EAA Chapter 25

Bert Sisler has been honored by Chapter 25. The Chapter has named it’s airplane hangar at Airlake Airport the “Bert Sisler Aviation Education Center”. Sisler, whose aviation career spans over 65 years, was recognized because of his continuing contributions to aviation and the education of others in the field. A ceremony took place in Lakeville, Minnesota on June 21st.

In the attached photo, Bert (second from right) stands with his family in front of one of the airplanes he designed – the Cygnet.

To understand the reasons for this honor, one only needs to look at Bert’s biography. He was born in 1923 in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Like many of his generation, he first was intrigued by barnstormers visiting his small town, and began by building crude airplane models, earning money by doing chores at the airfield, and learning to fly before World War II.

He then became an Army Air Force pilot, flying B-25’s and P-61’s among others. He continued in the Air Force Reserves after the war while he completed college flying AT6’s, Twin Beeches, and P-51’s. Training as an engineer, he then started his career as an airline pilot.

Working as a draftsman to support his family, he would scurry out to the field when Northwest Airlines needed his services as a reserve pilot. Thus started his airline career through DC-3, DC-4, B-727,B-707, DC-10, and finally B-747.

Meanwhile, in the mid-fifties, he and a small group of friends who loved airplanes and building things started work on a Stits Playboy, and along the way they formed the 1st EAA Chapter (25) in Minneapolis. Bert was the 1st President too. When he and another member completed the Playboy, Bert went on to design, build and fly three different airplanes – the Pipit, the Whistler, and the Cygnet. The Cygnet was also sold and bought back – and Bert restored it for his son to fly. Bert restored (Culver Cadet, Piper Clipper, and Piper Pacer) and advised others on restoring various airplanes.

When he gave up the Chapter 25 presidency, he served as a technical advisor to the chapter for decades and still advises chapter members building airplanes today. Go to Bert’s house and he will show you a plans and mock-ups of his latest design, the Sisler Six Pac, a three-engine, six-place airplane. He also has built a quarter-scale model of the airplane, which now hangs from the ceiling of the chapter hangar.

Go to a Young Eagles event and find Bert working as ground crew. Chapter 25 took stewardship of “The Gusty”, a historic homebuilt. The parts were restored, but then the project languished. Guess who volunteered to organize a small group to complete the restoration, and worked many Saturday mornings to finish it? The completed Gusty was the subject of an article in Sport Aviation , and now also hangs from the ceiling of the Chapter 25 hangar.

After receiving this honor from his fellow aviation ethusiasts, Bert said, “Thanks for the kind words and the recognition. However, I feel like I have received more than I have given”

According to Jeff Nawrocki, MAC’s manager responsible for Airlake, MAC is moving closer to developing the southwest side of the airport. To avoid further delays in the process, MAC will not include sewer and water. Thus, the arrangement will be like the existing hangar area, and will include hydrants for fire protection. Jeff says that MAC is hopeful development will start next year, and that they will use a private developer or developers as has been the case recently with Flying Cloud and Anoka. After hangars are built, generally using standard sizes, the developer will transfer the leases to MAC and tenant. The developer will also be responsible for alleyways and roads.

Those who wish to remain on the waiting list for hangars will be expected to make a $500 deposit to keep their name on the list. The deposit is refundable with interest if MAC fails to develop the site by the end of five years.

Jeff also tells us that plans to build a public restroom and 60 x 60 airplane wash pad near the existing hangars is on track to be completed this year.

Jeff encourages all interested people to contact him if they have questions or comments. Reach him at (763) 537-2058 or email him at jnawrock@mspmac.org. Jeff will also join usfor our June 18^th meeting at the chapter hangar.

Charles Peter “Chuck” Doyle was born to be a pilot and stunt man. Impressed with Charles Lindbergh’s 1927 solo flight to Europe, Doyle talked his father into taking him to the Minneapolis Airport where he was given an air ride in a Navy trainer. In his teens, Doyle owned a Harley Davidson motorcycle and cut classes at Washburn High School to ride to the airport and hang out. In the summer after his junior year, he offered to trade the motorcycle for flying lessons, but instead was given work helping to rebuild airplanes. He soloed in an airplane that summer and borrowed money to purchase his own Travel Air biplane. During the 1933 fall homecoming football game at the high school, Doyle buzzed the field and was promptly dismissed from school. He would finally graduate from Washburn in a colorful 2002 ceremony!

