It was a bright sunny day when the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 534 held their first Young Eagles Rally for 2026. They introduced 18 young people to the magic of flight for the first time.

Around 8:15 on Saturday morning, Jan. 3, 2026 the parking lot in front of the EAA hangar began to fill up with young people accompanied by parents, friends and grandparents anticipating a great aviation adventure. This all took place at the Leesburg International Airport in Leesburg.

There was also a great turnout of EAA members to volunteer their time to make this event a success.

Nine volunteer chapter pilots turned out to join the fun by taking these kids for their first flights. They brought their nine general aviation, single engine, fixed wing aircraft, to this aviation gala. They paid for the fuel, and enjoyed the delight and excitement displayed by their young crew members.

There is never any charge to participants for these Young Eagle flights.

Other chapter members were on hand to do the necessary paperwork and make sure everybody was safe on the ramp when their kids took off.

EAA Chapter 534 does this each month, except for the summer months. The purpose is to acquaint young people with the wonders and freedom of flight in small planes. This experience is open to any young person aged 8 to 17.

The hope is that this experience will kindle an interest in aerospace and someday they will want to become private pilots themselves. In the past this experience has set many young people on the path to become airline pilots.

After their 15-to-20-minute flights it is interesting to see the smiles on these kids’ faces and the excitement they display to their parents when they return. If there were any fears or concerns, they had prior to their flights, this has been all replaced by a desire to do it again.

When they return to the hangar, the young flyers will receive a commemorative certificate and an official log book both signed by the pilot who took them up.  They will also receive, at no charge, an online Sporty’s Learn to Fly Course which will teach them what they need to learn if they wish to become a private pilot.  This course will prepare them to take the Federal Aviation Administration written test they will need to pass.

If you know of a youngster that has expressed in interest in aviation, EAA is the place to go to find out how to help them scratch that itch.

You may go to your local airport to find out if there is an EAA chapter there, or go to the following web site, < www.eaa.org>

If you would like to find out more about EAA Chapter 534 you may go to, <www.eaachapter534.org>

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A lot of excited and productive energy was expended in the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 534 hangar on Saturday Nov. 15, 2025.

Many different aviation projects were being worked on at the EAA Chapter 534 hangar at the Leesburg International Airport in Leesburg, FL.

Although it would have been a perfect day for flying, everybody was busy working on individual aviation projects oblivious to the clear blue skies with very little wind.

The day started with a gathering of local young people, parents, and members of EAA Chapter 534 meeting to put together a sizable number of EZup Inspection Cover kits. Apparently, they are beginning to sell like hot cakes.

A lot of fabric amateur aircraft builders, as well as owners of certified aircraft have had enough with pinched bloody fingers and torn fabric, while they try to remove and replace their older inspection covers.

These covers allow pilots to inspect vital cable and mechanical connections within the wings and fuselage.

These new inspection covers come in two styles, dome and recessed aluminum. They can easily be painted to match any plane’s unique paint scheme.

They were designed by Marty Harris, a member of EAA Chapter 534. A few years ago, he turned over the rights to this product to Chapter 534. This has been a successful fundraiser for the chapter.

Should anyone wish to purchase these economical inspection covers and help support the mission of EAA Chapter 534, contact Plane Parts Inc at W Davenport St, Rhinelander, WI. 54501-3455, or phone at 715 420 0168.

Periodically, the chapter’s aviation youth group, Squadron 534, and chapter members gather to form a production line in the hangar to gather the necessary parts and instructions in a small plastic bag to make up these speedy and bloodless kits.

Patty Wagstaff, the famous aerobatic pilot has endorsed these inspection covers and she uses them on her planes.

As a one-time incentive for new young people to show up for this event, four prizes were awarded to the first four kids to arrive. The grand prize was a P-51 ready to fly radio controlled model, with flight instruction to be given at the nearby Larks RC club.

         The other three prizes were working aviation headsets donated by the chapter.

