President's Message

Sam Evans

There is a sense of relief to know that this is my last president's message that I will need to compose. After completing nearly a full fear as Chapter president, I can say that it has been fun. It has been a challenge at times... but fun.

I would like to say "thanks" to all of you that make things happen in the Chapter. There's a whole bunch of stuff that gets done by far too few people. I hope that we can soon get more members to be involved. We have a good organization, but it takes ALL members doing their part to make it a GREAT organization. Another "thanks" to those of you that have supported me along the way. I couldn't have done it without you.

I know I have left something out, but here are some of the things I remember from this year:  How nervous I was about being tossed into this position... but I got over it. Airport security badges and gate codes... ugh! ... but we got over it. Gone west but not forgotten...Bob Couch & Willie Walker.

I remember the flyouts. Fredericksburg was a hoot. Shellie & I will do that again. There were other flyouts that I didn't make like the "magic carpet ride" to Hicks Field and the under-represented trip to Colorado Springs. And then the biannual trip to Oshkosh. Now, that's an event that every aviator should experience at least once. I can't wait until '07 to take the 7...I hope.

The success of Airfest proved once again to be resilient and successful. Young Eagles make it all worthwhile at Airfest along with a trip to Rotan to boot. And here we are full circle. I'm just about done here except for the mention of Hangar 3.

Many of us have spent hours hashing & re-hashing, thinking and re-thinking the Hangar 3 project. It now appears that Hangar 3 is very near to being a reality. On December 15th, the Abilene city council will most likely approve and sign the EAA Chapter 471 lease agreement which I have already signed. Once the lease is signed by the city council, then the ball is in our hangar, so to speak. One of the first duties of the new board of directors will most likely be to determine the process and timeline for completing the project. We have plenty of work ahead of us and it will take everyone pitching in to make H3 the home we have all waited for. Thanks again to all for making 471 a great chapter. Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and a prosperous new year to each of you.

~Sam~

EAA 471 Christmas Party This Saturday

You don't have much time left to RSVP Gray Bridwell for the Chapter Christmas party this Saturday the 17th. The party will be held at Fairway Oaks Country Club and begins at 7:00 p.m. The dinner is $18 per person. (Note that the chapter is obligated to pay for the number count we give them. So please plan to attend if you have RSVP'd) Contact Gray at 325-537-2496.

N96LE on the Sale Block

As some of you may know, Gray has his RV-6A up for sale. He says he needs more room in his shop for the RV-10 he's building...and the bucks to finance the engine for it. Gray calls me last Friday night and offers me a chance to go flying for possibly the last time in the 6. He's got a guy from Utah that is interested enough in the plane to come to Texas to check it out. Saturday morning, I'm off to Gray's farm and we run over the last cow pattie around 10:30. It was a great day to fly: clear skies and little wind. I didn't hesitate the least when Gray offered me the opportunity to make a few landings. Let's just say I did "okay", but I'd feel a little more comfortable with some additional RV time before I fly my RV-7A...when I finish it. Oh, and just to let you know Gray, it's all your fault.! Thanks for the trips around the horn and thanks for the great times and the two trips we made to OSH in ole' niner six lima echo.

~Sam~

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