoots airborne videos, which can be seen on YouTube.

Mr. Read explains some of the little known background history behind the involvement of Germany in the Mexican Revolution during the early part of the last Century.

Daedalian members, all also FASF members, listen to Read’s description of the Expedition and why Pancho Villa may have rationalized or justified his attack on his former ally, the United States.

 John explains some strange and largely unknow history about the infamous Pancho Villa Raid on Columbus, which gave rise to the birth of American Air Power, when the First Aero Squadron launched its operations into Mexico in pursuit of Pancho Villa from Columbus.

Another view of John, as he explains how the Germans tried to convince Pancho Villa and the Mexicans to make war on the United States, in order to keep it too occupied to bother getting involved in WWI in Europe.  Notice, to John’s left stganding by the window, one of the regular Mexican-American Club waiters, who was especially interested in learning things he’d never before heard about the Mexican Revolution – – – and Villa’s Raid on Columbus.  He expressed his appreciation to John after the meeting.

 John shows the Daedalians a copy of a “smoking gun” Telegram, sent by the Germans, to Mexico’s Revolutionary leadership.

At far left, FASF member and Daedalian, Charlie Overstreet (USAF), asks questions about the German involvement with the Mexicans during 1916 -1917 period.  L to R after Charlie: Dave Ginn (US Army), Colonel Mario Campos (USAF) and Colonel Bob Pitt (USAF).

At the end of his presentation, Colonel Bob Pitt (right) gives a token of appreciation to Mr. Read for taking the time to make the special presentation. To the left above is Flilght Captain, Roger Nichols, a former Air Force pilot.  Colonel Pitt , also a USAF veteran, was wounded while flying a jet fighter in combat over Vietnam during that conflict.

FASF PILOT MEMBERS VOLUNTEER FOR EAA YOUNG EAGLES

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This past weekend, once again, EAA Chapter 1570, at the Dona Ana County International Jetport, produced its 5th successful Young Eagles event, an activity in which the Chapter members (most of them are also FASF members) gave free introductory airplane rides to children between the ages of 8 and 17.  All aircraft used belong to the chapter’s members.  The project’s Chairperson, once again, was Rotary and Fixed Wing Flight Instructor, Deb Rothchild.  Here, below, are some photos to show the popular youth education program in action.

Remember:  If you’d like to view any of the below photos in full high resolution, simply click on them.  Then, if you’d like, please feel free to download or copy them for you own use.

Above, Melissa Keithly, wife of the chapter’s President, John Keithly, and one of event’s principal organizers, with back to camera, greets, and begins to sign up first arrival parents and their children who want to get their Young Eagles Flight . . .

Helicopter pilot, Priscilla Porras, (pointing to her left) gives instructions to those signing up for their first flights . . .

A group of the volunteer pilots for the day talk over the coming flights – L to R: John Keithly (Chapter President), Mike Robinson, Jim Foster, Danny Carter, and Bryce Daniels.

Chairperson of the entire event, Professional Flight Instructor, Deb Rothchild, explains to the crowd the procedures and safety precautions . . .

War Eagles Air Museum’s (WEAM) Executive Director, Bob Dockendorf, looks on as project gets underway. Bob has been an active leader in the EAA Chapter 1570 since its earliest days and the Museum he directs is an integreal part of the Chapter’s success.

Chapter President, John Keithly greets his next Young Eagle for her flight.

Pilot John Signorino, El Paso business entreprenuer and Chapter Vice President, walks his Young Eagle to her first airplane flight in a Cessna Skylane.

Chapter Pilot, Dave Daniels, escorts his Young Eagle out to his plane, a vintage Piper Super Cub . . .

Pilot John Signorino, a former Army Air Services Pilot, helps his Young Eagle get belted in for her first adventure aloft.

Pilot Bryce Daniels, helps his Young Eagle adjust his seatbelt in readiness for his first flight. The plane is a Van’s RV 8 Experimental ship.

This Young Eagle gets his orientation before his flight from EAA Chapter 555 President, Wes Baker. His plane is a Classic 1948 Cessna 140, fully restored and in excellent ‘like-new’ condition. All General Aviation aircraft, regardless of age, must be fully inspected each year to assure that they fully meet established Federal Standards for their airworthiness.

Chapter President, John Keithly, describes their pending flight to his Young Eagle in his Chzech built “Dynamic” composite airplane. John and his wife, Melissa, just recently helped build their own new Van’s RV aircraft.

CEO and President of Red Arrow Flight Academy at the Dona Ana County Jetport, Tomas Peralta (R), explains how he has filled out his Young Eagle’s new Flight Log Book, while the young man’s father signs the Young Eagle Flight Certificate.

Chapter Pilot, Dave Daniels, completes his Young Eagle’s Flight Log Book as her father looks on.

Chapter Pilot, Danny Carter, poses with his Young Eagle and his Mother, before they take off in his Piper Commanche aircraft.

                  Pilot John Signorino and his Young Eagle pose before their flight in front of the Cessna 182 Skylane.

