The President’s Soapbox By Robert Heavirland 
It seems that February is the time of year when those who can get away for a while go to the warmer climates.
This year Vicki and I happened to be one of those
groups. We went to Arizona and visited EAA Member
Bruce Thompson and our son and his family. Nice to
have 80’s during the day even if it froze at night in Prescott.
The Board met last Monday and reviewed all of the requests for the
Chapter to work with other groups. Most of these will be small needs
for any manpower however the AOPA National Regional Fly-In will
 be a bigger event and a great opportunity for the chapter to earn some income to defray our operating costs of the building. More on
these events at our meeting on Monday the 23rd where Al Lindh will
do his full presentation on Mountain Flying sharing photos and instruction he received taking a course in the mountain states.
We also plan to have another Breakfast Social at the Chapter Hangar
Saturday the 21st so bring a friend and stop in for breakfast and some good old hangar flying.
Oshkosh Work party Feb 26th to March 1st contact me to go along.
The Fly-In to Mille Lacs Lake (Iceport 2015) is March 7th and
some of our members plan on making this event. If you have an
open seat in your plane invite a fellow member to go along.
Happy landings,
Bob
Upcoming EAA B-25 Work Party Part II Update Unfortunately, Bob Heavirland's brother has passed away. Bob
will still be making the arrangements of those who are participating
in this month’s EAA B-25 chapter work party for the weekend of the 28th. Please contact Kirk NOW if you would like to go!  John
Hopkins has informed us that he again will have room in the Weeks
hangar for anyone that might wish to fly OSH. The extended forecast
doesn't look too bad: highs in the mid-20's and no snow. Might be some clouds. There are about 17 members signed up at this time.
Kirk’s info - Email: fjetfamily@msn.com Phone: 651-331-9905
EAA Chapter 237 Calendar of Events
February: ——————————————
Al’s “Mountain Flying & Aircraft Tie Downs”
 presentation at 8pm
Feb 26th-March 1st - Oshkosh EAA B-25 work party II at EAA HQ
March: ———————————————————————  
March 23 rd
Upcoming AOPA Seminar “After the Crash—Surviving an aircraft accident”
"Of the millions of GA flights every year, only a few end with unplanned off-airport landings. But even though the odds of a crash are slim,
the potential consequences are harsh—which is why smart pilots prepare and take basic precautions. That’s where our new seminar comes in. From route
 planning and emergency rations to signal mirrors and sat phones, our
 presenters take a user-friendly, common sense approach at maximizing your chances of survival and rescue after a crash. We’ll talk about: • The essential ingredients of a good survival kit • Simple but effective ways to help searchers find you • The first steps you should take after a crash • Survival
strategies while awaiting rescue." 
AOPA Air Safety Institute
When: Tuesday, April 7th, 7pm - 9pm
Where: Key Air Twin Cities KANE 9877 North Airport Rd. NE Blaine, MN 55449
Cost: FREE AOPA Contact: 800-638-3101
FAAST eam “Wings” credit eligible ( 1 Credit for Basic Knowledge Topic 3)  
Please consider submitting an article next month. To do so please contact your newsletter editor Becky at ibecktec@hotmail.com
BIG Screen Video/Movie Night The next video/movie night is Sat. March 14
th , 2015 
7pm - 9pm MAIN FEATURE Movie
As usual pizza, pop, coffee and other goodies are included.
If you haven’t attended, take some time & come out and enjoy!
We have some great movie choices along with plenty of new videos for March. In February, we enjoyed:
“The Bob Hoover Project - Flying the Feathered Edge”
CHAPTER MEETING - 6PM 
 
January 29
th -31
st   2015
There will be a nice article covering both B-25 work parties in the March newsletter to commemorate both teams!
In the meantime here are some pics from the first work party in January.
Below is a thank you for EAA for our helping out! From: "Gena Ruetten"
Subject: Thank You All! 
Good Afternoon Chapter 237,
On behalf of Weeks Hangar, I wanted to send a quick thank you for all of your hard work on the restoration of EAA's B-25 Mitchell! With
everybody's teamwork and talent, we were able to get a nice start. We enjoyed the time that you were able to spend here with us; as well as
the stories and laughs that were shared. We look forward to your company again, at the end of February.
We hope you enjoyed yourselves!
Gena Ruetten, EAA #1159363 Admin Assistant, Aircraft Maintenance
EAA-The Spirit of Aviation 
 
