EAA Chapter 186

Come join your EAA 186 crew for movie night this Friday, 11/7 at 7pm at the Chapter House to watch Airplane!

Popcorn and drinks will be provided. Feel free to bring treats to share!

See you there!

We are at that time where we conduct the annual Chapter Officer election process. The current President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary are Bob Prange, Jim Stone, Michael Iachini and Dan Botzer, respectively. Even if the current officers wish to continue, Chapter 186 entertains nominations from any member who wishes to run. Any Chapter 186 member who would like to consider filling an officer position should let one of the Chapter 186 Boardm Members know. Terms are for one year. Members present at the November member gathering will vote on the four officer’s positions.

Thanks to all who helped Chapter 186 sell food and spread the word about the Chapter at the Culpeper Air Fest on October 11. This was a successful fund-raising activity as we sold out all he burgers and hot dogs and most of the beverages. Lots of pictures at https://www.facebook.com/EAA186.

The October 18 Young Eagles Rally at Warrenton promises to be a busy event with about 50 kids registered. We are grateful that Warrenton-Fauquier Airport has invited us to conduct a rally there to share aviation with kids from that area.

Please plan to attend the Annual Chapter 186 Chili Cook-Off on October 25 at 12:00 Noon. This event always involves some great dishes in addition to some great chili recipes. To enter your chili, bring it by 11:30 AM and make sure you name your chili but leave your name off. If you volunteer to be a judge you get to eat before the crowd!

Blue Skies,
Bob

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 Jerry Stueve for Membership info:
g.stueve@ieee.org

DID YOU CHANGE YOUR E-MAIL?
Please advise Jerry Stueve, 703-624-0781 org.stueve@ieee.org if any of your membershipdirectory information changes. Thanks.

EAA Air Academy 2026 Registration

Parents: Information (dates, course content, ages, tuition costs) and on-line registration for the June and July 2026 camps are now available at https://www.eaa.org/eaa/youth/eaa aviation-and-flight-summer-camps These camps will fill up quickly.

There are two separate camps: Explore Aviation Camp and Navigating Horizons Camp for either of two age groups, 14 to 15 and 16 to 18. Once you are registered and accepted for a camp, you can apply directly to the EAA for an EAA campership which may help pay for the tuition. EAA Ch 186 has also provided tuition assistance in the past couple years. If you are already registered for an Air Academy camp, let us know and we may be able to help with tuition assistance. If you are in either age group and interested in Explore Aviation Camp let us know. We have placed deposits on a couple camp sessions for campers to be named later. We may be able to help with up to 50% of your tuition. Transportation to and from Air Academy is the responsibility of the parents but room and board are all part of the tuition.

Ray Scholarship
In January 2026 Chapter 186 will apply to EAA to administer a 2026 Ray Foundation Aviation 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. We have helped create five Private Pilots since the program began. Thanks to all of our Chapter 186 volunteers that keep our Chapter active and visible. That helps us earn the privilege of administering this scholarship.

Virginia Aviation Business Association: Charles J. Colgan Scholarship – https:// www.thevaba.org/colgan-application

Virginia Department of Aviation: https://doav.virginia.gov/virginia-aviation-scholarships/

Willard G. Plentl Sr. Aviation Scholarship

John R. Lillard Foundation Aviation Scholarship

Kenneth R. Scott Aviation Scholarship

Chad Weaver Aviation Scholarship

AOPA:
Numerous aviation scholarships https://www.aopa.org/training-and-safety/students/aopa-
flight-training-scholarships

EAA:
Numerous aviation scholarships https://www.eaa.org/eaa/learn-to-fly/scholarships/eaa-flight-training-scholarships

We flew 48 kids on September 13 and have over 50 kids registered for October 18 at Warrenton.

Our next Young Eagles Rallies are:
Oct 18 – Warrenton at 1200
Nov 8 – Manassas at 1200
Dec 13 – Manassas at 1200

Young Eagles flights are available to kids between ages 8 and 17. We normally hold our rallies on the second Saturday each month. Notice the Warrenton rally in October is the 3rd Saturday.

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

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.

Virginia’s Top Eagles Pilots Honored at VAB Meeting

The Virginia Department of Aviation honored Virginia’s three “Top Eagles” who have flown the most Young Eagles in the Commonwealth over the past 12 months at the Virginia Aviation Board meeting at the Hotel Roanoke on August 15, 2025.

The EAA Young Eagles program is designed to match pilots with children to give them their first ride in an airplane. Nationally since 1992, the Young Eagles program has flown 2.5 million young people – all of them for free. These flights are made possible through the generosity of EAA member volunteers.

Three Virginians went above and beyond the calling of this program. They gave their time and skills to help introduce and inspire kids in the world of aviation. All three of this year’s Top Eagles pilots are members of EAA Chapter 186 at Manassas Regional Airport.

Virginia’s most active Top Eagle pilot for 2025 is president and scholarship coordinator of EAA chapter 186 Robert Prange, who flew 58 Young Eagles in the Commonwealth. Curtis Smith Jr., who is a gold-level member of the Virginia Aviation Ambassador program, took a lot of time away from tracking down stamps to fly 56 youth. And Virginia’s third most active pilot is Eagle Flight leader Paul Schafer, who flew 38 Young Eagles.

Collectively, these pilots flew 152 Young Eagles over the past 12 months. The Top Eagles as well as all the Young Eagles pilots willingly shared their time, skills and resources to help spark an interest in our next generation of aviation leaders.