THIRD QUARTER | 2017
Supporting Backcountry Pilots for 3 years!
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Q3 2017 |
STOL
AIRCRAFT MAGAZINE
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Q3 | 2017 Volume III | Number 3
09 PRESS RELEASE Longer Life, Lighter Tire
13 SUPERCUB.ORG’S ANNUAL ALASKA GATHERING
11 10MM FOLLOW UP DENNIS “SHOOTER” SMITH
18 2017 VALDEZ FLY-IN RESULTS
DENNIS “SHOOTER” SMITH
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HONDO SOUTH TEXAS REGIONAL AIRPORT
THE NORTHWEST AVIATION CONFERENCE
DENNIS “SHOOTER” SMITH
DENNIS “SHOOTER” SMITH
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MOTORIZED TAILWHEEL TOW BAR FRANK P. SPERANDEO III
SKWENTNA ALASKA STOL COMPETITION DOUG TURNBULL
40 TOP IT OFF AT HOME DENNIS “SHOOTER” SMITH
42 KERN VALLEY BACKCOUNTRY FLY-IN SCOTT BOLING
48 JOHNSON CREEK FAIR WELL CHRIS HARE
52 CHECKLIST Do I Need One? CHANCE STERLING w w w. S T O L A i r c r a f t M a g a z i n e . c o m
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DEPARTMENTS www.STOLAircraftMagazine.com PUBLISHING
Publication Printers
CEO
Sheila Smith
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EDITOR IN CHIEF Dennis “Shooter” Smith
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
03 FROM THE COCKPIT Message from the Editor
DENNIS “SHOOTER” SMITH
04 AIRMAIL Letters to the Editor
06 ASSET PROTECTION Aircraft Insurance and the Basicmed Rule SCOTT “SKY” SMITH
10 BUSH PROTECTION The Ruger/Turnbull Mark IV Pistol
DENNIS “SHOOTER” SMITH
12 THE DUKE SPEAKS If You Are Blue, I Am Too DUKE SMITH
14 2017 VALDEZ FLY-IN REVIEW
20 MEDICAL TIPS The Art of Improvisation in Medical Emergencies
RANDLE CORFMAN, MD, PHD
22 STOL STOPS Bunker Hill, Nevada 10,400’
05 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
KEVIN QUINN
26 STOL STOPS An Amateur’s Perspective 5th Annual Lone Star Maule Round Up, Llano, Texas KATHRYN SMALL
30 STOL PERFORMANCE Vortex Generators, Minimal Cost, Maximum Performance for Your Aircraft DENNIS “SHOOTER” SMITH
36 SO YOU WANT TO BUILD A STOL Part Eleven: Correct Tools
ADVERTISING INDEX
STOL
DENNIS “SHOOTER” SMITH
56 SOUTHWESTERN REGION Backcountry Get-A-Way Adventures RICK BOSSHARDT
62 BOOK REVIEW Flight to Success Be the Captain of Your Life by Karlene Petitt, MBA, MHS, Ph.D. Candidate DENNIS “SHOOTER” SMITH
GLOW OF A FIRE
DENNIS “SHOOTER” SMITH
64 THE EMPENNAGE Our Parting Shot ON THE COVER Frank Knapp World Champion
DENNIS “SHOOTER” SMITH
INSIDE BACK COVER People & Planes of STOL
Airframes Alaska...51 Avemco Insurance...Inside Front Cover Bearhawk...27 CubCrafters...17 Custom Aircraft...29 EarthX...41 Husky Aviat Aircraft Inc...08 Micro AeroDynamics Inc...08 Q3 2017 |
54 WHAT OUR READERS ARE FLYING
DENNIS “SHOOTER” SMITH
DENNIS “SHOOTER” SMITH
JOE PRAX
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AIRCRAFT MAGAZINE
R & M Steel...13 SkySmith Insurance...29 SunCountry Cubs...61 Texas STOL Round Up...Back Cover Texas STOL Round Up Play and Win...63 Turnbull Restoration...49 Univair...39
Chance Sterling Chris Hare Dennis “Shooter” Smith Doug Turnbull Duke Smith Frank P. Sperandeo III Joe Prax
Kathryn Small Kevin Quinn Randle Corfman, MD, PhD Rick Bosshardt Scott Boling Scott “Sky” Smith
ART DIRECTOR Jackie McMillen
GRAPHIC DESIGN Courtney Smith PRODUCTION Innovative Solutions Group PHOTOGRAPHERS Dennis “Shooter” Smith Sheila Smith
WEB DESIGN
Jim Rittinghouse
ADVERTISING
Advertising Manager Sheila Smith 713-299-2062 sss@stolaircraftmagazine.com Dennis ”Shooter” Smith 713-816-0927 shooter@stolaircraftmagazine.com
MAILING ADDRESS: 13121 Louetta Road, Ste 1370 Cypress, Texas 77429
PHYSICAL ADDRESS: 32106 Windrose Lane Waller Texas 77484
SUBSCRIPTIONS Kaitlin Smith
BACK ISSUES To purchase back issues please visit: www.STOLAircraftMagazine.com RETAIL SALES To sell STOL Aircraft Magazine at your establishment contact Dennis Smith at 713-816-0927
SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES
To change your address, order new subscriptions or report a problem with your current subscription, please email STOL Aircraft Magazine at sss@STOLAircraftMagazine.com Printed in The United States of America
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From The Cockpit |
BY DENNIS “SHOOTER” SMITH
his, the third quarter issue of 2017 closes our third year of publication. We are extremely pleased with our direction and acceptance in the aviation community.
