QuickTalk 29 - LETTERS

Dear Mr. Masal,

As of Feb., the Conlin residence is not the same without our N60JW Quickie. As you know, Mother Nature strikes at bad times and in weird places and on this date she took 2 of our planes and 300 others at Hooks Airport near Houston. 60JW was crushed under a hangar door. Later we looked at memories of the 2 birds (Red Barons) that flew formation together in Dallas and later "bombed" another airport, memories of taxi tests and flight tests. Those were the good old days; now on to better things!

John Wayne (son of builder Mike Conlin), Conroe, TX


Jim,

Things are moving along very well. I've purchased Swing's Tri-Q kit and hope to use the K-100 BMW engine if it gets developed in time.

Gene Cash, Phoenix, AZ


EAA CHAPTER 458's 2nd ANNUAL FLY 'N FLEA MARKET

Sat and Sun, Oct. 11, 12 - 8 am til dark. Tullahoma, TN Airport. There's a small vendor fee but no general admission. Contact QBAer Terry Hall, 501 Campbell Ave., Tullahoma, TN 37388, Call (615) 454-9254. Terry says it went so well last year that they've expanded to 2 days.


Dear Jim:

I want to thank you for the publicity about Custom Composite Components, Inc. Tom and I both appreciate you letting people know about us.

We recently acquired the Quickie dealership franchise known as Bob McFarland Aero Services. We intend to continue the dealership. We have a lot of faith in the Q2.

I think you are doing a really good job telling it like it is, especially with design, construction and safety. You cannot over stress safety.

I have talked to a lot of successful Q2 pilots. They have a not so secret formula of success. 1. They build their planes according to the designer with tips and advice from QBA. 2. They did not alter, cut corners or change the design. 3. They spent the time to educate themselves about the plane, learning ALL of the handling characteristics, especially the on-ground handling. 4. Most importantly, they actually became proficient at ground handling prior to ANY in air activity.

Bill Forrest, Friedens, PA


Dear Jim,

Just a quick note to let you know what a great job you're doing.

Alas my Q2 is 80% complete, but it's been that way for one year. After 3 and a half years of work, I ran out of steam (probably working alone). Anyway I keep hoping I'll get interested again - so it sits in my garage.

Bill Bensinger, Seattle, WA

It is surprisingly normal, I have found, for a project to stall at least once in its progress. It happened to me, working alone; at about the same point and to borrow a phrase from the marathon runners, I call it "THE WALL". It's happening to me right now on a Glasair I'm helping with and it isn't even my airplane! I even know a guy right now who hit THE WALL at 98%, god forbid! This condition CAN become permanent, but it also IS gotten through, though with more or less difficulty. The WORST thing you can do is stay away from the project entirely. Start attending EAA chapter meetings regularly, even if as a visitor; take this time to visit other projects, either like yours or otherwise; skip ahead in the plans looking for jobs you might enjoy doing; find even miniscule jobs to do regularly that take less than an hour, e.g. put a terminal on a wire end, study an instrument installation, sand something for 30 minutes 3 times a week. It ALL has to be done SOONER OR LATER, and by keeping your hand in you'll be in the right locale the instant your interest switches back on...and you'll have accomplished SOMEthing that will hasten your work down the line. Try, OK? - ED.


Dear Jim:

Looks like Gene Sheehan really did it at Santa Rosa, CA, coming in first in the CAFE 400 (speed, mpg, payload) among 54 entries. Also the Quickie was first in single place. I know this is old news to most, but Gene (with all his published faults) has kept this Q200 and Quickie alive in a near state of bankruptcy, which is sure a big psychological uplift for me. Once this airplane gets safely away from the ground, it really performs, especially for anyone who likes the way these aircraft sip instead of gulp fuel. Also, I think an EGT gauge and a vernier mixture would better your chances in the CAFE 400.

Phil Kelly #2406

How's your psychological uplift when you don't get a newsletter or hear from QAC for months on end and hear most of what's going on through QUICKTALK? - ED.


DEEEER James:

I could use a tad of help...re: J. P. Stroud, page 3, Christmas issue. How can I find out where to purchase Shell's Epon 828 and Versamid I-40 and Q-cells? No one here has ever heard of the stuff.

Harvey Nack #2046

I dunno, Harvey. Are you tuned in to this J.P.? - ED.


Jim:

I know we EAA members are "buyers beware", but we sometimes get it in the ear in great numbers. I'd like to see the top level EAA establish a hard a__ clearinghouse for all these "new" products (engines, plane designs, etc., etc.), and put a stamp of approval on this stuff, and then we may be able to stop some of this flash in the pan crap. I know, freedoms are being suppressed - but the beat goes on!

I hate to even ask - what's going on with QAC? Now I know how an Edsel owner felt!

Fred Wemmering #2296


From Jan Bowman N5585N

My plane has had its 40 hours flown off, been certified and is now undergoing a Tri-Q conversion. Taildragger empty weight was 592 lbs and level cruise was 145 at 3,000' elevation. Climb was 400 fpm at 1100 lbs gross with the Revmaster (I'm putting on the larger heads and will report on performance later). I used dual brakes with 2 master cylinders and it worked fine. With the single master, we had a near incident when one brake grabbed on landing. Incidentally the brake and wheel system supplied with the Tri-Q is a pleasure to see compared to the Mickey Mouse QAC set-up. The entire Tri-Q kit is well done and I'm looking forward to no sweat landings.


QBAers REACT IN DRAMATIC RESCUES

Pardon my hype, but I think two instances where one of us went "above and beyond the call..." deserves mention.

After 8 months waiting and many calls, Ted Kibiuk was unable to obtain templates for the large wheels for his Quickie LS canard (I know you're shocked to hear of such poor builder support, no doubt it's a once in a lifetime thing...couldn't happen to you). Ted put out a call for help in QUICKTALK. He got two calls, one from Terry Crouch of Bettendorf, IA, who, at OSH, Ted writes; "brought me the drawings needed plus a lot of other good information and building tips." Previously reported, Terry did an educational inspection of Jim Prell's Onan in Kansas City, which was much appreciated. Here is a guy worth having as a friend.

Norm Howell flew his gorgeous Quickie just before OSH. Weird electrical problems surfaced. He was in a dither, calling hither and yon for help. Then he reached Neal Current. After a thorough phone discussion, Norm writes: "Neal sent me a HUGH letter and really went out of his way to help me out. I think his knowledge and helpful attitude should be rewarded somehow...like recognition in QUICKTALK." To top it off, Neal sent another HUGE letter to QUICKTALK, and you will see it soon.

There are those that talk about how we all have to pull together, given QAC's "problems" and then there are those who actually DO the pulling. Thanks Terry and Neal!



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