November 2026

Issue 261

Next gathering

November 14 10:00 AM – Noon
Port of Skagit conference room
15400 Airport Drive, Burlington

“Fuel Metering and the Ellison Throttle Body Injector”

Ross Mahon will present information on aircraft engine fuel metering, different types of fuel metering devices, and some history on the development of one such device – The Ellison Fluid Systems Throttle Body Injector.

President’s Corner

Hello again and welcome to the most challenging months of the year!  If you’re like me, it’s a struggle managing the time change and shorter days as we move towards the end of the year and the holiday season.  Keep the faith, flying days do happen, this is a modest fee for living in the most beautiful place on earth!

Looking at our last month, the chapter again displayed the best of the best.

A very successful YE event hosted over 25 new fliers, once again stationed at hangar 211.  Thanks to Dave for offering his property and Scott/Rich for organizing and managing the registration and admin.  The usual crew was there to ensure safety and good times.  Well done

Also in October, our chapter teamed with SASA (Skagit Airport Support Association) and Cascade Aviation to host the Fall Safety Seminar.  The speaker was Col (Ret.) Eileen Bjorkman relating her experiences with a talk titled “Risk Management for Experimental-Amateur Built Aircarft”.  The well attended event included an exquisite pasta feed funded by Ken Davies, proceeds support the Mische and Cascade flight scholarship fund.

SkyFlight continues growing and building, activities abound, and learning happens!  All good.

So that’s my take for now.  Please get involved, support our chapter, and spread the word about all our good work.

See ya ‘round

– Bill

In Memory of Lyle Mooney

Address for family.     Lyle Naomi Mooney C/o Son Chris Mooney. 1913 SE Evans Ave. Troutdale OR 97060

Flight training and post-secondary scholarships available

EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (October 1, 2026) — Applications are now open for the 2026-27 cycle of EAA Aviation Foundation scholarships. Students can apply online through the EAA website. The application deadline is December 16, and scholarships are awarded on March 1, 2027. With the help of donors, the EAA Aviation Foundation awarded scholarships totaling more than $680,000 to 106 students in 2026 to help them pursue flight training or post-secondary education.

EAA Aviation Foundation scholarships can help students cover the cost of flight training or post-secondary education.  For flight training, this can cover costs associated with a glider license, Private Pilot’s License (PPL), sport pilot license, flight ratings, and endorsements. Post-secondary scholarships can be applied to tuition costs at colleges, universities, or trade schools, for majors such as aviation management, aerospace engineering, airframe and powerplant (A&P) maintenance, and more.

“One of the largest barriers of entry into the world of aviation for many young people is the cost factor,” said Rebecca Streck, Scholarship and Fund Stewardship Coordinator. “EAA’s scholarship program helps break down that barrier to make their aviation goals more achievable.”

Scholarships are available to students aged 16 and up. Students must reach age 16 by the award date, March 1, 2027. More information about EAA Aviation Foundation scholarships is available at EAA.org/scholarships.

About EAA Aviation Foundation

The EAA Aviation Foundation is EAA’s philanthropic arm. It works with donors who desire to inspire, motivate, and educate current and future aviators, leaders, and industry pioneers. For more than two decades, the EAA Aviation Foundation has allocated funds from The Gathering to support vital education, safety, advocacy, and other outreach programs.

Youth Scholarship Update Chapter

Attention Sky Flight participants and other interested Youth. Numerous scholarship opportunities are available through Chapter 818 here at Skagit Airport, EAA national, and other aviation organizations, each with its own focus, requirements, and application windows. See below for a brief summation.

EAA 818 Mischke Memorial Flight Training Scholarship      Currently valued at $2000 per award. Application window is January 1 – February 28, 2027. More info and application form available at skagiteaa.org website, Scholarship tab.

EAA National: Offering numerous programs. See eaa.org/scholarships.  Applications accepted through December 16 of this year. Don’t delay on this one.

Cascade Warbirds: Owners and enthusiasts of ex-military aircraft, based down at Boeing Field and associated with EAA National, award numerous scholarships each year, valued at $1,350. The next application window opens in early 2027. See cascadewarbirds.org/youth.

AOPA  (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Assn.) Also awards numerous scholarships, most recently $2 million total, to about 400 recipients, on a semi-annual cycle. Application windows close on December 31 and June 30.  See

aopa.org/training-and-safety/students/aopa-flight-training-scholarships.

Others: a web search for “aviation scholarships” will turn up other possibilities, as well.

Doug Seward

Chapter 818 Scholarship Coordinator

Safety Corner November 2026

On October 24th speaker Eileen Bjorkman provided an excellent presentation sponsored by Cascade Aviation and SASA on her experiences as a flight test engineer, with a presentation titled: Pro Tips on First Flights. Listed below are the links she provided for additional information which you may find helpful.
A key takeaway from the presentation was how to mitigate risk after maintenance activities. Don’t always assume that just because the aircraft has come out of maintenance that you can jump in and fly a long cross-country.
After maintenance – Take a moment to review the logbook entries and maintenance invoices, and plan on a very thorough pre-flight inspection in those areas. As questions of the maintenance crew if you don’t understand what was done or have specific questions on how something new may work. Follow this up with a flight around the pattern to ensure that everything is functioning as intended. Depending on the work performed, you may need some additional training or flight testing for specific devices, systems, or potential changes in configuration. Then you can load the passengers and head off on your trip!

The new EAA Flight Test Manual and Test Card Book provide an excellent format and structure for flight testing operations; see link below.

