Apr 04

Meeting Minutes from the 4/3/2019 meeting

EAA Chapter 31 Meeting, April 3rd, 2019

The dinner portion of the meeting started at 6:00 PM with Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Salad, chips and cookies for desert courtesy of our great past President Bill Dewey. Thanks for another tasty meal!!

The meeting started at 7:00 PM with the pledge of allegiance lead by President V.P. Gary Ludeke.

Secretary / Treasurer Randy Stout was also present. The business and entertainment portion of the meeting was then called to order. There were 20 members and guests in attendance. Among the guests were Kevin and Tal from Roseburg chapter 495, who invited us to their fly-in at Glide (17OR, a roughly 2300’ one-way grass strip) on June 29th and 30th. They will be posting a link to a video of a landing on the strip at their web site. More info on the web site.
Kevin also brought a tool he developed to re-gap massive electrode spark plugs. It looks like a screwdriver with a tapered end. Thanks!!

Next Chapter breakfast is Saturday, April 20th. Come out to the clubhouse in the AM and pay $8 for an “all you can eat” breakfast of eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, OJ, coffee and camaraderie!! Starts at 9:00 and runs to about 10:30 or so. Thanks in advance for all the guys who show up and cook the meal!

Secretary Stout noted that the check book balance is $3556.78 as of 4/01/2019. He also noted that 2019 dues are due- $25 hard earned, well spent bucks. Send it by mail if you would prefer- EAA Chapter 31, 86277 Panorama Rd., Springfield, OR 97478

Bill Dewey gave a report on the repair that is proceeding on the patio cover that collapsed during the snow storm last month. The building permit is now applied for, at a cost of $157.56. The total project should cost less than $1000 and will then cover the entire patio, not just the center portion. He is also going to purchase the plain bricks for the memorial garden near the FBO, and has already purchased the Japanese Maple tree (for $177) that will be planted there.

V.P. Ludeke then gave an update on President Kuehl’s absence and surgery for gall stones. He appears to be on the mend and should be well healed in 3-5 weeks. We all wished him a speedy recovery. He also asked for volunteers for dinner for the next few months. No one stepped forward but we will have it figured it out by the next dinner.

Gary also asked everyone who intends to be a YE pilot this July to go online to the EAA national web site and apply for pilot privileges to work with kids again. They need to be renewed every 2 years. He also suggested that on June 9th, (National YE day) it would be good to try the new software that national has produced to make YE paperwork easier. He also said that the June meeting should be focused on preparing for the Chapter 31 YE flights on the 4th of July at Creswell.

Tom Cunningham noted that the OAHS museum in Cottage Grove will be having monthly pancake breakfasts starting in May until September on the 1st. Saturday of the month at 8:00-10:00

It was noted by the Secretary that the club now has a complete set of Starduster 2 Plans and Jodel Plans available for sale. Any interested party should call him at 541-953-0610.

Jim Origliosso then noted that the Creswell School Superintendent and one of the teachers who had come to a meeting last year to ask for volunteers to speak aviation to some class rooms have both moved on to other districts. He is still hopeful that we can find the support needed to advance aviation to the kids as early as next September. He thinks that starting a tail or other single part of a kit might be the way to begin the program.

There being no other business, V.P. Gary then began a power point presentation about various changes in cockpits over the years, and accidents that changed the way we all fly. Included was an article about the October 1st, 1966 crash of the first commercial jet flight from the Eugene airport to Portland that crashed in the hills east of the PDX airport. Local pilot John Hirons folks were on that tragic flight. He ended it with a very thorough examination of the Concorde crash in Paris that killed all aboard. Needless to say, it wasn’t a simple blown tire that caused a punctured fuel tank and then the crash. Thanks Gary- very well done!!

There being no other business, the Vice President adjourned at 8:35 PM

respectfully submitted,
Randall Stout, Secretary/ Treasurer

Apr 02

MEETING REMINDER!

