Event Highlights

February 2023 Gathering/Meeting

I hope I put a good recap of the gathering here tonight.  It is too nice a day to be inside any longer.  I am heading to the airport. 

More Photos from this event

Don't look at the photos.  One 9 year old doesn't want his mom posting him on Facebook.

 

Past Young Eagle Events have their own section.

 

December 2022 Gathering/Meeting - Chili

We ate chili and two people flew in an airplane for the first time.

More Photos from this event

  

Ground School 

Ground School sessions will be every Saturday starting at 12 noon. 

	May 7, 2022	-	Plan a night flight to Paducah (no GPS)
	May 14, 2022	-	Airspace - where is it and what does it matter
	May 21, 2022	-	"100 Dollar Hamburger"
	May 28, 2022	-	Radio Communication
	June 4, 2022	-	A reason to fly -- Young Eagles
	June 11, 2022	-	How to prepare for the test
	June 18, 2022	-	Navigation/Charts then preflight/engine
	June 25, 2022	-	Plan a short flight
	July 2, 2022	-	No session - enjoy your 4th of July
	July 9, 2022	-	Airspace - where is it and what do you need to be in it

Sessions will continue in June and beyond as long as several people show up. 

More Pictures from these events

Ground School - June 18, 2022

Three young people and four not-so-young people were at this weeks session.  We looked at navigation and charts a bit then preflight and engine parts.

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June 2022 Gathering/Meeting

More Photos

• Hamburgers and Hangar Talk was deemed a success.
• Flying Start/Bald Eagles was a success as two Bald Eagle have their FAA physicals scheduled and another just passed his FAA written test.
• Young Eagles event was a success with 74 Young Eagles flown, about 54 first flights, and lots of smiling kids.  We had 5 airplanes which flew 41 flights. 
• Future Young Eagles event – some folks are ready to have another even in the heat of summer.  Humboldt, Union City, Camden and back at Carroll Co. were suggestions.
• Jacob has been accepted to Air Academy, EAA summer camp in Oshkosh.  Chapter 734 covered his tuition with Young Eagle Credits.
• Kenny donated a 60 inch TV to Chapter 734.  It is in the Carroll County Airport conference room for the ground school classes.
• Builder Reports
• Chester’s Super Duty – Apparently none of us can say “empennage” but it is the tail section of an airplane.  The Super Duty now has a completed empennage.
• Tommy’s RV8 – Tommy describes it as having a 25 foot wing span, 22 feet long, tandem seating, sliding canopy, step on wing, 180 HP, 200 mph at 8 to 9 gallons per hour or slow it down to get 5 to 6 gallons per hour.   He started it in 2006.  He plans to paint it white and add some color trim.
• Keith’s Velocity -- Keith was in Florida fitting his wing tips using jigs at the Velocity factory.
• Next Gathering/Meeting will be July 10.  It is moved back a week to avoid the 4^th of July holiday.

 

Hamburgers and Hangar Talk / FlyingStart

Lots of burgers
Lots of deserts. 
Lots of talk.
Some flying.
And one person got to taxi on his own for the first time.

More Pictures

 

May 2022 Gathering/Meeting

Ty had his EAA Membership Card out for everyone to see.  He is our youngest member, and proud to be a member.
More Pictures from the May Gathering

• Beautiful day but less than normal people, 4 airplanes, and one aviation bear
• Ray Aviation Scholarship Progress
• Chester plans to take his test Tuesday, really next Tuesday, not the (some) Tuesday when some of our builders plan to finish their projects.
• Dalton has been taking practice test and is about ready to take the real thing.  He is busy graduating high school for the next week or two.
• Past Ray Recipient, Craig, has been flying cross countries and plans to start instrument training when summer break starts in a week or two.
• Glider CFI Scholarship.  Dale was just awarded this scholarship.  He will add CFI-Glider to his CFI-engine along with a long list of other certificates.
• May 21 – Hamburgers and Hangar Talk/Flying Start/”Bald” Eagles.  This should be fun. 
• June 4 – Young Eagles Event – Approved.  First big Young Eagles event this year.  Will be at Carroll County from 10 – 2. 
• Ground School.  Starting immediately, Saturdays at noon.  This is for anyone that needs some practice with aviation ground school topics like airspace, E6B, charts, weight&balance, etc.  This includes pilots, student pilots, and want-to-be student pilots. 
• Sun-n-Fun.  Wilson volunteered to work.  He was put on handicap detail.  He said he wished he had a handicap sticker.  They treated the handicap wonderful, well above just good parking.

Project Reports

• Dale is flying his new engine.  He flew his Rans S12 to the gathering/meeting.
• Dave is mocking up instrument and part locations on his Zenith 750 STOL.
• Tommy is almost finished with the fiberglass on his RV8.  He has been able to order Lycoming parts and have them in a few days until now.  His cylinders won’t arrive until September.  The rest of the engine has been Yellow Tagged already.  He plans to hang the wings and tail while he waits on parts.
• Chester and Paul were not there to report, but there are clecos out of the stabilizer.  They have either been working on it or there are big mice in the shop area.

We have a lot going on in the next couple of months.
Come on out and join the fun, and bring a friend or two.

More Pictures from the May Gathering

 

April 2022 Gathering/Meeting

• The weather was great
• 12+ airplanes attend (12 is a bunch when food is not involved)
• 35 people were at the meeting, a few more were just around, we won’t say “late”
• 5 Young Eagles, one stuffed animal, and several other people flew

• Mike officially joined our chapter today.
• Aaron is also new to our chapter but a lone time member of the Evans family. 
• Membership only requires an interest in aviation.  It does not require an airplane, a pilot certificate, or having an interest in building an airplane. 
• Millington Young Eagles for Scouts is setup.  This will be another small event for the scouts.
• EAA Learn to Fly Day – May 21
  • We are going to cook hamburgers and maybe get some new people into flying
  • We will have a “Flying Start” presentation which should answer many of the questions perspective pilot has about learning to fly.
• The Young Eagles program starts its 30^th anniversary celebration on International Young Eagles Day on June 11.  Expect to pick a date in June for a Young Eagles EVENT at the next gathering/meeting.  EAA has flown over 2-million Young Eagles.  Chapter 734 has flown over 2,000.

