Carpe diem - Seize the Day!

Alex Nelon

Apr 8, 2022 • 4 min read

The Kiffin Yates Rockwell Chapter 1016 of The Experimental Aircraft Association

Looking ahead . . .

A lot, and I mean a LOT is going on in our world these days and just what all of it means is beyond the range of my crystal ball. One thing for certain, though, is that our members will continue to think and tinker and tweak in homes and garages and workshops, with the single- minded goal of learning. That is, after all, one of the cornerstones of EAA membership, learning new skills and exercising them.

A friend and member asked just the other day how to build a new part for his project (not an airplane this time, but interesting just the same). I didn't know how - theatre majors typically don't build things - but I knew someone who might be able to help out and, by golly, he did. It's good to know people who know how to do stuff.

Steve shows Jacob the layout of the wing ribs on his spar. Steve bought an abandoned RV4 project of the old school kit variety where interesting interpretations of the plans accompanied the components. Jacob is building an RV10 from a present-day kit. Big difference.

A scratch-builder is an entirely different breed of cat. EAA 1016 Member Keith Plemmons has taken a set of plans where all the parts of an airplane are presented through dimensional drawings. That means there are no actual size pictures to go by. All the parts have to be measured, drawn, and then made, one by one. Once the parts are made, there are no assembly instructions. It all has to be figured out. More than one of Keith's reference books are from the 1940s, when biplanes were made of wood and steel tubing, covered with fabric. It's a trip back in time.

In the end, for most of us, it's about the flying and there are any number of venues and opportunities to do just that .. whether it's a visit with family and friends, a vacation or an expensive breakfast in an airport hangar with a few hundred new friends.

Our chapter was well represented at the Morristown EAA Chapter 1494 fly-in breakfast on April 2. L to R Greig Hillman, Simon Jennings, Matt Holsopple, Kajur Kulp and Steve Murray.

When it comes right down to it, we can choose for ourselves what we want to look for and most of our chapter members choose to look for the happy side of life. It doesn't get much better than impromptu gatherings at a hangar when someone shows up with a loaf of bread and a pack of bologna at lunchtime to get things started and it builds into a weekly lunchtime happening to look forward to. And, by the way, that new guy at the airport should be invited to take a chair and pass the mayo.

Now to some of the more business-y stuff. We need your help - volunteers for some positions now that the weather is turning warmer and meetings and programs loom large.

Did you know there are some 400 national EAA members living within 35 miles of us? Until last year I had no idea there could be that many. Our groups.io email list has 94 members, some of whom I've never heard of or from. Several members post there, most do not which is just fine. I'd rather have a few themed posts than an overflow of links to YouTube videos (unless they're videos having to do with building or flying airplanes). The point is, there are some 300+ potential members that could become a part of our world if they just knew we were here and active! Thus, one of the first important posts we have to fill is that of Membership Chair.

To attract new members is one thing, to keep them coming back is another. So far we've managed to put together some interesting programs for our monthly get togethers, but we should have a Program Chair to select and manage our programs to full advantage. The job isn't a chore; it just means talking to people ... it might mean scrounging bits and pieces for a hands-on demo of riveting, metal or fabric work, engine selection or engine work, etc etc. The list is endless and interesting and we need someone to schedule our programs and assist with logistics. If you're interested in being our Program Chair please get in touch via [email protected] and let's talk!

EAA national has a series of events they coordinate, all of which are carried out by local chapters. Among these are "Learn To Fly Day", "Young Eagles Day", and others. Our Gary Garner has been involved in tours of EAA B-17 and B-25 tours in the past and has done a marvelous job coordinating these events. He's volunteered to keep in touch with EAA in Oshkosh and as soon as those airplanes are available again for tour we'll be hearing about it from Gary. Among events we could manage locally might be a fly-in breakfast, brunch or lunch (likely at AVL for logistical and operational reasons). Antique airplane enthusiasts might prefer Johnson Field or Hendersonville to stay away from Class C airspace. It would be a stretch, but maybe we could work both! Events require quite a bit of coordination by phone and keyboard, otherwise I'd be asking Gary if he'd take it on by himself ... but ... if anyone would like to step up and explore opportunities in addition to and alongside Gary we'd like to hear from you for the position of Event Co-Chair.

Spring is springing, engines are warming up and props are turning! Time to go FLYING!

Looking ahead . . .

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