Don’t forget that tomorrow evening is our regular chapter meeting. Bill Dewey and Rod Johnson have graciously accepted the responsibility of preparing dinner. We’re going to have one of our traditional burgers and dogs BBQ’s. I’m looking forward to it and I hope you are too! The latest report I have on President John’s condition is that he had surgery for gall stones and is recovering nicely. He, of course, will not be in any condition to be at our meeting. I will present the evening’s program which will discuss the trends in the cost, technology advancements and safety over the last six decades. I hope you will find it enlightening and entertaining. A member of Chapter 495 (Roseburg) is planning to attend our meeting to invite us to a June fly-in/camp-in at a grass strip in Glide. We talked briefly about it and it sounds so neat I’ve already got it on my calendar! Bill Dewey will give us the latest on the patio cover rebuild needed due to snowstorm damage. We’ll be looking for all the help we can get to finish the project in a timely manner to be ready for our July 4th Young Eagles event.  We’ll watch at least a portion of this month’s Chapter Video to hear EAA’s announcement of new software to greatly streamline conducting Young Eagles events. It sounds like it’s going to eliminate a lot of paperwork and allow for a more orderly registration and flight scheduling process. 

See you tomorrow!

VP Gary

Mar 28

Next Regular EAA 31 Chapter Meeting – April 3, 2019

The next EAA 31 Chapter meeting is only a week away. Mark your calendars! I received word today that our President, John, went to the hospital this morning suffering from severe pain! I just spoke with Randy Stout who heard that the pain in apparently not related to his heart or cardiovascular system and is still under investigation. I will let you know if I hear anything more definitive. In the meantime John has requested that you keep him in your thoughts and prayers. He will probably not be present at our upcoming meeting.

I don’t know who accepted responsibility for the pre-meeting dinner. Please let me know ASAP (541-914-8605) if you are the one, or know who the one is who accepted this responsibility. If I hear nothing, I’ll assume it was John as he often accepts when no one else does. If so, Bill Dewey will handle the meal and will do hot dogs and burgers. At one time this was old hat, but it’s been awhile and now will be considered a treat!

I will be doing the program this month. I have prepared a presentation called ” Six Decades of Change.” I will address the changes in technology, cost and safety in both general aviation and the airline industry. I’ll try hard to keep you awake! Bill Dewey will also talk to us about the repairs to our patio cover that was damaged from the recent snow storm. Be prepared to volunteer. It will take a fair amount of club participation to get this done in a cost effective manner, and be done in time for our Young Eagles event on July 4.

VP Gary

 

Mar 16

Wings and Wheels

Please extend to all of your membership this invitation to spend Saturday, August 17, 2019 with us at the 3rd Annual Wings and Wheels at Richland Airport (KRLD), Richland, Washington, hosted once again by The Port of Benton.

We are spreading the word to over 100 organizations from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and British Columbia and after an turnout of nearly 2,000 at our 2018 event, we expect this years’ event to be even bigger. Once again, admission to the public and participants is FREE and entry of aircraft and vehicles for judging is FREE.

With military vehicles and warbirds, vintage cars and trucks, antique aircraft, modern show machines, motorcycles, hot rods and experimental aircraft we expect there to be something for everyone to appreciate. EAA Chapter 391 will be hosting a pancake breakfast from 7:00 to 9:30, and multiple food trucks and vendors will be on location for the remainder of the event. Hope to see you there!

For more information, please contact Scott Urban at (509) 551-0432 or John Haakenson at (509) 375-3060

Mar 15

EAA 31 BREAKFAST Reminder

Tomorrow 9:00 AM Saturday March 16th
I think we have enough Pancakes, Butter, Syrup, Bacon, Scrambled eggs, Sausage, Coffee, Orange juice, Hot chocolate, Milk. If not we can pick up whatever we need. Airplanes and flying. An EAA pancake breakfast is where you get this stuff. At the EAA 31 Hangar. S end of Hobby Field, Creswell Airport, Creswell OR. And only $8:00 bucks! Bring a friend.
Pres John

