Tom Porterfield's Posts - Porterfield Airplane Club2024-03-28T22:43:43ZTom Porterfieldhttp://porterfieldplane.ning.com/profile/TomPorterfieldhttp://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/66010458?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1http://porterfieldplane.ning.com/profiles/blog/feed?user=2y7p4sdahhusd&xn_auth=noPorterfield News Letter April 1978, Donated by Bill Skinnertag:porterfieldplane.ning.com,2020-09-02:3426316:BlogPost:528372020-09-02T18:17:22.000ZTom Porterfieldhttp://porterfieldplane.ning.com/profile/TomPorterfield
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/7812316859?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/7812316859?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/7812316859?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/7812316859?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-full"/></a></p>08/09 - Soloing at 16 - in Six Airplanes!tag:porterfieldplane.ning.com,2011-12-29:3426316:BlogPost:200222011-12-29T17:44:49.000ZTom Porterfieldhttp://porterfieldplane.ning.com/profile/TomPorterfield
<p><a id="P0_0" name="P0_0"></a><font face="Arial" size="3"><b>08/09 - Soloing at 16 - in Six Airplanes!</b></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial" size="2">By Steve Krog</font></p>
<p align="center"><img align="right" border="1" height="256" src="http://www.sportpilot.org/images/090826_personal_view-1.jpg" width="384"></img></p>
<p><font face="Arial" size="2">When an individual makes the commitment to learn to fly, there are several memorable events that occur during flight training. The very first flight always leaves a lasting impression. Same with the first take-off, or getting the airplane to do what the…</font></p>
<p><a name="P0_0" id="P0_0"></a><font size="3" face="Arial"><b>08/09 - Soloing at 16 - in Six Airplanes!</b></font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="Arial">By Steve Krog</font></p>
<p align="center"><img border="1" align="right" src="http://www.sportpilot.org/images/090826_personal_view-1.jpg" width="384" height="256"/></p>
<p><font size="2" face="Arial">When an individual makes the commitment to learn to fly, there are several memorable events that occur during flight training. The very first flight always leaves a lasting impression. Same with the first take-off, or getting the airplane to do what the instructor says. But then, after 8-10 regularly scheduled lessons, the time arrives when the instructor says, “I’m going to get out now and I want you to make three take offs and landings.”</font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="Arial">Tobie Stamsta heard me say those words on Thursday, August 13 - her 16th birthday - and I made that statement five more times that day.</font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="Arial">Tobie Stamsta is a bright but unassuming young lady. She was raised in an aviation family, as her father was very active in the early ultralight movement. Flying was something that interested her, but not enough to become actively involved. Then, just over two years ago at age 14, she was “bitten” by the bug and wanted to learn to fly.</font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="Arial">After expressing this desire to her father, Mark, they discussed the options. Although the desire was true and her father was completely supportive, money was tight. Together they came to me and we talked about how we might help Tobie pursue her dream. We eventually worked out an arrangement for her to work every day at the hangar during the summer in exchange for flight lessons.</font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="Arial">The day after school ended in the summer of 2008, Tobie was at the hangar at 7:30 a.m. ready to go to work. The jobs were not hard but required persistence. Almost every day another airplane needed to be washed or the belly scrubbed; the hangar always needed cleaning and re-arranging; and tools needed to be put in their proper place at the end of the day. She assisted with oil changes as well as wiping down airplanes after every flight and ridding the wings and windshield of bugs. After several days, she showing no sign of wanting to quit, so we began to fly.</font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="Arial">Throughout the remainder of the summer Tobie was never late, nor did she ever complain about the work. When she was done with one job she would find something else to do. I never ever had to remind her to finish a job that she had started.</font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="Arial">We began flying the J3 Cub regularly, which she took to like a seasoned pilot. Soon we were doing steep turns, stalls, and even spins. By summer’s end she had mastered the Cub and had it not been for her age (FAA regs say you have to be 16 to solo) she could have easily soloed.