I AM NOT GOING TO BORE YOU FOLKS WITH HOW THE WINDS ARE. I'M GOING TO GET INTO OUR FLIGHT AND NARRATE WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING WITH THE "City OF YUMA" SINCE OUR LAST NEWSLETTER.

IN THE LAST MONTH I HAVE BEEN IN COMMAND OF THE PLANE'S INSTRUMENT PANEL. IT HAS BEEN IN MY DINING ROOM UNDERGOING ITS SECOND RECONSTRUCTION. AFTER LOOKING AT A PICTURE WE FOUND OF THE INSIDE OF THE COCKPIT, WE NOTICED THAT OVER THE YEARS THE CONFIGURATION HAD CHANGED. SO, NOW IT HAS BEEN RECONFIGURED ACCORDINGLY AND REINSTALLED IN THE COCKPIT. I HAVE ALSO PAINTED THE INTERIOR STRUCTURES TO THE CREAM COLOR THAT THEY WERE IN 1949.

JIM ALLEN HAS BEEN BUSY FINISHING THE COWLING AND NOSEPIECE. FOLKS, THESE PIECES LOOK AS NEW AS THEY WERE WHEN THIS PLANE WAS BUILT IN 1949. JIM YOU ARE AMAZING!

WE HAVE ATTACHED THE COWLING TO THE AIRPLANE FOR THE 49^th ANNNIVERSARY AND RON CONTRERAS (PENN SIGNS) WILL PAINT THE LOGOS ON THE NOSE BEFORE THE OCTOBER 10^TH EVENT. RON IS ANOTHER PROFESSIONAL VOLUNTEER WHO DESERVES A LOT OF CREDIT. IN ADDITION TO THE PLANE'S LOGOS, HE DESIGNED OUR PROJECT AND ENDURANCE BRAT LOGOS AND HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS HELP TO JUDY.

ALSO, IN THE LAST MONTH WE HAVE BROUGHT ON BOARD JERRY McGUIRE OF "J&S SEWING". HE HAS VOLUTEERED HIS TIME AND EXPERTISE TO DO OUR UPHOLSTERY WORK. THANKS JERRY!! WE WILL COME UP WITH THE COLOR SCHEME AND MATERIAL SOON.

JIM GILLASPIE HAS BEEN BUSY STRETCHING THE ENGINE MOUNT TO FIT A LITTLE BETTER SO THAT WE WILL NOT HAVE TO STRUGGLE WHEN IT BECOMES TIME TO HAVE THE ENGINE PERMENENTLY INSTALLED AND MOUNTED. IN ADDITION, JIM HAS ATTACHED A NEW TAIL WHEEL AND HAS CUT AND INSTALLED THE REAR WINDOWS. BUT, AS ALL GOOD PILOT ARE, IT'S HARD TO KEEP JIM'S FEET ON THE GROUND. HE IS OFF TO ALBUQUERQUE WITH BILL JEWETT TO FLY BALLOONS FOR THE NEXT 10 DAYS. WE'LL MISS YA FOR THE 49^TH, BUT HAVE FUN, GOOD LUCK , AND BE SAFE TO BOTH OF YOU.

JUST A LITTLE ON THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE IS STILL IN THE SAME STATE AS IT WAS THE LAST NEWSLETTER. WE WOULD LIKE TO FIND A SPONSOR FOR THE ENGINE. CONTINENTAL HAS NOT RESPONDED SO WE TAKE 'NO RESPONSE' AS IN "NO HELP. (IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION ON THE CONTINENTAL ENGINE STORY, SEE JIM G. OR MYSELF.) THIS IS THE MOST COSTLY AREA OF THE RESTORATION PROJECT. WE ANTICIPATE THE BILL TO BE $7500 FOR A FLIGHT WORTHY ENGINE. THREE (3) CYLINDERS ARE DEFINITLY IN NEED OF REBUILDING. FROM ALL INDICATIONS, COST OF A REBUILT CYLINDER IS AT ABOUT $700 EACH. ON TOP OF THAT, ADD MAGNETOS AND HARNASSES, A CARB REBUILD, EXAUST AND SUPPORT HARDWARE ...WELL ABOUT $7500.

