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DECEMBER

Holiday Party seats at a premium

The Chapter House has been decorated and transformed into a banquet center and all that's needed now is you. On Monday December 16 at 6 p.m., we'll be celebrating 2024, which was a fantastic year for Chapter 54 in the first year of president Marlon Gunderson's term.  Chapter awards will be presented, and we'll hold the world premiere of a new movie from Kevin Szalapski. At last count we have about 44 attendees. Only twenty-three members failed to respond so in planning the menu and seating, we are assuming they are not coming. If you haven't RSVP'd, you only need to do so now if you are attending. We'll have pizza, salad, appetizers, and plenty of desserts.  RSVP now. A donation bucket will be available to help defray expenses.

NOVEMBER

Can you spare 2 minutes to improve chapter life?
The EAA National Satisfaction Survey is now available. Frankly, our track record isn't very good over the last few years.  We usually get about 25-30 people who take the time to click a link and answer a few questions. With a chapter our size, that's probably in line with an expected response rate, but that doesn't mean it's a good response rate. The national headquarters will separate the Chapter 54 responses out and send them to us and we often try to glean what they mean, but taking any action based on them with a minority of members participating is a dicey proposition. So, here's a better idea. Just click the link and take the survey. I timed it. It takes 2:30 to complete. That's two minutes and 30 seconds for you to invest in making the chapter better and improving your enjoyment of it. Or maybe you're perfectly happy with things. That's important feedback for our chapter's leaders, too. Take the time.

Coming to the Saturday Open House: ‘What Would You Do’?
Starting on Saturday December 7, EAA Chapter 54 is adding another feature to its Saturday Open House and Safety Seminar Series. The EAA’s VMC Club presentation begins at the conclusion of the safety webinar (which on 12/7 is “Flying the Goodyear Blimp”) and offers an additional opportunity for some “hangar talk” by providing a 4-minute video scenario faced by a pilot, ending with the question: “What Would You Do?”  Subsequent sessions will be added on the first Saturday of each month and is available for Wings program credit.  Coffee is available. So are doughnuts. Sometimes.  The Saturday sessions are a benefit to members who want to socialize and learn piloting judgement from other members. Be sure to stop in!
Saturday Open House topics:
December 7 - Flying the Goodyear Blimp
December 14 - How are instrument procedures made?
December 21 - Flying a challenging mountain approach
December 28 -  No program/Holiday weekend

Minnesota might’ve been the best of times for a lot of aviators who once called the state home, but the rocketship-like career of Paul Dye, the longest-service NASA space shuttle flight director in history probably has pushed those years down on the list a bit. Still, when he spoke to EAA Chapter 54 on November 11, one could almost hear a touch of wistfulness in his via-Google Meet voice.“I started very early and I got a chance to  play around with the J3 (Cub) and flew that a lot and we polished airplanes and cleaned airplanes to raise money,” he recalled about learning to fly here for a grand total of about $500. “It was a great time to grow up, and, and I've always figured that I was going to be in aviation, but I was never quite sure how I was going to do that?” he said.

He was also in a confession mood.“The last time I think I landed at Lake Elmo was probably a few decades ago back before everybody had Mode S transponders.  I had a mode C, but I was flying my RV-8A and I was flying up from Houston and I and it’s very possible that I nicked the corner of the TCA coming downhill.  I said, ‘Oh this is a problem.’ So rather than going straight to Anoka County, landing and getting busted, I just landed at Lake Elmo and I sat on the ramp for 10 minutes because nobody could tell if it's the same airplane.” Read more >>

PIREP: The Pulsar Fly-in
 "I recently attended a reunion of Pulsar builders in Lawrence, Kansas," Chapter 54 member Tom Gibbons writes. "I have not attended in quite some time, but, boy, was it enjoyable to go again. Just to set the story right, I have been working on my experimental aircraft, the Pulsar, since October 1990. I guess I don't know what made it such a slow project all these years except to say life just got in the way.  At one time I remember posting something in our newsletter about selling it, but it never got a hit, which was a good thing because I relented and never thought about it again.  I think, dream, and look at it almost every day as I love this little airplane. Read more >> (Downloads pdf) 

Welcome, new members!

John and Nancy Ostrem, WoonYi Hanson, Joe Connolly, and Drew Lindquist and Dan Bathke have recently joined EAA Chapter 54. Learn about some of them on our new members page. 

OCTOBER

Remembering Bill Schanks

Bill Schanks Sr., who presided over EAA Chapter 54 during its most prolific years, died on October 27, Chapter President Marlon Gunderson announced. "Bill personified aviation at Lake Elmo for many decades," Gunderson said. "He was an early and longtime member of Chapter 54, building his own Acrosport Biplane and serving many roles including President (1999-2001). Bill was a CFI and Tech Counselor, and I was fortunate enough to take my dual instruction from him in my own J5 Cub on the way to earning my PPL. He was always upbeat, ready with a joke or a quip, and had a bottomless supply of entertaining stories. Bill was a founding member of the Holman Hobos aircraft club, which maintained and flew an L2 Taylorcraft (Elvira), and then a Champ after the demise of the Taylorcraft. For decades, on any given Saturday you could find Bill somewhere at a dozen different hangars at 21D helping with the rebuild or repair of some classic airplane. He taught me how to self-annual my own aircraft and introduced me to A&P Jim Montague who would inspect my work and sign off my annuals. Bill was a regular at AirVenture and was a camp instructor at Air Academy for a number of years." Read more >>

A Matrimonial Mission

(October 26, 2024) - The mission was clear: a parade of airplanes would find the spot where the chapter's treasurer was getting married, then crash the party at just the right time.

It was the idea of Luke Hanson, the lucky gentleman set to marry Emma Gaustad, EAA Chapter 54's treasurer. He suggested a flyover at roughly the moment of their nuptials. The military was busy that day, so he turned to Chapter 54 for help. A few exchanged messages later and the plan was put into the hands of VP Jay Schrankler with member Paul Rankin the mission officer and flight planner. Read more and watch video >>

From the Flight Deck: A Message from the President

It's clear to me that we are living up to the mission of our Chapter: providing a way for people to plug into and experience aviation, providing youth with the experience of flight and financial support for aviation camp or training, providing monthly programs that show how regular people can safely access the dream of flight, and helping to build a local community of folks who share a common interest. Read more >>

"Do Something!": Two Days in Oshkosh

It occurred to me about halfway through the two-day EAA Chapter Leadership Academy in Oshkosh October 23-25 that these things must be murder on the chapter leaders back home, what with their attendees coming back with all this enthusiasm and desire to swing into action and all.  But I already had enthusiasm and desire so I didn't really think the EAA's session was going to make much difference. I was wrong. Sorry, Chapter 54 leaders. Brace yourselves!

