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TEN ROMEO NEWSLETTER Report 63 September 12, 1996 Dear Friends: It's time for an update on work done on TEN ROMEO and next week's travel to Cuba by "appropriate alternative means" to TEN ROMEO.
TEN ROMEO Maintenance in recent months has included replacement of a failed right wing fuel transmitter, replacement of front door seal, sealing the windshield, rebuilding the altimeter, correcting erosion on elevator surfaces, repainting all printed signs on aircraft, replacement of right strobe light power pack, replacing a bad cylinder, a new nose wheel and tire (27 years normal wear), repairing the flap motor, reconditioning the main pitch servo of the automatic pilot, rebuilding both ram's horn control wheels (they had to be sent to California), new cowl plugs, new battery, and painting the landing gear. All of this in preparation for a future trip to Cuba in TEN ROMEO. In addition, there were several other efforts a bit more unusual than normal maintenance. A good friend flew with me recently. Captain Gene Olsen, until recently, was a top captain of American Lines and plied container ships between the West Coast and Japan. He has an educated nose, as required to stay ahead of all kinds of problems aboard an 85,000 ton vessel, and said there was a cockpit odor he was concerned about. Investigation revealed an exhaust-stack connector had become stretched with heat and wear, allowing the stack to shift and wear a hole in the fire wall. Small amounts of carbon monoxide were getting into the cockpit. My crew chief, Bob Willett, repaired the hole, and replacement parts have resolved the problem for many years. In addition, I made contact with WHELEN, one of the top lighting companies for aircraft strobe lights. With this new sponsorship TEN ROMEO is in the process of acquiring a new strobe system for the tail and both wing tips. Speaking of lighting - I've been working with GE and have been field testing remarkable new landing and taxi halogen light bulbs with 80,000 candle power! These units light up the ramp at night beyond one's imagination, and make spotting TEN ROMEO easier when transport traffic is called to my attention. When the controller says, "737 traffic at ten o'clock and eight miles," my response is, "TEN ROMEO has no contact, but I'll show a light". Even in daylight with sun, the 737 response is often, "We have contact!" Before leaving the country next week, I'll pull the prop and return it to AMERICAN PROPELLER SERVICE on the West Coast. Last year APS overhauled TEN ROMEO's propeller and provided a fancy "DESIGNER PROP". Those who have not seen this special attention will be amazed with its beauty and decor. One of the propeller deicing boots has failed and must be replaced, and in recent months, when the sun is just right following a flight, a slight red tinge is noticed at the hub. Bob checked this out when it was first noticed and determined there was no hub crack so the tinge appears to be slight weeping from seals. It will be nice to have the prop in top shape very soon. Before leaving TEN ROMEO matters, let me mention Bob Willett in more detail. I've known Bob for most of the years I've been flying out of Albany County Airport. In recent years our contact has grown into a warm, deep friendship. In my estimation, Bob is the best Bonanza mechanic in the northeast, perhaps in the whole country. Bob has become TEN ROMEO's official "CREW CHIEF", and, as with all celebrity aircraft, his name as crew chief is on the side of the plane. Bob and I have worked out a delightful partnership, and he does a masterful job keeping TEN ROMEO safe for my exciting adventures. In addition, Bob has been working feverishly in preparation for the Schenectady Air Show last weekend. TEN ROMEO has been a stellar static display at Schenectady since the air shows began more than ten years ago. As I departed Schenectady Airport Sunday, with thousands of spectators still on the field, I arranged with my friend, Air Boss Steve Israel, for a closed left-pattern swing around the field for a low pass, "simulated time line fly-by" in front of the tower - the maneuver I've executed at the end of each speed record flown over the past several years. Following lift off, Steve put me on the PA system and as I swung back around for the low pass, I explained the procedure that's a part of the speed record flying by those of us into that phase of flying. Thus, my swing around the field with commentary was the last official performance of the 1996 Schenectady Air Show. Steve is Commissioner of Aviation for Schenectady County, and has been a good friend for many years. (Six years ago I put together a "simulated time line fly-by" as a standard air show program. That package had a "victory roll" on the pitchup after passing the control tower. Approval of this maneuver by FAA was so difficult - placing TEN ROMEO in and out of the Experimental class - that I dropped the whole concept. Still speed records are a different, but exciting phase of aviation. Since I have the most speed records of any man worldwide, perhaps I should reconsider the performance package next year without the "victory roll". We'll see.)
