The following news release was sent to local media, announcing that EAA Chapter 431 has received non-profit status from the IRS. A big thanks to everybody who helped in this long process.

*** NEWS RELEASE ***

April 20, 2013

Cheeseland Chapter #431, Inc. of the Experimental Aircraft Association, based at the Brodhead Airport, has received tax exempt status as a non-profit charity under IRS section 501(c)(3). The organization was chartered in 1973 and has over 80 current members.

The mission of Cheeseland Chapter #431 is to “Promote Aviation in the Brodhead Area”, and the group is active in educational outreach by hosting sport plane building seminars, Young Eagle airplane rides for students, sponsoring the Boy Scout Aviation merit badge and providing EMS fire/rescue training for local first responders. Chapter 431 also hosts three major “fly-in” events every year, a Community Pancake Breakfast (May 19, 2013), a three-day Pietenpol/Hatz convention in July and a private three-day gathering of the Midwest Antique Airplane Club in September.

The Experimental Aircraft Association is based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and exists to promote flying, building and restoring of recreational aircraft. Under the new IRS non-profit designation, contributions to Cheeseland Chapter #431, Inc. are tax-deductible.

EAA Chapter 431 is pleased to announce a weekend AeroElectric Connection seminar by Bob Nuckolls, April 13-14, 2013, which will cover design, fabrication, troubleshooting and maintenance of homebuilt aircraft electrical systems. The AeroElectric Connection seminars are conducted by Mr. Bob Nuckolls, engineer, teacher, author and publisher of Electrical Systems Information Texts for Amateur Airplane Builders.

The seminar will be held in the Chapter 431 building at Brodhead Airport (C37) and attendees will be provided lunch and refreshments.

The fee for the weekend seminar is $150 per person. EAA Chapter 431 has underwritten $35 of the normal $185 seminar fee as an incentive to homebuilders.

To register, click HERE to go to the AeroElectric reservation form:
http://aeroelectric.com/seminars/Brodhead.html

Download a printable flyer (PDF) for the seminar HERE.

Schedule For Saturday, April 13:

8:00 – 8:30 Registration

8:30 – 11:30 morning session:

• Parts Selection – “What’s all this ‘aircraft quality’ Stuff Anyhow?”
• Failure Mode Effects Analysis – Confidence by Design
• DC Power Fundamentals – Understanding “the Force”
• Batteries
• Engine Driven Power Sources
• Voltage Regulators
• Grounding
• Over Voltage Protection
• Electrical System Instrumentation

11:30 – 12:30 Break for lunch

12:30-5:00 Afternoon Session

• Wire Selection and Installation
• Wire Termination and Connectors
• Circuit Protection
• Switches Relays and Contactors
• Lighting and Lighting Controls
• Antennas and Feedlines (including antenna analyzer demonstration)
• Engine Instrumentation

Saturday evening there may be a social event.

Schedule for Sunday

8:00-12:00 morning session:

• Noise – Antagonist, propagation paths and victims
• Tools, Wiring Techniques and Parts Selection Philosophy
• Hands-on demonstrations of useful crimp tools and soldering techniques.

For those traveling, here are area lodging links. Camping is also available on the airport.

An unexpected overnight snowfall left about three inches of light snow on top of the white stuff dropped by Wednesday’s storm, so the field was in perfect shape for Saturday’s Groundhog Chili Ski Fly-In. Low clouds in the morning cleared up by about 11:00 a.m. and we ended up with about 14 airplanes on skis at Brodhead Airport. It was plenty cold but good flying weather.

Thanks to all the pilots who ventured out and to those who drove in from the surrounding area. We enjoyed having you!

PIctures from today can be seen in the Gallery section or by clicking HERE. Also, Doug Tomas has a nice gallery of pictures HERE.

Here is a video compilation of a quick flight around the patch in Bill Liimatainen’s Aeronca Champ, with an opening scene of a visiting Citabria on Friday. Direct link to YouTube HERE.

  [youtube]4tuLaRE0wfM[/youtube]

EAA Chapter 431 has long hosted an annual skiplane fly-in in the middle of the long, cold Wisconsin winters to get local pilots out of their hibernation and join us for some homemade chili and hangar flying, and for those properly dressed, some chatting and commiseration around the fire pit. The event usually falls around Groundhog Day, so the name has sort of stuck.

This year’s Groundhog Chili Ski Fly-In is set for Saturday, February 2, 2013 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. As always, fly in, drive in or walk in, but get to Brodhead Airport (C37) for a mid-winter break and join us for some fun. Chili and all the fixins’ will be available for a free-will donation.

A field condition report will be posted here in the days before the fly-in, so check back if you plan on flying. At this time, there is no snow but the ground is frozen hard for wheeled aircraft. Contact the webmaster with questions.

EAA Chapter 431 is pleased to announce a weekend AeroElectric Connection seminar by Bob Nuckolls, April 13-14, 2013, which will cover design, fabrication, troubleshooting and maintenance of homebuilt aircraft electrical systems. The AeroElectric Connection seminars are conducted by Mr. Bob Nuckolls, engineer, teacher, author and publisher of Electrical Systems Information Texts for Amateur Airplane Builders.

The seminar will be held in the Chapter 431 building at Brodhead Airport (C37) and attendees will be provided lunch and refreshments.

The fee for the weekend seminar is $150 per person. EAA Chapter 431 has underwritten $35 of the normal $185 seminar fee as an incentive to homebuilders.

To register, click HERE to go to the AeroElectric reservation form:
http://aeroelectric.com/seminars/Brodhead.html

Download a printable flyer (PDF) for the seminar HERE.

Schedule For Saturday, April 13:

8:00 – 8:30 Registration

8:30 – 11:30 morning session:

• Parts Selection – “What’s all this ‘aircraft quality’ Stuff Anyhow?”
• Failure Mode Effects Analysis – Confidence by Design
• DC Power Fundamentals – Understanding “the Force”
• Batteries
• Engine Driven Power Sources
• Voltage Regulators
• Grounding
• Over Voltage Protection
• Electrical System Instrumentation

11:30 – 12:30 Break for lunch

12:30-5:00 Afternoon Session

• Wire Selection and Installation
• Wire Termination and Connectors
• Circuit Protection
• Switches Relays and Contactors
• Lighting and Lighting Controls
• Antennas and Feedlines (including antenna analyzer demonstration)
• Engine Instrumentation

Saturday evening there may be a social event.

Schedule for Sunday

8:00-12:00 morning session:

• Noise – Antagonist, propagation paths and victims
• Tools, Wiring Techniques and Parts Selection Philosophy
• Hands-on demonstrations of useful crimp tools and soldering techniques.

For those traveling, here are area lodging links. Camping is also available on the airport.