EAA Chapter 186

September 27 Member Gathering

Chapter 186 Member Glenn Shields will lead a panel consisting of a cross-section of our membership discussing aging and flying and figuring out how and when to call it quits.  This promises to be a vibrant discussion. 

From Glenn:

When Is It Time to Hang Up the Airplane Keys?There comes a time in each pilot’s life when it is time to leave the flying to someone else. Sometimes it is a decision reached due to a medical condition in which case the choice is made made by the FARs.  Sometimes it is based on finances. And there is a more challenging situation that every pilot will experience if they stay active for the long haul – it is the personal recognition that mental acuity, physical agility, knowledge of today’s complex airspace and factors unique to the pilot are waning.  Contemplating this ultimate decision is uncomfortable and personal.

Our September presentation will be four pilots who will share their aviation experiences and reveal how each is determining when it is best for him to move to the back seat.  They come from varied backgrounds: John Langenheim, a retired Naval Aviator and airline pilot and owner of a beautiful Christen Eagle that has strong family connections, Don Ackad whose love of flying inspired him to regain his 3^rd Class Medical following open heart surgery, NTSB retiree Dennis Crider who built an RV-12 with his then teenage son and Glenn Shields – an average “run of the mill” pilot since 1978.  There will be time for you to share your story and thoughts.

Gathering starts at 10:00 AM with coffee and doughnuts at 9:20 AM.

The Virginia Department of Aviation (DOAV) held their annual three-day conference at the Hotel Roanoke in August. This large-scale event for Virginia’s aviation industry serves as a meeting point for industry professionals to discuss educational programs, industry developments, and more. Since 1976, the DOAV has administered the Virginia Aviation Awards and recognized individuals across the Commonwealth who have made significant contributions to Virginia’s $26 billion aviation industry. At the banquet ceremony, Virginia Aviation Board Director Greg Campbell honored three Virginians with 2025 Virginia Aviation Awards: Airport Manager of the Year, Aviation Person of the Year and Lifetime Achievement.

For her never-ending dedication to aviation in Virginia, our own Judy Sparks was Aviation Person of the Year for 2025. The DOAV received nominations for Judy from many corners of Virginia as well as from EAA-Oshkosh. Recently, Judy was instrumental in developing the ideas behind a multi-chapter one-dayworkshop and individual flight for several kids. This was carried out at Shannon Airport with three other Chapters (231 Richmond, 1099 Shannon and 1563 Gordonsville). Judy has been involved with every Chapter 186 event including the Ford Tri-Motor visit, Chili Cook-off, December holiday party and Young Eagles rallies. She has for decades managed the Chapter 186 membership and annual directory process. Judy is also active at Virginia EAA Chapters in Richmond and Shannon/Stafford and the Virginia Aeronautical Historical Society and has, for several years, volunteered at the Chapters Blue Barn at EAA AirVenture. For almost two decades she managed the EAA Regional Fly in/Airshow later called the Virginia State Fly-in. Most of all, Judy’s passion for aviation shines through whether she is talking to a new or prospective Chapter member, a first time Young Eagle, a long-time member, a new or experienced pilot. She welcomes all and shows an interest in what everyone is doing. Judy’s passion for volunteering is infectious. Congratulations Judy Sparks!

Young Eagles pilots and ground volunteers: Soon after the September 13 Young Eagles rally, we will send out volunteer requests for the October 18 rally at Warrenton-Fauquier Airport. We would like to make this a big rally. Pilots, this is a good chance to fly Young Eagles away from the SFRA and Class B and D airspace. If you are not on the list of Young Eagles pilots, go to https://eaachapters.org/ and click on Volunteer Registration to create your volunteer profile. Let me know you have done that, and we will send you a volunteer invitation for the Oct 18 rally.

Parents: The 2026 Air Academy dates, tuition costs and camp descriptions have just been published. These are 6 to 9-day camps in June and July at EAA headquarters for aviation minded kids from age 14 to 18. Tuition includes room and board in the Air Academy Lodge. These camping sessions will fill up quickly. We may be able to help with your tuition costs. More details to follow.

Blue Skies,
Bob

We flew 40 kids on Aug 9 and have 50 kids registered for Sept 13. Our next Young Eagles

Rallies are:

Sept 13 – Manassas at 0900

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.

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 or g.stueve@ieee.org if any of your membership directory information changes. Thanks.