Project notes

• Keith’s Velocity, mailed check yesterday for cylinders, engine in Oklahoma for recertification, project 75% complete – 150% remaining.  Going to Sun-n-fun.
• Tod’s Velocity, going to Sun-n-fun to look at instrumentation—Dynon or Garmin G3X.  Plane at factory for builder assist getting a Lycoming 360 CIE6 200hp with MT constant speed prop
• Lou – going to Sun-n-Fun, flew to gathering in Wheeler Express he built many years ago, building a Zenith 750 that might go 100mph which is half the speed of the Express.  Had a fire recently but saved the Zenith.
• Evans’ 750 SD, moved to a new hangar which may get named the “Aircraft Assembly Facility”
• David’s 750 STOL, on gear, almost ready for its Yamaha snowmobile engine.
• Eric’s Rans S21 was ordered some time ago but still isn’t due until October.
• Dale’s Rans S12, upgraded engine to Rotax 670 with 90 to 100 hp, 4 blade prop, 3-1 gear reduction
• Don – best for last – no work on his RV10 due to his new job as airport manager at Union City (Everett Stewart Regional Airport - UCY)

 

More Pictures from the April Gathering

 

March 2022 Gathering/Meeting

• New Visitors:  Les, Kenny, and two adults and two cadets from CAP
• The Henry Co. Civil Air Patrol (CAP) squadron has been reactivated.  They would be happy to have new members—youngsters 12-21 and adults.  They meet the 1^st and 3^rd Saturdays from 9 to 1 at their hangar in Paris across from the main airport (enter from the street on the north side of the runway).  It is one of the three hangars with the EAA hangar (these hangars are at Henry Co, not Carroll Co where we meet).
• We increased the number of chairs again for this meeting.  The extra chairs were needed.
• Four people passed their first medicals—three teens and one adult.  At least one more needs his first medical soon.
• Boy Scout Young Eagle flights will be in Millington on April 23 (rain 30).  The Aviation Merit Badge group is limited to 12 scouts.
• Burgers or some other food – some of us are going to eat sometime.  Those that don’t want to eat don’t have to.  Date and location and type of food have not been chosen.
• May 21 is EAA Learn to Fly Day.  “Bald” Eagle flights and maybe Flying Start event?  Several pilots were missing today.  An Eagle Flight requires one pilot and one potential student pilot to be successful.  So this may still happen.
• June 11 is International Young Eagles Day.  Last year we did an “At Least One” Young Eagle event for this day.  At least one would be good this year but one hundred would be better.   We did not make a plan, but maybe somewhere in the middle would be good. 
• Project Reports
• RV10, still working on leading edges.  Minor setback by breaking a small part on the stall warning system.
• Zenith 750 STOL, no heat in hangar so little work recently but landing gear and peddles are in.  The breaks were difficult.
• Velocity #1 took the engine parts to Oklahoma for recertification.  This Lycoming will produce 200 horse power and push the plane 186 knots at 75% power.
• Velocity #2 recently had the engine installed.
• RV8 #1 is new to our Chapter (joined today).  It is flying, has a 200 hp Lycoming, Garmin flight deck, smoke system, and is black accented in red.
• RV8 #2 is still working on the fiberglass around the windshield. 
• Glasair was a flying airplane until electronic ignition acted up.  The owner made sure the parts were broken which didn’t help things.  New parts should arrive soon.
• Dalton “drove” (taxied, without leaving the ground) an airplane for the first time.  He recognized p-factor and torque once he was allowed some speed.

 

Craig is Famous Again

Craig is famous again!
This is from an EAA Webinar for the Ray Aviation Scholarship.
The Goose is also famous.  One of the EAA staff commented about the Goose being extra special at the end of the webinar.  I don't think he knew the Kentucky Lake Chapter (Chapter 734) members landed the Goose on Kentucky Lake that day.  Landing on the Tennessee River was indeed a very special!

Photos from last summer when Craig was awarded the Ray Aviation Scholarship and flew in the Grumman Goose

 

February 2022 Gathering/Meeting

• It was sunny with light wind outside.  Four planes flew in.  We won’t mention the temperature in the hangar but all the chairs were full.
• Our chapter has been approved for 2022 Ray Aviation Scholarships.  The race is on for the teens to qualify.
• Scott has talked to Mike about visiting his hangar with several interesting aircraft in a few months.
• Tommy is very happy with how the fiberglass work is going on his RV8.  He is glad Keith came to our chapter.
• Lou says everything cost three times more than it did for his first build.  He just purchased a throttle cable for his Zenith 750.
• Eric has an S21 kit on order but it isn’t scheduled to be delivered for months.
• Chester and Paul have been working overtime to pay for their Zenith Super Duty, so the kit is still mostly in boxes.
• Program – Wilson talked about his flying career from drop-n-goes in the mud in a C130, to 50,300 feet in a 747-400, and ending with a 65hp/hand propped Champ now.
• Dalton took his first Young Eagle flight with Kevin.  It was his second time in a small plane.  Several time Young Eagle Karl was happy to tag along.

Wilson (masked) and Richard  -- Dalton's first Young Eagle flight, note the "Young Eagle" smile?
More Pictures from this gathering

 

January 2022 Gathering/Meeting

• Three Dodd teens and their mother joined us for the first time.  All three teens are in the age range for the Ray Aviation Scholarship and plan to start flight training soon.
• Todd Kee officially joined Chapter 734 today.  He is building a Velocity, raising our Velocity builds to two tying the RV builds but behind the Zenith builds.  The Velocitys are so much faster than the Zeniths that they can make two trips so they could still get more people somewhere; unless it is a short, unimproved strip.
• Ty also attended his first meeting although he was at a Young Eagle event last summer.  He is the one posing as a fighter pilot in the pictures.
• Craig was presented the traditional very-manual “compass” for earning his Private Pilot Certificate.  These custom made compasses are guaranteed to work should all electronic devices that modern pilots count on fail.  In fact, it even works around random magnetic fields.  Craig is/was our 2021 Ray Aviation Scholar.
• Dale would have been presented a great item to keep him cool while students practice their first landings, but he missed this gathering.  He recently received his CFI certificate (Certified Flight Instructor).
• Jacob R. and Logan C. will be attending Air Academy (summer camp) thanks to Chapter 734’s past Young Eagle activity.  We get credit for each Young Eagle flight and we had enough credit to send both 14-year-olds to this summer’s camp in Oshkosh, WI.
• We met the new Carroll Co. Airport Manager, C.J. Scott.  He got the job because he was an EAA member.  He found out about the job when asking our Tech Consoler about A&P Schools.  The manager’s job will probably keep him from becoming an A&P since it will probably keep him busy.
• We got status updates from several of our builders.  Finish dates range from Tuesday through Friday, although most aren’t giving a year<g>.
• Our first Young Eagle Event for 2022 will be January 29 at McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport (MKL) in Jackson, TN.  This event is to help some Boy Scouts earn their Aviation Merit Badge.  Our kids can fly also.  Expect this to be a small event.  If interested in attending, let Carl or Dale know.
• Our February Gathering/Meeting will be February 6, 2pm, 2^nd big hangar at Carroll Co. Airport (HZD) (Tommy’s Hangar).

