News Archive

Nov 9th, 2024 - Saturday Breakfast

The chapter had a great breakfast at Kava’s. Lot’s of good airplane talk, and a few tall tales! We’d love to see you next month if you missed this one.
Breakfast

Oct 24th, 2024 - Academy Charter School

On October 24th in a response to an earlier request from someone in the group to go visit the Academy. After much back and forth coordination between the teacher, Mark and myself, we finally were able to make it happen. The kids were kinda overwhelmed and full of great questions. A number of them expressed interest in becoming pilots. They were quite knowledgeable in the basic flight principles as well as aircraft components. I did have to take some extra time to explain why my airplane was so different. A few of them had actually heard of the Rutan brothers already. We talked about the EAA and about the Young Eagles program. I left their Teacher with a DVD for them to watch called "Living in the age of airplanes" narrated by Harrison Ford. Anyway it was a great day. We arrived in a pretty tight two-ship formation and were met with nothing but wide eyes and smiles. Always glad to represent our Chapter in a positive light. Ciao, Bob Lee

Academy Charter School

Academy Charter School

Academy Charter School

Academy Charter School

Academy Charter School

Oct 22nd, 2024 - October Meeting

25 of us enjoyed "Carrier Night," featuring Allen Thornhill and Dave McKay.

Allen served in the Navy from 1960-1964. He was a fireman (and later, boiler tech) in the Boiler Division on the aircraft carrier, USS Antietam II (CV-36), a Naval Aviation Training carrier based at the Naval Air Station (NAS) in Pensacola. Allen highlighted several experiences aboard the Antietam:

Allen also explained the process of generating steam via the ship's 8 Babcock & Wilcox boilers to drive the 4 Westinghouse turbine and reduction gear powerplants, typical of Essex-class carriers. These could power the 27K-ton-displacement ship at 34 knots for aircraft launch and recovery.

Later in life (1983), Allen and wife, Judy, founded and operated CWM Industries, providing welding & metal fabrication all over Alaska and noted for their specialty in repairing large cranes. They sold the business this year, after 41 years of excellent service.

Dave served in the Navy from 1961-1974, first as an enlisted man; he was a Douglas A4 plane captain on the aircraft carrier, USS Ticonderoga (CV-14), during the Gulf of Tonkin Incident (Aug 2, 1964). Upon reaching 21 years of age, he transitioned to a commissioned officer, trained, and became a Douglas A4 Skyhawk pilot. Assigned to the 7th Fleet, VA-55 ("Warhorses"), he returned to the South China Sea aboard the USS Constellation (CVA-64) flying the A4D-2N and, later, the A4E. He elaborated on numerous experiences flying combat missions in the very capable Skyhawk, and one gut-wrenching return to the Constellation in a shot-up, crippled A4. Dave shared insights about how the Vietnam war might have turned out quite differently in the days following the Gulf of Tonkin Incident.

Dave is a 36,000-hour pilot, having flown a multitude of aircraft types. He was with Northwestern Arctic Air Inc for over a decade, becoming President.

In addition to being being in close proximity in 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis, Dave and Allen talked about other history-making events when their paths crossed (unknowingly to either of them at the time), including work during the initial months of the Exxon Valdez oil spill cleanup (1989) and more recent work in Turnagain Arm.

Members Wally & Sarah Parks brought Leo Holler (& son) to the evening's meeting. It was a bonus for Leo to share his A4 combat experiences as well, as a land-based pilot in Vietnam.

Thus, we had a fascinating and marvelous evening, celebrating our veterans. And Allen, Dave, Leo, Chuck, and others ... thank you for keeping us safe and free on your watch!

October 2024 Meeting
Far left in brown chairs: Dave McKay and Allen Thornhill; Leo Holler next to Allen

October 2024 Meeting

Oct 12th, 2024 - October Breakfast

Today we had Bob E, Vickie, Cliff, Ed, Chris, Tim, Chuck, Trice & Scott. And I forgot to take a pic ... rats! --Scott

Sep 24th, 2024 - Tom Buttenob's Just Highlander

Tom Buttenob and John Nealon hosted Chapter 42’s September meeting in Meadow Lakes. Tom displayed his beautiful Highlander covered in Oratex. The plane is in the 40 hour test flight period and John reports all is going well with the flight testing. Thanks to all who attended last night, and thanks to Tom and John for hosting the meeting!

