EAA Chapter 563
The Beacon
November, 2024
The Annual meeting to select a board of directors and approve a budget for 2025 is this Saturday starting after breakfast, about 9:00. We will need to meet quorum to hold a vote, so please attend if you can.
The current members of the board are willing to serve another year, but other candidates can present themselves at the meeting ahead of the vote. The treasurer was not able to present his proposed budget to the board at their last meeting, but it is reported to be last year's budget with a 3-5% increase in each category. He will discuss the budget at the meeting.
October's meeting was brief. In the monthly Chapter Video from headquarters, it was mentioned Foreflight will now show EAA calendar events, and any EAA chapter can submit their events to the main EAA calendar. MOSAIC should be out near the end of May, although a later EAA webinar said the release might be delayed until AirVenture.
In that webinar, it was noted that Sport Pilot is deemed a success by EAA. They estimate pilots earn their Sport Pilot license in half the time of a Private Pilot. Also, a number of the available factory LSA are considerably less expensive than the typical general aviation airplane (although more expensive than a used GA airplane). Sport Pilot has been available for 20 years, and by 2012 it was obvious its reduced medical requirements were not a safety issue, leading to Basic Med. A large number of older factory airplanes will become legal for Sport Pilot 2.0 (as HQ is calling MOSAIC).
The VMC Club will meet this coming Sunday at 6:30 in the hangar. The IMC Club is meeting one week later than usual this month, on the 17th instead of the 10th, at 6:00 in the hangar.
This year the annual banquet will be at the Lariat Steakhouse on Glen in Peoria. The date is Friday December 20. We will meet from 6:00 for socializing, and we'll be seated to order supper at 7:00. After supper, there will be a brief review of the year's accomplishments.
The menu for the evening will be limited and consists of:
Give your selection to your server at your table. Prices run from $26 to $35. Vegetarian options will also be available; ask your server.
We must let the restaurant know what size room we need. If you plan to attend, please reply with the number in your party by the first week of November.
The price for the twice monthly breakfasts remains $8. Come out and chat with your chapter members.
In mid October, 8 Young Eagles and 2 Eagles flights were given. This was the last Young Eagles rally for 2024 at the chapter. There were over 40 rides given this year. A number of Young Eagles also toured our hangar, and some of them have joined the airplane building project. Thanks go to Tood Moore who organized all the rallies this year.
The chapter's Ray Scholarship recipient this year, Julian Sturm, has this update:
Over the past month, I have been doing lots of ground school and private pilot written exam prep. I have gotten my endorsement and have scheduled my test date for next month.
I've been consistent with flying and staying current with maneuvers. I was introduced to night and crosswind flights, which was an interesting experience. I am thankful for receiving the Lightspeed Zulu 3 headset as part of the Ray Scholarship. It has made training and flight more comfortable. Overall, I look forward to completing more cross-countries and flying frequently over the winter.
It was a slow month for the teens' Zenith Cruzer build. The engine cowl's fasteners are being installed. The original fuel line routing interfered with the tail section controls and had to be rerouted under the seats. Riveting of the wing skins was delayed but are ready for next week. The three radio antennas have been mounted, but there is still the ELT to do. The avionics tray is being prepared, and all the avionics will be accessible when the main display is removed from the panel.
Insurance on the hull has been renewed albeit for a higher value due to the expenditures on the avionics, etc.
The chapter hangar will be crowded this winter. Marty Martin's C-172 has been kept here for several years now. Tim Threw's RV-7 will remain in the hangar for the season while work continues on it and to keep it's fresh engine in warm storage. Rich Gilbert has moved a Onex project into the hangar, and the Hoevelmanns' Pietenpol project will be stored under the wing of Marty's C-172. The Pazmany PL-4 donated by Josh Mattson has been moved to the hangar to continue its rebuild. The work and storage space for the Zenith Cruzer project has been rearranged to accommodate this.
Regarding that PL-4, if you're interested in acquiring a single seater, this one's reconstruction can be tailored to your needs. Contact Greg LePine.
Richard LaHood has replaced his low wing Diamond DA-40 from Austria with a high wing Tecnam P2010 TDI from Italy. Both have a composite fuselage and seat four, but the Tecnam has metal wings and a Continental diesel engine.
For a while, Richard's recently acquired Vashon Ranger (two seats) was hangared next door to Greg Harness' Ranger, but Richard's has moved to another field to make room for the Tecnam.
Mike Tillman, the mechanic who runs the maintenance hangar up at the FBO, is retiring at the end of October.
Lastly, here are some of the unusual visitors to the field last month, with thanks to Dave Jackson and Greg LePine for the photos:
Waco Classic model YMF
Velocity XL from South Carolina
Cessna CitationJet out of Iowa
eaa563.org
Mt. Hawley Airport, Peoria, Illinois