Welcome to EAA Chapter 54. We speak aviation!

From its beginnings in the late '50s, Chapter 54 of the Experimental Aircraft Association has served aviation enthusiasts, dreamers, aircraft builders, pilots, would-be pilots, and individuals interested in helping young people become aviators in the East Metro of Minnesota's Twin Cities. 

We hold a gathering on the second Monday of each month at the Chapter House at Lake Elmo Airport (21D) to talk aviation and socialize.  We provide Young Eagles rides and aviation scholarships. We help people who are building airplanes.  But you don't need to be a pilot to participate in our activities.

Please come to our next gathering as our guest. Let us know you're coming so you can be properly greeted and introduced to the chapter.

Flying
Saturday Open House: IFR Chart Clinic

Live webinars are back on Saturday mornings at the Chapter 54 House at Lake Elmo Airport. This Saturday (Nov. 1), Chris Baur joins Laura Hermann to conduct the second of his IFR chart clinics.  The clinic will guide you through the complexities of IFR charting. Learn about nomenclature, symbology, and standardization of charting conventions. It will break down how information  is organized, presented, and derived to characterize the instrument flight procedures you might encounter.  The chapter house opens at 830 am. Coffee will be available. Bring treats. The public is welcome!!!

Coming topics in the next month include ATC communications, how to fly to Alaska, the art of changing the oil,  carrying survival gear,  basic engine inspections and threat & error management.

See the Chapter calendar for more learning opportunities.

Events
Gary Powers Jr. speaks to EAA 54 on December 1

The son of the famous U-2 pilot shot down over the Soviet Union in 1960 while flying a CIA spy mission will be speaking at the 54 Chapter House on Monday December 1.  Gary Powers Jr., has written a book about his dad, Francis Gary Powers.  He has lectured on the Cold War, U-2 Incident and the need to honor Cold War veterans, preserve Cold War history, and educate future generations about this time period for over 35 years. His book Spy Pilot: Francis Gary Powers, the U-2 Incident, and a Controversial Cold War Legacy, is intended to "set the record straight in regard to the fake news that surround the U-2 Incident and tarnished my father’s reputation," he told member Jeff Hove, who is arranging the presentation. "It gives an overview of what it was like to grow up in the shadow of a famous Cold War figure, my search for the truth after my father’s 1977 death in a helicopter when I was 12 years old, and how my research led to the USAF and CIA posthumously awarding my father the POW Medal / Director’s Medal and Silver Star in 2000 and 2012."

The event is not the December chapter program and is being funded at Hove's expense, so a donation is being requested by Hove from attendees. The presentation is expected to last one hour.

"My 1-hour program consists of showing a few short video clips and a PowerPoint presentation from a flash drive. During my talk I discuss the Cold War, U-2 Incident and what it was like to be a consultant on Spielberg’s 2015 Cold War thriller, /Bridge of Spies/, that depicts my father’s shootdown and eventual exchange with Pryor for Soviet spy Rudolph Able in 1962 at the Glienicker Bridge in Potsdam, Germany."

While registration is not required, doing so will aid in planning the evening. Please register here.

Welcome 2026!
Pick up your discounted World of Flight Calendars now!

Here's your chance to get your new calendar at a steep discount. The regular price is $16, the regular EAA member price is $14.40, but do we have a deal for Chapter 54 members. The calendar is yours for only $10 and they're available now at the Chapter House. Enjoy the best of aviation photography throughout the year! This 16-month calendar begins with September 2025. Large Writing Squares: From January - December, write down important notes, birthdays, anniversaries, appointments, and more with each month's ample writing space. Professional Images: Enjoy stunning, full-color photographs of various aircraft every single month. Each month highlights unique facts about the featured aircraft. Key Dates and Holidays: All major holidays, moon phases, and key Experimental Aircraft Association, Inc dates are listed. Yeah, that includes Oshkosh.

All chapter news and stories >>