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First pictures of Elgin Wells Jr. NEW STARJAMMER

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 22:10:01 -0400

Check out the photo's of the STARJAMMER in the MEDIA GALLERY in the "What our members are building, restoring and flying" Album. A must see!

Propeller Neglect: the Importance of Overhaul and Repair with Dan Landis, Sensenich

Sun, 11 Jul 2010 21:59:34 -0400

On Saturday, August 7th Mr. Dan Landis, General Manager of Sensenich Propeller Service, Inc., in Gainesville, GA. (KGVL) will be our guest speaker. Dan has over 20 years in the aviation field, beginning with his service aboard an aircraft carrier while in the Navy. Following his tour of duty Dan attended and graduated from The Upper Bucks Aviation Technical School in Quakertown, PA, as an A & P mechanic. Upon graduation he worked for both Sensenich Propeller Service, and US Airways as an A & P prior to being named the General Manager of the Sensenich shop in Gainesville in 1995. Dan's topic is Propeller Neglect and the Importance of Overhaul and Repair.

An "all you care to eat" Pancake Breakfast and/or refreshments begins at 8:00 AM, with the program starting at 10:30 AM in the EAA Sport Aviation Center, 690 Airport Road, at Gwinnett County's Briscoe Field. The public, young and old alike, is invited and there is ample aircraft and auto parking. We all have something to learn about the proper care of the propellors on our aircraft. For additional information contact Joel Levine: (404) 314-7573 or jlevine@bellsouth.net.

"The Bell Bomber Plant" w/ Joe Kirby

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 12:02:58 -0400

EAA Chapter 690's guest speaker Friday evening, July 9th has been the Editorial Page Editor of the Marietta Daily Journal since 1992. He is the author of �The Bell Bomber Plant� which chronicles the growth of Marietta from a sleepy cotton town on the outskirts of Atlanta and how it was transformed on the eve of World War II into the home of the largest industrial complex ever built in the south.

Joe will bring his very interesting slide presentation of the construction of the Bell Bomber Plant in Marietta. From ground breaking to the roll-out of the first B-29, construction of the building and the aircraft took only 2 years. Now operated by Lockheed Martin, the plant has grown considerably since 1945. It currently produces the C-130J, the F-22 and is doing modifications to many of the C-5s. Since 1945, the plant has also produced the Lockheed Jetstar, many variations of the C-130, the C-141 and the C-5A and B.

Kirby is also co-author of �Then & Now: Marietta� and �Then & Now: Marietta Revisited.� He has won the prestigious Freedom of Information Award and Public Service Award from the Associated Press (Georgia) and the Georgia Press Association numerous times, as well as winning awards for Best Columnist, Best Editorial, Best Editorial Pages and Best Feature. He is the Southeastern Region 2008 winner of the First �Green Eyeshade� Award for Editorial Writing from the Society of Professional Journalists.

Kirby worked In the late 1980s and early 1990s as a city hall/general assignment reporter for the MDJ. Prior to that, Kirby was a reporter/anchorman for radio stations in northeast Georgia.

Kirby serves on the boards of the Marietta Museum of History, the Cobb Library Foundation, the Kennesaw Mountain Historical Association, and the Marietta Kiwanis Club. He has a B.A. from James Madison University in History and Communication Arts. He and his wife and two children live in west Cobb.

The monthly meeting and program will be held in the EAA Sport Aviation hangar located on the north side of the Gwinnett County Airport, 690 Airport Road in Lawrenceville, Georgia and is open to all. Come join us, young and old alike, for an educational, informative program beginning at 8:00 P.M., with people gathering for some "hangar flying" around 7:30 P.M. Ample aircraft and auto parking is available. For additional information contact Herb Rusk or 770-678-1051.

�1st Saturday� Breakfast & Annual Airplane Wash

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 19:04:59 -0400

1st Saturday� Breakfast & Annual Airplane Wash - Rain or Shine, Fly or Drive - Saturday, July 3th, 2010 - Breakfast Served 8:00 - 10:30 AM

Several wash slots are already spoken for, however, there is always room for one more! Aircraft operators are invited to have their planes washed for very reasonable donations - starting at $40 for a single engine plane or $50 for a twin (up to 4 place) airplane. Quotes are available for larger aircraft. Although not required, reservations are greatly appreciated. EAA ramp, Briscoe Field (LZU), Lawrenceville, GA. Contact Joel Levine at 404-314-7573 or jlevine@bellsouth.net.

