SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER Heading Bug. Greeting Montana Aviators,

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1 Heading Bug Calendar January 16-18, 2008 Montana WInter Survival Clinic Helena, MT February 6-7, 2008 Flight Instructor Refresher Clinic Helena, MT March 5-7, 2008 Montana Aviation Conference Nothing will ever equal that moment of exhilaration which filled my whole being when I felt myself flying away from the earth. It was not mere pleasure; it was perfect bliss... -Prof. Jacques Alexandre Cesare Charles, first free flight in a manned hydrogen balloon, December 1, 1783 If you have a story or something you would like to see in the newsletter, please contact Kristi Dunks at or kdunks@gmail.com. Greeting Montana Aviators, President s Message Fall is in the air and so is the old T- craft. I have been enjoying the fall colors on the Missouri river. While I enjoy the changing of the seasons in Montana, I find that I miss the long days of summer. With no nav lights on the T-craft, flying hours in the T-craft are now short. Like the changing of the season, so has the MPA had a change. August 28th Newsletter Editor and Webmaster Art Lindstrom passed away from leukemia. Art served as editor for 5 years and webmaster for 3 years. Tailwinds my friend. The MPA is fortunate to have members willing to serve. Kristi Dunks from Butte has offered to serve as newsletter editor. Willie Stene from Polson has offered to serve as webmaster. Kristi is an NTSB Air Safety Investigator. She has served as a newsletter editor for an EAA chapter while stationed in California. A pilot, she is looking for a replacement for the Citabria 7eca she recently sold. Melvin "Willie" Stene works in the family business - Stene Aviation at Polson. Willie is also a pilot that enjoys flying his C185. I would encourage all members to welcome Kristi and Willie. Perhaps you have a flying or technical story, or maybe a review of some aviation product that you would like to comment on, please submit those to Kristi and Willie. While reading the September/ October 2008 issue of Pilot Getaways, on page 51 I noticed an airplane that looked familiar. On page 53, there is MPA Valley Hangar member Jack Kotaki and his wife Renee. Renee and Jack, I am envious of all the fun flying you do. For those of you that are using auto gas in your aircraft, I have been hearing complaints of ethanol in all the auto gas in Missoula county. That is not the case with at least Conoco gas in the eastern part of the state. While the legislature passed a state law requiring some gas production with out ethanol, apparently Missoula county is dictating ethanol in all gas. I would appreciate thoughts and comments from MPA members on this matter. It is time to be thinking of nominations for the MPA board. All offices except the Western Director, are open for nominations. Hope to hear from you soon, Russell Dahl President PAGE 1

2 Reprinted from the Missoulian Arthur Lindstrom B: June 29, 1944 D: August 28, 2008 Arthur H. Art Lindstrom, Jr., Polson, passed away of complications with leukemia, on Thursday, Aug. 28, at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula. Loving hands of family members surrounded him as he begins another adventure. Art was born in Monroe, Louisiana on June 29, 1944 to A. Hugo Lindstrom, of Missoula and Doris (Fryberger) Lindstrom, Charlo. Art lived most of the past 64 years in Missoula, Frenchtown or Polson. Art married Valerie Siphers, of Arlee, in He attended schools in Missoula, was a University of Montana student for many years before joining the Montana National Guard in Art was an adventurous spirit who was an avid hunter, fisherman, scuba diver and skydiver in his early years and continued with backpacking and hiking, downhill and cross-country skiing and photography throughout his life. He always enjoyed a good beer at the end of the day. Art was foremost an aviator. His interest in aviation began early. As a child he walked a few blocks to the airport, Hale Field, now the site of Missoula s Sentinel High School and could be found playing in the old airframes scattered around Johnson Flying Service (JFS). He began working for JFS in 1965 as a ramp attendant, took flying lessons and in 1966, after achieving his commercial endorsements, he began his seasonal job as a co-pilot on DC-3s. He became a fulltime JFS employee in 1967 flying captain on the DC-3 and Twin Otter. He worked for JFS and later Evergreen Helicopters after they purchased JFS in Art left flying in 1976 to spend more time with his family. He tried various professions but the love for flying was too strong. At the age of 40 he realized his dream by being hired by United Airlines where he flew 18 years before retiring in He then returned to his favorite flying job, dropping smokejumpers from the Twin Otter during the summers of 2004 through Art was an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Polson, a Cheerful Heart, Inc. board member, a member of the Montana Pilots Association and Mission Valley Hanger. At the time of his passing he published the MPA bi-monthly newsletter and was Webmaster for the MPA Web site. Survivors include his mother, Doris, Missoula; sister, Janet, Sun City West, Arizona; wife, Valerie, Polson; son, Jeff and daughter-in-law Jenn and granddaughter Emma, Broomfield, Colo.; Nicole, Steamboat Springs, Colo. and Nicole s fiancé Alan Lindenlaub, Kremmling, Colo. The family is truly grateful to Dr. William Nichols, Montana Cancer Center, for keeping Art flying and living for the last eight years and the center s wonderfully supportive staff of chemo nurses for their capable hands and loving care; and during our 20-day hospital stay St. Pat s ICU staff, and all the nurses on 5 North. The family suggests memorials to Cheerful Heart, Inc., P.O. Box 688, Polson, MT (a non-profit providing non-medical services to Lake County cancer patients since 2002); the First United Methodist Church Technical Advances Fund, th Ave. E., Polson, MT 59860; or the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, National MS Society, PO Box 4527, New York, NY 10163, The guestbook and condolences may be sent to the family at PAGE 2

