Friday March 28
7:00 PM
Movie Night at the Chapter House
Join us this Friday night to watch a movie based on a World War 2 battle!
Feel free to bring snacks to share. Popcorn, sodas and water will be available.
Manassas events are held at:
EAA Chapter 186
10629 Observation Road
Manassas, VA 20110
*Please do not park in spaces marked “FAA”. Those are expensive tow-away spaces.
by Bob Prange
Thanks to the high level of volunteer activity in the various functions at this Chapter, the EAA has once again selected
Chapter 186 to administer a Ray Aviation Flight Training Scholarship this year. The amount for 2025 is $12,000 toward Private Pilot training. EAA and the Ray Foundation have a goal of 80% completion in the overall program. We have surpassed that as we are five for five for scholarship completions since the program began in 2019. Our past Ray
Scholars are:
2019 – Carter Allain
2020 – Seth Kissell
2021 – Tony Crupi
2022 – Juliette Burton
2023 – Grant Peterson
2024 – Kobe Kerns (Currently on track with Solo and Written Knowledge exam
completed)
We’ll begin the selection process with a questionnaire for scholarship hopefuls. This tool will help us find an aviation-motivated candidate. The scholarship allows one year from beginning of funding to checkride completion. EAA requires a current FAA medical certificate (minimum third class) to be considered for the scholarship. We cannot put forward a candidate to EAA Headquarters without an FAA medical. Find more information in the Ray article.
Following this article is a regular feature titled “Koehler’s Korner.” Dick Koehler continues to share his knowledge and experience through his monthly article in this newsletter. For those that may not know, Dick has been a Chapter 186
member for decades but resides now in the warmer climate of Florida. Hismonthly submission is just one of the many ways he contributes selflessly to the aviation community. For years Dick has been involved with the development and teaching of the Sport Air Workshops around the country and the OSH AirVenture Workshops. He has written articles for Sport Aviation, received the Bax Seat Trophy from FLYING Magazine in 2005, received the EAA’s Tony Bingelis Award in 2007 and the EAA Chairman’s Award in 2017. Dick has made more than 100 Hints for Homebuilders videos and has been a Flight Advisor and Technical Counselor for longer than anyone can remember. If you see him
working on an aircraft or teaching a class, he is not going to mention any of this, but you will soon realize the passion he has for helping the rest of us understand our machines better. We are very fortunate to know Dick and to benefit from his expertise.
We are still in need of a webmaster. The EAA186.org website needs maintenance so that we can keep our membership informed and up to date with announcements, calendar items, membership renewal screens, sign-up sheets, etc. Please let us know if you would like to help in this area. We are winding down the annual Chapter 186 membership renewal process. Chapter 186 membership is for the calendar year. If you renew now, you will reduce our postage expenses and
mailing efforts. To renew right now online and pay by PayPal or Zelle, click here: https://eaa186.org/events/eaa-chapter-186-membership-online- application-2025/. If you prefer, print and fill in the 2025 membership renewal form in this newsletter and mail it with your payment. Or bring your form and payment with you to the Mar 22 meeting. We
also have forms there.
Blue Skies,
Bob
Our speaker this month will be Adam Rarey, CFI and Video Producer with AOPA. Adam brought us an attention-getting presentation last year about pattern operations at non-towered airports. This month Adam brings us another compelling scenario which will invite participation and discussion on decision-making, etc. Attendance will earn you one credit in the FAA Wings program. Join us at 10:00 AM for the meeting and 9:20 AM for coffee and doughnuts.
In April our guest speaker will be management from Manassas Airport, discussing plans and change at HEF.
If you have not renewed your 2025 membership yet, please bring your payment and the form printed from this newsletter to the meeting. Or use a form at he chapter House. Or renew online now and pay by
PayPal or Zelle at: https://eaa186.org/events/eaa-chapter-186-membership-online-application-2025/.
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
Contact Judy Sparks for Membership info:
jhsparks@comcast.net
DID YOU CHANGE YOUR E-MAIL?
Please advise Judy Sparks, 703-581-7667 or
jhsparks@comcast.net if any of your membership
directory information changes. Thanks.
Chapter 186 has been approved by EAA to grant a $12,000 Ray Aviation Foundation Scholarship for 2025. This is the 7th consecutive year we have been approved. We are searching for an aviation- motivated 161⁄2 to 19 year-old with an interest in learning to fly. We look at a candidate’s motivation, participation level in Chapter activities, level of completion in the Sporty’s Learn-to-Fly video series, participation in Young Eagles flights and Oshkosh Air Academy and any accomplishments toward flight training preparation. Possession of an FAA medical certificate is required for scholarship consideration.