</font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="Arial">Throughout the school year we remained in touch, but Tobie was very active in school so we put the flying (and cleaning) on hold until the school year ended in June 2009. Once again, Tobie was at the hangar promptly at 7:30 a.m. ready to work and fly.</font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="Arial">After a few hours of refresher flying in the Cub, it was apparent that she hadn’t lost anything during the school year. To continue challenging her, I began instructing Tobie in different airplanes, following up each with a discussion on how it flew and how the airplane compared to the Cub’s handling. Soon she could tell me the subtle differences between each of the airplanes.</font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="Arial">The first airplane after the Cub was the Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser. Somewhat larger and faster than the Cub, Tobie had no problem becoming comfortable in the Cruiser. Within a few hours she was flying it like a pro.</font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="Arial">Then we moved on to a Luscombe 8E. This two-place, side-by-side, airplane proved to be a bit more challenging, but it wasn’t long before she could perform the maneuvers and land it smoothly.</font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="Arial">An Aeronca 7AC Champ, owned by Bill Becker, was the next airplane we began flying. She adapted to this airplane very quickly and no maneuver gave her difficulty. Tobie flew it as if she’d flown it throughout all of her flight training.</font></p>
<p align="center"><img border="1" src="http://www.sportpilot.org/images/090826_personal_view-2.jpg" width="384" height="288"/></p>
<p><font size="2" face="Arial">Once comfortable in the Champ I began searching for other tail wheel airplanes that she might be able to fly. Charlie Slinger from Randolph, Wisconsin, stepped forward and said, “Why not have her fly my Porterfield CP-65?” A very rare two-place tandem airplane, it is the only CP-65 currently flying in the U.S. as far as we could determine. Charlie brought the Porterfield to Hartford and Tobie and I went to work. It didn’t take long for her to comment that the ailerons felt lighter than the Cub, but the rudder felt heavier and a bit less responsive. That’s quite a developed feel for someone of this age. It didn’t take long for her to figure out how to land the Porterfield. It floats a lot more than the Cub, but about the same as the Cruiser, provided she had her approach speed pegged at 60 mph.</font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="Arial">About the time the Porterfield felt comfortable, Bob Gehring from Rubicon, Wisconsin, came to me and suggested that Tobie might also like to try flying his Taylorcraft BC12-D, another two-place side-by side airplane. But it was the first airplane that Tobie would fly that employed a control wheel rather than a control stick. She had no problem converting to the control wheel. Wow, six airplanes!</font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="Arial">Thursday, August 13 arrived and everyone was excited at our airport. Throughout the summer most everyone based at Hartford had become acquainted with Tobie and they were almost as excited as she was. The weather couldn’t have been better if we had ordered it. The winds were light, out of the south directly down the runway, and remained so throughout the entire day.</font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="Arial">We began with the first official solo flight in the J3 Cub. Three quick trips around the field and I got out. With a quick briefing about traffic, Tobie was taxiing for her first solo flight. Each of the three landings was near perfect. After arriving back at the hangar, all exchanged congratulations and I performed the official “</font><font color="#0000FF" size="2" face="Arial"><u><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_solo_flight" target="_top">shirttail cutting</a></u></font><font size="2" face="Arial">.”</font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="Arial">Then it was off to the next airplane, the Piper PA-12. Three take offs and landings later I again exited the airplane and turned Tobie loose for another three flawless landings.</font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="Arial">Following another round of congratulations, Tobie and her father were off to the local Wisconsin DOT center so that she could take her automobile driver’s test. Two hours later, with a fresh new driver’s license in her pocket, Tobie was ready for several more challenges.</font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="Arial">When she returned we moved the Luscombe 8E out of the hangar and prepped it for a solo flight. Soon we were in the air making the three or four practice landings, then I climbed out and sent her off to do three landings to a full stop. When completed, she was back at the hangar ready for another challenge.</font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="Arial">The Porterfield CP-65 was the next airplane and again the flight and required landings were near perfect. She did make one go around, though, exercising good judgment when she caught a gust of wind. This flight proved to be quite memorable for her as it was such a rare airplane. There is a chance she may be the only young woman to ever solo a Porterfield on her 16th birthday!</font></p>
