The March 4 chapter meeting was one of the best attended in recent memory. The next meeting is April 1, and chapter member John Schuler will discuss recording your flights with on-board video equipment.
A reminder the breakfast 4/15 will also be our Open Hangar day for pilots based at 3MY. We'll need several members on hand to greet and show around visiting pilots.
Tentatively, we have something new in the works for a May meeting. This will be a joint chapter meeting with Bloomington, Havana, Pekin, and Canton. Bloomington has offered to host this first annual joint meeting. They've suggested their annual pot-luck, on Thursday May 18; however, one of the longer, summer days might be better. More details will presented when they are known.
Youth Programs
At the March meeting, only two kids had fulfilled the registration requirements for membership in our Aviation Explorer Post. We have, then, failed to meet the minimums required by the Scouts and must fold the Post for this year. We will, though, try again in the fall. The new coordinator at the local Council seems interested in actually helping with recruiting, and one of the two kids we had to turn away thinks he can get a few more kids from Dunlap high school to join.
We went on to finish the March meeting. Both kids enjoyed the enthusiastic presentation by Tom O'Toole on flying for FedEx as well as Dewey Fitch's talk on a dual career, industry combined with service in the Air Guard. Joe Ernst talked about the ups and downs of his daughter's path in becoming an ATP over the last few years. Thank you to all three presenters for their time.
A letter had been drafted to the Bede Family Foundation applying for one of their free BD-6 kits, for the Explorer Post to work on. This will be held until we again have a Post.
Both AOPA and EAA are accepting applications for "scholarships" to fund flight training for youth age 16 or older. Pass the word.
Treasury
Expenses are about even, but it appears the breakfast is not meeting costs and will be examined more closely.
IMC Club
Kent Lynch (251-1998), has announced the first meeting:
There has been enough interest in forming an IMC Club in the chapter to schedule a first meeting on Monday April 17, 2017 at 9:00 AM in the chapter hangar. This is an EAA supported club to allow members to learn more about IFR procedures and processes. Anyone with interest is invited to attend. The first meeting will primarily set expectations and areas of study that are of interest to members.
Donations
Greg notes the following items are for sale at the hangar. You can make an offer before they go to eBay:
Numerous C182 Parts including Windshield new in box
Stratus 1 with case and antenna disk
Barnstormer style goggles
hand held "mic"
ELT 121.5, current battery
Stainless steel deep fryer with burner, all new (this lists for $125) but no gas tank
Hangar
Greg also filed a report on what's new in the hangar:
Ron Wright is waiting for a new engine for the Gray UL.
Ron Vice just installed a new radio and battery in the Sky Coupe.
Rich Gilbert is installing a variable pitch propeller for the Glassair.
Marty Martin has the inspection done, waiting for sign off and is installing wheel pants on his C-172.
Greg LePine has the following covered in aluminum on his half scale F4U project: entire tail, belly, left and right rear fuselage sides. (A special thanks to Bill Larson for advice on keeping it light and simple.)
Morrie Caudill had the Onex inside for a show and tell for the Explorer Post.
Tim Threw finished his inspection and added a canopy extension to his RV-7.
And you all thought all we do is sit around drinking coffee and eating cookies.
Dave Fox, our Alaska pilot, will be looking for a small house north of 3MY, so if you have a good realtor or know of someone who wants to sell their house, let Dave know. (907)830-6596 (can receive texts).
The hangar is quite busy right now, and a panorama follows (please forgive my photo editing skills):
Hangar panorama in mid March
National
Headquarters has announced the Weekend Work Parties in preparation for this year's Oshkosh fly-in.
Other
Morrie forwarded a letter from the FAA noting that many parts built by Ameri-King are not legal to use in a certified airplane. Both their TSOA and PMA were pulled in late 2015.
Volunteers
A message from the President (not the orange haired one):
We are in need of a Breakfast Committee person or TEAM. Its time for someone to step up to the plate and run this as a Team Leader. Its simple, one must be well organized and willing to set up, cook, serve, and cleanup cooking items. Know how to cook scrambled eggs, pancakes, sausage, and make coffee. Groceries will be provided so you don't have to fret about that. Work hours are 07:15A to 09:30 every 1st and 3rd Saturday every month. Apply to Greg LePine with your willingness to run this team, time is running out, apply now.
Members
Currently we have 47 members for 2017.
Airport
3MY
This just looks like a bad idea.
Driving near the hangar, Greg LePine stopped to snap a few pictures of a helicopter tree trimmer parked just off the apron. Brief videos on YouTube such as this one, or with a little more detail this one, demonstrate how it works.
PIA
(Nothing to report from the most recent PIA board meeting.)
