 by Geoff Robison, VAA President
VAA Life Member 12606, EAA Life Member 268346Welcome back to our new updated format for EAA Vintage Aircraft Association’s Vintage AirMail e-Newsletter. Our newseltter team has worked for several months to update and modernize our AirMail format to make it easier for you to read and enjoy.2016 is certainly shaping up to be yet another banner year for the VAA. Your Board of Directors met in Oshkosh on Thursday November 5th.This was one of the most productive Fall Board sessions we have ever conducted. We had great discussions on everything from Youth in Aviation initiatives to AirVenture 2016 features and attractions.
Full column >>
 Vintage Town Hall in Georgia with Jack Pelton
By Ron Alexander, VAA 27150SAVE THE DATE – FEBRUARY 27, 2016 – 1:00 PM.
Those of us who are on the Vintage Aircraft Association Board of Directors meet in Oshkosh three times each year. We meet in late spring, during AirVenture, and during late fall.One of our directors, Susan Dusenbury, suggested that we do a winter meeting in the southern part of the country.
Having a winter gathering will allow us to better plan for AirVenture activities while we still have time to act on our ideas. Susan and I discussed this and decided to recommend Atlanta, Georgia as a good location.Easy to get to via the airlines, somewhat warm in the winter (although not guaranteed), and a built in meeting place at Candler Field Museum.This museum is located only 30 miles south of downtown Atlanta and only a 1 hour drive from the Atlanta Airport. The board was presented with the information and a decision was made to have a winter meeting at Candler Field Museum on February 27th. Full story >> February Mystery Airplane
This twin-engined amphibian made an appearance in the early 1930s. When sending replies please disclose as much information as possible about the aircraft’s development, specs, performance and history.
Click on the image aboveor the link below to view full size, to submit an answer, and to see our past mystery airplanes. Full story >>
 Lee Bowden 2015 Memorial Tour
by Jim Zangger, VAA 23221
Our small group of mid-western Taylorcraft pilots were saddened to learn that, our good friend, Lee Bowden suffered a life ending heart attack this past winter. Lee, a very enthusiastic supporter of aviation, loved flying his Taylorcraft across the United States.
Sadly, his flying adventures have now been cut short. I was honored when Lee’s family selected me to fly Lee’s Taylorcraft as the missing man in a formation over the cemetery.
In honor of Lee’s enthusiasm for flying adventures the idea of a Memorial Tour began in a conversation with our good friends and fellow Taylorcraft pilots at Lee’s funeral.
Full story >>
 Youth in Action: Gleb Liashedko
by Ron Alexander, VAA 27150
Gleb is a very active 19 year old who is pursuing a B.S. degree in Aviation Business Administration…
So how did Gleb become interested in aviation? His first general aviation flight occurred in May, 2011 at Felts Field. Chapter 79 was giving Young Eagle rides and EAA member Christian Sturm offered a ride to Gleb in his Piper PA-14. This sparked an interest that was increased dramatically when the chapter sponsored him to go to the EAA Air Academy in Oshkosh that same summer.
Gleb has been a volunteer with the Young Eagle’s ground crew ever since that summer. He remains active as a volunteer.
Full story >>
 December Mystery Solved – the Bluebird LP-4
The December Mystery Plane proved to be no mystery for a number of VAA members, the first coming from Tim Cansler who identified the aircraft as the National Airplane and Motor Company’s Bluebird LP-4.
Other correct answers were received from Ulrich Rist, Jim Grant, Pit Ross and Wayne Muxlow.
Amazingly it also turns out a Bluebird is under construction by Tim Talen who has restored scores of award winning aircraft and was recently inducted into VAA’s Hall of Fame. Read what Tim Talen has to say about the Bluebird—and don’t be surprised if you see a trophy winning Bluebird parked on the flightline at AirVenture a few years from now. Full story >>
 TECH TIP: Maintaining a Production Airplane – Part One
by Ron Alexander, VAA 2715
What about those of us who own a production airplane with a standard airworthiness certificate? Can we legally maintain that airplane? If so, what does the FAA allow us to do? Can we document it in the aircraft logbook? Where can we find more information concerning what can be done and how to do it? These are all valid questions for an aircraft owner.
I know that I can maintain an experimental airplane because FAR Part 43 that pertains to maintenance on a production airplane does not apply to aircraft operating with a special airworthiness certificate under the experimental category. I can even perform my own annual inspection ( condition inspection ) on my experimental and then sign it off in the logbook if I have a repairman’s certificate.
Full story >>
Vintage Aircraft Association – The Gateway to Affordable Flying
|
