Baby Birds earn their WINGS!

With the Purple Heart Plane on 10 hour watch back at HFD, that leaves us time to spread out and seek out additional adventures. Denise is heading to the terminus in Santa Fe by way of hitching a ride as a co-pilot with a fellow 99 racer Mary-Ann going direct in her Cessna 172.

We have been following the Purple Heart's baby bird first time racers Team #56 as they proceed through the race and encouraging them on. After the first couple of fly-bys the early race jitters are now gone when we caught up with them in Decorah, IA. The young team seemed very capable as they purposely chose to surf some favorable tailwinds into Iowa and pushed the Cirrus ground speed over 200 miles per hour easily out-pacing other more capable aircraft.

The Lady Buckeyes have clearly learned their craft quickly and are beginning to appreciate the subtle tweaks which get the maximum performance  out of the aircraft. The team seemed happy and enthusiastic though they did have to stay down in Bemidji overnight due to some weird weather brewing across Iowa. All in all however, clearly the ladies have clearly earned their racing wings and have made both their Ohio State and Purple Heart fans VERY proud!

-ed

Girl Scouts and Pre-Race meet n' greet

The Purple Hearts were dealt another blow by low clouds on Friday when we were scheduled to fly the plane to the race. With the engine still on a watch cycle, the team just did not feel confident to fly full IFR in the clouds all the way to Frederick. So the plane did not report as expected and the team drove to the AOPA hangar to check-in even though the team has withdrawn from the race.

On Saturday, the Lady Buckeyes team 56 arrived and met the race officials for check-in and their credential check. As Teresa and Denise's 'baby birds' first-timer team-mates, the ladies tried to smooth the nerves as it is stressful to provide all of the plane and racer information if you have not done it before. To make matters even more stressful, when the Buckeyes made it to the tarmac, they urgently were requested to exit the field since the President's Marine One helicopter may need to land as a back-up airport to visiting Camp David nearby. Of course it might seem it was a joke except when in fact the airspace around Frederick has many military operation areas , the white
house, and  Camp David's retreat which can create a sort of a vise on operations if political figures
are moving around.

All of the teams got together to man stations in the beautiful AOPA hangar to teach Girl Scouts principles of aviation and fun facts about flying and airplanes. About 200 kids came through to join the racers and had the teams sign their programs and talk about various aspects of being a female
pilot now and in the future.

In the evening, all of the teams were treated to a minor league ball game at the local stadium. Aside from a slight brief shower to cool off the slightly humid air. Teresa and Denise took the Lady Buckeyes out to do a little shopping and made sure they got tucked into their accommodations for the night. Tomorrow the actual race briefings begin so the work is starting just as anticipation for Tuesday's race day is building. EXCITING!!

-ed

The FAT lady is singing

The ladies cooked through an amazing 10 hours over the last few days trying to simulate race conditions while pushing the plane and motor into race mode. Teresa completed her IFR currency in anticipation of some good news and Denise practiced hilly and gusty landings for unknowns.

Upon landing back at Hartford after a 3 hour round trip to New Hampshire, the ladies taxied the purple plane to the maintenance hangar and battened it down for the Monday morning reveal. Though the plane performed flawlessly, the entire crew felt a bit melancholy that the plane's race fate was concealed in a few paper pleats and now completely out of the team's hands.

Monday morning came and sadly the oil filter showed once again consistent specks of aluminum and a few larger flakes. Not enough mind you to ground the plane, however clearly the condition is not self-correcting. The engine IS burnishing off metal from somewhere and it will need constant 10 hour monitoring under normal flying conditions.

Clearly racing a plane over unfamiliar terrain, rapidly changing weather, and thousands of miles demanding the highest performance is not NORMAL. Therefore after several more hours of phone calls, thoughts and consults, the prudent thing to do was Withdraw from the 41st Air Race Classic.

