EAA Chapter 431 - Brodhead, Wisconsin

Chapter 431 of the Experimental Aircraft Association is located on one of the best grass airstrips in Wisconsin open to the public. Brodhead is home to generations of aviators and the airfield is busy throughout the year. Chapter meetings are on the Calendar of Events page.

Chapter Officers for 2008-09:  President, Mike Weeden; Vice President, Jeff Fink; Secretary, Harold Frank; Treasurer, Dick Weeden.

Chapter Directors for 2007-08: Gene Calkins, Warren Clobes, Ron Steponkus and Dave Zigmont.

Cheeseland Chapter 431 is based at the popular Brodhead airport in southern Wisconsin and hosts several fly-ins each year.  The membership is very active in homebuilding and restoration.

On January 17, 1973 The Experimental Aircraft Association granted Charter to Cheeseland Chapter 431. Several local people were actively involved in pursuing charter status for Brodhead. The nineteen charter members were:

Fritz Badertscher	Robert Reis
Donald Cooley	Wheeler Searles
Robert Earleywine	Kenneth Segner
Robert Green	Gerald Steiner
Kent Jornalien	Francis Saunders
Vernon Knezel (Sec./Treasurer)	Richard Weeden (President)
William Knight (Vice President)	Stanley Wraight
Ralph Klassy	Donald Wichelt
Leonard Kitchen	Robyn Wichelt
Robert Paulik

Cheeseland 431 began managing the airport from property owner Wheeler Searles, who passed away shortly after the charter. Chapter members then formed two corporations, Hawk-Aire and Eagle-Aire, and purchased the airport housed on 69 acres from the Searles estate.

In the late 70s the corporations purchased an adjacent 10 acres to make a 3200 x 150 foot wide east/west runway (9-27). In 2004, ownership and operation of the airport was transferred completely to Hawk-Aire Corporation, which is independent of EAA 431.