Rocky Mountain Chapter – VHPA

A meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 11, for any and all those interested in the next round of enhancements to the RMC-VHPA Helicopter War Museum.  The meeting will begin at 10:00 am, at an office building in Golden at 1600 Jackson Street, Suite 160.  This location is just a few blocks south of downtown Golden, on Jackson Street (one-way south out of town) across from the Burger King.

Focus of the meeting will be on designing and building the Huey interactive ½ cockpit, but will also include discussion about other improvements that can be made to freshen up the exhibits and display surfaces.

For the Huey ½ cockpit, we already have an armored seat, collective, cyclic, pedals, and instrument panel.  Beaver is working to complete a repair detail on the collective and has replaced the webbing on the seat frame.  Robie repaired the broken cyclic grip.  Bergdahl donated an altimeter and a turn-and-slip gauge for the instrument panel.  We hope to have the simulated cockpit ready for the first setup location this summer and expect the kids especially to enjoy the moveable controls.  It will be a great way to explain what its like to control a helicopter in flight.  We’ll need a helmet with inside padding to fit small heads.  Future additions to the cockpit could include the center consol, the overhead switch control panel, the rear troop seat from in front of the transmission bulkhead, start-up and in-flight sound, recorded CA radio chatter for the helmet earphones, front video panel to show VN action shot thru the front window, and maybe even a section of the nose fuselage and roof.

Please join in.  Many hands make light work, and more ideas will make a better display.

The meeting will adjourn to the Blue Canyon Grill around noon for burgers and beer.  We may even head on over to the museum trailer (in Golden) after eating to check things out.

Bill Robie

DRAFT MEETING MINUTES

February 20, 2010

ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHAPTER

VIETNAM HELICOPTER PILOTS ASSOCIATION

President Elect Walt Wise called the meeting to order at 1010 at American Legion Post Number 1. Present were Hal Bergdahl, Rick Beaver, Doug Niel, Bill Robie, Bob Simms, John Hargleroad and yours truly Ed Fickes, who acted as secretary.

Minutes and Treasurer’s Report. January meeting minutes were approved as posted on the website. In the absence of Tres – Jim McNamee, there was no Treasurer’s report. Dues of $20 were collected from Hal Bergdahl…Rick Beaver purchased a VHPA polo shirt of $18 and made a $2.00 donation and $2.00 in ‘welcome home’ bracelet sales at Legion Post #1 were accounted for and will be deposited by Ed Fickes next week along with a check for at model sale at the Greeley Airport.

Walt reminded all that if they do not have a VA Service agent working on their behalf – they should get one soon…also that he expect the government to be looking at VA and retired military benefits and healthcare as a way to make their programs work.

A long discussion was had on membership – more directly new/renewed membership and how we can continue to grow. The thought being we could become more inclusive and not limited as currently to VN pilot’s and crewmembers. The general consensus was that we should hold a summer “Open House”, BBQ if you will and invite all those associated with [‘Combat’, ‘Helicopter’, ‘Service’], hereafter called the “Associated Group’…It was suggested that Contact be made to Don Rice as to the date and availability of the Leprino Hanger for this. (Ed Fickes will contact Don). Once a date has been set and selected – invites will be made to all members of organizations and individuals, who would qualify to become part  of the “Associated Group” and their spouses. We would hope to obtain RSVP’s for such an event and charge only members and accept donations from other attendees.

Helicopter War Museum Committee. Robie reminded all that the HWM improvement committee is scheduled to meet March 11^th in Golden…notice to be sent out via yahoo group.

Bill Robie updated on the status of the future of ‘Model Sales’, as a source of fund raising…with the new ownership of the model distributorship the costs of model to us may become prohibited and/or we may be able to pre-purchase ‘lots’ of models, say 25 – 50 at a cost allowing us to resell at a respectable profit.

Mention was made of the expense of certain events at the upcoming 2010 VHPA Reunion in San Diego – regardless a show of hands indicated 7 of the 8 members present plan to attend.

The March 20^th meeting will be held at the American Legion Post #1 at I-25 & Yale.

The meeting was adjourned at 1115.

Respectfully submitted,

Ed Fickes, Acting Secretary