EAA Chapter 818 – Burlington, WA (KBVS)
Chapter Meetings
Our next monthly gathering is July 12. Boeing historian Mike Lombardi was planning to come back, this time to tell us about William Boeing and the Creation of America’s Airways—the history of Bill Boeing’s United Aircraft and Transport Company and the formation of the US airlines. However, Mike can’t make the trip up here due to the major highway closures in Seattle this weekend. Rod’s working on rescheduling Mike for a later date.
Thanks to some quick thinking and fast legwork, Rod was able to line up another speaker. Fourteen years ago this week the Space Shuttle landed for the final time, and Chapter 818 member Steve Kessinger was one of a handful of journalists who witnessed the final landing from the end of the runway. Join us as he describes what it was like behind the scenes as the Space Shuttle Program came to a close. Don’t be late, you won’t want to miss this one!
And remember that August 9 is our annual summer picnic under the trees in front of the airport terminal.
The chapter hangar (400) will be open after the meeting until 4 pm. On non-meeting Saturdays the hangar is open from 10-4. Come on out and help with the Pietenpol build or bring your own project to work on.
We meet every second Saturday at 10 am at the Port of Skagit conference room, 15400 Airport Drive in Burlington. The chapter board meets before the monthly gathering at 9 am, also in the Port conference room. As we figure out how to fund, manage and use hangar 400 we need lots of member ideas and involvement. We’ll be tracking the action items and unassigned activities from our November 2024 planning meeting (meeting notes are here). There are still Pri 1 items we need people to own. Take a look at the list and come to the board meeting to claim an AI, or email Larry Buerk at larryb55@live.com.
As we have discussed many times before, we do not want anyone to get infected with the COVID 19 virus if they attend our monthly gatherings. That means that if you are sick or know you have the virus do not attend. If you are concerned about getting the virus while being in proximity of other Chapter members then you need to act in your best interest.
Videos of Past Speaker Presentations
We’ve recorded some great presentations from our monthly chapter gatherings. Go to our Videos page or our YouTube channel to view any of these presentations.
Learn About Chapter 818…
This slide deck provides an overview of the Experimental Aircraft Association national organization and Chapter 818’s history, members and programs. Click HERE to view the presentation online. There’s also a downloadable PowerPoint version HERE.
…And Meet Some Chapter Members
EAA Chapter 818 is a very active and growing chapter based at the Skagit Airport north of Seattle, WA. The quick video below gives viewers a feel for the interests and involvement of some of our chapter members and the programs we support, like the Sky Flight youth program that teaches local high school students how to maintain aircraft by building a flyable Cessna 150 from two donor aircraft.
Congrats on Earning Airworthiness Certificates
On May 13, 2024 Rod Freed earned the airworthiness certificate for his RV-6. Rod had been working on the project since August 1989. We all know how life happens sometimes, but Rod kept coming back to the build no matter what and saw it through to completion.
Mark Burns received the airworthiness certificate for his RV-8 on October 30, 2024. It’s a beautiful airplane. Bill Calvert also lent his expertise, experience and labor to the build.
Check out the EAA’s Chapter Video Magazine; click here.
Do you wonder what other EAA chapters are up to? Fly-ins, burger burns, fundraisers or presentations are some of the activities you can find.
See the Helpful Links tab above for links to other chapter websites and newsletters.
SKAGIT EAA CHAPTER 818 REGULAR GATHERINGS:
- Second Saturday morning of every month in the “Port of Skagit Hearing Room” at the Skagit airport (KBVS), 15400 Airport Dr, Burlington, WA 98233:
- 9 am – Board meeting–all are welcome
- 10 am – Member gathering
- 11 am – Program
- Every Thursday from 6-8 pm:
- Sky Flight work session, teaching high school students how to maintain aircraft
- Work session for chapter Pietenpol build
- Every Saturday, 10 am – 4 pm, chapter hangar 400 open house, bring your own project or help with the Pietenpol
- See our calendar for events of interest: http://skagiteaa.org/calendar/
UPDATES: If you have news or events to add here please contact: Larry or Brad (see contact tab for address).
WHAT WE’RE ALL ABOUT
Our group of aviation enthusiasts, made up of pilots, mechanics, CFIs, retired veterans, and interested persons meets once a month at the Skagit Regional Airport to discuss mutual interests, share current aircraft projects and safety information, and to be enlightened by a featured speaker with an adventure or two to share.
We also host “Spot Landing” contests, barbecues and pancake breakfasts, and we participate in other local fly-ins, such as in Anacortes, Arlington, and at Mears Air-Field located in Concrete. Owning, building or flying an aircraft is not a prerequisite for membership; an interest in aviation is all that is required, and a desire to become involved with a great chapter.
One of our most anticipated events is flying children & teens from the ages of 8-17, for free, through our Young Eagles Program sponsored through the EAA organization in Oshkosh, WI. Multiple times a year, pilots volunteer their time, their aircraft, and the expense of aircraft fuel to ensure that any child can experience the thrill of flying. This event requires just as many “ground-crew” volunteers as pilots. On the average, we fly 60 children every year in the late summer time during these one-day events.
We work closely with the the Skagit Airport Support Association (SASA), the Heritage Flight Museum, the Port of Skagit and other area aviation related outfits to help build a healthy, vibrant, innovative, and safe community of aviators.
