July 2026
Issue 258 Volume 2
Next meeting
July 11, 2026
Speaker
Ross Mahon
Presentation title: “The Wickham Model ‘B’, and other designs of James
M. Wickham
The President
Hello Chapter 818!
With the passing 4th of July, we’re all hoping that summer sticks around for a while and the real PNW lifestyle can carry on in full swing. Blue skies!
Last month our chapter hosted a well attended YE event, flying over 30 youth and spreading the joy of flight to some new, and some repeat fliers. The support from our pilot group brought plenty of capacity, and the ground team stepped up and handled our remote staging at hangar 211 with aplomb. Thank you to Scott and all who helped out, and especially to Dave D. for allowing us the opportunity to enjoy the day from his corner hangar. Hangar 400 was open to visitors as they registered for their flights, sharing a glimpse of SkyFlight to all who stopped by.
Right after the YE event, a group of intrepid fliers headed over to Don and Sharon’s place on Decatur island to partake in a tasty and filling pot luck on their premier sun deck. After chowing down, we made a thank you presentation to Larry for his leadership and hard work during his tenure. We wish them both great success in their move eastward! Thank you Larry!
Speaking of SF, the group there, led by Dan and Jay, made great progress on the Zenith 701, setting it up for sale, which by the time you read this will be complete. Jay has led the charge to get the flight control mod approved for the Phase I trial and sign off of the extensive condition inspection. The plane will be moving soon to it’s new owner in eastern Idaho. Thank you Kerry for your generous donation that started this adventure.
The RV-12, finished up just recently by the SF team led by Bruce and the guys, will be entering the market soon. All of the proceeds from these sales are pushed right back into the program in support of future projects.
Also at the SF shop, the group (Rod, Rick, Mark, and others) leading the Humel H5 are making great progress, forming a stack of sheets into what is now looking like a bona fide aircraft. The Zenith 601 has been evaluated and disassembled for modification and repair, including a new elevator control system developed by Dan and his mentees. The team there will begin the engine rebuild process shortly.
Another donation was received recently from a donor in Oak Harbor, gifting the SF program a Mustang II project, engine and utility trailer. The future of that project is still TBD, but the opportunity is there if you’re interested in jumping in. Stop on by and see what’s happening with SkyFlight.
Now that the hand off of the President position is complete, I’m saying “the new sheriff is in town”! My background in various leadership positions has always been guided by the lessons I learned during my military service, and my style will be a change, hopefully for the better, regarding chapter organization.
For example, I intend to introduce a more robust distribution of tasking to everyone holding a position in the chapter. Job descriptions have been created, and new ones have been added to the list that now numbers 16. That may sound like a lot, but spreading the load will hopefully make everyone’s job easier. Job specifics will make the jobs less mysterious, clearly laying out responsibilities, avoiding overlap and repeated effort. Added to the official list are Newsletter Editor, Web Editor, Scholarship Coordinator, SkyFlight Coordinator, Photog, Coffee Mess, Public Affairs and Hangar Manager.
Our chapter is busy and expanding. More growth leads to more work. More hands makes light work and everyone’s job easier. If you hold one of our positions, THANK YOU. If you’re a member without a position, think about how you can help our chapter be better. Monthly meetings are great, but there is so much more to be involved in. Ask around, think about what you do well, and get to know the job you might be interested in. Talk up the chapter whenever you can, the more the merrier. It’ easier than ever to take on a small part and make a big difference!
That’s all for now. Go fly, be safe, have fun!
Bill
Don and Sharon Hall’s BBQ
The following pictures were taken by a neighbor at the event.
–Don Hall
I want to thank Don and Sharon for hosting the BBQ, and Bill Calvert for bringing a cake to wish Debora and me the best for our move to Columbia, MO. It was superb, though it took the two of us over a week to finish the leftovers (half of which we left with Don and Sharon, BTW).
Ever since selling me his S-19, Don has been saying how much he wanted the Rans to come back home to where it was born. I was glad I got to do that and to take a photo of the airplane parked in front of the hangar where Sharon and Don built it.
As for the move, it’s going fairly well–more about that next month. We knew it would be a disappointment to start our summer in the hot, muggy midwest just as the northwest is rewarding you with the ideal weather you expect after another long winter. Our expectations have (sadly) been met, with daily rain and almost daily thunderstorms, but we got the moving vans unloaded without anything getting wet.
–Larry Buerk
Helping Hands
“A few weeks ago I called the group for help moving my Rebel from my
shop to my hangar at BVS. We did the move successfully, capped off by
lunch at 40 north, so now the plane is happlily in my hangar. A week
later, Rick asked for help putting the wings on his RV-8. We finished
that so fast that I asked the team to head over to my hangar to help
mount the wings on my Rebel. That job went without a hitch. Start to
finish including travel from Clear lake to BVS totaled 1 hour and 35
minutes! Team 818 showing off again!”