At the airport, Doyle earned a living working on airplanes, selling tickets for barnstormers, and performing daredevil stunts. In 1935, Doyle made his first parachute jump at the Minnesota State Fair and towed his first aerial banner for Griffith Shoe Polish. He had learned the fine art of skywriting from local veterans and rigged his plane to fulfill local Pepsi Cola assignments. In addition to the flying, Doyle also began to take part in other thrill show events at fairs and celebrations across the country, performing such stunts as driving his motorcycle through burning board walls, head-on auto crashes, crashing airplanes through ‘houses’ built within fairgrounds, as well as climbing from his speeding motorcycle to an airplane by means of a rope ladder hung from the airplane. He used his motorcycle and ramps to jump over cars long before Evel Knievel was born. Despite the spectacular lifestyle, Doyle was never injured.

During WWII, Doyle worked briefly for Northwestern Aeronautical Corporation in St. Paul, building gliders that were used by the Army to land troops behind enemy lines. In 1942, despite having no college education, he was hired by Northwest Airlines in January of 1942 after Pearl Harbor as a training instructor and taught at Rochester, Minnesota. When Northwest was contracted by the Army Air Transport Command, he was assigned to fly Northwest transports in Alaska, making flights as far out as the Aleutian Islands.

Following the war, Doyle bought war surplus aircraft, flying, restoring and racing them at Reno, Nevada. Many of his airplanes found their way into museums, including three in the Air Force Museum at Dayton, Ohio, and a Curtiss Pusher aircraft that hangs in the MSP Airport’s Lindbergh terminal. Doyle’s airline career with Northwest continued until his retirement at age 60 in 1976 after 34 years, but his flying career wasn’t over. From his home airstrip in Apple Valley, Doyle continued to sky-write and tow banners. The airstrip’s signboard heralded “UFOs Welcome.“ He owned and flew dozens of aircraft and had his hand in many Minnesota aviation projects, including the publishing of a Minnesota aviation history book. When the City of Apple Valley condemned his property for highway right-of-way, Doyle moved his planes to Fleming Field South St. Paul MN.

He knew everybody in aviation and lived flying and restoring airplanes every day of his life. Both sons, Chuck Jr. and Brian, were taught to learn to fly by their father and are pilots and continue the family’s tradition for the love of aviation. Daughter Shannon would fly only with her father but respects their love for flying.

In 1992 He was inducted into the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame, in 1996 the OX-5 Hall of Fame, and in 2003 Warbird Hall of Fame. Chuck was a member and supporter of many other fine aviation organizations, including EAA Chapter 25. Chuck Doyle is survived by two sons, one daughter and four grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held Friday, May 2nd, 11:00 AM at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 12650 Johnny Cake Ridge Rd., Apple Valley, MN, with a gathering of family & friends one hour before the service. Private family interment at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery.

Our April 16th chapter meeting was held at SteinAir in Farmington, Minnesota. Stein Bruch and his associates build custom aircraft panels, supply a variety of avionics equipment for experimental aircraft, and advise builders of RV’s. Sharon Sandberg of All Star Warbirds also joined us to talk about some of their latest embroidery products. SteinAir’s facility — at 21170 Eaton Ave in Farmington is a short distance north and east of Airlake AIrport.

Stein started with several other former NWA mechanics in the business several years ago. Now they have 18 employees, who spend the majority of their time building panels for experimental aircraft — especially RV’s. According to Stein, most of the panels incorporate glass screens, and some can take up to a month to complete. SteinAir also does work on certificated aircraft panels, but they get most of their work from new experimental builders, or experimentals that need their panels redone because of amateur work.

SteinAir has also become one of our newsletter sponsors, which we greatly appreciate.

Once again, EAA is beginning preparations of the grounds for Airventure 2008 in Oshkosh. EAA headquarters has invited our chapter members to come to Oshkosh and participate in a Weekend Work Party. Work party weekends will be held May 17-18, May 31-June 1, June 21-22, June 28-29, July 12-13, and July 19-20.

Preparation for Airventure would be impossible without the significant assistance of volunteers. Tasks at these weekends vary, but include carpentry, grass cutting, painting, general maintenance, cleaning, gardening, etc. Volunteers are provided accommodations in the bunkhouse for the weekend as well as meals in the volunteer kitchen.

Several weekends also have special Saturday Evening Programs scheduled:

May 31st — Tour of the Air Academy Lodge and Ice Cream Social

June 21st — Sonex Aircraft, Inc

July 12th — Visit with Paul Poberezny at the Aeroplane Factory

If you are interested in participating, please contact Jon Cumpton by April 23rd.

More than a dozen dedicated chapter members showed up at the chapter hangar Saturday morning, April 5th, for a long overdue spring cleaning. The assembled group picked up everything in the building, wiped or vacuumed under it, then put everything back — minus a large pile of junk that mostly fit in the chapter president’s pickup. Thanks to everyone who helped out!