Welcome to
the Twin Cities RV Builders Group
* * * * * * *
2/1/2011
Wyoming
airpark property available. See the
FOR SALE page
1/31/2011
Good
news from Mark Erickson!!!
I am
very happy to report the first flight of RV-9A, number
91317 N622BE. Minnesota Wing tech guru, mentor,
and all around good guy, Tom Berge did the honors and
reported that it flew great with no heavy wing and all
temps in the green!
N622BE
is a slow build RV-9A equipped with an AeroSport O360, dual
Lightspeed ignition, Dynon D100, D120, dual axis auto
pilot,
Garmin SL-40, GTX-327.
She will be at KANE during phase 1 and then based at KMIC.
This day has been a long time in the making
and it was great to see her in the air!
Special thanks to Tom Berge for all that you do, Bernie
Weiss for allowing me the use of part of your hanger,
Alex Peterson and Pete Howel, two great hanger
mates!
12/19/2011
Steve
Flaat has an Avery Tool Kit for sale.
Check the details
HERE...
12/17/2011
Our resident RV transition training instructor Tom Berge
recently became a
Van's Aircraft certified flight
instructor.
His RV-7A syllabus was also recently approved by the FAA
under their new amateur built aircraft training rules.
Tom also provides pre-buy and pre-"DAR" airworthiness
inspections , initial test flights and will come to your
location. See his
website for details.
12/04/2011
Dick Russ has developed a unique and simple control lock
for all the RVs except the RV-8.
The price is right… it’s very light and can be ordered
from
Aircraft Spruce.
Looks like you might need one of these!!!!!
Side-by-side RVs (except the -8)
For the RV-12
11/14/2011
The December RVator’s Log is now ready for
download
HERE….
11/1/2011
World famous rescuer of all boxers, Pete Howell was at it
again last weekend. Certainly Pete must be a triple ace by
now!!
Read about his latest adventure!
10/06/2011
A RV-7A tail kit and also a Christen inverted oil system
have been posted on the
For Sale
page. Check them out
HERE.
09/26/2011
Our 22nd Annual RV Picnic was another great success!! The
weather was just about perfect as usual. In all of these
years we have never been rained on and even the cloudy days
have been a rarity. Kim and Roy Furhmann plus the neighbors
on the airpark really came together and hosted a wonderful
day. Officially we had 159 folks sign in and we tallied 24
RVs in attendance plus 12 “others”.
Sky Harbor (near Webster, MN) is one of those very special
places and has to be one of the most beautiful air parks on
earth. All the homes are neat as a pin and most have
hangars attached harboring a wide variety of cool flying
machines. Thanks to everyone who helped to make this a
GREAT day!!!
Avionics magnate Stein Bruch brought his RV-9 “Clown
Plane” which has been known to cause seizures if gazed upon
without eye protection!
09/05/2011
The September issue of the RVator’s log is ready for your
download.
Here’s the
link.....
08/29/2011
Tom and “Bear” head for NAS Oshkosh
For those of you who haven’t spent any time around Naval
Aviation, NAS stands for “Naval Air Station”. Those special
people who help organize, plan and direct the themes for
the world’s premier aviation event, recognized the
significance of the Centennial of Naval Aviation, this
year, 2011. And so, many references to this year’s
gathering at Oshkosh referred to NAS Oshkosh, as though it
was one of the Navy’s airbases, due to all the arriving
naval aircraft, and the history generated by their
appearances.
We had been planning this mission to NAS Oshkosh for almost
a year. An old Marine buddy of mine was flying in from
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, another Navy friend was driving in
from St. Paul, and some more friends from EAA 66, Ft. Myers
were coming in too. We all wanted to participate in helping
the Navy celebrate its 100 birthday.
When I was a cadet in Pre Flight back in 1964, naval history was my weakest subject. I can remember like it was yesterday, telling my instructor after a poor test score, “Why do I need to remember all these dates and take my time studying something that happened over 50 years ago. I want to fly airplanes, not teach history.” Well, that went over like a cold cat shot! Now almost another 50 years later, and I do realize the significance of the efforts many have made, to create a great nation. History seems to become more special as we age and become part of that history.
