Online Applications: https://eaa186.org/events/eaa-chapter-186-
membership-online-application-2025/
To order a nametag, go to: https://eaa186.org/events/eaa-chapter-186-name-tag-order-form-
paypal-only/.
CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP FEES
$30 Jan–Dec Single Member Dues
$35 Jan-Dec Family Member Dues
$12 for Name Tag and postage
$12 – hard copy of Directory (printing & mailing)
$2 surcharge if paying by PayPal
Chapter 186 has spent credits we earned from flying Young Eagles to assist with tuition costs for three kids to attend this June and July. EAA Air Academy is a series of camps designed to introduce young people, ages 14-18, to the aviation world.
Kids stay at the EAA Air Academy Lodge in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Experienced aviation instructors help them delve into flight through studies, hands-on demonstrations, flight simulation, and other exciting activities. Campers will receive a ride in a Cessna Skycatcher, Skyhawk or a helicopter, weather permitting. The child’s family is responsible for transportation to and from themlodge. Find additional information on course content, lodge accommodations and registration at:
https://www.eaa.org/eaa/youth/eaa-aviation-and-flight-summer-camps.
Updated information and on-line registration for the June and July 2026 camps will be available September 3, 2025.
Parents: Registration will fill up very quickly in early September.
We had a successful Young Eagles rally on May 10 at Warrenton Airport. We flew 40 kids with 6 aircraft.
The dates of upcoming rallies are as follows:
June 14 – 0900 AM at Manassas
July 12 – 0900 AM at Manassas
We have just received word from the Virginia Department of Aviation that all three “Top Eagles” awards for the pilots that flew the most Young Eagles in the last 12 months are from Chapter 186. Curtis Smith, Paul Schafer and Bob Prange have been invited to attend the annual Virginia Aviation Conference in August to receive their awards.
Ground and Pilot Volunteers: About two/three weeks prior to a Young Eagles Rally, we prompt the events.eaachapters.org system to send an email to everyone in our Young Eagles volunteer
database, inviting you to click on “confirm” or “will not attend.” This helps us determine the staffing level so we can set the number of kids that can register for a ride. Expect an automatic reminder email on Wednesday three days prior to the Young Eagles Rally asking you to confirm again that you are still planning to volunteer. This gives us updated staffing level info.
Young Eagles flights are available for kids between ages 8 and 17. We normally hold our rallies on the second Saturday each month. We use two time slots 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM in the warmer months. Parents can register at events.eaachapters.org beginning at 8:00 AM on
the 1st of each month.
Chapter 186 Young Eagles Coordinators
David Richards
Bob Prange
Folks, at this time TR and Chuck are sort of a single point of failure for IMC/VMC Club activities. We have found on occasion that we each have activities that conflict with Club meetings. So far other activities have been optional and Club meetings proceed as usual, but this may not always be the case. Having a third Club Coordinator as backup would be very helpful to us. If you would like to help out by becoming IMC/VMC Club Coordinator and (optionally) an FAA Safety Team representative, please give Chuck Kyle a call at 703 439 0836 or email to deke.kyle@gmail.com. It’s a great way to be more involved with the Chapter and
meet some great Chapter members.
Thanks!
TR and Chuck
We meet on the 4th Tuesday each month. IMC Club at 7 PM. VMC Club at 8 PM. Come for one or both sessions; we usually meet beforehand at 5:30 PM for informal dinner at the Panera Bread at Bristow Center.
The IMC Club’s purpose is to promote instrument flying proficiency, safety and education through a community of pilots sharing information and fostering communications. You don’t have to be instrument rated to come to the IMC Club.
The VMC Club, for pilots wishing to improve their VFR flying proficiency, is modeled after the
popular IMC Club providing organized “hangar flying” with a focus on VFR procedures,
regulations and publications. TR Proven and Chuck Kyle are our facilitators formthese meetings but the attendees are encouraged tom participate with their knowledge and experience. Each one-hour meeting earns you one credit toward the FAA Wings Pilot Proficiency program.
Our annual process of reviewing the Ray Scholarship candidates has concluded. The candidates are ambitious and motivated and have participated in our Young Eagles program and other events. They have studied ground school, obtained an FAA medical certificate, flown on Young Eagles fights and volunteered at Young Eagles and other chapter events. This year’s process was challenging as the candidates were very qualified. We diligently reviewed each candidate and have selected Cliff Storey as our 2025 Ray Aviation Scholar. Cliff has flown on, and volunteered at, many Young Eagles rallies and other chapter events. He has been working on his glider pilot certificate and has soloed in gliders at Eastern Soaring in Petersburg, WV and Skyline Soaring at Front Royal. You may have seen Cliff’s presentation last spring on glider winch-tow launches and glider training. Once he completes his glider training, he will begin training toward the Private Pilot-Airplane certificate
Chapter 186 has granted five Ray Scholarships since 2019, and all five scholars completed the program with a Private Pilot-Airplane certificate. Our 2024 scholar, Kobe Kerns, has soloed and passed the written exam and is on track to finish this summer. Cliff will be our seventh scholar. We wish to thank the candidates who applied and thank the Young Eagles and past Young Eagles who have gone the extra step to volunteer at Chapter 186 events. Your participation helps us gain the interest of the younger kids that attend our events.
