It is a pleasure to be a part of our local EAA chapter. In our most recent function we flew 223 Big Coun-try youth. The day went with-out in-cident and was smooth and a true pleasure. A big round of thanks to all that helped out.

In an effort to thank individuals who helped, our chapter is hosting the 2^nd annual FAA appreciation party. We will have planes out ready to take controllers for rides as well as the ground staff who made the day run well. We will have Hamburgers and french fries on Saturday June 9^th. We will fly from 5:00pm to 7:00pm and eat shortly thereafter.

I wonder about the number of people who read the newsletter every month so I will donate ten dollars to the building fund for each person who tells me they have read this sentence. You cannot tell a member or tell me in the presence of a member. That would be an unfair, defeating the purpose of this test. Please re-member that the newsletter is the glue that binds our chap-ter together. It is a good source that we can go to and get information that we may have missed due to busy schedules.

Every month it seems that our calendar is full of events. June 16^th we are invited to fly more Young Eagels in Snyder. Free break-fast, $1.60 fuel, who could ask for more! Several are going. Please call me at 676-8294 if you want to go, can take a plane, or can help out.

In the last chapter meeting we discussed the chapter hanger and we need to pin down the details. Location, hanger options, and remaining funding need to be finalized. In an online email poll it seems that the opinion of the re-sponding members is to have the new hanger location where the Chapter 471 tie down area is currently. I will be researching sewer, water, and electricity cost to extend to this area. As always, to obtain the better view we will pay a price. After these numbers are in, location will be discussed again. We need pledges from chapter members and other sources of $8,000 to have the required $32,000 to begin construction. Pledge cards are available from Hobby Stevens and Gray Bridwell. Donations of $1,000 or more will receive a brick with your name inscribed. What a great way to be remembered for dedicated efforts to the EAA! Help raise the final funds for our hanger.

At the last chapter meeting discussion was raised about moving the chapter meeting to the second Saturday to correspond with the regular breakfast. That way you could meet, eat and meet, or just eat. Again, in an online poll all but one was in favor of the idea to move the meeting. We will hold the official vote June 21^st at the regular chapter meeting.

--This note from the ABI Tower refers to our recent Young Eagle's Day.

Sunday, May 13, 2001

By John Starbuck

Reporter-News

Staff Writer

Children who always wanted to ride in an airplane saw their dreams take off Saturday at the Abilene Regional Airport.

Through the Young Eagles program, the Big Country Chapter 471 of the Experimental Aircraft Association gave youngsters a free opportunity to soar

above the horizon. The riders took a 20-minute flight that went over the Winters Freeway and to Interstate 20 before returning to the airstrip.

"It was amazing that you could see everything that you normally cannot see, like the tops of buildings or the places you’ve been and then recognize them from the air," said Mitchell Ponton, 10, of Abilene.

Ponton was an exper-ienced aviator, having just taken his second flight. For Naomi Gonzales, a 6-year-old from Hamlin, this was a first-time experience.

After riding in Mark Rand’s Piper Super-cruiser, Gonzales was a little shy to talk about what she saw. When coaxed for an answer, she did say it was great to see the different points of interest.

"The fun part is seeing these kids’ reactions when you take them out of the

airplane," said Rand, of Eula, after giving Gonzales her riding certificate.

Youngsters who appear mature enough to handle the controls were given that freedom for a short distance in Rand’s craft.

"And they do a good job," he said.

Wayne McCormick, a pilot for 23 years and KTXS-TV news anchor, said some

passengers ask him about the different gauges and dials while others ooh and aah about the world below. He worries when the first-timers don’t do anything but stare.

"You just hope they don’t get sick on you," McCormick said.

Big Country chapter vice president Felix Thomas said the EAA sponsors the

national program in hopes of inspiring children toward an aviation career. Officials hoped to give flights Saturday to about 350 youngsters.

The EAA will register the youthful flyers in a logbook at its national office in Oshkosh, Wis., Thomas said. It will also send them a packet of aviation memorabilia.

McCormick said the EAA wants to fly a million Young Eagles by 2003 because that will be the 100th anniversary of the first manned flight by the Wright Brothers.

No Breakfast June 9^th

5:00-7:00 Fly Controllers-Ground Staff

7:00-???? Hamburgers, Fries, Drinks

Spouses invited

June 16^th Snyder Young Eagle Flights

$1.60 fuel, free breakfast

June 16^th Judge Lane's Fly-in 3:00pm bring your own meat and drinks. Pit will be fired ready to cook.

Fix-in’s will be provided. Plenty of hanger space for

your sleeping bag. Breakfast on your own.

More information at the June 9^th Hamburger Supper

June 21^st Regular Chapter meeting TSTC 7:00pm

Popcorn/Dr. Pepper – Choice of movie Chapter Views or

Oshkosh Airventure 2000.

By-Law revisions will be available for all present.

August 18^th Dyess Airshow

EAA will Fly Experimental planes over for display.

Also will have a static display of a partially assembled plane.

President Gray Bridwell

Vice-President Felix Thomas

Secretary Jim Snellgrove

Treasurer Hobby Stevens

Director Barry Cotner

Director Dennis Mathison

Director Hank Castle

Director Billy Tucker

Past President Carroll Bird