HANGAR FLYIN'HANGAR FLYIN'
EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION
March 2002
BIG COUNTRY CHAPTER # 471, INC.
During this past weekend on February 2-3 we flew to Lajitas, Texas. Our EAA Chapter
471 occasionally gets together to fly someplace different every 3-4 months. The trip to
Lajitas was exceptional. Our flights are usually one day out and back, but this one was an
overnight stay.
Our group consisted of seven aircraft, including EAA members from Lubbock and elsewhere. We were part of a four-ship formation that departed early Saturday morning with Dick Humphrey and Julia Mahoney in their Cherokee 140 leading us to Fort Stockton, where we refueled. It was freezing there, with low winds out of the north, but that didn’t dampen our spirits or our excitement. From Fort Stockton my wife, Debbie, and I led the formation in our Cherokee 140B followed by Dick and Julia in their Cherokee, Tim and Pam McMurray in their Pacer and Don and Jo Bledsoe in their Citabria. Another three-ship formation that included Gray and Teresa Bridwell, Carroll Bird and Charlotte Rhodes were ahead of us.
We flew at an altitude of 8500 feet westbound over Alpine, then south over the highway in case any of us had engine problems and had to make an emergency landing, which thankfully nobody did. It is safer to land on the highway rather than in the treacherous and unforgiving mountains. The sky was clear with some high clouds and beautiful mountain scenery. Our GPS coordinates had to be accurate and were set to the new airport outside of Lajitas. The new airport is within a couple of miles of the Mexican border so there was a danger of accidentally flying into Mexican airspace. The border between Texas and Mexico is the Rio Grande River, so we knew we needed to stay north of the river and we’d be fine.
Our Chapter was one of the first to use the new airport, and it’s really nice. There are no taxiways along the side of the runway so you have to wait on the parking area to takeoff, but it’s usually not a long wait. They have a new fuel truck for jet fuel but none for 100LL fuel. We were promised they would have it soon, so by next year we will be able to refuel there and not have to fly back to Fort Stockton for fuel. The new runway is 7500 ft. long by 100 ft. wide (07/25) and it’s uncontrolled so listen up and be observant for traffic. There are also some new hangars going up.
The town of Lajitas is small and everything is within walking distance. The weather was perfect with no wind or rain but lots of sunshine. The air was very fresh, also. If you were looking for a mall you’d be disappointed because there is none. It has the feel of an old western 1800’s style town atmosphere. We stayed at the Officers Quarters at the Lajitas Resort Hotel. The accommodations are very nice and modern. There is a sign in each room advising you not to drink the water, and they mean it! The hotel actually provides bottled water for all your drinking needs. The whole area where the resort hotel is located is an old western style town. It’s the sort of town where you would expect to see John Wayne hanging around. The front walkways are wood with wooden overhangs and there are hitchin’ posts where you can tie your horse. We ate at the Pavillion where there was a variety of Mexican and American foods, divided on the menu into “North of the border” and “South of the border.” Someone who flew down with us actually ordered and ate a huge delicious cheese-burger. With all the wonderful Mexican food choices – go figure!
There are many activities and entertainment available for your enjoyment, such as river rafting, horseback riding, fossil tours, and bird tours. If you prefer, you can just walk around and see the sights. Everything is within walking distance, in-cluding the Rio Grande and the Mexican border. There is no need to rent a car, although you can rent a horse if you’d like. We even got to see the Mayor, the famous beer-drinking goat. We were too cheap to buy him a beer, although he didn’t go without.
The evening and sunset were beautiful and romantic. After a good nights sleep, it was time for a Mexican breakfast, then a ride to the airport in the hotel van. The weather was still beautiful and we hated to leave. What a wonderful place to visit. Everyone had a great time and there has been talk within the chapter of making the trip to Lajitas an annual adventure. Those of you who couldn’t make it should set aside the time next year to make this terrific trek. It will be well worth it!!!
Lajitas, 2002
- WES HAYS
Gray asked if I would also write a few details on our trip to Lajitas since we took a little different route. First a bit of background. Joel and Debra Spray (The RV-8 driver) had been to Lajitas several times before. Joel traveled that part of the world selling welding supplies for Forney Industries and grew to love the desert southwest.
He and Debra have ridden their BMW motorcycle from Matador, TX down to Lajitas, and all around the Big Bend Country at least once, and maybe more. (Now that is what I call a “hard-core” motorcycle rider.) Joel had mentioned several times before that we ought to get together and fly down to Lajitas to look the place over because it had a beauty all its own. We had planned to do that this winter before the weather got too hot. Rick and Sue Liles (RV-6A from Lubbock), Greg and Ginger Harper (RV-6A from Sudan), Edwin Harper and Dana Longino (Edwin is Greg’s Dad from Sudan, Dana has an RV-6A from Littlefield), and Becky and I had planned to make the trip. At the last minute, Greg’s daughter won first chair in the Regional Band at Lubbock and the concert was scheduled for Saturday. Dana’s schedule just did not work out this time (Dana is a United Airlines pilot who is based in Denver).
