Yea, how about the Shady Bend Chapter.  Try to call it chapter 13.  If
that number is taken it would have to Chapter 13B.  :-)

Dave Leonard

On 5/22/05, David Staten <Dastaten@earthlink.net> wrote:
> If this group is to be successful, it needs to be a full fledged type club:
> 1) Member education 2) Advocacy 3) Insurance Industry Liason 4) Technical
> Advisors 5) Accident Investigation 6) First Flight support and prep.
>  
> Much of our "tribal knowledge" is out there, in this listserv, as well as on
> the ACRE site, and the "best practices" page. Some of the material out there
> is proprietary, such as Tracy's manuals for stuff he has, as well as his
> conversion manual. Many of us already own copies of it anyways. Ensuring
> that knowledge (and experience developed by our members) is eaasily
> available to other members would be a prime goal.
>
> Preflight and Phase One support would be an important safety tool. There are
> "cheap" water brake "dynos" out there that can be used to vary loads on the
> engine to break it in (AND program its ECU) properly from the safety of the
> ground. Price is in the small thousands, and "leases" are available for
> around $100/month. Without inferring speculation against the recent
> accident, can you fathom the benefit of using such a device to determine IF
> and WHEN your engine will vaporlock? Or to determine EXACTLY how much HP you
> are making, so you can size the prop for it? Or so you can adequately
> determine your BSFC and efficiency? Or to know how much heat you really are
> generating, so you know how much you have to dissipate? Such a device could
> be loaned/rented to members (or even NON-members for a premium... still
> cheaper than Dyno time in a race shop)
>  
> Such a program would undoubtedly give us a better chance at obtaining
> insurance during testing, and normal ops, by being able to document engine
> performance PRIOR to the first flight. Not  to mention the "Piece of Mind"
> (TM) of knowing your engine has already been shaken down long before you
> take to the sky.
>  
> I see no reason why such a program could not be incorporated into an
> existing chapter of the EAA if the membership chose to do so, if such would
> ease the hassles of incorporating a new organization. There likewise is no
> requirement for chapter members to have to live near each other.. Hell, we
> could even FORM a chapter of the EAA and provide the technical and flight
> advisor support through it, and conduct business by internet video
> conference. I do not expect EAA National to actually DO anything FOR us..
> but they would be a good resource for us to help ourselves.
>  
> Dave Staten
>
> Todd Bartrim wrote: