2026 EAA 878 CALENDAR Speaker schedule for upcoming meetings is subject to change, IMC Meetings are held the fourth (4th) WEDNESDAY Date Event Pictures 7/20 to 7/26/2026 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. See https://www.eaa.org/airventure for details. 7/21 to 8/6/2026 RC Airplane Build & Fly by Tom Rammel Build Days:July 21, 23, 28, and 30 (Tuesdays & Thursdays) Flying Days:August 4 and 6 Time:1:00 PM – 5:00 PM Location:All build sessions will take place at the Maple Lake Airport in the EAA Chapter 878 hangar classroom. See Build & Fly page for more details. 7/14/2026 BoardMeeting,5:30 PM 6/14/2026 Sunday Buffalo Days—Fly-in Pancake Breakfast and Car Show, Buffalo Airport. EAA 878 handling breakfast. Click for flyer--post in community. 6/13/2026 Saturday Young Eagles Event. 9:30 AM, Maple Lake Municipal Airport, EAA 878 Aviation Education Center 6/09/2026 Tuesday BoardMeeting,5:30 PM 5/15-16/ 2026 Fri-Sat. GMAG (Great Minnesota Aviation Gathering). Buffalo Airport (KCFE). EAA 878 hosted the food tent again as a scholarship fundraiser. Over 750 pilots and aviation enthusiasts attended the two-day event, and we lost count after 110 airplanes that flew in, as the weather was spectacular. 5/12/2026 Tuesday BoardMeeting, 5:30 PM 4/14/2026 Tuesday Chapter Meeting, 7:00 PM, Buffalo Airport (KCFE) Arrival-Departure Bldg. 4/11/2026 Young Eagles, 9:30 AM, Buffalo Airport Arrival-Departure Bldg. See Young Eagles page. Canceled due to weather. EAA 878 hosts Young Eagles every month on the second Saturday, April through Sept. 4/7/2026 Tuesday Board Meeting, 5:00 PM 2/8/2026 At the February General Meeting, Chapter member Chris Glaeser presented “The Last Starfighter,” covering his aviation career and his experiences flying the F-104 Starfighter. Chris holds the distinction of being the last U.S. Air Force pilot to receive an F-104 qualification certificate. His career spanned 27 years in the Air Force (including exchange tours with the German Luftwaffe and Royal Air Force), 20 years with Northwest Airlines, and he currently serves as Director of Safety at Cirrus Aircraft. The F-104 was designed by Lockheed Skunk Works with first flight in March 1954 — just two years from paper to flight. Nicknamed the Widowmaker, 35% of the 2,500 built crashed over their service life. Top speed Mach 2+; at 45,000 feet the stall speed is Mach 1, meaning the aircraft must be supersonic to remain flying. Climb rate with gear up: 40,000–48,000 feet per minute. Chris shared how a near-miss between F-15s and an Air France Concorde over New York opened the door for his F-104 assignment. He also covered cockpit systems, air-to-air gunnery tactics, and his squadron’s historical connection to the M*A*S*H 4077th. Part two of the presentation is in development for EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. Chris welcomed feedback on content and timing and will announce his session slot when confirmed. The presentation was very well received and was followed by an extended Q&A. January 2026
depending upon factors beyond our control.
at 6:30 PM at Thunderbird Aviation,14091 Pioneer Trail, Eden Prairie, MN.
Chapter Meeting, 7:00 PM
Maple Lake Municipal Airport--EAA 878 Hangar
Chapter Meeting, 7:00 PM - Buffalo Airport Arrival-Departure Bldg.
Chapter Meeting, 7:00 PM, Buffalo Airport Arrival-Departure Bldg. CAP Lt. Col. Marybeth Slocum, Commander of the recently formed Wright Co. Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), presented info about the CAP, this squadron, its organization and objectives. Cadets of the squadron have been invited to assist with upcoming Chapter 878 events.
Chapter Member Brian Block discussed a mountain flying course he completed through a Colorado Pilots Association last year.
Thomes Ins. Agency
PAST EVENTS
