From its beginnings in the late '50s, Chapter 54 of the Experimental Aircraft Association has served aviation enthusiasts, dreamers, aircraft builders, pilots, would-be pilots, and individuals interested in helping young people become aviators in the East Metro of Minnesota's Twin Cities.
We hold a gathering on the second Monday of each month at the Chapter House at Lake Elmo Airport (21D) to talk aviation and socialize. We provide Young Eagles rides and aviation scholarships. We help people who are building airplanes.
Please come to our next gathering as our guest. Let us know you're coming so you can be properly greeted and introduced to the chapter.
SEPTEMBER GATHERING |
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Join us on Monday September 14, when member Donaven Chase talks about his $9,000 RV. Donaven has a nice hangar at Lake Elmo Airport stuffed with two experimental airplanes that make pilots drool: a Van’s RV-9 and a Van’s single-pilot RV-3. It’s no use to ask him how he decides which plane to fly because there’s no question. Social hour at 6:30, the program begins at 7. |
Initially, there was concern thunderstorms would create a washout, but the weather fully cooperated. After the BBQ and picnic, members gathered inside the chapter house for the annual AirVenture debrief.
Hundreds show up for annual pancake breakfast
The annual Chapter 54 pancake breakfast lived up to its theme on Sunday August 9: Celebrating Community. The St. Croix Valley community, the aviation community, the EAA community, and the Stillwater High School community. As a result that "community" showed its support for its young people who are interested in learning more about aviation as proceeds from the event fund the chapter programs. At last check, more than 600 meals were served, several hundred more than a year ago. And what a portrait of the community we saw: airplanes of all sorts, the fire department, LifeLink, the State Patrol, a K9 demonstration, our Air Academy campers, the volunteers from the National Honor Society, and, of course, the people who are our airport neighbors. Threatening weather stayed to the south and the clouds kept the temperatures comfortable, allaying fears that the fly-in portion of the event would be curtailed by the weather. But several dozen planes and helicopters arrived by mid-morning, ably assisted by the temporary FAA tower headed by St. Paul tower chief Keith Thompson. A story will come later but here are pictures from the day's events.
