High Country Aviation Workshop for Kids HAWKaviators.org, Mack, CO2017 is now history!
2018 Has arrived!
The new year offers a new adventures for the HAWK and EAA 800 kids.
HAWK continues to grow and the end of 2017 was definitely interesting. The November EAA meeting featured a talk by an IAC judge DJ Molny. His talk with video was about how scoring of the aerobatic flights in the aerobatic box is accomplished. It was really interesting and boy does it require a sharp eye. Anyone that missed it sure missed a good presentation.
The December EAA meeting was the annual EAA lunch and was again, like last year, held at the El Tapatio Restaurant. It was a social gathering and an awards presentation. All the officer’s got pins and a certificate. Sterling got a second one for Information officer and Steve Linderman for Web officer. Ken and Jeri’s was for MVP. Ken and Jeri Hurt were given the award for most valuable EAA 800 2017 player because the Hurts coordinated the Young eagles flights and also ran several fund raising projects, plus they do lunch at every EAA meeting..
Piper Cherokee N9606W Courtesy Eddie Clements, PhotographerThe Cherokee annual became due January 1st 2018. The annual was started over the Holidays in December and turned into a real rodeo, and prevented Braden from taking his Private checkride on his birthday in January. (He scored 92 on the written- not bad considering he is the first person to take the private pilot written after attending HAWK ground School). Several AD’s were due and required the airplane to be shut down for longer than planned. The AD on the Control Yoke inspection revealed a crack on the LH yoke. This seemed like a minor problem. Wrong! Seems this is a common Cherokee problem on the older plastic yokes. A used yoke was located but after getting it shipped in during the Holidays on inspection also was determined to be cracked. New replacement yokes do not exist. The Piper Factory tech rep was a good help and finally led to a good used yoke in an aircraft salvage yard. (The piper Tech was very professional and helped with several AD’s on our aircraft). Unfortunately the used yoke found is still a plastic yoke and the AD still Applies. It will get the airplane flying until a better yoke is found. Braden is designing a new aluminum yoke in Solidworks and the FAA has agreed to work on getting it field approved as they are well aware of the problem. Braden was exposed to solid works in a class at HAWK run by Jeff Goodrich of RADCAD design. Braden then worked with Jeff after hours. Apparently Braden is the Solidworks tech at his High school and is set up to test shortly to become Solidworks certified. Braden has a miniature example of the yoke he designed printed on a 3D printer. The kids are learning.
All this rodeo caused Braden to not be able to complete his private on his birthday. He was ready but the airplane was not. The other AD that was due is somewhat easier but required some disassembly of the aircraft. This AD affects the balance weight tube for the elevator and after talking to the Piper tech it was determined the HAWK Cherokee has the tube the AD applies to. The Piper Service Letter and the AD do not offer any indication as to what tube is in Cherokees. Kids rigging the HAWK Balloon for flight. Braden inflated it this time. He is working on a balloon rating with several other kids including Krista who is looking at the camera. Caden, Jake and William received instruction after each landing and kid change. Courtesy Eddie Clements, PhotographerAfter talking to the Piper tech it gets down to the color of the ears where the elevator cables attach.. The non AD tube has Green ears and also has a wall thickness of .120. HAWK’s tube is .090 thick and did not have green ears. This requires removal every 2 years for a magnaflux or dye check inspection of the bolt holes where the tube attaches to the Stabilizer. Ours passed crack inspection. Piper does make a new tube that does away with this AD- just requires money to acquire one. The Cherokee was detailed by the kids while all this was going on. The airplane will fly again in 2018 and Braden will finish his private pilot’s license.
Picture of the HAWK balloon in flight with kids at the burner. Picture taken by Randy Owens out of his Zenith 701 Courtesy Randy Owens, PhotographerThe HAWK Balloon is flying regularly and kids are building time. The balloon has flown over 10 hrs of kid instruction in December. And lots of kids are getting burner time. N90555 the HAWK balloon flies extremely well. It will fly over 3 hours on 30 gallons of propane. Not bad for an old recoated balloon. Hopefully by summer several kids will be private balloon pilots.