I’m not the first Chapter 54 member to attend one of these things and I’ve never heard anything but enthusiasm from attendees so perhaps I should’ve expected a caffeine-like injection of ideas. And, really, the whole takeaway from the session can be summed up in EAA Communities Director Charlie Becker’s bottom line: “Do something!”  Read more >>

October summary: The ups and downs of building an RV

Chapter member Bob Collins spent about 12 years building his first RV - an RV-7A with a rich pedigree. Life got in the way -- a lot.  Their time together was short, but the list of stories is long. At the October monthly meeting, he told many of them. Here's a transcript of the presentation, more pictures, additional video, and lots of links with more stories.  Read more >>

Young Eagles season ends 

An estimated 30 Young Eagles helped EAA Chapter 54 conclude the 2024 YE flying season on Saturday October 12, even though some light rain visited Lake Elmo Airport later in the morning.  Special thanks go out to Young Eagles coordinator Dale Seitzer and YE herder Vicky Moore. Our pilots on Saturday were John and Philip Regenold, Bruce Olson, and Don Wishard; Ed Trudeau was in charge of aircraft marshalling; and Leif Erickson staffed the What's Next program at the chapter house.  We hope to see you in May for the 2025 Young Eagles program. See all the photos from the 10/12 event >>

Board of Directors tackles expired memberships.

Be sure to check your renewal date on your Chapter 54 membership; the end may be near. At the monthly meeting, the Board of Directors whittled down the list of expired members, dropping many of them from the chapter.  Members are sent two emails and some members are up to a year in arrears. The Board decided to tidy up the membership roster, which currently stands at over 100 members, but many are expired. Members about to be dropped will receive an email before their account is closed.

The Board also voted to provide a scholarship to one chapter member who has been accepted to the EAA Academy. The Board may provide some assistance to two others but tabled action until its November meeting.

In other Board action: The date of the holiday party has been changed to December 16 to accommodate schedules. Blll Schanks reported he and Jay Schrankler are trying to set up a lunch at Holman's Table. And Bruce Olson reported that Ray Scholarship recipient Anna Chase will have her written exam this month. No applicants for a possible 2025 scholarship have yet been identified but it's expected several may apply.  See meeting minutes >>
Related Link:
October Facilities Report

Please bring a  toy to the November meeting
EAA Chapter 54 is teaming up with the Holiday Tree of Hope committee to collect toys for the holiday season. Thirty-four years ago, members of the aviation community began collecting and delivering toys to hospitals for children who are hospitalized during the holidays.  The organization serves approximately 38 Minnesota hospitals, as well as Ronald McDonald Houses and some women's shelters.  Pilots and others collect toys at EAA chapters, flying clubs, flight schools, etc. and then fly or drive them to the event, which will be held at Anoka County Airport on December 7.  The toys are then tagged with Tree of Hope stickers, sorted by age group, and bagged for the individual hospitals and shelters.  The bags are then delivered by volunteer drivers to the recipient hospitals, Ronald McDonald Houses, and shelters.     Shop for toys for ages infant to 18 now and bring them to the November Chapter 54 meeting on November 11. We'll also need a volunteer to fly or drive the collection to KANE on December 7.

SEPTEMBER

Chapter 54 offers two technical counselors for your project
If you embark on the exciting world of homebuilt aircraft, you'll need to overcome some challenges along the way. The EAA Technical Counselor program can help smooth many of those out. As part of your membership in Chapter 54, you have access to constant and free advice and inspections along the way. But there's more to that. Perhaps you're thinking about building your own airplane, but you need to learn more about the process. Chapter 54's technical counselors - Dale Seitzer and Bob Collins -  are fully prepared to meet with you, show you what's involved in building an airplane, and answer all of your questions. We'll have some, too, because it's important you're undertaking your project for the right reasons. Read more >>

EAA Works to Correct Change in FAA Phase I Flight Test Policy

EAA is concerned about a significant change that appeared in new FAA guidance that sets operating limitations for Phase I flight testing in all experimental aircraft. This change would severely curtail the number of airports an experimental aircraft can utilize during flight testing, negatively impacting safety and effectiveness of flight testing.

The new language only permits operations out of one airport within the designated flight test area. The policy notes that “a second airfield may be listed with valid justification of a specific flight test or safety requirement.” Previous guidance had no specific limitations on number of airports, only requiring that all authorized airports for flight testing be listed by the designated airworthiness representative in Phase I operating limitations. Read more >> 

September Summary: Dale Seitzer's Sky Ranger

Dale Seitzer has held almost every job at Chapter 54: president, newsletter editor, and secretary among them. He's also an EAA technical counselor, which makes sense since he's something of an airplane-building savant of Sky Ranger aircraft.

Seitzer is completing his second such endeavor after flying his original production for 20 years and about 1,400 hours, many of them in the company of a Young Eagle, 180 of them, to be precise. For the record, he's also the author of two books, "The Mormon Conspiracy" and "Zombie Siege," a title which elicited giggles from the three dozen members who gathered at the Chapter House to hear him speak.

"You think that's funny?" he said. "Just wait 'til it happens!"

Seitzer got his start in flying when his wife gave him a certificate for lessons at Wings in downtown St. Paul. After he soloed, "they said, 'well, you're going to need to practice, and this is how much it costs.' And I go, 'Whoa!'. That's when got started in ultralights." Read more >>

Classic chapter Beechcraft goes on sale

Mark Fiebiger, son of the late legendary Chapter 54 member Dave Fiebiger, stopped by the Chapter House to announce that he's selling his dad's airplane. "I'm selling it 'as is,'" he said. "I can't fly it; I don't have a medical."  He said the plane belongs in the air and he's looking for the right buyer.

Fiebiger now lives in Leesburg, Florida and he's encouraging interested pilots to get in touch with him.

The blue-and-white Beech A24RD (N104GD) waas built in 1970.

Act now for Air Academy scholarship!
The date has arrived for would-be participants in an upcoming EAA Air Academy session in Oshkosh to apply for a scholarship from EAA Chapter 54.  The Air Academy is the longest running youth aviation residence camp in the world, entering 2025 with an updated focus and more opportunities for young people engaging with the world of flight.

The six sessions of the Air Academy, which begin June 12 and continue through August 2, are based at the EAA Air Academy Lodge in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The sessions are designed for young people ages 14-18, with age-appropriate activities that connect campers with aviation through flight experiences and hands-on projects.

The sessions include:

Explore Aviation Camp - This experience is equivalent to the long-established EAA Basic and Advanced Air Academy sessions, including flight simulators, hands-on projects, flying experiences, and more. Sessions: (ages 14-15) June 20-25 and June 28-July 3; (ages 16-18) July 15-23 and July 25-August 2, each of which include EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.

