August 2017

In this issue

Page

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The British Spitfire was designed by a fellow named Reginald Joseph, “RJ” Mitchell and his longtime friend, test pilot, Geoffrey Crisp. Mitchell excelled in mathematics and art in school, but discovered a love of en-gineering at an early age. In 1917, he landed a job with Supermarine in Southampton.

He dreamed of designing a different kind of airplane from those flown in World War I. He had a revolutionary new design, but his bosses at Super-marine ignored him at first.

The founder of Supermarine wanted to build seaplanes, and Mitchell was responsible for the seaplanes that won the Schneider air race and eventually gave birth to the Spitfire.

In 1925, Mitchell’s Supermarine S4 entered the Schneider race, with his friend Crisp piloting, but crashed be-fore the race ended. That year Jim-my Doolittle won in a design by Glenn Curtiss. Crisp recovered from injuries and was ready to race again two years later, in 1927 and won the coveted race with a new speed rec-ord.

In 1929, Mitchell’s plane wins the Schneider again with Crisp at the controls and at a victory party he meets Lady Houston, an eccentric socialite who expressed concern with England’s fate and believed the country needed to be ready for com-ing threats. She had words embla-zoned in lights on her yacht that read, “Down with the government” and “Wake up England.”

When the race team needed money to attempt securing the Schneider trophy permanently, the government refused to help, but Lady Houston stepped up with $100,000 because

she believed Mitchell’s aircraft would sustain Britain’s air defenses.

With limited funds and at first, no sup-port from the government, Mitchell de-signed the Spitfire.

He was diagnosed with cancer in 1933. He didn’t let this stop him; he learned to fly later that year and obtained a pilot’s license in 1934. He pushed himself to finish the Spitfire to save his country.

A statement at the end of Mitchell’s bi-ography, “All who now live in peace and freedom would do well to remember that one man can make a difference* and be thankful that Mitchell’s Spitfire was ready in the summer of 1940.” (For the Battle of Britain.)

Mitchell had one son; Gordon. Doctor Gordon Mitchell told his father’s story in two books “R.J. Mitchell – World Fa-mous Aircraft Designer” and “R.J. Mitch-ell – Schooldays to Spitfire.”

R.J. Mitchell died at age 42 on June 11, 1937. His aircraft, the Spitfire, lived on to become one of the most famous fight-ers of all time.

This story was researched by Cathy Hansen who was the Aviation Columnist for the Desert News, Mojave, CA.

*One man can make a difference” – I encourage you to be the change you would like to see in this world.

Supermarine Spitfire Mk 16

“Spitfire” By Morris Garcia

The Plane Scoop

A publication of the Central Valley Aviation Association

Curtis R3C flown by Jimmy Doolittle that won the Schneider Trophy in 1925.

Page 2

Ron Paliughi, local aviator and member of the Quiet Birdmen, provide a very interesting account of the life and times of David Steeves, a colorful local pilot in the 1960s. Steeves became famous and then infamous through his survival after the T-33 jet train-er he was pi-loting crashed in the Sierra Nevada and he walked to safety over a period of 50+ days. Ron provided de-tails about Steeves’ life and how his story was eventually cor-roborated by the discovery of the canopy from the T-33 years after Steeves was killed in anoth-er plane crash.

Thanks Ron for a fascinat-ing presenta-tion!

At AirVenture 2017 this year were two Pipistrel Al-pha Electro trainers that have been purchased by the Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum (TAM) in Compton, CA. These are the first Alpha Electros to come to the United States and will be followed in October by four more coming to Fresno County as part of the Sustainable Aviation Project (www.sustainableaviationproject.com). TAM and the project partners for the Sustainable Aviation Project are working very closely as these revolutionary air-craft come into California. The TAM aircraft will pro-vide training for low income youth in the Southern California area and the aircraft being deployed by the Sustainable Aviation Project will train youth and veterans in the San Joaquin Valley. Both projects are working to develop a network of chargers at Cali-fornia airports to support electric aircraft operation. (Photos courtesy of CVAA member Tom Linton.)

August Activities

August 5– Regular Meeting, KFCH Sheriff’s Air Squadron meeting room, 9 am, Speaker: .

August 10--Board Meeting, 6:30 pm, location is Airport Manager’s Conference Room, Chandler Terminal Building at 510 W. Kearney Blvd., Fresno, CA.

