Whether you fly, build, restore or simply enjoy airplanes and aviation, you are welcome to attend our events and join our Chapter.
We are a group of aviation enthusiasts, aircraft builders, and pilots who get together with like minded people to share ideas, exchange information, encourage safety, serve the local aviation community and have a lot of fun doing so. Please come to our next meeting or event as our guest.
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Into the wild blue yonder
Rob Nunley photo - EAA Chapter 1700 President Jerry Lassiter cuts the ceremonial ribbon at the chapter's home at 422 Old Nashville Hwy. Thursday morning.
The McMinnville-Warren County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting Thursday morning at the new home of Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chapter 1700.
Chamber representatives and other community members gathered at the EAA chapter’s headquarters at 422 Old Nashville Hwy., the former home of Kalco across the street from the Warren County Memorial Airport. Tuesday’s guests were given an explanation of what the group does, especially its commitment to educating students in Warren and surrounding counties through STEM-focused aviation programs, youth outreach and the Young Eagles program, which provides kids ages 8–17 with free introductory flights.
The EAA is a global organization that promotes recreational aviation, with a strong focus on the building and flying of experimental aircraft. Founded in 1953 by Paul Poberezny in Milwaukee, WI., it is now headquartered in Oshkosh, WI. Although its name highlights "experimental" aviation, the EAA supports a broad range of flying interests, including homebuilt planes, vintage restorations, warbirds, ultralights, light-sport aircraft, and general aviation.
The local EAA chapter holds its regular meetings on the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m., where members and visitors alike gather to connect, learn and share their passion for flight. In addition to its monthly meetings, Chapter 1700 hosts “fly-in” pancake breakfasts on the third Saturday of each month from 7:30 to 10 a.m. The breakfasts offer the opportunity for the public to engage with the aviation community in a casual setting and help raise funds for the chapter’s future endeavors, which include a 10,000-square-foot Aviation Leadership Academy classroom which is hoped to be completed by the fall of 2027.
“Obviously we’re in fundraising mode at the moment,” Derek Rowe of EAA told Thursday’s audience. “As you can imagine, this is a very expensive program to put together.”
Both the monthly fly-in breakfast and Young Eagles flights – as well as a ceremony for Aviation Appreciation Day – are scheduled for this Saturday, June 21, at the airport.
Chapter 1700 welcomes all levels of interest. Resources like technical counselors, flight advisors, and educational workshops are available to help explore or deepen involvement in aviation.
Photo and content by Rob Nunley/Main Street Media.