Speaking of volunteering, the Women Can Fly event at Warrenton on June 7 will include a “Women Can Build” activity where participants learn the basics of drilling, deburring and riveting, and end up building a cell phone charger/stand. Chapter 186 members are encouraged to help with this workstation. There will be a small assembly line which needs volunteers to keep the process moving. No aircraft building experience is required to help. This was a very rewarding experience for those that helped last year. If you are interested in helping, please let me know.
Blue Skies,
Bob
I’m going to ramble here about aviation safety. Our speaker last month from AOPA, Adam Rarey, presented an accident scenario that I had already seen but was shocked again at the outcome. Basically, two pilots were close to home finishing a long cross-country trip in their new Carbon Cub. They made various decisions as the scenario unfolded and flew VFR into IMC and ended up spiraling into the ground just a few miles from their home destination. Of course, after the fact we can easily identify contributing factors and the subtle mistakes made along the way causing the situation to gradually deteriorate but at some point, before the accident, why didn’t they notice the danger? How did they get too far in?
Over the last several years in General Aviation we’ve learned to use new tools to keep us out of trouble. Before we fly, the IMSAFE (Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue, and Eating/Emotion) checklist helps us determine if we are fit to fly (physically, medically, mentally, etc.). Before and during flight the PAVE mnemonic (Pilot, Aircraft, enVironment, and External pressures) helps us identify the risks of the pilot, aircraft, environment and external pressures. The DECIDE model (Detecting a change, Estimating the situation, Choose a course of action, Identify the necessary steps, Do (implementing) the chosen action, and Evaluate the outcome) tells us how to make aeronautical decisions in six steps. With all these tools, why do pilots still get themselves too deep in a bad situation?
Limitations: Have some, know them, apply them. In this scenario, the Carbon Cub is, of course, tandem seating so only the front seat pilot can see the instrument panel. Although the front seat pilot had an instrument rating, he received that in another aircraft type and with different instrumentation. A pilot that can comfortably complete an instrument
approach to minimums in a G1000 Skyhawk should have higher personal minimums when in a different aircraft, especially a non-IFR aircraft. I would guess that trying to remain VFR just a couple feet under a low overcast with rising terrain ahead would not be within anyone’s personal limitations. Limitations and minimums apply to much more than just weather. What is the lowest cruising altitude you are willing to use? Is it the same at night? Is it the same over rough terrain? How many hours will you fly in a day? Try this FAA checklist for developing your own personal minimums, https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/2022-01/Personal-Minimums.pdf
Plan B: Always have an out. The climb and confess to ATC option is not a good option unless the pilot and airplane are IFR capable. The 180° turn before getting in the clouds may be a good out but as we learned here, once in IMC, that does not always work out well, especially in a less familiar aircraft. When things aren’t going as planned, we need to keep an eye on our options. Before our outs have been whittled away, we need to act. Do you plan to land with enough fuel to go elsewhere in case the runway is closed with a disabled aircraft? Or in case Unicom tells you their fuel pump just broke?
Who’s in charge? It is clear cut in an operation requiring more than one pilot, airlines, military, etc. Good CRM (Cockpit Resource Management) says the Captain will solicit input from the Co-pilot and the Co-pilot will assert input, when necessary, but one has the final say. In some flight training situations, it is also quite clear, the CFI is in charge and the student pilot is there to learn. In many GA situations though it can be less clear. In the above scenario the pilot in the back seat had many more years and hours of flying while the one in the front seat with instrumentation had less experience but did have an instrument rating. It was eerie watching the scenario develop when they switched seats for the last leg. I had the feeling the younger less experienced pilot at the controls was hoping the experienced pilot in the back would bail them out of trouble if needed and the experienced pilot in the back was hoping the instrument ticket holder in the front seat could keep them out of trouble. There should always be a clear delineation of duties and responsibilities. Clearly brief who will do what when there is more than one of you.
On a different note, I recently flew with a member that was due for a flight review. We used the new option under FAR 61.56(e). The FAA has added a new twist to getting your Flight Review. The FAA and industry do not want pilots to wait two years for their flight review due date and then fly one hour with a CFI and be done. FAR 61.56(e) allows you to substitute an FAA Wings phase for a flight review. Sure, that is more flying but is much more comprehensive. It is simple. Complete a Wings phase by earning three Wings knowledge credits by attending any three approved on-line or in-person Wings classes (You can earn two on April 22 at the IMC and VMC Safety meetings!) and flying three of the Wings flight activities appropriate to your certificate. Get more info here: https://www.faasafety.gov/login/
Blue Skies,
Bob Prange
We have had to cancel for three months in a row. Winds on March 8 were too strong and gusty for orientation flights. Our next Young Eagles Rallies are:
April 12 – CANCELLED
May 10 – 0900 AM at Warrenton
June 14 – 0900 AM at Manassas
To thank Warrenton Airport for inviting us to operate there on April 12 we allowed pre-registration for kids from Fauquier County area schools during March. We had about 45 kids registered.