Discover Flight Camp - This new camp coming in 2025, and held every other year, allows a deeper dive into aviation through ground-school style lessons covering aerodynamics, navigation, and flight planning. Experience the thrill firsthand on our Redbird flight simulators and enjoy team-building activities, museum tours, and exciting challenges. Sessions: (ages 14-15) June 12-17; (ages 16-18) July 7-12.

Navigating Horizons Camp (coming in 2026) - This camp, rotating every other year with Discover Flight, offers a unique and immersive summer experience for aspiring aviators aged 14 to 18 who are eager to explore the diverse career opportunities within the aviation industry.

Individuals interested in the competition for an Air Academy scholarship from Chapter 54 should contact chapter president Marlon Gunderson.

Fear of vandalism at the Chapter House turned out to be unfounded after a storm with high winds destroyed the doors to the Chapter House's storage area. Nearly a dozen police officers initially responded to the report that someone had kicked in the doors at the House, as officer thought someone might be inside.

But an inspection the next day revealed the actual culprit: wind. The doors were rotted and unlocked, and were on the list of projects for Bob Collins, the facilities manager. With winds in the storm reportedly reaching over 70 mph, the doors were literally sucked from their hinges.

Collins found all the debris outside of the storage unit and nothing was touched inside. That allayed the fears of many at Lake Elmo Airport, who had heard that an intruder inflicted damage on the chapter's headquarters.

Collins cleaned up the mess, cut out the old door frame, and built and installed new, beefier doors on September 4th.

The only other damage at the facilities is connectors on the cable that holds the American flag on the flagpole went missing. New parts are on order.

AUGUST 20024

Chapter hits it out of the park with fly-in breakfast

Chapter 54 hasn't hosted a fly-in since before the pandemic and a few of us didn't know what to expect or what we were doing. But the chapter members, relatives, and friends really came together to pull off a great event on a gorgeous day. This event was critical for the chapter, not only because we need the funds to provide scholarships and other activities, but because we just needed to be together again. A lot of us know each other but we haven't really had the chance to work closely together and have a good time doing it. That was the fun of the day; working as a team --- a chapter, one might say -- to make it happen. And we did. A special thank you to everyone who helped clean up (we see you there, Jeff Hove! And Al! And Bruce! And Gregg! And Alvaro! And Linda! And so many more!). We learned a lot for the next time we do this.  Financial figures aren't yet available; we've got plenty of bills to pay. We'll get everyone's suggestions and experiences at next Monday's regular chapter meeting. See pictures from the event here. We need more pictures from the flight line. Please send them along.

We'd like to thank these volunteers who made the fly-in possible:

Kitchen team: Dan Theis, Stephen Brown, Vicky Moore, Gregg Adler, John Roznick, Bruce Olson, Bill Schanks, Roger Westerberg, Jon Dekko, Joe Brown , Carolie Collins, Nancy Ostrem, Luke Hanson, Brandon Bennett (Team lead: Bob Collins)
Dining team: Diane Syverson, Linda Amble, Paul Hove, Susan and Kelly Schmidt (Team lead: Jeff Dale)
Auto Parking: Guy Freeman, Harry Holmberg, Mary Holmberg, Alvaro Domenighi, John Ostrem, Stan Ross, Neil Shoenheider, John Tangen, Mike Graczyk, Niki Paton (Team lead: Ed Trudeau)
Aircraft marshaling: Jeff Hove, Dave Syverson, Craig Mueller, Patrick Mally, Scott Hanson, Barry Dayton, Dan Bergstrom, Don Wishard,  Alex Repucci (Team lead: Tom Gibbons)
The Anoka Civil Air Patrol cadets led by Corey Bonk, Shari Morris, and Nate Bostrom
Ticketing and sales: Jay Schrankler, Evanglos Savvas, Al Meuli, Chip Berniard, Ellory Berniard (Team lead: Emma Gaustad)
Chapter 54 Table: Marlon Gunderson, Isaac Knutsen family, Dale Seitzer, Chase family, Leif Erickson, Jay Schrankler
Operations/Safety officer: Paul Rankin
Head chef and planner: Jim Pearsall
Publicity: Leif Erickson
Tables and chairs: Al Kupferschmidt

We'd like to thank Chris Bliska and Troy DeWitt, who have graciously allowed us to use their hangars. Lake Elmo Aero  donated coolers to us and bailed us out with additional water. The Lions Club made tables and chairs available.

Special thanks to Phil Tiedemann and the crew of the Metropolitan Airports Commission, who were instrumental in providing guidance to us.

Bryan Trinka, Crystal Tower Air Traffic Manager, was instrumental in helping us get approval for a temporary control "tower" to help pilots safely arrive and depart Lake Elmo Airport during the event, and volunteered time in the "tower" along with several colleagues.

The "tower" was a flatbed trailer donated by Jim Anderson.

The Lions Club  made tables and chairs available for our use.

Sam Hammerbeck brought the Huey helicopter over from New Richmond. And the Anderson family allowed the display of the "Bamboo Bomber."

We'd also like to thank President John Schmidt and the fine folks at EAA Chapter 25 at Airlake Airport in Lakeville, Minn., for the use of their rotating pancake grill. Chapter 25's Al Knudsen was a terrific resource with fine-tuning the set-up.  Al built the griddle and drove from Chaska to help us.

Young Eagles event kicks off busy weekend for the Chapter
More than two dozen young people got a taste of what flying is all about on Saturday (August 10) when the Chapter held its monthly Young Eagles Day. The program is dedicated to giving youth ages 8–17, an opportunity to go flying in a general aviation airplane. These flights are offered free of charge and are made possible through the generosity of EAA Chapter 54 member volunteers. It’s the only program of its kind, with the sole mission to introduce and inspire kids in the world of aviation. After the flight, Young Eagles are invited to learn about how the world of aviation can be in their future. See photos of Saturday's flyers. The Young Eagles Day kicked off a busy weekend for Chapter volunteers. On Sunday, they're scheduled to help provide a fly-in pancake breakfast during which volunteers can inspect planes up close.

Safety seminar analyzes 2022 fatal accident
At the August 3 session of the Saturday coffee and wings seminar, attendees analyzed a 2022 fatal accident in Cassia County, Idaho when a pilot emerged from IFR conditions only to strike a potato plant tower that was spewing snowflakes into her path.

"Maybe there was pressure from the boss to leave early today," analyst Kyle Lewis said about the corporate flighty. "Always take a step back and say 'is this worth it?' and try to mitigate that."

The pilot had earlier made an approach too fast. On her second try she was about 20 knots slower. Almost as soon as she dropped out of the clouds, she ran into the plume from the smokestack. (See the video analysis)

The crash killed Chelsea Brittney Infanger, a 30 year old pilot with ratings including  commercial, instrument, multiengine, CFI, CFII, MEI, tailwheel, and seaplane. 