Bill
Dynon has just announced an IFR navigator.
This is one of the projects that I’ve had to stay silent on, so it’s fun to be able to talk about it openly.
In short, it’s another box behind the panel and another antenna (with a data subscription). Interface is entirely within the HDX unit itself, so no change in your panel.
See you Saturday.
James
Sky Flight Update
Dan Holden
Sky Flight Coordinator
The Zenith 701 has been sold, and funds are in hand. Sky Flight is very much indebted to Kerry for his generous donation of the aircraft. The funds derived will enable the participants to complete the Cessna 150 and add it to the Sky Flight training fleet. In addition, the work done on the 701 provided valuable experience in aircraft maintenance, evaluating flight controls, and documenting changes with the FAA.
Speaking of Kerry, his other donation, the Hummel H5, is providing valuable experience for both mentors and mentees. Kit A is very nearly complete, a tail kit has been ordered, and the plan is to build the wings from scratch, old school, the two of which comprise essentially kit B. A final kit (C) should complete the plane as the engine is in hand. Ross is taking the lead on the plans-built wings utilizing our CNC router for bucks, jigs, and ribs.
The RV-12 is under contract to be sold, contingent on getting its special airworthiness certificate via either a DAR or the Seattle FSDO. By the time this goes to press, we should know which path we are on. A DAR that members of our chapter have used in the past agreed to perform the inspection for simply travel costs once he was made aware of the Sky Flight program. Truly a good cause!
The Zenith 601 project has lately provided the experience of obtaining the correct part for the job. After we received the engine from the builder, we noticed that, unbeknownst to us, it had been converted from its original conical-mount design to a dynamical type by Divco, the company that did the case. There was no paper trail as to who did the conversion or why. After several he-said, she-said phone calls, a correct case is in hand at Premier, the engine builder. A prisoner exchange trip to Troutdale is in our near future. We also decided that the horizontal stabilizer, elevator, and trim tab have enough mistakes in the build that we are ordering the parts to build new ones. More learning opportunities!
The Continental O-300-C engine is advertised in the Barnstormer marketplace and in the Mustang II project, which is undergoing evaluation of next steps for its disposition.
And in the “it’s not all work department” department, we held a celebration to commemorate Rocky and Annette Kyle’s donation of 7471G, the first Cessna 150 that started it all. Rocky received lunch, dessert (provided by the oh so talented Mia at True North Bakery), and a plaque made from the skin of ‘71G. About ten members were on hand to join the fun, food, and festivities.
Speakers Schedule
Bill Calvert
Chapter President
Members have already volunteered to provide speakers (or to speak themselves) at over half of our 2026 monthly gatherings. See the list below—the speaker or topic is in parentheses, if known. You can volunteer for one of the open slots; send me an email or catch me at a Sky Flight session or monthly gathering.
| January: Ross Mahon (will reschedule) | February: James Nichols |
| March: Jay Findlay | April: Larry Buerk (Mike Lombardi) |
| May: Rowe Moyle (Dan Hammer) | June: Dan Holden |
| July: Brandon Holdeman (All About Rotax) | August: |
Safety Corner
Ross Mahon
Safety Coordinator
Complacency – Falling into trouble
A definition of complacency is: “A feeling of uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one’s achievements”. As we roll into Summer, and our flying becomes more frequent – It’s not uncommon to start down the complacency path with aspects of our flying.
‘Kick the tires, light the fires’ is a tongue in cheek phrase for a really quick pre-flight and start up, but how often do you find yourself hopping in the airplane and going without much thought to it? A good example is flying out to lunch, you’re watching your plane in front of the restaurant….. Do you always do a complete walk around before climbing in? Have you ever left the wheel chocks in place or the tail tied down? Did you actually buy that cheap fuel and fill the tanks, or did you forget that you were going to do that after lunch? The great looking paint jobs and unusual nature of our attract both attention and distraction, and since you’re feeling so good about the aircraft after being complemented on it – you can sometimes be a bit complacent in getting it ready to go.
Remember that you can mitigate the complacency risk though mindfulness. Be consistent in walking around the airplane every time before you get in it. Use the checklists for both pre-flight and flight operations, even though you’ve made 7 flights already today. Be careful to double and triple check maintenance items that you have just worked on, even ask someone else to take a quick check to make sure you didn’t miss anything. More thorough, less hurry!
In June of 2024 a Cessna 182 ran out of fuel 5 miles from the Spokane area airport destination. The pilot observed both fuel gauges indicating low fuel. The pilot indicated the airplane suffered from fuel starvation due to increased fuel consumption due to high gross weight, high temperatures, and stronger than expected headwinds. The pilot estimated the tanks to be three quarters full at start of the days flying but did not confirm the fuel quantity. Complacency, or in this case a lack of critical review of the variables and risk, probably led to running out of fuel and not landing at an earlier stop to refuel.