Ground and Pilot Volunteers: About two/three weeks prior to a Young Eagles Rally, we prompt the events.eaachapters.org system to send an email to everyone in our Young Eagles volunteer database, inviting you to click on “confirm” or “will not attend.” This helps us determine the staffing level so we can set the number of kids that
can register for a ride. Expect an automatic reminder email on Wednesday three days prior to the Young Eagles Rally asking you to confirm again that you are still planning to volunteer. This gives us updated staffing level info.
Pilot Volunteers: EAA requires current EAA membership and current Youth Protection Program training and background check to fly Young Eagles. Unfortunately, no notice is given before your 3-year YPP training expires, so it can be a surprise to discover you are not eligible just before a Young Eagles Rally. Please go to your EAA.org account and look under “My Account” and “Training Information” to see your YPP date of expiration. When training is needed, a link will take you to the training module.
Ground Volunteers: EAA requires a minimum portion of our ground volunteers to have current Youth Protection Program training and background check. Please go to your EAA.org account and look under “My Account” and “Training Information” to see your YPP date of expiration. When training is needed, a link will take you to the
training module.
Young Eagles flights are available to kids between ages 8 and 17. We normally hold our rallies on the second Saturday each month. We use two time slots 12:00 Noon and 2:00 PM in the colder months. Parents can register at events.eaachapters.org beginning at 8:00 AM on the 1st of each month.
Chapter 186 Young Eagles Coordinators
David Richards
Bob Prange
Unless you’ve been living under a rock (or are new to the DC area!), you already know that the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum on the Mall has been totally rebuilt on its original footprint, and is gradually opening new, fully
reimagined display galleries. While no precise date has been announced yet, new signs in the South Lobby (Independence Avenue entrance) now promise Summer 2025 as the next stage opening, and the recent removal of construction curtains teases current visitors with veiled glimpses of treats to come.
The next stage will include the Boeing Milestones of Flight gallery, with the gorgeous new portico entrance on the mall; the Barron Hilton Pioneers of Flight gallery on the second floor, directly over the South Lobby; the Lockheed Martin IMAX theater; and the Innovations gallery, which is the last remaining gallery on the far west end. The first exhibit in Innovations will be “Aerospace and Our Changing Environment,” which will be on display for about two years. The Summer 2025 opening may also include World War I: The Birth of Military Aviation, on the second floor beside Pioneers of Flight and across from the IMAX theater; and Futures in Space, across from the IMAX theater on the first floor. If they don’t all open at the same time, they’ll likely open in quick succession.
At any rate, if you come for a visit any time soon – remembering to get your timed entry tickets first, of course! (https://www.etix.com/ticket/e/1029945/timed-entry-washington-the-smithsonian-national-air-and-space-museum-
general-public) – you will see plastic-wrapped artifacts visible in the Milestones of Flight gallery. Impress your
visiting family and friends by identifying the X-15, Chuck Yeager’s Bell X-1, the monster fan blade from the full-scale Langley Wind Tunnel, and more! Hop on the escalator to the second floor to check out the wrapped Lunar Module and look down the hall to see the signs for all the other galleries that won’t be opening until next year. Walk toward the Planetarium box office on the second floor and you can steal a glimpse of the nose of Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of St Louis hanging in Pioneers of Flight (now safely out of direct sunlight from the glass ceiling) and point out the flash of red to its right: part of Amelia Earhart’s gorgeous Lockheed Vega.
And if you’d like to see professional photos from behind the scenes of all the new galleries, you can always check out the museum’s Flickr account, “Change Is In The Air.” You’ll find phase two here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/airandspace/albums/72177720297680046/.
Keep your eyes on the museum’s website for gallery opening announcements or make absolutely sure you don’t miss the news by subscribing to the museum’s “What’s Up” email newsletter right over here: https://airandspace.si.edu/about/major-projects/transformation/behind-scenes.
ONLINE APPLICATIONS
https://eaa186.org/events/eaa-chapter-186-
membership-online-application-2025/
To order a nametag, go to https://eaa186.org/
events/eaa-chapter-186-name-tag-order-form-
paypal-only/.
CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP FEES
$30 Jan–Dec Single Member Dues
$35 Jan-Dec Family Member Dues
$12 for Name Tag and postage
$12 – hard copy of Directory (printing & mailing)
$2 surcharge if paying by PayPal
I would like to share that after more than 25 wonderful years I am retiring as your Membership Chair – no kidding, really, I am. It has been a true honor and privilege to serve Chapter 186, and I thank you for your support in this role.
One of the greatest joys has been welcoming newmmembers and getting to know so many of you over the years. The friendships, stories, and shared passion for aviation have made this journey incredibly rewarding. With my retirement, the Membership Chair position is now open, and I encourage those of you who would like to contribute to the Chapter to consider taking the role. I wouldn’t have stayed in the position as long as I did if it truly wasn’t enjoyable! While I may be retiring from the Membership Chair position, I’m not going far—I look forward to continuing my
involvement with the Chapter as your Historian.
With gratitude,
Judy Sparks
Membership Chair (Retiring)
Historian
EAA Chapter 186
