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TEN ROMEO NEWSLETTER
Report 66
October 1, 1999
Dear Friends:
In April I had a telephone call from Bill Freeman, a friend for
many years, who had an interesting idea.
"Mil, I have a proposal for you to consider! I offer
nothing but high risk, hard work, long hours, and extensive costs, but I promise
that you and I will walk away from the project with a warm heart, deep
satisfaction, and the realization that many lives will be saved!"
* * * * * *
Bill Freeman is a true humanitarian! Some years ago Bill
and his wife Karen adopted three lovely children from South America. He
enjoys flying occasionally. As flying friends learned about his flights
south, he had inquiries. "I've always wanted to fly to South America,
but complications of clearing Customs and the mechanics involved have seemed too
formidable to make the flight alone. Could I fly with you?"
Bill had an exciting suggestion. "Sure! I'll handle
all flight planning, deal with Customs clearance, and arrange housing. All
I ask is 500 pounds of useful load in your aircraft which I'll fill with
medicines desperately needed by children at our destination!"
Five friends joined Bill and with those privately owned aircraft
they delivered over a ton of medicines.
In 1995 when Bill learned that I was planning a flight to Havana
for a ramp check of aviation fuel, he called me. "Mil, don't fly TEN
ROMEO to Havana EMPTY! Hospitalized children in Cuba need
medicines! We'll have no difficulty filling your plane with the medicines
required!"
* * * * * *
That April morning my thoughts jumped ahead to possible unique
humanitarian projects he might be focusing upon. He continued -- "I've located a refugee camp in South America filled with
people who are homeless due to the recent hurricane. Dozens of children
are dying daily because no safe water is available. Our planes could
provide medicines to save lives!" WHAT AN EXCITING POSSIBILITY!
Problems precluded our chance to help those children in Central
America last Spring, but an interesting dialog began.
THIRD WORLD NEED FOR PURE WATER
As we contemplated the lack of good water in Central America causing death to the most vulnerable in the
refugee camps, it brought to mind a similar need in Mozambique where my church has mounted a sustained effort in recent years to relieve suffering. A
delegation from Mozambique came to Delmar recently to thank our community for help provided. They also mentioned the lack of
good water. The closest "good" water is a well three miles distant. Someone from every family in the village must walk that six-mile
trip daily.
As Bill and I discussed this universal need, we considered the problems of providing clean water. The ideal system must work
without electrical power, have no moving parts, and be constructed of indestructible material.
Many aircraft emergency units carry a small distillation unit, a small box with a glass cover set at an angle where sunlight provides
a distillate on the under surface of the glass that collects pure water. Such a device could be designed large enough to serve a
whole family. There are no moving parts, and it would be made from durable plastic.
UNIVERSAL NEED FOR A LAND MINE DESTROYER
As Bill and I "brainstormed" on current world concerns, the matter of land mines came to mind as a problem raised by Mozambique
missionaries who spoke of weekly loss of life to this nasty hangover from recent conflicts.
It is difficult to understand our government's
reluctance to sign the world treaty banning land mines. Implementation can be delayed for ten years, and surely the 38th parallel in
Korea could then be protected electronically. The importance of the 38th Parallel may be muted within a unified Korea by then.
Modification of a small caterpillar tractor with a flaying arm and armor-plate protection for the driver might work.
We believe we
have located foundation money to build a prototype of both the water system and the land-mine destroyer.
Friends in Texas are considering construction of the two prototypes.
Stay tuned! You'll be informed of progress! There's a better day
ahead!
* * * * * *
TEN ROMEO EXCITEMENT
I'm pleased to report several additional TEN ROMEO partnerships have come on-line since our last contact.
OXFORD AVIATION INC. in Oxford, Maine. It was a sad day when Jack Palmer closed his paint shop in Wellsville, NY.
Recently,
I flew Doug Plotz to Oxford to pick up his newly painted Beech-36. As I viewed the pristine paint job, Jim and Larry checked TEN
ROMEO. "Your historic bird could use some TLC on touch up, Mil!" It will be scheduled soon.
MERCURY AIR CENTER in Bedford, Massachusetts. BEECHCRAFT EAST was the name of this operation in 1985.