In July of 2025 near Concrete, WA a Cessna 172 was flying low over the river examining a gravel bar the pilot intended to land on. A power line flew overhead and collided with the vertical stabilizer, with the airplane impacting terrain near the riverbank. While the actual series of events and elevations are not clear from reading the report, it might be that complacency about maintaining at least a 500 foot AGL altitude contributed to being in an area where wires were strung.
Here’s a list of some upcoming webinars and in-person presentations. Click on a webinar title to go to the registration page. And for the most up-to-date list and registration links, check out the chapter’s calendar at http://skagiteaa.org/calendar/.
The EAA webinars are listed at https://www.eaa.org/eaa/news-and-publications/eaa-webinars.
July
July
| Coupling Crisis Wednesday, July 1, 2026, 7 p.m. CDT with Mike Busch In 2023, the FAA issued an AD affecting 20 percent of the piston aircraft fleet. It required the replacement of spot-welded multi-segment V-band clamps and couplings that connect turbochargers to tailpipes. The supply of these clamps immediately dried up, leaving owners between a rock (the FAA) and a hard place (the supply chain). In this webinar, Mike Busch discusses how the AD process is supposed to work, why it sometimes doesn’t, and what aircraft owners can do about it. Flight Instructor Update: Recency of Experience Requirements Qualifies for FAA WINGS credit. Wednesday, July 8, 2026, 7 p.m. CDT with Prof. H. Paul Shuch Historically, flight instructor certificates were issued for a period of 24 calendar months, and specific training or activity levels were required for their renewal. Two years ago, a significant rule change occurred. Now, flight instructor certificates (like pilot certificates) never expire. However, to remain active, a CFI must now satisfy a recency of experience requirement. As the last of the two-year CFI certificates are just now expiring, it’s time to review this rule change. In this webinar Prof. H. Paul Shuch explores ways for CFIs to satisfy the current recency of experience requirements. Qualifies for FAA WINGS credit. |
August
| O-Rings Wednesday, August 5, 2026, 7 p.m. CDT with Mike Busch A series of recent accidents, some involving in-flight fires, has called attention to the fact that many of our vintage aircraft have O-rings and gaskets in their fuel systems that are 30 to 50 years old. Newer, more durable, and more reliable fluorosilicone materials have supplanted these old-fashioned nitrile rubber seals. In this webinar, Mike Busch offers a short history of the development of improved elastomeric seals, and discusses the importance of upgrading our O-rings and gaskets in the context of unleaded avgas. Inside the Instrument Rating Checkride: From a DPE’s Perspective Qualifies for FAA WINGS credit Wednesday, August 12, 2026, 7 p.m. CDT with Catherine Cavagnaro Join us for an in-depth session designed to bridge the gap between training and testing. In this webinar, Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) Catherine Cavagnaro will share practical insights to help better prepare for the instrument rating checkride. We’ll cover common areas of misunderstanding, effective training strategies, examiner expectations, and best practices for passing the checkride. Whether you’re a CFI or pilot preparing for the test, this session will sharpen your checkride preparation approach and provide actionable guidance you can put to work immediately. Qualifies for FAA WINGS credit. Precursor to Emergency: Prioritizing for Success Qualifies for FAA WINGS credit Wednesday, August 19, 2026, 7 p.m. CDT with Tom Turner Many inflight emergencies begin with anomalies that give you time to react and minimize the impact. American Bonanza Society ASF Executive Director Tom Turner will review three NTSB reports as examples. We’ll look at possible decision points in each scenario and suggest ways to prioritize your actions for success. Qualifies for FAA WINGS credit. General Aviation Accidents: Trends, Causes, and Safety Insights (2015–2025) Qualifies for FAA WINGS credit Wednesday, August 26, 2026, 7 p.m. CDT with Ken Solosky This webinar provides a comprehensive analysis of general aviation accident trends over the last decade. Ken Solosky will review key data on accident rates, common causes, and emerging patterns from 2015 to 2025. We will discuss the contributing factors behind these accidents, from pilot errors to mechanical failures, and highlight safety improvements made in recent years. The session will also focus on practical steps pilots can take to prevent accidents, improve operational safety, and enhance awareness of critical risk factors in general aviation. Qualifies for FAA WINGS credit. |
In addition to SocialFlight Live’s webinar series on Tuesday nights (topics are announced 2-3 weeks before each session), there are a number of other webinars listed on their site. Go to https://socialflight.com to view their offerings and to register. Brian Schiff joins once a month for Cockpit2Cowl, which covers both flying and maintenance topics. The site also has a link to their YouTube channel, where you can catch up on past SocialFlight Live webinars. The Social Flight website also provides info about aviation-related events by geographic area.