More pictures from the January Gathering/Meeting 

 

New PRIVATE PILOT - Craig

Craig passed his Private Pilot Checkride on December 26, 2021.
He is Chapter 734's second Ray Aviation Scholar to complete training this year.  Both took about six months.

More Pictures from the day of his Checkride. 
His mother, father, and sister were his first passengers.

 

Chester is famous again!

Chester’s picture was used in EAA’s 2022 Ray Aviation Scholarship webinar.  You can view this webinar and many past EAA webinars at https://www.eaa.org/eaa/news-and-publications/eaa-webinars under Webinar Video Archives (EAA member login required).  

This is also a reminder that it is time for the teens to be getting ready for next year’s scholarships.  We have three consecutive successful scholarships and don’t want 2022 to break that chain.  Chester became a Private Pilot this summer thanks to the Ray Foundation (2020).  Craig has his checkride scheduled also thanks to the Ray Foundation (2021).  And, although our chapter wasn’t chosen in 2019 for a Ray Scholarship, it spawned a special scholarship from a dentist/pilot/nicest-guy-in-the-world to make Dale a Private Pilot SEL in 2019.

 

December 2021 Gathering/Meeting

• Craig was awarded a free Lightspeed Zulu 3 headset from the Lightspeed Foundation for completing his FAA Written Test and Solo in the Ray Aviation Scholarship program.
• Chili and lots of other stuff was eaten
• 2022 chapter officers were elected:  Tommy, Bill, Craig, Carl
• About 30 attended

More Pictures from this gathering

 

World's Newest CFI

Introducing the world's newest CFI (Certified Flight Instructor), Dale Swenson.
Dale turned 20 two days ago.  He is a member of EAA Chapter 734 and he is wearing his EAA Lifetime Member jacket in the picture.  Dale joined Chapter 734 at 16 just after getting his first Private Pilot certificate in a glider.  Chapter 734 started him flying things with engines.  He flew Young Eagles while he still qualified as a Young Eagle.  He has added ratings and endorsements regularly including some more in gliders.  He is now qualified to teach others to fly (in power airplanes, his CFI-glider is his next project).

 

 

Soaring with Dale

A update on these "Yearling" Eagles.  They flew with Dale in a powered airplane this spring.  They went soaring in a glider today.

Dale soaring with his personal secretary and financier (his mom)

 

Craig's Solo Cross Country with a Towered Airport

Craig's Solo Cross Country with a Towered Airport

The route was planned, the airplane was prepped, the weather briefing changed the plan!

 

October 2021 Gathering Highlights

• Wilson held up an old Chapter 734 membership roster beside a new roster.  The new roster is considerably longer.  Covid maybe putting a damper on Chapter activities, but our Chapter is doing fine.  We have considerably more members now than some time before Covid.  We have more builders, more flyers, more trips, more scholarships, and more stories.  Right now we have less food and fewer Young Eagle flight due to the virus but things are looking up in those areas also.
• Checks were written for two scholarships.  One party stressed about the thought on online payment.  One party was concerned about what to do with a check.  I bet you can guess the ages of each party.  The flight school didn’t care how we sent the money.
• We discussed next year’s Ray Aviation Scholarship possibilities.  The teens should be preparing now.  We may have two scholarships.
• Hank check on the number of times our meetings would be moved due to holidays if the gatherings were the second Sunday instead of the first.  Looking at 3 years and 10 years, it didn’t make any difference.  The number of moves would be about the same for either weekend.
• One of our visitors was the first person to pilot a C5.  He told something about herding cattle with the C5—attendance has advantages.
• Keith plans to sell his partially done KR1 kit to purchase a Velocity kit in Oregon.  The KR1 is fast but the Velocity is faster.  But the real difference is that the Velocity is a four seat aircraft.  He needs somewhere for the dog to ride.
• Lou flew to the meeting in his Express that he built some time ago.  He is fairly close to finished with his Zenith 750 STOL.
• Dave is fairly close to finished with his Zenith 750 STOL that he started less than a year ago.  He plans to put a 160 hp Yamaha in it.  He says he is a car guy that understands car engines and he thinks aircraft engines are just strange.
• Chester and Paul’s second part of their Zenith Super Duty kit is ready to pick up in Mexico, MO. Chester’s soccer team will play for the state championship in a few weeks and they plan to work on the Zenith hard after soccer.  They still plan to finish the Super Duty before Chester finishes high school.
• Warren claims to have had a Zenith 601XL delivered from Indianapolis to Beach River recently.  He didn’t fly his new airplane to the EAA gathering so one has to wonder if it really exists.
• Officer nominations should happen at the November meeting.  The Vice President, Secretary, and Treasure have all asked to be replaced after many years of service.  The President didn’t ask to be replaced but it is an elected position also.  Volunteer if you would like any position.
• Next gathering/meeting:  November 7, 2pm, 2^nd big hangar at Carroll County Airport.  This is the day daylight saving time ends.

