March 4, 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.
Get ready for Young Eagles
Board of Directors Meeting
Pancake fly-in planning, facilities, scholarships top board agenda
The EAA Chapter 54 Board of Directors tackled a robust agenda last night, setting the stage for an aggressive series of goals for 2025. Chief among the actions was a vote to streamline the scholarship and campership process for underwriting the cost of young people who want to attend the EAA Air Academy in Oshkosh and the Minnesota ACE Camp in 2026. The Board will decide by summer how many scholarships to award, increase the communication with potential applicants, and require applicants to inform the chapter before registration opens on September 2 whether they will seek chapter assistance. The chapter will also select the recipient of funding by August. Applicants who do not first contact the chapter prior to September will be ineligible for assistance. The Board also approved a plan for the chapter to reserve slots at the Air Academy on its own to subsequently award to young persons. A section for those interested in the Air Academy has now been created on the Chapter 54 website.
The number of scholarships and camperships awarded will depend on the chapter's fundraising. On that front, the Board began the process of planning for the all-hands-on-deck pancake breakfast fly-in on August 10. President Marlon Gunderson indicated a single coordinator this year should suffice as the chapter is well armed with last year's experience.
The first planning meeting will be held on Saturday March 15 at 10 a.m., immediately after the Saturday Open House program. Please bring your ideas for improving the event and think about what area you'd like to patrol in August.
In other actions, Ray Scholarship coordinator Bruce Olson said he would announce at next Monday's meeting the recipient of this year's scholarship, which will pay up to $12,000 for flight training. Treasurer Emma Hanson said the chapter had a positive cash flow in February, thanks primarily to donations and memorials, which will be used to fund additional scholarships. And Evangelos Savvas agreed to continue in his role as Flying Start and Eagles program coordinator. Chapter 54 will host a Flying Start program on Saturday May 17. EAA is providing a webinar on hosting a Flying Start Day for those who would like to help, next Thursday (March 13) at 7 p.m. You can register here. And President Gunderson announced that Jay Schrankler would like to transition out of the vice president's position to create a new development director slot at the chapter. Persons interested in assuming the position should contact Marlon.
Chapter Secretary Ed Trudeau's minutes of the Board of Directors can be found here.
Facilities update
2025 projects ahead for Chapter House
The final step from last year's renovation of the Chapter 54 home was completed last week with the addition of baseboard trim along the walls in the main and entrance areas, which gives a nice, finished look to things. The baseboard will also prevent chairs along walls from damaging the drywall. A small section on the west wall in the main area was left alone pending consideration of whether to eventually replacing the old wood paneling. In the spring (maybe), the interior and exterior of the south side exit door as well as trim will be painted. Of concern recently is a wide split between windows on the northwest side off the main area, which is open to the elements, increasing heating bills and time. That's been closed up with foam. We are also testing the acoustical tile for asbestos, which is a problem along the center beam. A gap has been filled with foam where the tile is crumbling. Projects slated for 2025 include taking down the storm-damaged tree on the east side; planting additional perennials along the foundation; fixing (new) storage area doors to allow them to close properly; installing a new railing cap on the rebuilt ramp as well as staining the ramp; painting roofline trim; removing a rotted sill and patching, sanding and painting the other window frame on the west side, and replacing the air conditioner on the southeast corner (it trips the circuit breaker) with a donation from Board of Directors member Scott Hanson . The monthly facilities report can be found with the Board of Directors March minutes.
VMC Club: Question of the month
Volunteer opportunities
Still thinking about keeping Chapter 54 humming?
In February, members received an invitation to donate one hour a month to helping keep Chapter 54 afloat in the coming two years. Thank you to those who responded. Perhaps you're still thinking about it. Or, perhaps you're interested in an officer position, all of which are up for election in November. Might we suggest taking the time to watch any of these EAA webinars and learn more about how you can serve your fellow aviators?
