News

The online registration- https://grummanpilots.org/event-4940705/Registration,  for the GOPA Convention in Palm Springs is now open. Information regarding the convention is available in the Coming Events area- https://grummanpilots.org/event-4940705

Our May convention is at the Hollywood Celebs Favorite Desert Playground, Palm Springs!! As promised, here are links to a small portion of the fantastic things to do in the area:
Here are three of our favorite websites for all areas of the Coachella Valley:
https://www.playinlaquinta.com
https://www.Palmspringslife.com
https://www.gpsgetaway.com
Here are a couple of our favorites:
Agua Caliente Casino, https://www.aguacalientecasinos.com
The Living Desert Zoo/Gardens,  https://www.livingdesert.org
Red Jeep Adventures, https://www.red-jeep.com
Joshua Tree National Park, https://www.nps.gov/jotr
El Paseo California Artist Gallery,  https://www.melissamorganfineart.com
Modern Celebrity & Architecture Tours, https://www.moderntourspalmsprings.com
Here are the websites to our convention tours:
Palm Springs Air Museum, https://www.palmspringsairmuseum.org
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, https://www.pstramway.com
Also, for those who may want to stay in the area before or after our convention and explore cool places that are close (by Grumman flight), here are some distances from KUDD airport (Bermuda Dunes). If anyone needs guidance through any of the airspace around the area, or would like to know about other airports, please feel free to contact me.
Las Vegas (KLAS), 150.4 nautical miles
Catalina Island (KAVX), 109 nautical miles
Santa Barbara (KSBA), 181.8 nautical miles
San Diego (KSAN), 76.3 nautical miles
Van Nuys (KVNY), For those who saw the movie “16 Right”, 113.6 nautical miles
Mohave Air and Spaceport (KMHV), 121.7 nautical miles
Fullerton (KFUL) close to Disneyland, 85.3 nautical miles
Harris Ranch & Hotel (308) For delicious steaks, 338 nautical miles
Let’s have some fun and see some things!!!!
Cheers, Anne Marie and Mike Radel, GOPA2023@grummanpilots.org, Cell 818-429-8663

Garmin GFC500 autopilot ALERT (May not apply to our planes)

 Garmin has found a problem with the optional GAD28 auto-trim for the GFC500 autopilot which could cause runaway nose-up trim.  This does NOT affect the basic GFC500 without the optional autotrim.  If you have auto-trim, you must immediately disable the autopilot by pulling and collaring the c/b and placarding the autopilot inop.  You can then take it to your Garmin shop to have the auto-trim disabled after which you can resume using the autopilot, manually trimming as needed when you get a TRIM light.  For more information, see the documents below or contact your Garmin dealer.

Service Alert 22109 Rev A is available at:

https://support.garmin.com/en-US/aviation/faq/mZwVwMogJ09ZLIPJgWTBJA

The recommended Service Bulletin 22110 Rev A is available at:

https://support.garmin.com/en-US/aviation/faq/s7SeFk9oh96I8qVfjtNbV8

The 2023 GOPA convention will be held May 2-5 at the Bermuda Dunes airport near Palm Springs, California. More information is here.

Details have been released and you can view them here. Limited spots so make your reservations early.