CUBA PROJECT On September 17th, I'll be on my way to Havana to meet personally those with whom I've been communicating for many months. My original contact with Prime Minister Castro was on March 20, 1995, requesting thirty minutes with him, and permission to review quality control of 100 octane aviation fuel handled by the INSTITUTE OF CIVIL AVIATION OF CUBA. Approval came from the Cuban side lest fall. A US TREASURY license sanctioning my meeting with Cuban officials was received last November 29th. In my quest for a DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE license to fly TEN ROMEO to Havana, it was suggested that I travel to Havana by "alternative means of transportation" to pursue the approved mission of my Cuban contact, and upon my return to the States, resubmit my request for flying TEN ROMEO to Havana for delivery of medicines for the children of Havana. COMMERCE reminded me that the medicine factor was a late add-on to my original flight request, and the implication was that a resubmission of the flight request with transport of medicines as the primary reason for the trip would bring COMMERCE approval. My stay in Havana will be an adventure. Wednesday morning will be spent with aviation officials. In the afternoon I'll be with Commissioner Dotres' staff at the Department of Public Health. Thursday is open, and on Friday I'll spend a few hours at the airport reviewing operations before departure. I plan to deliver samples of medicines committed to Cuban children by American humanitarian interests. I understand Rolando Surady of CARITAS CUBANA is the contact person I will meet at customs. My primary mission will be to become satisfied that Cuban quality control of 100 aviation fuel is satisfactory. In time, sanctions will be lifted, and it is important that when that time comes, the hundreds of Cessna, Piper and Bonanza pilots flying into Havana do not face an unknown risk of degraded aviation fuel as happened in the former USSR. (Those who have followed TEN ROMEO's Soviet efforts know fuel taken on at Sheremetyevo as 100 octane aviation fuel tested as 72 octane at the Continental factory in Mobile, Alabama.) Time with Castro will probably be delayed until I fly medicines into Havana. Castro and I are about the same age. At our age, viewpoints mellow. There are eleven million Cubans who need a better legacy left to them than now seems possible. If Dr. Castro and I "hit it off", it may be possible to explore divergent thinking that could be a step toward easing current friction between our two great countries. Helping Cuban children is a starting point. A friend recently suggested, "Coincidences are God's way of remaining anonymous!". That concept, along with "Prevenient Grace", that unexpected happy surprise the Spirit has waiting for us around the next corner, will be the action forces I'll depend on during my time in Havana. If a number of "Coincidences" and acts of "Prevenient Grace" occur, next week's time in Cuba will be a success! (Similar times in the USSR were blessed with dynamic, unexpected breakthroughs.) Wish me many COINCIDENCES!!!!!! ------------- Harmon Associates MISSION STATEMENT Dr. Millard Harmon to Havana, Cuba, September 17 - 20, 1996 On March 20, 1995, Mil Harmon asked Prime Minister Castro for permission to meet with IACC (aviation) officials to validate Cuban quality control of 100 octane aviation fuel. Thirty minutes with Dr. Castro was also requested. Support from Cuba came in October, 1995, and a US TREASURY LICENSE was issued November 29, 1995, to travel to Cuba to speak with Cuban officials. US COMMERCE denied a TEMPORARY SOJOURN LICENSE for TEN ROMEO to fly to Havana. A HUMANITARIAN AID component to deliver two tons of medicines for Cuban children was added to the project. COMMERCE then suggested Harmon travel to Cuba by "appropriate alternative means" for a planning trip, and upon return, resubmit the request to fly medicines to Havana in TEN ROMEO. September 17th Harmon will be in Havana to follow C0MMERCE's suggestion. The following objectives seem to be attainable: 1. On this planning trip to Cuba, the primary task will be to review Cuban quality control of aviation fuel for a report to fellow US "Sport Pilots" (those who fly for pleasure rather than money) upon returning to the States. 2. CARITAS CUBANA (Cuban Charity) officially receives humanitarian aid for Cuba with US approval. Sample medicines will be delivered as the first step in arranging the TEN ROMEO HUMANITARIAN MEDICINE BRIDGE. A personal message to Dr. Castro will be delivered, but it is not known if the Prime Minister's time schedule will allow contact on September 19th. If Harmon speaks with Dr. Castro, the following objectives will be sought: 1. Harmon's modest success as an international mediator leads him to hope that proper words will enable him to convince Dr. Castro that an open election in Cuba under the auspices of the United Nations should be held as soon as possible. (The Cuban election process had 87% of eligible voters voting in 1995. Eleven percent of ballots cast were invalidated. It would appear that Dr. Castro could win an honestly conducted national election.) 2. Harmon will suggest that the precedent of Batista's 1954 release of all political prisoners without major disruption be followed. If Harmon does not see Dr. Castro on this visit, another opportunity could come later this year when medicines for Cuban children are delivered. These changes in Dr. Castro's operation could provide a greater legacy for eleven million Cuban subjects, and serve as important steps toward the lifting of sanctions. |