by J. Rion Bourgeois

Breakfast Report

             We served 277 at the June breakfast, up from 173 at the May breakfast.  The weather was good and CAP cadets were in attendance so three pots of grits were cooked. Contact Cliff Gerber at breakfast@eaa105.org if you want to volunteer as a regular or just for the next breakfast as needed. The next breakfast is this Saturday, July 6, 2024.   This is also the second  regularly scheduled Young Eagle event for the summer.

Monthly Chapter Meeting

The program for the regular second Thursday of the month chapter meeting on Thursday June 13, 2024 was a presentation of a documentary, “The Mighty Wimpy: The Oregon Homebuilt Airplane that Inspired the Experimental Aircraft Movement”, the usual monthly chapter video produced and directed by Charlie Becker at EAA national HQ, and a presentation by Chad Koehnen of the results of the chapter survey on interest in the chapter’s 3D printer.  The survey indicated a high level of interest, so the program for the July 11, 2024 chapter meeting at Twin Oaks Airpark in the chapter’s hangar G-1 will be a demonstration of the capabilities of the chapter’s 3D printer.  As usual, supper is at 6:30 p.m., and the meeting at 7:00 p.m.  Benton fired up the grill at the June meeting, and the burgers were great.

Youth Programs

The chapter’s Young Eagles, and Discuss, Design, Build and Try, and RC Build and Fly Program are in full swing.  To reiterate, the chapter is currently operating three youth programs out of the chapter’s Hangar G1 at Twin Oaks Airpark:  Young Eagle flights the first Saturday of the months of June, July, August and September; a model airplane Discuss, Design, Build and Try program the first Thursday of every month from 6 to 8 pm for 13 to 17 year olds; and a radio control model airplane Build and Fly Program every Sunday afternoon from 12:30 to 2:30 pm starting May 5, 2024 for 13-18 year olds. Descriptions of all three programs can be found on the chapter website.  The DDBT program involves building very light and low cost foam radio control aircraft to introduce youth to the concept of radio control electric model aircraft.  The Build and Fly program introduces   them to larger, more complex balsa wood radio control kits for balsa wood model trainer aircraft, and the Young Eagles program introduces them to full size kit planes.  All three programs are going very well.  Several of the foam and balsa wood model aircraft have been built and flown.  The chapter board has voted to provide Young Eagles to a one year complimentary chapter membership to go along with their complimentary one year EAA national membership.   Feel free to refer youths you know who may be interested in building and flying  model aircraft, and/or becoming a Young Eagle.

Poker Run

            Our annual Poker Run scheduled for Saturday, June 15, 2024, was cancelled due to weather.  It has been rescheduled to Saturday, September 14, 2024. Pilots and their passengers can register and pay their entry fee and draw their first card at the FBO office at Lenhardt’s Airpark (7S9) from 8:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. If they are late, they can draw a card at the Whiskey Hill Store a block to the south and pay their entry fees at the white elephant awards presentation at the end of the run at Hangar G-1 at Twin Oaks Airpark.  Each player can pull another card from the dealer at each of the following locations in any order:  Starduster Café at Independence State Airport (7S5), Corvallis Aero at Corvallis Airport (KCVO), Potcake Aviation at McMinnville Airport (KMMV), Randall Henderson’s hangar at Seaside Municipal Airport (56S), and hangar G1 at Twin Oaks Airpark . Desert will be served at 4:00 p.m. in hangar G1 at Twin Oaks Airpark, and the white elephant prize selection/swap  will follow. Participants are requested to bring a wrapped prize for the white elephant event.

Upcoming Fly-outs

            The chapter’s fly-out committee has scheduled a couple of flyouts.  The first is Saturday, August 17, 2024 to the weekly burger lunch  at the FBO at Newport Municipal Airport (KONP).  The chapter will serve coffee and donuts at 9:00 a.m. in hangar G1 at Twin Oaks Airpark.  The second is Sunday, September 22, 2024 to the annual Gillette Field (OR51) Chicken Dinner Fly-in and Drive-In near Scio, Oregon.   Lots of antique and classic car owners drive in and display their cars, so there is lots to see. The food is available for lunch, so the chapter will serve coffee and donuts at 9::00 a.m. in hangar G1 at Twin Oaks Airpark.