Geez....the saga continues.... Last month, I wrote about my struggles with the FAA over my 3rd class Medical. The FAA had asked that I provide new Blood work, a list of Medications, written statements from my doctors concerning my heart functional capacity, and risk of sudden incapacitation, and finally status of my kidney stones (from 15 years ago). Before I could respond to their requests, they de- nied my 3rd class medical without notice, and demanded that I sur- render my 3rd class medical. I immediately contacted AOPA, and solicited their legal assistance. I Did Not surrender my 3rd Class Medical as they had requested. (AOPA legal informed me that the FAA cannot enforce the surrender of my Medical Certificate without due process of the law.)(Never sur- render anything to the FAA without due process!) I Did take their requested tests and acquired written statements from my doctors, and then returned the package to the FAA via Federal Ex- press. July 2017 Volume, 6 Issue 6 Piedmont Aero Club Inside this issue: Cruise Flight 7Adventure 15 Recreational Aviation Foundation Fly In 16 From the President ……. Current Event Calendar 3 June Guest Speaker 4 2nd Saturday Breakfast Club 6 USS Yorktown Fly-in 7 Pilot Workshops Tip of the week 14
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Piedmont Aero Club · Next was a tour of the USS Laffey (DD-724), a WWII Destroyer that saw massive action during the D-Day landing on Tuesday, June 6, 1944 and multiple Kamikaze
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Geez....the saga continues.... Last month, I wrote about my struggles
with the FAA over my 3rd class Medical. The FAA had asked that I
provide new Blood work, a list of Medications, written statements
from my doctors concerning my heart functional capacity, and risk
of sudden incapacitation, and finally status of my kidney stones
(from 15 years ago). Before I could respond to their requests, they de-
nied my 3rd class medical without notice, and demanded that I sur-
render my 3rd class medical.
I immediately contacted AOPA, and solicited their legal assistance.
I Did Not surrender my 3rd Class Medical as they had requested.
(AOPA legal informed me that the FAA cannot enforce the surrender
of my Medical Certificate without due process of the law.)(Never sur-
render anything to the FAA without due process!)
I Did take their requested tests and acquired written statements from
my doctors, and then returned the package to the FAA via Federal Ex-
press.
July 2017 Volume, 6 Issue 6
Piedmont Aero Club
Inside this issue:
Cruise Flight 7Adventure 15
Recreational Aviation Foundation Fly In 16
From the President …….
Current Event Calendar 3
June Guest Speaker 4
2nd Saturday Breakfast Club 6
USS Yorktown Fly-in 7
Pilot Workshops Tip of the week 14
Let me assure everyone that I am in very good health...One doctor's state-
ment had this to say about my health, "In my opinion, the likelihood of sud-
den incapacitation (or becoming symptomatic) is essentially zero in Mr.
Parker’s case (when compared to the risk of the average member of the popu-
lation). I know for a fact, that he is an avid hiker and bicyclist and per-
formed very well on his 2016 stress test."
In spite of my doctor's comments, and all of the test results, the FAA replied
with the following....
"Our favorable review of your interim follow-up reports regarding
your history of coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, requiring
oral medication for control and the use of medication has established
that you are ineligible for medical certification under Title 14, Code
of Federal Regulations"
However, you have been granted continued Authorization for Special
Issuance of a third-class airman medical certificate under Title 14 of
the CFRs, Section 67.401.
Enclosed is your time-limited certificate which expires September 30,
2017.
To Summarize, the FAA is not denying my medical, but rather letting it ex-
pire normally in 4 months, which leaves me eligible to continue flying under
BasicMed. I found out another thing during this process...The BasicMed law
enacted by Congress has a provision to drop the 2nd class medical for Flight
Instructors, so I will even be able to instruct in my retirement years!
For the immediate future, I will continue to fly, and just ride out my 3rd
class medical, until it expires, and then register under BasicMed. Once I am
out from under the FAA Medical branch's thumb, we will see what hap-
pens....maybe I'll run for office? But, that will be another time, and another
Letter from the President.
P.S. Thank God for the timing of BasicMed, and the AOPA!!!
P.P.S. I am sure that without the AOPA's assistance, the outcome would have
been very different!
