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