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A Blast from the Past
by Marvin Johnston 02 Nov '14

02 Nov '14

This happened back in 1996, and shows how Ham Radio helped out a boat in distress: http://pianosb.com/dennis-and-a-ham-radio-rescue/ Marvin, KE6HTS

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U2 Pilot Cliff Beeler
by Marvin Johnston 31 Oct '14

31 Oct '14

Some of you might remember Cliff Beeler since he had an airplane dealership here in Santa Barbara for a while. I found this to be a fascinating story! Marvin > Men like this guy never get any attention in the press, and that's how they prefer it. > Unfortunately, but understandably, not all U-2 pilots survived to tell their stories in their old age. > > > unknown.jpg > GetImage.ashx_1.jpg > > > > > Cliff Beeler was a spy. > He didn’t hang out on shadowy street corners with his trench coat collar obscuring his face. The Air Force major, now retired, spent his snooping time in a plane. > Beeler, 88, of Riverside , was a U-2 pilot at the height of the Cold War. > His missions took him over Russia , Cuba and China , photographing targets from nearly 80,000 feet in the sky. > His planes crashed more than once. He was occasionally targeted by MIG fighters, and he once landed on and took off from an aircraft carrier in the Pacific using only a few feet of the deck. > Beeler, who grew up in Santa Ana and spent most of his retirement in Santa Barbara, is a resident of Air Force Village West, near March Air Reserve Base. Recent back surgery has left him reliant on a walker, but his memories are as vibrant as ever. > He remembers enlisting at 19, learning to fly a P-51 fighter and being on his way to Saipan to get ready for the invasion of Japan . Then the United States dropped its atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki .. > The war was over, and Beeler was sent home. Unlike many of his fellow pilots who left the service, > GetImage.ashx_2.jpg > > GetImage.ashx_3.jpg > Beeler stayed in. He learned to fly the Air Force’s first jets and then trained others to fly them. > Then the U-2 program caught his eye. “I wanted to fly the latest,” he said. > There were never more than 24 pilots in the program, he said. In 1958, he entered the program. He spent seven years flying missions high above the Earth — out of the range of other planes and most other defenses — in the long-winged, lightweight plane. > It was not an easy task, he said. > As a plane climbs in altitude and the air thins, it must go faster to avoid a stall. The higher it climbs, the faster it needs to fly. Above 70,000 feet, the critical stall speed approaches the plane’s Mach speed, or the speed of sound > — somewhere above 650 mph at that altitude. If that barrier is crossed, the shock waves can break the plane apart. U-2 pilots usually had a window of less than 12 mph between the two speeds. They had to keep the plane within that window for hours at a time. > CLOSE CALLS > Beeler learned the hard way what it meant to violate that window. He was above Louisiana on a night flight when he reached Mach speed. > “It tore the tail off,” he said. “The plane flipped over, and that tore the wing off.” > The plane fell apart, he said, and at 78,000 feet, “I’m out in space. That’s a long way down.” > Fortunately, he was in a pressure suit with oxygen and had a parachute. After a long freefall, he opened his chute and found himself floating toward the ground. To his right, he could see lights on the ground. To his left, the same. But beneath him, all was black. > He remembered he was over Louisiana > “I said, ‘That looks like a swamp.’ ” > It was. > “I landed in a big cypress tree,” he said. “My chute got caught and swung me into the trunk.” > Telling the story, Beeler reached down toward his calf, “I always kept a double-bladed knife in my pocket,” he said. He was able to cut himself free of the parachute and use the ties to lash himself to the tree. > He took off his helmet and dropped it into the darkness below. There was a distant splash. > “All I could think about was alligators and cottonmouths in the swamp,” he said. > Lucky for Beeler, the breakup of his plane had been spotted on radar. Within an hour and a half a rescue helicopter was overhead. > Another close call came over Cuba . > Beeler said MIG jets would fly beneath the U-2 planes, at about 50,000 feet. The fighter pilots would sometimes attempt to reach the spy planes by turning on their afterburners and flying straight up, higher than the Mugs were capable of operating effectively. > A Cuban pilot’s effort was particularly memorable, Beeler said. > “I look back and there’s this MIG tumbling about 50 feet off my wing,” he said. The plane was so close that he could see the pilot’s face. > Remembering, Beeler turned his hand cockeyed in front of his face. “His goggles were like this and his face was … ” The sentence ends in a grimace, Beeler’s eyes and mouth wide. “He was sure scared up there.” > Beeler took the U-2 on numerous missions over Cuba , providing information on the country’s armaments and the strength of its air force. Images from U-2 flights, he said, showed that Castro had only a few dozen bombers instead of the more than 400 he had claimed. > At one point, Beeler said, President John F. Kennedy stopped by the U-2 headquarters in Del Rio , Texas , to talk to the pilots. > “He said, ‘You guys gave me information that prevented World War III at least twice,’ ” Beeler said. > AMAZING IMAGES > Sometimes the U-2’s high resolution, long-range camera captured images that had nothing to do with national security. > During one Cuban mission, Beeler spent some time following the coastline. Afterward, he was called into the lab by the man in charge of analyzing the film. > “He showed me a picture of this Cuban gal sunbathing nude on the beach,” Beeler said. “It was so clear I could see she had blue eyes. (The analyst) said, ‘The only film these guys want to work with is your film.’ ” > Returning from another mission, he took some images over San Diego . Later, he was shown a photo of a man sitting in his backyard reading the paper. > “I could read the headline on the newspaper,” he said. > Beeler is semi-famous among pilots for landing his U-2 on an aircraft carrier. The landing followed a mission over northeast Russia . The U-2’s 80-foot wingspan meant it could only go a short distance before it collided with the superstructure of the ship. Because of the ship’s speed and a headwind, Beeler said he was able to touch down and come to a stop in about five feet. > “When I came aboard they had a ceremony welcoming the Air Force into the Navy. I said, ‘I don’t have much I like about the Navy except one thing,’ ” he said. That one thing was the Navy pilots’ leather jackets. Before he left the ship the following day, the captain had given him one.It lasted. > “I gave it to my son last week,” he said. > AFTER THE U-2 > Among the military photos and plaques on the wall of his room is a framed row of medals from his service, including the Distinguished Service Cross.He points to the photo of one plane, a B-46.“It was the God-almighty bomber,” he said. But he declined a chance to fly those planes. > “I didn’t like the mission,” he said. “Go out and drop bombs. I wanted to shoot things up.” > After he left the service, in 1965, Beeler said he worked on the Apollo 5 program for three years. He was in charge of purchasing the equipment for the swing arm on the launch tower, he said. > He spent the next 25 years selling airplanes. He had his own dealership in the Santa Barbara area. > When his wife, Mary, developed Alzheimer’s disease, he retired to take care of her. After five years, he felt he needed help, so he moved with her to Air Force Village West, which has a nursing home on its campus. > “She lasted 11 days after I brought her here,” Beeler said. “I guess I kept her about as long as I could.” > The couple, who were married for 65 years, had two sons. The elder son lives in Corona and comes to see him most days, Beeler said. > For Veterans Day, he said, he doesn’t have any big plans. > “I’ll probably sleep late,” he said. > > unknown_1.jpgunknown_2.jpg