The proceeds help promote EAA programs for young people through programs such as Aviation Scholarships and Young Eagles. Chapter 690 sponsors annual tuition scholarships for youths from the Atlanta area who wish to attend one of the EAA Air Academy's summer programs in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

The annual Airplane Wash is a great opportunity to bring the kids or grand kids and let them "help out." Kids love to get wet and without a doubt they will have the opportunity. A change of clothes is a good idea. As always, bring a friend, bring the family, but by all means, come on out to the airport!

CHAPTER 690 MEMBERS PLEASE NOTE- We still need several Chapter members to help wash aircraft and/or supervise. Please, if you can donate one hour, after having breakfast, it will be greatly appreciated.

1940 Douglas DC-3 Visits Lawrenceville

Sat, 12 Jun 2010 21:32:51 -0400

EAA Chapter 690 at Gwinnett County Airport, Lawrenceville, Georgia will host Captain (Ret.) Ron Alexander with his fully restored 1940 Douglas DC-3 on Saturday, June 26 from 9 AM to 6 PM. The Lawrenceville event will help commerate the 75th Anniversary of the aircraft which has been a true workhorse aircraft since it was unveiled in 1935 in both its civilian and military configurations. While the aircraft helped make air travel popular and profitable in the 1930s and 1940s, the fact that it is still used around the world today is a testament to the aircraft�s design. A classic aircraft from the early days of commercial air travel, the Douglas DC-3 re-creates the romance of pre-jet air travel. The aircraft played a vital role in airline history and was the first airliner to make a profit carrying passengers. The technology used on the DC-3 remains in use on many modern day airplanes. The visit provides an opportunity for aviation enthusiasts, grandparents, parents and kids alike to see and ride in this unique aircraft.

In 1991, Capt. Alexander's 1940 DC-3, N139PB, was parked at Tamiami Airport in South Florida, for sale. Alexander, owner of Alexander Aeroplane Company, purchased the plane. The airplane was ferried to its new home at the Griffin, Georgia airport where it was completely gutted and refurbished by Ron and the Alexander Aeroplane employees. The process took almost a year to complete and the plane was then used as a promotional tool for his company, flying to airshows throughout the country and being placed on display. Hundreds of people enjoyed touring the airplane and riding aboard it. A program was developed allowing pilots to rent the airplane for a day to receive ground and flight instruction. This provided the individuals with a taste of what it was like to fly this beautiful airliner. today, fewer than 100 of the aircraft remain airworthy in the United States. Thousands went into civilian service after the war in countless applications, from freight to fire suppression.

Alexander first soloed at age 16 and received his Commercial Pilot's license at age 18. He served as a pilot in the USAF for 5 years, including a 1 year tour in Viet Nam, receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross and 2 Air Medals. Upon his return from service he flew for Delta Air Lines for 33 years, retiring in 2002. Not one to actually "retire," he founded Alexander Aeroplane Company, a provider of aviation supplies, and Poly-Fiber Fabric Coatings. In 1996 he founded the SportAir Workshop Program now operated by the EAA. Alexander still owns and operates Atlanta Aerospace Composites which does composite repairs for regional jets and corporate aircraft and the Peach State Aerodrome.

Alexander is busy developing the Candler Field Museum located in Williamson, Georgia. The Candler Field Museum will replicate the original Atlanta Airport as it existed in the early 1930s, when Hartsfield Jackson was called Candler Field. His DC-3, with more than 82,000 hours on the airframe, will be an integral part of the museum, and will allow visitors to enjoy the increasingly rare sight of an airworthy DC-3. It is truly remarkable that an aircraft manufactured 70 years ago is still actively flying in its original configuration. Flight reservations may be made through the Chapter web-site, www.eaa690.org or calling (678) 770-1877.

The DC-3 Visit will Feature Our Annual Saturday Evening Spaghetti Dinner & Entertainment by The Elgin Wells Group

Very limited Seating is available & reservations are required for the Annual Spaghetti Dinner & Show to Benefit the Elgin Wells, Sr. Memorial Scholarship Fund. Authentic pasta sauce, good fellowship, and fantastic entertainment by The Elgin Wells Group will all be featured at the dinner on Saturday, June 26th. Advance purchase tickets are $20 per person. Tickets paid at the door, if available, will be $25 per person.

