Monthly Meeting Minutes – 10 January 2026

Back From the Holidays

There was a slow flow of people coming into the EAA Hanger after a busy holiday season. The pancake grill was a little late firing up but Keith Brown got it in gear and kept the food line stocked with plenty of plain and blueberry pancakes.  The ladies on the serving line filled the plates but they were obviously missing the always cheery mainstay, Linda Eslick.  39 breakfasts were sold and 52 were in attendance. 

Call to Order 

Dick Keyt opened the meeting with a call for guests that went largely unanswered.  Someone prompted Charles Horton, a member who has gone missing for several years.  Charles explained how he didn’t feel like he was part of the group because he did not have an airplane.  He learned to fly from a former WWII P-51 pilot and soled in a Stearman at age 14.  He was happy to report that the family CFO has authorized him to purchase an airplane.  He is looking to share it with a neighbor who has an available hanger.  Charles also announced that he is running for the PPOA Board and would welcome everyone’s support.  Dick mentioned that it was great that we could get a pilot back on the Board to represent the Airpark interests.

Pierre Kerkof joined the chapter over the holidays.  He is a retired A&P who spent 30 years with the airlines and 10 years with Lockheed Martin on the F-35 flight line.  He is looking to start taking flying lessons this year.

Dick shared an interesting photo with the audience.  Two F/A-18 Hornet pilots who grew up at the Airpark, Chandler Chiappe and Dave Henney.  What a small aviation world.

Dick finished off by handing out the 2025 Volunteer Service Awards.  These are the people that essentially run the chapter as officers, board members, Youth program volunteers, Tech Counselors, and Flight Advisors.  We are immensely thankful for their dedicated efforts.  Dick also mentioned that he has invited Jerry McMillan to join the 983 Board as someone who is interested in serving.

Project Reports

Kearns Leaving Pecan: Not really a project report but Charlie Kearns announced that he and Donna will be leaving Pecan for South Central Colorado (Westcliffe).  He has several things in his hanger he would like to get rid of and welcomed anyone to come by and have a look.  He also invited any chapter member to visit as his new airport has a 7000 foot runway that will accommodate anything!

Jim’s F-100 metal art: As announced at the November meeting the chapter is still looking to see how Jim Crain’s F-100 “Susan Constant” metal cutout could be hung on the hangar with EAA 983 callout.  Dick is looking for a volunteer to honcho that project.

RV-14 First Flight: Scott Davis announced he flew his RV-14 for the first time on October 11th.  He set the first rivet back in 2019 and was happy to finally have it take flight.  Despite a career in the Air Force flying F-16s and currently flying for Southwest, he never had a more satisfying aviation moment than to take the controls of a plane he built!  Scott lives at the Driftwood Ranch airpark up the Brazos River from Granbury.  Congrats Scott!!!

Sam Butler Rans S-21: Sam reported some of his latest difficulty routing throttle and mixture cables from the panel through the firewall to the engine.  The bends were so tight he could hardly get the cables to move using the standard penetration.  He will be looking to add new penetrations for better routing and patch the old ones.

Polen Special: With a little prodding from the audience Dick reported he is back restoring the Polen.  He noted the parts are scattered throughout the house (oh how the hanger can be extended when you are single!).  He is working on the gear doors that he originally planned to do out of metal but Bob Pastusek convinced him to make them composite.  After a lot of time forming the doors he is beginning to regret that switch.

Other Reports

Google Group:  Carl Keil announced the start of Google Group where Pecan pilots and EAA members can communicate a variety subjects (parts for sale, needed parts, tools, flying information, etc).  He will send an email out through the airpark and EAA 983 with instructions on how to signup.

Youth Programs:  John is planning to hold a private Young Eagles event for the JROTC in February or March.   Two students have been selected to attend 2026 Air Academy. Trace Coker and Jonathan Bocenegra.  John affirmed that the chapter will apply for another Ray Aviation scholarship. No name is required at the time of application.  2025 scholarship recipient, Mason Vickers, is getting ready for the written and is nearly complete on flying.

Pecan Formation Team:  John Duhe reported the formation team was asked to fly over a ceremony for the pilots that perished in the UPS MD-11 crash in Louisville.  When asked to be compensated for their costs of flying the team declined, however, the organizers insisted with a check for $600.  The team agreed to donate that check to the EAA 983 chapter.  Fantastic gesture in both regards!

Secretary/Membership Coordinator: 

Greg Walker announced that the new officers are in place and will need support of the chapter as they get up to speed.  Carl Keil is the new Treasurer and Erin Hollis as Secretary.  Greg will be the Membership Coordinator.

Greg thanked all the members who paid there 2026 dues before and during the meeting (105 down – 118 to go).  Dues can be paid through the website after logging in.

Greg reminded everyone that the website aircraft gallery is significantly lacking pictures of member airplanes.  He asked that any pictures and write-ups be sent to him or Kliff Black for hosting on the website.  https://eaa983.org/member-projects/

 

Program: Tim Tarris

Tim is a retired U.S. Air Force colonel and airline captain. He flew F-111s way back when with Bob Pastusek and John Duhe.

In 2019, Tim returned a Douglas C-53D, D-Day Doll, to Normandy for the 75th anniversary of D-Day and the 70^th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift. In 2024, he was part of a round-the-world, seven-continent trip with another pilot.

Tim and his team are currently building a 3/4-scale replica of a Curtiss JN-4 Jenny, which was used as a primary trainer by the U.S. Army and others in the early days of military aviation.  Once completed his plan is to fly to all the lower 48 states as part of a patriotic commemoration and recruiting trip, and arrive at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia no later than July 2, 2026. That date is the 100th anniversary of the U.S. Army Air Corps, and that is also the weekend of the United States’ Semiquincentennial. Jennys were used in training at Langley from 1915 to 1923.

Tim’s route of flight takes him on an unusual track from West to East following the borders between states North and South so he can make stops and have a witness sign his logbook.  At more than 55 stops along the way, Tim will be met by members of the Order of Daedalians, EAA chapters, the Air National Guard, and others, and plan to include a stop at Oshkosh for AirVenture 2026 on his way home to Arizona.  His Texas stop will be in McKinney.  When asked what he will do with the plane after the trip – he will sell it.  It is not a practical airplane to fly.  He will have ADS-B position reporting and there will be live website tracking his progress.

What an adventure!  We will look forward to tracking Tim this summer.

VMC/IMC Club

Our VMC/IMC club met right after the main EAA meeting. Dick Keyt led the discussion of both the VFR and IFR scenarios.

Thanks to all who stayed to store the tables and chairs and help put the airplanes back in the hangar.