We had planned to depart Irlbeck International (24WI), with the dawn patrol at 0600. Wednesday morning, July 27th placed us right in the middle of a frontal passage, rain, lightning and thunder to make sure we stayed grounded. The 27th was designated as “Navy Day”, and we wanted to help support the activities and to get going. Watching DUATS and NEXRAD gave us a pretty good picture as to what the weather was doing. My buddy from St. Paul was giving us a driving report also, which was “it’s raining like hell”. Well, it was around 1130 before we blasted off, the system seemed to be falling apart. On the way down, my altitude varied due to cloud layers between 5,500 down to 500 feet. My bread crumbs looked like a drunken sailor, but as we hit Ripon, the “Air Boss” broke up the weather, and we cruised in over Fisk with a 2 90 degree rolls “rock your wings”, and the “deck” was in sight. This was around my 29th arrival to OSH, but held a special meaning to me, and many Navy veterans.
Now I’m going to shoot some history your way, and I can guarantee you, it’s more accurate than my answers to some history questions that I got wrong 46 years. My old Navy history teacher would probably have had a heart attack, and feel sorry for adding 5 demerits for poor effort, to my almost perfect record, if he saw my effort here.
On November 10th, 1910, Curtis’ demonstration pilot, Eugene Ely flew the Hudson Flyer from a temporarily erected flight deck on the fo’c’sle of the USS Birmingham while at anchor in the Chesapeake Bay. Then just a little over 2 months later, January 18th, 1911 the day a Curtis-Ely Pusher landed on the deck of the USS Pennsylvania in San Francisco Bay, ushering in the naval aviation era and the Centennial of Naval Aviation. Being able to look at the replica of the Curtis-Ely Pusher, you realize that they were not worried about longitudinal stability, or the coefficients of lift, but they were just trying to make something that flew and wouldn’t kill them on their next flight. I truly wish I could have been there helping them, it was an eventful time of experimental aircraft development. A few other notable events that aided naval aviation was the advent of the angle deck in 1952 on the USS Antietam (CVA-36), needed for the jet era. The first nuclear powered aircraft carrier, USS Enterprise (CVAN-65) which supported the Vietnam War, and I was there.
This year’s event, displayed the largest collection of naval aircraft spanning all eras. Some of the more unique aircraft were the only flying SB2C Helldiver, a Navy dive bomber. Others a PV-2 Harpoon, O1Y/L-5B USMC Observation aircraft, Temco Pinto jet trainer, TBM Navy torpedo bomber, SNJ Navy trainer, F8F Bearcat in Blue Angels paint scheme, Grumman J2F Duck Navy amphibian, F4U Corsairs, an FM2 Wildcat and an F7F Tigercat. The Vietnam War era was represented by Douglas R4D, Douglas AD Skyraider, Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, and the North American T-2 Buckeye. I was fortunate enough to have flown in the R4D, the AD and the T-2 during my short 6 years in the Navy. Over 25 current naval aircraft were present at various times many repainted in colors from previous eras.
Wednesday night was spent at the Theater in the Woods listening to two old Naval Aviators, Capts. Gene Cernan and Jim Lovell reminisce about flying, competing for spots on space shots, landing on the moon, and friendly bashing anyone that wasn’t a Naval Aviator. It was almost like to brothers competing for the best story of the day, very entertaining.
Thursday evening the Navy League sponsored a gathering for all Navy Veterans, with a large food bar, with a free drink. So some of the food I brought along for that night, was hauled back home later. One of my students when I was a flight instructor at NAS Miramar, was there, and renewed stories flew fast that evening. It is truly interesting what each of us remember, and some of what we don’t. History is not black and white.