3 REMEMBERING BOB PALMERSHEIM Submitted by Daniel Darkenwald Mr. Bob Palmersheim was laid to rest at the Red Lodge cemetery, which, fittingly, is located right alongside the airport. Wonderful bagpipe music filled the air both at the church, as well as the cemetery. Just prior to the playing of Taps, a missing man formation was flown, with Gary Woltermann flying the missing man aircraft in his Bonanza. Bob had given my private pilot checkride in 1969, and was both a friend and mentor for many years. FINDING STEVE FOSSETT Compiled from AP News Reports On September 29, 2008, a hiker came across $100 bills alongside a trail in the Sierra Nevada mountains outside of Mammoth Lakes, California. Little did the hiker know that he had began the unraveling process of a disappearance mystery that was becoming the story of aviation legends. According to news reports, the hiker also found identification cards, including a pilot certificate. He did not initially recognize the name on the card, until his friends told him that the name was the same as famed missing aviator Steve Fossett. On October 1, the wreckage was located at approximately 10,000 feet mean sea level. Investigators responded to the accident site and found that the engine was found several hundred feet away. Steve Fossett was reported missing on September 27, 2007, after departing the Hilton Ranch on a local area flight. PAGE 3

4 HANGAR REPORTS Gallatin Valley: The Gallatin Valley Hangar has held two successful fund-raising events this summer. In late May we hosted a fly-in breakfast as part of our dedication of the recently completed pilot shelter at Gallatin Field. Over one hundred people enjoyed the food, the wonderful weather, and a great static display of historic and interesting airplanes. In the spirit of "paying it forward", the hangar donated $ from the breakfast to further the completion of the Columbus pilot shelter. In late June, we hosted the kickoff barbecue for the 2008 Air Race Classic (some of you might remember this as the Powder Puff Derby). With almost seventy participants, plus team members, aviation dignitaries from throughout Montana, and local political figures, along with many of our hangar members, we served over 130 people. Special thanks to hangar friends Dave and Peggy Foster for the twelve-hour cooking marathon. This event raised one thousand dollars for the hangar treasury. Our next flying event will be our annual "fall foliage flight" to Driggs, Idaho. This will be held on Sunday, September 28, with breakfast at the Warbirds Café at the Driggs airport. - John Hudson Miles City: Hello, We are still hanging in there..we are getting ready for the annual Fly-In at the Alvin and Barb Hirsch Ranch on Oct 4th..We will report to you how things went in the next Heading Bug..Hopefully we will have seen a lot of you there..there will be games and good food..and also good weather. Till next time happy flying. -Barb Hirsch Vigilante Hangar Report: The Vigilante Hangar hosted a fly-in pancake breakfast for all MPA and EAA pilots and guests on Saturday May 24 th. The breakfast was hosted in thevetter s Aviation hangar due to inclement weather. Hosted an all expense paid steak fry for our members on August 18. Over 30 people attended and the steaks were cooked just like you wanted them! Once again, Vetter s Aviation allowed us the use of their hangar facilities for this event.now you know why Brent and Rosemarie Vetter were awarded the 2008 Sparkplug Award by the state MPA! Our Hangar has learned that Sparky Imeson, author of the Mountain Flying Bible has moved to Helena. As he is a MPA member, we will look to him for a presentation on mountain in flying here in mountain country! Our Hangar will also feature guest speakers in the coming winter months to include Steve Jones with the FAA. We are working to get a presentation on Cromwell Dixon who, in 1911, was the first person to fly over the Continental Divide from Helena to the top of MacDonald Pass. We have a GPS location for his landing site on top of the pass and, weather permitting, will host a flyover in conjunction with the presentation. As stated before, the Vigilante Hangar s primary goals are aimed at maintaining our current membership base by developing a better camaraderie of spirit and involvement as an MPA member. Our long-term goal would be to use this spirit and involvement to increase our membership and attract those in-active members we ve lost. Ideas from the other MPA Hangars that would support these goals would be most welcome.and thank you! - Chuck Flynn PAGE 4

