Experimental Aircraft Association, Chapter 44

We are also planning the second annual Young Eagles Aviation Camp to be held in August of this year. Last year was a great success, and we hope to repeat it, and make it even better. The camp will provide the campers with the opportunity to get real hands-on experience at aircraft building, as well as some classroom instruction on aerodynamics, and aircraft operations. Campers will also go to the Rochester International Airport, and visit the control tower, as well as the ...Rochester Air Center (RAC). At RAC, they will have an opportunity to "fly" the "Redbird" full motion flight simulator. We will be hosting a Young Eagles rally, open to the public, following the conclusion of the Day Camp, where campers will have the opportunity to actually fly in a light aircraft. This rally, open to the public is first come-first served, and gives young people a chance to experience flight in a light aircraft, and even take the controls, as the pilot in command dictates. We will be providing information on how to sign up for this event. Cost will be $225 per camper, and each camper will be able to take home the aircraft sections that they constructed. We plan on working with wood, metal and composites. Stay tuned for more.

Its time to post some more info about the chapter.... We are working on hosting a visit from the Ford Tri-Motor this June, 23-26. I will be posting more info as things develop in our planning. The picture below is of the aircraft that will be visiting us at 7G0, Ledgedale Airpark, in Brockport, NY. It is completely restored. The aircraft was built in 1929. The Tri-Motor was the first all metal airliner used in the US. Henry Ford was so convinced that aviation had a real... commercial future that he formed a separate division of the Ford Motor Company to build these aircraft. It was, and is very reliable with three engines. It carries ten people and every seat is a window seat! The visit will commence on Thursday, June 23 rd when the aircraft will arrive here. It will be here through the weekend and depart on Monday morning. Rides will be offered, and walk throughs of the aircraft on the ground will also be available. As details develop, I will post them here, and they can also be found on our website: www.EAA44.org. The rides will be around the Rochester, NY area, and will last about 20-30min. Our Sport Aviation Center of Western New York will be open and we will have people and displays for folks to look at, about aviation in this area, and some homebuilding as well. Refreshments will be available.

We are launching our first Young Eagles Adventure Day Camp this coming week. This is a five day event for campers age 10-18, which will explore the history of Aviation and Aerospace in Western NY, including Curtiss Aircraft, Bell Aircraft, Cunningham-Hall Aircraft, and Taylor Aircraft. We will also look at the extensive work done in this region developing the first ever real time photographic reconnaissance space surveillance system, the first high resolution photographic r...econnaissance space systems, and the opportunities for careers in aviation and aerospace. We will have about 10 campers for this first time. The day after camp finishes, we are conducting a Young Eagles rally, open to the public, which all the campers can participate in. This will give them a chance to fly a small airplane and see what it is all about. We will have numerous aircraft available for the campers to investigate first hand, including homebuilts and ultralights. Campers will also get hands on experience with aircraft construction skills, and will be able to leave with their own aircraft rib, portion of a wing, etc, that they built themselves. We also will have a tour of the control tower and fire/rescue station at the Rochester airport. We are all looking forward to this, and will publish updates as the week progresses.

Some of our Young Eagles and their families watching the airplanes take off and land, standing in front of the Sport Aviation Center. Hots and Hamburgs were free! Some other shots of members working on building airplanes in the SAC, and in member's shops around the area.

Our Sport Aviation Center at the Ledgedale Airpark is fully functional. Anyone is welcome to attend our monthly meetings, held on the third Tuesday of each month. If you come around 6:00 PM, you can have dinner. We usually have a potluck dinner, with a pre-panned main course supplied by our Chapter. We suggest a donation of $5.00 to help defray the cost. We always have a speaker and/or a presentation on an aviation related topic. The meeting starts at 7:30 PM, and usually ends at 9:00 PM. You can fly or drive. Parking at the facility, and for those who fly, tie downs are right in front of the building. Aviation fuel is available on the airport. Check our website, EAA44.org for more info.