Chapter Presidents and Vice Presidents
Chapter Secretaries and Treasurers
Young Eagles Coordinators
Ray Scholarship Coordinators
Education and outreach
Gregg Adler represents at career day
I attended the Johnson High School Career Fair on Thursday February 20. It was a large career fair for the entire high school with about 50 vendors. Everything from the military to colleges, training facilities and summer employment. Aviation was represented by MNDOT Aviation, ACE Camp, The NASA school outreach program and EAA54. Being that Johnson has an aviation program the instructors and the coordinators brought me students interested in aviation. I invited about a dozen to attend a meeting and get involved. I mentioned Young Eagles and the Ray Scholarship. I told them that it is sometimes hard for high school students to communicate and interact with adults but if you are an athlete you hang out with athletes, if you are a car guy you hang with car folk. So it goes with aviation, if you want to do airplane stuff, you hang with airplane guys. - GJA
Building airplanes
Chapter members don wings for RV-12iS project
A neat thing about Van's RV-12iS is the wings are fully detachable. They're light and are easily moved, perfect for builders who want to polish their aluminum aircraft but don't want to lie on their back holding a polishing machine up to the underside of a wing. Van's designed the RV-12iS so it could be trailered to an airport and a builder wouldn't have to own a hangar. We suspect there aren't many people who want to do that. A company video shows two people taking mere minutes to install the wings and go flying. Maybe. But Bob Collins needed three of Chapter 54's best and brightest to get the job done in under an hour. Read more >
Direct from Oshkosh
March chapters video
In this month’s Chapter Video Magazine, Charlie Becker announces a new Young Eagles building program, invites chapters to Oshkosh weekend work parties, 100th anniversary of Goodyear airships, Oshkosh group camping, signups for pancake breakfast cooking (fundraiser), nominate volunteers, museum donations. If the video doesn't play, go here.
A note to the chapter
Lake Elmo Aero now providing Part 141 training
(From Philip Tiedeman, MAC)
In October 2024, Lake Elmo Aero (LEA) received official Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) Part 141 certification for its private pilot certificate, instrument rating, and commercial pilot certificate programs. The certification followed a rigorous, five-stage approval process conducted through the FAA. Part 141 framework standardizes training and requirements for flight instructors and their students.
Previously, LEA operated only under FAR Part 61 flight training, which offered a more flexible and less structured pathway to obtaining a pilot certificate. Under FAR Part 61, flight instructors were tasked with creating and delivering individual lessons based on FAA guidelines.
A benefit of the Part 61 program is its adaptability for individuals with demanding schedules or prior aviation experience who didn’t prefer the rigid structure of other training programs. Students could advance at their own pace, allowing them to balance flight training with other life commitments.
In contrast, Part 141 flight training is tailored towards those aiming to become professional pilots, providing a more formal and closely regulated training regimen. Under Part 141, schools are required to follow an FAA-approved syllabus and a clearly defined training structure. Key elements of Part 141 training include stage checks conducted by either the chief pilot or designated individuals, thorough ground training, and additional oversight by the local Flight Standards District Office to ensure that training, record keeping, and facilities meet their strict standard.
There are numerous advantages for flight students enrolled in Part 141 programs. Students adhere to an FAA-approved training course outline, so there is no ambiguity as to what the next lesson will cover. Under Part 141, the minimum flight time required to obtain a private pilot license is 35 hours, compared to 40 hours under Part 61. The minimum flight hours needed for an instrument rating is 35 hours, as opposed to 40 hours, and the minimum flight hours for a commercial license is 190 hours, as opposed to 250 hours.
Another benefit of Part 141 is that it opens doors for students to be able to utilize financial aid, military funding such as the G.I. Bill or Army COOL Funding, or pursue a college degree through Purdue Global, which LEA partnered with shortly after gaining Part 141 approval.
Part 61 continues to be an option at LEA for those who prefer a less structured approach with no set timeline. However, with part 141 approval, the school can now achieve an overall higher quality of training.
In 2026, LEA’s 141 students will have an opportunity to take advantage of in-house examining authority, which will cut down on long wait times for designated pilot examiners. With this added benefit, students (and their instructors, in the case of private pilot check rides) will no longer have to travel to a different airport for their check rides.
