---------------------------------------------------------- Rocket-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Mon 09/20/04: 2 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 03:26 PM - (no subject) (Hr2pilot@aol.com) 2. 09:43 PM - Pt. Mugu Air Show After Action Report (Tom Gummo) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 03:26:31 PM PST US From: Hr2pilot@aol.com Subject: Rocket-List: (no subject) --> 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 _____________________________________ Time: 09:43:48 PM PST US From: "Tom Gummo" "Rocket List" , "SoCal RV List" Subject: Rocket-List: Pt. Mugu Air Show After Action Report --> Rocket-List message posted by: "Tom Gummo" 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