Friday, April 28th will probably go down in my logs as one very special day. It started with breakfast for all veterans. This was held at the PHP Center tent, and will be an annual event, sponsored by the Ron and Diane Fagen Family. You have to register on line, so they know how many are coming for food, but it is a great breakfast and free. Paul Poberezny who will shortly turn 90, welcomed us at 0730, and introduced a very special Marine as our guest speaker. Marine Sergeant Jonathan Blank had lost both his legs in Afghanistan a year early. He talked for around a half an hour about his service life, and how he lost both legs. It was a very emotional experience, a 22 year old, relating his story. The attitude and his devotion to his country, even after losing limbs, was very inspirational. Most of us had a tear or two running down our cheeks, and no one thought much of it. Early afternoon they had the Navy Veterans, active duty and anyone related to the Navy, march from the Warbirds area, down the flight line to the Shell Center, with a few admirals, and Navy personnel, Rod Hightower give all of us a little recognition and thanks for the service of all veterans.
I had to head home Friday evening after the show, so missed Gary Sinse and the Lt. Dan Band, highly thought of for his dedication to veterans.
There were many other special sights, the B-29 Superfortress “Fifi”, the arrival of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner debut, an unbelievably quiet aircraft, Burt Rutan day, Bob Hoover day, 25 yrs. ago the Voyager circling the Earth nonstop. NAS Oshkosh had proven to be the place to be for me this year, and another year to be thankful that we can fly for fun in this great place, called the United States of America.
Keep the greasy side up,
Tom and “Bear”
08/24/2011
A special ride....
In January of this year I met my Birth Mother Su for the first time in Detroit, Michigan, the town where I was born. It was an amazing time for both of us so we decided to get together again this summer in Minnesota so Su could meet my adoptive parents and see the area where I grew up. Somehow I was able to convince her that the best way to see the area where I grew up was from the air so up we went! The RV grins in the pictures tell the rest of the story.
It was a pretty special experience to take my Birth Mother flying on her first visit and even more special for that flight to be in a plane that I built…with a little help from my friends of course. Even this late in life, it’s nice to make your parents proud.
On our way home from the airport Su was briefing me on all the airports near her home in Michigan and asking how far the plane can fly. I guess a Delta Airlines trip is out of the question for our next visit. Do you think we look alike?
- Peter Fruehling
08/22/2011
Earlier
this year, long time MN Winger Don Willam sold his RV-4 to
a gentlemen in Australia (many RVs seem to be going Down
Under lately). The new owner is Ron Tizzard and he recently
sent us these photos:
I bought Don’s RV4 last year, Tom IrIbeck helped with the
sale. I just flew it around Australia raising
funds for the Royal Flying Doctors Service
(RFDS). I have flown over 100hrs in the
aircraft in the 6 months its been flying. The
spitfire is an 85% scale model (Ayres Rock in the
background)
The fellow in this photo with the Qantas 747 in the
background is famous around-the-world RV pilot Jon
Johannson.
The trip made the front page of the local paper.
08/15/2011
FINALLY...
after six months in the paint shop, Peter Fruehling’s RV-7
is now back at Anoka with its AWESOME new paint job. Your
friendly editor checked it out yesterday and it is a super
job.... just ready and waiting to kill some Minnesota
bugs!!! Check out the video:
Untitled from Peter Fruehling on Vimeo.
7/07/2011
Jerry
Golden’s “antique” RV-6 took to the skies today with test
pilot Doug Weiler in the left seat. Generally everything
went well although the wood prop is pitched too high
preventing the engine from turning up sufficient rpm. But
it was fast! All systems were fine and the airplane was
just about perfectly in trim except for the need of some
right rudder.
Jerry is practically one of the founding fathers of the
group having started his RV-6 in the EARLY 90’s!!
Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!
See more photos HERE......
7/04/2011
HAPPY
FOURTH!!!!!
While
the rest of us RV “builders” stayed home to slave away on
our airplanes (and shoot off a couple firecrackers),
veteran RV traveler Pete Howell and his wife Andi were out
having a great time in their RV-9A with a quick two-day
jaunt to Mackinaw Island. Pete just passed the 800 hour
mark (I assume he is saving for a new engine as he’ll hit
TBO probably about the time I get my -7
flying!)
Here is Pete’s story. This is what RV flying is all
about!!!
MN Wing News
Archives
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
viewed best with
Mozilla 