A little bit Meeting

A little bit Gathering

 

September 2021 Gathering/Meeting Notes

• More than twenty people were there with three planes including a Grumman Goose which took a load of people for a landing on Kentucky Lake.  Most people probably don’t even know that our Chapter is officially the Kentucky Lake Chapter and there is a really good chance that this is the first time we have actually landed on the lake at a gathering.
• Craig was presented a really-big-check as our 2021 Ray Aviation Scholar.  This scholarship will provide funds for him to get his Private Pilot Certificate.  Craig plans to go into wildlife management out west or in Alaska.  It seems fitting to celebrate his scholarship in the amphibian Goose since he may end up in amphibian or float planes.

More photos from the gathering and flight. 
The "kid" that got to be the guest pilot was Dr. Portis. 
Thanks Mike!  

 

August 2021 Gathering/Meeting Notes

• Chester is now a Private Pilot at age 16.  He is our 2020 Ray Aviation Scholar.  He took his older brother, Patrick, up as his first passenger in a glider.
• Craig did write his essay and is our 2021 Ray Aviation Scholarship candidate.  We are waiting on EAA’s final approval.
• Dale flew his 100 hour in a glider in Arizona.
• Dr. Paul received his hat for flying Young Eagles.  EAA sends different things at significant numbers of Young Eagles flown.
• Air Academy 2022 (summer camp at Oshkosh) was discussed.  Yes it is time to plan for 2022.  We may send two of our younger members.
• Chester and Dr. Paul may need to borrow a trailer in September to pick up more of their Zenith 750 Super Duty kit.
• Luke visited for the first time.  His Express is hangared at Beech River.
• We didn’t plan another Young Eagle event.  We may consider it again next month if the covid trend changes.  Pilots are still allowed to do individual Young Eagle flights.  This does not include Kevin who reportedly had to be stopped from leaving the house with his oxygen bottle to go flying.  Kevin has covid pneumonia.
• The next gathering/meeting will be September 12 to avoid the Labor Day holiday weekend.

More Pictures from this meeting and the paramotors departing that evening.

 

New Private Pilot

Chester is now a Private Pilot - Glider
He passed his Checkride and Soloed while in Arizona
Chester is Chapter 734's 2020 Ray Aviation Scholar.  He finished his training in nine months but did most of it in two weeks.

More Pictures
Quote of the day:  "It is cooler now" after his tailfeathers were clipped 

 

100th Hour in Gliders

Dale logged his 100th hour in gliders while in Arizona

More photos gliding and of the trip to Arizona

 

July 2021 Gathering/Meeting Highlights

• I wouldn’t say it was hot in July but one guy brought his own motorized fan and another guy had the back cut out of his shirt.
• We had a good turnout and it wasn’t really all that hot.
• Joseph brought his paramotor, which is a big fan that straps to his back and a wing like a parachute, to tell people how it works.  I am sure the teenagers had a big time trying it on.
• Craig soloed recently so Dale cut the back out of his shirt.  Famous last words:  “But I like this shirt”.
• Dale passed his Commercial Check Ride recently so he got a bag of coins.  I hope future coins are gold instead of copper.  Or better yet rolls of $100 bills, the coins were heavy.
• Hank gave a talk about airplane incidents and what might have broken the chain of events leading to them.  The most unique was an EAA Biplane he worked on coming nose to nose with a steam roller.  The steam roller won.  He had pictures to prove the insolent really happened.  You have to be at the meeting to get all the good stuff like steam roller/airplane pictures or kids trying on paramotors.
• Savannah took the $100 give-a-way.  Maybe she plans to put it toward a Part 103 Paramotor.  Part 103 aircraft don’t require FAA Written Test <g>.

More Pictures from the gathering

Pictures of the Paramotor pilot who demoed his gear

 

Other Famous People

 

Famous People

 

 

STEM class at West Carroll Elementary

More Pictures

 

June 2021 Gathering/Meeting

• About 30 attended including several new people we hope will return.  It was rainy so no one flew.  The kids were disappointed.
• Young Eagles event next Saturday, June 12.  We have at least one Young Eagle and at least one pilot (actually more of both) so the event is on.10am-2pm at Carroll Co. Airport and there will be food.  Expect a smaller, more casual event for our restart after a restricted year.
• The first funds were dispersed for our 2020 Ray Aviation Scholar.  Tony was relieved but another allotment for 2020 will be arriving soon and we should start of 2021 shortly.
• Hank won the $100 drawing from John.  Hank returned it to be drawn again next month.  So next month John will draw from the Chapter 734 membership roster again.  The member (anyone from a family membership) must be in attendance to win.  If there isn’t a winner, the drawing will be done again the next month.
• Moving our meeting place permanently from Paris/Henry Co. Airport to Carroll Co. Airport passed.  There is more space at Carroll Co. and we would not all fit even without Covid-19.  The mailing address will probably remain at Paris.  Our chapter has a hangar at Paris.
• Moving the meeting day was tabled again.  If you like the First Sunday speak up.  If you would prefer a different day or time, speak up.
• Next gathering/meeting will be July 11 to avoid the July 4 holiday.  It will be in the 2^nd big hangar at Carroll Co. Airport where it has been for the last year at 2pm. (don’t forget the Young Eagles event June 12)
• One of the Ray Scholarship hopefuls and his advocate brought up removing the requirement to pass the FAA Written test before being qualified for the scholarship.  This was tabled until next month.
• Several people should have taken FAA test recently.  It was a contest between Young Eagles and “Old” Eagles.  I was surprised when the young lost to the old.  One 19 year old passed his Commercial written, oral, and practical and one well-past-20 (I didn’t want to say “old”) passed his Sport Pilot Written.  The well-past-20 had a dream of flying that he is finally making come true.

 

Will and Dale went flying

 

Will went flying with Dale.  Will thinks he might like to be a pilot.

More Pictures

 

Mother's Day 2021

Dale took his mother to Lamberts for Mother's Day.

