By ANN Contributor Rose Dorcey
Free airplane rides for kids, aviation education projects for
youth and adults, scholarship programs, and offering support and
assistance to members who build and restore aircraft. These are
just a few items from an impressive list of goals of a new
organization based at the Middleton Municipal/Morey Field Airport
(C29) - Middleton EAA Chapter #1389.
Middleton EAA Chapter #1389, located just outside Wisconsin's
state capital of Madison, was formed in February 2004. In its short
history, it's accomplished quite a lot. Chapter members, under the
leadership of Al Barger, Morey Airplane Company's chief of
maintenance, have flown dozens of Middleton-area kids, ages 8-17,
on free flights. Members also provide airport tours to school
groups and teach the basics of airplanes and how they fly. Safety
seminars for pilots are on the agenda for upcoming meetings, as
well as on-going technical advice to members involved in aircraft
restoration projects.
"There are a lot of programs for kids through EAA," said Barger,
president of the organization. "We hope to provide scholarships to
kids who are interested in attending an aviation camp. If there's a
kid who really shows an interest in aviation and wants to fly, and
maybe make it a career, our chapter can help that person move in
that direction."
On Saturday morning October 2, from 9:00 - Noon, chapter members
will sponsor a Young Eagles rally to introduce the joy of flight to
kids ages 8-17. Barger encourages moms and dads to bring their kids
to the airport for a free airplane ride. Once a permission slip is
signed, parents can watch their kids receive a short ride, and
share the enthusiasm and fascination of flight when they return to
the ground.
Barger said the Young Eagles Rally is also a perfect opportunity
for Middleton residents to visit the airport to see all the
wonderful improvements being made there, such as a new terminal
building, a longer, wider runway and the addition of a taxiway. "We
want people to know that the airport is open to the public. We want
people to see the benefit an airport is to a community, and we
encourage them to come out and see this wonderful new
facility."
The Middleton Chapter formed after Barger spoke with several
Middleton-area pilots and others with an interest in aviation. They
agreed that forming a west side chapter would receive much
attention, for time and economic reasons, as opposed to driving to
Madison's east side, 40-minutes north to Portage or other area
chapters.
Jeff Nelson, Vice-President of the Middleton chapter, said
driving 45-minutes to the other side of Madison to attend meetings
led to late nights and less enthusiasm to attend the monthly
meetings of a chapter he was active in. Nelson, also employed by
the Morey Airplane Company and a pilot since 1993, stressed that
while many of the organization's members are pilots, the club is
open to anyone with an interest in aviation. When the first meeting
was held in Middleton in February, over 20 people attended.
Since then, membership has doubled. A diverse group, it includes
pilots, non-pilots, aircraft owners and aviation enthusiasts. If
you think it is a "good-old-boys club," think again. One-quarter of
the membership is female, and all spouses and family members are
encouraged to attend the monthly meetings and events.
"We want to provide a place where anyone with an interest in
aviation can come and feel welcome," said Nelson. "We want people
to know that you don't have to be rich to fly; we can help people
learn that owning an airplane can be affordable. We help people
learn what [kind of airplane] they can afford."
Barger agreed, saying, "We are an active group. With all the new
hangars about to be built here, we will become more active. You do
not have to be a pilot, or an aircraft owner; the chapter is open
to anyone. If you have an interest and you want to be a part of a
group that likes to meet and talk about airplanes, and get more
involved, that is what the chapter is all about."