From the President by Bob Prange
AirVenture 2025 was a success with good weather, another record crowd and some familiar and new aircraft in attendance. My first task on day one was to have our Chapter 186 directional sign installed on a post at the Blue Barn. Thank you to member Jim Heidish for making the sign. It is wrapped instead of painted and is a great combination of colors that stands out well. The Tuesday morning breakfast gathering provided for quick fellowship and a chance to compare plans for the week with other members. Member couples from Texas, Bob
and Judy Pastusek and Steve and Barb Wilson came the farthest.
The ME-262 from the Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach arrived mid-week and flew in the show a couple times. Adrian Eichhorn flew his 1945 PT-19 from Manassas and displayed it all week at Vintage in Review. He received a World War II Era (1942 – 1945) Champion Bronze Lindy Award. The Goodyear blimps were continually flying nearby for a close look. A U-2 arrived and was on display in Boeing Plaza.
Elsewhere in this issue: Read about a special anniversary celebrated at AirVenture. Also, our next several member gatherings will be special. August will bring us Erica Gilbert, an aviation weather YouTuber with a presentation on aviation weather. September will be a different type of meeting, a panel discussion about aging and flying. October will be our Chili Cook-off. Please plan to enter a pot of your favorite chili or plan to be a chili judge. November will bring HEF airport management to discuss changes coming soon with airline operations starting in 2026. December will of course be our epic holiday party.
Young Eagle Pilots: Warrenton Airport has invitedus to conduct a Young Eagles rally there on October 18.Here is a chance to fly Young Eagles without tower, SFRA and ramp issues. Let’s make this a big rally. We will initially open the registration for Fauquier County area kids before the public registration begins.
Chapter 186 is planning to support the Culpeper Air Fest on October 11 with the cook trailer and sell the usual goodies, hamburgers, hot dogs, maybe bbq, ice cream, sodas, and water. We are in need of someone with a 2 5/16″ trailer hitch to haul the cook trailer for the Culpeper Air Fest. And we are in need of volunteers to staff the cook trailer, info table, set-up, clean-up. Please consider helping out as this is a Chapter 186 fund-raising event.
Blue Skies,
Bob