John Wraga
was the general manager, and was one of those who shared my dream of opening Soviet skies in 1985.
The name of the operation has
changed, but John is still manager. Sponsorship has been renewed and I hope to use MERCURY as TEN ROMEO's maintenance
shop.
This is the point to share some good news and bad news.
The bad news is that TEN ROMEO has lost Bob Willett as Crew Chief --
probably the best Bonanza mechanic in the Northeast. The good news is that the FAA has hired Bob, a very knowledgeable
mechanic, and a wonderful human being! The aviation community wins when the FAA hires someone like Bob.
EAGLE FUEL CELLS in Eagle River, Wisconsin. Last year at the ABS convention, I met Carl Hartwig, "Mr. Fuel Cell".
This was
a great contact since for many years I have believed that a flush fuel cell drain should be available for TEN ROMEO and all light
aircraft. Carl agreed, and proceeded to design a flush unit that is most satisfactory.
Following my return home, my left fuel cell failed,
and with Carl's help TEN ROMEO was AOG for only a short time. (By the way, Carl repairs fuel cells, but also provides over one-third of light aircraft replacement cells which makes him supplier-of-choice for most of our flying colleagues.)
In addition to these new partners, there has been great support from long-term sponsors as I prepare TEN ROMEO for the third
segment of my 1985 dream: a record flight from Washington, DC, to Beijing.
McCAULEY PROPELLER SYSTEMS in Vandalia, Ohio. Arrangements are in place for TEN ROMEO to have the newly designed
two-blade prop with 40% fewer parts from McCauley. This prop, a new prop control and new spinner have not yet been installed.
The new prop does not have an STC for heated boots; installation will be delayed while I find a location that can add the boots
on a 337 Field Approval. (If you know where this could be done please call
me.)
DAVID CLARK COMPANY INCORPORATED in Worcester, Massachusetts. After fifteen years of heavy use, my earphones were
sent to CLARK for review and repair. It was easier to replace the two units, and they are now hardwired to the panel.
SHAW AERO DEVICES, INC. in Fort Meyers, Florida. The SHAW lockable fuel caps were showing signs of wear and were
replaced.
TELEDYNE BATTERY PRODUCTS in Redlands, California. TEN ROMEO was returned after its ten-month confiscation, and I
pulled the battery and installed a "gel" unit. These units are normally used in acrobatic aircraft and life is usually half that
of the wet battery. With Bob gone, I was happy to have a maintenance-free unit, and have positioned myself to test fly the new gel unit being
developed to last as long as the wet units. (Last spring a starter short killed the new battery.
Thanks, Dan, for getting me a
new one within 24 hours!)
There has been no report for more months than expected while I've stayed busy taking care of the above, as well as the following:
A cylinder was pulled and reworked at annual inspection due to a burned exhaust valve; the transponder failed, was sent out, and
returned in excellent shape; the starter failed, and one installed that I have carried over the Atlantic eight times as a part of
spare equipment; the right muffler failed and was replaced; the copilot seat needed work and was sent to TIM PALMATIER in Coudersport,
PA, and returned beautifully redone; the electric turn coordinator is being replaced as is the panel fan, a KA-33 unit.
JACK SCHNEIDER has been added as an advisor. Jack is a new friend, and I'm sorry I didn't meet him sooner.
He balanced TEN
ROMEO's prop which smoothed the machine, repaired the steel recliner bar in the copilot seat, and adjusted the door latch to where
it is perfect. It was a delight to watch him move his hands over the cargo door in search of a leak.
His hands were a symphony of
motion and transmitted knowledge of thousands of hours of close contact with our remarkable Bonanzas.
* * * * * *
TRAVEL PLANS
SARAJEVO Just before the war in Kosovo began I had finally found a viable contact in Sarajevo.
He is a delightful, committed man
who is working with orphans in that area. He will meet me at the airport, will find me a place to sleep, and will take me to the
monument where Ambassador Frasure and his colleagues fell off the mountain in August, 1995.
By now, many of the orphans generated by ethnic cleansing may have been adopted by nearby European nations.
I understand laws
now prohibit the adoption of children for removal from Sarajevo. This simply attests to the joy, innocence, and preciousness of all
children, regardless of the circumstances of conception and birth.