<p align="center"><img border="1" src="http://www.sportpilot.org/images/090826_personal_view-3.jpg" width="384" height="288"/></p>
<p><font size="2" face="Arial">The flights resumed after a few photos. This time it was the Taylorcraft BC12-D, the only one of the six aircraft that had a control wheel rather than a control stick. Tobie flew the required three landings to a full stop like she had been flying it all summer. She didn’t really like the control wheel but sure liked the way the Taylorcraft handled.</font></p>
<p align="center"><img border="1" src="http://www.sportpilot.org/images/090826_personal_view-4.jpg" width="384" height="288"/></p>
<p><font size="2" face="Arial">Finally, as 5 p.m. approached, it was time to climb into the Aeronca Champ. It only took one trip around the field for me to be comfortable exiting and turning her loose for the three full stop landings. Each landing was a work of art. When Tobie taxied up to the hangar she had a grin that will remain in my mind for the rest of my days.</font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="Arial">Six tailwheel airplanes and a driver’s license, all in one day. What an accomplishment for a talented young lady that earned every minute of flying time by working for it at the airport. This will be a day and a memory that will remain with her for a lifetime!</font></p>LP-65 Porterfield Receives Best Antique Trophy 2011tag:porterfieldplane.ning.com,2011-10-30:3426316:BlogPost:168922011-10-30T18:00:00.000ZTom Porterfieldhttp://porterfieldplane.ning.com/profile/TomPorterfield
<div>Jay Underdown took his LP-65 Porterfield NC32417 to the Alton Illinois airport (ALN) for their wings and wheels fly-in a few weeks ago and received the Best Antique 2011 Trophy. NC32417 is also co-owned with Larry Lightstone and Mike Weidhaas and based in O Fallen, Missouri.</div>
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<p> …</p>
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<div>Jay Underdown took his LP-65 Porterfield NC32417 to the Alton Illinois airport (ALN) for their wings and wheels fly-in a few weeks ago and received the Best Antique 2011 Trophy. NC32417 is also co-owned with Larry Lightstone and Mike Weidhaas and based in O Fallen, Missouri.</div>
<div><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/74091679?profile=original"><img height="1135" width="615" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/74091679?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-center"/></a></div>
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<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/74091775?profile=original"><img width="640" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/74091775?profile=original" class="align-center"/></a></p>50th Annual Bean Dinner Fly-Intag:porterfieldplane.ning.com,2011-10-05:3426316:BlogPost:153862011-10-05T21:00:00.000ZTom Porterfieldhttp://porterfieldplane.ning.com/profile/TomPorterfield
<p>Don Siemens of Airman Acres in Collinsville, Oklahoma and Owner of a Porterfield LP-65,</p>
<p>NC37856 held his 50th annual Fly-In Bean Dinner on Sep 24, 2011. They had quit a good turn out. I've never seen such big pots of beans cooking. Here are links to 2 videos of the Fly-in on You-Tube.</p>
<p>The first one is 15 minutes long.</p>
<p> </p>
<div><p class="yiv779156106MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 10pt;">Allen Deiter did a real good job on…</span></p>
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<p>Don Siemens of Airman Acres in Collinsville, Oklahoma and Owner of a Porterfield LP-65,</p>
<p>NC37856 held his 50th annual Fly-In Bean Dinner on Sep 24, 2011. They had quit a good turn out. I've never seen such big pots of beans cooking. Here are links to 2 videos of the Fly-in on You-Tube.</p>
<p>The first one is 15 minutes long.</p>
<p> </p>
<div><p class="yiv779156106MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 10pt;">Allen Deiter did a real good job on this video and it is on YouTube at this link.</span></p>
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<div><p class="yiv779156106MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 10pt;"><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hTYdSV3LfE">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hTYdSV3LfE</a></span></p>
