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March membership gathering
Chapter facing vacancies in leadership positions
At least three major functions necessary to keep Chapter 54 humming will be vacant when current leadership terms expire in November. President Marlon Gunderson announced at the regular membership gathering that in addition to Vice President Jay Schrankler not seeking another term (in order to devote time to creating a development director position), Bob Collins will not seek Board of Directors re-election by virtue of vacating his position at the chapter facilities director, website editor and newsletter editor. "Bob Collins has been the MVP for the last two years doing those roles and he's in a pretty strong position for it this year," Gunderson said. "He's doing a lot of work for us; possibly as much work as the rest of us combined, so we're looking for someone to step up and take those roles." A checklist of facilities director duties is available for anyone interested in helping in the role.
Cinema 54 closes
Due to lack of interest, we're no longer providing an aviation-themed movie prior to the monthly member gathering.
Chapter education
Chapter reaches out to high school students at aviation forum
EAA Chapter 54 member Gregg Adler attended the Minnesota Department of Transportation High School Aviation Forum at the Earl Brown Center in Brooklyn Center yesterday (March 25). Attending by about 150 students, the event featured displays and presentations from the Minnesota Air National Guard, area flight schools, the MN DOT training program, ACE Camp and others, he reported. "There was also the A&P continuing education seminars that had several hundred A/P attendees," according to Adler. Students were given time to walk the booths of about 40 vendors. "Mostly companies trying to recruit mechanics and technicians," he said. Adler promoted EAA, AeroEducate and the Ray Scholarship. He also encouraged students to attend a meeting at a chapter near them. The Minnesota ACE camp is still taking application through next week. They still have some spots open for high school students, Adler indicated, with priorities to high school juniors and seniors before they age out.
Jon Ostrem's Musings
Now that's an airshow!
In 1953, over 70 years ago, 40 airplanes and 150 people attended the Milwaukee Air Pageant organized by an unknown pilot and plane builder named Paul Poberezny. From those meager beginnings the air show has grown into the world’s largest, lasting a wonderful action-packed week in Wisconsin. It actually moved a couple times before settling into Whittman Field in Oshkosh. It is known worldwide and has become the largest airshow in the world. Read more >>
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.
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.
Oshkosh group camping reservation sells out quickly
Also at Monday's meeting, members were given quite a treat with an hour of Al Kupferschmidt stories. He's been a member for more than 40 years. He's flown over 600 Young Eagles. He helped build the Chapter House, and then he was critical in construction of the addition. In his 80s, he still flies his beloved airplane. He never misses a meeting. He never misses an event, particularly those that need volunteer help.
During the hour-long session, he discussed his aviation career, including more than 30 years flying his Citabria (he once was involved in a mid-air collision with a horse trailer), his work in the Navy and National Guard, his history with the chapter, his role in the rescue effort of Flight 232 in Sioux City in 1989, and his wife, Rae, who was brain dead for a week before waking up. It was a compelling evening from a chapter pioneer.
Prior to the program, President Marlon Gunderson made several announcements including his solicitation of potential members to the chapter's Board of Directors, which requires no heavy lifting but does need the occasional exercise of neurons. Why not "attend" (the board meets virtually at 7pm on the first Monday of the month) and see if it's right for you. Contact Marlon for more information and to receive the Google Meet link.
And Marlon announced that Elija Redmann is the potential recipient of the Ray Scholarship, which would pay for his flight training. The chapter should hear soon whether it has been selected to receive the scholarship money. Meanwhile, Gunderson said, Drew Lindquist of Bloomington, the other scholarship applicant, was able to receive one from Chapter 237, which funds additional scholarship opportunities. Credit for that happy ending goes to the chapter Ray Scholarship coordinator Bruce Olson.
"I wanted to let you know that my father, Jim Anderson, passed away in his sleep after a brief stay in the ICU," Dana Vannen Anderson announced in an email to members on January 29 (See obituary). "He was surrounded by family and we all had a chance to give him a proper send off. It was amazingly graceful. He was 95 years young. Announcements on arrangements to follow. The family is still getting things organized. In addition to a celebration of life, we will figure out some kind of aviation community gathering to celebrate a great human who left quite a legacy, including all the aviation related activities over many decades. He will certainly be missed!" Tentatively, an "Irish wake" is planned for June 21 in Marine on St. Croix. It would have been his 96th birthday. "We will plan on having a big outdoor tent, a band, good food, and good music. And... it would be really fun to have some airplanes flying over, which is another thing he would have loved!" Dana said See photos of Jim >
Related:
EAA 54 Gone West page
Ostrem: Keeping 21D Safe and Looking Smart
Maintaining the grounds and facilities of a busy metropolitan airport is a challenging endeavor—one that falls to a dedicated team who keep the airport looking good, operating smoothly, and, above all, remaining safe for the pilots who rely on it.