While all this was going on other people were working on the restoration of the Cessna 150 D that will soon become the mainstay of a flying club.

Some other folks were organizing and inventorying parts for the new Sonex aircraft building project that will be put together by the chapter’s youth group.

The Pietenpol crew was tinkering with the controls and brought down from the loft the wings that had been previously built but needed their aluminum leading edge applied.

When the kids had finished packaging the inspection covers, they each had a shot at using one of the flight simulators guided by the newest Ray Scholarship winner, Abdiel Hernandez.

In the back room Mike Tryg and wife Samantha ( Sam ) were banging and grinding away rebuilding some parts for their Grumman AG Cat G-164 biplane. They were getting ready for an airshow where they will perform in Key Largo, Fl. on Dec 6,  2025.

They do aerobatics at airshows with pyrotechnics, while Sam does the wing walking.

EAA Chapter 534 is a great place to hang out if you are interested in aviation. Membership is made up of active and retired pilots, experimental aircraft builders, and aviation enthusiasts of all ages. They fly kids on Young Eagle fights once a month and teach flight and aircraft building skills.

This chapter happens to be located at the Leesburg International Airport but, contact your local airport to see if there is an EAA chapter near your home.

More information can be found by going to the following websites, <www.eaa.org > and< www.eaachapter534.org>.

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The Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 534 in Leesburg Florida announces the 2025 Ray Aviation Scholarship winner to be Abdiel Hernandez from Tavares, FL.

Abdiel is 16 years old and just finishing up his sophomore year at Tavares High School.

He has always had an interest in aviation, and one day he hopes to become a commercial airline pilot.

Abdiel has been a member of the EAA Chapter 534 youth program for some time and has taken several flights with their Young Eagles program.

He is looking forward to beginning his flight training at Sun Air Aviation at the Leesburg International Airport right here in Florida.

Abdiel is only one of three Ray Aviation Scholars taking part in an EAA National Beta Simulator flight test in the country. If this Beta test is successful, it will become an integral part of the Scholarship program.

The Ray Aviation Scholarship grant of $13,000 will go a long way toward paying for Abdiel’s flight training to obtain his Private Pilot’s License. This will be his first giant step to attain his dream of becoming an airline pilot.

This Scholarship program is funded by the Ray Foundation, managed by EAA National, in Oshkosh WI, and administered through approved local EAA chapters such as Chapter 534 here in Leesburg, FL.

To date this is the seventh Ray Aviation Scholarship awarded to local youths here in the lake County area.

This program has created four private pilots and two more waiting for their FAA check rides.

Several of those scholarship recipients have gone on to seek Instrument, Seaplane and Commercial ratings.

Scholarship recipients must be active in the local EAA chapter youth programs such as Squadron 534 at EAA Chapter 534. Here is where they begin to learn more about aviation under the supervision of chapter members who become their mentors.

They volunteer helping out at fly-In breakfasts and at Young Eagle Rallies. They gain experience working on radio control models as well as helping to build and repair real experimental aircraft.

Each year these aviation youth members compete for the annual Ray Aviation Scholarship.  Each chapter has a Ray Aviation Coordinator who oversees the program and he or she makes recommendations to a chapter selection board for the recipient for that year.

This year EAA Chapter 534 congratulates Abdiel Henandez as the recipient of the chapter’s 2025 Ray Scholarship winner.

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The Leesburg International Airport in Leesburg recently hosted a Food Truck Fly-In Drive-In on their expansive ramp.

This event was free and open to anyone who flew in or drove in. There was plenty of parking for both planes and cars.

Once the early morning fog lifted around 10 am, the sun came out and beautiful flying weather continued the rest of the day. At this point, the airport runways and taxiways were open for visitors.

The Leesburg Airport ( KLEE) is owned and run by the city of Leesburg, FL, and is ably managed by Tracey Dean. Alan Reisman, the current mayor of Leesburg, is an employee of Firehawk Helicopter, one of the larger businesses at the airport.

Tracy and Alan teamed up to make the Food Truck-Fly-In the great success that it was.