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<div><p class="yiv779156106MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p>
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<div><p class="yiv779156106MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 10pt;">Some person with a screen name of Levi44 also put on a shorter video.</span></p>
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<div><p class="yiv779156106MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 10pt;"><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXM9cLW3l-8">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXM9cLW3l-8</a></span></p>
<p class="yiv779156106MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="yiv779156106MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family: 'sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 10pt;">Enjoy,</span></strong></p>
<p class="yiv779156106MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family: 'sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 10pt;">Tom</span></strong></p>
</div>Lone Eagle Porterfield makes it to Blakesburg Fly-in, Sept 3rd 2011tag:porterfieldplane.ning.com,2011-09-08:3426316:BlogPost:137922011-09-08T18:00:00.000ZTom Porterfieldhttp://porterfieldplane.ning.com/profile/TomPorterfield
<p>See Jay Underdown and Partner's (Larry Lightstone and Mike Weidhaas) Lone Eagle Porterfield at the Antique Aircraft Associations Annual Blakesburg, Iowa Fly-in. It is on the Part 2 Saturday Roll Call picture video of the link below at minute 7:32.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Part 1 of 2 Saturday Roll Call: <a href="http://youtu.be/IODWy_FIcao" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1315506160_0">http://youtu.be/IODWy_FIcao</span></a> <br></br><br></br></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Part 2 of 2…</p>
<p>See Jay Underdown and Partner's (Larry Lightstone and Mike Weidhaas) Lone Eagle Porterfield at the Antique Aircraft Associations Annual Blakesburg, Iowa Fly-in. It is on the Part 2 Saturday Roll Call picture video of the link below at minute 7:32.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Part 1 of 2 Saturday Roll Call: <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://youtu.be/IODWy_FIcao"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1315506160_0">http://youtu.be/IODWy_FIcao</span></a> <br/><br/></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Part 2 of 2 Saturday Roll Call: <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYjRciZAvOg"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1315506160_1">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYjRciZAvOg</span></a><br/><br/>Lot's of Beautiful Airplanes.</p>
<p>Enjoy!</p>
<p>Tom</p>
<p> </p>OSHKOSH Airventure 2010tag:porterfieldplane.ning.com,2010-08-19:3426316:BlogPost:28402010-08-19T22:39:44.000ZTom Porterfieldhttp://porterfieldplane.ning.com/profile/TomPorterfield
<p><strong>Hello Tom. <br></br>Paul and I had a great time at Airventure, despite a bit of a wobble when we arrived and they were not allowing RVs in due to the waterlogging, but we blagged our way in and found a dry spot. We were disappointed there were no Porterfields, not surprising considering the previous week's weather I guess, although we did meet a young chap in the bar who had flown one! We met some friends who had flown a C180 in, we were at their plane when we witnessed the Jack Roush…</strong></p>
<p><strong>Hello Tom. <br/>Paul and I had a great time at Airventure, despite a bit of a wobble when we arrived and they were not allowing RVs in due to the waterlogging, but we blagged our way in and found a dry spot. We were disappointed there were no Porterfields, not surprising considering the previous week's weather I guess, although we did meet a young chap in the bar who had flown one! We met some friends who had flown a C180 in, we were at their plane when we witnessed the Jack Roush crash, about 200 yards away. I had a flight in the B17, the Ford Trimotor and a Bell 47. Stayed until the Sunday then spent a night at the airpark where the C180 lives, got to fly in that airplane plus a Breezy, Cub and aerobatics in an Extra 300. This was followed by 2 nights in Chicago doing the sights and a reasonable flight home. Got bitten to death by mosquitoes, drank quite a lot of reasonable beers and attended a corn roast courtesy the Seaplane Fliers association, also had a chat in the bar with "Buffalo" Joe MacBryan. A very full 12 days. Since then we've flown ZL to the RAF Museum at Cosford in the Midlands, may fly this weekend, although the weather looks poor. A few things left to attend for the rest of the Summer. ZL got her permit in July, not much work required this year, new windscreen, worked on the landing gear and a few other minor jobs. <br/><br/>Greetings to yourself and the rest of the club members!</strong></p>
