EAA Chapter 431 is collecting recent aviation related magazines (not older than two months) for donation to area hospitals and clinics.
We will be collecting magazines at our regular monthly meetings. If you cannot attend a meeting, just drop your donations in the kitchen of the Chapter building.
Ideas for magazines: Sport Aviation, Flight Training, Kitplanes, Model Aviation, AOPA PIlot, Midwest Flyer, etc.
We are saddened to learn of the death of long time chapter 431 member Jim Wilson today. News story here and here.
UPDATE: Obituary and funeral arrangements are HERE.
Jim Wilson at the Chapter 431 work day, July, 2011.
Jim lived in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin and Brodhead Airport friends and visitors will remember him always helping out at our various fly-ins and local events.
Bill Liimatainen and Fred Gustafson’s Pietenpol Sky Scout flew for the first time on Saturday, November 7th, piloted by Ted Davis.
We have received word that Mehlin Smith passed away unexpectedly on Friday, October 28, 2011.
Update: Here is a link to Mehlin’s obituary in the Chicago Sun-Times. Service details are at the end.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/obituaries/8532913-418/dentist-award-winning-airplane-builder.html
Mehlin Smith in his Warner powered Hatz Biplane, 2004. Photo by Gene Caulkins
While there is still no motel in Brodhead, there are two new bed & breakfast establishments in town along with our friends at The Sutherland House. For those of you not keen on camping, make plans for next year’s fly-in season now by visiting the links at left for the Go-inn Home and Maggie’s Loft.
The Midwest Antique Airplane Club’s annual Grassroots fly-in is in the books, with absolutely perfect flying weather the entire weekend. We have no official count as yet, but somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 vintage aircraft visited Brodhead Airport during the week.
We welcome feedback from the Grassroots attendees and MAAC members on what can be done to improve our facility, meals and programs. Of course, let us know what we’re doing right too! Send your comments to the webmaster.
After winning the Antique Reserve Grand Champion – Silver Lindy award at Airventure in Oshkosh this week, Tim Talen and Eric Rearwin of Oregon state visited Brodhead in their 1936 Rearwin 6000 “Speedster“. This extremely rare airplane is a true beauty and should be in town for a few weeks before departing on the long flight back to Oregon.
Photo by Bill Weeden
The annual Pietenpol (36th Annual) and Hatz Fly-in is history. Hot and very humid weather did not keep the crowds down at all and daytime provided good flying weather on all days. Rain and thunderstorms kept a few campers wet on the overnights but all survived without damage.
Not an official count, but at least four Hatz Biplanes were in attendance along with “about 22” Pietenpols of all flavors. We appreciate all the good words that people from all over the world had to say about Brodhead Airport and Chapter 431 in particular. We’re glad you all came!
Special thanks to all EAA Chapter 431 members who worked their tails off all week to pull off another successful event. Thanks to Bob Pokorney for providing picture updates throughout the weekend. Check out his PHOTO GALLERY. More photos will be added in the days to come.
Look for more detailed updates on the Brodhead Pietenpol Association website.
Thanks to the Brodhead area EMS and Fire personnel that took part in our First Responder training. We hope to have another session later this summer.