The HAWK builds
HAWK kids attending a typical Ground school- this one is on weather. They even attend when the Classroom has not warmed up. Courtesy Eddie Clements, PhotographerHAWK kids worked on drilling rivets out of the hail damaged control surfaces of the 172. And are doing an awesome job. The kids learned a lot building tool boxes. Now they are using what they learned on airplanes. As soon as funds are available new skins will be ordered..
The Zenith 701 is progressing nicely. Pat W. and his group of kids are doing an awesome job and hopefully it will fly this summer. The tail is back on and all the controls work. Even in the correct direction. The wings are nearly finished and are about ready to install. Tim Allen, our newest mentor, built an engine mount for the Rotex 912 per Zenith plans and it looks like factory. Lane and Cindy J donated the 4130 tubing to make the mount. THANKS Lane and Cindy. Tim owns Bulldog Machine and does very high end work on zip lines and other technical projects. He put the paper engine mount plans for the mount into Solidworks and then machined all the joints to fit perfectly. Tim’s dad, Bill Allen, built lots of airplanes including gyrocopters and founded a gyro Company in Utah called Hawk. Small world that they had the same name as ours but no connection. Bill was a true craftsman. Seems Bill passed his talent to his boys. HAWK is really excited about Tim joining us. Watch for more exciting things out of HAWK due to Tim – Tim has some unique ideas for HAWK kids and worked with kids on Darpa competitions in the past. HAWK is very lucky to have a person like Tim involved.
The Donated Bonanza F35 is now officially HAWK’s and the paperwork is on the way to Oklahoma. The airplane is going to be moved into the build Hanger to start an Annual. Hopefully it will not require too much. We do know the prop has a major AD on it. Hopefully it will be good. It will have to be sent to a prop shop and probably will be the last item done as it is not cheap to do. We will see how the airplane checks out. At least the airplane was donated and anything made off it will help HAWK. HAWK’s plan is to sell it for operating capital. So if anyone wants a nice Bonanza get in line? HAWK has a tentative sale depending on the annual results.
One of HAWK’s mentors Russell Franke is working to get gliders going in HAWK. He has purchased 2 Schweizer 2-22’s and a flyable PA-25 Pawnee plus 2 Cal Air tow planes that need a little work. I have a schweizer 2-33 that needs some minor work and HAWK is working with several CFIG glider instructors and tow plane pilots to get them involved with HAWK. This summer should be interesting at Mack with powered airplanes, gliders, and balloons. We will be busy teaching kids. Time will tell!
Jake smiling with the Jr Service League plaque. Courtesy Eddie Clements, PhotographerHAWK is really becoming known. The Grand Junction Jr Service League, a non profit that works with educational non profits, donated $1000.00 to the HAWK program to help finish the 701. This was Brian M’s project and I am sure this is only a start with them. They are really impressed with what HAWK is doing..
Watch for a full article about EAA 800 and HAWK in Sport Aviation in the next few months.
Beth E. Stanton is working on an article and the article may be out before my next HAWK update. Beth stopped by the HAWK Cherokee at Oshkosh 2017 and talked with the kids. HAWK is very fortunate to have someone of Beth’s caliber doing an article about the HAWK program.
HAWK and EAA 800 continue to make flight possible and affordable for kids.
Go to hawkaviators.org to keep up with HAWK happenings.
As always, thanks to everyone that makes HAWK viable. The list is getting long.
Thanks for everyone’s support. 2017 has been an exceptional year at 10CO (Mack Mesa Airport). The HAWK youth are learning about all forms of aviation because of HAWK’sDedicated Mentors and Donors, who donate their Time, Money, and Expertise – The list is long!