The Saturday open house at the EAA Chapter 54 house provides important safety information as well as free coffee and doughnuts and the opportunity for hangar talk.

Those who attend at least 50 minutes of the presentation are awarded Wings credit. Find the date and topic of the next session here.

Group camping at Oshkosh

It's all over but the COVID!  Oshkosh has come and gone for another year. Several members took advantage of the Chapter's group campsite in Camp Scholler, with sites reserved for us by headquarters.  Thanks to Bill Schanks Jr., for again coordinating this year's campsite. You can find his pictures here. At the next meeting of the Chapter, you can hear the stories and experiences of those who attended this year's AirVenture. Why not circle your calendar now and join us in 2005. AirVenture will be held July 21-27. Somewhere around March, we'll open reservations for a Chapter 54 campsite.

Pancake breakfast brings out the volunteers
Things are progressing nicely for next Sunday's (August 11) pancake breakfast fly-in. The big need now is for you to flood your social media accounts with invitations to let people know about it.  You can find a copy of the flyer on the front page of the website. If you visit the chapter house, you'll find things a little bit crowded as we're using it as a staging area for the event, which will be held in a nearby hangar. If you've volunteered, you should have received some communication from the person in charge of your area by now. If not, please let Marlon, Jay, or Bob know. The Board of Directors will go over final preparations this Monday night. We'll begin the set up for the event on Saturday August 10. Chapter 25 at Airlake is letting us use their griddle for the event. We'll test it out on Saturday evening so if anyone wants pancakes for dinner, all you have to do is volunteer to help set up.

Thanks go to these volunteers:
Kitchen team: Dan Theis, Stephen Brown, Vicky Moore, Gregg Adler, John Roznick, Bruce Olson, Bill Schanks, Roger Westerberg, Joe Dekko, Joe Brown (Team lead: Bob Collins
Dining team: Diane Syverson, Linda Amble, Paul Hove, Carolie Collins (Team lead: Jeff Dale)
Auto Parking: Guy Freeman, Harry Holmberg, Mary Holmberg, Alvaro Domenighi
Aircraft marshaling: Jeff Hove, Dave Syverson, Craig Mueller, Patrick Mally, Scott Hanson, Barry Dayton, Dan Bergstrom, Don Wishard (Team lead: Tom Gibbons)
Ticketing and sales: Jay Schrankler, Evanglos Savvas, Al Meuli, Chip Berniard, Ellory Berniard (Team lead: Emma Gaustad)
Chapter 54 Table: Marlon Gunderson, Isaac Knutsen family, Dale Seitzer, Chase family, Leif Erickson, Robyn Stoller, Jay Schrankler
Operations/Safety officer: Paul Rankin
Head chef and planner: Jim Pearsall
Publicity: Leif Erickson
Tables and chairs: Al Kupferschmidt

We'd also like to thank the fine folks at EAA Chapter 25 at Airlake Airport in Lakeville, Minn., for the use of their grill.

BREAKING: Anna Chase solos!

From Bruce Olson comes breaking news: "This morning (June 20th), Anna Chase flew her first solo. I was there to watch with her dad Donavan and her mom and her brother. We waited patiently while she went around the pattern multiple times before she taxied back and dropped off her instructor. Then 3 times around the patch with near perfect landings." Anna is Chapter 54's second Ray Scholarship recipient, which is administered by Bruce. Through the program, EAA is able to provide deserving youths up to $11,000 to help cover flight training expenses.  She was officially named the chapter's scholarship recipient on May 13, 2024. See photos >>

From the Flight Deck
Summer has arrived, which means great event destinations are available every weekend (see our website’s Regional FlyIn Calendar maintained by director Paul Hove). On June 9th, I headed to the Rush City Flight Breakfast in my Cozy, despite high and gusty winds, to enjoy the free breakfast offered to visiting PICs. A squadron of CAP Cadets from ANE were doing a fantastic job of marshaling aircraft there, and on their recommendation I’ve reached out to our local 21D CAP wing to see if they could do the same for us at our August 11th Flight Breakfast. The parking squad saw fit to park me at show center between the B-25 and the SkyRaider (flown by a veteran and farmer from eastern Iowa). Read Marlon's President's Letter >>

Free stuff for your hangar!

For a limited time, find some goodies for your hangar and airplane in the entryway of the EAA Chapter 54 house. Vicky Moore is cleaning out their hangar and she's offered multiple things to you for free. We don't have the space to store anything, so please be stop and pick what you want as soon as possible. Sorry, the floor jack has already been claimed (me!).  There are hoses and clamps and greases and a lifetime supply for Marvel Mystery Oil still available.

Saturday coffee and Wings

The  last Saturday coffee and safety seminar at the Chapter House until August will be held on June 22 when we'll jump into electrical system basics. I had hoped to provide the session about flying into Oshkosh the following Saturday , but, alas, I'll be driving to Vermont. The Chapter House opens at 8:45. Coffee is served. Bring your own snacks.  There will be no meetings in July and, hopefully, by August, attendance on Saturday will be awarded credits in the FAA's Wings Program.

Now, THAT was a picnic
Take a thriving chapter, add in a perfect early summer (almost!) evening and non-stop food and you've got the makings of a perfect picnic. Dozens of members, families and guests (from as far away at New Hampshire!) made their way to the big top at the base of the Lake Elmo Airport beacon to renew and sometimes make acquaintances.  Following the picnic, members visited the hangar of several members with stories to tell. We need to do this more often!  The chapter really came together to pull this off so it's difficult to cite individuals for making it happen but we do want to extend particular appreciation for Tent Captain Gregg Adler, Jim Pearsal and their work gang for putting up the tent, Dale Seitzer for the music, Bruce Olson for the cooking,  Marlon Gunderson for the catering, and Jay Schrankler for organizing the tour. We've got pictures, if not clever captions. Find them all here.

Board of Directors June meeting

(June 4) - In a lightning-fast one hour meeting, the Chapter 54 Board of Directors tackled dozens of subjects as the chapter's activities are in full swing. Among the new business, directors planned next Monday's annual chapter picnic settling on the menu and time (6pm). A $5 donation per person is appreciated. Dale Seitzer will provide music. Following the picnic, members and guests will tour a number of members' hangars and hear about what goes on therein. The Facilities Report included the fact the deck has been sanded and restained. The picnic table is still due for a couple of coats of polyurethane.  The Treasurer's Report included details of a number of charitable contributions, including from those memorializing Dave Becker and there was discussion about the August fly-in pancake breakfast. Additional committee chairpersons were named, including Emma Gaustad to handle finances, Leif Erickson for publicity, and Ed Trudeau for parking. The chapter is looking for volunteers to help coordinate the transport of the grill, setup and cleanup, and we're looking for a long, flat trailer that could serve the needs of an FAA temporary tower.  See the meeting minutes. >>> 

Saturday coffee and Wings

Four people attended last Saturday's coffee and safety seminar at the Chapter House, which is held on Saturdays in which the Twins aren't playing home games and no other chapter activities are scheduled. The next session on Saturday June 15 with the topic being safely flying seaplanes. On June 22, we'll jump into electrical system basics, and at the end of the month - June 29, the topic will be preparing for Oshkosh. The Chapter House opens at 8:45. Coffee is served. Bring your own snacks.  There will be no meetings in July and, hopefully, by August, attendance on Saturday will be awarded credits in the FAA's Wings Program.

