TEN ROMEO NEWSLETTER
DCA-SVO COMMEMORATIVE FLIGHT, Report 4
January 10, 1988
Dear Friends:
As I sat down on November 20th to prepare this report for you about my October and November travel adventures in the Soviet Union and West Germany, the excitement of the Summit Meeting was already building to a crescendo. And, the Summit would be followed by the busy holiday season. It seemed wise to delay my report until the first of the year, and this is what I have done.
The trip from JFK to Helsinki was with my partner FINNAIR. They have an unforgettable way of treating their passengers, which includes TLC by cabin attendants, gourmet food, and a crew who always seem to pick the smooth part of the sky for our trip.
Entrance to the USSR was, as usual, through Tallinn where I confirmed by telephone my busy schedule in Moscow. My Moscow stay was at the Hotel National which I have come to think of as my home in Moscow. It is in the very center of town, with easy access by Metro and/or taxi to any part of the city.
Those of you who have followed my USSR adventures through many reports may recognize my Soviet friends.
When I called Andrew Sturua, the TV journalist with the Moscow news program "TIME", he said, "Millard - are you sitting down? Last month I received the copy of the PBS TV Documentary of TEN ROMEO's 1985 FRIENDSHIP FLIGHT which you mailed to me well over a year ago!" Andrew and his family are fine, and although his schedule was heavy, we were able to meet for a quick visit.
Some months ago I understood that Valery Zima, my friend with INTOURIST, might be receiving an assignment in New York City. My visit with Valery was most cordial, and I asked him about the possibility of our having lunch in New York City one day soon. "No, Millard -- that's not in the cards at this time. I had a beautiful new daughter born six months ago. This is not the time for me to be away from home and my family. We'll have to delay our New York lunch!"
Sergei Plakanov, of the Soviet USA/Canada Institute, brought me up-to-date on events in Moscow since my last visit.
While in Moscow it was possible to confirm a report received by my son Roger who lives in Germany and Switzerland. He indicated that the German Press carried extensive reports on the Rust trial once it was over, and that at the first of the procedures Mathias was asked, "There is a fellow Sport Pilot from the West who flew his single-engine Bonanza into Sheremetyevo legally on June 18th. Why didn't you fly Soviet skies legally, as he did?"
I pressed my friends about Rust and how long he might be held. It had been my hope to fly Rust out in his aircraft during my October trip since I was going to West Germany anyway. I had with me all maps necessary to make the trip, and thought my AEROFLOT friends might trust me in their airspace. Just before my arrival, however, the aircraft was returned to West Germany. My friends assured me that the Western Press had been satisfied with Rust's trial, considered it fair and the penalty reasonable. I was also told Rust would be returned soon, and that I should not worry about him further. Incidentally, I understand that the Cessna's new owner is an entrepreneur who intends to place the aircraft on display throughout the West and charge a fee for looking it over.
I had a delightful visit with my friend Rev. Anatoly Sokolov of the Moscow Baptist Church. I asked Anatoly if he saw changes in his society as a result of GLASNOST. His answer was surprising. "One of the biggest differences, Millard, is that everyone is buying and reading more newspapers! Before, even though we have thousands of papers in our country, the policy line was similar and thus one had to read only one paper to know what was going on. Now, with the freedom which has been made available to the press, different coverage and viewpoints appear in different papers. It has been a great boon to the newspaper business!" Earlier, Nick Dombkovsky had told me of the phenomenal increase in circulation of his newspaper, and here was a reasonable explanation.
Anatoly told me of an experience he had during his spring visit to the States. You may recall I shared with you in Report #2 news of his visit to Albany, only four miles from Delmar, and the good time I had when he and Victor were guests in my home. At that time he said he hoped that he would be able to take a train from Connecticut to New York City, where he had friends he wanted to spend the night with, and then join his travel group the next morning when they arrived in NYC. It seemed like an acceptable possibility, and I provided train fare for the two of them since they had no hard currency. Anatoly is an experienced traveler in the States, having been here many times. I was comfortable with his suggestion.
He spoke with his tour director and he and Victor left by commuter train for the city. However, there seemed to be slippage in the communication because that evening it was reported to US officials that two Soviet travelers were missing. This generated considerable discomfort the next morning as they rejoined the group. Anatoly said, "Had they told me not to go, I would have been happy to stay with the group!" This misunderstanding seems to have had no long-range, adverse effect on Anatoly and his travel to the States. He recently called me from California where he was once again traveling with a Soviet group.
A high point of my trip was the session held with members of AEROFLOT at their headquarters at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, October 26th. I had requested the meeting by mail weeks before leaving the States, and confirmed the time and date by phone from Tallinn as mentioned earlier in this report. The intent of the meeting was to discuss a fee schedule for use of Soviet airspace by privately owned light aircraft more in line with Western standards.
