Friday, November 13, 2009

Newsletter - November 2009

November 10, 2009

Our November meeting will be in the East Room of the St. Louis County Library Headquarters in Ladue. The date is Saturday November 14 at 11AM. Our program is "99 Years of women in Aviation, 1910-2009" This will be presented by our Chairman, Libby Yunger. Libby has given this program at different libraries and if you haven't herd it, be sure to come for this meeting. If you have heard it come anyway. We want to see you!

Does anyone know which Greater St. Louis Ninety-Nines have been inducted into the Forest of Friendship besides Del Scharr, Nelda Lee, and Dorothy Spangler? Be sure to let Libby know. There are more and we need to list them.

We who attended the preview showing of “Amelia" at the Bluffs had a very special experience. Greater St. Louis Chapter had a special reserved section which we managed to fill and the movie was spectacular! Several gals had dinner at a restaurant in the Bluffs before the movie. It was a special time for us. Nelda reported she brought a former member of our chapter, Peggy Bert who now lives in Sandy, Utah and also in Carlsbad, California. She no longer flies, but still loves aviation Her son is a captain with UPS.
It was good to see her again.

This is a report sent by Martha Norman about the NIFA competition where she was a judge. Thanks Martha!

We left Tuesday (October 20) for Romeoville, Illinois, and Lewis University and the Region VIII NIFA (National Intercollegiate Flying Association) Conference. The Judges briefing was that afternoon and the weather was really good--sure makes the drive better. Wednesday was a good flight day, cloudy but with a good ceiling for VFR so we got in the Navigation Event and enough of the two landing events to be able to count them for competition credit. Thursday it rained all day. However, that just made it a really good day for ground events since they are inside anyway. Three events were completed--Simulated Comprehensive Aircraft Navigation (otherwise known as the SCAN Event), the Computer Accuracy Event and the Aircraft Recognition Event--and the judges scored them. Friday, weather wise, was only a little better than Thursday since it was not raining so much. I was, though, great weather for the Aircraft Preflight Inspection Event and the Ground Trainer (Simulator) Event since both are indoors. Saturday morning was a "make-up" day. The weather was good for flying...a good thing...since we got the Message Drop Event in then. I worked with both landing events, Preflight, and Message Drop. Lewis University is a great place to judge. It has a beautiful campus. Six teams were present for the conference: Indiana State University, Lewis University, Middle Tennessee State University, Purdue University, Southern Illinois University - Carbondale, and University of Illinois. The Regional Team Champions are: First: Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Second: Lewis University and Third: University of Illinois. (These teams will get invitations to the National Competition in May as will Indiana State University.) The Top Female Pilot was Jessica Campbell from Indiana State University. Way to Go Jessica!

WE have a list of items we will need in order to paint the compass rose at Greenville airport:

  • 1 or 2 50-ft steel measuring tapes
  • 1 0r 2 yellow chalk lines
  • about 6 yellow or red lumber crayons
  • electric paint stirrer
  • 1-2 cans of gray or black spray enamel to cover accidents (I'll find out what color the ramp area is at Greenville)
  • An artist's brush and several ounces of black enamel for the date stencil
  • 4-incl and 9-inch paint rollers (enough for everyone) several with long handles
  • 1- or 2- inch beveled paint brushes (sash brushes)
  • Sturdy paint foller trays and disposable plastic liners
  • Hammer and nail(s) for center pivot
  • T-square or carpenter's square
  • several brooms
  • knee protector pads
  • assorted rage, paper towels, trash bags, and paint thinner for clean-up

Please let me know if you have any of these items and would be willing to donate them to the cause of painting the compass rose next May (tentative date is 1-2 May 2010)

Painting the compass rose at Greenville IL airport (KGRE) is tentatively scheduled for 1-2 May 2009. The alternate will be 15-16 May since May 9 is Mother's Day. Please check you calendars for any conflicts. The NCS Spring Section Meeting is in Columbus OH 23-24 April and the NIFA SAFECON 2010 is at Indiana State Univ. in Terre Haute, IN 17-22 May.
This is an email received by Libby.


I saw your display at the Pointe this morning about the 99's and Amelia...Thanks for putting it up. The books and Jeppsen items reminded me of times long ago when I learned at Weiss Airport in the early 60's with Gene Taylor and Bob Richardson. Old tail dragging days.Old picker Verne in St Louis vernegarrison@sbcglobal.net.

Information on the Del Scharr Scholarship has been sent to the aviation programs at 20 universities in the midwest. Perhaps this year we'll have some viable candidates for the award.
Libby reported she will have hip surgery, not knee surgery and the date is the same.

Mary Kinnaw and I’m doing good.