October 2006

Hello, Members!
Would you believe we are just days away from dedicating our new hangar? Do you remember the day in February 2004 when we went out to look over the proposed site after eating breakfast in Ron’s hangar? Think of all the steps between then and now that have resulted in one of the nicest hangars to be found anywhere, one that perfectly suits our needs as a Chapter and reflects the particular sum total of our members. This is wonderful. This has been achieved while maintaining all our other activities, including our work with children through the Young Eagles program and school presentations. One member even completed his project airplane.

The Chapter Hangar
The most recent hangar work has been to finish the cabinetry in the kitchen and meeting room, install appliances, and build storage shelving upstairs. Outside, the walkway through the outdoor gathering area was poured, and grading for the landscaping was accomplished. The flagpole is installed with the cornerstone at the base. Just last week, the finish was applied to the hangar floor. The new meeting room tables arrived. Members scrubbed all the chairs so they look like new. Work on details will continue to the last day. Invitations were sent out to all our sponsors. Certificates recognizing each of them are ready, and the programs are printed.

Tom and Ben finish the interior paintwork.	The blue rim around doors to the meeting room and storage closet.	Finishing the hangar floor was a multi-step process. It is drying.
Jim cuts stone for the flagpole base.	The base of the flagpole includes the “cornerstone” of the hangar.	Getting ready for the dedication includes washing all the chairs.
Photographs by Sue Kalhoefer & Phyllis White

Hyperbipe—Uh, What’s That?
The most unique (albeit a most appropriate one for an EAA chapter) donation to the Chapter for the hangar is an experimental aircraft, which is to be sold for fund raising purposes. Not only is it unique as a donation, but it is a very unique airplane called a “Sorrell Hyperbipe,” described as a “biplane on steroids!” Lloyd Darter did the conditional inspection of the aircraft, and Don Nevels flew it from Springfield to Mountain Grove, where it is under protective cover in John Smith’s hangar. Members may view the airplane there and it is worth making the trip to see it. Bring your camera. A committee was formed to study the best way to promote and sell the airplane and set a price. The committee members are John Smith, Fred Kalhoefer, Mike Vaughn, and Ron White.

Lloyd performs the conditional inspection on the Hyperbipe.	Don Nevels taxies out for takeoff from Springfield Downtown.	Don arrives at Mountain Grove in the Hyperbipe a short while later.
Another “one and only” for Don, who flew the Wright Flyer.	Moving the Hyperbipe into John’s hangar, it’s home until sold.	This airplane is beautifully built, including panel and interior.
Photographs by Don Anderson, Henny Christensen & Sue Kalhoefer

Young Eagles
In the morning hours before our last meeting, we started an “aviation Saturday” by flying Young Eagles at Mansfield. The kids were nineteen pre-registered children from the Mansfield Baptist Church, where Bill Newton is a member. This event had been rain delayed from two weeks earlier, otherwise we would have had 25 youngsters. The remaining six were required to appear in the parade at Seymour’s Apple Festival. Our pilots this day were Bill Newton (9), Mike White (5), Henny Christensen (3), and Sue Kalhoefer (2). We had lots of much-appreciated help from Phyllis White, Arnie Zimmerman, Gene Pascoe, Tom White, Don Anderson, and Ray Fine. Our ground help makes all the difference in the day being a success. They are our public relations contacts and they ensure that everyone is safe—a big responsibility.

Bill leaves with the first group of Young Eagles.	Mike ready to start with his group of Young Eagles.	Sue takes one Young Eagle.	The simulator always makes waiting easier.
Photographs by Henny Christensen

September Meeting
The September meeting was held in the Chapter hangar in the afternoon, thus completing our “aviation Saturday,” a neat way to wind up the warm-weather season. During the meeting a card was passed around and signed to send to Mark Kelsey, who had to leave for the start of the semester at Marion Military Academy in Alabama the same day. Congratulations to Mark! We are proud of him for his accomplishments—acceptance at the Academy, the piano, and becoming a pilot. The other important order of business at the meeting was the appointment of a nominating committee to find candidates for Chapter offices for 2007. The committee volunteers are Fred Kalhoefer, Bill Ghan, John Smith, Mike White, and Berlin Batesel. Members, if contacted by a committee member about serving in an office this coming year, please consider it carefully. We are a Chapter that has never let offices fall to the same people every year by default, nor have we followed the pattern of an “heir apparent” for the office of President. We like to have new ideas and input so that the Chapter is always fresh and new. It’s only a year of service, and you get lots of help. It is only in the areas of special expertise, such as the Treasurer, the Newsletter Editor, or the Building Committee, that we have had continuing service by the same person(s). And only one of these is an elective office—the Treasurer.

Prez Henny	Listening to reports at the meeting.	Discussion and questions on a motion.	Adjourned and ready to eat.	Ron and Phyllis finish serving the great food.
Photographs by Sue Kalhoefer

School Program
Since the last meeting, our school program team spent a morning teaching two classes of students when the Mountain Grove Home School Cooperative met on September 23. Jim Vokac and Sue Kalhoefer conducted the classes, while Ray Fine supervised the simulator. We taught a program for them last year in September, and we were invited back this year. We suggested other aviation-related field activities to the parents, including a trip to Springfield National to visit the terminal (where they will, of course, see the Wright Flyer) and the tower. None of the children at this program has ever taken a Young Eagles ride, so we hope we can provide them with an opportunity, either as a group or as individuals.

Jim teaches about spatial disorientation.	Denise Kelley, contact parent, thanks Jim.	This is why we do it—look at her expression!	Parents are fascinated with the simulator, too.
Photographs by Sue Kalhoefer

Member News
Hokie and Thelma will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in the Chapter hangar on October 8. October 6 is the actual day of their anniversary. Congratulations to them on reaching that exalted milestone!

Doc Openshaw suffered an illness that put him in the hospital briefly. Thankfully, he recovered quickly. He was right back at work on the hangar, moving dirt around for the landscaping. Wow!

We have three new members since the last meeting. Welcome to Al Grant, Marc Vaini, and George Wilkie! We look forward to getting to know you all as part of our Chapter family.

October Meeting & Hangar Dedication
The big day is almost here. It will be Saturday, October 7, 2006. It will begin at 10:00 a.m. with introductory activities including square dancing, RC aircraft, an aerobatics demonstration, and static aircraft displays. The dedication program will start at 12:00 p.m. with ribbon cutting, opening ceremonies, singing, the dedication, recognition of sponsors, community response, and closing ceremonies. The program will be followed by lunch at 1:00 p.m. This time, lunch is being provided by the Chapter instead of members bringing dishes. We will have a great time. I hope you have “RSVP’d” by now, so we know how much food is needed. Remember to wear your Chapter T-shirt and name tag, too. We will have lots of guests and they will appreciate knowing who is speaking with them. Remember, there will be no breakfast at Ron’s hangar that morning, even though member-workers will need some breakfast-type snacks to sustain themselves while getting things ready.

Gravel is spread as base for the walkway.	Concrete is poured.	The poured concrete is carefully smoothed.	The walkway is then covered for curing.	This is how the walkway looks now.
Photographs by Henny Christensen & Sue Kalhoefer

We’ll see you all there. Until Saturday, tailwinds!

We Celebrate

October Meeting Announcement