“I Want To Get A (Pilot’s) License”
Why we fly Young Eagles. Our last YE flight has brought in a bundle of ‘appreciation’ letters….here are some of the quotes from the YE letter-writers; “Mr Roger - thanks you for letting me fly in your plane, good luck with your future flights and the Air Show” “Thanks for the opportunity to fly, especially to my pilot Dan Watkins” “Dear Mr Carl - I really had a good time flying and being in the air with you. PS - sorry this is sloppy, I’m using my left-hand (!)” “Mr Nath - Thank you for flying me. Though I might nor have shown it I had a lot of fun” “Mr Mike - Thank you for a wonderful time in the air, I want to get a license” This is why we fly Young Eagles! Feels good, doesn’t it??! Read More →
Restoration Project - Painting for Beginners!
Several Chapter members had expressed interest in learning or practicing spray-painting. The PA-22 Restoration team held over the painting until the combination of the right weather and the right date. Saturday was it! The new PA-22 wing parts were prepared, cleaned and laid out for optimum coverage. Other parts were readied too, including some for Chuck’s airplane. Under the guidance of leaders John, Shaw and Chuck novices (like me) took to the spray-guns. Very soon we had a good feel for the best way to coat lightly and effectively (this was primer after all!). With a brief interruption for lunch (Capriotti’s subs, and chili dogs - thanks Gary!) we had the work completed early in the afternoon. It was a very productive morning, great fun, great team-work and just what we intended the Restoration Project to do for the Chapter - bring us together as a team, learning or developing skills and having fun in the process. More on the Restoration Project in our Blog - here Like to see more EAA Chapter 240 video’s? - try here Read More →
Flying High at 94
Long standing Chapter member Art DiStasi recently fulfilled a dream of flying a helicopter. Art is very familiar and has flown many fixed-wing aircraft but always wanted to try the helicopter experience. He’s now taking helo lessons with Dave Fesco at Spitfire Aerodrome in NJ. Way to go Art! Read More →
Light Sport Event - Success!
With just perfect weather and three of the finest Light Sport Aircraft available today our Chapter LSA Event was a big success. The morning crowds were strong, with many fly-ins and drive-ins, interested aviators and curious locals - all keen to see these new, shiny, beautiful, well equipped, inexpensive flying machines. Business was brisk as the three aircraft representatives fielded questions about their aircraft, features, instrumentation, stall speeds, running costs (each a remarkable 4-6 galls/hour). Test flights were being booked for later dates, and the representatives each got several strong leads for their aircraft and their Flying School and Flight Training services too! We offered lunch up at the Chapter Hangar, and after a morning of drooling over these fabulous flying machines the burgers and hot-dogs served by Shaw, Andre, Chuck and Nath, supported by Pat and other Chapter members, were all snapped-up and required us to make a trip to local stores for top-up! Lunch was followed by presentations in the Chapter Club Room, with Helen Woods (Chesapeake Sport Pilot Flight School) and John Calla (Liberty Sport Aviation) giving talks on Flight Training and Light Sport Aviation. Thanks to John and Helen for these most informative sessions. The management of New Garden Flying Field could not have been more cooperative for the event, making space on the ramp for the LSA’s and directing incoming and departing traffic. Thanks chaps! Good to see the airport so busy, with fuel sales and folks just enjoying our unique New Garden facility. Thanks to all members who made this event so succesful, those who prepared and setup, those who cooked and served, those who stayed to clean-up. Great 240 team effort! Thanks also to the representatives who brought their aircraft to the event. They are avialable for aircrfat sales, rentals, flight instruction, flight examinations, advice and for all things Light Sport Aviation in our region. Their contact details, emails and web sites are: Helen Wood Chesapeake Sport Pilot Flight School Flight School, Aircraft Sates and Rental - Tecnam Aircraft Art Tarola AB Flight LLC Flight Training, Aircraft Sales - Evektor Aircraft John Calla Liberty Sport Aviation, Aircraft Sales & Rentals, Flight Instruction - GoBOSH & Flight Design Aircraft Read More →
Chapter Discussion Groups - Google it!