Central Valley Squadron of CAF Saturday Lunch. See website for details: http://www.cafvalleysquadron.org/saturday-lunch

Pipistrel Alpha Electros Arrive for AirVenture 2017

Ron Paliughi Spoke about David Steeves and a lost T-33 at the July 1

Meeting

Page 3 The Central Valley Aviation Association

Several weeks ago on a Saturday morn-ing, Bill Campbell and I flew up to Modesto for the Commemorative Air Force Central California Valley Squadron Saturday lunch. It is a wonderful event that brings in pilots and planes from all over the northern part of the San Joaquin Valley. The food is wonderful and I especially enjoy the homemade milkshakes and all for just $5!! Normally, I spend time after eating looking at planes parked on the ramp outside their historic 1929 hangar. However, this time due to the heat, I decided to check out their great little museum tucked inside the hangar. The photos below show the won-derful collection of artifacts and collectibles they have on display.

I highly recommend taking the time to stop by and check it out!

-Editor

Thanks to the talent of long-time CVAA member, Ed Sulli-van, the Fresno Chandler Airport Terminal Building has a new office directory sign at the west entrance that highlights CVAA’s new office in Suite 104. President Morris Garcia is hoping to have the office set up for visi-tors before the Re-member When Fly-in on September 30, 2017.

CVAA Office In Terminal Building

Modesto’s Commemorative Air Force Heritage Air Power Museum

Page 4 The Central Valley Aviation Association

Below is the list of officer and Board positions elected for 2017 to oversee the operations of CVAA . If you have sug-gestions for speakers, topics, events, or activities, please feel free to contact any of the officers or Board members listed.

Officers

President: Morris Garcia

Vice President: Joseph Oldham

Secretary: Christie Anderson

Treasurer: Sarah Donaldson

Board Members

Joe Kulbeth Mary King John Pugliese Jim Shamp Rick Emerian

Chuck Carson Arnie Schweer Mark Cannon

Meeting Minutes from July 1

Call to order: 8:32 a.m.

Flag salute: Led by President Morris Garcia.

Treasurer’s Report: Financial Recap for Month of June, cash in bank as of 05/01/2017 $8,627.05 Total Income, $240.25 Total Expenses, ( $1,595.97). Net Increase, ($1,355.72). Cash in bank on 05/31/2017, $7,271.33. MSC Sowell/Pugliese.

Minutes: 6/3/2017 minutes read. MSC Shamp/Cannon.

Old Business:

Morris and Sarah have e-mailed every pilot and car clubs in the Central Valley.

Arnie and Sharon are also going to car shows promoting “Remember When” event. $90.00 adult ticket and $65.00 for children on the DC-3.

Morrie talked to Pepsi. They will set up booth, bring soda and what is not solded, they take back. CVAA will split profits between Boy Scout troop manning the booth.

Report by Morrie about flag and pole at Chandler Airport. July 6, meeting with M. Musca and code en-forcement.

New Business:

John Durant will be calling for volunteers to help with our event in September.

John Durant had about 1000 cards printed promoting the event.

A MSC was made by Jim Shamp / Ron Gandolfo to join the Fresno Chamber of Commerce. In turn they will promote the “Remember When” event on their media sites.

Arnie suggested having a B-B-Q vendor at the September event.

Speaker: Ron Paliughi gave a presentation titled “The Saga of Dave Steeves”.

Adjournment: 10:08 a.m. MSC Oldham/Canon

CVAA Officers and Board Members for 2017

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Name:_____________________________________________________ Membership: Single____ Family____

Spouse’s Name (If family membership):_______________________________(we encourage family membership)

Address:

Street________________________________________________, City______________, State:____ Zip:_______

Telephone:

Home:_________________, Work:_________________, Cellular:__________________

Email address: ___________________________________________________________(Print carefully)

I would like to receive the Plane Scoop via e-mail: Yes__________, No ___________

Airplane (you usually fly):

Type:___________________________, N number:_______________, Colors):____________________________

Date of birth (just the month and day—not the year):

Primary member:_______________, Spouse:_______________.

How many years have you been a member of CVAA?_____________ (estimates are OK)

CVAA Service:

Please list any offices or committee positions in which you are interested in serving:

Please list any talent or skills you have that you would be willing to use to serve CVAA:

This information will be printed in our Club roster and distributed to members only. Please omit any information you do

not want to appear in the Club roster.

Mail application, with $20 single membership or $25 for a family membership to:

Sarah Donaldson

1959 Gateway Blvd., Suite 102

Fresno, CA 93727

If you have already paid your dues please complete the form anyway and mail it or hand it to Sarah Don-

aldson.

Comments or suggestions:

Central Valley Aviation Association Membership Application or Update