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About 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 members' homes, at the Hilton Airport, in the town of Greece
library, and Edison Tech High School, before acquiring property
adjacent to Ledgedale Airport in Brockport. The members acquired the
building of the FBO at the Rochester airport and disassembled the
building, moving and erecting it at Ledgedale airport. This was in
the spring of 1990. Current membership stands around 60 members.
Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of the month at the chapter
house, 2123 Colby Street (south side of Ledgedale Airport),
Brockport, N.Y.
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 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
Curtiss-Wright 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.
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