Dana is in the United training department and the one who got Rick and I into a B-757 simulator at the UAL training center on the old Denver Stapleton Airport on September 8th. We were able to spend four hours flying the simulator and it was the most fun I have had in a long time. But that is another story. When the chapter advertised the trip to Lajitas it was perfect timing. I contacted Gray and asked if we could tag along. He said the more the merrier, and I want to say thanks to all for allowing us to come. I hope we did not interfere with the planned chapter activities. Rick & Sue, Joel & Debra, and Becky and I had a great time. We appreciate it a lot.
Joel had met the FBO at Marfa and said he was a good guy and had reasonable gas prices. I also have a good friend who is the superintendent of schools at Ft. Davis, which is about 17 miles N. of Marfa, so we decided to make Marfa our fuel stop on the way down. Scotty and Elaine Barton from Ft. Davis met us with hot cinnamon rolls and coffee. We had a great visit and as always, the planes seemed to draw a crowd wherever they go. A Border Patrol pilot was there and he was interested in building an RV-8, so Joel’s –8 was of a great deal of interest. Scotty had a friend there who was restoring a Cessna 195, and we all very quickly became fast friends. I find that it is like this where ever we go. You meet such great people.
We were visiting with the “line-boy” there who gassed up the planes and
found out that he was the grandson of the man who built Hegy Props in Marfa. He now owns
the business and helped out at the airport for a few hours a day. When Scotty built the
Peitenpol at Rotan, he had a Hegy propeller on it that was made in Marfa, TX. That was the
only time I had ever heard of Hegy Props. One thing led to another, and before we left, we
had to go to the prop shop in town to see how it was all done. (This is how Rick and I
found the Ly-Con Engine factory when we stopped in Visalia, CA last summer and got a
personal tour of their shop by the owner. They build the engines for Shawn Tucker and a
lot of other folks. That also is another great story. Rick and this guy were talking that
engineering talk which was so far over my head I though I was hearing a foreign
language.)
I don’t know just what we expected, but it was just a small little workshop in
back of the house. You could tell it had been there for many many years. Jim said his
Granddad (Hegy) built the shop from left over aircraft parts he scrounged from where ever
he could get them. He showed us the templates he used for the blades and talked about the
wood he used. (He prefers birch. Says a rock strike on a hard maple prop will usually
propagate all the way to the hub, or just crack off the tip of the prop.) Jim was still
using the tools and indicators that his granddad (Hegy) used when he built the props. Hegy
learned his trade at Hamilton Props before it became Hamilton-Standard. Some of the tools
Jim is now using to make these props are well over 100 years old. Rick said he still
remembers Hegy coming to the shop in El Paso when he was working there as an A&P a few
moons ago.
As we were about to leave, we stepped into the gluing room and on the ceiling were
several snake skins. The anaconda skin was about 25 ft. long and there were a couple of
smaller boa constrictor skins. On the wall in the corner were blowguns, bows and arrows,
and spears that Hegy had brought back from South America along with the snakeskins. We all
told Jim he probably had the only Prop Shop in the world with snakes on the ceiling (even
if they weren’t green).
Hegy must have been quite a guy. Jim said that he routinely woke everyone up at OSH
with a low pass in the little red biplane he built. Later he donated it to the EAA and I
thought I understood Jim to say it was on display in the EAA museum. Hegy donated it to
the museum after he took out over a quarter of a mile of electrical lines, which cost him
over $3,000. to replace. Jim said he got about 140K cruise out of it. Pretty good for a
plane with a 12’ wingspan and 65 horses. Jim said he built it out of spare parts from
wrecked planes in and around the Marfa area and had about $650 in the plane. The rest was
from extra parts he just “picked up.”
Jim was a great host and really entertained us with his stories. The walls were
covered with business cards, and other airplane stuff. The place had a great deal of
character and Jim was a joy to visit with. He said Hegy had him making small props ever
since he was 9 years old. He is probably one of the last “master craftsmen” left
around, and if you get the chance to stop and say hi, you won’t regret it.
Anyway, we returned to the airport and left for Lajitas. Seems like we got there
just about the same time that everyone else did. There was a flight of four approaching
from the North about the time we were entering downwind. As for Lajitas, the food was
pretty good. We really enjoyed buying Mayor Clay Henry III a few beers, and seeing that
part of the world. It truly has a beauty all its own. We also had a great visit with one
of the local shop owners and she really gave us some interesting insights into living in
that area. She and her husband left the metroplex when they retired and moved about 25
miles Northwest of Lajitas. It takes about an hour to drive the last 15 miles off road for
them to get home. Solar electricity, no air conditioning, propane refrigerator. I can tell
you that is not Becky’s idea of playing “Pioneer Woman.” About the closest
she wants to get is building a fire in the fireplace.
Unfortunately I started feeling bad Saturday nite, and when we left Sunday I knew
we better head straight home. Rick and Sue, and Joel and Debra dialed in Snyder for fuel,
and we flew with them as far as McCamey before we veered off and headed back to Winters.