AEROFLOT personnel at the meeting were Vladimir D. Samoroukov, Director of International Relations, Victor Schumsky, Chief of European & American Division, and Vladimir Sakhnov, Chief of Protocol.
The meeting started on time with a gracious smile by Director Samoroukov.
"Dr. Harmon, we understand you think our fees are unreasonably high for use of Soviet airspace by privately owned aircraft such as yours?"
I agreed that was indeed my thinking, and he continued, "You must understand, Dr. Harmon, that we have no privately owned light aircraft in the Soviet Union, and thus have no rules regulating the use of our skies for such craft. It was necessary for us to modify our airline rules for your situation. However, we would be very happy for you to make recommendations which you think would be more equitable."
And so there it was! Confirmation of the word I had received just before departing Sheremetyevo in TEN ROMEO last June! AEROFLOT was willing to consider recommendations to make its skies more attractive to sport pilots and pilots of privately owned aircraft from the West!
I thought back to my pleasant reception by Mikhail Lyubimov in his office on December 1, 1983, when I first expressed the desire to fly Soviet skies in TEN ROMEO. Since then there has been a succession of meetings with AEROFLOT officials. In every case the men I met were friendly and open. My interests and requests were granted with two successful flights into Sheremetyevo made with worldwide media coverage of both events. The warmth of those meetings, handled within the framework of supportive good humor, had me leaving AEROFLOT headquarters feeling I had made new friends. It had happened again!
Director Samoroukov was very explicit in his suggestions of how I should proceed to insure the best opportunity of success. He listed those organizations and individuals who would have to be brought into the "loop" or planning stages of the project. He suggested techniques that would enhance communication, and recommended individuals who would assist with the complicated information and clearance procedure. The first step would be a "Document of Intent", and following that, new rules could be built and put in place. I would return to Moscow in April with my proposals, and at that time would receive "visa support" from AEROFLOT. Such support provides no money, but makes arrival and departure within the USSR far easier with VIP treatment.
With the important matters of how to proceed toward a new cost structure complete, I opened a new subject.
"Director Samoroukov, your controllers did a remarkable job in giving me a Surveillance Approach on June 18th when my equipment would not pick up your ILS. At my request, the NATIONAL AERONAUTIC ASSOCIATION has prepared a Certificate of Commendation for your controllers for the excellent service they provided me last June. Could you arrange for me to present this plaque to your people?"
The presentation was arranged for Wednesday. My friend Victor Akhlomov, the Soviet photographer, took pictures of the occasion.
I carried a second plaque with me to Moscow on this trip - the record from Washington D.C. to Moscow, USSR. This was presented to Col. Igor Chkalov, with the hope that the "Jubilee Committee", which handles all official matters in the Soviet Union regarding the 50th anniversary of the Chkalov, Belyakov and Baidukov flight, would pass it to Chairman Gorbachev at some appropriate time in the future. The following message was on the bottom of the plaque:
To: CHAIRMAN
GORBACHEV, and the SOVIET PEOPLE, as a token of hope that
Americans and Soviets will become better acquainted and thus learn how very
much we have in common.
Millard Harmon
With AEROFLOT matters successfully completed, it was possible to turn my attention to the "fun" tasks of visiting Moscow schools to share information about TEN ROMEO's COMMEMORATIVE FLIGHT. On Wednesday, following the Controller presentation, I visited School 29. On Thursday, I was at Boarding School 38, and on Friday I went to School 112. At each of these schools I knew the administrators and staff well and it was delightful to visit with the students once again. I had carried 500 copies of the revised brochure on the flight with me to Moscow, and all but a handful were left with students and faculty. I was treated royally, and considered a "hero" as a result of the extensive press coverage TEN ROMEO had received in June.
While the press coverage in October was not as heavy as in June, whenever I am in Moscow, there seems to be continued media interest in my presence. This may be due to the friendships I have generated with Moscow press personnel over a number of years.
One such person is Galina, who writes for PRAVDA. An in-depth interview was scheduled with Galina for Saturday morning. She brought along her colleague, "the best photographer in the USSR". Galina is a beautiful young woman of 25, and I had been impressed with her feature articles on my projects which appeared throughout the previous year. As the three of us relaxed in my hotel room, we discussed the objectives obtained by my "FRIENDSHIP BRIDGES", and the impact of my visits upon Soviet school children.
"And now, Dr. Harmon, where will your next FRIENDSHIP BRIDGE take you?"
I explained that as soon as I returned home, I would begin my efforts to extend a FRIENDSHIP BRIDGE from the States, via Moscow to Peking with TEN ROMEO. To do that, I indicated there would have to be a turbine power plant on the front of TEN ROMEO that would use jet fuel. Prepositioning 100 LL gas for the Continental engine across Siberia and into China would be close to impossible.