From Luck Macy (Chapter Tech Counselor): Our chapter has a Google (Yahoo) group account and I’m encouraging everyone to join because there are great practical benefits to doing so. For starters, everyone will be able to read and write emails, including adding attachments like photos or documents, to EVERYONE else using just ONE EASY TO REMEMBER email address: eaa240@yahoogroups.com You specify what email account you have you want the email to actually get sent to or you can elect to not have the emails forwarded to you at all and you can log in and read them online. Additionally, everyone will be able to post their own photos, documents, and web links to folders on our user site for anyone else to look at. When you upload any photo, document or link it the site will automatically ask you if you want to send an email out letting everyone else know. Anyone can create an instant poll about on anything - sort of instant club democracy. Want to figure out where to fly out to next among different options, want to know where the most favorite breakfast fly out location is, what’s the most popular electronic ignition for our experimental engines, how many prefer hot dogs or burgers, pepsi or coke, potato chips and pickles or potato salad? Then all that can be done quickly, easily and effectively through the online polls. You can set up your account to receive an instant individual emails or a daily digest with all the activities in just one email. All emails are archived so you can search anything anyone wrote in the past. In short, it is a very effective method and that’s why there’s a zillion different clubs and organizations that use it. Here’s what you do. go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eaa240/ if you don’t have a yahoo user id and password you will have to create one. I think if you go the URL you will be automatically asked to do so if you don’t. If you have any questions please contact me as I will be happy to help: Luckymacy@verizon.net Read More →
Light Sports Aircraft Event ~ Saturday May 23rd 2009
Light Sport Aviation is ‘taking-off’ in a big way and there’s increasing interest in this new, fun, lower cost and exciting flying opportunity amongst Chapter Members and regional aviators. EAA Chapter 240 and New Garden Flying Field (N57 - under new management) are hosting a Light Sport Aviation Event, Saturday May 23rd. We invite regional aviators, pilots and those interested in aviation to fly-in or drive-in to the event. The intention is to provide an opportunity to learn about LSA, the available airplanes, the advantages of LSA flying, medicals, insurance, flight instruction etc. Four sport aircraft manufacturers/retailers have already confirmed they will attend the event, displaying the various aircraft models and types in dedicated static display areas. You will be able to see some of the top-selling LSA airplanes, talk to the retailers, talk to the flight-instructors, get all the information you need on these fabulous aircraft. Confirmed aircraft include: GoBosh Flight Design CT Tecnam Eaglet & Sierra Evector Sports As part of the education and information-sharing we plan to have LSA presentations in the EAA Chapter 240 Hangar and Club Room. These will include sport aircraft retailers presenting on their aircraft, but will also cover insurance, medical requirements, flight restrictions - all you need to know. EAA Chapter 240 will offer lunch and refreshments, and the event will run from 9am to 4pm. The Event Poster can be viewed and downloaded here : LSA Event Poster v2 (456) Flying weather at N57 , driving and flying directions to the airport and EAA Chapter 240 Read More →
Weather - No Factor! (well, almost!)
Not a single fly-in! But the weather (100ft visibility) did not deter our friends and fellow aviators from the region making the trip to the Chapter Hangar by road. We served over 150 breakfasts and took a lot of compliments for the quality of the food and the good times that were had by all. Great team effort by Chapter Members. Friday night saw many of us preparing what we could, around the project aircraft. Saturday was always going to be the test - we need to get the projects out, and the breakfast tables in, be cleaned-up, grills fired-up … all for for our start at 8am. We did it!, with many members arriving around 6am to get the hangar readied. The combination of Les Femmes Macy (Christine and Rachel), Egg Artist-eggstrordinaire Shaw Siglin and Bob (Sausage King) Thompson kept the pace going and really teamed well (Chris and Rachel impressing everyone after just 30 minutes of dual on the ‘big grill’ and in serving). Many other Chapter Members helped make the morning a big, big success - and a lot of fun!… and we do it all again June 14th! It was a pleasure to be part of the fun 240 team. Great times were had by all. Read More →
Membership Meeting Notes - May 4th, 2009
Membership Report Dan G. was unavailable. Mike Parry reported that we are adding new members each month and we should reach our goal of 25 new members for 09 this fall. Next meeting announcement – Next meeting will be the first Monday in September Treasurer’s report Current funds balance is $9,000. Larry explained that the chapters regular expenses are paid from members dues, 50/50s, Pancake Breakfast profit, and donations. He reminded everyone that the chapter is a 501C3 organization and donations are Tax Dedudctable. Pedal plane raffle balance was currently $500 over cost. $500 still needed to fund the Scholarship. Restoration Project The project could use more help. If you are interested in learning a new skill or practicing your skills there are plenty of opportunities. Members have taken parts and assembly’s home to work on them as time allows. We currently have no deadline to finish the project, we are looking to have members update their skills and capabilities contributing to the restoration. To date the chapter has spent $11,500 on the project. $6,500 to purchase, $5,000 in parts and supplies. Young Eagle Report April 18 was the first event of the year. There was a great member turn out, but we flew 12 kids (due to low turnout). The meeting viewed a DVD of the event. 