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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1984-09-12, Page 13Sexsmith host to largest Ontario chapter Expirlmefltal aircraft built at local airport One of the largest Ontario chapters of the Experimental Aircraft Association is based northwest of Exeter. For over M Sexsmith Airport two miles a decade a group of men bonded together by a mutual love of flying, and an interest in building their own aircraft, has been congregating at the little airport. In 1974 ten originals of `'the Sexsmith bunch" received permission to tear down the old Exeter town' workshop which stood for years behind the old town hall. The lumber was used to erect a large maintenance hangar at Sex - smith capable of holding three planes at a time. The group received its official charter as one of the 300 Canadian chapters of EAA in 1979. Vice president Ron Riley, maintenance engineer, former owner of a flying school at Grand Bend and holder of an air transport pilot rating, is working on his fourth airplane at the EAA hangar. The Super Cuby, with the same air frame as a com- mercially built Piper Cub, is owned jointly by Peter McLeod, Elmer Rowe and READY TO FLY — Dr. Don Ecker unlocks the cockpit door on the Aeronca Champ he and son Doug fly from Sexsmith Airport. HANDCRAFTED AIRCRAFT — Sexsmith Airport proprietor Len Greb points out some of the experimental aircraft that have been built by Experimental Aircraft Association members at the airport. AN AUDIENCE — Experimental Aircraft Association members Mark Tuckey (left), Dr. Don Ecker and Ron Helm watch while Ron Riley checks the wing of a Super Cuby being built at Sexsmith Airport. Tuckey is a part-owner of the plane. Juck to ScbooIAk*k& Cardinal 1" Flex Binders 300 Sheet 3 ring Lined Refills Pencil Cases Buffalo Markers (5 assorted 894 & 185) Student Agenda Books (Aug. '84 - Aug. Uniball Pen Sets Michael Jackson Coil Note Books $1.99 • Imes- dypwcate M..nw. WwM to 52.49 52.75 9.59 .e.,98 i s6.95 53.00 424 Main St. 235-1331 Mark Tuckey (who bought out Riley's share). Any or all the owners, or other members dropping in, can be found around the hangar either helping or hindering on any Wednesday night, the club's work nights. Another month's work, and the Cuby will be ready to fly. Chapter president Ron Helm, director of product support at Bell Aerospace, apprenticed on sailplanes and gliders, and has been in- terested in aircraft all his life. He is building a Taylor monoplane in his basement. Careful measurement has assured him he has 200/1,000 of an inch clearance to get his creation up his basement stairs. The single -seater, all stressed -plywood construc- tion powered by a modified Volkswagen engine, will be fully aerobatic with a cruising speed of 130 mph. For the past few years in the U.S., more amateur -built than factory -built planes have been registered. This year Canada can make the same claim. Helm explains that "amateur" in this case has the same connotation as "amateur" in reference to an athlete, meaning "doing something without financial reward The vast majority of planes built by EAA members, Helm said, are far in excess of production stan- dards, adding that no builder wants to crash art his first flight. By Canadian law an ex- perimental aircraft must be made up of no more than 49 percent of parts and equip- ment built from kits. The rest must be done from scratch. Only the finest of aircraft - designed materials go into an owner -built plane. The local chapter can call on the expertise of Helm and Riley, or go further afield if necessary to contact designers and other experts on the national technical com- mittee. (Helm is also a member of the latter group.) Building one's own plane can be compared to handcraf- ting an heirloom quilt - the ar- tisan considers the hundreds of hours that go into the crea- tion as a labour of love. Helm estimates a Canadian -designed Zenith, comparable to a factory -built fully equipped $75,000 four - seater Piper Cherokee, can be built and equipped for a cost in materials of $20,000. Riley figures an amateur - built aircraft represents a time investment of 1,500 to 2,000 hours. Most of the ones he has built have taken three Ames - Serving South Huron, North Middlesex Arnair September 12,1984 to seven years in his spare time. "It's just like building a great big model", he said. Helm believes amateurs are more adventurous. They have perfected innovations which large commercial com- panies could not because of the great expenditure re- quired in time and/or money. Two builders, one at Seaforth and another at Centralia, are working on Quickies built of styrofoam and fibreglass. They will be powered with Volkswagen engines, fly at 180 mph. and burn four gallons of gas an hour. Owner -built aircraft are usually more efficient, Helm added. The little aeroplanes "fly like a kite", according to Elmer Rowe, who had been associated with neighbour Len Greb and the Sexsmith Airport since its inception. Rowe said often the pilot will shut off the engine a few minutes before landing and glide in. If an engine failed in an emergency, the pilot would be able to fall back on previous experience to land safely. Chapter get-togethers are not always serious. "It's a happy place, a lot of banter", Helm explained. He warned that pomposity has no place at Sexstnith. "You're brought to earth very quick- ly", commented with a An Aviation Plowing trophy is awarded on an ad hoc basis "to the guy who makes the biggest furrows on the field in the spring and fall". It may be awarded annually, weekly or daily. "If someone qualifies the day after a presentation, he will get it", Helm said. A new award, for Runway Aerobatics, to a member who "does something silly on the ground" has just been instituted. EAA members jump at any excuse to fly. Often up to six aircraft can be seen flying in formation on a Sunday mor- ning, heading to Goderich, or Reeces Corners or Hanover for breakfast. Some local members have recently returned from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and a week-long fly -in that annual- ly attracts thousands of ex- perimental aircraft and about 400,000 EAA people and members of the public. If love of flying is con- sidered an incurable disease that gets into one's blood and stays, perhaps its because none of its victims has ever sought a cure. They are hav- ing too much fun. dvoc &` North Lambton Slnce 1873 e 4Viq�.