STOL Aircraft Magazine found a quick niche it the written word environment. Our subscription base expanded rapidly to twenty-five countries on five continents. Many individuals commented to us on the need for “our” type of magazine. Others, the perpetual negative group, stated that we would never make it. We were fortunate to pick the right group to contact and write about. With so much information on line, today magazines, as well as newspapers, are having a hard time maintaining a place in the media world. I follow many on line groups, threads and information sites related to backcountry, STOL and big tire airplanes. These include our own Facebook page, taildragger or other “type” aircraft sites, Alaska activity, lady taildragger pilots, bush pilot activity, planes with big tires, ultralight and LSA aircraft. There is a tremendous amount of information both good and bad out there. One of the major issues I deal with on our Facebook page is the condemnation and negativity directed not only to me as the editor but to our fellow pilots as well. Today it seems that many individuals are in a constant state of aggression. I am not the only person maintaining a site that has dealt with this. One of my aviation friends who maintains one of the largest information threads deals with the negativity on a daily basis. He too has recently written about it. Many individuals seek information from websites, threads and posts on the Internet. Questions are asked by novices and experts alike as, contrary to the belief of some, we all don’t know everything. Many times, the response these individuals receive for asking a simple question is a blasting of wise cracks and derogatory banter. They are called stupid and chastised for their question. I always question the responder’s intelligence. Stupid is the inability to learn. Lack of knowledge is not stupid. The question was asked to acquire knowledge. Their lack of knowledge may come from lack of experience. In aviation, if we are lucky, we live long enough by surviving our mistakes, to gain knowledge. Comedian Ron White sums it up quite well by stating “You can’t fix stupid.” You can fix inexperience and lack of knowledge. Next time you are on our Facebook page or another site, take the time to help a fellow less experienced, pilot. Humbly share your vast knowledge and expertise that you have gained by overcoming the odds to become the “Sky God” that you may hold yourself to be. Place that ego aside and convey information that will help your brothers in flight to be all they can be. Be less confrontational. We are all working on the same goal to
become skilled pilots with knowledge that will keep us, our passengers and those below us alive. Enjoy the flight. Our time here is limited. Thank all of you who have supported STOL by subscribing and contributing articles and photos during the past three years. We would not be here without you. Fly smart, stay ahead of the airplane and weather, use a check list and most important, terminate your flight with a safe landing.
Dennis “Shooter” Smith Editor-in-Chief STOL Aircraft Magazine shooter@STOLAircraftMagazine.com 713-816-0927
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STOL DEPARTMENT
Airmail
Gary Lee submitted these fine photos of his beautiful PA-12. Hello shooter. Sign me up! Love the magazine... including tips on survival tools, handguns etc. What a surprise to find a real propeller head publication.
Thank you! Great content! -Gil.
Tailwinds, - R Kerr
I received the gift of your magazine from Doug and Kathleen Sapp and what a great magazine
Please change my mailing address so that your beautiful magazine will not be stuffed into my mailbox. By the way, you produce an outstanding magazine! Thanks for all the hard work that goes into the publication.
-Jason D.