While Lake Elmo Airport briefly served the Army Air Corps in the early 1940s, it officially opened to the public in 1951. Today, it is part of the seven-airport system operated by the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC). With 41,854 operations in 2024 alone, this bustling general aviation hub spans approximately 640 acres—about one square mile—where around 200 acres are leased for agricultural use, leaving 440 acres dedicated to aviation. These 440 acres house roughly 130 hangars, and each one needs careful attention when it comes to mowing and snow removal.
At the helm of Lake Elmo Airport’s day-to-day field operations is Senior Maintenance Worker, Matthew Schroer, supported by longtime Field Maintenance Worker Arthur Hemmingson. Schroer brings a wealth of experience from multiple MAC airports, including Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport, St. Paul Downtown Airport, Anoka County–Blaine Airport, and Crystal Airport. His background in maintaining runways for large commercial aircraft has given him a broad perspective on field operations, but he finds the reliever airport setting uniquely rewarding.
“At the reliever airports, our teams have to be cohesive,” Schroer explains. “Improvisation, quick action, and concise communication— within our field team, and with pilots—is essential to ensuring safe, smooth operations.” Read more >
The Chapter 54 website this month unveiled a new section serving as a memorial to present and former members who have died. The list is by no means complete, but it is extensive. On that note, we didn't recognize the death of a prominent member last spring. Al Amsden died in April at 1998. The chapter's archived newsletter section is named after both Al and Rosemary Frank, who are primarily responsible for keeping the chapter's history alive. Rosemary organized much of the history that's documented here, an Al saved all of the newsletters during his membership, allowing us to preserve them in a digital format. Like so many Chapter 54 pioneers, Al was a 3Mer. He built a Midget Mustang airplane, finished it in 1973 and flew it for 30 years. He then rebuilt a 1948 Cessna 140 in a hangar he built at the Lake Elmo Airport. He spent his winters in Texas and he and his wife spent years traveling the country in their motor home. His wife died in 2007 and since then he had spent his summers in Roseville.
Meet the chapter's newest pilot
Chapter 54 sends its warmest congratulations to Anna Chase, who completed her journey to the ranks of aviators Sunday January 26. Anna is the chapter's Ray Scholarship recipient. She was awarded the flight training scholarship in May 2024, soloed in June, and passed her written examination in October. That's hard work, right there. Congratulations also goes out too Bruce Olson, the chapter's Ray Scholarship coordinator. Anna is the second chapter Ray Scholar in two years to become a pilot. We hope to make it three in 2025 thanks to your support for Chapter 54. Photo: Donaven Chase
From the Flight Deck
January monthly meeting recap: An introduction to ForeFlight
It was a relatively thin crowd at EAA Chapter 54's monthly meeting on January 13, owing to the Minnesota Vikings playoff game. A lot of members made a poor choice, as the capabilities of ForeFlight for iOS were on display when members Scott Hanson and Bill Schanks Jr. took it out for a run in front of an impressed audience, including one guest who drove to the Chapter House from Marshall, Minn., to learn a little more about the program’s capability.
So called “electronic flight bags” can be used in all phases of flight, Hanson said. “It doesn't replace any of the systems. So just because you have an artificial horizon on your iPad. That doesn't replace the artificial horizon that's in your panel,” he said. “So, you still have to have whatever is required for flying – the T-O-M-A-T-O-Flames. You need all of those. This EFB doesn't replace any of that. It has to be functionally equivalent to the paper copy. All of your data that's on your iPad, has to be current, valid, and you have to make sure that it doesn't interfere with any of the systems in your plane.” Read more >>
Young Eagle registration system nearly complete
David Leiting in Oshosh reports, "The transition from Young Eagles Day to the new EAA Chapter Events online registration system is nearly completed, and there are a few critical updates that I wanted to pass along to you. The official shut down of Young Eagles Day will occur on Monday, February 10. Here is what that means for you:
· Beginning February 10th YEDay.org and YoungEaglesDay.org will redirect to EAAChapters.org. There will no longer be access to the current YEDay.org site.
