Atlantic Flyer has a nice article this month by Gilles Auliard on Allen Rudolph’s Pietenpol, which is based off and on at Brodhead Airport, and EAA 431 member Ted Davis’ role in restoring it.
Go to the Atlantic Flyer website and click on the Antique Attic link, or go directly yo the article (PDF) by clicking HERE.
How about this weather, eh?
High winds and morning rain kept area pilots from our annual pancake breakfast today. Steady northeast winds in the 25 mph range with gusts to 35 were registered on the airport weather station and as we know, this doesn’t make for enjoyable or safe flying in small airplanes. We still served close to 200 people though, so we thank everybody who drove out to join Chapter 431 for breakfast on an otherwise miserable morning.
The Young Eagle activities that were planned have been rescheduled for Saturday, June 11. Please e-mail events431@eaa431.org for advance registration.
The May 7 work day was well attended by Chapter 431 members and friends, and many items were checked off the “to-do” list. Fences were repaired and painted, trees trimmed, brush cleared, kitchen prepped, runways mowed, wood stacked, ruts filled, driveways graded, banners hung and a dozen other tasks were taken care of in short time.
Many thanks to all who worked! The airport is in great shape for the Pancake Breakfast on the 15th.
Pictures of some of the day’s activities are here.
Gene Caulkins of Chapter 431 and also a member of Chapter 60 in Beloit/Janesville will be demonstrating how to perform a weight balance on his Kitfox in hangar 45 at the Brodhead Airport on May 11 at 7:00 p.m. Gene re-engined his Kitfox over the winter and recently completed a new weight & balance.
Hangar 45 is on the south side of Brodhead Airport.
This event is for the regular Chapter 60 meeting but all who are interested are welcome to attend.
Ty Daniels and Don are going to continue to educate all those interested in learning how to cover a wood wing with fabric using the Stewart System covering process. The March and April meetings will be held on the 1st Saturday of each month (March 5th, & April 2nd) immediately following the chapter meeting beginning at 9:00AM. Plan on two hours for the program for each month.
The March meeting had a great start with many members and guests getting hands on experience with Stewart Systems and Ceconite. The April meeting will continue with covering the wing in its entirety and future program on rib stitching and painting. This is a great opportunity to get involved with a “hands on” learning experience.
Generous donation of Covering materials provided by Stewart Systems and Consolidated Aircraft Coatings (ceconite).
Our volunteer A&P Mechanic, Ty Daniels
You may have noticed our new website design and hope you find it more useful. We plan to update items more frequently to keep visitors appraised of chapter events and happenings at the airport.
Check out the calendar on the left side of the homepage showing upcoming events.
You can also leave comments on the homepage posts.
We welcome your feedback.
Pat Weeden
EAA 431 Webmaster
Chapter 431’s annual Groundhog Chili Ski Fly-In on February 5, 2011 was one of our best yet. A blizzard dropped over a foot of new snow just days before the event and while it proved a challenge to dig out the driveway, parking areas and the chapter building in time, it provided a perfect base for ski planes.
Nearly 25 planes flew in and many dozens of folks drove in to make for a successful event. Lots of Cubs, Champs and taildragger Cessna’s, plus many others sporting many varieties of skis put on a good show for those of us suffering through a winter of little to no flying.
Click HERE for a photo gallery from the day.
Program Covered for March & April 2011
After receiving a donated wing and work contributed by Don Harrington to add a leading edge and aileron, Ty Daniels and Don are going to educate all those interested in learning how to cover a wood wing with fabric using the Stewart System covering process.
The March and April meetings will be held on the 1st Saturday of each month (March 5th, & April 2nd) immediately following the chapter meeting beginning at 9:00AM. Plan on two hours for the program for each month. Rib stitching and painting will be part of the covering process and completed at time permits or completed at a future program.
Put the March and April meetings on your schedule to learn about preparation and the covering process using Stewart Systems.
The “History of the Brodhead Airport” video that was produced in 2006 has been posted in its entirety on the Brodhead Historical Society website. Go to the On-Line Archives section. Also, there are old interviews with Francis Saunders and Robert Halen about early aviation history in the area. There are even a few old pictures, like THIS ONE showing what appears to be an early fly-in, probably in the late 1940’s. Anybody have information on this one?