Recently HAWK began work on our firefly hot air balloon N90555. Upon donation the envelope was found to be porous and not flightworthy. Slowly HAWK was donated a basket and then another along with fuel lines and tanks until we had all of the pieces necessary to put together our balloon. However with these parts the problem of the porous fabric remained but never fear HAWK was given new balloon coating from firefly to be applied to the inside of HAWK’s balloon.
Caleb, Abarim, Michelle, Eddie and Braden coating the hot air balloon.
The entire inside of the balloon had to be coated in the latex based clear coating that was sprayed on and rolled in taking four days to paint over 70000 square feet of fabric until on the evening of day four when HAWK members left the balloon and the balloon was stood up in Fruita’s Reed Park.
Reed Park balloon glow
One week from completion the skirt was replaced with a non-flammable version and the final fuel system, freshly rebuilt, was certified finishing the annual inspection and legalizing flight. HAWK’s newest addition to our flying fleet will be providing instruction shortly and the majority of the flight costs for at least the first few months will be donated by Mr. Eddie Clements
The next weekend October 14th EAA Chapter 800 scheduled a young eagles flight day to introduce kids to aviation. By the end of the day 21 kids had experienced airplanes for the first time, thanks to the following pilots- Sterling Hurst and Kim Neibauer flew the Cherokee, Pat Wehling flew the Dakota Hawk. Randy Owens flew his Zenith 701, And Alfred Gabelli flew his 172.
October 15 was the EAA chapter 800 meeting. After the EAA 800 lunch, the HAWK airplanes were used to fly the WestStar employees and kids that were responsible for the awesome paint job on the Cherokee. (Some of the employees could not make the date so another weekend will be scheduled for them). Ladd the 10CO airport manager did an awesome presentation about his brother-in-law. Randy Bresnik – The commander of the international
Space station- go to NASA TV and watch The crew in action. Ladds wife Ronnie presented HAWK and EAA 800 pictures and posters of Randy and the station crew- hopefully we can get some of the crew to sign them. Shay B did an awesome job framing them for display. Seems Aviation runs deep in the 10CO family. GOOGLE Randy Bresnik – it is very interesting.
Copper State Air Show in Mesa Arizona was the next weekend (October 27-28). Kim and Braden Flew the Cherokee to the show. Sterling Drove his Car down as he had friends to visit around the area. While at Copper State Sterling signed Braden off to do his solo cross country back to Grand junction regional, then back to Mack with stops in Winslow AZ for Fuel and again in Blanding Utah. All went well until Braden was just past Kayenta AZ and the engine decided to run Rough. Braden found himself in his first real aviation problem. After trying everything to clear the engine he made a good decision and deviated to Kayenta and landed. He could not get the engine to clear so Sterling, Nancy, and Kim picked him up and he returned Home by auto. Wouldn’t you know it – all the HAWK Mentor airplanes were down for annuals. Rather than drive for 10 hours to rescue the airplane The Mange Mooney was put back together and the annual finished by the crew. Eddie, Sterling, and Jerry F flew to Kayenta and the Cherokee decided to run properly, ( that’s why Jerry F was involved seems like he has a magic touch with fixing airplanes- they just work when he is around). Sterling flew it back to Mack. The general consensus was Carb Ice. Braden tried Carb Heat but not being familiar with how an engine runs rougher until it clears he made the correct decision and landed- another lesson learned. Other than a failed solo cross country everything turned out OK. excitement over. The oil was changed and the oil filter was cut open on the Cherokee and nothing was found to indicate a problem. The Cherokee is still flying kids for instruction regularly.
The Zenith 701 has been moving forward thanks to Pat W’s leadership. The kids Jaden, William, and Jake have installed the tail and are hooking up the controls. The small AN140-8S and AN130-8S turnbuckles are in the process of being replaced with 22S turnbuckles per the Zenith plans. The replacement turnbuckles were ordered from Zenith. Zenith aircraft has really worked with HAWK on the project.