Tom's Highlander has the 3-cyl 2007 Yamaha Apex 998 non turbo engine (3 cyl, 10K RPM) with Skytrax 3.41:1 reduction gearbox (must be the Nytro). He has added wing fences, 7-gal header tank, highly modified windows of the Steve Henry variety.

Tom says John recently mounted a Yamaha Apex on his Highlander, as well.
Tom's Highlander

Tom's Highlander

Tom's Highlander

Sep 14th, 2024 - September Breakfast

We had a good turn out at our Chapter breakfast this morning.
Vickie Domke, Ed White, Cliff Belleau, Tom Lawhorn, Andrew Merrill, Mark Frischkorn, Chris Gill, Chuck Hosack, Rick Henry, Bob Lee, Laura Lee

Saturday Breakfast
Breakfast at Kava's - September, 2024

Aug 27th, 2024 - August Meeting - Tom Lawhorn's GlaStar

At tonight's August meeting we enjoyed seeing Tom Lawhorn's beautiful GlaStar. Its engine was run today and it is now ready for the final inspection for its airworthiness tomorrow.

Tom's GlaStar
A good turnout to see Tom's finished airplane
Tom's GlaStar
Tom explaining his highly-modified opening pilot window
Tom's GlaStar
Look at that smile - well deserved!
Tom's GlaStar
Beautiful new engine

Aug 3rd, 2024 - Young Eagles (YE) Rally @ Merrill Field

Our annual YE Rally @ Merrill Field was outstanding! We flew 37 youth, all returning with great smiles. Thanks to Al, Burke, Jim, and Pete for flying. Thanks to Tom, Cliff, Dave B., Mark F., Heather & Issac (son), and Andrew, for great ground support.

Young Eagles
Al Clayton with a Young Eagle

Young Eagles
Burke Wick with a Young Eagle

Young Eagles
Jim Moss with three Young Eagles

Young Eagles
Pete Brown with two Young Eagles

Jul 27th, 2024 - EAA 42 at Merrill Field Hangar Party

Thanks to Paul Rupple and John Nealon for representing Chapter 42 with vigor, knowledge, wisdom, and smiles! This event kicks off an annual open house at MRI, leading to the Field's Centennial Celebration in 2030. Vickie Domke came out, as well.

In the second picture, below, Suellyn Novak and Shawn Miller (Commemorative Air Force, Mike Hunt Alaska Wing) at the far left and right, respectively, join John, Paul, and new Merrill Field Airport Director, Earl Malpass, in front of the CAF's Harvard MK IV.

Merrill Field
Paul Rupple and John Nealon

Merrill Field
Suellyn Novak and Shawn Miller (Commemorative Air Force, Mike Hunt Alaska Wing) at the far left and right, respectively, join John, Paul, and new Merrill Field Airport Director, Earl Malpass, in front of the CAF's Harvard MK IV.

Jul 21st, 2024 - Tom Lawhorn's GlaStar receives its wings

Congratulations to Tom Lawhorn for getting the wings installed on his GlaStar today!
Beautiful workmanship Tom!

Tom Lawhorn's GlaStar
The GlaStar's wings installed

Tom Lawhorn's GlaStar
The GlaStar's wings about to be installed

Jun 29th, 2024 - Young Eagles (YE) Rally @ Birchwood

Our annual YE Rally @ Birchwood was great. We flew 9 youth, all returning with great smiles. Thanks to Burke, Ed, Pete, and Wally for flying; thanks to Chuck, Mark, Tom, and Chris for great ground support.

Our next YE Rally will be at Merrill Field, Saturday, August 3rd.

Young Eagles

Young Eagles

Young Eagles

Young Eagles

Young Eagles

Young Eagles

Jun 22nd, 2024 - Chapter BBQ at Bernie's

Chapter 42’s annual BBQ at Bernie’s was a great success. Attendance was good under the blue skies and sunshine. 19 of us enjoyed barbecued burgers and hot dogs along with a nice selection of salads and side dishes. A big thank you to Bernie, Jeanette and their family for hosting this event. We even got the landing gear, engine, and propellor mounted on Bernie’s Hatz biplane!

BBQ


BBQ