F  EBRUARY  2015 Warroad Minnesota Lions 37th Annual Skiplane Fly-In and Breakfast February 22, 2015 8am - 12pm (noon)
Skiplanes land on the Warroad River, wheel planes at the Warroad Airport (KRRT). Shuttle service is available.
For more information, please contact: Dave Paulson 218-386-1818, 218-386-2098 or email dpaulson@ssbwarroad.com
 M  ARCH  2015 ICEPORT 2015 Saturday, March 7th, 2015 10am - 3pm
Twin Pines Resort - Mille Lacs Lake, MN
Come join us for some wonderful food, excellent conversation and that special thing that makes this little fly-in on ice so
very extraordinary: the airplane. Who knows, you just may win a prize or two. Rain date is March 14th. Watch www.facebook.com/eaa551 for the latest details.
LOCAL FLY-INS EVENTS
Compiled by Chapter 237 member Randy Delfel  There may be inclement weather, changes, cancellations or editing mistakes beyond my control.
Please call ahead to verify that the event is taking place as scheduled. 
FLY-IN /DRIVE-IN BREAKFAST SOCIAL  “The BEST EAA breakfast in Minnesota” 
FEBRUARY 21ST, 2015  07:30-11:00 
 ALL YOU CAN EAT! 
EAA Chapter 237 is holding an award winning “Chuckwagon” breakfast on Saturday the 21 st!
Included is: biscuits with sausage gravy, scrambled eggs, fresh fruit, coffee and orange juice. Where else
can you get all that for a $6.00/person suggested donation? Only at the EAA Chapter237 breakfast!! 
The Flying Star Chuckwagon team will be presenting breakfast the authentic old time way. The food
will be prepared just like the old cowboy cooks did in the trail drive days. This is a can’t miss meal!!! 
Fly, drive, walk or ski, you will not be disappointed. All are welcome! 
Warning Notam –  Your weight and balance may be affected!!!  
EAA Chapter 237 Hangar Building
Anoka Co-Blaine Airport - KANE
8891 Airport Road NE
 
 
EAA CHAPTER 237 AT BLAINE AIRPORT TO HOST THE B-17
“ ALUMINUM OVERCAST ” JUNE 16TH-18TH, 2015!!
Take a trip back in time with a flight aboard EAA's beautifully restored B-17G Flying Fortress
 Aluminum Overcast , which tours the United States as a living tribute to the "greatest generation"
who built and served heroically on these magnificent warbirds.  Aluminum Overcast  is more than
 just an airplane. It is a traveling museum and a connection to the past, the "greatest generation"
who built and served heroically on these magnificent warbirds.
Join us for an unforgettable experience aboard one of the few remaining airworthy B-17s in
the world. You won’t want to miss  Aluminum Overcast  when it visits!
Climb aboard the 65,000-lb. B-17 bomber and step back in time to the World War II era. Feel the
might of this magnificent flying machine as it soars through the sky on your mission flight where
you’ll discover why it’s called the Flying Fortress. Stand in the footsteps of the bombardier, the
navigator, and the waist gunner and relive history by experiencing this once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity to fly in one of World War II's most vital and magnificent aircraft.
People of all ages will appreciate the history associated with this airplane that helped the Allies
achieve victory during WWII.
Please visit the attached video link to get an idea of the most memorable flight you’ll ever
experience: http://www.eaavideo.org/video.aspx?v=18400770001  
Sign up at: http://www.eaa.org/en/eaa/aviation-education-and-resources/aviation-videos-and-aviation-photos/eaa-webinars 
 Date—- Time—- Webinar Subject———  
2/25/15 7 pm How to Successfully Build a Pietenpol Air Camper
Building a Pietenpol Air Camper as a group is a simple, inexpensive, and rewarding way to teach building techniques while boosting
confidence in chapter members who are new to aircraft building. Steve Williamson, president of EAA Chapter 1297, will discuss how