- Thomas C., Fort Collins, CO
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Q3 2017 |
STOL
AIRCRAFT MAGAZINE
STOL DEPARTMENT
Calendar of Events
COMING EVENTS
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
NEW HOLSTEIN FLY-IN JULY 21-26, 2017 NEW HOLSTEIN, WI
Attend Steve Johnson’s six day annual event held on the grass runway at the New Holstein Airport across the lake from Oshkosh. Food, fun, friends and flying. Sunday attend the STOL take off and landing exhibition. A bar-b-que dinner will be held Tuesday afternoon. Registration is required. See supercub.org/New Holstein for more information.
EAA AIRVENTURE/OSHKOSH JULY 24-30, 2017 OSHKOSH, WI
See Paul Poberensky’s legacy in all it’s mega glory. The grand daddy of all fly-ins and aviations largest US event. Check out the STOL events to be held at the ultralight grass airstrip. See EAA.org for more information.
4TH ANNUAL TEXAS STOL ROUND-UP
SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 1, 2017 HONDO, TEXAS
Attend Texas’s largest STOL event. This year the event moves Hondo Texas at the SW Regional Airport (KHDO) two miles north west of Hondo and 38 miles west of San Antonio. Multiple long runways, a huge ramp, fuel services and a new terminal building. Come and enjoy the competition, comradery, food and fun. The new early fall date should provide for good weather.
July 21-26, 2017
17th Annual New Holstein Fly-in New Holstein Airport New Holstein, Wisconsin A STOL Aircraft Magazine favorite event
July 24-30, 2017 EAA Airventure Oshkosh, WI www.EAA.org
August 4-6, 2017
September 22-24, 2017 Fall Colors Fly-in Side Lake, MN
September 29-October 1, 2017 4rd Annual Texas STOL Round-Up Hondo Municipal Airport Hondo, Texas Info www.texasstolroundup.org A STOL Aircraft Magazine sponsored event
Maine Bushwackers Burning Cub Fly-in Exeter, ME
October 5-9, 2017
August 26-27, 2017
October 13-15, 2017
September 6-10, 2017
October 19-22, 2017
Bowman Field Fly-in Livermore Falls, ME ( B10 ) Triple Tree Aerodrome Fly-in Woodruff, SC ( SC00 )
September 14-17, 2017 Black Hills Fly-in Belle Fourche, SD ( EFC )
September 15-17, 2017 Almost Fall Fly-in Jonesborough, TN
Wentworth Aerodrome Fly-in, The WAD Thomasville Georgia 50th Fly-in (TV) High Sierra Fly-in and STOL Drag Race Dead Cow Lake Bed, Nevada A STOL Aircraft Magazine sponsored event
December 17, 2017
113th Anniversary of First Human Manned Heavier than Air Flight Kitty Hawk, North Carolina
KEEPING UP WITH YOUR SUBSCRIPTION
DON’T LET IT RUN OUT! STOL Aircraft Magazine is published four times per year. Mail dates are March 15th, June 15th, September 15th and December 15th. Subscriptions run for one or two years, depending on the requested length of your subscription, from the date that we receive your subscription. Your subscription termination date is located on the mailing label of each issue. If you have provided us with your e-mail address, we will send you a reminder that your subscription is about to end. If you have not provided an e-mail address we will send you a post card reminder. STOL Aircraft Magazine adheres to strict confidentiality standards. We will not sell or release your e-mail address or any other information that you provide to us. We hate junk mail as much as you do. We hope that you enjoy reading STOL and that you will refer us to a friend or advertiser.
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STOL DEPARTMENT
Asset Protection |
BY SCOTT “SKY” SMITH
AIRCRAFT INSURANCE AND THE BASICMED RULE T here are a few things that have been happening in the aviation insurance world that I thought I could touch on. Maybe the biggest thing that happened was the passage and signing of the BasicMed rule. As many of you may know the rule went into effect on May 1st, 2017 and will allow pilots to fly with reduced FAA medical certification requirements. I would assume many of you know the basics. Fly an aircraft, single or twin, up to 6,000 pounds, maximum of six seats, IFR, and nighttime. I’m not here to tell you the details or the rules, but what I can discuss is what your aircraft insurance policy is going to do in relationship to the BasicMed ruling. If you thought about BasicMed I bet you thought about what happens to aircraft insurance your coverage?