��Y �jrC.' Pagel A Rootworm affecting Ontario corn By Robert C. Jenkinson Manager Agronomic Services Funk Seeds Do you have lodged or goose -necked corn in your area? The tell-tale symptoms of lodged or goose -necked stalks have been observed throughout Ontario recently. The most severe area of in- festation extends from Lon- don to Woodstock and nor- thwesterly through Mitchell, Seaforth and Gpderieb. •: A11- hybrids are affected. Corn rootworms feed on all corn hybrids, and as a result. fields of all corn varieties are affected. A very high population of adult corn rootworm ( both Northern and Western) now feeding on corn wilks, is pro- of that larvae population was high and fed heavily on corn roots, pruning root systems severely. Rootworm control chemicals have not been ef- fective. Environmental condi- tions in 1984 have shortened the control peiod usually observed with the chemicals. High rainfall may have diluted the rootworm OFA holds PCs to promises The overwhelming support of Canadian voters for the Progressive Conservative Party should only be over- shadowed by the tremendous responsibility of the new government to live up to its campaign promises, the president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) said in response to the PC victory. "Canadians obviously have great expectations for the PC government," Barry Pelissero said. "And a Targe part of that is the wish for the government to follow through on the agricultural policies it announced during the election campaign." Pelissero was referring to the PC response to the OFA Agricultural Issues Platform. The platform was deveiope* to highlight major farmink issues and to publicize PC, Liberal and NDP responses to the issues. In response to the platform. Brian Mulroney made 11 distinct promises, Pelissero pointed out, ranging from fun- ding municipal drainage in Eastern Ontario and renova- tions at Ontario Veterinary College to controlling the dumping of foreign food onto Canadian markets. Financial and taxation issues were two other areas where the PCs spelled out their policies. Mulroney said his government would abolish capital gains tax on the sale of farms for continued farm- ing use. reduce taxes on farm fuel, expand the mandate of the Farm Credit Corporation and introduce a national Agri - Bond program to provide farmers with affordable credit. In the area of marketing, the PCs promised greater marketing protection for tobacco producers, to in- crease advance payments and to develop a national, voluntary income stabiliza- tion program for red meat producers. "The PCs have given us a report card to mark their agricultural policies over the next four years," Pelissero said. "If they want a passing grade from Ontario farmers then they will have to live up to their promises." Pelissero added that he hoped agricultural issues would be high on the agenda of government activities in the months ahead. BEST RIDER The best horse and rider in Saturday's Kirkton Fair parade was Duane Bilyeo. T -A photo chemical in the root zone, resulting in less effective in- sect control. The result is that many fields which were treated with a rootworm in- secticide are showing severe signs of rootworm damage. My observation indicates that the damage tends to be most severe in second year corn fields. Environmental conditions affect infestation level and damage. High rainfall in June resulted in shallow rooted corn. These two factors, combin- ed with a very high population of corn rootworms, have resulted in heavy feeding on corn roots, and severely prun- ed root systems. Any wind storm will cause this corn to lodge severely. Check your corn fields for rootworm damage. It's easy to identify the problem in corn fields that have lodged already. However, fields that look fine from the road, may be hiding their true condition. Check your fields and your customer's field very careful- ly. Evaluate root systems for pruning, the result of corn rootworm larva, feeding. Damaged fields should be watched very carefully and harvested as soon as possible before they lodge. Perhaps corn silage is an alternative use for some severely damag- ed corn fields. Plan to use corn rootworm insecticide next year in any area where rootworm infesta- tions have occurred in 1984. AN ASSIST - Ron Helm twists the prop to help Ron Riley start his Volksplane and take off from Sexsmith Airport after a working night in the Experimental Air- craft Association hangar. CHECKING — Len Greb checks velocity and direction on the windscope in the pilots' lounge at Sexmith Airport. PROCLAMATION In recognition of the contributions of the Royal Canadian 'Lagion In communities .across the country and in Exeter, the Corporation of the Town of Exeter proclaims the week of September 16 as LEGION WEEK a LEGION WEEK ONTARIO 11"••�\ R.E. Pooley Branch 167 19 I.;84! EXETER Sun., Sept. 16 to Sat., Sept. 22 The Legion will be holding open house to all citizens of the community during "LEGION WEEK". Happy hour will be from 8:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m. daily. V y • y h Onto6° TUESDAY, SEPT. 18 Card Senior Citizens Party Senior Citizens Party 7:(X) p.m. All senior citizens are cordially invited. Prizes. lunch will be served WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 19 8:(X) MX) a.m. Registration for all sports 8:00 p.m. Euchre, cribbage. pool and darts Pnzes and lunch Legion Sports Night provided. FRIDAY, SEPT. 21 Legion Round Robin Dart Tournament 8:00 p.m. SATURDAY, SEPT. 22 While visiting the Exeter Fair Visit the LEGION BOOTH, enquire about the Cadet Corps, and if eligible for membership, seriously consider becoming a member of this great organization. J • tl •