3 more Young Eagles flight days are scheduled for this year. Chapter Events Family Cook-out was actually a cook in due to the rain. 15 – 20 members attended. May 16th is our RV fly in Pancake breakfast. We need members to help set up on Friday the 15th. Old Buzzards Day “Young Eagles for Old People” is planned for mid August. Hangar Report Mike Parry reported that the trailer has been cleaned out and more space and shelves have been added to help organize the project. Blinds are being added to the club room to help keep the sun out of the room during the day, for meetings, presentations etc. The up coming Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) program will be held in the club room, May 23rd. New Garden Flying Field Events May 9 New Garden Customer Appreciation – 50 cents off gas and hamburgers and hot dogs May 23rd Light Sport day, 4 manufacturers will have their LSAs on display. There will be presentations about LSA s, Insurance, Flight training, etc in the Chapter Club room. July 6-10 New Garden Young Aviators Camp Taxiway bids are in and the work should begin after the airshow. New taxi lights and an AWOS are planned future improvements. Chapter Fly Outs May 9th Massey Fly In , June 20th Sky Manor Lunch, July 18th Tangier Island. Aug to be arranged. Chapter Scholarship We currently have 3 applicants for the scholarship. Frank Wooton will head the selection committee, with Larry and Nath. Please keep selling the Pedal Plane raffle tickets. The proceeds fund the scholarship. All ticket stubs and monies need to be returned to the chapter before the raffle date of June 14th. Send to the chapter post office box. Chapter Clothing Orders Clothing orders were taken during the break. Other News Mike Parry showed a graphic of the new proposed PHL airspace, currently in ‘discussion phase’. The proposed changes should help with the current congestion with in the PHL class B Lee Clark reported that her Nephew Terry was being released from Crozier medical Center after 2 months of care for the injuries he sustained after the fiery landing of the TBM Avenger he was piloting. He told her he is looking forward to flying soon. The Chapter sent its very best wishes for a speedy recovery. Chapter Fund-Raiser Chapter received a Seiko Aviators Watch, valued at ~$250, as a donation for our membership raffle, and Bert Pomilio was the lucky winner. Close Mike reminded all that this was the last spring meeting of 2009, and that we would reconvene on Monday September 7th. He reminded the meeting that the Chapter has a full schedule for the weeks and months ahead, all detailed at the Chapter web site. He encouraged members to check in at the web site regularly. Happy summer! Read More →
Massey Chili Fest - As Good As Ever!
Bill Kelsall was kind enough to offer rides to Chuck and I, to sample the multiple Chili’s on offer at the Massey Chili Fest. We were not disappointed, with varying flavors, strengths and constituents (!) had many of the pilots and drivers going back for more, and more. Many EAA240 members made the trip, by road or air. Everyone was weather-watching. After the grim forecast just 24 hours prior the actual weather was very good, with sun and light to moderate winds. But the late afternoon forecast had the dreaded words ‘gusting winds to 30mph’, and ‘ hail’ and ‘thunderstorms’. Many faces were skyward, but not a drop of rain nor hail, not a thunderbolt was to be seen or heard and the big turn-out enjoyed a fine lunch and afternoon in the sunshine. Jim and his team always manage the event so well, and this was no exception. And thanks Bill - for the 170 ride. The plane - like Bill - is a class act! MP Read More →
Pancake Breakfast, RV Fly-In and Young Eagles - Saturday May 16th
Saturday 16th is our first Pancake Breakfast, and an RV Fly-In. We’re expecting ‘heavy traffic’, with a combination of our usual loyal supporters, fly-in’s and drive-in’s but additionally hope we see a large group of Vans Air Force! We need to be ready!……and need YOUR HELP to make the event successful. On Friday 15th, at 4pm we need help at the Chapter Hangar in the cleaning, prep and set-up of the Hangar and kitchen area’s. We can’t set out the tables because of the aircraft projects but can prep many other aspects. On Saturday, at 6.30am we NEED YOUR HELP - a big team - at the hangar, when we’ll move the aircraft projects out of the hangar, clean the hangar, bring in and set up the breakfast and serving tables plus the grills. There’s a lot to do in a very short time, and you can help make it all work. If we have a strong response to our advertising and attract a large number of RV’s and other Fly-In’s we’ll need marshals and aircraft parking help. During Saturday morning we’re flying Young Eagles - John Leslie will email with a request for pilots and airplanes. And of course during Saturday morning we NEED HELP in cooking, serving and clearing-up. After mid-day we NEED HELP in getting the hangar back to normal operation, returning the breakfast tables to the storage trailer, repositioning the project aircraft etc. These events bring out the best in EAA Chapter 240, with team work and lotsa fun being had by all. If you’ve not volunteered for the Breakfasts before, join us this time, join the team, help make the day a success. Please - PLAN a portion of your Saturday to volunteer at the Breakfast Event. Every bit helps - even an hour. Please don’t leave this to others, play your part!… have fun, join the team, share in the action! We’ll see you there! Read More →