The February Chapter meeting will be held at the Commemorative Air Force Heart of America Wing hangar at the New Century AirCenter on February 20th at 7pm.  The meeting will feature guest speaker Jen Sharp, Master Parachute Rigger and Skydiving Instructor from Skydive Kansas.

Jen made her first skydive at the age of 18 in 1989, and has since logged more than 3,000 skydives.  She holds numerous credentials as a skydiving instructor and is one of only six National Examiner Directors for the USPA in the United States.

She became a designated FAA Senior Rigger in 1995, and in 2009 achieved the rank of Master Rigger.

Jen is qualified to repack both backpack and seat pack emergency parachutes, and has owned and operated Skydive Kansas since 1995.

Jen will speak about owning and maintaining a parachute and will discuss various aspects of proper use, care and fitting of emergency parachutes worn in aerobatic airplanes.  She will also discuss things to look for when purchasing a parachute.

If your parachute is out of date, bring it to the meeting.  Jen has repacked several chutes for IAC15 club members, and is offering chute repacking for $60.

IAC15 is opening up this meeting for fellow local aviation organizations that have an interest in parachute operations, such as the CAF, EAA, and the local Glider Club.

Meeting Details

February 20th at 7pm in the upstairs meeting room of the Heart of America Wing Hangar (Map).

Contact Jen at Skydive Kansas for parachute repacking or to make a skydive!

Skydive Kansas, LLC
1613 East Laing
Osage City, KS 66523
785.840.JUMP
jump@skydivekansas.com

Category: Chapter Information, Meetings Tags: jen sharp, meetings, parachute, skydive kansas

Happy New Year!

Since the flying is a bit slow during the winter (although the weather has been very nice lately), the January meeting will be more of a social event than a meeting, although we’ll discuss a bit of official chapter business over drinks.

The meeting will be held at Granite City in Olathe off 119th and Blackbob at 7pm on Monday, January 16th.  (click for a map)

This will serve as our regularly monthly meeting.

Dues for 2012 will remain $20 and should be payable to IAC Chapter 15, preferably sometime before the 2012 Christmas party.

See you on Monday!

-Grant

Category: Chapter Information, Meetings Tags:

The calendar pages have been flipping fast lately, and while it’s still sunny and 45 in late December, it’s hard to believe the Christmas Season is upon us and 2012 is coming to a close.

Naturally, the year end is time for reflection, and 2011 for Chapter 15 has unarguably been a success.

We’ve got a solid and stable membership base of flyers and non-flyers alike; we’ve taken in a number of new members and introduced them to the freedom of aerobatics, and a few members have sadly moved away.

We had a number of good practice days at the New Century Airport, along with a few pancake and omelet breakfasts sprinkled in between.

The 2011 edition of the Harold Neumann Barnstormer was one of the most successful Kansas City has had, and was one of the most widely attended regional contests in 2011.  The success of our contest rests on the shoulders of the contest director and all those involved in organizing, running and volunteering, and I can only say that I hope those individuals are as proud of their success as I am.

Our members have had continued success at the National competition, and have represented our chapter well.  Their accomplishments are a reflection of their dedication to the sport and to the hard work they’ve put in during the year.

Our chapter is healthy and strong, and on behalf of the leadership of IAC Chapter 15, Kansas City, I wish you and your family the same for the Christmas Season, and in 2012.

Merry Christmas,

Grant Wittenborn – President
IAC Chapter 15, Kansas City

Category: Chapter Elections, General, Government Affairs Tags: Christmas Greetings

Proposals are out for 2012 rules changes and known sequences.

There are 4 proposals for the ’12 Sportsman Known sequence, and 5 proposals for the ’12 Intermediate sequence.

Two proposed rule changes that would affect a number of our members:

1. Add 500 ft. to the top of the box for Primary and Sportsman sequences.
2. Require the first figure in the Primary known to be flown into the wind.

There are a couple other rule changes that may pique your interest as well:

1. Specify a methodology for downgrading a change in radius for looping lines.
2. Optionally removes the requirement for a competitor to wear a parachute if flying
   an aircraft with a ballistic recovery system.

