As of Wednesday evening, three Pietenpols are on the field along with several dozen attendees of the Pietenpol/Hatz fly-in.
The weather is perfect and looks to be through the weekend. UPDATE: Rain is expected on Friday now.
Field Condition Report
We had a great work day on Saturday, July 20, crossing most items off of the “to-do” list and getting the airport in good shape for the Pietenpol/Hatz Fly-In this week.
The airport is mowed and ready for campers and airplanes. Bring some bug spray as the mosquitoes have been busy out here and they’re sure to be bad in the camping areas. We’ll be fogging each night this week to try to knock them back some.
Big thanks to everybody who helped out today.
Pietenpol/Hatz Fly-In is July 25-28
The annual Pietenpol/Hatz Fly-In is coming up next week. Be sure to read the information page for attendees that has new information on scheduled activities for both clubs.
A work day is scheduled for Saturday, July 20…see below for more information.
And don’t forget, on Friday and Saturday evenings, feel free to stop by the big brown hangar for a tour of the heavens above. Walter Trentadue, a local astronomer, will have telescopes set up to view assorted objects in the sky, including the moon, Saturn, the famous Spaceman Cluster, and other deep sky objects. He will also give descriptions of some of the visible constellations, along with their related mythology.
Work Day – Saturday, July 20
A reminder to Cheeseland Chapter EAA 431 members, our summer work day is scheduled for this Saturday, July 20 from 9:00 a.m. to noon to prepare for the Pietenpol/Hatz Fly-in the following week.
Here is a list of tasks that need to be done at this time. More may be added before the weekend. Bring gloves and tools if you can, including mowers, trimmers and saws. The chapter will provide all materials. Lunch will be served at noon or a little after.
- Scrape and paint fence
- Clean bathrooms and showers
- Install south wall interior paneling
- Insulate front gable
- Mowing and tree & brush clean-up
- Finish loft flooring
- Paint inside west hangar wall white
- Close openings in pavilion bird netting
- Define parking area with barricades & open gate
- Screw-on and tighten drain caps on hangar shower water lines
- Clean hangar floor and set-up tables
- Stain marker board tripod
- Disassemble drinking fountain nozzle and straighten
- Powerwash pavilion and hangar floor
- Clean out fire pit
- Split firewood
- Install shelving in northwest kitchen corner
- Install new electrical outlet for A/V equipment in southeast corner of hangar
- Relocate cell phone charging station
We’re not expecting to get all of these items done but it represents a list of things to choose from. Thank you for your help!
New Chapter Building Design Unveiled
At the July members meeting, the preliminary design for the new Chapter 431 clubhouse was unveiled and the chapter leadership is soliciting input and comments. Please note, this is very much a work in progress, but the drawings below show a general footprint and elevation of what is currently on the drawing board.
The building will sit at the south end of the row of hangars facing Airport Road, adjacent to the existing pavilion. The existing pavilion and chapter building will stay for projects, tool and equipment storage. This new building will upgrade our utilities and provide a more accessible year-round facility for activities, meetings and a proper place for airfield historical displays and secure storage.
Send your comments to the webmaster or president Mike Weeden at president@eaa431.org
Local Eagle Scout Candidate Takes Over Airway Beacon Project
EAA Chapter 431 members and regular readers of this website know that we obtained an original 51′ Airway Beacon tower several years ago with the plan of restoring and erecting it on the airport as a memorial to past members and the Air Mail pilots of the 1920s and 30s. A similar tower lived in the town of Decatur, just northwest of Brodhead, for many years and local farmers tell stories of mowing the grass runways and “lighting the light” each night as it marked the airway between Chicago and St Paul. Our project has languished a bit, but now has the energy of the local Boy Scout troop behind it.
Sebastian Adams, a Brodhead candidate for Eagle Scout, has taken the beacon tower as his community service project. Leading the scouts of Troop 108 in Brodhead, the tower sections are being scraped, sandblasted, primed and painted in preparation for set-up some time this summer. Below is the text of a presentation Sebastian made to the Chapter 431 membership at the July meeting.