This airport is a large economic engine for both the city and Lake County

It is a large general aviation airport with two asphalt runways. The longest runway is runway 13/31 at 6300 feet and 100 feet wide. The other one is runway 3/21 at 4957 feet and also 100 feet wide.

Leesburg International Airport also has a seaplane base adjacent to the airfield on Lake Harris.

If you are flying in from some foreign land, you will be happy to know this airport has a US Customs and Border Protection office at the airport.

There are several large aerospace businesses and many small aircraft businesses located here. These businesses provide many good paying jobs and bring a lot of revenue into the City and Lake County.

For example, there is Firehawk Helicopter. They opened up their large hangar, rolled out one of their big firefighting helicopters for display. They converted the front part of the hangar into a dining room so the folks who bought their lunch from one of the food trucks had a comfortable place to sit while they enjoyed their meal.

Sunair Aviation, the fix-based operator (FBO) for the airport, had a tent set up on the ramp to answer questions for people who might be interested in learning how to fly.

They have a flight school and teach everything from what you need to become a Private Pilot to an Air Transport Pilot. They provide for airplane parking, fuel, repair service, and a comfortable pilot lounge.

Skybolt Aerospace Fasteners has a large facility at this airport. Almost everybody who repairs airplanes or builds Experimental Planes knows about all the innovative aircraft fasteners Skybolt sells and produces.

 The Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 534 has a large presence at this airport. They provide for Young Eagles free flights once a month to give young people 8 to 17 their first experience of the wonder of flight. They also have an aviation youth program which so far has resulted in producing four new Private Pilots and two more waiting for their check ride. Each of them has received Ray Aviation Scholarships. These scholarships provide the funds to cover a substantial amount of the cost of flight training.

Chapter 534 also helps train some of their members how to build Experimental Aircraft or refurbish older planes. Many of these planes are sold when completed and profits are rolled into their youth programs. They are a 501 c3 tax free organization.

They set up a booth and aircraft display on the ramp to answer any questions about EAA. On display were three Experimental aircraft built by one of the members.

During the Fly-In the food trucks did a lot of business and the dining tables in the Firehawk hangar were always filled up.

There were seven food trucks serving ice cream, burgers, hot dogs, assorted ethnic dishes and soft drinks.

A wide assortment of planes flew in, there were many certified planes, experimental home-built planes, vintage aircraft, mostly single engine but a few twins as well. On occasion, you could hear the roar of a corporate jet landing or taking off.

The Leesburg Police and Fire departments and Recreation Department were well represented, displaying their equipment.

The Civil Air Patrol Lake Composite Squadron SER FL.021, showed a strong presence. They had a tented booth set up on the ramp to answer any questions from the attendees. Their young people in uniform helped out some of the other folks set up their displays.

Everybody had a great time admiring all the airplanes. Among the young people who attended, the dream of becoming a pilot was born.

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Who would have ever thought a hangar at the Leesburg International Airport, in Leesburg Florida, would be an exciting place for kids of all ages to hang out.

It was a busy day inside and outside the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 534 hangar on Saturday, February 15, 2025.

On this day, 12 young people, accompanied by their parents, eagerly swarmed into the EAA Chapter 534 hangar to work on several aviation projects.

They got to spend some time experiencing how to fly a plane using the two flight simulators in the chapter office under the watchful eye of two chapter pilots.

Others worked on building a radio-controlled model airplane and helped refurbish the old wing tips of a Cessna 150.

At lunchtime tables and chairs were set up in the middle of the hangar and young and old were treated to Pizza.

This is part of an aviation youth program the chapter offers to young people in the greater Leesburg and Lake County area.

EAA Chapter 534 believes that the way to reach young people and kindle an interest in some form of aerospace is to start them early in life by inviting them to take part in aviation activities.

This chapter has had success in producing new private pilots over the past few years.

By having an aviation youth program called Squadron 534 and immersing young people in various aviation projects this chapter has produced 4 new Private Pilots, and 2 more waiting for their check ride. This is the final step before being granted a Private Pilot license.