The plane will make an appearance in Frederick, Maryland, and has been extended the honor to take its place on the line with the full field of competitors during the impound, however when race day arrives, the Purple Hearts will yield their start time to the competitive teams. The 'Hearts' will be allowed to launch and offer a final fly-by goodbye as the last crew to take to the air and head for home rather than West with the others.

10 hr. cut filter

Stay of EXECUTION - maybe?

The team is not out yet. After the last oil filter cut, we were encouraged that the metal migration has started to subside. The mechanic has been very patient and he is trying to balance the urgency of the race with the need to make sure our pilots have a machine that they can comfortably rely upon.

We have sought  a consult from Lycoming**  regarding their  opinion and the  advice from famed engine guru Mike Busch** to lend us his expertise. In general, the plane was allowed back out of the hangar and onto the field with its fourth and definitive oil filter. Our mechanic ordered a 10 hour  motor run limited to our normal local airports. The ladies have been clocking the hours training for 'engine outs', IFR emergency approaches, and standard touch and go's. We expect to turn the plane in by the weekend so they can pull the filter and examine it closely. If the oil passes the inspection then the ladies will be cleared for their next oil change in Santa Fe - AFTER the race, if not, then the plane will be sadly scratched from the race for maintenance.

Thinking good thoughts and hoping for just some purple PLANE good luck!

- ed

** a note on consults:  With particular respect to safety, the team is responsible for their OWN decisions with their OWN mechanics and their OWN equipment. Experts provide guidance, but ultimately all 'go or no go' decisions will be based on evidence, testing, and OUR good judgment.

Up in the air ... well not quite

Yes the ladies were back up in the air running a fresh oil change through a new filter to see what kind of metal is still flying around in the engine. The team logged about 3 hours of  flying with lots of landings and typical high power cross country practice. Today the team cut the third oil filter and were pleased with the 'cleaner' oil, however the aviation shop saw a few specs of metal in the pleats of the filter so for now the plane is limited to local flights only.

While the entire team is concerned first and foremost with safety, we are not particularly comfortable with the mechanic's diagnosis at this point. Lycoming has very specific requirements with regard to a motor producing metal to be declared 'unsafe' or effectively 'grounding' an aircraft. Yes there is SOME subjectivity involved with counting flecks of metal over the size of say a pencil lead but generally an engine that is having problems in the immediate future puts out up to a quarter teaspoon of metal specs (and usually ferrous metal) before being a concern. In the Purple Heart's case, we just don't believe the motor has met this standard at this time or is at all unsafe to fly.

Granted the motor does have SOMETHING that got sucked in or shaved off that was aluminum at some point so that is not typically a 'Good' thing so nobody is debating smart monitoring of the systems and a good short term plan for an engine overhaul sooner than later.  We are consulting with several experts on Lycoming engines, the race committee, and of course our own mechanics. We'll let you know more soon, but at this point even if the plane is flying, the odds are decreasing that it will make the start of the race.

So the team has pursued securing a possible local flying club Archer II to replace the plane or a position on a Piper Arrow retractable as a back-up to the Purple Hearts plane. If we can't get a ruling on the team plane within the next 48 hours, then we will have to scratch the plane and work feverishly to make a new plane race ready and handicapped before the deadline of June 13th. It is still possible, but with every day that passes, the window to participate is closing. Stay tuned!

-ed

60 hour Oil filter cut - aluminum specs

Much cleaner at 3 hours new filter cut

Oil Check - UH OH making metal???

As a normal course of flying regular 50 hour oil changes are a smart part of  routine maintenance and therefore typically uneventful. Well horror of horrors two weeks out from an air race, the purple beast's filter produced some NON FERROUS metal flakes. Later these mostly specs were determined to be aluminum so unlikely the block itself is damaged.

With safety as the first order of the mission, the team put the plane in for a more extensive check-up where the cylinders were bore-scoped and the sump screen is checked for significant metal. So far, especially with the small amount of metal present, the mechanic does not seemed alarmed. The best guess so far is maybe an aluminum valve stuck a bit outside of limits due to carbon deposits but popped back into its normal configuration.

