Our meeting this month (Wed, Feb 17th) is at BSAEC (Bert Sisler Aviation Education Center, our chapter hangar) at Airlake – the grill will be on at 6pm as usual – please bring something to share, meeting at 7pm. Directions and program are on page 3.

Please note that we may have an extra large crowd this month, as Ben McQuillan will be presenting a Wing’s Safety Seminar on engine problems on takeoff and recent changes at FCM. The public is invited, and the seminar will start at 7:30pm after a brief chapter meeting. We’ll have membership forms and extra newsletters set out for visitors. Please welcome them.

Check with Bill Brown if you are thinking about volunteering for young eagles on Feb 20th – we may not have kids to fly this month. John Koser is still planning on a board meeting on the 20th, with the time to be determined.

from On Final April 2005

Chapter 25 has awarded its EAA Aircamp scholarship for 2005 to Noah Lorsung of Washburn High. Noah is shown with instructor Peter Denny in the photo to the left. Noah is 17, and is enrolled in Algebra2/ Trig, AP US History, Spanish I, Aviation Construction, AP Chemistry, and English 11.

Q: Why would you like to be selected for this experience?
A: I would like to be selected because I am in my junior year of high school and I would like to get to know the industry better, so I can make choices about colleges and my future. I would also like to learn more about experimental aircraft.

Q: What would you gain from this experience?
A: I would gain more than just bragging rights; I would be able to make a life altering decision: college. I would be able to enlighten my peers on the pros and cons of the industry, and I would be able to spread the word.

Q: What would it be like to meet other young people from all over America at this camp?
A: It would be very cool, especially if they were into experimental aircraft and could enlighten me with their knowledge. I think ti would be very neat if I could meet and discuss our progress (on the Sonex) with another student my age, or thereabouts.

Q: What is it that makes you passionate about aviation?
A: Two words: Mr. Denny. He has elevated my love for aviation to a new height. Before I had his classes I was nowhere as near informed about aviation and the atmosphere revolving around it.

from On Final May 2005

Pilots Pat Halligan, Don Eide, Gary Rosch, and Harvey Havir flew thirty Boys’ and Girls’ Club members on Friday, 8 April. Ground support was provided by Jon Cumpton, his wife, Suzanne, John Koser, and Ron Oehler.

Franco Fiorillo, the new operator at Aircraft Resource Center, welcomed the group and offered to be supportive of future Young Eagle projects, fly-ins, or other Chapter 25 activities.

Jon boarded the bus as the group arrived at 1:00 PM, and explained the procedures. As they a r r ived, the youngsters were assigned to pilots and escorted to their respective planes. Others were taken to Jon Cumpton’s Citabria, where they underwent a short ground school orientation.

Photos were taken as aircraft returned to the FBO, and Certific a t e s we r e awarded at the end of the afternoon as students returned with their counselor.

This was an active group with lots of diverse interests, but our pilots and ground crew made the afternoon a meaningful one for the youngsters.

This group was with us last year for a Young Eagle rally, and we’ll probably be welcoming them again next year. The images will provide impressions of a bunch of happy kids after their flying experiences.

A wonderful response was made by one boy, who, after landing, repeated several times, “I got to fly the plane! I got to fly the plane! I got to fly the plane!”

from On Final March 2005

On Feb 19th, we flew 12 students from Peter Denny’s “Sonex Technicians” class at Washburn HS. Pilots were Don Eide, Gary Rosch, Pat Halligan, Dan Carroll, and Norm Tesmar. Jeff Coffey, Bill Brown, Mike Dolan and myself served as ground crew. Bill Brown demonstrated his Sonex by doing takeoffs, low passes, and by flying alongside Don Eide so the kids could see a Sonex in flight.

I took about a half dozen of the students to our hangar so they could see the finished Sonex airplanes built and owned by Jeff and myself. Several parents also went along. The students were most appreciative, as were their parents.

On Mar 5th, Pat Halligan flew 5 more young eagles in conjunction with the annual chili feed.

Our next young eagle events are planned for Mar 19th and Apr 16th, when a scout group is planned. If you would like to volunteer, please contact myself or Jeff Coffey.

from On Final November 2004Again, Chapter 25 shines in keeping the Young Eagles events going! On October 16th, we had a small but determined turnout. Pilots Mark Kolesar, Don Eide, and Pete Gavin flew 14 Young Eagles, assisted by a ground crew of Bill Brown, Jeff Coffey, Ron Oehler, and Jon Cumpton.

Winds were 15+ knots @ 290, but fairly steady. Temps were below 40°F, so we kept the hangar door closed and enjoyed the heat. Parents and Cub Scout leaders brought their charges, and were verbally appreciative of the chance for their kids to get airplane rides. As usual, Mark, Don, and Pete did an outstanding job of educating their young passengers and answering their questions.

Chapter 25 has at least nine pilots with ten or more Young Eagle rides to their credit so far in 2004. At least thirteen members have been involved in ground support of Young Eagle flights. As a chapter, we are fortunate to have these members so dedicated to the cause of making this opportunity available to young people. Let’s hope we can increase our participation in the future, and maintain our third Saturday Eagle Flights if November and December weather allow it. We will try to schedule those dates at the FBO if we can.

If you know of, or have children or grandchildren in organizations that might contact us for Young Eagle rides, especially in November and December; please pass on the information to Jon Cumpton, Jeff Coffey, or John Koser. And to all volunteers, congratulations on reaching 250 in 2004!

from On Final October 2004

The last few weeks have been busy with Young Eagles activity. First, at our regular TSOM (third Saturday of the month) on September 18th, we flew 72 Young Eagles from the chapter hangar at Airlake. This group of kids consisted of Boy Scouts from Apple Valley and Cub Scouts from Packs 8 and 371. Our pilots for this event included Pat Halligan, Harvey Havir, Pete Gavin, Frank Hanish and Mark Kolesar. These guys were really truckin! They each flew from 12 to 18 kids in the space of a few hours! With this big a crowd, the ground crew was also extremely important. Thanks to Bill Brown, Jeff Coffey, Lee Hurry, Ron Oehler, John Perry, and Dick Reinke. Ron¹s computer printer was really smoking on that day!

On October 2nd, we conducted the second annual Young Eagles rally at New Richmond Regional Airport. Once again Pat, Frank and Mark flew again, joined this time by Don Eide, who claimed that Pat only found the airport by following him over from Airlake. We were joined by two local pilots ­ Dave Nelson and Al Kupferschmidt ­ and flew 48 kids in about two and a half hours. It was another beautiful flying day, despite frost on the pumpkin in the morning and some wind. Response from the New Richmond community has been very positive in the past two years. We have flown 125 children in two events, and the parents and kids really appreciate our efforts. Next up is our TSOM event on October 16th at the chapter hangar. We hope to see you there.