Mar 09

Another Possible Flying Club Airplane

As a lot of you know, a few members of Chapter 31 have been struggling to form a flying club using a basic 2- seat airplane. There is, in my opinion, a VERY NICE Alon Aircoupe for sale that is hangared at Creswell Airport. It has around 300 hours on an overhauled C-90 engine with new cylinders. These airplanes were manufactured with rudder pedals, toe brakes, nose wheel steering controlled by the rudder pedals. These airplanes were also originally manufactured with a 12-gallon header tank behind the instrument panel and two 9-gallon wing tanks that fed the header tank. This is one of the few things I never cared for in the design as it puts a fuel tank in front of you if you have a frontal impact collision! This airplane has an STC’d modification that removed the header tank and replaced the two 9-gallon wing tanks with 15-gallon tanks. The airplane has a full gyro panel and a wing leveler autopilot. I’d sure hate to see this one get away if there really is serious interest in forming a club/partnership. A few members have expressed an interest in the “club” and this airplane. However, I think there is only one really serious person at this time. That is Roger Welsh (541-747-5308 pt 541-521-8527). The seller’s phone number is 541729-0799. If interested, I would suggest calling the seller and then Roger and maybe coordinate an appointment to take a look at the airplane. Of course, if one of you is interested in the airplane just for yourself, I’d call the seller and talk to him. With the good weather hopefully just ahead, I would think this airplane would sell soon. Don’t lose out if you want a nice, inexpensive to operate, airplane.

By the way, I have no personal interest in seeing this airplane sold. I am not a representative for the seller nor any potential buyers. I’m just an EAA member and airplane builder/owner who’s trying to help a group of interested people find and fly an inexpensive and safe airplane.

Gary

Mar 07

EAA 31 March Meeting Minutes

EAA 31 March 6th 2019 Meeting Minutes
Before the meeting the oven element in the stove died. Gary Ludeke volunteered his stove to heat up the Lasagna in his oven. We started dinner late.
Meeting began at about 7:20 with the pledge of allegiance. There were 14 members and guests present.
Bill Dewey will compile a list of materials for repair of the patio cover. John Kuehl will get a new stove element.
Greg Hughes of Van’s Aircraft did an excellent presentation. Here are some of the things we learned about Van’s history and development: It began with modifications of the Stitts Playboy. Soon we had the RV1 with metal wings. RV2 was never finished. RV3 was the 1st real “RV”. RV4 put the RV’s on the map.
RV 9 unusual. RV 10 4 place. There are over 10,000 RV’s known flying. 2,000
RV 10s kits sold. RV 14 most popular since 2013. RV’s 7,8,9, 12 still selling. The newer kits are “no jig” CNC shaped and punched in Aurora. Quick builds sub assemblies are done in the Philippines and shipped back to Aurora.
Van’s has a great new web site (check it out). Among new developments are the new MOSAIC initiative. Potential certification of demand built kits (which would make them “not” experimental, allow commercial use, flight training etc.)
Potential changes in Light Sport. Higher weight and speed, IMC certification and more.
Davis Dayton (young guy U of Az who was in charge of the EAA’s one week wonder of an RV 12 at Airventure 2018) spoke about the “Teen Flights” Hillsboro and Airway science for kids. Looks like a great step forward for getting young people into aviation.
There was not time for the Chapter Video Magazine. 7 minutes of the Smothers Brothers “I am a pilot” (funny stuff) was shown instead.
Thanks to Jim Origliosso for getting this great presentation, Rod Johnson for the meal and taking notes, and Gary Ludeke for use of his oven. Our next get together will be Saturday March 16 2019 9:00 AM Pancake Breakfast $8.00 bucks. The weather should be better. Those that were concerned about the atmospheric conditions for this March missed a great meeting. Pres John.

Mar 06

EAA 31 March Meeting Reminder

Don’t forget.  Tonight’s the night!  Greg Hughes of Van’s Aircraft will Share about what’s happening at Van’s as well as a little history of the company and where they’re going in the future.

Dinner 6:00 PM    $8.00

Meeting 7:00 PM

See you there.  Bring a friend.

Pres John

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