The ladies are proactive however so after today's filter change, the engine will be run 30 minutes then the new filter will be pulled, cut open and examined AGAIN for metal. Assuming it is still minimal as before, the team will run the plane in race configuration (Full RPM's but no red lines) for a couple of hours and then return it to the mechanic. Once again the oil filter will be sacrificed to check for metal. If at that point the oil is clean, the plane will undergo a 10 hour flight schedule next week to simulate a real world day of racing. At that time the plane will surrender its filter to inspection and if the reveal proves uneventful, the 5th and final filter will be installed for race day and the next 50 hour cycle.

WHEW - that's a lot of expensive filters and mechanics working, but it is necessary to make sure the plane is as safe as possible under aggressive transcontinental flying. Just in case, the ladies have discussed and agreed upon a possible Plan B or Plan C should the plane become inoperative. All of the options to still field a team for the race should the 'purple beast'  face grounding, are challenging as we have to secure leasing or purchase agreements for new equipment, get a waiver approved by the race committee, build familiarity with a new avionics suite, re-badge the plane with our race number, and undergo a handicap flight in Frederick, Maryland before the race. So clearly the preference is to cross our fingers and think good thoughts. Good Luck Ladies !

-ed

Publicity Blitz Weekend

Despite a gusty start to the weekend, the Hearts were determined to pack in as many events as the team could shove in between Friday and Monday. The first event was to shuttle the Purple flyer to Massachusetts high ground to the city of North Adams at Harriman and West airport (KAQW)  where the ladies participated in a 99's Compass Rose painting event. It was a good chance to show off the plane, meet loads of people, and improve an already beautiful  airport at the same time.

On Sunday the ladies flew the plane over to Meriden Markham airport in Connecticut (KMMK) for an air festival, fly-in, and hour-long presentation on air racing. The plane was prominently  on display by the grandstand and the ladies recapped their 2016 race adventure to both pilots and non-pilots alike resulting in additional much appreciated generous donations to our official charity, Wings of Hope and the 'beast's' thirsty appetite for 'blue fuel'. The event was very active  with many visitors stopping by the plane for a peek or a seat in the cockpit.

On Monday the ladies participated in the New England 99's  section, Connecticut chapter meeting and again recapped their recent activities and updated the group on the June 2017 race. The chapter graciously voted to sponsor  the team with a donation towards fuel and in particular Denise's inaugural timing run out of Frederick, Maryland next month. All in all it was a tremendously busy and enjoyable blitz of a weekend. Thanks to all who the team had a chance to meet, chat with, and participate in these worthwhile aviation events.

-ed

Earth Day Charity Flight

This year for Earth Day, the team offered up a charity flight to not only promote air racing, but also a chance for some fans to tour our troposphere like pilot's do every day - from the happiest place on earth - the COCKPIT! It was a gorgeous, gusty, sunny day awash with anticipation of a fun 108 nm flight around the city and the picturesque Connecticut coastline. 

Though the flight came off without a hitch, the gang faced a few challenging variables with a fully loaded plane, HOT weather, a Presidential TFR (temporary flight restriction), and some bumpy air thrown in just for fun. Everyone had a wonderful time and after today's flight - who knows maybe a couple of future pilots are in the offing?

Our thanks as always to Archer Partners LLC for donating the use of their pretty purple machine, Carl, Bill, and Ann for supporting our Earth Day charity tour and of course a few extra kudos from the whole team to everybody's favorite planet -  EARTH; you truly are awe-inspiring!

- ed.

Our Mentees - Lady Buckeyes Team 56

The Air Race Classic is a special community of women pilots. A long-standing tradition is that more experienced teams (Mama Birds) act as welcoming mentors for new racers known as their 'baby birds'. This year Denise and Teresa have the privilege of  introducing the 'Lady Buckeyes', team #56 from Ohio State University to the 2017 race.