The winds were much more favorable coming home as we saw ground speeds between 185-195K
and it took one hour and 27 minutes from Lajitas to Winters. I don’t think I caught
this infection at Lajitas. It is a leftover from a bad sinus infection, but Becky has also
come down with it now. I hope no one else does. Thanks again for a great time and allowing
us to tag along.
HELP WANTED
-BILLY TUCKER
I think this has been mentioned before, but sometimes when a need goes unmet, a
reminder is in order. We need breakfast
help! We need a volunteer or two to be
responsible for putting up the tables and chairs for our monthly breakfasts. Right now, the crew who cooks for us is having to
wrangle with some of these set-up chores and get the food, and get breakfast
equipment out and fired up, and cook, and clean up and...and...Get
the point?
If you can be available for monthly duty, please talk to Don Bledsoe. He will tell you what needs to be done and where
the equipment is stored. And . . . Don,
Charlie, and Lew, and others who have helped, we appreciate your good cooking !!!
Young Eagles Plans
- CHRIS ULIBARRI
"Young Eagles" is scheduled this year for May 18th, 2002.
We had a great year in 2001 and plan for another great year in 2002. Everyone did an
excellent job helping out and I look forward to your participation again this year and
working with you to make it another successful year. We had an excellent safety record
last year also and with everyone's diligence, we will continue with flight and ground
safety. Remember "Safety Is Paramount."
Our participation in the Young Eagles program has had a tremendous impact toward
achieving EAA's ultimate goal. Our goal of flying one million young people by the 100th
anniversary of powered flight and the 50th anniversary of EAA in the 2003 is achievable.
To date, all of the EAA Young Eagles pilots have
flown 765,535 Young Eagles since the
program was launched in July 1992. It's great to be a part of this excellent achievement,
and our safety and success a tribute to you!
May will be here soon so I am looking for volunteers for this year's Young Eagles. We'll need everyone's help again this year so contact me or Gray Bridwell. Thank you and keep em flyin.
Chris Ulibarri,
Young Eagles Chairman, Chapter 471, 691-9887 or UlibarriC@aol.com."
THE
SWRFI REPORT
- BARRY COTNER
On Saturday February 16th Carroll Bird and I blasted off Abilene with Gray and Charlotte in formation with the site set on Burnet, Texas. Stan Shannon has conducted a survey which the results have led to the question Abilene as the correct airport for the fly-in. It seems that San Marcos takes a greater position than all other airports noted on the survey. All present at the meeting felt that it would not be a bad idea to look into the criteria of a good location and there will be a committee formed to look into what airport meets the criteria of a good airport. Abilene would be ranked as one of those airports as well as others.
The fly-in lost money this year only after deducting the tents in full that were
damaged by the winds last year. If it had not
been for the wind damage, the fly-in would have made money.
It was noted by Monroe Mcdonald and Lorne Sharp that Abilene was not to blame. Only the bad run of weather and 9/11. No Texas airport would have been better. It seems that some EAA survey respondents have not
taken this into consideration.
Our chapter was well represented. Gray
Bridwell, Charlotte Rhodes, Carl Walker, Willie Walker, Ken Burgess, Woody Gilliland,
Carroll Bird, and myself. Our representation
was greater than all other chapters.
Member Profile
-GARY HOCKENSMITH
We pilots are a unique group and it seems we
never tire of sharing ex-periences and war stories with each other about our backgrounds
and flying exploits. I, for one, have a
great deal of interest in learning more about the background of my fellow
I would like to suggest that we add a
monthly column to our newsletter
I would personally like the “Bio” to
include info on your current occupation, when and where did your pursuit of aviation
begin, where were you born and raised, what
I would like to see a second new column
added to be titled, “Memorable
So for those of you who would like to
participate, get those “Bio’s”
and war stories in the mail to Billy Tucker (P.O. Box 3933 Abilene, TX 79604 or btucker@cisco.cc.tx.us for submission in upcoming
newsletters.
Subject:
relocation
I
really enjoyed the time I spent in Abilene and with the Chapter 471 personnel. Since I am a "boomer" and travel around
the country a lot, there have been many EAA chapters that I have visited. None have been as welcoming and friendly as 471. This is no hollow statement. Outstanding courtesy
and genuine friendly behavior is the description for Chapter 471.
The
Young Eagles day at ABI was a great event.
Thanks
to you all.
Mike
Moore
UPCOMING EVENTS
March 9th -
2nd Annual Poker run. Pride
Hangar, ABI ! Prizes, food, fun!!
· 8am registration and doughnuts.
· 9:30 Launch aircraft.
·
12:30 Hamburgers and Airport fries.
May 18th – Young Eagles
June 1st???? Lonestar Flight
Museum/Moody Gardens
July 13th??? Second Annual
Fly-in Floatout - Gaudalupe River
EAA
471
Chapter
Officers
President Gray Bridwell
Vice-President
Billy Tucker
Secretary
Jim Snelgrove
Treasurer
Hobby Stevens
Director
Hank
Castle
Director
Barry
Cotner
Director
Wayne McCormick
Director
Charles Screws
Director
Steve West
Past
President
Carroll Bird