EAA Chapter 563
The Beacon
September, 2024
The September meeting is one week after this coming Saturday, namely the 7th. As always, it's on the first Saturday of the month.
The IMC Club will meet on its usual date, the second Sunday, the 8th. The VMC Club would normally have met the first Sunday, but that's the middle of the holiday weekend. Instead, the VMC Club combined the August and September meetings in mid August.
Karl Kleimenhagen, who is tall, wanted to add a few high back chairs to the chapter's inventory and donated several plastic ones from Menards. Greg LePine liked their price and noted a couple of the old, white, low back chairs had broken over the last few months. He suggested to the board more of the chairs Karl donated be purchased to replace the old ones. The board met through e-mail and approved his proposal.
However, within a week of the new batch of chairs arriving, two had cracked, and the whole lot purchased by the chapter were returned. New metal framed chairs have replaced these. Eight of the old, white chairs have been retained for use with large gatherings, and the remainder deemed safe for use (we had three different brands of the smaller white chairs) were donated to the South Side Mission. Those thought to be questionable were cut up. We also have the 4 metal framed chairs with black plastic seats—for those who weigh more than the 250 lb limit of the other chairs.
The old and new chairs at the hangar.
Josh Mattson has donated his Pazmany PL-4 project to the chapter. Greg reports "I know exactly where he left off, and what needs to be done." Greg and Ron Wright have already restored another PL-4 many years ago. Greg wonders if the chapter should finish the project and if so for flying or static display. If someone wants a project to finish, we could sell it, of course. Josh had been working to restore a badly butchered airplane and had made good progress towards that goal. Contact Greg for more details.
The griddle was left powered-on inside the island cabinet in the kitchen. This brings up the point the hangar could use a cleaning to reduce fire hazards, and Greg has been organizing this work.
Greg keeps the kitchen stocked and notes:
Breakfast eaters have been staying away, maybe because they don't like the liquid eggs, or the chairs were bad, or because we would like to see eaters volunteer to help set up or clean up.
Well what came first, the chicken or the egg? To find the answer, come to our scrambled egg, pancake, sausage breakfast on September 7 for the best breakfast deal around—try out the new chairs and real eggs.
Greg has been appointed to lead the Nominating Committee for the 2025 elections:
One of the best ways to get to know people in the chapter is to volunteer to cook so you get to meet everybody. (And here's a perk: After you are done cooking, you get to eat "free.") Maybe you need to volunteer to be president, vice president, or a board member. Stop expecting someone else to do what you would like done. Be a part of the solution.
Now is your chance to rise to the top and volunteer for one of our positions.
The board has 9 positions with 4 Officers and 5 Directors. There are also 9 Standing Committee chairman positions to fill each year. Any chapter member is encouraged to apply for these positions.
We have a great chapter doing exceptional work in promoting aviation. In the past few months, we have flown more Young Eagle kids than were flown in the last six years. We have an airplane build going on with approximately 18 kids. We are on our seventh Ray Scholarship. We received Gold Status again from the EAA. But this doesn't happen unless there are dedicated and devoted members who step up and volunteer. Pride and satisfaction come from helping, and your help is needed!
I am asking all current members who would like to serve in 2025 to nominate themselves. Also, two volunteers are needed to be on the Nomination Committee.
In the Members section of the chapter web site (the password is on the bulletin board in the hangar), you will find listed all the Board and Standing Committee positions. You will also find the chapter Directory with Greg's contact information. For that matter, you'll also find the By-laws, Standing Rules, meeting minutes, etc.
Unfavorable weather lead to the cancellation of the mid August rally. The next flights are scheduled for Saturday the 14th, and extra pilots and ground crew are always appreciated.
Julian Sturm is the chapter's recipient of this flight training scholarship this year and provided this update:
I am at 26.5 hours and have been working on cross country training and solo flights. The next milestone will be completing my written exam which I hope to get to soon.
Ishan Talim has left the project to begin work on his degree in aeronautical engineering at Pennsylvania State University. He offered these comments on his experience with the chapter:
The Zenith build project was a blessing, and I owe a huge thanks to Paxson for bringing me on board. Every weekend, I was eager to get down to the hangar and dive into the build, knowing my days there were limited before college. Each session offered something new, turning every moment into a learning opportunity. The wisdom from the mentors was incredible—years of experience condensed into each lesson, shared generously. Greg, Mike, and Rob, in particular, had so much to offer on different aspects of the plane.
Mike and Greg were instrumental during my time on the engine—they walked me through all the intricacies of fuel line and electrical wiring. Greg's endless tips and lively banter made the work engaging, while Mike's laid-back, hands-on approach ensured I understood the mechanics deeply. Rob's guidance on the wing, especially the fuel tanks and magnetometer, was equally enlightening.
And there was Karl, who was always there to support extra work shifts on the holidays, making even the longest days enjoyable. His occasional mishaps and the stories behind them added a touch of humor to our sessions, making the hard work feel lighter. It was always fun to look at the holes drilled in his hands when someone accidentally punched through a part he was holding.
Then there was the Oshkosh Air Academy. Despite some new management challenges, the workshops were a blast. I got to try my hand at welding, making a dice cube, which was a standout experience—so fun and instructive. Carving out a propeller from a simple plank of wood felt like a piece of cake after all the hands-on work at the Zenith build.
As for college, I'm excited to take all these practical skills and experiences into my studies and future career in Aerospace Engineering. The Zenith project, particularly, has equipped me with lifelong skills that I'm eager to build upon.
Thanks so much to you and everyone at EAA Chapter 563 for making it such a rewarding experience. I've not only learned a lot but also made some great friends along the way.
By word of mouth, the airplane building project continues to accept new teens who replace those moving off to college and other pursuits.
In the past month, work began on the fuel tank in the second wing, the engine cowl installation, and positioning of the recently acquired avionics and their antennas.
As Ishan mentioned above, he was invited by the chapter to attend the Air Academy this summer, and he provided several photos of his time there:
Accomodations at the Air Academy.
A Zenith Cruzer finished as a One Week Wonder a few years back. "All the people who helped signed it. It has around 1000 signatures." For over a year, Ishan worked on building the chapter's Cruzer.
With a friend at the EAA Museum.
The Cruzer build project has already purchased nearly all that is needed to complete the airplane. The account still has about $5,600 in it to cover sundry small purchases.
The chapter's electronic membership records date back to 2010. Membership has more than doubled since that time and is currently 75.
Family business kept Tim Threw's Lycoming on the floor of the hangar for much of August, but the installation has finally begun.
Andy and Loreena P. not only worked a few weeks ahead of OSH this year, they have also put in time for the Antique Airplane Association fly-in, which begins on the 28th. Ric Woldow had invited them along when he was heading there to help out.
There is still time to help with preparations for the National Stearman Fly-In which begins September 2.
The flagpole at the FBO is leaning. It was first noticed about the time the bushes around the building were removed, so perhaps the equipment used for the landscaping was responsible. The FBO building is to be cleaned and repainted and new landscaping placed around it.
One fine evening late in the month, Ryan, the pilot of this Piper Super Cruiser out of Poplar Grove, flew down to visit a friend and refueled before returning north.
Earlier in the month another taildragger, a Maule M5-210C out of McHenry, stopped by for a while.
eaa563.org
Mt. Hawley Airport, Peoria, Illinois