EAA Chapter 563
The Beacon
March, 2026
Killian Madeley has pointed out the 50th anniversary of the first meeting of the group that would become Chapter 563 was held February 18, 1976. It was heralded by the first newsletter issued by Guy Snyder, who would go on to write the chapter's newsletters for 13 years. In the lower half of his second newsletter is a brief history of the early EAA chapters in the Peoria area. (Both newsletters can be found on the chapter web site.) Your editor would have seconded his recommendation to name the chapter in honor of Octave Chanute who lived and is buried in Peoria.
The chapter charter was issued June 7 of that year. In 2026 that date falls on a Sunday, so perhaps a potluck or the like should be held at the hangar that day. It could be announced by e-mail to all EAA members within 75 miles of 3MY, a service available from EAA headquarters.
The VMC Club meets on the 22nd again this month. The IMC Club meets on the 8th, and to repeat the notice given last month:
We are having a meteorologist from Lincoln visit in March. Andrew Taylor will be speaking to us about aviation weather and forecasting. This is open to the whole chapter, though it will probably have a distinct IMC flavor.
The kitchen remains in need of volunteers, for set-up, cooking, and clean-up.
In some years past, we've held these at Alexander's, but in recent years they have been booked solid all evenings in December. Rob Meyer recently ate there and discussed some options with them. We're penciled in for Sunday afternoon December 13 at 1 PM. This should make for a less crowded facility, and we'd get to choose from the less expensive lunch menu. We would have a room to ourselves. Let us know what you think of these arrangements.
The chapter's cash accounts are getting low again. One board member has donated $200 to encourage all chapter members to make a donation.
Since the Young Eagles rallies have been a big success these last two years, the chapter may try to sell tee shirts or the like at the rallies. Todd Moore roasts his own coffee beans and is selling 12 oz bags for $16: "All the proceeds directly fund our youth programs."
The call goes out again for volunteers to form an Audit Committee to review the chapter's 2025 financial records. The chapter president appoints three people (who must not be board members) to this committee.
The first rally is this month, on Saturday the 14th. Additional pilots and help on the ground are welcome. Contact the coordinator, Todd Moore.
Congratulations! EAA Chapter 563 has been approved to administer a full EAA Ray Aviation Scholarship this year! Due to your chapter's dedication to EAA, youth engagement, overall activities and chapter health, and the wonderful application you submitted, EAA is excited to have your chapter onboard this year! Your chapter will be able to administer a $12,000 scholarship.
So began the e-mail from HQ this past Monday. Rob Meyer will now begin to check with area flight instructors in search of suitable candidates.
The Lacon chapter hasn't yet formed their own scholarship system and would like this year to match our runners-up prizes for our Ray scholarship candidates.
Hope White has this update on the progress in her Ray scholarship program:
I have started my second semester of college. These classes are a little more challenging, but I'm trying to balance both flying and college as best I can.
Dean has opened my eyes to the fact that I was kind of a slacker when it comes to ground school, but I have been a lot more diligent about it. I still feel like I have some things to revisit, but Dean and I are working on it. We are aiming to schedule the checkride in mid April.
Thank you all for everything!
Congratulations to Julian Sturm on his acceptance into the Aerospace Engineering program at Rolla. He was the 2024 Ray Scholarship recipient, and he's also been active on the build of the Cruzer.
The board has discussed further the general aviation mechanic scholarships we provide to Lewis and Lincoln Land. Lewis will no longer allow us to target our scholarship towards general aviation, and the board has decided to direct all such funds to Lincoln Land.
At Lincoln Land, our chapter already has funds to award courtesy of an anonymous donor who sent $2,000 in our name. The chapter had budgeted $3,000 this year for mechanic scholarships, and it was decided to send $2,000 to award a pair of $2,000 scholarships this year. As in the past, Lincoln Land will seek candidates from central Illinois.
Attendance by teens at the Saturday build sessions has fallen off over the winter. The mentors—especially Greg LePine—have begun completing tasks in their spare time during the week, for we'd like to have this airplane ready for flight by summer to improve the chance of selling it this year. The windscreen and cabin top glazing are ready to be fastened down, and the engine cowl is receiving its fasteners. Painting options have been sought, in case a buyer would like assistance with that.
As recipients of the Ray Scholarship and also as builders on the Zenith Cruzer, Killian and Hope are willing to visit local high schools and describe our programs to the students. One board member suggested such outreach combined with the chapter's recent, increased presence on social media might bring in a few extra donations over the years.
While Kitplanes shows no sign of improvement, AvBrief's Experimental Aviator continues to post new articles and now includes some of magazine length. AvBrief's replacement for Aviation Consumer also now posts long articles, and they have recently added a column dedicated to IFR flying. They now list 50 authors contributing to the site. All this probably reflects increasing on-line ad revenue at the new venture. You might support them by signing up for one of their daily e-mails, which provides a counter to show advertisers.
A recent short article on AvBrief mentioned Homebuilt HELP has posted many of their homebuilding DVDs to YouTube. Included models are high and low wing Zenith models, the RV-12, and the Onex, plus several engine videos.
The chapter web site will be changing format before long. Killian Madeley is leading the effort and will become the new principal site editor. The site and its referenced data files will be stored as part of the chapter's Google account. There are a number of advantages to this:
On the debit side:
It is hoped the new site will grab the attention of people inside and outside the aviation community. You can watch the new site develop over the weeks ahead at new.eaa563.org, which will become www.eaa563.org when finished. Let us know what you would like to see added.
Your editor has been writing this chronicle for a decade now, as part of his duties as web site editor, so it's perhaps time for change here as well. Please contact Killian if you'd like to work with him on newsletters. If you're looking to impress, the Bloomington chapter puts out a weighty newsletter every month.
If you haven't sent them in, your 2026 membership dues are overdue. It's $40 for either individuals or families.
Having a recent shoulder injury, Rob Meyer requested help attaching the gear on his Zenith 750 Super Duty. It's a fringe benefit of working in the chapter.
♫ With a little help from my friends ♪
Several long time chapter members pointed out the passing of Jim Hannemann. He was active in this chapter many years ago and served as treasurer in 1989 and 1990. Comments included:
Jim was a chapter 563 member, Marine fighter pilot, and Gulf War helicopter pilot. A brilliant pilot of open cockpit and Waco taildraggers. (Kent Lynch)
He always had GREAT aviation adventures to share with our members! (Ron Wright)
He was a chapter member and officer back in the '80's. That's actually where we met. We went forward as friends, and he is one of the very few who I've let fly some of our aircraft. He was active with Waco aircraft, including being a vintage judge at Oshkosh. (Ric Woldow)
If you know someone looking to have an airplane covered, Ayden Miller, (217)610-5029, in Springfield is now offering such work:
We're looking to take on a fabric project as we work to expand the range of services we provide. Fabric work is new for us as a shop, so we would like to arrange a special introductory deal with very low labor rates on the fabric portion while we get our foot in the door. Our goal is to deliver a finished product we can proudly point to as proof of the quality of our work.
This busy Citation based in Wisconsin stopped at the field in late February. It had come out of Wisconsin, stopping at Midway before coming to 3MY. It retraced its route before flying down to Georgia and on to central Florida that same day.
eaa563.org
Mt. Hawley Airport, Peoria, Illinois