We are limited to 100 paying guests. This is always a sell-outs. Tickets are sold on a first come/first served basis. Every effort will be made to seat groups together. All tickets will be picked up at the hangar the evening of the event.

The Chapter 690 Hangar Doors will open at 6:30 P.M. Dinner will be served at 7:00 P.M. Entertainment starts at 8:00 P.M.

For tickets, contact Lnor Levine at: 678-770-1877 or LNOR_L@BELLSOUTH.NET Reservations will be confirmed via e-mail.

"Living With Your Airplane" with Mike Ciochetti

Mon, 24 May 2010 19:35:05 -0400
Living with your airplane (and staying happily married) is a dream of many General Aviation pilots. So popular have the fly-in communities become that every state in the union has multiple fly-in communities with a common runway and taxiways leading from the owners home to the active runway. An organization exists to provide perspective buyers and sellers with the needed information prior to such an investment. Many of the locations are quick to point out that they are not an airport since they have much more to offer than merely a place to take off, land and buy fuel. Many are gated communities with amenities such as golf courses, lakes, hiking and horse trails and a way of life with aviation and like minded residents and aviation as a central theme. In the greater Atlanta area there are no fewer that six fly-in communities. On June 5th, Mr. Mike Ciochetti will present a program on "Living With Your Airplane" in the EAA 690 Hangar, located at Lawrenceville's Briscoe Field.
Ciochetti, the developer of Heaven's Landing, a 635 acre fly-in community located 3 miles northwest of Clayton, GA and 3 miles northeast of Lake Burton in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. Heaven�s Landing has a 5,069 foot paved and lighted concrete runway capable of landing the largest General Aviation aircraft. Taxi-way lots, where owners can have homes and hangars together, or mountain top view lots where owners can have a home with a view and a hangar located on the air field. Heaven's Landing is home to 300 building lots averaging one and a half acres in size. His presentation will focus on the pros and cons associated with living in a fly-in community. Topics such as runway ownership, taxi-way access, type of construction, square footage requirements and building costs will be discussed. Although the presentation will focus on Heaven�s Landing and the beauty of the North Georgia area, promotion of the fly in concept overall is at the heart of the program.
To visit Heavens Landing by air or automobile, you must be a resident or have an appointment to tour the facility. Residents enjoy amenities associated with a country club life style. A community clubhouse with a dining room and lounge, a fitness center with racquetball, locker rooms with steam and sauna, and some of the most beautiful all season scenery on earth are just the beginning of what Heaven�s Landing has to offer. Visit www.heavenslanding.com for more information, or call (800) 432-8362 (800-HEAVEN-2) to schedule a tour.
Mike comes to aviation in an unusual way. In the late 70's, prior to attending college in Colorado he had been actively seeking a career driving on the NASCAR circuit. After college he took up his quest in earnest driving for NASCAR star Cale Yarborough, competing in the 1999 season with the likes of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Matt Kenseth for Rookie of the Year. An October '99 accident during the next to the last race of the year in Talladega, AL while in the lead ended his racing career. Fortunately aviation had entered his life as a means to commuting from his home in Clayton to the center of racing in Charlotte. The land for Heaven's Landing was purchased in 2001 and with some inspiration from an uncle in the Chicago vicinity who was the developer of a like community, Mike was on the way.
An "all you care to eat" Pancake Breakfast and/or refreshments begins at 8:00 AM, with the program starting at 10:30 AM in the EAA Sport Aviation Center, 690 Airport Road, Gwinnett County's Briscoe Field on Saturday, June 5th. The public, young and old alike, is invited and there is ample aircraft and auto parking. Come see some of the beauty of the area around Clayton and Heaven's Landing and learn more about "Living With Your Airplane." For additional information contact Joel Levine: (404) 314-7573 or jlevine@bellsouth.net.

Parade of Planes at LZU June 11-12 & Chapter Meeting

Mon, 17 May 2010 16:16:11 -0400
The program for the meeting this Friday, June 11, will be a little different from the presentations we usually have. Flying Magazine�s Parade of Planes will be taking place across the field on Friday and Saturday. We will be inviting the vendors to attend our meeting. After the formal meeting, we�ll have an �ice cream social� and an open mike, inviting all pilots to share their �I Learned About Flying From That� experiences. So come prepared with your favorite story about something you did or did not do that made you a better pilot.
Flying Magazine will be bringing the Parade of Planes back to LZU on June 11 - 12. Details of the event may be found at www.paradeofplanes.com along with a list of exhibitors. This year in addition to the aircraft several vendors with pilot supplies will be on site. You can pre-register on the website or the day of the event. It's FREE and a way to examine aircraft from a new cub look-a-like to the big Beechcraft and Cessna offerings up close and personal. Ask anyone who attended last year how they enjoyed the event. The Chapter will be providing registration support once again. Plan on spending some time volunteering.