Go fly, go places!
Bill Schanks Jr., organizes fly-outs for chapter members almost every weekend. At Monday night's Board of Directors meeting, he said he rarely gets responses to his announcements. Maybe you're shy. Maybe you don't know other pilots. Or maybe you don't think you can tag along as a passenger. Just, as someone once said, do it! On Sunday June 9, the Chapter 54 group will fly to Rush City for a fly-in. The Lions are holding a pancake breakfast. "I'd like to meet by the observation deck about 8:30am, depart about 8:45," Bill said in his most recent email. "If anyone wants to leave earlier, I'm fine with that. For those interested, please let me know, so I can try to find seats for people without a plane."

MAY 2024

Sim pits and the passion of flight
Jeff Dale acknowledges he's not a certificated pilot, though he'd like to be one of these days. But his ability to fly will probably come because his Dad moved the family to Japan when he was young. "My dad's company was going to buy us a new home computer. We had one, my dad used for grad school but the new computer we were getting was going to have a mouse. And it was going to have the new Windows 95." Hubba hubba. That computer, with that spiffy mouse and Windows 95, unlocked a passion, he told the May 13 meeting of EAA Chapter 54, "because it meant we'd be able to play video games on it."  Granted it took a little bit more. A war, for one.  Read more >>

Annual chapter survey released
The annual Chapter 54 member survey was presented to members at the monthly meeting on May 13. Under the direction of Vice President Jay Schrankler and with the assistance of Scott Hanson, the survey is intended to determine of chapter activities are aligning with member wishes. Though, less than half of the members took the survey, which was conducted January to March, it was a sizeable participation increase over 2023's survey.  See the survey results >>

Anna Chase named Ray Scholarship recipient for 2024
At the regular monthly meeting of Chapter 54 on May 13, Anna Chase was named the recipient of the second Ray Scholarship ever offered by the chapter. All of her flight lessons and expenses, up to $11,000, will be covered by the scholarship. It helps that she knows a guy. Her dad, Chase, is a chapter member who happens to have an airplane. At Monday's meeting, Ray Scholarship coordinator Bruce Olson presented Anna with a T-shirt with lines marked for her flight instructor to cut upon her first solo. Under terms of the scholarship, Ms. Chase must complete her flight training within a year. Read more about the Ray Scholarship program. >>

A fantastic start to Young Eagles season

It would be impossible to ask for a more perfect day than the one that greeted 30 Young Eagles and their families at Lake Elmo Airport on Saturday May 11. An amazing eight pilots volunteered - Dale Seitzer, Leo Correa, Scott Hanson, John Regenold, Bruce Olson, Chip Berniard, Don Wishard, and Tom Seehler. Among the ground volunteers was Vicky Moore, doing her usual incredible job of coordinating the matching of Eagle to pilot; Jim Pearsall, Greg Adler, and Ed Trudeau. Marlon Gunderson provided I.T. support. And Leif Erickson staffed a "What's Next" program at the Chapter House.The crowd was enthusiastic and the shouts of joy in some cases was exactly what you want out of a Young Eagles rally. Sadly, the only tragedy was the death of our new Young Eagles banner, which did not survive a ferocious wind on Friday evening. See all the pictures from the event >>

Maintenance tips for working on your airplane
Whether you have a certificated airplane, an amateur built experimental or a light sport airplane there are several maintenance actions you can do on your own airplane.  These tips will apply to whatever you are working on.  All these tips are the result of mistakes I made in the past. You can measure ability by the effectiveness of recovery from mistakes. Read Dale Seitzer's article >>

Board of Directors previews survey results
Chapter 54's Board of Directors met in person (mostly) at the Chapter House on Monday night with the results of the all-chapter survey the primary topic of the agenda. The survey was commissioned by the board to be sure the chapter's direction aligns with members' interest. Of the 79 current members, about 35 took the survey, which immediately raised questions about whether the Board got viable data to answer the question. The Board discussed how to present this data to the chapter at the regular monthly meeting next Monday. Most responses were self evident, but a few -- such as "do you feel valued and welcomed"  -- are open to different interpretations.

The Board also got an update from Jim Pearsall on planning for the fly-in August.  Members should be advised that this is an all-hands-on-deck event and participation to help is expected from all members.

The Board also approved the purchase of baseboard trim to complete the interior chapter house renovations.

See the minutes >>

APRIL 2024

Flying to Canada
The bottom line of last Saturday's seminar at the Chapter House was don't bother flying to Canada if you're on Basic Med. Canada does not recognize the FAA's medical certification alternative. Other than that, Paul Jackson provided great information on how to fly your plane to Canada as part of the FAAST Team's Saturday morning safety seminar, which Chapter 54 provides on occasional Saturdays over coffee. Laura Hermann also announced that the safety seminars will now be provided on a YouTube channel, although they're not eligible for Wings credit when viewed on demand.  On an as-able basis (basically, Saturdays when the Twins don't play a day game, or a Young Eagles Day), EAA Chapter 54 invites its members and visitors to stop by the Chapter House for a cup of coffee and the Saturday Morning Coffee and Wings Seminar.  The House is also heated every Saturday for those who wish to stop by. Email Bob Collins for the door passcode.   See schedule >>

David Becker, 1945-2024

David Dean Becker, born December 5, 1945, passed away peacefully in Chanhassen, Minnesota on Friday, April 19, 2024. Dave was the second born son to Walter and Alvera Becker of South St. Paul, Minnesota. After graduating from South St. Paul High School, he went on to earn his certification as a Tool and Die maker and was able to utilize his skills in the Army where he served his country as a machinist. In 1977, Dave was hired by 3M as a Systems Control Technician. After 30 years at 3M, Dave retired as a Senior Technologist. His retirement was spent pursuing his love of flying.
David's passion for flying started shortly after high school when he earned his private pilot's license. After a few years of hobby flights, he decided to train as an aerobatic pilot which required parachute training. Dave took his first jump course to learn parachute safety and quicky traded in his wings for a parachute. While working as a jump instructor, David met his wife Monta as she took her first of many jumps. On July 28, 1972, Dave and Monta married while living overseas in Australia.