I think BasicMed comes in because people really wanted to fly their aircraft without the FAA medical requirements being too time consuming, complicated or demanding. Most of the pilots that I talked to didn’t have a really big issue with a “medical” but it was the associated restrictions that were present and the lengthy and costly solutions that were stopping them from getting (and keeping) a medical which in turn is stopping them from flying. Each medical issue, doctors visit or new prescription made the regular flight physical process almost overwhelming and always more expensive. Through the years, many of my customers talked about selling their aircraft and buying something different and flying under the Sport category, but in the end, the Sport category just
doesn’t meet the needs of everyone. About the Sport category, many people can fly their STOL aircraft as Sport, but it does have a number of restrictions that might not be suitable. The good news, now we have the BasicMed. But this also has a few people concerned about the aviation insurance ramifications. What about a pilot flying a six seat, twin engine aircraft in IFR conditions at night without a medical? How safe can that be? Well, probably as safe as it was with a medical. Is there a risk? Sure, is it higher than before when the pilot had a 3rd class medical, probably not much? Honestly, I haven’t done any scientific research to get to that answer, but I did ask a number of the underwriters at different aviation insurance companies
what they thought of the BasicMed and what it would do to their aircraft insurance policy. As an underwriter, you probably wouldn’t make any changes to the pilot flying a Cessna 140 or Piper Cub. My thought is that the underwriter would probably target the upper end aircraft on the BasicMed list. More speed, more passengers, and more loss potential. At least that would be an assumption, although we all know what that means. And actually, at this time most of my contacts in the industry said they were all prepared for the changes with just a few minor changes in the policy language. Those were simple changes in how they referred to the FAA medical in the pilot section of the policy. It is important to note that most aviation policies (and most car policies) will still pay a claim even if you break the rules. I am definitely not saying go break the rules, but if for some reason your medical ran
out while you were on a flying trip and you had a loss, the claims department might still pay the claim. There might be push back if the loss was because of the medical, but that could be difficult to prove. So what I’m saying? Think of it like a car insurance policy, just because you had an accident and were charged with a DUI, doesn’t mean the claim isn’t paid. But it also doesn’t mean you don’t go to jail or have your license revoked and your insurance canceled. Breaking the rules does have its consequences. In my discussions with my sources, they did mention there probably will not be any real changes to the policy to start. It seems that the claim departments haven’t seen much of a relationship between losses and having a 3rd class medical. Which in a quick summary means of all the losses in the aviation insurance, there are very few that are related to medical issues. Again, this is just an underwriter’s observations so it’s
not some specific scientific quantifiable comment. But in the grand scheme of things, I think that does sound good for the whole no medical situation. Not surprisingly, many of the aviation insurance companies had the language already in their policies for a very long time; it goes something like this “as required by the FAA”. This is a simple way to handle the changes made by the FAA. Basically, if the FAA requires a medical for the situation you are in, then you need a medical. But again if you do not meet the FAA requirements; such as not having a current medical or a current flight review etc., will not necessarily stop a claim from being paid. It can, but it will depend on the individual situation. So are you one of those aircraft owners that haven’t been flying waiting for the new medical rules? Well with BasicMed starting May 1st and now the insurance issue settled its time to go get that plane w w w. S T O L A i r c r a f t M a g a z i n e . c o m
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F L Y - I N B Y J O E
R E V I E W P R A X
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pproximately 200 airplanes and more than 2,500 hundred people descended on Pioneer Field in Valdez for the 14th Valdez Fly In and Air Show. The 2017 event featured spectacular STOL flying, aerobatics by Scott Sexton and Gary Ward, a demonstration of a WWII era C-46 cargo plane and a world record in the world famous STOL contest. Frank Knapp of Palmer took advantage of perfect conditions for a STOL flying to set a new world record. Saturday of the contest featured cool temperatures and consistent 13-15 kt westerly sea breeze right down the runway. On his second attempt, Knapp made a 14’7” take off and an equally impressive 10’5” landing, both records and for a combined score of 25 feet! The crowd cheered as his plane landed just past the line and the video shows the wheels only making one revolution before coming to a stop. Knapp’s yellow light sport Lil’ Cub started life as a J-3 and that Frank and his Wife Kris built and then rebuilt with numerous modifications. This year the plane featured a 180hp Lycoming 0-320 and special flaps that Knapp designed. Just as important as the plane is the amount of practice Knapp put in, he was at Valdez two weeks early making numerous hops down the runway. 14
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STOL
AIRCRAFT MAGAZINE
DEZ Caption Frank Knapp nails the landing. Photo by Justin Prax. w w w. S T O L A i r c r a f t M a g a z i n e . c o m
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