GeneralAviationModifications, Inc.
2800 Airport Rd. Hangar A
Ada, OK 74820
580 436-4833
Fax 580 436-6622
Press Release: September 1, 2022
For Immediate Release
General Aviation Modifications, Inc. (GAMI) is pleased to announce that we have received the FAA’s Approval of the expansion of our Supplemental Type Certificates on the use of our G100UL High Octane, Unleaded Avgas. The Approved Model List (AML) now covers every spark ignition piston engine and every airframe using a spark ignition piston engine(s) in the FAA’s Type Certificate database.
GAMI has conducted testing and certification of the G100UL under the FAA’s Supplemental Type Certificate Certification Program with a high level of FAA oversight for the past 12+ years. George Braly, GAMI’s co-founder and Head of Engineering said “We’ve been told by the FAA that this is the most thoroughly tested and documented STC that has ever been done at the Wichita Aircraft Certification Office.”
GAMI’s G100UL has many advantages over today’s 100LL.
1. In addition to having “no lead (TEL)” the fuel has equivalent octane performance and can work in even the most demanding high compression ratio and turbocharged engines.
2. The G100UL has no “organometallic additives” or “scavenging agents” and as such burns exceedingly clean similar to today’s unleaded auto fuels. This results in exceptionally clean combustion chambers, free of deposits and materially improving such maintenance headaches like frequent oil and spark plug changes required with today’s leaded fuel.
3. It is fully “miscible” or “fungible” with 100LL in any proportion without loss of properties and approved as such in the wing of an airplane.
4. Being petroleum based, the G100UL can be produced at a large number of refineries or specialty chemical production facilities improving the logistics of delivering this aviation gasoline through the existing infrastructure
5. The G100UL has been tested for its material compatibility and found to be acceptable for use with a wide range of materials. No changes are required of the aircraft or engine other than the application of placards.
6. Operationally, the G100UL is virtually identical to 100LL and actually has a bit more energy (BTUs/gal.) for increased range of the aircraft.
Tim Roehl, President and Co-founder of GAMI said “It’s a great day for GA! Not only can we look forward to a lead free fuel future, the benefits of the G100UL will improve the maintainability and reliability of our engines, enhancing dispatchability and safety!

The SIL, SIL-J-9613-001 Rev. A, covers some of the engine mounts used on our planes, and others.

The FAA has issued SAIB: AIR-22-15 regarding bondline inspections. The document is here and has been added to SB- 195A in the Maintenance Files area of grummanpilots.org.

Impromptu European meeting for 2022

Hi Folks,

This is your European RD with an important message:

As sad as the cancellation of our annual European meeting was we stubborn European breed didn’t want to abstain a third time from meeting friends and agreed on an impromptu meeting instead.

There will be no prior arrangements. No (official) gala dinner. No official bus tour. Nobody has to be afraid of getting the ‚most prestigious safety-award‘ - I think.

Just meeting with friends in a really nice place. I might be talked into giving a guided walk in the beautiful landscape.

When: 1-4.6.2022 (European notation)

Where: EGJB, Guernsey, Channel islands (Hint: very, very cheap fuel - at least to European standards)

As of today there are still plenty of hotels around available albeit it being a long holiday weekend so you better book quick.

Bring your cameras. Did I mention it’s beautiful from the air and on the ground?

If you need more info/help/assistance in planning (Over-water-trip!) just mail or call me.

See you there

Yogi

Grumman GOPA European Director & PFP Instructor

AOPA safety instructor

Mobil +49-178-2634500

Dear Friends,

it is with real sadness that we’ll have to cancel this years convention - again.

Please see Rafal’s mail below for details. This war surely is a real reason for cancelling.

It is up to you if you’ll ask for the proposed refund or if you’d like to donate. Totally up to you, no peer pressure. Please let Rafal know your decision through the convention email: gopa2022krakow@gmail.com

First two years of Covid - now this war.

After trying real hard for three years now and not having received a single application during those three years for a convention proposal I am at a loss if and where we can host another European convention.

My email about a month ago did not trigger a single response from the membership. Not a single one.

If you feel like you could host next years event, please get in contact with me.

Thank you and safe flying to all,

Yogi

European RD of GOPA

 

 

Hi Yogi,

I regret to inform you that we will have to cancel the GOPA 2022 event in Krakow due to the situation in Poland, which due to the war in Ukraine is already difficult and is getting worse.

2.7 million refugees have arrived here, and this number is growing every day, there is a shortage of various goods in shops and we all have additional responsibilities here. In addition, we observe an unprecedented increase in the prices of virtually all goods and services - from food to gasoline, and it certainly exceeds 15-20%. Moreover, we are observing major turbulence - many employees return to Ukraine, there are many bankruptcies and company failures.

The money I received for the meeting via Wise, PayPal and bank transfer will be returned to senders with the proviso that some of them did not send 230 Euro but the equivalent in PLN converted at the time of sending. Currently, this exchange rate is significantly different to their disadvantage.

Participants who have booked a hotel in Krakow are asked to contact the hotel directly in order to cancel the reservation.

 I think that Poland is not the best place for such meetings now, due to these circumstances, their existence was a force majeure.

 Best Regards, Rafał