Without realizing it, we see the Gwinnett County Aviation Unit's helicopters overhead many times in the course of the week. Yet many have no idea of the Aviation Unit's existence and charter. On Saturday, March 6th, Gwinnett Count Aviation Manager, Mr. Marcus Head, will present a program entitled "Behind the Scenes of the Gwinnett County Aviation Unit" in the EAA Chapter 690 Hangar, located at Lawrenceville's Briscoe Field.

Mr. Head will discuss the history of the Gwinnett County Police Aviation Unit, the aircraft they use for their mission and how they provide the aerial support for the various operations of the Gwinnett County Law Enforcement Department. The Aviation Unit is responsible for providing direct aerial support to uniform patrol officers responding to criminal activity, and general support to all other divisions within the Gwinnett County Government. One of the county's helicopters will be positioned adjacent to the Chapter 690 Hangar for the presentation. Adequate time will be provided for questions and answers and to examine one of the aircraft close up.

FEBRUARY MEETING CANCELLED DUE TO SNOW - Program will be re-scheduled.

EAA Chapter 690's guest speaker Friday evening, February 12th, is noted historian Narayan Sengupta. Sengupta is a Past President of the Smyrna Rotary Club, the Organizer of the 90th Anniversary American Military Aviation in World War I, and is the author of “American Eagles: The Illustrated History of World War I.“ He is Vice Chairman of the National Aviation Museum.

Narayan’s talk will focus on the United States Air Service in World War I. Throughout history, we’ve all heard of the Lafayette Escadrille, later the 103rd Aero Squadron, and such renowned pilots as Eddie Rickenbacker, Raoul Lufberry (famous for the Lufberry Circle), Quentin Reynolds, Billy Mitchell and Jimmy Doolittle. Of particular interest to Narayan is the fact that his grandmother, who lived in Saints, France during the war, billeted Quentin Reynolds when the Lafayette Escadrille was operating out of Saints Aerodrome, southeast of Paris.

Flying the Alaska Bush is both beautiful and frightening. Few places on earth have the majestic wilderness, towering mountains and ice glaciers of the Alaskan wilderness that present flying challenges and special techniques. On February 6th, Alaska's premier "Tail Dragger" instructor, Mr. Jay Baldwin of Palmer, Alaska, as part of his Tour Across America, will present a program on "Survival Flying" in the EAA 690 Hangar, located at Lawrenceville's Briscoe Field.

Jay will discuss flying challenges and techniques in a presentation that will be of interest to pilots and non-pilots alike. His presentation will touch on the year round beauty of the region, with pictures of the Alaskan Bush. Baldwin will be available for a book signing after the presentation and for the balance of the week he will be available for those wishing additional flight instruction focusing on tailwheel, flight review and advanced handling techniques. To schedule flight time contact Jay directly at, cubman@youflyalaska.com or (907)745-0945.

Click Here for Power Point Presentation.

Our guest speaker this Friday evening, January 8th, needs no introduction to EAA Chapter 690. Alan Armstrong has presented educational and informational programs at both our 1st Saturday breakfast meetings and our regular Chapter meetings over the years. Yet this presentation may raise a larger red flag than the "Red Rising Sun" on the sides of his Nakajima "Kate" torpedo bomber.

Early last year a far reaching piece of legislation began to circulate in Washington and beyond, known as the "Large Aircraft Security Program" or LASP. This program and its subsequent re-write would impose "a host of security burdens on operators of aircraft weighing in excess of 12,500 pounds." Two months later, on December 30, 2008, the TSA said, in a then classified report, that there was little evidence to suggest terrorists were turning their attention to General Aviation. In addition, Security Directives employed by the TSA (to bypass due process rule making requirements imposed by the Administrative Procedure Act), under the auspices of “national security” interests would allow: TSA employees to appear at airports and subject pilots, their cars, their persons, their planes and their hangars to random searches; and Relax Fourth Amendment protections and uphold warrantless (administrative) searches at airports in the interest of security. All this, after the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Homeland Security in a report of May 27, 2009, found the threats TSA purports to combat with its initiatives are largely “hypothetical.” 1

Since it's inception in 1945, The Blue Angels’ mission has been to enhance the Navy and Marine Corps recruiting efforts and to represent the naval service to the United States, its elected leadership and foreign nations. They serve as positive role models and goodwill ambassadors for the U. S. Navy and Marine Corps with there choreographed demonstration flights and the skills possessed by all naval aviators. The "Angels" perform the graceful aerobatic maneuvers of the four-plane Diamond Formation, in concert with the fast-paced, high-performance maneuvers of its two Solo Pilots. The team represents the pinnacle of precision flying while performing maneuvers locked as a unit as in the renowned, six-jet Delta Formation.

EAA Chapter 690 is honored to have Mr. Paul O'Mara, who traveled with the team photographing there performances over a three year tour of duty join us. Through the magic of his camera lens, Paul will take us with him on Saturday, January 2nd, 2010 in the EAA Chapter hangar located at Lawrenceville's Briscoe Field to many of the unique locations he and the Blue Angles have visited.

The transition from "steam gauges" to the world of the "glass panel" takes a substantial commitment. Yet many of us don't fully appreciate what is involved with the training and transition and what it takes to remain current in the world of the Technically Advanced Aircraft (TAA). EAA Chapter 690, located at Gwinnett County Airport, Lawrenceville, GA has invited Mr. Dennis Erskine to discuss what is required, the benefits and what the future will bring on Saturday morning, December 5th at our 1st Saturday Aviation Program & Pancake Breakfast. Dennis will cover the transition issues, transition training, and transition challenges. In addition, he will talk about the chances of "getting hurt by the autopilot."

The following came from EAA Chapter 1025 member Patrick Horvath via Emory Geiger and from 690 member Mike Stewart. The public meetings begin at the end of February with the one scheduled for the Chamblee Civic Center on March 1, 2010 from 3 PM - 8:30 PM. The announcement(s) follow. More information will no doubt be circulated in the coming months, but as my Scout Master always said, "Be Prepared." Mike Stewart has posted the material in the following link on the Chapter 690 web-site.

Chapter Vice President Lee Olson has announced that he has arranged for what should be another informative and entertaining program for our November 13th meeting. John Wayne Graves, Lt. Col.. USAF (Ret) was a pilot on Air Force Two, the Vice President's plane, and also flew the First Family, (call sign Executive One Foxtrot) and the Vice-President's family, (call sign Executive Two Foxtrot).

If information is best learned by visualization, EAA Chapter 690, located at Gwinnett County Airport, Lawrenceville, GA will help make our history come alive Saturday morning, November 7th. During World War II, an unprecedented number of women responded to government encouragement to fill factory jobs left vacant by men serving overseas. "Rosie the Riveter" tells the story of American women who filled the factory jobs left vacant by the men and women during World War II. Affectionately known as “Rosies,” these workers opened the door for women to enter the workforce and helped keep the country functioning during the war.