Monday, March 5, 2012

Funeral Arrangements for Sheryl Riney

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Received from Northridge this morning:

Dear Northridge Friends,

Here is the information as we have it for Sheryl Riney’s service:

There will be a viewing with the family on Wednesday evening at Broadway Mortuary, 1147 S. Broadway. The time has not yet been set, but we will inform you as soon as we know.

The Memorial Service will be Thursday morning at 10:30 at Eastminster Prestyberian Church, 1958 N. Webb Road. Participants will include Steve Dickey from Eastminster, Michelle Henderson, Earnest Alexander, Jim Smith from Friends University, and Ben Staley.

The Graveside Service will follow the Memorial Service at Kensington Gardens, 11500 E. 21st Street. There will be a luncheon for the family here at Northridge following the graveside.

Please continue to lift Doug & Paul, Cecil & Verna, Kevin & Michelle and their children, as well as Cheryl’s family in your prayers during this difficult time and the times to come.

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Sheryl Riney passes from this world to heaven UPDATED

FUNERAL NEWS:  We have just received word that Sheryl's funeral is to be at 10:30 on Thursday at Eastminster Presbyterian Church in Wichita, KS.  Double check with other sources... 

Sheryl Riney was Presiding Clerk of Northridge Friends Church, where I am assistant Presiding Clerk.  She was 52 years old, and died unexpectedly earlier this Saturday afternoon.  She is a dear friend of my wife and I.

Here is a very old picture of Sheryl, from 1987 (?) found on Facebook.

Sheryl Riney

Katie Henderson posted this recent photo on her Facebook:

Katie Henderson and Sheryl Riney

Katie wrote the most moving words, describing her stunned feelings upon hearing of her Aunt's death -- and much more about Sheryl.  You can read it on Katie's Facebook -- it is a 'must read'.

The Church posted this notice:

Dearest Family of Northridge Friends,

It is with very deep grief that I explain to you that Sheryl Riney surrendered her eternal presence into the hands of the Lord early this afternoon. For several days she has been seeking medical treatment in dealing with symptoms of a blood clot, yet without a complete diagnosis. At this writing word is that a blood clot lodged in her lungs and caused a fatal heart attack. She passed from this life to the next at around 1:30 this afternoon. 

Please pause throughout this evening and pray earnestly for Doug and Paul, Cecil and Verna, Kevin and Michelle, their families, Sheryl’s mother and siblings. Sunday Service Schedule: The Sunday evening business meeting has been indefinitely postponed. Normal service times of 9:15 and 10:45 will be observed Sunday morning. Both will be abbreviated in time. Some general announcement, words of comfort and directed prayer will lead both services at 9:15 and at 10:45. Following there will be an open-ended time of un-programmed prayer and soft music. The 10:45 fellowship time will be moved to the sanctuary for a come-and-go time of quiet prayer and reflection. Adult Sunday School classes may individually choose their participation. 

This is a time for our church to gather at the foot of the cross of Christ. He came that we might have life, and live it to the fullest. Sheryl Riney lived it to the fullest for the years she was granted. The tragedy is that she could have enjoyed 40 more so easily. Pray for one another. 

Yours, Larry Kinser

Monday, February 20, 2012

Flaperon Build Manual Update

Please note: James' blog has moved to a Wordpress site. To access it, please visit http://jameswiebe.wordpress.com/. All posts have been transferred to the new site, and all new posts will only be accessible via Wordpress. Thank you for your interest!


Everyone is interested in reducing build time and building a better product.  I've been able to do that with flaperons, used on our Belite ultralight aircraft.  The time required to build a flaperon structure is now down to less than four hours per flaperon!

This assumes an easy to build wooden jig, which will hold all the ribs in place.

This is an update over our earlier manual, published just a few weeks ago.

These techniques may be applicable to building control surfaces (elevator, rudder, stabilizer, etc.) on your favorite ultralight aircraft.

At Belite Aircraft, here's how we do it.

Table of Contents
Section A.  Specifications. 2
Section B.  Materials. 3
Section C. Preparation. 5
Section D: Build Jig; Test Fit Ribs and Bushing/Droppers. 6
Section E: Glue the Main Spar. 8
Section F:  Glue the Leading Edge, False Ribs. 9
Section G: Balsa Parts. 11
Section H: Trailing Edge. 13
Section I: Trim aluminum placement. 17
Section J:  Trim and sand glue. 17
Section K:  Apply sealant to wood. 18
Section L: Covering. 19
Section M:  Check Fit to wing assembly; install control horns. 19


Figure 1.  Completed Flaperon on an ultralight plane.
  

Sunday, February 12, 2012

MythBusters and Australia

Please note: James' blog has moved to a Wordpress site. To access it, please visit http://jameswiebe.wordpress.com/. All posts have been transferred to the new site, and all new posts will only be accessible via Wordpress. Thank you for your interest!


It's time for another MythBusters moment for Belite Aircraft!

Airing in Australia today -- "Duct Tape Plane" featuring Belite Aircraft!

We've developed a great contact in Australia helping us represent our aircraft -- Peter Harlow @ Silverwings Aircraft.

I so enjoyed my time with Kari, Grant and Tory at MythBusters.  I thought you'd like a few more MythBusters pics.

Many people don't realize that the airplane I used for this episode had our base 28HP engine.  It looks like and performs like it had a lot more HP, but it didn't.  Credit our great wing, light design, and awesome 'real' airplane characteristics. 

Belite's Ultralight Aircraft at MythBusters.

Another thing that is hard to appreciate is just how much time it takes to make good television.  This particular episode took the better part of 3 weeks to film.  I wasn't even there during the last week of filming.

Grant, Kari and Tory work on the Belite ultralight aircraft, after some duct tape has been applied.



The attention usually goes to the hosts, but there are lots of folks behind the scenes who make it happen.  Each episode needs a producer, a director, at least two cameramen, a soundman, and more.  Then there's the outside riff-raff (like me) who help facilitate.

The first camerman sprints away from Tory and Grant
Since I had my experience at MythBusters, they've had quite a bit more fun.  And an accident (or two.)  The same trio I worked with (Grant, Tory, Kari) where the ones who sent a cannonball very accidently through a house near the Alameda bomb range.  Not Jamie or Adam.

Speaking of Jamie & Adam, I never had the pleasure of meeting them.  We were given a very nice tour through their facility before they showed up.  I suspect they are slightly tired of the fan attention.

My shop manager, Gene, was able to join me at MythBusters as well.  He helped ensure that everything was put together correctly, and got to help and observe in several different ways.  I couldn't do Belite without Gene, and I appreciate him deeply.

Here's Gene, sitting in the airplane.  The plane appears to be missing its wings in this shot:

Gene in a Belite Ultralight Aircraft at MythBusters


One reason our plane has been so successful is because the wings fold easily.  When Kari found out how easily the wings folded, she started dancing spontaneously, while Grant, Tory (and producer Eric Haven) looked on:
Kari Byron dances by Belite Ultralight Airplane

I hope you enjoy the episode, "Duct Tape Plane", on MythBusters.