By Bill MacKay, EAA 1190268, Chapter 115 Treasurer, Plattsville, Ontario
EAA Chapter 115 meets at Edward’s Air Base (Plattsville Aerodome, CLB2) every Saturday for breakfast with a formal meeting every third Saturday. The airport has an 1.800-foot grass strip and is located in Ontario approximately 40 miles southwest of the Toronto Pearson Airport and near the city of Kitchener. The airport is owned by Chapter President Ed Lubitz, a retired Air Canada pilot, and his wife Kathy. Both Ed and Kathy are ultralight instructors. Most of the aircraft based at the airport are ultralights and homebuilts.
Chapter 115 Saturday morning breakfasts provide an excellent opportunity for members to get together each week to socialize and share their aviation interests. Now that the warm weather has arrived, we moved from our clubhouse at Edward’s Air Base (CLB2) to our outdoor Café Les Aires next to the runway. That adds to the entertainment to watch our members takeoff and land, often joined by several airplanes from nearby airports or airstrips that fly in for breakfast.
Our members include folks who have built and fly their own airplanes, flying club airplanes, or are building or rebuilding airplanes they hope to fly someday. Some fly powered paramotors while others fly commercial jets and just about every type of aircraft in between. Some don’t yet have a pilot’s license but hope to someday, while others no longer fly due to various age-related or other challenges but still enjoy the fellowship and flying with others. With this range of interests, there is lots to talk about over breakfast and for much of the day that follows.
The majority of our members are not pursuing careers in aviation but still very much enjoy building, rebuilding, and flying for their personal enjoyment. The C-FVOF Flying Club, formed by EAA Chapter 115 members, provides economical ($55.00/hour) flying in a Zenair 601. About a dozen of our members belong to the flying club. A club benefit lets family members join for 50% of the initiation fee and annual dues, which has enabled a couple of fathers and sons to enjoy flying together. Piotr and his son Michal, our first Ray Aviation scholar, fly together or separately while Michal pursues his university degree.
John and Aaron fly together, and Aaron has used the club’s 601 to efficiently build hours toward his commercial pilot’s license. One of our members, Mark, is building a Zenith 650. Mark’s son Benny aspires to be a pilot when he can reach the pedals, and he often joins Mark for breakfast.
We are proud of our members who have received Ray Aviation Scholarships or a Harrison Ford Scholarship and are pursuing their careers in aviation. Our latest Ray scholar, Michael, is working on his cross-country flying and will soon take his checkride. Cole, who earned his PPL last year, just purchased a share in an RV-6 to help earn his commercial license.
Aaron recently earned his multi-engine IFR and has his eyes on a paying aviation job, while Sammy is moving up from flying for Jazz to flying an Airbus 220 for Air Canada.
On the rebuilding scene, Leonard is working on a Titan Tornado, which he hopes to have in the air within the year, and Allan is putting the finishing touches on a VW-powered Cygnet that he hopes to have in the air soon. Greg has two ultralights and an autogyro in his hangar and was assisted by his grand-niece to clean them. I am not sure which airplane will fly next.
The article would not be complete without congratulating Adam on his first solo flight in the Icarus, of which he is now half-owner. Adam meticulously rebuilt and has been flying a Beaver RX550 and enjoys the option to fly something bigger and more powerful.
This provides a few highlights of our vibrant EAA Chapter 115 community and its many diverse activities. I am pleased to be a member of this active chapter for the fellowship and aviation knowledge I have gained and for the opportunity to rebuild and fly our flying club airplanes.