The Ray Scholarship pays $12,000 toward the flight training costs of obtaining a Private Pilot Certificate. Note that total costs will exceed $12,000. It is paid in three installments: initial, after first solo and after written exam completion.
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. The EAA asks for two hours per month of volunteer time at the chapter during training.
Chapter 186 would like to hear from anyone that would like to be considered for this opportunity. Better flying weather is coming! Do you want to spend your summer playing video games and sitting at the pool? Or would you rather study aviationweather, navigation and airplane systems and take flying lessons? We are looking for candidates that will commit to spending their free time toward learning to fly. The EAA recommends 3 to 4 flight lessons per week. Only one flying lesson per week makes progressing through the lessons difficult. Note that if you have already soloed, this
scholarship does not pay for that milestone already reached. Selection of a flight school is left to the parents and scholar. Interested candidates are invited to send an email to president@eaa186.org with the following information:
2025 Ray Scholarship Questionnaire
Interested candidates are invited to send an email to
president@eaa186.org with the following
information.
1) Name, birthdate
2) How many Young Eagles flights have you taken?
3) Have you completed the Sporty’s Learn to Fly course? If not, what volumes have you completed? What other ground school preparation have you completed?
4) An FAA Aviation Medical Certificate (minimum required is Third Class) is required now to progress in the process for scholarship consideration. What is the date on your FAA Aviation Medical Certificate?
5) Have you passed the FAA Private Pilot Knowledge (“the written”) exam?
6) Describe any flight training you have received.
7) Have you soloed?
8) Have you attended the EAA Air Academy? If so, when?
9) The summer season is a great time to get started on flight training. How much time will you commit per week during the 2025 summer break?
10) Completing private pilot training in one summer is quite unlikely, so the training will most likely continue into the next school year. How much time will you commit per week during the 2025/2026 school year?
11) Private Pilot Training costs in the area usually exceed $12,000. What means will you use to pay the excess over $12,000?
12) Have you looked into any local flight schools yet?
13) Please provide a parent/guardian name, email address and phone number for applicants under 18.
2025 sessions registration lists are full. If your child has already been accepted to any 2025 Air Academy session, either Explore Camp or Discover Camp, please let us know. We may be able to help with your tuition expense.
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 or Skyhawk or a helicopter, weather permitting. The child’s family will be responsible for transportation to and from the lodge. Find additional information on course content, lodge accommodations and registration at https://www.eaa.org/eaa/youth/eaa-aviation-and- flight-summer-camps
Explore Aviation Camp (session, age, date, cost)
1, 14-15, June 20 – 25, 2025 – $1,300
2, 14-15, June 28 – July 3, 2025 – $1,300
3, 16-18, July 15 – 23, 2025 – $1,650
4, 16-18, July 25 – August 2, 2025 – $1,650
Discover Camp (session, age, date, cost)
1, 14-15, June 12 – 17, 2025 – $1,300
2, 16-18, July 7 – 12, 2025 – $1,300
by 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 – 1200 Noon at Warrenton*
May 10 – 0900 AM at Manassas
June 14 – 0900 AM at Manassas
*To thank Warrenton Airport for inviting us to operate there on April 12 we will allow pre- registration for kids from Fauquier County area schools during March. The list may be close to full when regular registration opens on April 1.
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
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 for these meetings but the attendees are encouraged to
participate with their knowledge and experience. Each one-hour meeting earns you one credit toward the FAA Wings Pilot Proficiency program.
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 for these meetings but the attendees are encouraged to
participate with their knowledge and experience. Each one-hour meeting earns you one credit toward the FAA Wings Pilot Proficiency program.
Thanks to the high level of volunteer activity in the various functions at this Chapter, the EAA has once again selected Chapter 186 to administer a Ray Aviation Flight Training Scholarship this year. The amount for 2025 is $12,000 toward Private Pilot training. EAA and the Ray Foundation have a goal of 80% completion in the overall program. We are five for five for scholarship completion since the program began in 2019. Our past Ray Scholars are:
2019 – Carter Allain
2020 – Seth Kissell
2021 – Tony Crupi
2022 – Juliette Burton
2023 – Grant Peterson
2024 – Kobe Kerns (Currently on track with Solo and Written Knowledge exam completed)
We will begin the selection process with a questionnaire for scholar hopefuls. That tool will help us find a motivated, serious candidate. The scholarship allows one year from beginning of funding to checkride completion. EAA requires a current FAA medical (minimum Third Class) to be considered for the scholarship. Please let me know if you know of an aviation-minded likely candidate. Thank you for being part of our Chapter 186 successes!
Blue Skies,
Bob Prange