Dave had a love of photography and was rarely seen without his camera. He combined his love of jumping with his love of photography by welding a camera and camcorder to his helmet, photographing and videoing thousands of amateur and professional skydivers.
After 2,000 jumps, Dave retired from jumping and went back to his first love: flying. Dave joined the EAA Chapter 54 Flying Club in Lake Elmo, MN and immediately got involved with the Young Eagles program. Dave served as a pilot and Certified Flight Instructor for many years, providing free plane rides to kids from the ages of 8-17. In his favorite plane, the Piper Archer, Dave introduced the aviation experience to hundreds of kids, giving them the opportunity to take the controls once in the air.

In December 2021, Dave and Monta moved to Riley Crossing in Chanhassen, MN where he was the self-appointed greeter, spending his days welcoming residents and visitors to the building. Throughout his life, Dave went out of his way to make others smile. Whether it was a joke told at breakfast, a card or impromptu song on your birthday, or the red clown nose he put on any time a child walked by, Dave made it a personal goal to make people smile.
Dave is preceded in death by his parents Walter and Alvera Becker and brother Ken Becker. He is survived by his wife, Monta Becker, sister-in-law Mary Becker (Ken), niece Kelly Sorkin (David), nephew Kevin Becker, and grandnephews Aaron and Eli Sorkin.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the EAA Chapter 54 Young Eagles Program. Donations made in Dave's honor will be put towards their scholarship program which sponsors young pilots for a week at the EAA Air Academy. All are welcome to join us immediately following the service to celebrate Dave the only way we know how: with Burgers and a Beer! Location details will be available after the service.

Donations can be sent via the below link or by mailing a check to EAA Chapter 54 or donate online.
Lake Elmo Airport-EAA Building
Attn: Treasurer
3275 Manning Ave North Suite 7
Lake Elmo, MN 55042

Pancake planning underway in earnest

The steering committee and interested volunteers met at the chapter house on Saturday April 13 as planning begins for the first chapter fundraiser since the pandemic. A fly-in breakfast will be held on Sunday August 11. It's a huge effort to pull off, and all chapter members will be expected to help as the chapter's programs depend on fundraising revenue to continue. Please mark your date now and be thinking of what roles you'd like to play.  For more information, see this dedicated page for the fly-in planning.

MAC reliever boss brings positive vibe to chapter
Joe Harris, the head of reliever airports for the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) gave an upbeat report on the area's airport situation during the regular monthly meeting of EAA Chapter 54 on April 8, 2024. It was a relatively sparsely attended gathering, possibly owing to the solar eclipse earlier in the day.

Chief among the positive vibes was the fact that, at least for storage tenants a Lake Elmo Airport, MAC fees are going down.

"The last time we looked at our rates and charges for our reliever reports was 2014," he told the group. "From about 2000 to 2014, we adjusted rates and charges every other year.  We're lowering the annual escalator from how it's written into the ordinance today. So that's a good message because that represents about 95% of my audience and when I say that I'm expecting the public hearing not to go too bad. Now they might still say, 'hey, they're high.' Okay, fair. We're not cheap. We get it but what we hope and what we offer to you and services is unmatched, the reality is as all six of our reliever reports today." Read more about the meeting >>

First Young Eagles rally scheduled
Registration has just opened for the first Chapter 54 Young Eagles Day of the summer. Slots are very limited as the day depends on having enough volunteers. You can sign up young people 8-17 here.  We're always looking for pilot volunteers and ground support personnel. Chapter members can find the requirements here.

Saturday morning safety seminars
On an as-able basis (basically, Saturdays when the Twins don't play a day game nor a Young Eagles Day), EAA Chapter 54 invites its members and visitors to stop by the Chapter House for a cup of coffee and the  Saturday Morning Coffee and Wings Seminar.  Although these seminars are eligible for Wings credit, we're unable to provide the credit because we don't have a FAAS team representative to monitor attendance. If you register separately, you will not be able to obtain Wings credit unless you log in separately and the chapter house WiFi cannot handle the additional bandwidth at this time. See schedule >>

April Board of Directors Meeting
The April meeting of the EAA Chapter 54 Board of Directors was held on Monday April 1 with eight of 13 directors attending, enough for a quorum. Directors discussed planning for the August pancake fly-in and got their first look at the chapter survey, which revealed - among other things - that most of you aren't reading this. Thirty-five  members  clicked the link to take the survey, which will be used to align the chapter's focus to their desires. The survey will be discussed at the May regular chapter meeting.  See the minutes >>

St. Paul tower controllers seek to reduce air conflicts
Meeting with area pilots, including several chapter members,  at South St. Paul's Fleming Field, two tower controllers from downtown St. Paul Airport sought to enlist help in reducing the number of traffic conflicts between pilots arriving and leaving South St. Paul and air traffic -- mostly jets -- arriving downtown. To be sure, the controllers noted that conflicts have been substantially reduced over the last few years in the East Metro because of increased emphasis on "hot zones" by ATC and the FAA. Read more >>

The last quarterly newsletter
"With the advent last year of the EAA SiteCore based Chapter 54 website, brought to you by the amazing, talented, national website award winning, RV-12 building, Bob Collins, with its new web pages and semi-monthly eBeacons bringing frequent news of chapter meetings, board meetings, activities, and other airport news, the quarterly Beacon 'newsletter' has become even more of an anachronism, and conveniently so because your newsletter editor is now the chapter president and wishes not to wear both those hats. The only content from prior Beacon Newsletters that is not now covered by semi- monthly eBeacon dispatches is the president's column, but Bob has enabled SiteCore's 'president's page' on the website to let me place that content there. So here's your last Beacon, and/or inaugural website based President's Column. I'll be posting a president's column at least quarterly, if not more frequently. May the Beacon Rest In Peace, or explode into a continuous Roman Candle of eBeacons, however you want to think about it. [ed. note: eBeacon will now be known simply as "The Beacon"]

As alluded to in my brief State of the Chapter segment of the January Member meeting, the Board took up the topic of the chapter's ongoing budget deficit for covering the fixed, mostly clubhouse related, chapter expenses, and in March the Board approved a resolution to increase chapter annual membership dues, effective June 1st, from $25/year to $40/year for individual memberships. Student/family memberships will increase from $10/$30 to $20/$50 per year, respectively. The last dues increase coincided with the acquisition and completion of the chapter clubhouse over 20 years ago which ushered in the fixed expenses of building lease, insurance, heat, and electric costs that needed to be covered by membership dues. These costs, unlike our dues, have not stayed constant for 20 years, particularly in the recent inflationary years, plus we've also added the recurring cost of internet service to enable hybrid meetings and webinars and other internet content at the clubhouse. Our fixed costs are currently a bit over $4000/year and we've been running near 100 chapter members; this has informed our choice of dues amount." - Marlon Gunderson
Read all about it >>

MARCH 2024

Preliminary report issued in Moore/Zahler crash
The NTSB last week issued its preliminary findings in the crash of Pat Moore's Globe Swift on March 2 in Afton. The crash claimed the life of Moore and Mitch Zahler, both members of Chapter 54. As with all preliminary reports, the NTSB did not provide any cause of the crash, although a reader might find details to lead to speculation. In the report, the NTSB noted that its inspection that the #2 and #4 top spark plugs were both carbon fouled, but damage prevented any compression testing. This link downloads the report to your device.