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SB Marathon
by Michael Reynolds, NO6O 31 Oct '14

31 Oct '14

As you may have heard the 5^th Annual Santa Barbara International Marathon is coming up on Saturday, November 8^th .We as Ham Radio Operators have been supporting this event since the start.They have discovered the magic of communication through Ham radio and want more and more radio operators.This event is a tribute to Veterans and will have WWII jeeps on display and will have warbirds fly overs. The event starts at 0700 and is over by noon. It is a big event and I need all the club members (and non-members who are Hams) to help.There should be an event T-shirt for everyone as well. Please contact me at: rickwhtr(a)cox.net <mailto:rickwhtr@cox.net> or call (805) 964-5440 and leave your message. 73 Rick Whitaker KG6VLB

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SBARC bylaws vote and nominees
by Jay Hennigan 18 Oct '14

18 Oct '14

Voting on SBARC's bylaws amendment took place last night. there were 29 YES votes and seven NO votes. The amendment passed with 80.5% of ballots in favor, over the required 2/3. Nominations for officers and directors were opened and remain open. So far we have the following nominations: President/CEO - Jay Hennigan WB6RDV Secretary - Dorothy Oksner K6DSO CFO - Tom Saunders N6YX Directors - vote for 4 - Listed alphabetically by last name Director - Rod Fritz WB9KMO Director - Adam Houser KK6AXY Director - Theo Howe KK6YYZ Director - Brian Milburn K6BPM Director - Jordan Sideris K6YVJ Director - Rick Whitaker KG6VLB Thank you, SBARC's Restructuring and Nominating Committees for their hard work. -- -- Jay Hennigan - CCIE #7880 - Network Engineering - jay(a)impulse.net Impulse Internet Service - http://www.impulse.net/ Your local telephone and internet company - 805 884-6323 - WB6RDV

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Lake Los Carnaros ARDF Practice, October 25
by Marvin Johnston 03 Oct '14

03 Oct '14

The next southern California on-foot transmitter hunting session will be Saturday, October 25 at Lake Los Carneros Park in Goleta. Experts will be on hand to teach the basic techniques of on-foot radio direction-finding (RDF). Bring the kids and grandkids, then go out on the course with them! Besides some easy fox transmitters to help you learn and test your equipment, there will be a beginner-level international-rules course on the two-meter band. An optional 80-meter fox transmitter may also be on the air. The site area is slightly less than 140 acres. It is relatively flat, making it a good site for foxtailers of all skill levels. Full-color orienteering maps will be available. For those who want to build RDF gear for use with their own two-meter hand-held radios or scanners, Marvin will have kits for measuring-tape yagis and active attenuators. Also available is an assembled and tested assembly that includes the power switch, BNC connector, housing and battery, ready to install as the tape measure beam is built. There will be tools and soldering stations for building. If you're not an electronic technician, don't worry because there will be experts to help you. We want you to succeed! Send e-mail to Marvin (marvin(a)west.net) to pre-register and get more information about equipment. The building session will only take place if there are sufficient advance registrations. If you already have equipment and just want to hunt transmitters, you don't need to pre-register. If it takes place, the building session will start at 9:00 AM. Please be prompt. Transmitter hunting will start about 10:00 AM. You may start the courses at any time until 1 PM. Courses close at 3 PM. For those interested, we will meet at a local restaurant after all the transmitters have been picked up for further discussion of ARDF. If you have receivers, scanners, directional antennas, attenuators, or other equipment suitable for on-foot RDF, be sure to bring it. Make sure all batteries are fresh. A limited amount of RDF gear will be available for loan. Directions to Lake Los Carneros (also see map at www.homingin.com): From US 101 about 8 miles west of downtown Santa Barbara, take the Los Carneros Road exit, head north about 1/4 mile and turn right into the Stow House parking lot. There should be plenty of free parking. Look for the orange-and-white orienteering flag. The hunt start will probably be in the parking lot. If that is too crowded, we will move to a nearby picnic area. Ham radio talk-in is on the WB6OBB repeater, 147.000(+) PL 131.8. 73, Joe Moell K0OV

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Found hat
by Jay Hennigan 21 Sep '14

21 Sep '14

This hat was found on a light standard in the parking lot after the September SBARC meeting. If it is yours, please let me know. If unclaimed, Darryl will raffle it off in October. -- Jay Hennigan - CCIE #7880 - Network Engineering - jay(a)impulse.net Impulse Internet Service - http://www.impulse.net/ Your local telephone and internet company - 805 884-6323 - WB6RDV