This week, the teams met up via video conferencing to get to know each other, field questions, and maybe,... just a little - calm nerves. The ladies from Ohio State were exuberant, enchanting and excited to start the  race (just as soon as they could get FINALS behind them). These competent young pilots are the first women offered up by the University to participate in the race in hopes of exploring the idea of  fielding future competitive race teams as part of the existing excellent campus aviation program.

Take a few moments to check out our 'baby birds' and visit their 'Go Fund Me' page to help out with race expenses at:  https://www.gofundme.com/ohio-state-air-race-classic-team . Congratulations to these pioneer Buckeyes - we wish them much luck and bright futures in all things aviation. - ed

147.4 MPH is the speed standard to beat

The team received official notice today that their handicap run  had been approved and recorded at 147.4 Miles Per hour or approximately 127 knots for the race. This will be the number that team '38' will be racing to EXCEED as best as they can throughout every one of the nine legs of the race.

Remember, unlike a typical auto race where the cars' horsepower are all classed alike and face essentially the exact same road and weather conditions, aircraft in the Air Race Classic are ALL different. Each plane has the option to plan what time of day to race, what route to pass over, weather to avoid or push through and of course what altitude to fly.

All of these variables have a direct effect on the ground speed of the aircraft. If the team can catch a favorable tailwind or navigate precisely between fly-bys then their recorded speed for that particular leg of the race will almost certainly  exceed the speed standard for their plane. If the 'Hearts' meet a weather front and suffer head-winds or have to keep the engine cooler in hot weather by running less RPM's then their recorded time will likely be slower than the standard time. The goal is for EACH plane to beat their own number by as large of margin as possible without penalties from failure to follow proper transmission and timing line protocols.

-ed

It's a NUMBERS game

Despite appearance for months that the Purple Machine has been flying around the Northeast emblazoned in its race dress, for the most part, those early promotional shots are a figment of our digital imagination. Yes, once the team's race number is assigned, it does take a couple of months to build a web presence, get the ladies new duds to show off , as well as print info, cards, and pins.

Well finally last week, to end April and to get in the spirit of the Handicap run, the gang met plane-side to officially christen the cowling of the Archer with its new '38' designation for the next couple of months. With a bout of sporadic but heavy rain we had to break off in the middle of mounting the numbers but by the early afternoon, the plane looked happily 'race-ready' and ready to run. - ed

Handicap Stats 2017

Amazingly the 'Hearts' squeezed in a successful handicap flight right in the middle of an approaching weather front forming a couple of states over. The morning was crisp and cool but the sun was shining brightly. The purple plane was cleared of frost, some annoying pollen, and the tanks were filled in preparation for the square flight pattern at approximately 7500 feet over Western Connecticut and Eastern New York.

The plane flew flawlessly however the on-board GPS was intermittent which was frustrating. Ultimately the 'Bad Elf' GPS data logger was preserved and of course Captain Alica Sikes as the handicap check pilot, also recorded handwritten data points along the route.

Overall the flight took just over an hour with light winds and great visibility for the entire trip. The race is just around the corner and things are now getting really exciting. Stay tuned! - ed

Fun Flight test - ready for Handicap run

From time to time Teresa and Denise take a fan up for a flight around the patch and a chance to see the local sights from the air. Ms. Judy joined the ladies on a lovely afternoon flight where Denise served as official tour guide.

These runs are not all about the fun however. Denise and Archer Partners LLC who graciously provide the use of their aircraft for the 'Hearts', have mounted a new GPS antenna this week as well as a set of recently refurbished wheel fairings all around. Along with the plane's new pants, it sports a fully washed and waxed exterior in preparation for an upcoming handicap run with the Air Race Classic officials.

The purple beast has always maintained exceptional manners with an impressive powerplant which is peppy yet very efficient especially as PA-28-181 aircraft go. The ladies today were consistently getting high power cruise ground speeds of around 135 knots (a smidge over 155 miles per hour) which is quick for a plane that books at 129 knots under full throttle. We'll post the official handicap run results as soon as the review is complete sometime in the next two weeks.

