April (2007) Meeting Minutes

(Previously unpublished)
EAA Chapter 704 held its regular monthly meeting at the Sparta Paul C. Miller Airport with 24 members and/or guests present.

It was announced that the Annual Pancake Breakfast Fly In is scheduled for July 15 and notices have call ready been posted with the state so the event will be posted on the internet and published in the Michigan Aviation publication. The Fly In is co sponsored by EAA 704, The Sparta Lions Club and Boy Scout troop 704. The breakfast will be held in the John Gill hangar.

Glen Holt, chapter coordinator with the Boy Scout has been in touch with the BSA leadership and is making efforts to attend their meeting when called.

Tim and Lori Layne have announced the beginning of their new flight school called Sparta Aero operating out of an office in the pilot’s lounge building

President Johnston called for project reports and there were several. It seems that most members are working on something or helping others with their projects.

Scott Richmond gave an account of his flight across the nation as he went to California to pick up a Bonanza. After encountering some difficulty in getting the aircraft inspected and signed off he was able to begin his adventure back to Michigan. It seems that an AP recommended by the seller had declared the aircraft un-airworthy for various reasons and refused to sign it off for flight. It took some finagling to get some sort of ferry permit and the trip home was begun. Weather became a factor in crossing the nation and the route home took some bizarre twists and turns going North and South almost as much as East. They make it to Valparaso, Indiana where the plane was left to be picked up later. (It has since been retrieved and by all reports is a beautiful airplane.)

The Greenville Pilot’s Ass’n is setting up a Young Eagles event —more information will be coming at a later date.

The VOR at Grand Rapids suffered some serious storm damage and is out of service. The reports are that it may remain out of service permanently.

Meeting Adjourned

Jay Dean Sec/Treas EAA Chapter 704

President’s Message (May 2007)

Welcome back from Sun & Fun! Your tan faces should reveal those who went. Speaking of which,....Kevin Wheeler and Denny Wass will summarize the adventure of flying down and back in a comfy (and slow) Cessna 172. I wonder if it was as exciting (in more ways than one) as Scott Richmond's trip back from California....thanks for sharing your stories with us, Scott.

We have a few things brewing in the agenda cauldron this month. Firstly, we would like to focus on our "Olde Eagles" by allowing them to view the new airport from above. I will be available at 6:00 if any one who has not had the opportunity would like to sail around the patch. If there are any other volunteer pilots willing to offer their services, have your plane on the ramp and ready to go at 6:00pm also. This may delay the start of the regular meeting, but I am sure you wont run out of conversational topics.

After our coffee break, we may amble down to John Gill's hangout and view his progress on his "7". Tom Kozura and John has offered to inform all you builders what to expect in the way of inspections and other milestones in the building process.

Also, if we have time, Tom will perform a “mock” ramp check, with no intimidation. Do we have any volunteers to lay their plane, credentials, and reputation on the line? Please give me a call if you can give "Olde Eagle" rides or art willing to be ramp checked. See you about 6pm on the 14th?

-Vic Johnston

Sorry, the April meeting minutes were not available at time of printing

Accompany Chapter 145...

Dick Foster of EAA Chapter 145 has extended an invitation to our group... Chapter 145 is having a representative from Electroair direct fire ignition systems, Waterford Mi, give a presentation on a new type of ignition system for aircraft. Check it out at www.electroair.net.
Any one who would like to know more is welcome to attend on Friday, May 11, 7:00 pm at Riverview airport.

Message From Dick Foster EAA Chapter 145...

Greetings,

The Young Eagle program has introduced over a million young people to aviation! The future of general aviation is somewhat dependent on how young people view aviation. Good pilots like you are needed to help continue flying young people.

I thought you might want to know that several EAA chapters are sponsoring Young Eagle rallies this summer, and you could be part of the activities. The schedule looks like this: (Rallies run about 9am to 4pm, you can do any part or all.)

• May: Sat. 5/05/07, Kalamazoo Air Zoo
• Sat. 5/12/07, Marshall
• June: Sat. 6/02/07, Riverview
• Sat. 6/23/07, Allegan
• July: Sun. 7/15/07, Hastings
• August: Sat, 8/25/07, Kalamazoo, Boy Scouts

Help is needed to either fly Young Eagles or work as part of the ground crew. If you, friends, or family would like to get in on any part of the fun, please contact:

Jim Butcher (EAA221 Young Eagle Coordinator)
eaa221ye@triton.net
269-375-5923

Dick Foster (EAA145 Young Eagle Coordinator)
rfoster@grcc.edu
616-358-8849

I hope you will enjoy flying young people as much as I do.

-Dick Foster