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<p><strong>Steve Sharpe, Southhampton UK</strong></p>John Bange of Clifton Australia with Porterfieldtag:porterfieldplane.ning.com,2010-03-15:3426316:BlogPost:20732010-03-15T06:00:00.000ZTom Porterfieldhttp://porterfieldplane.ning.com/profile/TomPorterfield
<p class="picture"><img alt="Picture of / about 'Clifton' Queensland - Unique Porterfield Special aircraft with owner John Bange, ca. 1950" height="517" src="http://maps.bonzle.com/h/v/l/i/a9je1.jpg" width="800"></img></p>
<p class="picdescription"><br></br>John Bange standing beside his vintage Porterfield Special monoplane, UH-UVH on his property at Back Plains, Queensland. A pioneering glider pilot, Bange designed and built the first enclosed-fuselage glider which made its maiden flight over Clifton on the 27 October 1935.…</p>
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<p class="picdescription"><img alt="Picture of / about 'Clifton' Queensland - Young glider pilot, John Bange at the controls of his hand-built glider, ca. 1935" height="548" src="http://maps.bonzle.com/h/e/e/f/ms09q.jpg" width="800"></img></p>
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<p class="picture"><img alt="Picture of / about 'Clifton' Queensland - Ultimate speed on a racing bike, Clifton, ca. 1930" height="362" src="http://maps.bonzle.com/h/w/x/w/sl0g0.jpg" width="800"></img></p>
<p class="picture"><img alt="Picture of / about 'Clifton' Queensland - Unique Porterfield Special aircraft with owner John Bange, ca. 1950" src="http://maps.bonzle.com/h/v/l/i/a9je1.jpg" width="800" height="517"/></p>
<p class="picdescription"><br/>John Bange standing beside his vintage Porterfield Special monoplane, UH-UVH on his property at Back Plains, Queensland. A pioneering glider pilot, Bange designed and built the first enclosed-fuselage glider which made its maiden flight over Clifton on the 27 October 1935.</p>
<p class="picdescription"></p>
<p class="picdescription"><img alt="Picture of / about 'Clifton' Queensland - Young glider pilot, John Bange at the controls of his hand-built glider, ca. 1935" src="http://maps.bonzle.com/h/e/e/f/ms09q.jpg" width="800" height="548"/></p>
<p class="picdescription"></p>
<p class="picture"><img alt="Picture of / about 'Clifton' Queensland - Ultimate speed on a racing bike, Clifton, ca. 1930" src="http://maps.bonzle.com/h/w/x/w/sl0g0.jpg" width="800" height="362"/></p>
<p class="picdescription">John Bange on a racing bike on his property in Clifton, Queensland. ca 1930</p>
<p class="picdescription"></p>
<p class="picdescription">NOTE: This 1936 Porterfield UH-UVH Still Flies and is registered to Keith and Trevor Bange of Clifton, Australia.</p>
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<a href="http://www.e-zeeinternet.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Hit Counter" src="http://www.e-zeeinternet.com/count.php?page=389976&style=pdg&nbdigits=5&reloads=1"/></a><br/><a style="FONT-FAMILY: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 10px; TEXT-DECORATION: none" title="Hit Counter" href="http://www.e-zeeinternet.com/" target="_blank">Hit Counter</a>NC18088 CP-40 Zephyr, US Airmailtag:porterfieldplane.ning.com,2010-03-15:3426316:BlogPost:20722010-03-15T04:30:00.000ZTom Porterfieldhttp://porterfieldplane.ning.com/profile/TomPorterfield
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img alt="" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/74091765?profile=original"></img></p>
<p></p>
<p>The Air Mail mural was designed and painted by Mark Pestana, noted test pilot and Tehachapi artist. On May 15, 1938, The U.S. Postal Service issued a new Air Mail stamp as part of a national celebration for the 20th anniversary of the first U.S. Air Mail. Tehachapi marked the occasion with its inaugural Air Mail flight to Bakersfield. Harry Beauford, Jr., a Tehachapi resident and pilot, is shown standing next to his plane at Tehachapi…</p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img alt="" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/74091765?profile=original"/></p>
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<p>The Air Mail mural was designed and painted by Mark Pestana, noted test pilot and Tehachapi artist. On May 15, 1938, The U.S. Postal Service issued a new Air Mail stamp as part of a national celebration for the 20th anniversary of the first U.S. Air Mail. Tehachapi marked the occasion with its inaugural Air Mail flight to Bakersfield. Harry Beauford, Jr., a Tehachapi resident and pilot, is shown standing next to his plane at Tehachapi Airport, then known as Kern County Airport #4. The side of the plane is painted to commemorate the first Air Mail flight from Tehachapi to Bakersfield. Tehachapi Peak is in the background.</p>
