Chapter Chatter

Who BLINKED? Here we are in September and the beginning of the fall flying season. Cooler temperatures and better aircraft performance but also more complex weather planning sessions. Leaves are turning and flying to the wooded areas is always spectacular with fall colors.

I envision shorter trips this fall. Later departures and earlier returns as the days shrink. This year we will enjoy the longer daylight since the state has passed the end to daylight savings time. No more fall back / spring forward. This eliminates setting clocks on all the devices and cars.

I am grateful for all the volunteers who have stepped up this year to fill the positions at the events. Without you, our volunteers, the Chapter’s presence would have been missed. We do have an impact on lives in our community.

How many of you are up for an adventure in 2020? How many will either fly or meet the Chapter at Oshkosh for a week of camping/glamping or lodging at the U or elsewhere? All good questions to put on the planning table as we sketch out our summer fun for next year.

I will be going to my first OSK AirVenture in 2020. I was on the grounds a couple of years ago, but it was in January, and I do not ever plan to do that again! Lovely facilities, great people, wonderful museum but it was COLD, very COLD.

Fall also brings us the beginning of the Brick Fund Raising program. We will be selling bricks for $250 4x8” or $500 8x8” for the memorial patio at W28. All funds from this program will go directly into the scholarship fund. We would like to expand this opportunity to worthy candidates looking to make aviation a career. Some will want to fly and move through that process, while others may want to build, design or repair an airplane. It is a very worthy mission.

The future of aviation is in our hands. Without support, our young people may never be able to live the dream. We start the dream with Young Eagles flights; we help support them in the chosen aviation school and maybe they will “PLAY IT FORWARD” for those behind them. One of our Young Eagle pilots (Whidbey pilot) told me he started as a YE. Now he flies YE and is protecting us from adversaries. Well played Navy Lt. Tanner Matheny …. 1946 North American NAvion