his chapter successfully built a Pietenpol. The presentation will help you overcome obstacles, avoid pitfalls, and maximize your
chances for success.
3/4/15 8 pm Cam Distress If your engine fails to make TBO, chances are the reason will be that it has developed a bad cam lobe or spalled lifters. But many
engines are condemned to a costly cam transplant unnecessarily or prematurely. Maintenance expert Mike Busch discusses the proper
way to evaluate cam condition and make a well-informed decision as to whether "it's time" or not. Qualifies for FAA Wings and AMT
credit.
3/10/15 7 pm Avoiding the Base to Final Turn Accident Gordon Penner, MCFI-A and FAA Gold Seal Instructor, will discuss simple and clear explanations of the elements leading up to a
 base-to-final stall/spin accident; how to recognize and stop these elements, and the true nature of stalls and spins that most pilots have
not been taught. Qualifies for FAA Wings Credit.
3/11/15 7 pm Building and Flying the Zenith CH-750
The Zenith CH-750 experimental kit aircraft can be built as a STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) or as a Cruzer airplane. Learn about the design philosophy, building process and flight characteristics of these popular homebuilt aircraft from Sebastien Heintz, President
of Zenith Aircraft Co.
3/18/15 7 pm Mastering Radio Communications
Student pilots who have mastered all the requisite flying skills often seem to forget everything they’ve learned when it comes time to
make a radio call. Prof. H. Paul Shuch, founder of AvSport of Lock Haven discusses procedures and techniques to help pilots automate the communications process, so they can concentrate on flying the aircraft. Qualifies for FAA Wings credit.
3/25/15 7 pm Vertical Power- The Benefits of Electronic Circuit Breakers
In the last decade there has been a significant shift from the use of mechanical systems to all-electric systems in experimental aircraft. Consequently, electrical system complexity has increased substantially and many builders find it challenging to wire the advanced
features necessary to support the latest avionics and components. Chad Jensen from Vertical Power discusses how their systems reduce the complexity of installation and provide opportunities for an enhanced electric system. Qualifies for FAA AMT credit.
4/1/15 8 pm The Decision Point
During every annual inspection, there's a specific moment in time when the aircraft owner needs to get involved in the decision making process to ensure he stays in control and obtains a satisfactory outcome with no surprises. Maintenance expert Mike Busch
defines this crucial "decision point" and explains what steps an owner should take to make certain the right things happen when it
comes. Qualifies for FAA Wings and AMT credit.
4/8/15 7 pm Ten Ways to Get Your Spouse to Fly
Sharing the joy of flight is every Pilot's dream, but sometimes finding someone to fly with is more difficult than it should be. This light hearted presentation by Michael Combs, a world record holding pilot who flew a Light Sport Aircraft into all fifty states while
filling that right seat nearly every mile. Michael will describe ten creative ways that can be implemented immediately and are sure to
not only fill seats, but provide memories that will last a lifetime.
4/15/15 7 pm Introduction to Float Plane Techniques
Ever dreamed of flying float planes? Learn the basic techniques and procedures for Seaplane flying. From step taxi to glassy water landings. Presented by Drew Haag, a 16 year Alaskan Seaplane Instructor at Above Alaska Aviation, LLC. Qualifies for FAA Wings
credit.
4/29/15 7 pm How to Buy a Used Light-Sport Aircraft
Discover the secrets of a successful LSA pre-buy examination. Shopping for a used LSA can be a gamble because so few people
 
