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1. 03:26 PM - (no subject) (Hr2pilot@aol.com)
2. 09:43 PM - Pt. Mugu Air Show After Action Report (Tom Gummo)
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--> Rocket-List message posted by: Hr2pilot@aol.com
SPORT, SILVER - 6 LAPS
Dave Morss, Morss 320, Martins Legacy, 272.964 mph; Duncan Sutherland,
Swearingen SX300, Shadow, 270.408 mph; Dante Edwards, Glasair III, Third Chance,
268.239 mph; Kevin Eldredge, Glasair III, Last Minute, 267.234 mph; John Harmon,
Harmon Rocket III, 256.376 mph; Greg Nelson, F-1 Rocket, Xray, 250.785 mph;
Mark Frederick, Frederick F-1, Re - Do, 247.648 mph; Mark Sponsler, Harmon
Rocket II, 247.594 mph. Dean Berry, Leonard, 222.03
Message 2
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"Rocket List" <rocket-list@matronics.com>,
"SoCal RV List" <socal-rvlist@yahoogroups.com>
| Subject: | Pt. Mugu Air Show After Action Report |
--> Rocket-List message posted by: "Tom Gummo" <T.gummo@verizon.net>
Do not archive.
Long Delete now if not interested.
Not building related.
Pt. Mugu (NTD) Air Show After Action Report
After several months of planning and coordinating, several members of the SoCal
RVators were able to fly their planes to a military base, NTD, and be part of
the Air Show during the weekend of September 18 and 19.
For Saturday, three planes signed up: Mike Duggan, Chris Kleen, and Tom Gummo.
However, the weather was not kind. They wanted us there no later than 7:30 AM
as they open the gates around 8:00 AM. The weather had been bad for a couple
of days so Chris flew to CMA and stayed the night. He was able to fly under
the 2000 foot overcast and had no problem landing at NTD. Mike was trapped by
the weather in the basin and was unable to takeoff until 10:15 AM. He was turned
away as the Air Show had already started. I had the normal high desert
weather of clear and million at Apple Valley but as I crossed the mountain, there
below me was a complete "under-cast." As I talked to Pt. Mugu approach,
several planes reported holes in the overcast near Santa Paula so I turned to
that direction. However, those holes had MOUNTAINS sticking up through them.
As a turned south, I found a hole where I could CLEARLY see the ground. After
a careful look at the map, I decided it would be safe to drop down through this
sucker hole. As I turned toward NTD, approach said, "You are in CMA airspace."
I was just glad that I could see the ground and was under the clouds.
While the visibility was marginal, I was able to land with no other problems.
After I landed and taxied to my parking place by Chris, who was already there,
they closed fence. While Chris and I were parked together, they parked us about
thirty feet apart. So we pushed the planes closer together. Shortly there
after, Dave Richardson showed up (he drove) with the posters. THEY WERE A BIG
HIT. Due to a mix up, Rick Gould didn't show up with a table or any tail feathers
(We need to work on the ground crew, if we ever do this again). Chris
and I had a great time. As the day when on, the weather got better. The weather
cleared enough for the Golden Knights to do their high show. Mark Swaney,
a F-1 builder and a Captain in the Navy, showed up and said hello. BTW, he
worked behind the scenes to help with some of the problems, which cropped up.
He also coordinated several issues while we were there. As the show ended, several
guys showed up and opened a hole in the fence and help push us beyond the
fence. We were able to crank up and depart VFR. We didn't have to wait until
5:30 as stated.
Sunday started with clear weather so no dropping through holes in the clouds.
As I had to stop for fuel, I was the last to land again. This time three RVs
were waiting for the Rocket. Paul Rosales, Bill Marvel, and Em Richard beat me
in. Dwayne Cowles was a no show but he did tell me that he had other plans,
which he was working to change (guess he was unable). Bill also flew to CMA
the afternoon before, as he was beating the no departures early in the morning
at his home drome. This time, I had a passenger - Jack or as you know him -
KABONG. However, by the time the air show was to start, the winds had picked
up. In fact, they cancelled the Golden Knights parachute jumps because of the
high winds. All day the winds never abated. It was between 20 to 30 knots all
day. Once again, we had a great day with fellow RVators, got to watch a good
air show, and showed hundreds it not thousands of people our planes. Rick
showed up and gave a tour of the P-3 aircraft to those who wanted it. Once the
air show ended, a fuel truck showed up and we were topped off for free. I was
told to not ask for fuel as we would have a better chance of being allowed
to come but they had plenty to give away (I could have saved about 60 dollars
had I known). We were told the wind would die down in an hour or so but it was
not to be. After a reasonable time, the nose wheel guys decided that they
could handle the 28 gust to 35 knot crosswind and departed safely. Em and I asked
to be allowed to use the crosswind runway but they had parked planes on it
and only 500 feet remained before the cable across the runway. Again, Mark
helped a lot. It took a while but they finally said that we could use it. Em
lead us to the takeoff point. We had to taxi forward some more to make them
happy but we got clearance to takeoff. As she applied power, the tail came up.
After about 100 to 150 feet, she was airborne. As I applied power, my tail
came up - even with Jack in the back, within seconds the plane started those
little hops when it is ready to fly so I added a little more back pressure and
we also were airborne well before the cable. Wish there was someway to measure
it but it was clearly my shortest takeoff roll ever. I now have proof that
an RV can takeoff from a carrier deck. The wind would be about the same as the
carrier sailing forward into minimum wind. Em and I then split up and flew
home. For Jack and I, the tailwind helped us see over 215 knots ground speed
(Normal cruise is about 170 to 175 knots, no wind). The landing at APV was not
my best but then again I had a 15 gust to 22 knot wind to play with.
Those of us who came had a great time and would like to do it again. Em had a
good idea that we should make a video (CD-ROM or DVD) of the different things
we can offer an air show: formation demonstrations, static displays of not only
experimental aircraft but the people who have built them, that we can park several
aircraft much closer together (much less ramp space that they think) and
that we can push our aircraft in and out of the crowd safely (therefore, there
is no requirement for us to bring our planes in the day before the show starts
and leave them there all weekend long. Note: at one point they wanted us
to fly in Thursday and stay until Sunday after the show.) Then, sending this
DVD to different military bases, Edwards AFB, March AFB, Miramar NAS, Pt. Mugu
NAS - to name a few, to see if we can be part of their air shows.
I am sure I left out some important details so the rest of you feel free to change
or add to this report.
I LOVE JET NOISE - AFTERBURNER, EVEN BETTER.
Tom "GummiBear" Gummo
Wild Weasel #1753
Major, USAF Retired, F-4G Instructor Pilot
http://mysite.verizon.net/t.gummo/index.html
Apple Valley, CA
Harmon Rocket-II, N561FS, 220 hours
do not archive
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