Candidates from their youth activities are invited to apply for the Ray Aviation Scholarships that are granted by the National EAA and administered by local chapters.

These scholarships will provide substantial funding for young people to receive flight training at a flight school of their choice.

Once a month EAA Chapter 534 provides free flights for young people ages 8 to 17. These flights take place at the Leesburg International Airport on the first Saturday of the month and are called Young Eagles Rallies.

Kids who become Young Eagles also have access to a free Sporty’s Pilot Shop Learn to Fly online course.  This course will provide the basic curriculum flight students need to know in order to pass the Federal Aviation Administration written exam.

If the student successfully passes the exam, EAA will pay for the cost of the test. Furthermore, EAA will also pay for a free flight lesson at a flight school of their choice.

If you know of a young person who would like to take a flight in a small single-engine aircraft and experience the joy of flying, make a reservation at www.eaachapters.org. 

Many local airports in the US and Canada have EAA Chapters that offer this program.

If you would like more information about National EAA or EAA Chapter 534 you may go to the following websites, www.eaa.org or www.eaachapter534.org .

EAA invites young and old to come join in the fun.

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Luke Nunez, now a licensed Private Pilot, flew his first Young Eagle recently at the Leesburg International Airport in Leesburg, Florida.

This occurred during a regular Young Eagles Rally held by the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 534 at the Leesburg International Airport on Saturday, May 11, 2024.

About two years ago Luke took his first ride as a Young Eagle in a single-engine light plane at this airport. Today as a private pilot he passes on the experience to another young person who is eager to learn more about flying.

His Young Eagle passenger was eleven-year-old Amalie Weaver, a young girl who seemed to have the same insatiable interest in aviation that Luke displayed not so many years ago.

Amalie covets the right seat during the Young Eagle flights so that she can get a chance to try flying the plane under the watchful eye of whatever EAA pilot she flies with.  Luke reported that she got that chance again today and did well.

Luke, the 2023 Ray Aviation Scholarship recipient, earned his Private Pilot License and is currently working on an instrument rating.

He also landed a full-time job at the airport working for Sunair Aviation where he trained.

 Luke’s long-term goal is to become a Certified Flight Instructor and eventually fly for an airline.

Luke was one of eight EAA Chapter 534 pilots who volunteered their time, planes and fuel to fly Young Eagles.

They also had another new pilot today, Roger Sturtevant, who flew Young Eagles for the first time with EAA Chapter 534.

The Young Eagles rallies are repeated in many EAA chapters around the world. These are promoted by the National EAA organization in Oshkosh, WI.

The motivation for these general aviation flights for kids is done with the hope that the experience will kindle an interest in aviation with young people.  Many times, this experience will lead them to become licensed pilots or develop an interest in some other area of aerospace.

The Young Eagle program is open to any young person age 8 to 17 with permission of a parent or guardian. It is all free.

The kids who take part in these Young Eagle rallies will get to experience the wonder of flight in a single-engine fixed-wing aircraft or helicopter. These flights last between 20 to 30 minutes at no cost to them or their parents.

At some point in the flight, the pilot may ask the youngster if they would like to try flying the plane.

 If they say they would like to try it, the pilot will explain what to do and give them the experience of controlling the plane. This is all done under the close watch of the EAA pilot and they can quickly correct any errors the young person may make.

Other free perks the kids get when they become Young Eagles are a commemorative certificate and log book signed by their pilot. They also get free access to a Sporty’s Learn to Fly online course which will prepare them to take the Federal Aircraft Admiration written exam if they wish to learn how to fly.  

If you would like more information about the Young Eagle first flight program you may go to the following website.
< www.yeagles@eaa.org >

On this day EAA Chapter 534 had 15 young people signed up to become Young Eagles.

They eagerly arrived with their parents in tow at the chapter hangar around 9 am, filled out the necessary paperwork, and were assigned to a chapter pilot and plane.

