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 Airport Open House  Tour Bus Trip to the Smithsonian Museums Twin County EAA Chapter 1426 Travels to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum and the Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum at Dulles Airport. Fifty-one people, which included five of the Emily Gile Aviation Scholarship winners and family members, some of the local EAA Chapter 1426 members, other individuals from this community and the Mountain Empire Airport Area, and the BEST bus driver ever, Paul, went to the aviation museums on March 20-21. Attendees met at 4:45 a.m. at the Hillsville VFW to board a bus chartered from Sunshine Tours. Leaving there at 5 a.m., a pickup was made in Wytheville by 5:30 a.m. Then the group enjoyed a breakfast stop at McDonald's in Fairfield, VA. The group arrived at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum around 10:30 and toured that museum and places of their choice in DC. It was a gorgeous day and the trees were in bloom in the city creating a beautiful scene in our nation's capital. There were several demonstration groups, but no problems with them were incurred. The bus driver did a splendid job of getting us there and traveling around the area. Departure was made from the Mall at 5:30 and we traveled to the General Aviation office at Reagan National Airport, only to discover that it was closed. So on we went to the Hyatt in Sterling to check in and see our accommodations for the night. Everyone went their own way for dinner. On Sunday morning attendees partook of the breakfast provided at the hotel. Then we traveled to the Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum at Dulles Airport. What a spectacular place! Aviation enthusiasts were in their glory. Paul, the bus driver, took some of the group that wanted to go back into DC again to the Vienna Metro. The word was that the demonstrations would be in full swing on Sunday and streets would be closed, otherwise he would have taken them back into the city. By 3 a.m. everyone assembled once again and after a group picture, boarded the bus for home. A stop was made at Cracker Barrel in Harrisonburg for dinner. Wytheville area attendees were taken to Wytheville and then the trip ended in Hillsville. Due to the planning of Scott Thomas, EAA Member, the work of other Chapter members, and the expert driving of Paul Nester, the trip was declared a huge success. The Chapter just might sponsor another trip of this type in the future. The next EAA Chapter 1426 event will be a Fly-In/Drive-In Pancake Breakfast at the Twin County Airport on Saturday, April 10. A new "pancake cooker" has been built by some of the dedicated members, under the direction of Scott Thomas, and it will be used for cooking absolutely delicious pancakes. Put this date on your calendar. This is open to the community. See eaa1426.chillsnet.org for details. The first Young Eagles Rally of the season will be on May 1. Free flights for kids, ages 8 - 17. Registration forms must be signed by the parents. See youngeagles.chillsnet.org for details.  Dedicated Chapter 1426 built a Pancake Cooker!  Tate Haga Speaks at February Meeting February 12, 2010 Meeting Minutes Substitute Secretary, Shirley Steele In attendance: Bob Steele, Gary Craig, Ina Jacobs, Scott Thomas, Nancy Beasley, Marcus Ogle, Shirley Steele; Visitors were Daniel Andrews and the Hagas, father and son, Tate Haga, guest speaker. President Bob Steele thanked attendees for the food and Sharyl for the newsletter. Tate Haga gave a very interesting and enthusiastic speech about his experience at the Aviation Challenge in Huntsville. Nancy Beasley gave the finance report—scholarship fund has $2,275 .19; regular checking, $354.52; $100 check written to pay the hangar rent; $35 in petty cash; $500 on hand to deposit from Bob's ground school donation. Bob was going to check with EAA about EAA points to apply towards the air academy. (He has since learned that the chapter will receive $5 for each Young Eagle flown in 2009.) Fly-In update — No report Events will be posted on the EAA, AOPA websites and the state of VA—Bob has the form to send to VA. Pancake cooker report by Scott Thomas: Jake Jacobs found a source of metal cheaper than previous ones--$200 – $300 range. He is checking with the health dept about possible problems with a thinner cooking surface. Scott checked with his brother about thin metal. They will figure out the drive axle in a week or two. The first Breakfast Fly-In will be on the 15th of April—second Sat. in April. Woodlawn Enrichment Program: Gary Craig gave a report on the Young Eagles Woodlawn Enrichment Project with Woodlawn School. This will include after school sessions on Monday and Tuesday for six weeks of learning about aviation and will include a field trip to the airport. Classes are from 3:30 - 5:30 at the school. Class topics will include simulators, Styrofoam airplane building, and introduction to aviation, competitions, etc. with approximately 30 kids. Shirley suggested that they ask the school for a donation to EAA since the instructors are donating a lot of time for this program and the school received a grant and obviously has money to spend. The date for the Open House/Fly-In has been set for September 25. The name has been changed to Air Show. So the Fall Young Eagles Rally date was moved to October 2. Gary suggested rain dates and Scott suggested just moving it to Sunday. Gary suggested starting at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday if the rain