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<p>Many cities joined in the celebration with special events and by issuing specially designed envelopes with the new stamp. This mural depicts the artist’s conception of one of those envelopes, postmarked at Tehachapi and addressed to the local pilot. The airplane used for this flight is a Porterfield CP-40 Zephyr. This particular airplane’s civil registry number was NC18088, as seen, on the plane’s tail, along with the name, Zephyr. The mural also commemorates the building’s site as the location of Tehachapi’s U. S. Post Office, built after the 1952 earthquake. An original architectural feature of the wall is the inset relief of an eagle, a sculptural element that is incorporated into the envelope.</p>
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<p>NOTE: NC18088 is now registered to a 1972 Cessna 150L in Illinois.</p>
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<p><strong>Myron Collier</strong> was born June 8, 1930, on a farm near Butler, Ohio. He built model airplanes and, though he didn't know any pilots, knew he wanted to be one. An hour's worth of instruction was too expensive, so he paid for 15 minutes at a time. What he lacked in finances he made up for in determination, and by age 23 he had accumulated private, instrument, commercial, multiengine, instructor and ATR ratings. He financed his by teaching flying, and entered the…</p>
<p><strong>Myron Collier</strong> was born June 8, 1930, on a farm near Butler, Ohio. He built model airplanes and, though he didn't know any pilots, knew he wanted to be one. An hour's worth of instruction was too expensive, so he paid for 15 minutes at a time. What he lacked in finances he made up for in determination, and by age 23 he had accumulated private, instrument, commercial, multiengine, instructor and ATR ratings. He financed his by teaching flying, and entered the <font color="#006600"><img border="0" hspace="8" alt="Myron Collier" align="right" src="http://www.avweb.com/newspics/mcollier1a.jpg" width="322" height="360"/></font> just as airline pilots were being laid off. He taught science to junior high and rewarded their achievement with airplane rides. He continued to teach flying and in 1956 became a designated flight examiner.</p>
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<p>In 1959 a late-spring Michigan snowstorm changed the travel plans of executives of the Empire-Reeves division of Cyclops Corporation. Instead of instructing that afternoon, Myron flew to Detroit and brought the executives home. That trip earned him a job offer from the president of the division, and he spent the next 34 years as Chief Pilot of Cyclops. As the company prospered he transitioned from Apache to Aero Commander to King Air to Citation. He became an early proponent of RNAV, wrote an RNAV handbook for air traffic controllers, and served as chairman of NBAA's RNAV committee. He also completely rewrote the navigation chapter in the 5th edition of General Van Sickle's <i>Modern Airmanship</i>. On his 66th birthday -- 50 years to the day after he soloed -- he flew to Dallas and flew the same Luscombe in which he had first soloed. In 1998 Myron was named Flight Instructor of the Year by the Allegheny FSDO. He also served eight years as a board member of NBAA and was recipient of <a href="http://www.nbaa.org/2001/articles/awards.htm"><strong><font color="#526692">NBAA's Jack Doswell award in 2001</font></strong></a> for "lifelong individual achievement on behalf and in support of the aims, goals and objectives of business aviation."</p>
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<p>I didn't have a mentor. My dad was 100% behind me, and my mom thought I ought to grow up and be a farmer. My mom was not fond of airplanes, and one Sunday I landed the J-3 in a hayfield on our farm. I took my dad for a ride, then asked my mom and -- to my surprise -- she said she'd go. We circled around for a while, and when we landed she called all the neighbors to tell them that was her in the airplane. From then on she didn't object to my flying.</p>
<p>I had a friend named Mike who lived up the road from me. He was two years older than me, so he had a drivers license. We drove to the Mount Vernon airport on Sundays and found a guy who was selling a 40-horsepower Porterfield for $200. It was priced so cheap because it needed new fabric, and he didn't have the money to do it. We told him we'd buy it on two conditions -- that he took us for a ride so we knew it would fly, and that he delivered it to a field on our farm near Butler. After he delivered it Mike and I taxied it around in the field, then we got bored with that so we took the wings off -- they needed to be recovered anyway -- and taxied the fuselage on a long, straight stretch of State Route 95 near the farm. There wasn't a lot of traffic, but occasionally we would see a car coming the other way and they'd pull over as we whizzed past. The Porterfield had no brakes, so we'd just let it roll out.</p>