MAC Board hears 21D presentation
Phil Tiedemann, 21D's manager, made a presentation about the airport to the Metropolitan Airports Commission on February 18th. Highlights of his presentation included plans for construction of a new maintenance garage, Lake Elmo Aero's new flight school designation, and the recent CTAF change. Luke Peterson, the co-chair of the Lake Elmo Airport Advisory Committee, said "most of the people who use the airport live in and around the communities immediately adjacent to the airport... we're all each other's neighbors." Peterson also mentioned EAA Chapter 54, calling it a very active group. Rodney Skoog, of MAC, paid tribute to Peterson, noting that airport noise meetings were often heated. View the video here. Scroll to the 44:00 mark.
At February's LEAAC meeting, Peterson was re-elected as user co-chair. Jeff Holtz, a Lake Elmo City Councilmember was elected as the community co-chair, turning back a bid by longtime airport critic Brad Cornell. Holtz replaces Mary McComber, the mayor of Bayport.
Final Piper Rudder AD Rejects Most Community Input
The FAA released the final version of Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2025-02-11. The AD requires the owners of most Piper high-wing aircraft with rudder posts made of 1025 carbon steel to upgrade to a rudder with a post made of 4130N low alloy steel. The affected model list includes a wide range of aircraft, from J-3 Cubs to PA-22 Tri-Pacers and Colts. The FAA estimates a total of 6,500 active aircraft will need their rudders replaced or modified.
Numerous commenters opposed the AD when it was proposed last year, including EAA and its Vintage Aircraft Association (VAA) division. VAA invested extensive time and resources into proposing an alternative on-condition testing technique, as well as an alternative strengthening method that was minimally invasive and would not require a fabric re-cover. EAA argued for the rescinding of the AD due to its being based on a small number of occurrences, including several uniquely modified aircraft, as well as covering many low-horsepower models that have no known history of failures.
In the end, the FAA disagreed with almost all comments that were critical of the AD and made almost no changes. Read more >
From the New Richmond Airport Newsletter
Congratulations Perceptive Avionics!
Late last month, New Richmond Regional Airport based avionics installer Perceptive Avionics Corporation was selected as the 2024 Emerging Business of the Year in St. Croix County by the St. Croix Economic Development Corporation (SCEDC). Perceptive Avionics, located in hangar 16-1, is owned and operated by founder Jay Schrankler and one of our favorite South Africans but soon to be US citizen Lucian Banitz. Lucian had been an employee at Perceptive and purchased his share of the business from long time pilot and airport hangar owner Barry
Hammarback earlier this year.
From the SCEDC press release:
"Perceptive Avionics, located in New Richmond, Wisconsin, is an FAA-certified repair station specializing in aircraft avionics, including product sales, installation, design services and biennial certification. In just a few short years, the company has achieved significant milestones, such as, becoming a Garmin dealer, hiring its fifth FAA-certified repairman and expanding its innovative product offerings with the addition of Avidyne, Aspen, Dynon and Levil avionics including the new Levil BOM (Broadcasting Outer Module), which enhances flight safety and reliability. The company actively develops new products such as on-field weather assessment software, collision avoidance systems, and AI- driven design tools.
"In 2024, their sales doubled from 2023, and they are on track for even greater growth in 2025. In addition to business accomplishments, Perceptive Avionics is deeply committed to community engagement. The company supports the local Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) chapter, organizes youth aviation events, and volunteers at veterans’ events, including providing helicopter experiences in a Vietnam-era Huey. Employees also contribute to local STEM education by hosting school tours and promoting aviation careers.
"Perceptive was nominated for the award by city of New Richmond economic development staff. Jay and Lucian will receive their award in front of 200 plus people at the SCEDC annual awards banquet on Thursday, February 27th at Ready Randy’s in New Richmond from 5 until 8 pm. Lucian reports they have openings available this winter and early spring for small and large avionics upgrades. Go to perceptiveavionics.com for more information or to see some of their work."
John Ostrem shorts
The Amazing Wright Brothers
The famous brothers who invented, patented, and flew the first heavier than air powered airplane said their inspiration came from a rubber band powered toy helicopter. The first flight by Orville, who won a coin flip, lasted 12 seconds, covered 120 feet and reached a top speed of 6.8 miles per hour. WOW! Throughout their flying career they survived 8 plane crashes and only flew once together because of their father’s concern for safety. Neither brother ever married and once said they didn’t have time for a both a wife and an airplane! Looking back 122 years, it is truly amazing these two pioneers were able to master both the design and construction of an airplane but also able to teach themselves how to fly it. Not bad for two brothers who didn’t graduate from high school.