Both the Young Eagles and their parents were given an orientation about what to expect by Joel Hargis, the chief Young Eagles pilot. He stressed that the number one priority of the program is safety and the second is to have fun.

This was followed by a demonstration of how pilots preflight their aircraft before each flight. This was done by Chloe Kadletz, one of the chapter’s Ray Aviation Scholars who has now become a licensed private pilot.

After this demonstration, the Young Eagles headed for the ramp to get in the planes and take off for the wild blue yonder.

EAA Chapter 534 also provided 15 members to be escorts, explain projects going on in the hangar, and handle the paperwork.

For more information about EAA Chapter 534, go to < www.chapter534.org >

The post A Young Eagle of The Past Flies A Young Eagle for The First Time appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

The Fall Experimental Aircraft Association chapter 534 Fly-In/Drive-In Pancake Breakfast will be held at their hangar at the Leesburg International Airport in Leesburg, FL on Saturday, September 30, 2023. The rain date will be October 7, 2023.

The menu will be a choice of blueberry or plain pancakes with syrup, sausage, juice and coffee. Donations appreciated.

There will be aircraft parking at the SunAir ramp and vehicle parking on the grassy area across from the EAA hangar.

This will be a good opportunity to meet other pilots, aviation enthusiasts, and swap flying stories. You can also view the aircraft building and repair projects that are going on in the hangar, as well as meet our Squadron 534 Youth Group members and their mentors.

For EAA members or aviation enthusiasts who may be looking for an active chapter to join, come on over and check out Chapter 534.

For those people who decide to drive, head to Leesburg on RT 441 and turn off on Wilco Drive at the airport. Take your first right turn and you will be looking at the Chapter 534 hangar.

For further information about this event, you may contact Paul Adrien at email at ezalpha@aol.com.

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Are you one of those people who when walking down the street and hearing an airplane fly overhead, you are compelled to stop, and look skyward to see that plane? Maybe you once had a private pilot’s license years ago but you haven’t flown for years. You have always wanted to learn how to fly but never investigated just how to go about getting involved.

If this describes you, you are a good candidate for the Experimental Aircraft Association “Flying Start” program. This will show you how to take the first step to becoming a licensed Private Pilot.

This is what a group of folks did recently at an airport in Central, Florida.

On Saturday, May 27, 2023, eight prospective new pilots learned what they would have to do to earn a Private Pilot’s License with help from the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 534.

The Flying Start program was presented at the airport administration building of the Leesburg International Airport in Leesburg, Florida. This venue was selected because it offered a classroom setting, audio visual setup in one large room. Coffee and doughnuts were also served.

The attendance of about 30 people was made up of EAA Chapter 534 members, and those people who were there to learn what it takes to learn how to fly.

The meeting was opened by Mike Hage, president of EAA Chapter 534. He welcomed the guests and displayed the new banner that the chapter had earned to win the EAA gold award for 2022.

 He told the prospective pilots that by taking part in the Flying Start program they would automatically receive free National EAA membership for six months.  Also, the chapter membership unanimously voted to grant them six months free membership in EAA Chapter 534.

The Flying Start program was moderated by John Weber, chapter vice president and Light Sport Certified Flight Instructor.   He handed out materials explaining the program and used PowerPoint and video presentations. Questions were invited from the participants to make sure all the concerns were answered.

Chloe Kadletz, a chapter recipient of a $10,000 Ray Aviation Scholarship for dual flight instruction, gave a talk about why she wanted to become a pilot. Since acquiring her Private Pilot’s License, she has earned her Seaplane and Instrument ratings.

Mark Peebles, a retired corporate pilot, now flies single-engine vintage aircraft. He reviewed his flying career and explained why he wanted to fly.  Mark was one of the pilots that volunteered to do the demonstration flights and someone was lucky enough to go up with him in his beautifully restored 1946 Fairchild.

Judie Betz, EAA Chapter 534 Secretary, has been a pilot for over 40 years, owned two aircraft and explained why she wanted to fly. 