HAL Stockman with Zipper Big Bore completely went through the prop drive gear box assembly for the Rotax 912 that will power the Zenith 701. Nothing was found to be out of order. Hal donated his very limited time to do the disassembly and check out on the drive. He also installed new parts at no cost to HAWK. Plus, he returned it from Reno-freight paid. Thanks HAL!
HAWK is trying to find a Zenith engine mount for the 912 installation on the 701. If anyone has one, let us know. The fuel tanks were modified by Sonic, welding ½ inch NPT outlets on the back of the tanks, and the fuel system is slowly coming together. Once the fuel tanks are installed in the wings, the wings will go on the airplane.
William has started his formal flight training, Braden is working hard to get his Private in January when he turns 17. He just has a few minor flying items to finish, like his nighttime flights, as Mack is not lighted. Logan is working hard toward his solo and is building flying time in his mom’s 172 (Shay is a rusty pilot who got back into aviation by buying an airplane because of HAWK, not to mention her love of aviation.) Logan spends Saturdays, mostly working under HAWK supervision, on his mom’s 172. Jake is waiting for his dad to get his instructor’s rating. Then have him train him in the HAWK airplanes.
Brian (Jake’s dad) and HAWK’s president is currently getting his commercial and instructor ratings on the GI bill through Colorado Mesa University. He obtained his instrument rating last year under the GI bill and should be finished with his instructor’s rating this spring. (He is another rusty pilot who got back into aviation due to HAWK). He plans on being another HAWK CFI.
The Balloon flying will have a large effect on how the younger kids get private pilots licences. They can solo it at 14 and get their private at 16. Then everything else will be type ratings. This winter, it should be very busy as the kids will be able to fly it at no cost as long as they work in the shop, In the Grand Valley we can fly balloons anytime during the day as we get inversions and the air stays very stable in December and January. HAWK has managed to put together a really good balloon system at absolutely no cost to HAWK, just lots of work. The kids major expense will be a FAA private written and check ride.
Due to the number of kids wanting to join HAWK, HAWK has been forced to put together a waiting list and select the kids who are genuinely interested in aviation. HAWK does not lack for projects. The reason for the list is the lack of room to work and mentors. On any Saturday there are airplanes flying, toolboxes under construction, numerous airplanes in various stages of construction or repair. HAWK is a beehive of activity. All new HAWK kids get a young eagles ride in one of HAWK’s airplanes sponsored by EAA chapter 800. HAWK gets regular requests from parents wanting to get their kids an airplane ride. And HAWK and EAA chapter 800 work to accommodate them weather and pilots permitting.
The only time the kids slow down is for lunch. (Lunch is provided by John C) and has turned into a major project. Every Saturday John manages to feed a lot of kids and adults. A big thank you John from HAWK. No one goes hungry. John is also HAWK’s rainmaker. He is an expert at listing and selling donated items to keep HAWK’s cash flowing. Keep the donations coming so we can keep John busy. HAWK only exists because of donations of almost anything of value. Money is still the most important donation! HAWK really likes airplane donations. So if you have or know of an airplane available for donation let HAWK know.
The end of the year is approaching rapidly. If you have to pay Uncle Sam, consider a donation to HAWK. It is good for a tax write off, going to the education of youth about aviation. HAWK is a 501(c)3 educational non-profit. All funds go directly to the program. No one is compensated for their time. Every mentor’s time is also donated.
Go to hawkaviators.org website to see what is happening at HAWK
Any donations can be made through the website or by responding to this e-mail.
HAWK and EAA chapter 800 monthly schedule.
The 1st Saturday of the month is a project work day for HAWK from 10 AM until?
The 2nd Saturday is ground School in the morning 10AM to lunch then work on projects.
The 3rd Saturday is the EAA 800 chapter meeting 10-noon then lunch provided by EAA chapter 800 and the Ken Hurt family. Then its to the HAWK workshops for work on projects.
The 4th Saturday is again ground School in the morning, lunch then projects are worked on.
Anyone is welcome at the EAA chapter 800 meeting or a tour of the HAWK program.
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