EAA Chapter 563 News
September 2020
Chapter
For this weekend, we had scheduled a free fly-in lunch, offered to the six nearest EAA chapters. While initial response was decent, little to no interest was shown by last weekend, and the lunch has been cancelled. We'll try again next year.
Youth Programs
Eliza Fletcher with Dennis Taft, her examiner
Congratulations to Eliza Fletcher, who received our chapter's 2020 Ray Scholarship and earned her Private Pilot on 8/17, just before leaving for college at SIU. The day after, she sent along a note to the chapter:
Hi everyone! Well, summer has just come to an end for me, and I am very pleased to say that I have passed my private pilot check ride! It has been a lot of hard work, but I'd say it "flew" by. I know for a fact that I could not have achieved this goal without the financial support of the EAA. I was very lucky and honored to have been able to participate in the Ray Aviation Scholarship. While at points I felt like I took the scholarship for granted, I believe that every cent was used to improve my understanding and appreciation of aviation. Above all, this program has made me realize how much I truly love this field. I met so many people, went so many places, learned more in two months than I ever thought was possible, and quite honestly, I am very sad it has to come to an end! I am headed down to Southern Illinois this week to begin school at SIUC, and I really don't know what to expect. All I know is that the hard work and dedication I chose to put forth this summer has prepared me greatly for my journeys ahead. I am very grateful for the support of the EAA and all its members, and I will forever remember all the memories made this summer!
Sincerely,
The newest private pilot, Eliza Fletcher
Rob Meyer, who manages the program at our chapter, wrote: "She needed encouragement along the way and she had a very dedicated instructor in Sam Neff (at Bradley Flying), but she hit it very hard and she accomplished the goal in record time. She has 50 hours of instruction flying in the last 9 weeks." Eliza used all her Ray Scholarship money along the way.
There were two runners up for our chapter's Ray Scholarship this year, Dillon Marlatt and Brady Neuhalfen. Both had already begun lessons, and to both we granted cash to fund further flight training. Dillon has used all of our grant, and his family has purchased this summer a C-152 to allow him to continue.
Brady has been flying with Barry Logan at Marshall County this summer, and Barry is pleased with his progress. Studying on his own, Brady passed the written exam on 8/14 with a 93% score. To support his flying, he worked a summer job, but Barry has mentioned funding is again a concern. To complete his Private Pilot training is estimated to cost another $1500 or so. Pilots at Marshall County have contributed money to assist, and our chapter is soliciting donations to help out also. At the last board meeting, when this was discussed, several chapter members immediately offered to contribute. You are welcome to do so as well.
At the last chapter meeting, Todd Moore, the youth coordinator, reviewed some of our activities. He mentioned he has been in contact with the Flight Club at Dunlap High School and that Richard Lahood has given Young Eagle flights this year. Outside of Young Eagle events, individual pilots do not receive extra insurance from EAA, but the kids do get all the benefits from EAA after their flight.
EAA would still like to see chapters host a Flying Start this year, with a reward of two wristbands to the next OSH, and Todd described these events. We may try to do one this fall, if we can find enough pilots and volunteers.
HQ has a new Young Eagles program, the Workshops, they'd like chapters to consider. More details are to be presented in a September webinar.
Chapter Election
The nominating committee is satisfied to present the existing board members for re-election. Also, a new member, Andy, is willing to volunteer to serve on the board. He has been working with Ron Wright on the membership committee, and he was a chapter president in Tennessee.
Treasury
There are currently 65 members. Chapter finances are back in the shape they were before the pandemic depressed stock prices.
For his injured knee, Rob is in physical therapy, which he has described as controlled torture.
Hangar
We may need help in the kitchen in September. Please check the sign up sheet.
Sam Sisk has donated a small screw cutting lathe which comes with two chucks and plate along with cutting bits. There is no motor, and it will need some work. Best offer owns it:
Sam is planning to donate a 4' brake and shear, which for our chapter would fill out EAA's list of recommended chapter tools. We'll work on making space in the hangar for these. For members storing airplanes in the hangar, each has an assigned tool cabinet, but extra cabinets have appeared over the years. Members storing tools so may need to make room for the newly donated tools.
There have been no offers for the old welder, outboard motor, and mower we received in donation. The VP keeps dropping the price on Craig's List.