After classroom presentations, it was time for Adult Eagle demonstration flights. These flights were to last 30 minutes and a debrief was held.

Seven EAA chapter 534 pilots volunteered their planes, time and fuel for the Adult Eagle flights and the one Young Eagle flight. There are never charges for these flights.

During the program a couple of family stories came to light.

In one case Mason McClintock, a chapter aviation youth member, inspired a couple of his family members to become pilots. His mother, Keri, had attended a lot of the meetings in the chapter hangar with him and as a result got bitten by the aviation bug. She was there to learn how to fly. It turns out that his grandfather, Donald Major, was also ready to explore the wonder of flight.

The second case was a father-and-son situation.

Alan Lepera had found out about the program and his father, Mike, came along to support his son but had not planned to take part. Alan was 17 years old and didn’t qualify yet for the Adult Eagle demonstration flight, but would for the Young Eagle first flight program for ages 8 to 17.  This turned out to be a better deal for Alan as he would get a lot more perks. For example, he would get a free Sporty’s online Learn to Fly Course which would prepare him for the Federal Aviation Administration written test for a Private Pilot’s License. During the program his dad became interested and decided to learn how to fly.

Jodie Soule, Chapter 534 Young Eagles Coordinator, handled all the paperwork for the eight adult Eagle flights and one Young Eagle flight for the day.

EAA has two free flight programs. Young Eagles is for young people ages 8 to 17 and Eagle flights for adults 18 years and older. EAA chapter pilots volunteer their time, aircraft, and fuel to acquaint their passengers with the wonder of flight with the hope of creating new pilots.

During the year EAA chapter 534 runs Young Eagle Rallies each month, with the exception of June through August. Both Young Eagle flights and Eagle flights arrangements must be made in advance.

If you would like to find out more about EAA National or EAA Chapter 534 you may go to the following websites, < www.eaa.org > or < www.eaachapter534.org >

 If you would like to make reservations for a Young Eagle flight, go to the following EAA website. < www.youngeagles.org >

EAA Chapter 534 will run another “Flying Start” program next spring and will announce the date and time in advance.

If you can’t wait that long, check out the chapter web site or contact John Weber at < ransfly@aol.com >. John can also arrange for Adult Eagle flights and information about the next Flying Start program.

This Flying Start program turned out to be a great success, and the weather cooperated fully to produce a beautiful flying day.

Now when these soon-to-be pilots look skyward when they hear an airplane overhead, they will have a good idea about how they can join the pilot ranks themselves, or maybe they are already flying and people on the ground are looking at them?

The post Prospective New Pilots Get a “Flying Start” with Help from EAA Chapter 534 appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

You may remember the nursery rhyme, “ Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the king’s horses and all the king’s men couldn’t put Humpty together again”.

The Humpty Dumpty at the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 534 didn’t have a great fall but had been put out to pasture by its owner due to old age.

It was a 1964 Cessna 150 model D2 that was in serious need of repairs. That included an engine overhaul, re-cabling of the flight controls, new avionics, cleaning up corrosion and many cosmetic improvements.

It was donated to EAA Chapter 534 by a long-time member who knew they didn’t have any king’s horses or king’s men to put it together again. But he also knew the chapter had a bunch of dedicated hangar monkeys that could.

Chapter 534 has a loyal group of members, both young and old, who enjoy working on restoring, building and refurbishing donated aircraft.

They show up every Thursday and Saturday at the EAA hangar at the Leesburg International Airport in Leesburg Florida to work on these planes. They are called the hangar monkeys.

When the repaired planes are ready to fly, they are sold, hopefully at a profit, to sustain the chapter’s aviation youth program.

This particular bird has been in and out of the chapter’s hangar a couple of times over the last several years while work slowly progressed. This was going to be a large project and it would require sufficient funding to complete.

However, when the chapter decided to spin off a flying club, they were looking for a donated aircraft that could be brought into flying status much faster. About this time an experimental amateur-built Zenith 701 that can be flown light sport was donated to the chapter. It flew into the Leesburg airport.

