About Experimental Aircraft Chapter (EAA) Chapter 44

EAA Chapter 44 is an organization of aviation enthusiasts.  The organization enables people to realize their dreams of flight. Chapter 44's members include builders, aircraft restorers, non-pilot aviation enthusiasts, pilots & student pilots, ultra-light enthusiasts, aircraft owners, renters and more. We are dedicated to educating our members and the general public about aviation, aviation safety, aircraft building and maintenance skills, introducing youths to aviation, exploring Rochester's aviation heritage and much more.

EAA Chapter 44 is comprised mainly of members from Rochester, NY and the surrounding communities. Their Sport Aviation Center (SAC) is located at the Ledgedale Airport (7G0) which is just south of the town of Brockport.

History of EAA Chapter 44

EAA Chapter 44 got its start in 1957 when Everett (Squeek) Hepler, a local airplane builder and expert welder got together with Bob Deyell, who was the local CAA inspector for the area. Hepler and Deyell decided there was a need for local builders to share their experience and knowledge. They contacted Paul Proberezny (head of EAA), who flew to Rochester in a B-25 on a snowy day in December in 1957. At this meeting the beginnings of Chapter 44 was started and the first meeting was held on February 25, 1958. The meeting was held at Hylan Airport, the current location of Marketplace Mall. The membership roster in 1958 lists 27 members. The chapter was called "The Clover Leaf" chapter.

The chapter met in the homes of various members, at Harold Silloway's Hilton Airport, the Lowden Point Greece library, and Edison Tech High School. During the late 1980's, EAA Chapter 44 acquired a roughly 100' wide by 199' deep plot of land at 2312 Colby Street with the goal of building a permanent meeting place.

In the spring of 1990, a building that had been erected during WWII as a "temporary" structure on the south side of Greater Rochester International Airport was offered to EAA Chapter 44 for the price of $1.00.  Over the years this building had served as home to many of the FBO organizations at the airport.  The all metal, prefab building measured approximately 18' x 72'. EAA Chapter 44 disassembled the building and eventually erected it on their newly acquired plot of land.  A few years later they acquired an additional 100' by 199' lot adjacent to the west boundary of their first parcel which allowed for a larger parking lot and room for Scout AeroCamps.

This building served as our chapter home until Ledgedale Airport received funding and approval to expand the airport in 2000. While we could have retained use of the building, half of it would have been within the airport's new boundary.  It had long been felt that our location was not ideal because while it was adjacent to the runway (only 100' away), we had no way of bringing aircraft onto the land owned by EAA 44. Also the building's prefab metal panels made it difficult to enlarge it.

In January 2008, Chapter 44 secured a long term lease on the Ledgedale Airport (7G0), inside the airport's boundary.  The plot of land we leased has access to the airport's northwest tie-down ramp. During the summer of 2009, the shell (measuring roughly 50' x 65') of EAA Chapter 44's new Sport Aviation Center (SAC) was erected, concrete floor poured and very well insulated.

The SAC is located at the western end of Eisenhauer Drive which runs along the north side of the airport.

We hope to be able to start holding our monthly meetings in it during the fall of 2010.  Until then, we are meeting in various locations around the area.

Current membership stands around 60 members. Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of the month.

Education

EAA Chapter 44 was established to encourage, aid, and engage in study for the improvement and better understanding of aviation and the science of aeronautics, to promote and engage in the cause of aviation safety and education, to encourage and promote the development of private aviation and the development of amateur-built aircraft through home engineering, and finally, to foster close fellowship through the exchange of ideas, skills, and mutual interests. And to have fun doing it.

To these ends, we have established several educational programs for young people and adults. Some of these are local projects while others are affiliated with national EAA-sponsored programs.

First and foremost are our aircraft building projects. The Chapter built a non-flying replica Taylor Chummy which will is permanently displayed in the Rochester International Airport terminal. The Chummy, predecessor of the Piper J-3 Cub, was originally built in Rochester by the Taylor Bros., before they merged with Piper Aircraft. The Chapter has been helped in this project by the Geriatric Pilots' Association, the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum of Hammondsport NY, and the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome in Rhinebeck NY.

Many members are building, or have built, flying aircraft of tube and fabric, metal, or composite construction. Some have built and fly ultralights, while others are restoring classic aircraft. Chapter builders periodically invite members and guests who would be interested in viewing an aircraft under construction to a builder's home or other place of construction. Attendees usually enjoy some "hands-on" experience while visiting these projects. You can see some of their projects here.

We annually host the Original Oshkosh Airlift to the EAA AirVenture Convention so members and guests can learn first hand of current developments in amateur-built aircraft construction, engineering, and aviation safety, and meet like-minded builders from around the world to exchange ideas and techniques.

We have a member who serves as an EAA Flight Advisor and Technical Counselor. Flight Advisors can help you evaluate your own flying skills. They won't give you "yes" or "no" on your flight abilities, but help you develop guidelines for making your decision. A Technical Counselor is an experienced volunteer advisor who shares his/her knowledge and expertise to aircraft builders. They advise builders on constructing a safe, air worthy aircraft for final FAA inspection. These volunteers visit projects and advise builders on how to comply with building instructions and federal regulations. Technical Counselors offer tips based on their experience and help builders avoid costly mistakes. Through Technical Counselors, EAA helps maintain the excellent reputation of the amateur-built program.

During our monthly meetings, our chapter often invites a guest speaker from the FAA, the aviation industry, local universities, the military, or other aviation-related organizations. In the past we have had a Boeing 777 pilot, the principals from The Wright Experience, the pilots from Worldflight 2000, and safety counselors from the FAA FSDO. In addition to non-member guest speakers, members will often bring project parts in for viewing, explanation, and demonstration of building techniques such as welding, sheet metal work, wood working and proper wood selection, fabric covering, engine modification and building, and fiberglass construction.

Our chapter library includes a large collection of videos on aircraft construction and safe flying techniques. We have books on aviation donated by members and back issues of several EAA monthly magazines. There is a large collection of information kits, drawings, and plans of various amateur-built aircraft. These items are available to members only.

We offer Young Eagle flights to young people ages 8-17 several times each summer. These flights are part of EAA's 10-year effort to introduce 1,000,000 young people to aviation by the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers first flight. Member pilots who donate their time and aircraft at no cost to give free airplane rides to stimulate more interest in aviation. This activity includes orientation classes for aviation chart reading, flight planning, preflight and control of aircraft. Learn more about Young Eagle flights here.

Aerocamps are a weekend introduction to aviation where Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts earn their merit badge or interest project patch after completing various activities held at our Chapter House. These activities include a ground school, pre-flight inspection of a real aircraft, aviation map reading, history of aviation, and discussions with a guest speaker. These are coordinated with Young Eagle flights so every Scout gets an airplane ride at the end of the weekend. See our calendar for the next dates of the above two activities.