Links from Eileen’s presentation:
FAASTeam Advanced Preflight After Maintenance: https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/2022-
01/Advanced%20Preflight%20After%20Maintenance.pdf

NTSB Safety Alert: https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/safety-alerts/Documents/SA-041.pdf

FAA Advance Preflight Pamphlet:
https://www.faasafety.gov/files/events/GL/GL11/2013/GL1151308/Advanced_Preflight_Pamphlet.PDF

FAA Safety Briefing article: https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/2022-01/MarApr2012.pdf

Aircraft Records:
https://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/aircraft_certification/aircraft_registry/copies_aircraft_records/?print=go

FAA AC 90-89C Amateur built aircraft…. Flight testing handbook:
https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/advisory_circulars/index.cfm/go/document.information/documentID/1041650

EAA Flight Test Manual and Cards: https://shop.eaa.org/products/bk-eaa-flight-test-manualversion-ii-w-test-cards

Sky Flight News

Dan Holden<tail_wheel@hotmail.com>

Olivia and Dawson have joined Carter, Mia, Roberto and the rest of the Hummel huddle to make good progress on the H5. They collectively finished the seat pan and back, helped Ross make a mock-up of the fuel tank, built jigs, built and trial fit the rudder. Next step for that project is to move the fuselage to the floor to have several members sit in it to establish the ergonomics for various pilots relative to the flight and engine controls.

Work has resumed in earnest on the Cessna 150. Jay and his band of merry mechanics have trial fit the wings to ensure their compatibility with the fuselage. (Though the wings came with the project, we weren’t guaranteed that they were ever mated to the plane.) Now that has been accomplished, the wings will go into the storage hangar until needed. Next up for the 150 is assemble the tail to the extent that the control rigging is assured so that when the panel is installed interference issues can be addressed without conflict.

Scott helps Paul setting the wing root bolts, while Rick (not pictured) supports and aligns the wingtip.

Braden and Desmond reached a milestone on the Lycoming O-235 that’s destined for the Zenith 601. They finished refurbishing all the cylinders, installed them, and torqued the crankcase halves together. Next steps are to assemble the accessory case, then the sump.

Desmond shows off his torque wrench chops while Braden, sporting a new ‘do, supports the engine.

Membership

It is time to start collecting Chapter dues for 2027.  Attached is the form to submit with $25 cash or check payable to EAA818.  Please bring to a meeting or mail to:

We are also trying to make online registration available at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd5AGlfKK6RGhwlUOq6wNTA8vaw2-ZkvXvIN_dGGxe-xwtKYg/viewform?usp=dialog please be patient if there are still bugs in that system

Youth Scholarship Update

Attention Sky Flight participants and other interested Youth. Numerous scholarship opportunities are available through Chapter 818 here at Skagit Airport, EAA National, and other aviation organizations, each with its own focus, requirements, and application windows. See below for a brief summation.

EAA 818 Mischke Memorial Flight Training Scholarship      Currently valued at $2000 per award. Application window is January 1 – February 28, 2027. More info and application form available at skagiteaa.org website, Scholarship tab.

EAA National: Offering numerous programs. See eaa.org/scholarships.  Applications accepted through December 16 of this year. Don’t delay on this one.

Cascade Warbirds: Owners and enthusiasts of ex-military aircraft, based down at Boeing Field and associated with EAA National, award numerous scholarships each year, valued at $1,350. Next application window will be early in 2027. See cascadewarbirds.org/youth.

AOPA  (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Assn.) Also awards numerous scholarships, most recently $2 million total, to about 400 recipients, on a semi-annual cycle. Application windows close on December 31 and June 30.  See

aopa.org/training-and-safety/students/aopa-flight-training-scholarships.

Others: a web search for “aviation scholarships” will turn up other possibilities, as well.

Doug Seward   
Chapter 818 Scholarship Coordinator

Spaghetti!!

Firstly, I want to thank everyone for participating in Ken Davies’ Spaghetti Feed. I received several compliments from our “clients,” and the credit should go to all. Big Thanks!

Secondly, I want to comment on things that went smoothly and things we learned:

1. Thanks, Ken, for planning the menu and supplying all the food. Well planned and about the right amounts for the crowd we fed (and always a hard one to estimate).

2. Bill, the tent was a big help, particularly after it started raining (on a day the weather folks said it would not). Tent’s the way to go on future outdoor cooking events, unless we’re absolutely sure of the weather.

3. The three pot burners worked great and got the water boiling quickly. We learned this from our first Spaghetti Feed, and it worked as hoped. Bill, Ken, and Stu loaned pot burners.

All the following comments are minor refinements, should Ken or EAAwant to do another spaghetti feed:

4. It was tricky using the light aluminum-foil sauce heating containers. If another spaghetti feed comes up, I will get some rigid substitutes. This is not a big one, just an improvement. We made it work.

5. As mentioned above, the pot burners brought the water up to boiling very quickly. They were tricky to turn down to a low enough temperature to boil the pasta without burning it at the bottom of the pot. I’m thinking of getting three pieces of steel, or iron, to place between the fire and the pots, once boiling is established. This should dissipate and spread the heat (at least in theory).

6. The garlic bread was well prepared and well wrapped in foil. Once Ken’s grill was started up, I (Stu) set the heat too high. The low setting would be about right (next time).

That’s all I can think of. If anyone has other insights, please let us know.

Cheers!   Stu.

Classifieds

To place an ad, send information and a photo, if you would like to Chapter818Newsletter@outlook.com

Murphy Rebel floats for sale @ $6000.
Cheers!   Stu. ashleysc@broadstripe.net