 

May 2021 Gathering/Meeting Highlights

 

John Collins and Jayden help with preflight before there first flight (more photos)

 

Dale flew two Yearling "Bald" Eagles

This MTSU student plans to change his major from Undecided to Aviation.  (more)

 

April 2021 Gathering/Meeting Highlights

• The runway at Paris-Henry Co. is closed due to a sinkhole.
• They are out of 100LL fuel at Camden-Benton Co. because they have to get approval to order more than two loads a year.
• Everything is great at McKenzie-Carroll Co.  The paved runway is freshly sealed and painted.  The grass is mowed for the more adventurous (2200x20 available).And there is plenty of room for social distancing along with the flying.
• Chester has 11 hours in a self-launched glider.  His instructor got an airline job (bet you thought that couldn’t happen this year) so he is stalled for a little bit.
• Two teens are excited about our 2021 Ray Aviation Scholarship.  There is still time for others to join Jakob and Craig’s pursuit for this great scholarship.
• Best for Last
  • We plan to fly at least one Young Eagle on International Young Eagle Day!
  • We have enough pilots and ground crew willing to fly some kids, so mark your calendar for Saturday, June 12.  We will have a limited Young Eagle Event for those willing to participate.
  • Since it has been a year since our last even, we may put a kid in a plane in the hangar and make airplane noises if it happens to rain.  Some of us are really ready to get going again.

March 2021 Gathering/Meeting Highlights

• Holmes is visiting with Roger
• Warren Peak returned and joined Chapter 734.
• Warren will be going to Florida for Sport Pilot training soon.
• Paul has a new Price Prop for his one of his Glass Airs
• Dale is replacing the sails on his Rans

"Young Eagle" and "Science Kid" 
(more photos from this day)

I walk into the FBO and there is this kid in the hallway.  I am greeted with “I’m a Young Eagle.”  This is a surprise because it was a totally random greeting.  He didn’t know it was EAA meeting day or that I might know anything about the Young Eagles.  I asked him about the Young Eagles.  He tells me that he is “a science kid” and tells me a bit out how airplanes fly with good description from a 10 year old.  I asked him about his Young Eagle flight.  He didn’t remember when he flew.  So I suggested we look him up in the World’s Largest Logbook.   He flew on 9-14-2019, and he is still talking about it.  

He will have another entry in the World’s Largest Logbook soon.  Dale took him for another Young Eagles flight today.  He now has two aviation stories to tell.  He still has a long way to go to catch up with his grandfather who often tells me about his adventures during his flying days.  Richard is at the airport a couple of days a week if you what to hear one of his stories.

Carl Blevins
Young Eagle Coordinator
EAA Chapter 734

February 2021 Gathering/Meeting Highlights

• Warren is visiting.  He has just moved from Florida to Tennessee.  He said it was 91 in Florida today.  It was cold in Tennessee and he likes it.
• The Russell family is visiting.  The dad is an agg pilot and Jacob (15) has had a glider lesson.
• Dale skipped so he could get his self-launched glider endorsement.  The Russell's have seen the glider Dale is flying.  They said that it took up three tie-down spots it was so wide.
• Richard has been working on the breaks on this Sonex.  He also has a Thatcher CX4 to build, but has been ignoring it recently.
• Don has been riveting the wing ribs on his RV10

 

 

January 2021 Meeting Highlights

• Elections – Elections were put off a little due to the plague.  The Chapter Officers were all reelected.  Tommy is President, Bill is Vice President and Tony reluctantly kept the positions of Secretary and Treasure.
• 15 were brave enough or crazy enough attend
• Chester has been training for his glider rating in a self-launched glider.
• Dale flew with a Tiger after breakfast at Clifton
• Dale did an epic day by flying in 4 states, landing at 6 airports on 7 runways, had a mid-air collision with a bird, and had a great rib lunch.
• Chapter 734 has two positions for Air Academy 2021 reserved.
• Bill was feeling good enough to attend.  He thinks is his doing better.
• Paul S. tore his ACL playing soccer like he is still a teenager.
• Craig joined us for the first time.  His is a student at UT Martin.  He is studying to be a wildlife agent and hopes to fly bush planes in Alaska.  He took his first flight in a small plane with Dale today.
• Dale has flow the wings off his airplane.  It will get new sails soon.
• Don has been working on his wing spars.  He says he will be ready to fly Tuesday.  He just hasn’t specified which Tuesday or in what year.

 

Chester starts self-launched glider training

December 2020 Meeting Highlights

• Elections for chapter officers will be next month. 
• EAA report and insurance due by the end of this month.
• Carl suggested a Blackeye Pea Rally for New Year’s.  Of the people there, few were interested.  We may try it anyway. 
• Don has the empennage of his RV10 almost complete.  He has started on his wings.
• Dale and Carl flew in using Carl’s recently finished Zenith.  Of course they had to leave Carroll Co. Airport and go somewhere else so they could “fly in” to the meeting.  “Flying in” to a meeting when a plane is hangered at the same airport is perfect EAA pilot logic.
• Roger also flew in but his Cessna starts at a different airport so his flight required less planning.
• Chester was awarded a really-big-check to learn to fly from the Ray Foundation.

Chester receives the 2020 Ray Aviation Scholarship

Photos of Chester

November 2020 Meeting Highlights

• No election due to reduced meetings for Covid-19
• Chester had fun flying gliders with Dale
• Dale is progressing through his phase checks for his instrument rating at MTSU.
• Test Pilot Dale flew Carl Zenith to return it to service after some upgrades.

Chester and Dale fly a glider

October 2020 Meeting Highlights

• Nominations for Chapter officers will be put off because people are staying home for Covid.
• Hank presented “If an elephant steps on him, what would his non-flying relatives do with the airplane”.
• Wilson will not be providing a duck dinner.  He missed the last meeting to hunt ducks.  The ducks did not corporate.
• Carl’s Zenith is back at the airport.  Roger helped move it.  Chester and Dr. Paul helped put on the wings.
• Chester, 15, now has a student pilot’s certificate.

Chester finalizes his Student Pilot Certificate with CFI Johnathan.  They are using a wing Chester just helped install as a desk.  They are on the IACRA website where the CFI finalizes his application after verifying he is who he says he is and that he can read and speak English.  Chester is the fourth teen associated with Chapter 734 to get his Student Pilot Certificate this year.

 

September 2020 Meeting Highlights

• Moved a week to get it off the Labor Day weekend.
• Small attendance, but still more than would have fit at Paris especially with Covid.
• Madison visited with her parents.
• Tony found the nickel.  The treasury report is now even.  Tony said he is ready to retire while it is even.
• No big group events are planned right now due to Covid.
• The girls have been invited to help repaint the compass rose at Jackson with the Ninety-Nines.
• Young Evans took a glider flight.  Older Evans thinks he will join him next time.
• The next section of Chester’s Zenith 750 Super Duty has been ordered.
• Dale passed his first phase check for his instrument rating.  He has been involved with several interesting aircraft since moving to MTSU.
• Carl’s Zenith is almost ready to return to the airport.