Andy visited the "maker space" on Hale Rd, near 3MY, which has moved from downtown. They have many useful pieces of equipment for building up small projects, including welders, 3D printers, a CNC router, a laser cutter, etc. They have an open house every Thursday at 7:00, and monthly and yearly memberships are available.
Members
Ric Woldow, based at the Pekin airport, is now a DAR for this area, and he can be hired to inspect your build. The FISDO is running months behind right now, so hiring a DAR can speed things along considerably.
Dave Jackson
Dave has been recovering the tail of his Citabria under the eye of Ross Carbiener in Kewanee, using the Randolph system. "This project is keeping me busy and social distanced from most people... (Ross) has a new paint booth he is putting together so I'll be the first big project to use it. He prefers conventional butyrate dope as he is allergic to Stewarts and Poly Fiber products... We will start the spraying process when all surfaces are ready, so we can set up to spray all at the same time... This is the right elevator, ready for first coat of spray dope. One more elevator to go. Still lots of work to do."
The Kleimenhagens' RANS S-20
Karl and Kip finally got going again in late July—a few weeks before Kip was to return to UIUC:
The seat rail indexes were installed on the fuselage; the factory's poorly chosen rivnut locations necessitated buying the shortest threaded drill bits, from Grainger, to use in a right angle drill attachment. We weren't satisfied with either the fit or the stiffness of the seat cushions received. The bottom cushions were pulled out and reshaped with a tool provided by Greg: An old style electric meat carving knife. That made the job so easy we actually laughed. The softer layer was replaced with one from the stiffest sheet of foam we could find locally, at Verlo. Unfortunately, the seat back's foam could not be adjusted, but the seat bottom is now quite comfortable.
Most of the fuselage forming stringers were installed next. While RANS suggested a tubeless tire installation, we haven't had success doing this using the information from Matco.
Ron Wright kindly loaned us an unused Sonerai rudder on which to practice fabric installation and painting. Ron uses house paint over fabric, and we plan to try the method used by Malcolm Morrison, who recently gave an EAA webinar on this. However, I've also been studying the old Hipec system, which has a new owner and now has an STC for certificated airplanes.
The fuselage should be ready for covering around October 1st, but we'll wait for the warmth of spring before starting, using the rest of the fall to practice.
Tim Threw
On page 22 of the October issue of Kitplanes Tim describes his experience with his RV-7.
Airport
3MY
To avoid trying to roll heavy parts over turf, the concrete picnic tables for the FBO were assembled on the ramp. Marty Vogel, who operates The Crane Guy, Inc. and who hangars an airplane here, volunteered his time and equipment to move the three 1100 lb concrete tables over to their pads in front of the FBO. Kent Lynch provided a trailer to cart the assembled tables ahead of the final positioning.
Thank you, Marty.
That evening, all three tables were scrubbed down with soap and water. Thanks go again to Richard Lahood for locating these tables, and to the Culver's in Morton for donating them. The next day the tables were seen in use by the public.
The following day, an unknown party applied concrete sealer to the tables but didn't put up a warning sign. One of the tables took days to dry, so if the Phantom Sealer decides to finish the job, please label it lest people sit in the stickiness again. Unfortunately repairs to cracks in the concrete were not done before the sealer was applied.
Canopies for the picnic tables were priced locally. They would be $400 each and have fabric which should last for nearly a decade. The airport authority will be asked if they will pay for these. Generic cheapies off the web would be a tenth the price but of unknown quality.
Peter, who runs Allmond Aviation, is planning to offer seaplane training next spring. Speak to him at the FBO or monitor the web site he is creating for it.
It's not often you find a Citation at 3MY.
Marshall Co.
The new chapter 1642 is coming together. To let the aviation world in Illinois know they are up and running, they are planning a Poker Run from 8 to 2 on Saturday 9/12, or the following day in case of weather.
Our chapter contributes to the Charlie Allen Memorial Scholarship fund at Marshall Co, and a recent report is:
I am very happy to report that one of our 2019 scholarship winners has continued his flight training, has soloed, passed his knowledge test, and is about ready to start on his solo cross-countries! We put the 2020 program on "hold" as with the schools out and interviews a part of the selection process, it was tough to administer in the spring of this year. We certainly plan to continue the scheme just as soon as conditions permit administration of the process.