OVER THE LAST YEAR I MAY HAVE NEGLECTED TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE AND THANKS TO THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE MADE THIS PROJECT POSSIBLE. WITHOUT THE JAYCEE FOUNDATION AND JAYCEE SUPPORT, THIS PROJECT WOULD NOT BE A REALITY. AND, WITHOUT THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT WE WOULD NOT BE WHERE WE ARE TODAY. WE HAVE ANOTHER YEAR TO GO AND WITH THE SUPPORT WE HAVE GOTTEN FROM THE YUMA COMMUNITY AND THE FINE VOLUNTEERS, THIS WILL BE A PROJECT THAT ALL CAN ENDEAR FOR MANY YEARS. THANK YOU!

JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, THINGS DO GET AROUND AND WE ARE MAKING FRIENDS IN THE FLYING COMMUNITY. ONE OF OUR BROUCHERS WOUND UP IN THE HANDS OF H.G. FRAUTSCHY FROM OSHKOSH, WI. HE IS THE EDITOR OF EAA'S VINTAGE AIRPLANE MAGAZINE AND HAS OFFERED TO PUBLICIZE OUR PROJECT. IN ADDITION, HE HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL AND KNOWLEDGABLE ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR MODEL. JUDY HAS SENT HIM OUT A PACKAGE FOR HIS REVIEW.

DOES ANYONE OUT THERE NOT KNOW WHAT OCTOBER 10, 1998 IS? AND WE HAVE SOME GREAT PLANS AND REASONS TO CELIBRATE THE 49^th ANNIVERSARY OF THE "FLIGHT OF FAME". WE ARE HAVING A RECEPTION HOSTED AT BETCO AIR FROM 7 - 10 PM. OUR PURPOSE FOR THE RECEPTION IS, NOT ONLY TO CELEBRATE THE 49^TH ANNIVERSARY, BUT TO, ALSO, THANK ALL OF OUR SUPPORTERS AND VOLUNTEERS FROM THE PAST YEAR AND HALF. IT'S ALSO A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE OUR PROGRAM TO NEW SUPPORTERS, SPONSORS, AND VOLUNTEER HOPEFULS. THE YUMA UNION HIGH SCHOOL CHORALAIRS WILL PROVIDE US WITH THEIR USUAL OUTSTANDING AND ENTERTAINING PERFORMANCE. IN ADDITION, DAN MARRIES AND KYMA WILL HAVE A NEW "PROFESSIONAL" PRESENTATION OF THE PROJECT INCLUDING VIDEO. WE WILL HAVE REFRESHMENTS INCLUDING SNACKS, SODAS, WATER, BEER AND WINE. OF COURSE, THE "City OF YUMA" WILL BE ON DISPLAY. AND, FOR ADDED INTEREST, WE MAY HAVE A FEW OTHER AIRCRAFTS ON DISPLAY. WE ALSO WILL HAVE A DESIGNATED AREA BY THE PLANE FOR PHOTOS AND A PHOTOGRAPHER WITH POLORAID IN HAND. AND DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE COST BECAUSE, NATURALLY, THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF DONATION JARS AROUND.

THAT'S ALL FOR NOW. I HOPE EVERYONE CAN ATTEND THIS WEEK'S MEETING AT THE YUMA LANDING THURSDAY OCTOBER 10th AT 7 PM. WE NEED TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT AND PARTICIPATION TO MAKE THE 49^TH ANNIVERSARY EVENT SUCCESSFUL. AND, IT'S NOT TOO SOON TO START PLANNING OUR 50^th ANNIVERSARY FOR OCTOBER 8^TH THROUGH 10^Th 1999.

OTHER UP-COMING EVENTS:

November 20-22, 1998 Colorado River Crossing Balloon Festival

February 6, 1999 Silver Spur Rodeo Parade

February 12-14, 1999 Silver Spur Rodeo

February 20, 1999 MCAS Air Show

March 5-7, 1999 Midnight at the Oasis