5 MPA MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM Membership Sweepstakes The Montana Pilots Association Membership Sweepstakes runs from Oct. 1 until the annual Montana Aviation Conference. The drawing will be held at the Conference March 5 7, 2009 in Billings, MT. You do not need to be present to win. The 2009 Sweepstakes Prize will be a New 406 MHz ELT. Each renewing member, each new member and each current member who sponsors a new member, will have their name entered in the drawing. To earn an extra chance in the sweepstakes drawing make sure and include your name as the sponsoring member on a new member s application. The more new members sponsored the more chances to win. Fill out the attached membership application and mail it with your check to the MPA Secretary. Membership applications are also available from MPA Hangar (chapter) officers, or printed out from the MPA Web site Membership Renewal forms will also be mailed out to each member in November. MONTANA PILOTS ASSOCIATION - Membership Renewal Form Name: Spouse/Significant Other Name: Mailing Address: FAA Certificate #: City/State/Zip: Occupation: Home Phone: Work Phone: : Fax: Aircraft Owner? N Number Make/Model Year Select your license category: Student Private Commercial ATP Instructor Please share your talents with MPA by volunteering to HELP in one or more of the following areas: Social Activities Newsletter Recruiting Administration Safety/Education Recreational Airstrips/Airports Aviation Issue Support Other (specify) Please select a local Hangar (chapter):! Central (Lewistown)! Colstrip! Five Valleys! Flathead! Gallatin Valley! Glacier! Glendive! Great Falls! Miles City! Mission Valley! North Central! Sanders County! South Central! Southwest! Valley! Vigilante! Member At Large (no chapter affiliation) ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DUES (JAN DEC 2009) Regular Member (pilot)! $25 Household Membership ( 2 Regular Members)! $45 Associate Member (not soloed)! $15 Family Membership (1 Regular and 1 Associate)! $35 Montana 1st Year Solo Student Pilot! Free Subscription to GA News! $25 Ranger Raffle Tickets ($20 Each or 6 for $100) Make check payable to: MPA TOTAL $ Mail to: Geanette Cebulski, Sec/Treas P. O. Box 1178 Seeley Lake, MT Sponsoring member (All members will be entered in the 2009 Sweepstakes Drawing Sponsors of new members will be added additional times Prize will be a New 406MHz ELT Drawing to be held at 2009 MT Aviation Conference Need not be present to win.) PAGE 5

6 POLARIS RANGER LE RAFFLE PAGE 6

7 MPA STATE OFFICERS President Russ Dahl Western Vice President Wade Cebulski Western Director Chuck Jarecki Secretary -Treasurer Geanette Cebulski Past President Joe Roberts Webmaster Will Stene Eastern Vice President Bobbi Powers Eastern Director Tim Robertson or Newsletter Editor Kristi Dunks MPA LOCAL HANGAR PRESIDENTS Central Hangar Dale Chamberlain Gallatin Valley Hangar Jon Hudson Miles City Hangar Lee Richardson South Central Hangar Bobbi Powers Colstrip Hangar No active officers Five Valleys Hangar Jim Younkin Flathead Hangar Chuck Manning Glacier Hangar Roger Sammons Glendive Hangar Leon Baker, Sec/Treas Great Falls Hangar Lou Ronnau Mission Valley Hangar Mauri Morin North Central Hangar Darren Huestis Sanders County Hangar Walter Pickering, VP No contact information Southwest Hangar Denzel Davis Valley Hangar David Heins Vigilante Hangar Brent Vetter PAGE 7

8 Heading Bug PO Box 4311, Helena, MT The bi-monthly newsletter of the Montana Pilots Association, Inc. Montana Pilots Association, Inc. PO Box 1178 Seeley Lake, MT US Postage PAID Kalispell, MT Permit 121