Pilot Dave Daniels, whose son, Bryce was also piloting the children in another aircraft, has just explained to this Young Eagle what they will do during her first flight in this vintage Piper PA-18 Super Cub.

Pilot Danny Carter, announces his departure over the radio, and taxis out from the loading area with his Young Eagle, as she happily waves to the Chapter photographer.

Pilot, Mike Robinson (R), in front of the Cessna 172 Skyhawk airplane in which he just flew this Young Eagle and his father.

Pilot Wes Baker explains how to properly fasten the seat belt and shoulder harness to this Young Eagle before they depart.

L to R: Pilot Tomas Peralta, with his Young Eagle and young man’s father, after completing their flight in this Red Arrow Flght Academy Cessna 182 Skylane.

Dave Daniels walks back from his flight with this excited young lady, who has just completed her first Young Eagles airborne experience.

           John Keithly fills out this happy young lady’s Young Eagle Flight Log Book, after her first experience aloft.

                     A view of a somewhat inpatient group of Young Eagles awaiting their call-ups for their first flights.

L to R: Airline Pilot and author of the new aviation novel, “Quantum,” Roxanne Lambie, poses by her book-signing table inside the WEAM Shop, with Ammber Valverde, AFROTC student at New Mexico State University, and Daedalian Flight Scholarship winner, who plans to become an Air Force Pilot.

  Another photo of Pilot, Danny Carter, taxiing out for takeoff with two Young Eagles aboard his Piper Commanche.

       Pilot, Dave Daniels, fills out the Young Eagle Flight Certificate after completing a flight with this young man.

View through the Cessna 172 Skyhawk’s windshield of Pilot Mike Robinson and both his Young Eagle, in the Co-Pilot seat, and young fellow’s father in the rear.

          Dave Daniels poses with his next Young Eagle, who is adjusting his headset, as instructed by his host.

Pilot John Keithly and his grinning co-pilot Young Eagle, as they ready to start the engine in this Czech Dynamic.

                                       John Keithly fills out this same Young Eagle’s Flight Certificate.

Pilot, Wes Baker, President of the Las Cruces, NM EAA Chapter 555, completes this happy Young Eagle’s Flight Log Book.

L to R: Roxanne Lambie, and Ammber Valverde, who has an autographed copy of Roxanne’s new novel under her arm, busily chatting with EAA members outside the War Eagles Air Museum main entrance.

     L to R: Melissa Keithly, a Young Eagle’s father, Prescilla Porras., and Wes Baker at Registration Sign-In table.

L to R above:  Melissa Keithly, Young Eagle with his father and Priscilla Porras, helicopter pilot, discussing the event.

         John Keithly with another Young Eagle seated and ready to go, as young man’s father and brother watch.

Pilot John Keithly gets ready to take this same intrigued Young Eagle aloft for his initiation flight in John’s Czech Dynamic Experimental Aircraft.

Mike Robinson gets ready to close the Cessna Skyhawk’s door in readiness for this young lady’s first Young Eagle Flight experience.

John Signorino explaining how the elevator and rudder controls work on this Cessna Skylane as his next Young Eagle and his mother take it all in . . .

During a short break, (L to R) Volunteer chapter Pilots, John Signorino and Tomas Peralta talk over the ongoing Young Eagle event.

During the Young Eagle rally, many of the Young Eagles, their parents and visitors flocked in to view the great collection of airplanes, antique autos and motorcycles, and to also to buy souvenirs at the WEAM Gift Shop. Making change at the cash register is Kathryn Guerra, whose father, George, the Museum’s Operations Manager, is standing behind her in the light blue shirt.

Pilot Wes Baker listening to his Young Eagle trying to see if he properly understood Wes’ explanation of how an airplane climbs.

Piloting the helicopter back onto the tarmac, is Chapter Volunteer worker and chopper pilot, Priscilla Porras. The same model helicopter, owned by Chapter member Mike McNamee, gave some 17 Young Eagles their first helicopter ride during the project.

After an exciting first ride with both the Young Eagle, who’s also a Cub Scout, and his mother, Pilot John Signorino poses alongside the Cessna 182 Skylane with the happy pair.

After completing a flight, Pilot Tomas Peralta gets ready to make out a Young Eagle Flight Certificate for this young man and his mother.

EAA Chapter 555 President, Wes Baker, an Air Force Academy graduate, gets ready to take this Young Eagle into the sky in his vintage Cessna 140.

                After the successful flight, Wes completes this Young Eagle’s paperwork, as Wes’ wife, Carol, looks on.

Volunteer Pilot, John Signorino, walks out to the McNamee Cessna 182 Skylane with his next Young Eagle, whose mother also took the flight.

During another much-deserved break from the busy flight schedule, Pilot Mike Robinson (L) sits down to chat with fellow volunteer pilot, Wes Baker, on the Right.

Almost the end of the busy day of over 60 flights, the volunteer pilots were caught discussing the event. L to R: Dominic Austen (Pilot who conducted the Preflight Program), Tomas Peralta, John Signorino, Deb Rothchild, and Bryce Daniels.