Bill Liimatainen and Fred Gustafson’s Pietenpol Sky Scout flew for the first time on Saturday, November 7th, piloted by Ted Davis.
Category Archives: Archived News
2009 Ski Fly-In Pictures
Ski-Fly-in pictures courtesy of Nancy Mueller, Cuba City, Wis., from EAA Tri-State Chapter 327, Dubuque Iowa.
Ryan Strommen
Chapter member Ryan Strommen, 19, died unexpectedly on Monday, October 13, 2008. He was the Chapter Young Eagles Coordinator and very active at Fly-ins. Ryan was training to get his Airframe and Powerplant license from Blackhawk Technical College and also his Private Pilot Certificate. His obituary is HERE.
Harold “Buzz” Frank
Chapter member and current Secretary, Harold “Buzz” Frank passed away on Sunday, October 5th. An obituary is HERE.
Buzz was believed to be one of the first pilots in Wisconsin to receive the Sport Pilot certification several years ago and flew his Champ regularly.
Buzz on the day he received his Sport Pilot Certificate.
Buzz piloting the Champ during
the 2005 ski fly-in.
Founding Member Francis “Sandy” Saunders Passes
One of EAA Chapter 431’s founding members, Francis Saunders, passed away on Tuesday, June 3, 2008 after a long illness.
Sandy was one of the few who kept Brodhead Airport running after WWII and before Chapter 431 was organized in 1973. He was a founding chapter member and served in many roles throughout the years, including as unofficial social director and general ambassador during our many public events. Although he never was a pilot, he helped build several airplanes, including a Pietenpol Aircamper that won a Wright Brothers Award.
Click HERE Sandy’s obituary.
Lamb Family Donates Brodhead Airport Sign
The Lamb family members from near and far attended for the dedication of the new Brodhead Airport sign in remembrance of John and Gene Lamb. Many of the Lamb boys soloed at Brodhead and the airport has always been a special place for them. Following the meeting, Mrs. Lamb performed the ceremonial ribbon cutting.
Thank You to Mrs. Lamb, the entire Lamb Family, the sponsors, and Chapter members that made this project possible.
Dennis Hall’s C-65 Pietenpol Aircamper
Dennis Hall’s re-engined C-65 Pietenpol Aircamper was flown on August 14, 2007, first by Ted Davis, then by Dennis. Pictures by Jim Weeden.
Simon Smith’s Murphy Rebel
CONGRATULATIONS, SI SMITH!
Simon Smith just received the airworthiness certificate on his Murphy Rebel, finishing a 5-year project. The Rebel has a 160 hp Lycoming 0-320, gross weight of 1800 lbs. and empty weight of 972 lbs.
Don McMakin’s Butler Blackhawk
Following is an excerpt from the December, 2004 MAAC newsletter of Kent McMakin describing his father Don’s Butler Blackhawk project. Don is on the far left in the picture, watching the first flight of the Blackhawk.
My dad bought this airplane along with a few other guys in 1942 for the purpose of acquiring flight time in an aircraft of over 200 HP so that they might become civilian flight instructors. Over th years, the other guys dropped out of the partnership and by war’s end, it all belonged to my dad. With the war over and the need to focus on other more important things, he subsequently sold the airplane in 1948 for $350 to a guy in Coldwater, Michigan. He used money from the sale to buy all the 2×4 studs for our first house.
I looked for this airplane for over 25 years with no luck until Bill Batesole stumbled on it in a barn in Michigan. He bought what was left of it and when he found out I had been looking for it, he sold it to us. All that was left was a bare frame, engine mount and four old spars.
We did subsequently locate and get some original tail surfaces from the EAA but we’ve made everything else. We found a Wright J5 in Indiana and overhauled it.
The aircraft I’ve just described in the very rare 1929 Butler Blackhawk built by Butler Manufacturing, Kansas City, Missouri. It is serial number 110, the 10th built out of a total of eleven. There are but two left and this is the only one flying, unless we wreck it.
