March 26, 2025

This is the semimonthly email newsletter from the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 54 of Lake Elmo, Minn.  If you have difficulty reading this information, view it on the chapter website. Unless otherwise noted, all events occur at the Chapter House, at the south entrance of Lake Elmo Airport off Manning Avenue. Find fly-in and drive-in information here.

March membership gathering
Chapter facing vacancies in leadership positions

At least three major functions necessary to keep Chapter 54 humming will be vacant when current leadership terms expire in November.  President Marlon Gunderson announced at the regular membership gathering that in addition to Vice President Jay Schrankler not seeking another term (in order to devote time to creating a development director position), Bob Collins will not seek Board of Directors re-election by virtue of vacating his position at the chapter facilities director, website editor and newsletter editor. "Bob Collins has been the MVP for the last two years doing those roles and he's in a pretty strong position for it this year," Gunderson said. "He's doing a lot of work for us; possibly as much work as the rest of us combined, so we're looking for someone to step up and take those roles."  A checklist of facilities director duties is available for anyone interested in helping in the role.

Cinema 54 closes
Due to lack of interest, we're no longer providing an aviation-themed movie prior to the monthly member gathering.

Events
Pancake fly-in planning this Saturday

Plans are being formulated for the only major fundraiser of the year for Chapter 54. Coming off the success of last year's pancake breakfast fly-in last August, this year's production will seek to build on what we learned in 2024, which was the first fundraising the chapter held in seven years.  On Saturday at 10:07 a.m. - following the Saturday Open House and Safety Seminar gathering - chapter leaders will be discussing plans for the upcoming event, focusing on finalizing a menu, a location, and some areas we want to improve upon. All members are encouraged to attend, bringing ideas along. The meeting will also seek to find members interested in coordinating various responsibilities.  In the meantime, please block off Sunday August 10 on your calendars as all members are needed to volunteer.

Chapter education
Chapter reaches out to high school students at aviation forum

EAA Chapter 54 member Gregg Adler attended the Minnesota Department of Transportation High School Aviation Forum at the Earl Brown Center in Brooklyn Center yesterday (March 25).  Attending by about 150 students, the event featured displays and presentations from the Minnesota Air National Guard, area flight schools, the MN DOT training program, ACE Camp and others, he reported.   "There was also the A&P continuing education seminars that had several hundred A/P attendees," according to Adler.  Students were given time to walk the booths of about 40 vendors.  "Mostly companies trying  to recruit mechanics and technicians," he said. Adler promoted EAA, AeroEducate and the Ray Scholarship.  He also encouraged students to attend a meeting at a chapter near them. The Minnesota ACE camp is still taking application through next week.  They still have some spots open for high school students, Adler indicated, with priorities to high school juniors and seniors before they age out.

Jon Ostrem's Musings
Now that's an airshow!

In 1953, over 70 years ago, 40 airplanes and 150 people attended the Milwaukee Air Pageant organized by an unknown pilot and plane builder named Paul Poberezny.  From those meager beginnings the air show has grown into the world’s largest, lasting a wonderful action-packed week in Wisconsin.  It actually moved a couple times before settling into Whittman Field in Oshkosh.  It is known worldwide and has become the largest airshow in the world. Read more >>

April EAA 54 anniversaries

John Renwick (43 years)
Leif Erickson (26 years)
Chip Berniard (13 years)
Paul Randall (13 years)

From the archive

March marked the 67th birthday of EAA Chapter 54. In 1998, this article appeared in the St. Croix Press about the chapter's 40th anniversary celebration (best viewed on the web page).

The E-Beacon is a semimonthly newsletter highlighting news items from Chapter 54. If you no longer wish to receive the email, you can unsubscribe by sending an mail to facilities@eaa54.org.