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March Meeting -
Pond Branch Airport - 3/15/2015
Approximately 50 people and 7 planes attended our March chapter
meeting at Eddie and Sandy Price's Pond Branch Airport (PBA).
Everyone enjoyed Beaufort Stew (shrimp, kilbasa, potatoes, corn),
steamed oysters, banana pudding. cookies, tea, and soft drinks.
After the meal, chapter safety advisor, Don Schmotzer, gave us a
brief presentation on "pioneering moments in aviation" and also gave
us a few safety tips. Then, President Eddie Price
introduced a number of the people in attendance, notably Mr. Wilson Shealy, 90 years young, who has a long history in aviation in our
local area and who has a grass strip located right at water's
edge on Lake Murray. His hangar
is a pilot's dream filled with aviation artifacts and history. Also, Delta Airline
captain, Bob Cottom, came with wife, Nancy, all the way from Rock
Hill to be with us today. Russell Nance, Apache helicopter pilot,
gyroplane CFI, and past president of the Popular Rotorcraft
Assocation (PRA), also attended. There were many other distinguished
members and guests too numerous to mention here who we'd like to thank for
visiting with us today. Five new members joined the chapter today as
well. After Eddie covered a few more chapter business items, we took
a group photo down by the airplanes near the runway. Click the thumbnail above for photos taken at the event.
February Meeting -
Pelion Airport - 2/15/2015
We had 38 members, guests, and the Ackerman’s puppy, Speed Brake,
attend the February EAA 1467 meeting at the Pelion Deputy, EMT
Substation Facility. Lunch at 1:00pm was chili, vegetable soup,
cornbread, French Bread and beverages provided by Eddie & Sandy,
Leon & Myra, Don & Diane, Leonard and Kathy, with world famous
banana pudding by Glenn & Kelsie. Last year's service awards were
presented to Millie, Neil, and Leonard. Nineteen calendars were
sold, one presented to our guest speaker Jim Wilson, and orders were
taken for 5 more to be made. The membership expressed an interest
in EAA 1467 caps and apparel to be made available. We agreed
pursuing this with the logo of EAA in the wings, “Tree Top Flyers”
above the wings, and below, “Chapter 1467”, with second line,
“Lexington Co., SC”. Eddie announced he was joining The
EAA Vintage Aircraft, Chapter 3. With that lead in, Jim Wilson,
Editor and Publisher of their newsletter, began his slide show. His
excellent presentation focused on his history in aviation and more
recently his project restoring a 1928 Travel Air biplane. He
explained the many aspects of this complex project. Not only
involved is the labor of making jigs and airplane parts, but getting
the approvals and certifications in pursuit of an airworthy
certificate. Also, to be this involved, he has become a historian
for the Travel Air Company. All in attendance recognized Jim for
his dedication to this project and taking time out to share his
dreams with us. We had an old member, Ed Seibert, renew, as well as John Pipkin
paying his dues, to bring our total to 34 members. Eddie announced the next meeting
will be at Pond Branch Airfield, March 15th, with guest speaker,
Dwayne King, Alaska missionary pilot from Kingdom Aircorp. Also,
Norman & Ray have offered to host our May meeting at Do Little in St
Matthews. We have planned this meeting to be on Saturday, May 16 ...
subject to be changed to Sunday, the 17th. The meeting ended by Jim and
Eileen’s 1936, four-seat cabin, Waco biplane. Several members sat
in the cabin admiring Jim’s work on restoring this airplane. Jim
announced he had been asked to leave (he probably made that up, but
?). We watched his preflight, warm up the big round radial, take
off, and come back around for a perfect low pass. Click the
thumbnail above to see photos and video/audio posted by Eddie.
January Meeting -
Pelion Airport - 1/18/2015
Our first chapter
meeting of 2015 was held at the EMT/Deputy substation at Pelion Airport
(6J0) on January 18th with a new board presiding. The 2015 board members
are: President - Eddie Price; VP - Leonard Self; Secretary - Kevin
Wallace; Treasurer - Pelham Moss. We had a great crowd today of an
estimated 40 members and guests. The day was designated "Randy and Libby
Berry Appreciation Day". We first
enjoyed a lunch of hotdogs with chili and slaw, chips, iced tea, and
various desserts provided by Don/Diane Schmotzer, Leon/Myra Strock,
Ron/Linda Lindsey, Glenn/Kelsie Temples, Eddie Price, and Pelham Moss.
Then, we had a presentation by Bobby Jonte, SNJ owner/pilot, author,
present banker, and previous crop duster. Bobby offered some provoking
thoughts and humorous tales, showed us a "magic" rope trick, and told us
about the trials of his 8-year quest to own and pilot his WWII vintage
Navy SNJ aircraft (the
Navy version of
the T-6 Texan and British Harvard), which he calls "The Wild Cajun T-6". He also
offered several books for sale which he had previously written. After
his presentation, we all filed outside to take chapter photos in front
of the SNJ and see Bobby off in the 15-20 mph crosswind. Bobby did a
takeoff and flyby with smoke before departing for Woodward Field near
Camden. We then returned for the business meeting in which Eddie made
several announcements. Several members received EAA chapter service
awards for 2014. Leon Strock also presented Randy and Libby Berry with
nice plaques for their previous years of service. We wish to especially
thank Bobby Jonte for his willingness to fly his fuel hungry warbird
(30 gallons/hour 100LL) in a strong headwind (54mph at 4500') to our meeting and give us a presentation. For photos of the
event, click the thumbnail above.
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