The proposed knowns are interesting as well.  For those of you who flew the Sportsman in 2011, you remember there were two figures with 45 deg lines in the same line on the X axis.

This resulted in a number of competitors either taking a break or being penalized for an out on the upwind side of the box.

One of the proposed Sportsman knowns removes this characteristic of the sequence. There may be disadvantages as well.

EAA has a forum set up to officially comment on both the proposed sequences and rule changes.  Take a look at the proposals in the discussion on the Unusual Attitudes forum by clicking on this link:  Proposed Knowns and Rules for 2012

You may read many of the constructive comments on that thread, and provide your feedback in that forum as well.

Note: The Unusual Attitudes Forum will be the ONLY place for members to make official comment on these proposed rules and knowns.

Category: Chapter Information, Sequences Tags: 2012 Known Proposals, rules, Sequences

Download the October 2011 Newsletter here:

IAC Chapter 15 October 11 Newsletter

Meeting minutes are included in the newsletter.

Get Adobe Reader

Category: Chapter Information, Newsletter Tags: meeting minutes, newsletter

2011 Nationals wrapped up a couple weeks ago, and a few local names fared quite well.

Paul Thomson (Ch. 15) placed second in Sportsman, followed by Wichita Chapter 119 Rick Nutt in third.

Other notable mentions in Sportsman are Aaron McCartan (Ch. 15) in 7th, Patrick Carter (Ch. 119) in 11th, and A.J. Hefel (Ch. 119) in 14th.

The Advanced Team was selected, and annual Barnstormer competitor (and new IAC 15 member) Craig Gifford was selected as part of the team.  Congratulations, Craig, and good luck on the Team!

Photos from Nationals are on the Photos section of the Nationals site.

A complete list of results are also posted on the Nationals site.

More results below.

Read more…

Category: Chapter Information, Contests Tags: 2011 Nationals, Advanced Team, Contest, results

Chapter 15 will hold a play day at the New Century Air Center on October 22nd.  We’ll cook breakfast starting at around 9am in the South hangar at Signature Flight Support.

The box will open at 9am through about 3pm for those who wish to practice.

View the entire airspace waiver by clicking Airspace Waiver 2011-2013 Kansas City Aerobatic Club.  (4.2 mb PDF)

Add a comment to this post if you plan on participating.  Be sure to check in on the website if inclement weather arises to stay apprised of the box status.

Also, we plan on giving firefighters from our local fire station a brief airplane ride.  If you can spare an extra seat or two, we’d appreciate the help.  Contact Grant at info@iac15.org for more information.

Category: Chapter Information, Play Day Tags: breakfast, Play Day

Download the September 2011 Newsletter here:

IAC Chapter 15 September 11 Newsletter

Meeting minutes are included in the newsletter.

Get Adobe Reader

Category: Chapter Information, Newsletter Tags: meeting minutes, newsletter

A scheduling conflict with the Signature conference room necessitates a change in venue for Monday night’s meeting.

We’ll be meeting in the large conference room at Hangar 10 at the Downtown airport (KMKC) at 7pm on Monday the 19th.

The address is 1001 NW Lou Holland Drive, Kansas City, MO 64116.

It’s on the Northwest Corner of the Downtown airport.  Instead of stopping at the Signature building when you get to the airport, continue on the South loop around the airport which will take you up the West side.

Keep going, past some t-hangars and Hangar 10 will be on the right.

The large conference room is up the stairs on the second level, and there will be someone at the desk if you have questions.

Website for Hangar 10: http://www.h10mkc.com/

Category: Meetings Tags: meeting information

Need some late season practicebefore heading to Nationals?

IAC15 will have the practice box open on September 17th at New Century AirCenter (KIXD)  from 8am to 3pm.  You’ll need to check in and sign the waiver prior to participating.

View the entire airspace waiver by clicking Airspace Waiver 2011-2013 Kansas City Aerobatic Club.  (4.2 mb PDF)

Add a comment to this post if you plan on participating.  Be sure to check in on the website if inclement weather arises to stay apprised of the box status.

Category: Chapter Information, Play Day Tags: Play Day