Question: What is happening at the hangar on Saturday, May 8th at 5PM?

Tue, 04 May 2010 23:11:11 -0400
The answer is: EAA 690 Team Trivia Night day May 8th
Saturday May 8th 5:00 PM at the Chapter Hangar
EAA 690�s Dinner and Trivia Night. Proceeds support the Duane Huff/Larry Bishop EAA 690 "Soaring Young Eagles" scholarship. The event will include dinner and dessert. The trivia questions will range from aviation to general trivia. We will have fun, dinner, and some prizes too.
Adults $20, Children $10.
Plus: IF you have any sellable things around the house or hangar to donate that I could sell on e-Bay to benefit the scholarship, please bring it to trivia night. Donations will be good for extra raffle tickets!
Please RSVP by May 5th to lauraAbruce@bellsouth.net so we can save your spot! You pay on the night of the event.

Improving General Aviation safety, with an emphasis on helping pilots learn from their mistakes and the mistakes of others.

Mon, 03 May 2010 21:17:54 -0400
At our regular Chapter 690 meeting, May 14th, our speaker will be John A. Carroll, Jr. John is a life-long resident of Atlanta and has been involved with general aviation since he was 18 years old. He currently holds ATP, with Instructor rating, A&P and Inspection Authorization Certificates. His primary aircraft interest is with Antique and Classic airplanes; he owns a Cessna 195 and a Globe Swift.
John began his commercial flying career in 1972 with Air South, flying Beech 99s throughout Georgia. Switching to Southern Airways, he was an instructor and worked on the Accident Investigation Team for the crash of the DC-9 in New Hope, GA that ingested too much water in the engines while flying through a thunderstorm. Southern then became North Central which became Republic which became North West Airlines. After retiring from North West, he took a job with Flight Safety in Atlanta, instructing in the Lear 31 simulator. John then transferred to the FAA, assigned as an Operations Inspector at the Flight Standards District Office. >p> On February 1, 2010, John became the Manager of the FAASTeam Program in Hapeville, Georgia. John will talk about the their efforts to improve General Aviation safety, with an emphasis on helping pilots learn from their mistakes and the mistakes of others, rather than just taking disciplinary action. John is looking forward to meeting with our Chapter and hopes that there will be a lot of questions about the FAASteam Program.

�Getting A FLYING START -- Learning to Fly�

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 20:00:02 -0400
Bringl your friends and co-workers! EAA Chapter 690, located at Gwinnett County Airport, Lawrenceville, Georgia will host a free seminar titled �Getting A FLYING START -- Learning to Fly� on April 3, 2010 in the EAA Sport Aviation Center, Gwinnett County�s Briscoe Field. The �Flying Start� program has helped many begin or complete their flight training safely and efficiently since its introduction in 1997. The program is sponsored by the Experimental Aircraft Association, its more than 165,000 members throughout the world, and the National Association of Flight Instructors.
The seminar is open to anyone who has ever thought of learning to fly, but does not know how or where to begin. The brief, easy-to-understand presentations include topics such as: What�s Involved; Ground School; Safety Concerns; Where Can I Fly; How to Choose a Flight School and other key pieces of information. This year the Flying Start program will cover flight training right through the Instrument Rating for those who have attained the Private Rating and are thinking about extending their training. On hand will be several training aircraft for viewing. Chapter members are eager to show interested participants the possibilities within the exciting world of flight. Invite your friend, neighbors, co-workers, significant others, etc. and examine the world of flight.
An all you care to eat Pancake breakfast and/or refreshments are available from 8:00-10:30 AM. Parking and admission to the seminar is free. Registration for the program begins at 10:00 AM. The presentations begin promptly at 10:30 AM, with a question and answer period to follow. The program is designed to be an informative session for anyone with an interest in learning to fly for fun or professionally. Advanced registration is highly recommended by contacting Mike Davidson at 404-924-1144 or eaa690info@gmail.