Chapter 54 event culminates Learn to Fly Week
On May 18, EAA Chapter 54 will be hosting a Flying Start Day at the Lake Elmo Chapter House as part of the EAA's Learn to Fly Week, a national campaign to help aspiring pilots take flight. Leading up to the Flying Start event, individuals interested in learning to fly can participate in variety of free interactive webinars hosted live. These webinars will run May 15 through May 19, and cover topics ranging from getting started in flight training, how to save time and money, and other flight training tips. Webinars are free to attend, but pre-registration is required. Events for Chapter 54 are being coordinated by Evangelos Savvas. At this point, the chapter is not intending to offer Eagle Flights unless mentor pilot members volunteer, but we may need volunteers to help at the chapter house. Flying Start Day is consistent with the chapter members' interests in attracting new faces to aviation and our chapter. Read more >> 

Emma Gaustad earns instrument rating

(March 15) - Congratulations are in order for Emma Gaustad, Chapter 54's treasurer, who received her instrument rating on Friday, finishing up a checkride from earlier in the week. On Tuesday, she passed most of her checkride with flying colors but because of wind shear concerns, the checkride completion was pushed to Friday. Emma received her private pilot certificate in 2022.

Observation area opens for the season

(March 13)  - The Lake Elmo Airport observation area, maintained by Chapter 54, has opened for 2024, a sure sign of an early spring. The tarps were removed from the recently restained benches (still not sure that stain is going to be durable). New brochures and magazines were added to the protected display box. Later in the spring or early summer, we'll start scraping and then restaining the pergola. We may also plant some shade plants around the base of a tree.

Chapter members hear from the Sonex president; remember Moore, Zahler
(March 11) - About three dozen people at the chapter house and a handful online heard from the president of Sonex at the monthly meeting Monday evening. Mark Schaible described his company's effort to keep aviation affordable. He said an introduction to experimental aviation should cost more than a nice, new car.

Earlier in the meeting, members had a chance to reflect on their friends, Mitch Zahler and Pat Moore, who were killed on March 2 when their plane crashed in Afton.

And the chapter announced this year's recipient of the Ray Scholarship for flight training. Read more >>

Funeral services set for two chapter members

Funeral services have now been announced for EAA Chapter 54 members Pat Moore and Mitch Zahler, who were killed Saturday March 2 when Moore's Globe Swift went down in Afton, shortly after taking off from Lake Elmo Airport. Moore, 85, of White Bear Lake, and Zahler, 68, of Baytown Township, were enroute to the Fagen Fighters Aviation Museum in Granite Falls with a group of other aviators, according to an email from member Bill Schanks Jr., who had departed the airport just before the Swift. While names of the victims circulated within the chapter over the weekend, the county sheriff's office made the identifications public Monday afternoon.

A celebration of life for Pat Moore will be held on March 15, 2024 from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm with a time of remembrance at 5:00 pm at Mueller Memorial, 4738 Bald Eagle Avenue, White Bear Lake, MN 55110. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Pat's name to the Swift Museum Foundation, 223 County Road 552, Athens, TN 37303 (see obituary).

Funeral services for Mitch Zahler will be held on April 5, 2024 at Rockpoint Church, 5825 Kelvin Ave N, Lake Elmo with visitation from 9-11 a.m. with a Celebration of Life at 11 a.m. A full obituary is pending from Bradshaw Funeral Home.  See full story >>

Two chapter members killed in Afton crash
EAA Chapter 54 members Pat Moore and Mitch Zahler were killed Saturday March 2 when Moore's Globe Swift went down in Afton, shortly after taking off from Lake Elmo Airport. Moore, 85, of White Bear Lake, and Zahler, 68, of Baytown Township, were enroute to the Fagen Fighters Aviation Museum in Granite Falls with a group of other aviators, according to an email from member Bill Schanks Jr., who had departed the airport just before the Swift.

"Pat Moore and Mitch Zahler were both engaged chapter members, generous with their time and talent for the good of the chapter and the community," EAA Chapter 54 President Marlon Gunderson said. Read more >>

FEBRUARY 2024

Voluntary noise abatement plan approved
(Feb. 28) - A plan to mitigate noise complaints by some neighbors of Lake Elmo Airport won approval by the Lake Elmo Airport Advisory Commission on Tuesday. The document recommends that pilots at the airport avoid “touch-and-go operations” and avoid “repetitive activity over residences, including when conducting flight-training activities.” It also asks pilots to “choose a path that avoids flying over residential areas if practical … when departing the traffic pattern.” The document also suggests that pilots avoid operating aircraft during nighttime hours, from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., Mary Divine, of the Pioneer Press, reported. The plan, officially called the Noise Abatement Recommended Practices document, will be published by MAC by March 31 and distributed to Lake Elmo Airport users. You can find the LEAAC meeting presentation here.

Among the recommendations is Runway 32 as the preferred runway, following the PAPI glideslope, flying the traffic pattern at the appropriate altitude (1000 feet AGL for props or 1933' indicated), flying a tight traffic pattern, using the full length of the runway, avoiding stop-and-go operations, and avoiding repetitive flights over the neighbors.

Important chapter survey now underway

(Feb. 26) - Chapter 54's Board of Directors has been assembling a chapter survey in recent months to make sure the chapter's efforts align with members' wishes and to ascertain whether a future is possible in an era of declining volunteerism. Over the weekend, membership director Scott Hanson opened the survey to members and your participation is absolutely vital.

Please take the survey here. The results will be presented at an upcoming membership meeting.

Aviation Groups, Skydivers Oppose Part Of Reauthorization Bill
A contentious section of the latest version of the FAA Reauthorization bill has survived the Senate markup and seven organizations have written Congress urging it be scrapped at the conference committee stage. The Air Tour and Sport Parachuting Safety Act would require sightseeing businesses, including heritage flight operations at aviation museums, to operate under Part 135. They now operate under Part 91 through letters of authorization. It also requires recurrent training on terrain avoidance and weight and balance calculations and the installation of terrain warning devices. The letter says most of the small businesses engaged in those types of operations will not be able to afford the measures. Read more on AVWEB.