Galina's eyes sparkled with excitement. "You must take me with you on that flight, Dr. Harmon!"
I was shocked by such a suggestion from this beautiful young lady before me. "Galina, the record runs I fly in TEN ROMEO are always flown on the edge of the performance envelope, and this carries a certain amount of danger. I would never consider exposing you to such risk!"
"Nonsense, Dr, Harmon! I must cover your flight for my newspaper. As a good reporter I must experience personally the risks as well as the satisfaction and pleasure of such a project to report it properly to my readership!"
"Besides," she said as an afterthought, "I will print in my paper that you will take me, and then you will HAVE to do so!!!! As you know, PRAVDA means TRUTH in Russian. Anything appearing in PRAVDA must be true!"
And to lock in her logic, Galina said, "When your famous American 'Rock Star' toured the Soviet Union, I traveled with him. My writing was much better because of that!"
This does provide an interesting logistical problem. (You may have to carry Galina in your lap, Tom, from Moscow to Irkutsk! It may be difficult to say "No" to this determined young lady while flying within Soviet borders!)
I expected my friend, Journalist Vladislav Trapeznikov of NOVOSTI NEWS, to return with me to the States. We had made extensive plans in the summer for this to happen as the next phase in my FRIENDSHIP BRIDGES -- bringing Soviet friends to my home for short visits.
Unfortunately, Vladislav has been transferred to the International Journalist's Union in Prague. Since the Invitation Document is most easily completed by an American at the US Embassy in Moscow, the complicated paper work could not be completed with Vladislav out of the city. We will work out those details for a later visit.
An Invitation Document was completed for Vello and Rita Kesa, of Tallinn, to be my first guests from the USSR. We hope approval will be forthcoming for them to be in the States for a week or ten days sometime in 1988. This young couple are successful, satisfied Soviet citizens with no interest in leaving their country permanently. I am certain they will be allowed to come.
On November 1st, I left Moscow for Lauda, West Germany.
Last summer my son Roger, who has been studying the lute for the last three years in Basel, Switzerland, brought home a beautiful bride, Sylvia. The whole family was delighted. We had known Sylvia for seven years, and were hoping Roger would invite her to join the "clan"! Sylvia teaches English to 12- to 14-year old children in the high school or realschule of Lauda, West Germany. Last summer, as I was flying Roger and Sylvia all over the US in TEN ROMEO to meet family, we made plans for me to visit Lauda to speak with Sylvia's students about TEN ROMEO and my FRIENDSHIP BRIDGES.
Lauda is a rather isolated little valley, close to the East German border, with picturesque vineyards. The realschule is new with modern architecture which provides a functional building with little maintenance. The warmth of my reception by both students and faculty was gratifying. I have always enjoyed sharing my experiences with students, and recall one tenth-grader in Rochester, New York, rushing up to me following a presentation and saying, "Dr. Harmon, that was the best assembly we ever had in THIS school!" There was an immediate closeness with the Lauda students. It may have been Sylvia's excellent preparation. Her mastery of English is superb, the result of university study, several trips to the States, and teaching in London for two years. She is gentle, patient, soft-spoken and skillful in handling her classes - a professional whom it was fun to work with during the several days I was in her school. Furthermore, few Americans get to Lauda and this must heighten excitement when a special American guest arrives. My Lauda Realschule experience turned into a virtual "Love-In", vividly recalling my pleasure in teaching this age group over 30 years ago.
Beyond all of this there was something more. From the first moment I stepped into a classroom, there was a positive American "aura"! Posters of Madonna and other American rock and movie stars, as well as posters of the New York City skyline were scattered throughout the building. After I had become better acquainted with the students, I asked one young lad why there was such a positive feeling about my country on the part of all the students I had met. "Because," he replied, "America is WHERE IT'S AT!!!"
How nice to be reminded that there are places in the world where our prestige remains unbelievably high. Before leaving Lauda I was given background information on many students who wanted American pen pals, and this information has been passed on to teacher friends here at home. The Lauda/New York FRIENDSHIP BRIDGE is well and functioning!
Perhaps I should mention that on my second day in Lauda, Principal Faulhaber stopped me in the hall and said, "Dr. Harmon, you have made quite an impact upon our students. We think our local newspapers might have an interest in your visit and FRIENDSHIP BRIDGE with us. Would you object if we called a press conference for you tomorrow?" I was delighted, and two newspapers carried feature stories before my departure.
Since returning home, I've received two items of interest. One is a sheet from the Lauda student paper, and is a story of my visit from the students perspective. "Mr. Harmon for PRESIDENT" the slug reads. (The vagaries of our current presidential campaigns are not lost on those informed, precocious Lauda students.) This delightful story is on the back of this report.