Boeing 747 Fun Facts
The Boeing 747 is an amazing airplane with over 500 passenger capacity, the largest passenger plane ever in scheduled service. It is so large that passengers actually sit ahead of the pilots. It cruises at 565 MPH, lands at 160 and takes off at 180 MPH making it both big and fast! In its long history (it first flew 5 months before Apollo 11 anded on the moon in 1969), the fleet has flown the equivalent of 101,500 round trips to the moon and back! In fact the Wright Brothers could have made their first flight inside the 747! It has a very confusing cockpit with 365 switches but is actually easy to fly according to Captain Bob Gillette, a friend from Stone Lake, Wisconsin. An amazing 3.5 billion passengers have ridden on the airplane which is the equivalent of one half of the world’s population, but for some reason this Chapter 54 member has never had a ride. And finally it takes 90 gallons of paint to repaint a 747! Quite a workhorse and still used proudly as Air Force One!
Cessna 172 - A Record Setter
The Cessna 172 is the world’s most produced aircraft with over 43,000 manufactured since the introduction in 1956. With a long and storied history, it is the longest production run of any aircraft in the world. A new Cessna 172 in 1956 would set the buyer back $8,995 which today is over $300,000 for essentially the same airframe. The C-172 holds the world endurance record of an amazing 64 days, 22 hours, 19 minutes and 5 seconds! It was launched from Las Vegas with 2 pilots who successfully won a $100,000 prize in the publicity stunt. A chase car provided fuel through an electrical pump that only took 3 minutes to refuel, and they transferred fuel, oil, and food with a rope and bucket. Somehow, they were able to add oil as needed while in flight. Not sure what they did with the “you know what” that came back down in the bucket - uck! To make the record they successfully petitioned the FAA for a waiver to fly 400 pounds overweight. The pilots slept on a foam mattress when they weren’t the pilot in command. Today that same airplane hangs in the Las Vegas International Airport!
Midwest Flyer
'I are a pilot - Radio Miscommunications
From the time we were student pilots, there was (or should have been) a continuing emphasis placed on proper radio communications. The FAA publishes the FAR/AIM and the Pilot/Controller Glossary to educate and assist pilots with the correct phraseology for in-air and on-the-ground radio transmissions. Advisory Circular AC 90-66C, Non-Towered Airport Flight Operations, is also available to make pilots better and more effective communicators.
Professional pilots, those with all the ratings who are paid to fly every day, do very well. Because of training, hours, basing at large, commercial airports, and familiarity with being “in the system,” they have learned correct phraseology, along with acquiring the rare talent of clear, concise, and accurate requests for, and acknowledgments of, relevant or required information. For many of us in the GA world, not so much. Read more >
March EAA anniversaries
Bob Collins (26 years*)
Stan Dardis (22 years)
Dave Syverson (15 years)
Tim Roska (7 years)
Emma Hanson (3 years)
Jeff Dale (2 years)
PJ Mally (1 year)
* Inactive 2004-2021
VMC Club: Answer of the Month
Answer: Yes. According to AC 91.58A, Use of Pyrotechnic Visual Distress Signaling Devices in Aviation, paragraph 7, “HANDLING AND STORAGE. a. If young children are carried on board your aircraft, careful stowage of visual distress signals becomes especially important. Projected devices, such as pistol-launched and hand-held parachute flares and meteors, have many of the characteristics of a firearm and
should be handled with the same caution.
b. Pyrotechnic devices should be stored in a cool, dry location and be readily accessible in case of an emergency. Care should be taken to prevent puncturing or damaging of the device's covering. It is recommended that pyrotechnic devices be stored in a watertight container and prominently marked "DISTRESS SIGNALS."
c. U.S. Coast Guard approved pyrotechnic devices carry a service life expiration date. Currently, this date may not exceed 42 months from the date of manufacture. The U.S. Coast Guard indicates that it is acceptable to keep recently expired signals as extra equipment, although they gradually lose their effectiveness with age.
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Who's Who in Chapter 54 President: Marlon Gunderson president@eaa54.org |
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.