Marlon's 'fireside chat'
At the regular chapter meeting on Monday February 12, chapter vice president Jay Schrankler hosted a fireside chat with chapter president Marlon Gunderson, part of Marlon's plan to get to know chapter members better and be an even more welcoming chapter to members and visitors. He detailed his journey from a farm in Mora to California and back, a career as an engineer, and now the presidency of a chapter. It's a compelling story. Read more >>

Cinema 54 debuts in March

Starting prior to the March meeting, we invite you to come by the Chapter House a little earlier than usual to watch a documentary or aviation-themed feature film. We call it Cinema 54.  Popcorn will be available, and soda/pop can be purchased out of the refrigerator as usual. Bring your dinner, Showtime is set so that the movie ends at exactly 6:45 p.m., just in time for the chapter meeting social hour.  Potential members are invited to stop by and say "hello" and get to know us. 

Schedule of Films*
March: Barnstorming (5:55 pm)
April: Top Gun: Maverick  (4:15 pm)
May: Sully (5:05 pm)
June: Amelia (4:55 pm)
July: Cubs 2 Oshkosh (6:10 pm)
August: The Aviator (4:35 pm)
September: The Spirit of St. Louis (4:30 pm)
October: A Century of Flight: Those Daring Young Men (5:15 pm)
November: For the Love of Flight (6:05 pm)
December: Devotion  (4:25 pm)
January 2025: Up (5 pm)
February 2025: Planes (5:15 pm)
March 2025: Airplane (5:18 pm

* Tentative. All films subject to change at the last minute.

Chapter board holds monthly meeting

 The EAA Chapter 54 Board of Directors held its monthly meeting on February 5, making comparatively quick work of a packed agenda as the new administration settles in. Among the efforts of board members is the creation and distribution of a chapter survey, under the direction of Vice President Jay Schrankler. It's vitally important that members take a few minutes to respond to the survey to ensure that the effort of the chapter are matching your interests.  The Board, under the direction of Ed Trudeau and Scott Hanson, are also trying to update the membership roster and contact members who are in arrears on dues to determine their future with the chapter.

Past President Leif Erickson announced he's been working with the Sodbusters RC Club to set up activities in the Chapter House during and after Young Eagle flights to help interested young people learn more about aviation and the next steps they could take after their flights.

In other board updates:
   * Benches from the observation area have been restained and returned to their location. Their departure from the chapter house allowed the initial creation of an "office area" in the house addition. The small desk, formerly located in the meeting area, has been moved to that area. An effort will shortly begin to organize and inventory items currently stored on the "shelf".z
   * Emma Gaustad, chapter treasurer, is going to research the feasibility of adjusting the PayPal options on the website so the chapter isn't footing the fee for the convenience when members renew or join via the online site. She reported a positive cash flow ($28.74!) in January although the chapter is generally not covering fixed expenses without dipping into reserves.
   * There was discussion about whether the chapter will provide scholarship help for Air Academy attendance and, if so, when? To the Board's knowledge there are no candidates who've appeared this year.
   * Some discussion took place about Flying Start Week, May 13-18 but with the lack of pilots, a Friday afternoon national Flying Start Day, and a Young Eagles rally on Saturday, support did not materialize.
See Ed Trudeau's minutes and director reports>>

JANUARY 2024

The Amsden-Frank Newsletter Archive
All available newsletters from Chapter 54 have been digitized and are available in the archive. More than 55 years of newsletters have been converted to pdf format thanks to the foresight of chapter members Rosemary Frank and Al Amsden. Frank wrote many of the newsletters and kept meticulous minutes (many of which are attached to the digitized newsletters) as the longtime chapter secretary through the '80s and '90s. Al Amsden saved almost every one of the newsletters, donating his collection to the chapter. The archive, which is available via the drop-down menu under "Newsletters" is organized by decade and each month's primary content is noted on the page.

The newsletter has had several names over its lifespan from EAA Chapter 54 News to Speed's News to The Beacon. Much of the content is valuable today, particularly excellent tech counselor articles and engine maintenance articles from chapter legends such as Bill Schanks and Jim Montague. There are also fascinating reports on journeys members have taken in their aircraft to such destinations as Alaska, Florida, and Yellowstone.

Archives:
2020-Present editions
2010-2019 editions
2000-2009 editions
1990-1999 editions
1980-1989 editions
1970-1979 editions
1968-1969 editions

February Chapter Video

In the latest episode from the EAA's Charlie Becker:  1.) Virtual Ultralight Days 2.) EAA Aviation Foundation Sweepstakes 3.) EAA Learn To Fly Week 4.) EAA Tribute Opportunities 5.) Chapter Leadership Training. Watch video >>

 

Noise, chapter future, 3D printing highlight January meeting

The first regular meeting the presidential term of Marlon Gunderson took a surprising turn on Monday January 8 when the subject of noise complaints around Lake Elmo Airport dominated the early part of the meeting. That's because Brad Cornell, who has led opposition to a flight school and increased airport activity stopped by the meeting and asked to speak.  The meeting also featured a discussion of the chapter's future, with Marlon Gunderson presenting his State of the Chapter report. And member Jim Pearsall displayed hiss 3D printer and conducted a program of aviation uses for 3D printing. Read more >>

January Board of Directors meeting
It was a working meeting on Monday January 2 and members of the Chapter 54 worked through several issues and events facing the chapter including improved WiFi at the chapter house, financial issues, late dues payments (please renew your membership), the membership roster, recruiting volunteers, the creation of a survey to be sure Board efforts align with member wishes, and the process to ensure that new members are properly introduced to the chapter. Ed Trudeau's minutes have been posted.

First newsletter of the year published
Newsletter editor and chapter president Marlon Gunderson has some things to say as he outlines issues facing the chapter and Lake Elmo Airport. He's posted the January newsletter. Highlights: Marlon pays tribute to Leif Erickson; the new leadership; who are we and where are we going? Chapter House updates. Hybrid meetings now offered. A review of previous meetings. Lake Elmo Airport noise plan. Find the issue on our newsletter page or wherever fine manuscripts are sold.  At the same time, all available hard-copy editions of the newsletter are being digitized.  You can find links to the archived newsletters at the bottom of any page in the newsletter section. At present, we've scanned copies back to 1977, when the newsletter was called "Speed's News." The first newsletter was published in 1968. Many of these old newsletters have disappeared, including most from the '80s. If you have any you'd like to donate to the chapter, kindly contact Bob Collins.

January chapter video released

(Dec 27)  In the latest episode, EAA boss Jack Pelton looks at what's coming in 2024: leadership academies,  MOSAIC's timetable, advocacy efforts, Young Eagles recap, the 70th anniversary of chapters, Homebuilders Week, ultralight days. Watch video >>