-ed

Our 'Hearts' are broken

It is with heartfelt pain we must report that on April 12th, 2017 the team 'lost' one of its own. John Graham III, CEO of Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics (PIA) - our 2016 education sponsor and dearest brother of our former Purple Hearts co-pilot Cary Fletcher. Mr Graham sadly suffered a fatal plane crash during practice landings at Rostraver airport (KFWQ), Pennsylvania. Reportedly John was piloting and testing flight characteristics in gusty conditions of the school's pre-WWII Howard high wing tailwheel aircraft which had been recently renovated.

John Graham's commitment to aviation education is without equal. He was a valued member of the Pennsylvania business community, as well as an ethical, supportive, and compassionate leader, mentor, and visionary in all aspects of his far too short life. John Graham is a  'Flyer'  who will be sorely missed ... 'Welcome Home'.
 - ed.

Flyer's Prayer   -    by: Patrick J. Phillips

When this life I'm in is done,
And at the gates I stand,
My hope is that I answer all
His questions on command.

I doubt He'll ask me of my fame,
Or all the things I knew, Instead,
He'll ask of rainbows sent
On rainy days I flew.

The hours logged, the status reached,
The ratings will not matter.
He'll ask me if I saw the rays
And how He made them scatter.

Or what about the droplets clear,
I spread across your screen?
Ad did you see the twinkling eyes.
If student pilots keen?

The way your heart jumped in your chest,
That special solo day-
Did you take time to thank the one
Who fell along the way?

Remember how the runway lights
Looked one  night long ago
When you were lost and found your way,
And how - you still don't know?

How fast, how far, how much, how high?
He'll ask me not these things
But did I take the time to watch
The Moonbeams wash my wings?

And did you see the patchwork fields
And mountains I did mold;
The mirrored lakes and velvet hills,
Of these did I behold?

The wind he flung along my wings,
On final almost stalled.
And did I know it was His name,
That I so fearfully called?

And when the goals are reached at last,
When all the flying's done,
I'll answer Him with no regret-
Indeed, I had some fun.

So when these things are asked of me,
And I can reach no higher,
My prayer this day - His hand extends
To welcome home a Flyer.

Hartford Jet Center - Official Sponsor

The 'Hearts' are pleased to announce that Hartford Jet Center has graciously joined with the team as the official 'Homebase' and sponsor for the 2017 race. Hartford Jet Center is located at 'HFD', Hartford/ Brainard airport along the bank of the Connecticut River across from the gorgeous city skyline of Hartford, CT.

Hartford Jet Center is an incredible partner for the Purple Hearts and a tireless advocate for general aviation, their extensive customer base, and the Brainard airport community. Our immeasurable 'thanks' go out to the HJC for joining with us again to race across the skies! - ed

Meriden Markham muni airport presentation

On Sunday April 9th, 2017, Denise and Teresa piloted the Purple Hearts plane to Meriden Markham municipal airport to recap their race adventure of 2016. Airport manager Constance Castillo graciously arranged for the ladies to speak to the local Experimental Aircraft Association chapter 27 and about 20 members and guests.

The ladies explained the basics of air racing along with some more of the technical details concerning flying in high / hot conditions in unfamiliar airspace along the race route. This EAA chapter is particularly active and not only does regular 'Young Eagle' discovery flights for youngsters, but they also have members assisting a local technical high school to build a flying, glass paneled Vans RV-12 experimental aircraft.

2017 Race Preparations are under way!

Welcome to the digital home of the Purple Hearts. Currently our content will be a little
light over the next couple of months, but rest assured the team is already working hard preparing for the race.

The ladies have approved marketing materials, some new art for 2017, and are in the midst of training despite the considerable weather challenges here in the Northeast. Please feel free to
peruse the Air Race Classic link on the race map to learn more about this year's race.

Thank you for taking the time to stop by. Be sure to bookmark this year's page to keep up with any news regarding the 2017 race. If you want to review how our site works be sure to check out last year's race blog at:  https://purplehearts48.blogspot.com

Cheers!

-Ed