An on-site review of the circumstances is required to provide information on orphans to help determine options that may be taken.
From here, it appears there are two options that may be available. First - if
US adoption is possible, steps will be taken.
Second - if adoption is not an option, and there remain orphans in that area, arrangements can be put in place in Bob Frasure's name for
assistance in their care. (A small amount of money may have been found for this possibility.)
TALLINN I have unfinished business in Tallinn, Estonia.
Tallinn was the entry and exit point during twelve years of self-styled
missionary work in the former USSR. Rev. Olav Parnamets is one of my best friends in that part of the world.
You may recall that he
has built his new church and BALTIC MISSION CENTER on the location I had suggested for the
US Embassy building once
Estonia declared independence. No interest could be generated in Washington; our Embassy returned to the same location used
before the war.
Rev. Dr. Olav's church has the largest Methodist congregation in Europe.
The GENERAL BOARD OF GLOBAL MINISTRIES OF
THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH has identified Olav's building as an approved world project, but there are over 1000 such
projects. I must meet with Brother Olav and plan with him how we might interest
US churches in providing support for this new
bright light of freedom that faces East and carries so much hope to those who have waited so long for help.
In Tallinn I will visit Sergey, my little "koresh," contact government friends (can't wait to see you, Raul), and have a wonderful
time with Bob Moggridge, Vello, Rita, and try to locate Ludmila who has moved.
I miss these friends whom I have not seen since the start
of the Cuban fiasco.
I will check Lake Pepsi to see what progress has been made since my last visit.
Lake Pepsi has the reputation of being the most
polluted lake in the world. It borders Estonia and Russia, with effluence pouring into it from both societies.
When last in Tallinn
I helped create a technical team to address this problem.
While in Tallinn I must assess the risk of visiting Moscow. Journalist Elena Ivanova, TV Journalist Andrew Sturua, Olga
Motorina, Journalist Vladislav Trapeznikov, Rev. Anatoly Sokolov, Dr. Georgi Arbatov, Yuriy Lavkovskiy, Yuriy Zurabov, and Mikhail
Lyubimov, are only a few of the friends in that troubled city who touched my life during those difficult days when the East/West conflict was
at its height. I must make an effort to visit them.
* * * * * *
ON THE HOME FRONT
ALBANY SIGNATURE FLIGHT SUPPORT has been TEN ROMEO's home base for nearly thirty years.
Friends at the ALB
FBO provided my first sponsorship for participation in the 1983 GRAND PRIX AIR RACE.
It was that generosity and faith which started
me on my odyssey of flight.
If you visit the Albany SIGNATURE facility, notice as you come in the front entrance that the wall directly on the right is
dedicated to TEN ROMEO.
This display was planned and executed with the approval of SIGNATURE leadership and with the help of Sharon Bates, the Director
of Exhibitions & Programs at ALBANY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. If you have not yet seen the new airport, you are in for a
treat. CEO John Egan has put together the newest and most effective airport in the
US.
The $184 million investment has given us a
facility second to none.
Central to the SIGNATURE display is a 45" by 36" photo of TEN ROMEO over Albany
Rockefeller Plaza. TEN ROMEO carries GRAND PRIX paint configuration but the photo of both the aircraft and the city of Albany is magnificent.
(Jeff Seckendorf flew
"chase" that day and took the photo.)
On the left of the photograph is a brief history of the development of the RAYTHEON BEECH-36.
On the top right is the NAA
record plaque for the flight from Helsinki to Moscow on June 18, 1985, which opened Soviet skies to light Western aircraft.
Just
below is a second plaque indicating "US National Record First Officially Documented Flight to the North Pole using GPS as
primary navigation". (Collins NAVCORE I GPS)
All friends are invited to drop by Albany for a cup of coffee at your convenience.
You will see the most beautiful FBO lounge in the
Northeast, with a two-story expanse of glass that provides a broad, uninterrupted view of the ramp and airport activity, a luxury
that new construction can no longer afford.
A special invitation is extended to friends at the RAYTHEON plant in Wichita to drop in on your next flight to Lexington!
We'd love
to see you, and we are told that our coffee is great!!
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