 It had a few issues that needed to be addressed but everyone thought this plane could be brought up to safe condition faster than the Cessna 150. The hangar monkeys concentrated their efforts to fix up the 701 and turn it over to the flying club.

Then the next problem came up. It was impossible to insure this plane in a flying club because it was an experimental amateur-built aircraft. After an exhausting search of aviation insurance companies, it was decided to give up the effort and look for a certified aircraft.  The Zenith 701 was sold and the proceeds would be available to fund a successor aircraft.

At this point, the somewhat dismantled Cessna was rolled back into the EAA hangar and a full-court press began to get this plane back in the air. It will become the mainstay of the new flying club when it is finished. Because it is a certified aircraft it is anticipated that it will be easier to insure.

People who were working on other projects were pulled off what they were working on and assigned to work only on the Cessna.

Wayne Broadfield, who is an experienced Airframe and Power Plant aircraft mechanic with Inspection privileges, was put in charge of finishing the project. Because this is a certified aircraft, the work done on it has to be by the book so that it meets FAA standards. Working closely with Wayne is Steve Tilford, who is also an A and P mechanic, and Mark Banus, who has a lot of aircraft building experience.

From time-to-time other chapter members will help them out, but they have to be closely supervised by the two official aircraft mechanics.

To date the engine has been overhauled and ready to be reinstalled, landing gear repaired, and a few dings here and there taken out. Recently new control cables to the control surfaces have been run and the elevators and rudder are about to be put in place.

The old instrument panel has been stripped and new avionics will be installed. It is hoped that this restoration can be completed sometime this year.

That will prove that the hangar monkeys of EAA Chapter 534 are more skilled than all the king’s horses and all the king’s men.

The post Putting Humpty Dumpty Back Together Again appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

On Nov. 19, 2021, trucks from LakeSide Electrical Services rolled up in front of the Mid Florida Chapter hangar door and started to unload tall ladders and a lot of boxes.

A few days before, Tracey Dean, the Leesburg Airport Manager, had contacted the chapter president Steve Tilford, to see if it would be possible to install some overhead lights in the hangar. The old ones were probably put in when the hangar was built twenty-five or thirty years ago and were fluorescents, many of which had not been working for some time.

When the old light fixtures were taken down several were found to have bad ballasts and hornets’ nests in them. Those poor mud daubers were now going to have to find new homes. The fluorescent lighting was so dim that some members had to bring in their own high-intensity flashlights when they were doing some close work.

The new lights are light-emitting diodes ( LED ) made by Envoy Lighting and each produces 21,000 lumens of white light. We were to get six of them and they were to turn night into day.   They hang down from the ceiling about three feet and bathe the hangar floor in welcomed energy-efficient white light. Now you almost need sunglasses!

For some years chapter members and their aviation youth members had been hampered by a lack of suitable light by which to build, repair, and teach local kids the excitement of working on airplanes.

It really is a safety issue when intricate technical work is being done on aircraft to have good lighting.

Chapter volunteers were available to move planes and other current building projects around so the electricians could set up their ladders where they needed to be.

Chapter 534 members are grateful that Tracey Dean was able to find a little extra money in the airport budget to upgrade this hangar.

Steve Tilford, being a resourceful chapter president, decided to upgrade the chapter’s air compressor. It worked okay but vibrated a lot and sounded like a 747 flying through the hangar. It just so happened that somebody had recently donated a much newer, quieter, and higher capacity air compressor to the chapter. With all these electricians in the hangar, this was the best opportunity to hook it up. In short order, the new compressor was wired in and up to code.

These changes will make the mission to expose local kids to the wonders of aviation much easier. The chapter hopes to be able to inspire young people to learn how to fly, build and repair airplanes.

If you would like to learn more about EAA and EAA Chapter 534 you may go to the following websites  < www.eaa.org > and < www.eaachapter534.org >

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