Elevator Workshop 

Chester evited the other students in Chapter 734 to help build his elevator.  The elevator will be part of his Zenith 750 Super Duty that he started building during AirVenture last year (see a note from last year on this page).  Chester is 15.

More Pictures from the Elevator Workshop

 

August 2020 Meeting Highlights

• Kevin will be getting a free Lightspeed Zulu headset from EAA for flying Young Eagles!
• Savannah made her first takeoff recently.  She wasn’t at the meeting to tell us about it.
• Jim found the perfect place to sit—centered under the huge celling fan (actually it wasn’t terribly hot today)
• Wife Appreciation Dinner
  • Voted to go Dutch
  • Voted to go to Sirloin Stockade
  • Voted to wait on picking a date due to Covid-19
• Chester has the tail done except for the elevator on his Zenith 750 Super Duty
• Don is steadily working on the empennage of his RV10.  He is one of the new Chapter 734 members.
  • His project is in the EAA Builder’s Log (https://eaabuilderslog.org/).  
  • Directly to his project:  https://eaabuilderslog.org/?s=dcoady 
• Carl’s Zodiac is closer to being at the airport than it was last month.
• Dale just finished the condition inspection on his Rans.
• We flew three teens.  One was his first flight in a small airplane.  I couldn’t tell if he was smiling due to the mask.
• The McKenzie airport was buzzy for a Sunday with eight planes and about 35 people.
• Elevator workshop August 8 in Tommy’s hanger at 1pm.
• Next meeting – Moved to September 13 to avoid the Labor Day holiday.  The location will be Tommy’s hanger for social distancing (2^nd hangar at Carroll Co.).  The time will be 2pm which is the normal time.

Three generations of Young Eagles in one picture

• One took a Young Eagle flight with Chapter 734 many years ago.  He has just returned to the chapter as a pilot.
• Two are new Young Eagles.  One’s first flight was today.  One is building an airplane at 15.
• One is a future Young Eagle -- in eight years!

More Pictures from this Meeting
 

WomenVenture 2020 Virtual Group Photo

Three girls from Chapter 734 are in the WomenVenture 2020 virtual group photo.  They are in the next to the last row, 9^th picture from the left and the last row, 19^th picture from the left.  There are 390 participants from 19 countries in the virtual photo.  Hopefully WomenVenture, GirlVenture, and AirVenture (Oshkosh) will be in person events next year.

 

July 2020 Meeting Highlights

• 20 people were scattered around the hanger.  The plague is keeping the attendance low.  We had several guests:  one is building a RV10, one flies a ’46 Taylercraft, one is a flying club member, one has a Citation and 182, and one flies a Cherokee. 
• Wife Appreciation Dinner was tabled again.  Many people aren’t willing to go to a restaurant yet.  John has picked three restaurants and he is ready to eat, or appease his wife for letting him fly.  We don’t know which.
• Air Academy 2020-2021.  Our kids that had positions for EAA’s summer camp this year have spots held for them for next year.
• We only have 27 Young Eagle flights for this year.  The good news is that five of them are recent so we aren’t totally dormant but we probably won’t fly big groups any time soon.
• One of our Young Eagles showed off her new Student Pilot’s Certificate.  She plans to take her FAA Written Test this month.
• Our teen pilot is getting ready for his instrument written.  He will be off to college next month.
• Chapter 734’s Ray Aviation Scholarship deadline is approaching.  Someone will get to start flight training soon.
• Hank still thinks the Piper project may have some instruments, etc. that could be sold.
• Wilson brought some old maps and other military paraphernalia for people to see.
• Tommy did a class on airspace.
• Next Meeting will be at Carroll Co. Airport (HZD) again for social distancing.  It will be August 2 at 2pm in Tommy’s hanger (2^nd hanger).

More Picture from this Meeting

 

June 2020 Meeting Highlights

• We finally got to meet again.  The chairs were spread out in large hanger.
• We plan to meet in July but the date will be changed to July 12 to avoid the 4^th of July holiday.  The location will be at in Tommy’s hanger at Carroll Co. instead of the conference room at Paris to give us more room for social distancing.
• A dinner is still on the agenda but will wait for things to clear up some more.
• Hank is in charge of the Tri-Pacer parts.
• Three of our teens are about to take FAA Written Test--Two for Private Pilot and one for Instrument.
• Chester has the last part of his horizontal stabilizer.  Chester is 15 and is building a Zenith 750 Super Duty.
• We had a brief lesson on doing calculating weight and balance.

More pictures from this meeting

 

Ray Aviation Scholarship 1st Meeting

This meeting was Way more challenging than anyone would have expected.  We waited for months for the TN Covid-19 recommendations to allow a meeting but that wasn’t the end of the problems. We kept the group under 10 but still almost had to have the airplane land at a park instead of the airport (Dale says the RANS could have done it).  Then one family couldn’t get to the airport because the roads were blocked by a shootout and standoff.  The FAA Written Test should seem easy after this.

More pictures from this meeting

 

Pilot Graduates from High School

One of our pilots is graduating high school today. 
Congratulations Dale!

These photos may bring up some memories or just introduce you to one of our young pilots.

Dale graduates from High School on May 22, 2020 He will attend MTSU in the fall to pursue a degree in aerospace as a professional pilot. He is a Private Pilot with glider and single engine land ratings.  He has tailwheel and high performance endorsements. He earned his pilot's certificate before his driver's licenses. He flew Young Eagles while he was still a Young Eagle himself. We went from Solo to Checkride in one week!

April and May Meetings were not held due to restrictions imposed for Covid-19.

 

March 2020 Meeting Highlights

• Our chapter will get to nominate a teen for a Ray Aviation Scholarship this year!
• A first hand story was told of flying over LBL (Land Between the Lakes) at night with old and questionable instruments.
• The Young Eagles event at Everett-Stewart Regional Airport (Union City) was discussed.
• Chester has been working on the tail of his Zenith 750 Super Duty.
• Solid Rivet workshop after the meeting. Hands on experience with different ways to set the rivets, countersinking, and drilling.
• Meeting held in Tommy’s hanger at the Carroll County Airport.