date was needed. Discussion of condo raffle: Ina gave a report on the developments--the committee had waited to learn the date of the Open House before printing tickets. There will be a spring drawing and one in the fall. A suggestion has been made to partner with other groups so the committee is in the process of finding other groups that might want to do that. They would receive half of the money for the tickets they sell. School organizations, Women's Club, and Retired Teachers were mentioned. The condos would be available during the month of May through the second week in June and from September - November. Tickets will cost $2.00. Gary suggested we approach the members of the Chamber of Commerce about selling tickets, too, including non-profit organizations that are members. Scholarship Program: Scott gave a report. He has visited all the schools in the area and either talked to principals or the guidance counselors. March 31 is the deadline for receiving applications. This year the winners will be sent to the Air Academy at Oshkosh, WI. There options are ages 16-18 (advanced) held July 20 - 28 and July 30 - Aug. 7. Ages 14 - 15 dates are June 26 - July 1; July 5 - 10; July 12 - 17. EAA Chapters get discounts on the cost. Scott will get news releases to the papers and had flyers to post in the community. Museum Trip to DC: Scott reported that the date is March 20 - 21 with Sunshine Tours on a 51 seat bus. There will be a pickup in Hillsville and would be on the mall in DC by lunch time. The group would go to the Air and Space Museum. The bus would take the group to the Hyatt Hotel in Sterling for the night. Cost of the room is $70 plus tax. The hotel provides breakfast and is located five minutes from Dulles. He said the group would spend six or seven hours at the Udvar-Hazy Museum at Dulles and then travel home Sunday night. He had the flyers ready for distribution for this trip and it will be open to the community. The cost of the bus would be $2100 round trip. If the bus is filled, each seat will be $42.00; $84 per seat if only 1/2 full. The contract has to be signed by March 4. 
Damascus Thomas Speaks at EAA Meeting |
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In Memory of Martha Emily Metz Gile
Martha Emily Metz Gile took her last flight on November 18, 2008. Born to Fred Christian Metz and Martha Julia Fritz Metz on March 4, 1925. She was an aviator and native of Miami, Florida. Emily served with the Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASP) of World War II, class of 44-W-8. Emily Gile’s childhood and adolescence in Miami, Florida and her family's business in cows, chickens and turkeys during the Great Depression when her father was unable to find work in accounting. Determined to become a WASP, Gile was initially turned away because of her age, but earned her private license while working at the Army Air Corp base .On the day she turned eighteen and a half she hopped a military flight bound to Washington DC and was escorted to be interviewed at the Pentagon with Jacqueline Cochran who admitted her into the program. Gile completed her training at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas graduating Oct 18th 1944. She was then stationed at Greenwood, Mississippi and ferried planes to different bases and tested repaired planes before they were returned to service. The WASP were deactivated in December of 1944. Emily Metz Gile then married and served in the Air Force Reserves until she became pregnant with her son. She then attended Concordia River Forest College to become a teacher for elementary children in parochial schools. Then Gile received her Masters in reading education at Appalachian State University. Gile then moved Hillsville, Va. to be a reading specialist for Carroll County Schools. After her retirement from teaching, she volunteered in so many ways. She was involved with many organizations including the American Association for Retired Persons serving as chairman for the retired teachers for years. Emily Gile was also a member of the General Federation of Women's Clubs, Carroll County Retired Teachers, American Legion and the American Cancer Society, serving as relay captain for many years. She also believed that the children of Carroll Co. needed the opportunity to experience flight so she began the Young Eagles’ Program local EAA chapter. Emily Gile leaves her two children one son Emory Bearden of Hillsville, Va. one daughter and son in law Larry and Martha Musser and her three grandchildren Elizabeth, Caroline, and Sarah Musser of Winston-Salem, NC. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 22, 2008, at Vaughan-Guynn-McGrady Chapel at 2:00 PM with Marva Sandburg officiating. Military Rites will be conducted by the Hillsville V.F.W. Post 1115. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday, November 21, 2008 from 6:00 until 8:00 PM. Burial will be in Quantico National Cemetery on Friday, November 28, 2008 at 2:00 PM. Donations may be made to W.A.S.P. Women Endowment Fund T.W.U. P.O. Box 425528 Denton, TX 76204 or the local EAA Chapter Young Eagles Program c/o Shirley Steele 681 Mt. Zion Road Woodlawn, VA 24381. Her spirit will live on as Twin County Chapter 1426 of the Experimental Aircraft Association and the Young Eagles organization try to fulfill Emily's dream of promoting aviation by offering free airplane rides to children and sending needy kids to aviation camp in her memory. The organization extends deep sympathy to the family. |
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