Eagle Scout Project-Beacon Tower
My name is Sebastian Adams, I am in Brodhead Boy Scout Troop 108. As you may or may not know, I am about to attain the highest honor in Boy Scouts, the rank of Eagle. One of the main requirements to achieve the rank of Eagle is to successfully plan and execute a service project that benefits the community.
My project is to restore the Brodhead Airport’s 51’ Air Mail beacon tower as a monument dedicated to the pilots that flew this Air Mail route, as well as the founding members of The Brodhead Airport and EAA Chapter 431. I will disassemble, sandblast, paint, and reassemble the beacon tower.
I hope to carry out this project in late June through Mid-August at unveiling. If you have any questions or comments about my Eagle Project, please feel free to contact me at sebastianadams2016@hotmail.com. I would be more than happy to review my project in more detail with you.
Thank you for your time and consideration of supporting my Eagle Scout project.
We can use cash donations to purchase what we need for materials. If you are considering a donation please contact me or send all donations to;
Air Beacon Memorial
c/o Bank of Brodhead
806 East Exchange Street
P.O. Box 108
Brodhead, WI 53520
The tower is being planned for the grassy area between the two main driveways at the airport and we hope to have it up in time for a dedication later this summer.
In these pictures, scouts from Troop 108 are hard at work preparing the metal framework of the tower. Several work days have occurred in the past few weeks and more are planned.
Joe Fitters and David George at the sand blasting station.
Michael Stockel at the scraping section.
Scouts work at the Disassembly Station.
Stay tuned for more updates on this project and details of the memorial and dedication planned for later this year.
Pietenpol/Hatz Fly-In Information
For those attending the 2013 Pietenpol/Hatz Fly-In on July 25-28, we have updated our information sheet for attendees. You can view it here:
https://www.eaa431.org/2013-pietenpolhatz-fly-in-information/
This document does not cover club-specific activities, although those schedules should be added as the event draws closer. All information is subject to change.
Please contact us with specific questions, comments or recommendations.
New "Brodhead Airport" Shirts
The 2013 “Brodhead Airport” shirts have arrived and are for sale in the online webstore. The shirts feature the familiar design of Mike Williams’ Stearman but against an “Ice Gray” shirt this year. All adult sizes are in stock as well as kid’s large.
Order yours today or pick one up at any of our events this summer. For a limited time, get a free Chapter 431 sticker with your order.
Community Pancake Breakfast is May 19
UPDATE— We counted around 35 airplanes that flew in today and nearly 20 young Eagle rides given. Best of all, we served over 400 people for breakfast. Thanks to all who came from near and far for a fun day at Brodhead Airport.
EAA Chapter 431 kicks off the fly-in season every year with our Community Pancake Breakfast. This year’s fly-in, drive-in, bike-in, walk-in is on Sunday, May 19th, 2013 and includes all you can eat pancakes, two sausages, scrambled eggs and choice of beverage. Serving time is 7:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon.
Adults, $6.00
Children under 10, $4.00
Served up on our own airplane mechanic-designed professional pancake griddles by expert pilot/chefs, our pancake breakfast is a great way to spend a Sunday morning. There is outdoor seating under our pavilion as well as heated indoor seating in case of inclement weather.
If you’re flying in, set a course for Brodhead Airport (C37). Unicom is 122.9. There is plenty of parking so bring a wingman and start out the season with great flight to a wonderful grass airport. Driver-inners can head for Brodhead Airport Road, which is just south of the city limits off Highway 11. If you need a street address for your GPS, use N2439 Brodhead Airport Road. Otherwise, just look for the airplanes.
Chapter 431 Merchandise – Clearance Sale
To reduce inventory from past years shirts, hats and other Chapter 431 goodies, we are having a Spring Clearance sale for online orders. Sizes and quantities are limited, but prices are reduced, in some cases drastically! Who can pass up a $5.00 T-shirt?
Cookbooks and other items are reduced as well. All orders will include a free 3″ Chapter 431 sticker.
Chapter members who wish to pick up their orders at the airport, please select the Free Shipping option when you check out. All others, please select the Flat Rate shipping option.
Visit the webstore HERE.