Chester and Henry rivet as Tommy supervises.  More pictures from this meeting.

 

February 2020 Meeting Highlights

• Our president walked in and says he is doing well.  He took a test flight in a medical helicopter last month but plans to be flying himself soon.
• Our vice president walked in without a cane and he says he is doing better.
• Some members missed this meeting due to sniffles but nothing major.
• We got a PIREP type report about one of the Boy Scouts we flew last month.  He is still very excited about aviation.  It was very nice to get a report from someone that wasn’t even there because one of the kids was so motivated by his first flight.
• We flew 20 Young Eagles at Jackson last month.  Most were Boy Scouts and a few were Civil Air Patrol Cadets.  Seventeen of them were first flights—actual first time in a airplane for most.
• A Young Eagles event is scheduled for April 18 at KUCY (Everett-Stewart Regional Airport, Union City).

 

January 2020 Meeting Highlights

• Family Chapter Membership now available.  We only had individual memberships before.
• Hank and Wilson are work on a VMC Club
• Tommy took a ride in a helicopter.  The problem was it has a big red plus on the side and he was in the horizontal “seat”.  We wish him well as he recovers from bypass surgery.
• Dale helped remove debris at his airport.  The problem was that he used a tire which made an interesting landing and taxi back.  He handled it fine.  The tire has been repaired and he has already flown again.
• Chester (14) and Paul weren’t at the meeting but they have been riveting away on Chester’s Zenith Super Duty.
• Many of our planes are equipped with ADS-B out even thought it isn’t required were we fly most.
• It is time to volunteer for the Boy Scout event later this month.
• We had four guests.  We hope they will decide to join our chapter.
• We had one “Bald” Eagle flight and two Young Eagle flights before/after the meeting.

 

"A Dream Becomes Reality"

 
Dale_in_Newspaper_12.4.2019.pdf
Dale's hometown paper has a two page article about him.  The above clip is from the front page and pages 10 and 11 are in the .pdf file.

 

November 2019 Meeting Highlights

• Elections

  • Larry Swor, better known as Tommy, will be Chapter 734's 2020 President

  • Bill Stoner will move down to Vice President

  • Tony will keep his jobs as Secretary and Treasurer.

• Union City Young Eagles

  • Everett-Stewart Regional Airport, KUCY in Union City, will be added to our Young Eagles schedule next year.  We expect to return to Paris-Henry Co., Carroll Co., and Benton Co.  No dates have been discussed for any location.

• Two more Young Eagles have decided to join Chapter 734.  Savannah and Colin hope to be US Air Force pilots in a few years.

  
Dale just got his hat for flying 10 Young Eagles
Best of all, he got it while he was still a Young Eagles himself

  

Dale tossed his hat beside a sign that read "Not for Dale.  DENY him food and water." and then he read the sign.  Dale turned 18 just before the meeting removing the restriction of denying Young Eagles food, etc.  He reminded me that he had his shirt tail cut off (when he soloed) and was anointed with aviation oil when he got his (Single Engine Land rating) so he had been "picked on" as a Young Eagle anyway.

Two new teen joined Chapter 734 today.  Don't they look excited?  All four teen (another is on the other side of the room) got to fly in the president elect's 182 after the meeting.  Guess the pilot.

 

August 2019 Meeting Highlights

• Dan sent a note telling of his trip to Oshkosh with a stop in Broadhead for the Pietenpol Reunion.  Apparently they were out in the storm trying to manually hold down the Piets in a very exciting evening. 

• Chester was also at Oshkosh and he started the build of his Zenith 750 Super Duty.  Oshkosh/AirVenture, home of the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) may be the perfect place for the birth of an airplane.  By the way, Chester is 14.  He still has to bum a ride to the meetings but it is perfectly clear that the airplane build will be his project.

• Paul just returned from England where he flew over some interesting places. 

• Fish and sweet corn was a hot topic again.  Maybe we will actually get to eat some on October 19 around 5pm.

• Dale has taken possession of his RANS, had it inspected, and has flown it home.  Dale is not just our 17 year old pilot but a 17 year old “test pilot”.  The RANS had not flown in a few years so it is in a return-to-service state.  He plans to have it on display at the Young Eagles event Saturday.

• Wilson has a new Champ.  It is 65hp and he thinks it doesn’t climb well.  Maybe it is missing a few thousand hp from his past planes (jets). 

• Young Eagles Rally next Saturday September 10.  Everyone should be there about 8:30 and the kids should start arriving at 9am.  Tommy says he will cook hamburgers after the event is over around 2pm.  Registration in the terminal building.  New Blue Eagle 1 for those too young to fly, mini homebuilt workshop, paper plane, air rockets, hot air balloons, and a simulator will be in the 2^nd hanger.  Please stay close to the buildings and watch for planes on the way to the hanger.

• These are just brief notes.  If you want the rest of the story, be at the next meeting on September 8—moved back one week to get it off the Labor Day weekend.  Bring a fiend.

Chester building HIS Zenith 750 Super Duty

Chester trying out Zenith's 750 Super Duty demo

 

July 2019 Meeting Highlights

• Wilson suggested frying fish and he and John will be harvesting sweet corn soon. They decided that they wanted to wait until it was cooler to schedule a family day to cookout.  Some were ready to start cooking when the meeting adjourned.  We went home hungry.

• The Young Eagles Rallies for August 10 at Carroll Co. and September 14 at Henry Co. are firmly scheduled.  Benton Co. will be in October but we haven’t been given a preferred date yet. 

• Kami will be adding some graphics to the “Blue Eagle 1” demonstrator with Robert, Hank, and her dad.

• Hank has pictures of the steam gauges from the Tri-Pacer which we would like to sell.  He is working on the other parts. 

• Wilson has a new-to-him Champ 7AC.

• The trust has released Dale’s RANS so he is feeling more like an airplane owner.  It will need a condition inspection before he gets to fly it.

• Robert is trying to get space at Henry Co. for his Super Parasol.  It is ready for its first flight.

• John has added a high performance rating.

  
Dale discusses the Punch Test with EAA Tech Counselor Tommy.

Does Bob look concerned as Dale performs the test?