July 2017 Volume, 6 Issue 6
From the President ……. (cont)
Piedmont Aero Club Page 2
Peidmont Aero Club 2017 Current Event Calendar
Boldface events are sponsored by PAC (free or subsidized ground transport & food)
Underlined dates are firm
July 15 Saturday Sugar Valley cookout and Five Card Stud Poker Run July 20 Thursday dinner meeting, speaker tbd July 24-30 EAA Airshow, Oshkosh Aug 6 - Sunday Race Against your POH/AFM , Sugar Valley NC Aug 17 Thursday dinner meeting, speaker tbd Sept 8-10 Airshow, Virginia Beach (Blue Angels) Sept 9 - Saturday Triple Tree Sept 13-17 Reno Air Races Sept 21 Thursday dinner meeting, speaker tbd Oct 1,2 Red Bull races Oct 7-8 Military Aviation Museum: Warbirds over the beach, Virginia Beach VA (WW1 with bi-planes & tri-planes) Oct 7-15 Balloon Fiesta, Albuquerque NM Oct 19 Thursday dinner meeting, speaker tbd Oct 21 - Saturday Wings over North GA - Rome GA Oct 27-28 AOPA fly-in Tampa FL Nov 4 - Saturday Bowl-o-rama at Spare Time in Greensboro , Piedmont Club Video & Picture Contest judging Nov 16 Thursday dinner meeting, speaker tbd Dec 3- Sunday First Flight Airport pilgrimage Dec 16 Thursday dinner meeting, speaker tbd
.
Piedmont Aero Club Page 3
June 2017 Guest Speaker …… Rob Ransone
Contributed by Al Lawless
Our June meeting had the best turnout of the year so far with 20 members and guests
coming for a nice pasta dinner supplied by Jason’s Deli and paid via your dues. There was
a ton of good food and just enough leftovers to know everyone had their fill. We started
with a little business, mostly discussing recent past & future events. The planned summer
event at sugar Valley won’t work out due to their busy schedule, so we’ll come up with
something else. Anyone willing to help organize a fly-in or cookout, please contact Activities
Chair Al Lawless – he promises not to trick anyone into taking over the event!
We soon got underway introducing Robin Ransone who got into aviation right out of college in the late 1950’s.
With his school bud Johnny Armstrong (who went on to run the USAF Flight Research office), Rob finagled a
rare opportunity to fly on the B-
58 Hustler program as a flight
test engineer (FTE). By many
measures, this was
among the most
remarkable airplanes that ever
flew. It earned all of the
significant aviation
awards, set all kinds of
records and was among the
best looking airplanes ever.
With four afterburning J-79 engines with very little frontal area, the plane was wicked fast and could easily
maintain maximum allowed speed (limited by leading edge temperature) even with multiple external stores
loaded.
As far as flight test stories go, Rob talked about the time the refueling door ahead of the pilot suffered a
hydraulic leak that splattered the windshield and ruined all forward visibility. His idea to use the tanker’s fuel
to wash the windscreen worked great and they landed with no further incident. He told of how hyper sensitive
the plane was at supersonic speed if the automatic dampers failed and how the legendary test pilot Fitz Fulton
managed to make it work. Rob discussed the fortune of his foresight when he loaded the wing’s fuel tanks
with water prior to executing a maximum brake energy test that resulted in water (not fuel) pouring onto the
hot brakes aft stopping. There was also the near-disaster when the tanks were filled with water to 95%
capacity, but Rob realized the weather was getting cold and water expands 10% when frozen.
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Rob Ransone (cont) ob also talked about more mundane flight testing such as when mentioned test pilot
Charlie Bock would “check the airplane’s damping by pulsing the controls to see how
long it took for the airplane to stop its oscillations.” There were also the scary times
when an engine might “unstart.” The B-58 was very difficult to safely recover from the
loss of an engine at supersonic cruise due to differential thrust.
We discussed the B-58’s special features such as the two 8-wheel bogies with exception-
ally small 22” diameter tires so they’d fit in the wing. Their
small size combined with the Hustler’s high 214 kt takeoff
speed forced them to spin up especially fast. Imagine: tires
inflated to 275 psi spinning at 6,000 RPM!
We also discussed the narrow margin for CG control and
how the requirement shifted rather dramatically as the plane
transition above & below Mach 1.
Interesting Hustler tibdits
Had only 3 flight control surfaces: rudder and L&R flaperons.
The flight controls ran through a highly sophisticated mixer box that took inputs
from the pilot, and various hydro mechanical systems – it was a mechanical comput-
er.
Best range at Mach 2 was achieved using maximum afterburner thrust, letting the
airplane climb as it burned fuel.
