Courtesy/EAA
Courtesy/EAA
EAA News:
In September, the Green Chili Chapter 691 of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) is bringing a historic 1929 Ford Tri-Motor (airplane) to the Jet Center at Santa Fe Airport for a public event.
There will be free viewing, and they will be providing rides to the public. The visit will be 3-5 p.m. Sept. 14 through the 17th (9 a.m,-5 p.m.). Rides are $95 for adults and $65 for children (17 and under).
The 1929 Ford Trimotor was built by the Ford Motor Company. It was the first real airliner and purchased by the Transcontinental Air Transport Airline in 1929 and this plane flew as such commercial service until the 1940s. It was then used as a smoke-jumper transport until the 1960s. Then it was used to give rides until 1973, when it was severely damaged on the ground by a thunderstorm. The wreckage was bought by EAA purchased the aircraft in 1973 and began a 12-year restoration that was completed in 1985. It began regular passenger flights again in 1991.
About the Experimental Aircraft Association
The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) is an international organization of aviation enthusiasts dedicated to building, restoring, and flying airplanes as well as public education (EAA.org). In other words, airplanes for fun with a side order of outreach in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). EAA is the only association that offers the fun and camaraderie of participating in the flying, building, and restoring of recreational aircraft with the mostan incredibly passionate community of aviation enthusiasts. Areas of interest include: aircraft building, ultralights, light-sport aircraft, vintage aircraft, warbirds and aerobatics.
The EAA has several branches dedicated to education including outreach to schools, learning to fly (of course) and dozens of how-to videos on aircraft construction techniques. EAA has an active learn-to-fly scholarship program as well as Air Academy “Camperships”.
EAA Chapter 691, the Green Chili Chapter is all about getting folks interested in aviation and helping them get into the air. They started as a small group of pilots in Los Alamos, NM, back in 1982, who were interested in building their own homebuilt aircraft. Today they now have over 35 members in Santa Fe, Taos, and Espanola as well as in other states. Over the past forty years, chapter members have built more than two dozen different types of homebuilt aircraft ranging from fabric covered biplanes to sleek aluminum and composite cross-country aircraft.
Education has been and continues to be an important part of Chapter 691. They have two EAA Technical Counselors and an EAA Flight Advisor that are available to help homebuilders with the process of building and test flying an their own
They regularly schedule presentations on a variety of aviation related topics for our members, and they have recently started a STEM program to get kids interested in aviation and help them develop the skills they will need in the future. They teach classes to help homebuilders develop the skills they will need for building aircraft. They also sponsor activities to give kids (Young Eagles) and adults (Eagles) free rides in an airplane to experience the joy and excitement of flying.
All are welcome at the Green Chile chapter. Please feel free to contact them, or just show up. Even-numbered months they meet, the meetings are typically held Jet Center at the Santa Fe Airport (KSAF). Odd months are in the terminal building at Los Alamos Airport (KLAM). They meet the third Saturday of each month at the Jet Center at the Santa Fe Airport or in the terminal building at the Los Alamos Airport. Check out their website at EAACHAPTER691.org for
For more information, please contact Will Fox – tailspinfox@gmail.com.