Secondly, I received a copy of IZVESTIA newspaper's weekly summary of news. Within was a full-page story of my Soviet activities written by my friend, Elena Ivanova, and containing a picture taken by Victor Akhlomov. Elena indicated the page carrying my story is normally reserved for famous Soviet artists, writers, performers and politicians. With Elena, Vladislav, Andrew, Nick, Galina, Victor, Igor - and who knows how many others - serving as my cheering section in Moscow, I'll probably end up with the "Gorbachev Friendship Award" one of these days!
In December I turned my attention to TEN ROMEO.
The 3M Stormscope people became aware of TEN ROMEO's activities and joined the SUPPORT SPONSOR list by updating my WX-1O to a WX-11. ARNAV and B.F. GOODRICH provided needed maintenance on their equipment. KING serviced my panel.
TEN ROMEO was in the shop for its annual inspection last month, and they found the magnesium elevator skins needed replacement. New skins have been ordered, and the installation will be done in Ottawa, Kansas. Then to Wellsville, NY, for painting. (Many thanks to Max, Don, Bob and Gary!)
Some of you know that I first pounded Frank Hedrick's desk in 1975 insisting that BEECH needed a single-engine propjet to continue the BONANZA's leadership in the 198O's. In the early 8O's, I prepared a draft proposal entitled, "PROJECT SILVERSTREAK" in which I put forth my plan to fly the first production model of a BONANZA propjet against every record in its class except endurance. (I figured I had enough WWII "relief-tube" time!) Once the prototype BEECH propjet flew, my best friend in General Aviation ordered three LIGHTNINGS, one of which was for my record dreams.
The high development cost of the LIGHTNING precluded a production run of that beautiful machine, and with its production cancelled, my PROJECT SILVERSTREAK dreams faltered. With the LIGHTNING and PROJECT SILVERSTREAK dead, I decided to pursue my dreams with my own non-pressurized, non-turboprop BONANZA, TEN ROMEO.
Some friends suggest that TEN ROMEO has become the most famous and visible single-engine aircraft in the world. With 154 speed records, two flights into Moscow, a flight through the Bermuda Triangle, and a trip to the North Pole, there is worldwide visibility and credibility. Friends in General Aviation have shown substantial interest and support through extensive equipment sponsorship, but a General Sponsor has yet to be found. With $200,000 invested to date in TEN ROMEO's exploits, a General Sponsor is needed to cover fuel, insurance, related flight costs, and sanction and record fees for new FRIENDSHIP BRIDGES. Perhaps now is the time for an advertisement requesting sponsorship in the WALL STREET JOURNAL. If any of you have suggestions of a better way, please contact me.
In addition to searching for a General Sponsor, I am now moving to modify TEN ROMEO to reach a number of my next record objectives. My primary need is a turbine on the front of TEN ROMEO. Turning TEN ROMEO into a "LIGHTNING" will be complicated, but possible. A sponsor is willing to provide the propeller required, and it may be possible to obtain a PT-6 from the Pratt-Whitney pool.
With so many BONANZAS registered and flying, I would like to locate someone interested in obtaining an STC on a PT-6 BONANZA conversion, with TEN ROMEO serving as the test platform. There are a number of exciting possibilities out there - Continental has a new turbine ready for post-market sales, Mike Smith knows more about modifying BONANZAS than anyone else, and Jack Riley puts PT-6s on CESSNA-210s. In the final analysis, it may be expedient to combine objectives and become partners with the Allison conversion folks. (I wrote Allison about a TEN ROMEO conversion the first week I owned 10R!) In any turbine conversion, I will have to have a 28 volt electrical system for TEN ROMEO. My research indicates a change of two panel units, the gear and flap motors, several relays and a change of lights would give me 28 volts.
I have made contact with people on the West Coast who are developing a pressure kit for BONANZAS, and I hope to arrange for TEN ROMEO to become the STC test platform for that unit.
Exciting, busy times are ahead. My next NEWSLETTER will come to you after my April trip to Moscow. Unless, of course, there is a breakthrough on any of the three goals mentioned above. Then a special NEWSLETTER will be issued.
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Chairman Gorbachev revealed more of his thinking in his November 7th address before the Party Congress. He indicated a willingness to review the 1968 "Prague Spring" matter, and after 1988, the military parade may no longer be the "cornerstone" of future Soviet November 7th celebrations.
And - the Summit gave us all a feeling of this being a safer world!
And yet, in spite of this euphoria, I often think back to my delightful visit in Lauda. Two or three times each day, US Tactical Aircraft thundered across that peaceful valley in a continuing vigilant patrol of the East German border.
This raises serious thoughts. Reality calls to mind how very far we still have to go before trust and true understanding will give us the kind of world we all hope and pray for!
PEACE!