 

June 2019 Meeting

Meeting at Robert's Shop in Big Sandy

Inspecting the new Eagle Chick One, a demonstrator for youngsters under 8 years old (under the age to fly Young Eagle flights in a real plane).

  
No!  You don't fit!
This is for those Under 8 years old.

Instructions from the builder, Robert.  This plane has controls, switches, lights, and makes sounds.

  
Tony sent a better picture

  
The boys found a real plane in its trailer waiting for a trip to the airport.  They are giving it a once over.  Tailwheel--"I have a rating for that".  Pitot hose--"what is that".  Gauges and switches--"check".

Meeting Highlights

• Tentative dates for more Young Eagle Rallies are August 10 at Carroll Co, September 14 at Henry Co. and sometime in October at Benton Co.  Dates are very tentative at this time.
• A Tri-Pacer cleaning party is scheduled for Tuesday.
• Chester and Dr. Paul have ordered a Zenith 750 Super Duty tail kit.  Chester will be the builder and the plan is to have the plane flying by the time he is old enough to solo in two years.
• A 3D printed P47 is being painted, a Piper has a cracked spinner from a bird strike, a first plane purchase is waiting to clear probate, and several experimental owners need to get back to building (little or no work done last month).

 

May 2019 Meeting

Held on Saturday after Henry Co. Young Eagles Rally (odd day and time)

Brief Notes from meeting:

• 30 Young Eagles flown at Carroll Co. rally.
• 85 Young Eagles flown at Henry Co. rally.
• Brief discussion about a hamburger/hot dog social flying/drive in as our next event but no date was set.
• Wilson sold his Champ
• Tommy’s 182 is flying again with update instruments, etc.
• Dan finished the main welding on the Whittman Tailwind’s fuselage.Kami is paint her 3d printed RC P47.

NEXT Meeting – At Robert’s shop in Big Sandy. It will be the normal date and time, just the location will be different. (we will get good directions eventually)

April 2019 Meeting Highlights

• Young Eagles Rally at Carroll County Airport next Saturday (April 13 or April 20 if it rains).

• Adding another Young Eagles Rally at Paris-Henry Co. Airport on May 4.

• Next meeting moved from May 5 to May 4 and it will follow the Young Eagles event at Paris.

• Jerry Wieck is looking for a good home for his brother's Rans S12XL and his gyro kit.

• Kami has added an engine and ailerons to her RC project. She had one servo installed.

• Dale is now a private pilot with a Single Engine Land and a Glider rating. He did 30 hours and 70 landings in one week to go from Solo to Check Ride over spring break. He got to do a low pass in a 1943 Stearman as finale for the week.

• Kevin passed his Commercial written test

Solo to Check Ride in ONE WEEK!!!!

Young Eagle and Chapter 734 member Dale is now a Private Pilot with a Single Engine Land rating. He Soloed on Sunday and took his Check Ride on Saturday of the same week.

His first solo was in a taildragger, a Cessna 120, so he is a member of the elite tailwheel group. He also soloed a Cessna 172 to use for the check ride. So he has two solos in the same week.

Solo

One of our Young Eagles took his first solo flight in an airplane today!

 

Well Done Dale! 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Since he has flown with virtually all of our pilots and still wants to fly by himself, it makes one wonder what he thinks of our flying.  His tail feathers may need trimming.

 

 

Written Test

One of our Young Eagles who is also a Chapter 734 member passed his Private Pilot-Airplane written test March 9.  He did excellent with a score of 90.  He used the Sporty's Ground School which is free to Young Eagles.

Two of the older members also took and passed a Private and a Commercial test.

This is a sneak peak for the next meeting the first Sunday of April. 
Join us at the Paris-Henry Co. Airport April 7.

March 2019 Meeting Highlights

• Young Eagles Rally next month was the main topic.  Carroll Co. Airport (HZD), April 13, 9 to 1:30, (rain date 20th). 

• Young Eagle Kami's RC P47 build is progressing exactly like most of our full scale projects; nothing has changed since last month.

• In fairness to some of our builders, Robert is waiting for good weather for his first flight and Tommy's updates are about finished on his 182.  Not everyone is just procrastinating, and maybe some people just like having wings in their living room.

• Young Eagle Dale will be taking his FAA Written next Saturday.  He took advantage of the Sporty's free ground school for Young Eagles.

• The rain/snow kept anyone from flying in and the room was not as full as last month.

• This is just "highlights" from the meeting, join us next month to "get the full experience".  

 

February 2019 Meeting Highlights

 

• Kami is building a historic RC Replica that was 3D printed.  She reported on the original plane and the 3D printed model.  She expects to eventually fly it.

• Chester took his First Flight Ever and became a Young Eagle.  (Thanks Jim)

• It was a beautiful day for flying so several plans were on the ramp and the room was filled with members, several guests we hope will join Chapter 734, and a couple of returning members.

• While the cold will probably return to Tennessee soon, Dale will be leaving in a few days for some Cessna 120 training in Florida.

• The normal winter weather has limited the Tri-Pacer work but Hank has done a little sorting.

• Lots more went on.  Come join us next month if you want “the rest of the story”.

January 2019 Meeting Highlights

• The Chapter’s next project is now at the airport. It needs an inventory and some cleanup some warm weekend.

• Robert is also waiting for a warm day for his first flight. The plane and its trailer are finished. The plane was inspected last summer but the trailer wasn’t ready to take it to an airport.

• A former Young Eagle returned today. Dean flew his first flight with Tony many years ago. He is trying to form a fling club in Paris.

• We got to see Paul’s Glasair FT for the first time at today’s meeting. He said the fuel gauges/selector has been change on this one. Apparently his brother decided to fly commercial after they “tested” the odd setup on his last Glasair over New Mexico. It apparently gets exciting when the prop stops turning. They switched tanks and only lost a few hundred feet but it was apparently an exciting few hundred feet.

• Wilson told of a flight at 50,300 feet over Tokyo which annoyed the controllers because it took them a long time to get down to land. The 747 passenger jet was higher than he had been in a fighter in his previous career. He now flies a Champ.

• Not to be outdone, Richard said he had opened the hanger door and looked at his Sonex. <g>

• Before the meeting we discussed going to AirVenture 2019—AirVenture discussion to be continued later.