News

ONLINE APPLICATIONS Membership Renewal Link Name Tag/Badge online application 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 Newsletter (printing & mailing) $12 – hard copy of Directory (printing & mailing) $2 surcharge if paying by PayPal Contact Judy Sparks for Membership info: [email protected] DID YOU CHANGE YOUR E-MAIL? Please advise Judy Sparks, 703-581-7667 or [email protected] if any of your membership directory information changes. Thanks.

Ray Aviation Scholarship In January 2025 Chapter 186 will apply to EAA to administer a 2025 Ray Scholarship. If we are selected to give another Ray Scholarship, we will begin a search in March for a motivated youth aged 16 1⁄2 to 19 who would like to participate in a concentrated one-year effort to acquire his/her Private Pilot License. The scholarship gives $4,800 to start flight training, requires soloing within 4 months to receive the next $4,800 and then requires completion of the FAA Knowledge Exam within 4 more months to receive the last $2,400. The Ray Aviation Foundation has partnered with EAA’s chapter structure to find and mentor the scholars with the goal of an 80% completion rate. Chapter186

Registration began in September for 2025 EAA Air Academy which 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 or Skyhawk or a helicopter, weather permitting. Most of the sessions are already full and only accepting waitlist registrations but EAA Chapter 186 has reserved three spots for kids that would like to attend. We will pay $500 of your child’s tuition. The child’s family will be responsible for transportation and from the lodge. Find additional

  We flew 43 kids at the Nov 9 rally at Manassas and 28 kids at Manassas on Oct 5. Our next Young Eagles Rallies are: Dec 14 – 12:00 Noon at Manassas Jan 11 – 12:00 Noon at Manassas Feb 8 – 12:00 Noon at Manassas To become a Young Eagles volunteer, ground or pilot, proceed to yeday.org and use the “sign-up” feature. Let Bob know you have signed up so we can send you an invitation to volunteer. If you volunteer without being signed up, you will not get important changes/updates about the YE rally. Ground and Pilot Volunteers: About two/three weeks prior to a Young Eagles Rally, we prompt the yeday.org system to send an email to

October Skies October Skies, a great joint chapter experiment is now in the rear-view. It was a gathering of talent and resources with the aim of providing a deeper and more involved aviation experience for high school students interested in aviation. For those not involved in this rally, here is a little explanation as to what transpired. At the request of our Chapter, to the south, 231 Chesterfield, EAA 1099 joined with Chapters 1563, Gordonsville and 186 Manassas in developing a series of training events across a spectrum of ground and air activities. Our target was a rally over Saturday, 12October at Shannon Airport. For the most part, each chapter focused on a particular training event. 231 and 186 developed

The Chili Cook-off was held at the Chapter House on Manassas Airport on Saturday, October 29. In order to set up, Dan Botzer, Jim Stone, Andrew Prange, Judy Sparks, Cathy Carey and Bob Prangeall chipped in to clean, decorate and set up the tables and chairs. Thanks to the members who brought their chili dishes to be judged and enjoyed. Ann and Barry Toole, Eric Alexander, David Richards, Cathy Carey, and Curtis Smith. Thanks to the judges, Bob Prange, Jim Stone, Jack McCombs, and Meredith Richardson. A special thanks go out to the members who contributed all the extras such as cornbread, salad, cheese, onions, sour cream and super desserts. The winners after the judging were: Hottest/Spiciest – David Richard’s

Festivus Party! Bring your family to our Chapter House Holiday Party on Sunday, December 8 from 12:00 Noon to 4:00 pm. We’ll provide baked ham, roast turkey, and drinks. Please bring a side dish, perhaps your family’s favorite vegetable, salad, casserole, pie, cake, or cookies. Awards and certificate presentations to follow. We’ll also be collecting for “TOYS FOR TOTS” so please bring a new unwrapped toy to be given to the less fortunate in our area by the Marine Corps. PLEASE RSVP, and either respond online by clicking here and click on PARTICIPATE, and then HOLIDAY PARTY or contact Judy Sparks at [email protected] or 703-581-7667.

  The annual Chapter 186 Officer election process will proceed at the Nov 23 Membership Gathering. At that meeting we will ask the members present to vote yea or nay to the proposed candidates. Any Chapter 186 member who would like to consider filling an officer position should let one of the Chapter 186 Board Members know before that date. The current President, Vice President and Secretary (Bob Prange, Jim Stone and Dan Botzer, respectively) have indicated a willingness to serve in their positions again for 2025. We thank Brian Lester for serving as our Treasurer for the past two years. Brian has indicated he would still like to help in other areas but will step down from the Treasurer

Bring your family to our Chapter House Holiday Party on Sunday, December 8 from 12:00 Noon to 4:00 pm. We’ll provide baked ham, roast turkey, and drinks. Please bring a side dish, perhaps your family’s favorite vegetable, salad, casserole, pie, cake or cookies. Awards and certificate presentations to follow. We’ll also be collecting for “TOYS FOR TOTS” so please bring a new unwrapped toy to be given to the less fortunate in our area by the Marine Corps. PLEASE RSVP, and either respond on line by going to dev.eaa186.org/ and click on PARTICIPATE, and then HOLIDAY PARTY or contact Judy Sparks, [email protected] or 703-581-7667.