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Bylaws amendment to be presented this evening
by Jay Hennigan 19 Sep '14

19 Sep '14

SBARC members: As you may recall there was a proposal last year to amend the Club bylaws to change the structure of the Board. This was withdrawn by the Board before a membership vote due to a number of technical issues. This year I appointed a committee to revisit the issue and come up with a method of restructuring the Club management and Board of Directors as well as make some other changes and clarifications as well as improve the wording. This committee has worked hard for some time and produced a proposal to amend the bylaws, making several changes. Their proposal has been approved by the Board with some minor changes made due to Board recommendations. It has also been reviewed by legal counsel. The current bylaws require that any such proposal be presented to the membership at a meeting prior to ratification by the membership. There will be printed copies available this evening. Also attached are both a version showing changes and one showing the new bylaws as proposed. There are two significant changes and a number of minor corrections and additions. • The first significant change is a reduction in the Board size to seven members and the elimination of role-based Board positions. The reason for this is so that the Board, like other corporate boards of directors, can concentrate on policy and long-range planning. The role-based positions will still exist as appointed positions. With this restructuring the role-based managers will have more autonomy in terms of managing day-to-day operations and not be conflicted between the role of a Board member in setting policy and that of a manager in charge of a specific task. • The second significant change is adjusting membership terms to align with the date that a person joins the Club. As it now stands, anyone joining mid-year pays dues for a full year but only benefits for a partial one. We also eliminate the penalty where former members re-joining in the last half of the year were required to pay for a full year. Other minor changes include: • Moving standing committees to Standing Rules so that they can be modified as needed without requiring a bylaws change. • Clarification that any member in good standing may propose an amendment to the bylaws. This has always been the case but the language wasn’t clear. • Changing the title of "Treasurer" to "Chief Financial Officer" to align with current business practice. • Adding “and Chief Executive Officer” to the title of President to align with current business practice. • Moving text regarding election procedures from the "Meetings" to the "Elections" section. • Other minor tweaks to language and capitalization. Both I as President and the Board of Directors ask that you support these changes with a YES vote at the October meeting. -- -- Jay Hennigan - CCIE #7880 - Network Engineering - jay(a)impulse.net Impulse Internet Service - http://www.impulse.net/ Your local telephone and internet company - 805 884-6323 - WB6RDV

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Next ARDF Practice at Bonelli Park on September 27
by Marvin Johnston 19 Sep '14

19 Sep '14

The next southern California ARDF session will be Saturday, September 27, 2014 at Bonelli Regional Park. For beginners, there will be entry-level two-meter fox transmitters, set by Joe Moell K0OV. Once you're proficient at finding these nearby foxes, try the 5-fox two-meter international-rules course of beginner-to-intermediate level, set by Marvin Johnston KE6HTS. One or two optional 80-meter fox transmitters may also be on the air. For those who want to build RDF gear for use with their own two-meter hand-held radios or scanners, Marvin will have kits for measuring-tape yagis and active attenuators. Also available is an assembled and tested assembly that includes the power switch, BNC connector, housing and battery, ready to install as the tape measure beam is built. There will be tools and soldering stations for building. If you're not an electronic technician, don't worry because there will be experts to help you. Send e-mail to Marvin (marvin(a)west.net) to pre-register and get more information about equipment. The building session will only take place if there are sufficient advance registrations. If you already have equipment and just want to hunt transmitters, you don't need to pre-register. If it takes place, the building session will start at 9:30 AM. Please be prompt. Beginner transmitters will be on the air at that time. The main 5-fox hunt will start about 10:30 AM. Hunters may start the courses at any time until 1 PM. Courses close at 3 PM. For the advanced 2-meter course, electronic scoring will be used. If you have an "e-stick," be sure to bring it. A $5 donation is requested for the advanced course to cover expenses related to the use of Los Angeles Orienteering Club's e-punch equipment and maps. The beginner course and the 80-meter transmitter hunt are free of charge and e-punch is not required for them. If you have receivers, scanners, directional antennas, attenuators, or other equipment suitable for on-foot RDF, be sure to bring it. Make sure all batteries are fresh. A limited amount of RDF gear will be available for loan. Trails are primitive in some areas of the park, so wear sturdy shoes. All ages are welcome, but young children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Bonelli Regional Park is near Raging Waters, Brackett Field, and Puddingstone Reservoir. From the 57/210 freeways, take the Via Verde exit and go east through the entrance to the park. (See map at www.homingin.com) There is a per-vehicle entry fee. Go approximately 1/4 mile beyond the entrance and turn left into the parking lot for the Snack Shoppe (formerly the bike rental stand). Look for the orange-and-white orienteering flag directing you to the starting area. Talk-in is on 146.52 MHz simplex. 73, Joe Moell K0OV