Meeting Minutes
EAA Chapter 818 Board Meeting
June 13, 2026 Meeting Minutes
The BOD Meeting was called to order at 9:02 AM in Jay Findlay’s hangar at the Skagit Airport by now President Bill Calvert. The meeting was shorter than usual due to the Young Eagles event starting at 9:30 AM.
Chapter Officers present:
- Bill Calvert, President
- Vice President, position currently vacant
- Kerry Taylor, Secretary
- James Nichols, Treasurer
- Ross Mahon, Safety
- Rick Rathbun, Membership
- Jay Findlay, Hangar Manager
- Scott Bushnell, Young Eagles Coordinator
- Ed White, Website Technical Administrator
- Bruce Fox, Tool Crib Manager
Members: Although other members were present, an exact count could not be determined.
Meeting Minutes: The board and general meeting minutes for May 2026 were accepted and approved.
Treasurer Report: $325 in income, $300 in donations to Mischke scholarship fund, $25 in sales, leaving $5,520 unallocated and in the bank. No FAA form 8283 noted for the Mustang II donation; donors must use this form for non-cash gifts and we should sign the form acknowledging receipt. Letters from our chapter were used for the donations of the Zenith 701 and Hummel H-5 in lieu of the 1098, but this is an exception rather than the rule. If an organization sells the donation within 3 years an IRS form 8282 is used to report this sale to the IRS and the original donor. Jay mentioned the recently posted EAA webinar on this subject, and Bill suggested James and Bob work together on the process.
Speaker’s List: All speakers confirmed through the end of the year.Bill reminded everyone that if your name appears on the list, you are the speaker or you plan to or already have recruited one.
Young Eagle Flying: YE event today will start at 10:00. Doug stated that a small change in plan in that everyone will show at hangar 400, parents, check-in and so forth, all to further detailed in the pilot’s briefing. The Chapter hangar will still be open for those wishing to have a look.
Scholarships: Doug will inform Sophia that she was not selected for the Mischke scholarship. EAA Ray scholarship selection still to be to be determined; Jeanne volunteered to lead selection committee but is not present at this meeting today. James will write a check to Carter for the $2,000 scholarship, since it’s likely he has already used the money on his flying lessons.
Membership: All is quiet. Bill mentioned it may be a good opportunity at the YE event today to recruit members.
Sky Flight: Regarding the Mustang II donation, the goal is to sell all but the engine which will be paired with the Cessna 172. Several interested parties in the Zenith 701. Zenith 601 is in the hangar and Bill asked for volunteers to move the 701 and RV-12 next to Hangar 400 for the duration of the YE event. Bill advised that in light of the aircraft lining up for sale from Sky Flight there should be a process and documentation stream to make it all happen in due course such as sales, registration, legal transfers, etc. Discussion ensued on how to organize and define the process; a committee structure, individual project managers, or an individual expert coordinating with the project leads were all mentioned as solutions. Dan agreed to coordinate with the project leads on the FAA registration requirements, and for now will work with Bill on the sale of the 701. It was decided that the Secretary will be the central administrative point of contact and the project leads will be the sales point of contact. Jay advised the need for a sales and marketing individual and raised the question of how to we actually sell without demonstrating it. The discussion ended with some progress knowing that additional details will likely be needed as we move through the process.
Hangar: Discussion on and affirmation of keeping the docents.
Pot Pourri:
- Motion made and approved to useEAA funds we received for events like today for the purchase of tablecloths, two banners and like items to use and advertise Young Eagles.
- We will be moving the CAD table to Ross’s garage; he will learn how to operate it and we may well use to make wings for the Hummel, and this will make more useable space in Hangar 400.
- Confirmed that money received for the Pietenpol engines was deposited in the general fund.
- Bruce to work with Stu on the sales ad for the RV-12. He also mentioned that some work still needs to be done with regard to the radio.
- Google Nonprofit Account status – nothing further since Larry was not present.
- Flying Club/LLC – nothing new.
- Vice President position is still open.
The meeting ended at 9:26 AM
Submitted by Kerry Taylor, Secretary
Chapter Leadership
| Bill Calvert | President | billcontheroad@gmail.com |
| Vice President | ||
| Kerry Taylor | Secretary | ktaylor.vet@gmail.com |
| James Nichols | Treasurer | janich78@gmail.com |
| Dan Holden | Sky Flight Coordinator | tail_wheel@hotmail.com |
| Scott Bushnell, Richard Lewellen | Young Eagles Coordinators | sbushnell2@gmail.com r.lewellen@comcast.net |
| Ross Mahon | Safety | rossair178@gmail.com |
| Rick Rathbun | Membership | rwrathbun@live.com |
| Jay Findlay | Hangar Manager | jayfindlay@aol.com |
| Stu Ashley | Food Czars Leader | ashleysc@broadstripe.net |
| Ed White | News Paper Editor | edwhite@montana.com |