Needed 14° angle of attack needed for takeoff rotation "Fuel stacking" due to fuel moving in the tanks during rapid accel/decel caused sud-
den CG changes and could impact pitch or roll control.
Set 19 world speed records
Retains record for longest supersonic flight (8,028 miles
from Tokyo to London in 8:35:20.4) averaging 938 mph.
It would have averaged Mach 2 but an afterburner blew
out, forcing them subsonic in the final hour.
Won the Bleriot , Thompson, Mackay , Bendix, and Har-mon trophies
The externally-carried nuclear bomb was surrounded by a fuel
tank that would drop away first.
Each crew member had his own hatch and escape capsule
USS Yorktown Trip Finally Happens……Less is Best By Jon Wells
“21….19….17….15….12…. and then there were 11, the final number that had a chance to
enjoy a great day of flying and the entire Patriots Point experience. Aside from some air-
craft Mx issues, and unforeseen last minute cancellations, those that did attend expressed
that it was well worth the trip to Charleston.
An early morning start for three of the original seven airplanes des-
tined to Mt. Pleasant Airport (KLRO), although they were given
smooth conditions and unlimited visibility the entire flight. All of
the aircraft arrived within minutes of each other under sunny skies
and light breezes into Mt. Pleasant. We were greeted with great hos-
pitality, and also the likes of Al Lawless, who was already in
Charleston for a family vacation. Within minutes, we had our rental
vehicles and we were off for the easy trip to Patriots Point.
Upon reaching Patriots Point, the awesome site of the USS Yorktown (CV-10) loomed in
the background. We were given VIP treatment, as we were met by up by Volunteer HAL, a
Vietnam Navy Veteran himself, and allowed us to park in special parking, saving us even
more money. Tickets in hand, we all ventured to the three vessels moored there. We
started first with the USS Clamagore (SS-343), a WWII Submarine. these brave sailors,
from forward torpedo room through the main part of the boat and finally to the aft torpedo
room. Ned Rapp would have felt at home, being a former Navy Submariner himself.
Next was a tour of the USS Laffey (DD-724), a WWII Destroyer that saw massive
action during the D-Day landing on Tuesday, June 6, 1944
and multiple Kamikaze attacks during service in the Pacific
where it earned the title, “The Ship that would not die”. The
ship went on to sail the oceans in support of the Cold War.
We had a chance to go inside the CIC (Combat Information
Center) and experience a simulated submarine hunting situa-
tion, as well as sit in the Captain’s chair on the bridge.
As we left the USS Laffey (DD-724), it was a awe inspiring look “up” to the deck of the USS Yorktown (CV-10). This was the main event of the day, as it was the avia-
tion part of the trip. As we entered the USS Yorktown hang-ar deck, we were greeted by volunteers who were all veter-ans, including U.S. Marine Brian Mahoney, who fought in
the battle of Khe Sahn during the Vietnam War, as well as other Navy veterans. The hangar deck was filled with WWII
and Korean War vintage aircraft, including the F9F Panther, F4U Corsair, TBF Avenger, F6F Hellcat and F4F Wildcat, as well as many other aircraft that had flown off the decks
Piedmont Aero Club
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Piedmont Aero Club
USS Yorktown Trip Finally Happens (cont)
of this aircraft carrier. Awesome displays underneath, as well as a chance to go to the
flight deck and experience more aircraft including the F14 Tomcat, F18 Hornet, A7 Corsair
II, A-6 Intruder, F4 Phantom as well as many more. With the arresting hooks down, one
can only imagine having to “trap” the arresting line for a stop, as well as launching from 0
to 143 knots (165 mph) in less than 2 seconds, within 150 feet, off the front catapults. We
also ventured up to the bridge, and again, saw from the Captain’s seat the entire operation
as it would unfold.
Our final area was the newly renovated Vietnam experience, with great displays and simu-
lated fire base. Displays included a riverine boat of the “Brown Water Navy” that patrolled
the Mekong Delta and other rivers of Vietnam, to a CH-46 Sea Knight, UH-1 Hueys, HR-1
Transport and AH-1 Cobra assault helicopters.
Around 1:45pm, everyone started to head back to KLRO to launch back home. The experi-
ence was very moving for everyone, and many want to come back again. Thanks to all that
attended, and made this a possibility after trying multiple times. (Al Lawless and Family,
Chris and Jacob Werling, Ashley Hayes, Wes and Jill Parker and Jon Wells).