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SBARC is the EdHat featured non-profit this week.
by Jay Hennigan 15 Sep '14

15 Sep '14

Check this out: http://www.edhat.com/site/tidbit.cfm?nid=140316 I believe thanks to K6DSO are in order. -- -- Jay Hennigan - CCIE #7880 - Network Engineering - jay(a)impulse.net Impulse Internet Service - http://www.impulse.net/ Your local telephone and internet company - 805 884-6323 - WB6RDV

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Please Write Your Congressperson Regarding HR4969 ASAP
by Marvin Johnston 12 Aug '14

12 Aug '14

Please Write Your Congressperson Regarding HR4969 ASAP A significant and growing number of Amateur Radio operators living outside the protection of PRB-1, the Federal law that provides limited preemption of state and local antenna zoning ordinances, are unable to install even the most modest of outside antennas. They are effectively precluded from using their license privileges at home because PRB-1 does not extend to private deed restrictions, such as CC&Rs and HOA rules. In much of our Division and elsewhere, finding housing near work, schools and medical care without such deed restrictions is increasingly difficult if not impossible to find. An ARRL-sponsored bill now up for consideration in the U.S. House of Representatives, HR4969, would, if passed, direct the FCC to extend the reasonable-accommodation protections of PRB-1 to these Amateurs. Like PRB-1, HR 4969 would not give Amateurs the right to put up whatever they wish. It would simply require HOAs and other private land use regulations to extend reasonable accommodation to Amateurs wishing to erect antennas. As is the case under PRB-1, what constitutes reasonable accommodation will vary on a case-by-case basis. We have a very short time window to secure the benefits of this legislation, and we need every licensed Amateur, whether or not an ARRL member, to help by asking his Representative to support and co-sponsor this bill. You can find a sample letter that you can customize or send as is, adding just your Representative’s name and your own name and address, on the ARRL Web site. Just click on the HR4969 banner on the home page; then expand the “How Can I Help” section and click on the link to the sample letter. Other sections on the same Web page will help you find your Congressperson’s name and an ARRL address to send your letters for hand-delivery to your Representative’s office. You’ll also find talking points and other information on the same page. If you can obtain an appointment to meet the Representative or his / her staff locally during the August Recess, please let Vice-Director Marty Woll N6VI (n6vi(a)arrl.org) or me (n6aa(a)arrl.org) know, and one of us will try to accompany you to such an appointment and help you prepare for it. Your letters will also help open the doors for possible office visits by ARRL officials in DC during the final pre-election Congressional sessions in September. When you send your letter, please take an extra moment to send Vice-Director Woll either an electronic copy or a short note indicating that it has been sent and stating your Congressional district or Representative’s name. If your Representative accepts e-mail input from constituents, you can use that in addition to (but not in place of) a printed letter. Put your ZIP code in the header and indicate the subject as “Telecommunications – Please Co-Sponsor HR4969.” You can add the text of your written letter in the body of this e-mail message. -------------------------------------------------------------------- ARRL Southwestern Division Director: Richard J Norton, N6AA n6aa(a)arrl.org --------------------------------------------------------------------

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