1) Aviate, Navigate, Communicate.
If you're faced with an emergency, always remember to fly the airplane first, navigate to a point of landing second, and then communicate your emergency
2) Truly superior pilots are those who use their superior judgment to avoid those situations
where they might have to use their superior skills.
3) When in doubt, hold your altitude; nobody ever collided with the sky.
4) Rule one: No matter what else happens, fly the airplane.
5) Fuel is liquid altitude - the only time you will have too much is when you are on fire.
6) Flying, like life, is full of precluded possibilities. Can t do... won t do... shouldn t do...
7) It s better to be on the ground wishing you were the air, than in the air wishing you were
on the ground.
8) Emergency landings are done to save lives, not airplanes.
9) Never let an airplane take you somewhere your brain didn t get to five minutes earlier.
10) There is nothing more worthless than the sky above you, the runway behind you and
fuel in the bladder.
*Even though several of these quotes individually have been mentioned in past
 
in Pilot Appreciation Sweepstakes
“The Young Eagles are coming! The Young Eagles are coming!”
It may be bitterly cold and miserable outside, but before you know it the Young Eagles will be
soaring again. EAA volunteer pilots who give generously of their time flying Young Eagles can
enter the Young Eagles Pilot Appreciation Sweepstakes and possibly win one of three great
 prizes secured by Young Eagles Chairman Sean D. Tucker. The sweepstakes is Sean’s way to
thank EAA’s volunteer pilots who participate in Young Eagles for their service to the program.
Any EAA volunteer pilot who has flown or will fly Young Eagles between July 1, 2014, and
March 31, 2015, is automatically entered in the Sweepstakes for these fabulous prizes:
A $250 gift certificate to Historic Aviation . For more than 30 years, Historic Aviation has been
a leader in aviation merchandising, offering thousands of fun and exciting items for aviation
enthusiasts.
An EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2015 package. Receive two weekly wristbands, a basic
campsite for seven days, and two Ford Tri-Motor flights. You’ll also get two seats at
Sean’s table during the Young Eagles Dinner.
Individual Flow Aviation Oxygen System. Aeromedix offers this 425-liter, four-person
individual flow aviation oxygen system, the most economical and convenient solution for
 pilots who want to have oxygen available for themselves and their passengers while flying at
high altitudes.
The Secrets of Aviation
Powered flight may have started with the Wright brothers, but many other aviation
pioneers made significant contributions. Every month I will provide one of the fascinating
individuals, facts, or accomplishments that are The Secrets of Aviation.
As EAA Chapter 237 prepares for its second B-25 “Mitchell” work party trip to Oshkosh, we are
all aware of the most famous pilot of that illustrious aircraft…James H. Doolittle. He was the first
pilot to take-off a twin engine bomber from an aircraft carrier and bomb the Empire of Japan
during WWII. However, “Jimmy” Doolittle had many other aviation firsts.
24 September 1929
Jimmy Doolittle with the Consolidated NY-2 Instrument panel of rear cockpit
Lieutenant James H. Doolittle, U.S. Army Air Corps, made the first completely blind airplane takeoff
flight and landing, solely by reference to instruments on board his aircraft. Flying from the rear cockpit
of a civil-registered two-place Consolidated NY-2 Husky training airplane, NX7918, Doolittle had his
visual reference to earth and sky completely cut off by a hood enclosure over his cockpit. A safety pilot,
Lieutenant Benjamin Scovill Kelsey, rode in the forward cockpit, but the entire flight was conducted by
Doolittle. He took off from Mitchel Field, climbed out, flew a 15 mile set course and returned to Mitchel
Field and landed.
The experimental gyroscopic compass, artificial horizon and a precision altimeter were developed by
Elmer Sperry, Jr., and Paul Kollsman, both of Long Island, New York. Funding for the Full Flight
Laboratory at Mitchel Field was provided by the Daniel Guggenheim Fund for the Promotion of
Aeronautics.
The following magazine article from Astounding Stories of Super-Science (1930) gives some details of
Jimmy Doolittle’s instrument flight:
 
“THE outstanding development in aviation recently, and one of the most significant so far in aviation
history was the ‘blind’ flight of Lieut. James H. Doolittle, daredevil of the Army Air Corps, at Mitchel
 Field, L. I., which led Harry P. Guggenheim, President of the Daniel Guggenheim Fund for the
 Promotion of Aeronautics, Inc. to announce that the problem of fog-flying, one of aviation’s greatest
bugbears, had been solved at last. 
“There has been ‘blind flying’ done in the past but never before in the history of aviation has any pilot
taken off, circled, crossed, re-crossed the field, then landed only a short distance away from his starting
 point while flying under conditions resembling the densest fog, as Lieut. ‘Jimmy’ Doolittle has done, in
his Wright-motored ‘Husky’ training-plane. It was something uncanny to contemplate. 
“The ‘dense fog’ was produced artificially by the simple device of making the cabin of the plane
entirely light-proof. Once seated inside, the flyer, with his co-pilot, Lieut. Benjamin Kelsey, also of
 Mitchel Field, were completely shut off from any view of the world outside. All they had to depend on
were three new flying instruments, developed during the past year in experiments conducted over the
 full-flight laboratory established by the Fund at Mitchel Field. 
“The chief factors contributing to the solution of the problem of blind flying consist of a new
application of the visual radio beacon, the development of an improved instrument for indicating the
longitudinal and lateral position of an airplane, a new directional gyroscope, and a sensitive
barometric altimeter, so delicate as to measure the altitude of an airplane within a few feet of the
 ground. 
“Thus, instead of relying on the natural horizon for stability, Lieut. Doolittle uses an ‘artificial horizon’
on the small instrument which indicates longitudinal and lateral position in relation to the ground at all
time. He was able to locate the landing field by means of the direction-finding long-distance radio
beacon. In addition, another smaller radio beacon had been installed, casting a beam fifteen to twenty
miles in either direction, which governs the immediate approach to the field. 
“To locate the landing field the pilot watches two vibrating reeds, tuned to the radio beacon, on a
virtual radio receiver on his instrument board. If he turns to the right or left of his course the right or
left reed, respectively, begins doing a sort of St. Vitus dance. If the reeds are in equilibrium the pilot
knows it is clear sailing straight to his field. 
“The sensitive altimeter showed Lieut. Doolittle his altitude and made it possible for him to calculate
 
 
“You start with a bag full of luck and an empty bag of“You start with a bag full of luck and an empty bag of
experience. The trick is to fill the bag of experienceexperience. The trick is to fill the bag of experience
before you empty the bag of luck.” before you empty the bag of luck.”  
QUOTE
OTE
 OF
F
 THE
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 MONTH
ONTH
 
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