<p>That went on for a week or two then my dad found out about it and that was the end of that. We decided to sell it, and a local fellow bought it and restored it. I heard that it got blown over in a windstorm, and that's when I lost track of it until many years later when I started wondering what had happened to it. From the photos I had I couldn't read the NC number, so I called EAA. They sent me the name of the president of the Porterfield club. I wrote Chuck Lebrecht with a description of the airplane and what history I knew, and he was the last owner of that very airplane. He donated it to a museum in Blakesburg, Iowa and that's where it is today.</p>
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<p align="left">Myron Unites With His First Plane</p>
<p align="left">1938 CP-40, NC18743, Serial #529</p>
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<a href="http://www.e-zeeinternet.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.e-zeeinternet.com/count.php?page=389943&style=pdg&nbdigits=5&reloads=1" alt="Free Counters" border="0"/></a><br/><a href="http://www.e-zeeinternet.com/" title="Free Counters" target="_blank" style="font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; color: #000000; text-decoration: none;">Free Counters</a>1939 Porterfield "Spirit of New China" with Roscoe Turner and Hilda Yentag:porterfieldplane.ning.com,2010-03-14:3426316:BlogPost:20682010-03-14T05:00:00.000ZTom Porterfieldhttp://porterfieldplane.ning.com/profile/TomPorterfield
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<p>April 3, 1939. Washington, D.C. "Col. Roscoe Turner, winner of speed trophies in the air, dropped down to Washington Airport today with a red high-wing monoplane which he presented to the friends of New China, represented by Miss Hilda Yen, Chinese Aviatrix. The plane, 'Spirit of New China.' was built by the Porterfield factory." Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative.…</p>
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<p>April 3, 1939. Washington, D.C. "Col. Roscoe Turner, winner of speed trophies in the air, dropped down to Washington Airport today with a red high-wing monoplane which he presented to the friends of New China, represented by Miss Hilda Yen, Chinese Aviatrix. The plane, 'Spirit of New China.' was built by the Porterfield factory." Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative.</p>
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<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><small><em><font size="2">Washington Post, May 2, 1939</font></em></small></div>
<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><h4>Hilda Yen Injured as Plane Crashes</h4>
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<p>Hilda Yen, famed "good will" aviatrix, was painfully injured yesterday when her plane "Spirit of China" crashed in a field near Prattville, Ala. She was en route to Birmingham for a banquet as part of her tour of the country to raise funds for war-torn China.</p>
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<p><font size="3">Chicago Tribune May 2, 1939 - Injured in Crash - <br/></font>Montgomery, Ala., May 1. (AP) Severely injured when her plane, "Spirit of New China" crashed today, Hilda Yen, Chinese girl flyer, regained consciousness in a hospital here tonight and said, "I would gladly die for the cause."</p>
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<p>Her monoplane fell near Montgomery in and attempted takeoff from a field where she had landed to ask directions.</p>
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<p>Miss Yen, 25 years old, is a niece of Dr. W. W. Yen, former Chinese ambassador to the United States. She was en route from Monile to Birmingaham, Ala., on a tour of America in behalf of Chinese war refugees. Known as China's Amelia Earhart, the girl had flown for Madame Chiang Kai-Sheck and had traveled extensively in her small red ship.</p>
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<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="left">Baha'i World, XV, 1968-73, pp. 476-78...After surviving a plane crash she determined that she had a higher purpose, and she went to the war-torn China in 1942 to help in any way she could, then returned to the United States in 1944...</div>
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<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="left">...In 1945 Hilda joined the Department of Public Information at the United Nations, and traveled all over the United States to lecture and win support for this new world organization...</div>
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<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="left">...Hilda Yen passed away on March 18, 1970.</div>
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