Young Eagle Rally is coming up Saturday
Young Eagle Rally is coming up Saturday
Sorry for the later than usual reminder about our first Young Eagle rally. I got tied up in Oshkosh due to the beautiful weather we had yesterday! Made it back to SPI just before the rain started again.
We will begin setting up at the LRS Aviation Center/LLCC Hangar at 8:30. We had 60 kids signed up as of earlier this morning! We are monitoring the weather closely. It looks like a beautiful day, but may be a bit windy. We will make a final decision Friday evening and send an update if we cancel, otherwise, please come out for an exciting time for lots of kids!
We will be providing pizza for all the volunteers, so if you can help out all day, someone will go get pizza for all those working around noon. Any period of time you could help out, be it just the morning, or whenever you can get there, your presence and help would be greatly appreciated!
Before the rally, we will need help setting up signs, tables and chairs, computers, flight sim, displays for AeroEducate, YE and chapter info table, and more,
During the rally, help for Gregg checking in people, getting signatures on the iPad, serving refreshments, monitoring the crowd and more.
After the rally, clean up and return tables, chairs and other equipment to its storage place.
So come on out to the airport Saturday morning and watch kids coming back from their flight with great big smiles! We will have a great time!
See you Saturday unless you hear otherwise!
Thanks!
John Salz
C 217-483-3238
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At our last chapter gathering, it was moved and voted to donate $100 each from the chapter to a memorial brick for both Bob and Jim. Both of these guys were long time members and did so much for our chapter in the past. Poor health had kept them away for years, but the support they gave to the chapter during their earlier years was "above and beyond"!
I've spoken to a number of our long-time members who are willing to contribute to the $400 each for a memorial brick at the brown arch in Oshkosh. This would be a wonderful tribute to these past members and their families. The deadline is fast approaching of May 15th (I thought I had another month), so please let me know ASAP if and how much you'd be willing to contribute, and I'll make every effort to ensure it happens.
Any amount you'd like to give would be appreciated by all who knew these guys who had such a passion for aviation.
Thanks!
John Salz
C 217-483-3238
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Our friends in Olney will be holding a pancake breakfast on Saturday, June 2nd. If you're interested in the details, see below.
John Salz
Swing by between 8 - 11 AM for airplane shaped pancakes, biscuits and gravy with sausage, donuts, coffee and juice.
More details on the attached flyer. Come have breakfast someplace different, watch planes fly in, and skip doing the dishes. See you ther
Swing by between 8 - 11 AM for airplane shaped pancakes, biscuits and gravy with sausage, donuts, coffee and juice.
More details on the attached flyer. Come have break
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We got word that the funeral arrangements for Jim Thorton will be next Tuesday, April 23rd at 11 AM with service at Staab Funeral Home, and 1PM burial with honor guard at Camp Butler.
Thanks,
John Salz
Jim Thorton update
Hello Members and friends of EAA Chapter 770,
Many of you know a longtime and early chapter 770 member, Jim Thorton. He always showed people the picture of his “stealth” airplane. Today is his 95th birthday, but he was given some sad news after a visit to the hospital. His health has been deteriorating the past few weeks and now we know why - he has pancreatic and stomach cancer.
He will be released to go home today or tomorrow and go into hospice. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayer
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Chapter Gathering, Potluck and TOA Meeting - Thursday 6 PM PLEASE BE PROMPT
Hello members and friends of EAA Chapter 770,
This Thursday is our Chapter gathering and potluck, but we also will be holding a Turf Operating Area meeting with the SAA immediately following our event starting at 7PM.
Please be prompt for our 6pm potluck so we can move into the large conference room for the TOA meeting with folks from SAA and FAA discussing the latest plans for the TOA.
All are welcome to stay for the TOA meeting, but feel free to hang around and visit or head home after the Chapter gathering is over.
Both events will take place at the IDOT - Aeronautics office on the north side of the airport. The address is 1 Langhorne Bond Dr, just off North Airport Drive and Estill Road.
Quick updates to chapter activities will hopefully keep this a short gathering.
See you Thursday at 6PM sharp!
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Meeting at IDOT 02/15/24
We will hold our chapter gathering for Feb this Thursday, Feb 15th at the IDOT - Aeronautics building, 1 Langhorne Bond Drive, just north of the airport. As you enter, you will see a guard desk and be required to sign in, so please, don't forget to do that.
Come join us as we will have a potluck starting at 6pm, followed by some business to discuss upcoming events, especially lots of information about Wings and Wheels, YE's, Build & Fly and Ray Scholar updates.
Please give me a call if you have any questions.
See you Thursday!
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Hi everyone,
This afternoon (January 17) we were notified that the IDOT - Aeronautics building had to be vacated due to an infestation of bugs. So we lost our planned meeting location. Thankfully, Zach Manker with SAA was able to set us up on this short notice to use the west conference room of the FBO as we have in the past. It may be cozy, but we will have to make due for January. The address for our newer members is 900 Capital Airport Dr, Springfield, IL. The conference room is at the far west end of the FBO facility. (Under the big #1 sign if you can see it after dark!)
Since I had to send this update, I will include the item I forgot to mention in the last email. Chapter Dues are due in Jan every year. It is still only $20 a year for Chapter dues. If you can bring a check or cash tomorrow night, that would be great, if not, please mail a check to our Treasurer, Dan Kerns at 6747 Wesley Chapel Road, Chatham, IL 62629
Sorry for the short notice of the change of location. Hope to see you tomorrow evening!
John Salz
C 217-483-3238
Wanna work on a P-40 restoration?
Mike George from Air Combat Museum texted me this afternoon to say that they are looking for "help restoring the P-40. Doesn't need to be an A & P. Paid or volunteer, either is ok."
WOW! What a great opportunity to help put one of these incredible machines back into the air! We will discuss this at the Chapter gathering on the 18th. Or you can stop by the museum to inquire during normal business hours of 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Monday - Friday.
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January 7, 2024
Bob's family plans to hold a celebration of Life at a later date, yet to be set. I will pass that on when we hear more. But I wanted to let you know that the burial service will be 2PM Friday, Jan 12th at Camp Butler.
Bob was a builder and pilot who flew Ultra-Lights and worked on a Curtis Jenny and was a guru on the Constellation. Not sure if he ever got the Jenny flying. Jim Bildilli recalled him helping to build a full motion flight simulator, and getting in trouble for doing the work in his living room! Don Miller said he was curious if his basement had gotten cleaned out. He (Bob) said his wife said he had to clean the basement before he died! He was a crazy and fun guy!
Below is a picture of Bob at the door of the Ford Tri-motor when it was here in 2011.
We will miss you, Bob!
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January 4, 2024
I was informed today of the passing of one of our early (if not founding) chapter members.
Bob Reynolds was cleared for his final take-off yesterday. I can't provide any details yet, as the family is still making arrangements. Will share that information as soon as possible. Meanwhile, I just wanted to let everyone know ASAP, as we keep his family in our thoughts and prayers.
If anyone has some stories to share about Bob, please let me know. I'll be sure to pass it along.
Sadly,
John Salz
C 217-483-3238