· Also on February 10th, your login credentials for the EAA Digital Signature App will change and sync up with the new EAA Chapter Events tool. The username/password used for EAAChapters.org will then be used to log into the iPad app.
· Additional event types are not yet fully developed in the new tool. Later this year, chapters will have the ability to manage Young Eagles Build and Fly, Young Eagles Workshops, and more via EAAChapters.org.
I’d also like to use this message as an opportunity to update you on the enhancements being made to the new tool, thanks to the feedback from volunteers.
EAA’s own team has already made dozens of improvements. These include the system’s load performance, fixing the waitlist functionality, optimizing the system for Firefox/Safari, updating the digital signature app, and more.
The outside developer is currently working on incorporating the following: Restoring the cancelled youth list, updating the system generated emails, updating the 'Inactive' volunteer feature, restoring some features to the check-in tab, and more. These changes will start to go-live within the next month and should be completed by the spring.
Thanks again to all the volunteers that have contributed to the development of this new tool. Most importantly, I’d like to once again thank Don White for all his efforts over the past 7 years in his development and support of Young Eagles Day!"
Former chapter president Paul Hove dies
Hove, a former Director of Naval Systems at Unisys, was president of Chapter 54 from 2004 to 2007. After flying a Warrior for a number of years, he began building an RV-7A at Lake Elmo Airport in a hangar on Mooney Lane he shared with Doug Weiler, who started the Twin Cities RV Builders Group. He was a fixture at the group's meetings as well as the Saturday-morning crowd at the Anderson hangar not far away. The private pilot ground school once hosted by Chapter 54 began under the Hove administration. He also opened up the Chapter House on occasional Saturday mornings for safety seminars, a practice that was resurrected by the chapter in 2024. Hove also led a number of spring work parties to Oshkosh, to help the organization prepare the grounds for AirVenture each July. When his illness forced his retirement from chapter leadership a few months ago, he had accumulated a total of 24 consecutive years as a Chapter 54 officer. Read more >>
Phase I Airport Limitation Reversed
The FAA has released a policy memo that reverses a troubling change in Phase I operating limitations that was originally set to be included with the latest update of Order 8130.2, which became effective in December. The change would have limited aircraft in Phase I to operating out of a single airport, or two with “valid justification of a specific flight test or safety requirement.” Learn more ›
You're upset? You need U-P-R-T!
Collision avoidance in the traffic pattern
John Ostrem: Aviation by the Numbers
Schanks takes on calendar duties
Bill Schanks Jr., has agreed to assume the role of fly-in calendar coordinator for the chapter. The EAA 54 website provides two calendars: one is for chapter business and one is for regional fly-ins that might be of interest to pilots. Both calendars can be found under the "Events and Program" tab on the website, although the fly-in calendar is usually only visible around fly-in season. Members and other area pilots who have events and fly-ins they'd like to add to the calendar should send details to Bill at events@eaa54.org. The chapter is deeply indebted to Paul Hove, who started and maintained the service.
New frequency for Airlake
There's an effort underway to get a dedicated CTAF frequency for 21D to reduce the radio chatter in the pattern. But Airlake Airport in Lakeville is going first. The FAA has announced that as of February 20, 2025, the CTAF frequency at KLVN will change to 122.975 from the present 123.0. The move will eliminate chatter and confusion from KULM, KAEL, and KMCW. It's also a good time to remind pilots of best-practice guidelines for radio work at non-towered airports. In addition to beginning a call with the airport you're referring to, wait a beat after your message and repeat the airport name at the conclusion.
Chapter Board of Directors in lightning round
Perhaps owing to the bare achievement of a quorum, the EAA Chapter 54 Board of Directors completed January's work in quick fashion on January 6. Board members Marlon Gunderson, Jay Schrankler, Emma Hanson, Ed Trudeau, Scott Hanson, Bruce Olson, and Bill Schanks attended the session. There was little new business to discuss. Treasurer Emma Hanson announced a slight shortfall for the month and indicated donations for the holiday party almost matched expenses. The anticipated shortfall reflected the $656 renewal of our EAA charter with headquarters, which is paid every December. Membership renewals have been strong, and the chapter now lists about 100 active members. Her report for the full year was equally encouraging. With $2,200 still to be paid out with the Ray Scholarship funds, the chapter ended the year at about $85 to the good. The treasurer's year-end report has been added to the meeting minutes. The Board was also advised that the possibility of hosting the Ford Tri-motor in 2025 has been dashed. EAA is taking it to Saint Cloud. Maybe next year. Read more >>