August 23 Member Gathering
Our speaker was Erica Gilbert (https://www.gilbertaviation.com/), a CFI / CFII, FAA Safety Team Representative, and commercial TBM pilot. Erica’s passion project is AeroSafe, her YouTube series discussing aviation weather to help pilots fly more safely. She spoke about key weather safety topics for pilots: How to obtain a complete – and legal – weather briefing; understanding various types of clouds and how to handle them; thunderstorm formation and how to remain safely clear of dangerous storms; and exercising caution around outflow boundaries.

We were also treated by a presentation from Dag Guessford about his time at Air Academy in July. Dag attended the session that was nine days long with the final three days coinciding with the beginning of AirVenture. Dag got hands on welding and rib building practice, toured the EAA Museum, rode in a helicopter and much more. We assisted with the tuition for three kids to go to Air Academy in June and July.

September 27 Member Gathering
Member Glenn Shields will lead a panel consisting of a cross-section of our membership discussing aging and flying and figuring out how and when to call it quits. This promises to be a vibrant discussion. From Glenn:

When Is It Time to Hang Up the Airplane Keys? There comes a time in each pilot’s life when it is time to leave the flying to someone else. Sometimes it is a decision reached due to a medical condition in which case the choice is made by the FARs. Sometimes it is based on finances. And there is a more challenging situation that every pilot will experience if they stay active for the long haul – it is the personal recognition that mental acuity, physical agility, knowledge of today’s complex airspace and factors unique to the pilot are waning. Contemplating this ultimate decision is uncomfortable and personal.

Our September presentation will be four pilots who will share their aviation experiences and reveal how each is determining when it is best for him to move to the back seat. They come from varied backgrounds: John Langenheim, a retired Naval Aviator and airline pilot and owner of a beautiful Christen Eagle that has strong family connections, Don Ackad whose love of flying inspired him to regain his 3rd Class Medical following open heart surgery, NTSB retiree Dennis Crider who built an RV-12 with his then teenage son and Glenn Shields – an average “run of the mill” pilot since 1978.

There will be time for you to share your story and thoughts.

Gathering starts at 10:00 AM with coffee and doughnuts at 9:20 AM.

October 25 Chili Cook-Off

Bring a pot of your favorite chili concoction to enter the contest. We also need your favorite sides and desserts. We will provide the chili toppings. Please consider being a chili judge. We need a handful of judges to rank the pots of chili.

Bob Prange

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.

Ray Scholarship
Our 2025 Ray Scholar Cliff Storey began his flight training in August at Aviation Adventures at Manassas. Our 2024 Ray Scholar Kobe Kerns is finishing his cross-country requirements and awaiting his checkride with a DPE. He is doing his Private Pilot training with the CAP Winchester Composite Squadron.

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

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

Virginia Aeronautical Historical Society:
Captain Earle Worley Scholarship https://www.vahsonline.com/programs/aviation- scholarships/

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 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.

The Culpeper Air Fest is Saturday October 11. We will take the Chapter 186 food trailer and grill to serve the usual burgers and dogs. This is a fund- raising event for us. Since the Ford TriMotor is not winging its way to the east coast this season, we have not had a chance to serve our culinary delights and raise some funds for the Chapter. We often have the longest line at our concession when next to other food trucks. We have a few volunteers, but we need more people to cook, sell food and staff our information table. This is an opportunity to spread the word about our Chapter. We will put the trailer in place the day before. On Saturday we will have an 8:00 to 1:00 shift and a 12:00 to 5:00 shift. Please let Cathy Carey 703-855-7235 or Judy Sparks 703-581-7667 know how you can help.

Planned performances are:

-The Flying Circus Airshow
-Kevin Russo & The Jersey Jerks (T-6s)
-RJ Gritter (J-3 Piper Cub)
-Manfred Radius (Glider)
-Scott Francis (MXS)
-General Robert “Rooster” Schmidle Pitts Special
-Mark Meredith – DHC-1 Super Chipmunk
-Tom Larkin – Sonex Mini-Jet
-Jerry Conley – DH-115 Vampire Jet
-Mike Hartman – Navion War Bird Parade to possibly include the Commemorative Air Force’s TBM, Fairchild (Coast Guard), L-Bird, T-6s, the T-28, Navions

Find out more about Culpeper Air Fest here: https://
www.culpeperairfest.com/.

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