News

  After sharing the skies with a hundred or so other aircraft on their way into AirVenture, the first people encountered after landing are the volunteer marshallers on foot and scooter sorting out the arriving aircraft and sending them to their parking spot. The next encounter is with a volunteer flight operations arrival briefer, asking if we have turned off the mags and master switch, and reminding us to tie the aircraft down before we leave it. Next, to get from Vintage Aircraft Parking across the AirVenture grounds toward our lodging we ride a blue tram and a red tram; operated by, yes, volunteers. The tram takes us past forums and workshops led by volunteer instructors. Checking in at registration

September 16, 7:00 PM. at the Chapter House! Movie will contain great aerial footage, daredevil flying stunts plus a requisite love story in the background. Please feel free to bring snacks to share. Popcorn, sodas, and water will be available!

Our next Young Eagles Rally is this Saturday, August 10, 9:00 am-1:00 pm in Warrenton. Weather and visibility conditions-permitting the rally will go on as scheduled. Check back here for updates as they become available.

  Want to travel in time? Take a flight on the first true American airliner: a 1929 Ford Tri-Motor! Come by and say hi even if you don’t fly … You can now book your ride on the 1929 Ford Tri-Motor at Manassas! Flights are available Thursday through Sunday, September 5-8, 2024, departing from the Terminal building at Manassas Regional Airport! Click here to register. Flights aren’t scheduled for a specific time; just come as early as you can on your day — between 2:00 and 5:00 PM on Thursday, and between 9:00 AM and 5:00PM on Friday through Sunday – and flights will take off as soon as enough passengers are checked in. Can’t book in advance? No problem: tickets

  Our 2024 Ray Scholar, Kobe Kerns, continues his flight instruction at the Winchester Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol. Kobe had already soloed and is working on the FAA written and beginning his cross-country training. Our 2023 Ray Scholar Grant Peterson has passed the FAA written exam and is working on his cross-country flying and preparation for the Private Pilot check ride. The Ray Scholarship pays $11,000 toward the flight training costs of obtaining a Private Pilot Certificate. The required milestones are: -First solo flight within three months; -Pass the private pilot written exam within six months; -Pass the Private Pilot check ride within one year of receiving the initial funds. Please note the scholarship process requires an

Utilizing our credits earned for Young Eagles flights flown in 2023, Chapter 186 has paid for the first $500 of camp tuition for two kids to go to the Air Academy camp in Oshkosh this month. We earn credits from EAA for the number of Young Eagles we fly in the calendar year. We can then spend those credits toward the tuition costs for one or two kids to attend Air Academy. The EAA Air Academy is a series of camps (five to nine days long) 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,

  186 AirVenture Breakfast The annual EAA Chapter 186 Breakfast at AirVenture in Oshkosh will be held this year as usual on Tuesday, July 23, 2024 at the Tail Winds Cafe at 8:00 a.m. The Cafe has changed its name many times over the years, but the location remains the same, over by the Forums and Workshops. PLEASE PLAN TO ATTEND

Our June 29 Young Eagles Rally got off to a slow start with low cloud ceilings. Several families weren’t able to stay long enough for the weather to clear so we flew 27 kids out of 40 scheduled. Many thanks go out to our volunteers, ground and pilot, for staying on later to get the job done. Our next two Young Eagles Rallies are all from 0900 – 1300 at Manassas Airport with the third at Warrenton from 1000 – 1400: July 13 August 10 September 14 (Warrenton) To become a Young Eagles volunteer, ground support 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.

Mark your calendars: we’re offering time travel at Manassas Regional Airport from September 5-8, 2024 on EAA’s 1929 Ford Tri-Motor 4-AT-E! Full details and a link to prebook rides on the airplane will be posted shortly, but here’s the quick version: Weather permitting, rides will be available on Thursday, September 5, 2024, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM EDT, and on Friday through Sunday, September 6-8, 2024, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Tickets are $99 for adults, and $75 for kids age 17 and under. You’ll be able to buy tickets in advance online, or by phone or walk-up at the Terminal once the plane is here. We’ll post the link for advance ticket sales as soon as it’s

  On Saturday June 29 we had our weather-postponed double event, both a Young Eagles Rally as well as our regular monthly member gathering which was a cookout in lieu of guest speaker. This gave us a chance to welcome the summer with a cookout and simple fellowship. Many of our usual grilling and cookout experts were signed up to work the Young Eagles Rally so we solicited additional volunteers for the cookout. There will not be a monthly member gathering in July since many Chapter 186 members will be traveling to and from AirVenture 2024 at Oshkosh. If you are in Oshkosh, please come to the Tuesday July 23 breakfast meet-up at 8:00 AM at the Tailwinds Cafe, near