By ANN Contributor Rose Dorcey  

Free airplane rides for kids, aviation education projects for youth and adults, scholarship programs, and offering support and assistance to members who build and restore aircraft. These are just a few items from an impressive list of goals of a new organization based at the Middleton Municipal/Morey Field Airport (C29) - Middleton EAA Chapter #1389.

Middleton EAA Chapter #1389, located just outside Wisconsin's state capital of Madison, was formed in February 2004. In its short history, it's accomplished quite a lot. Chapter members, under the leadership of Al Barger, Morey Airplane Company's chief of maintenance, have flown dozens of Middleton-area kids, ages 8-17, on free flights. Members also provide airport tours to school groups and teach the basics of airplanes and how they fly. Safety seminars for pilots are on the agenda for upcoming meetings, as well as on-going technical advice to members involved in aircraft restoration projects.

"There are a lot of programs for kids through EAA," said Barger, president of the organization. "We hope to provide scholarships to kids who are interested in attending an aviation camp. If there's a kid who really shows an interest in aviation and wants to fly, and maybe make it a career, our chapter can help that person move in that direction."

On Saturday morning October 2, from 9:00 - Noon, chapter members will sponsor a Young Eagles rally to introduce the joy of flight to kids ages 8-17. Barger encourages moms and dads to bring their kids to the airport for a free airplane ride. Once a permission slip is signed, parents can watch their kids receive a short ride, and share the enthusiasm and fascination of flight when they return to the ground. 

Barger said the Young Eagles Rally is also a perfect opportunity for Middleton residents to visit the airport to see all the wonderful improvements being made there, such as a new terminal building, a longer, wider runway and the addition of a taxiway. "We want people to know that the airport is open to the public. We want people to see the benefit an airport is to a community, and we encourage them to come out and see this wonderful new facility."

The Middleton Chapter formed after Barger spoke with several Middleton-area pilots and others with an interest in aviation. They agreed that forming a west side chapter would receive much attention, for time and economic reasons, as opposed to driving to Madison's east side, 40-minutes north to Portage or other area chapters.

Jeff Nelson, Vice-President of the Middleton chapter, said driving 45-minutes to the other side of Madison to attend meetings led to late nights and less enthusiasm to attend the monthly meetings of a chapter he was active in. Nelson, also employed by the Morey Airplane Company and a pilot since 1993, stressed that while many of the organization's members are pilots, the club is open to anyone with an interest in aviation. When the first meeting was held in Middleton in February, over 20 people attended.

Since then, membership has doubled. A diverse group, it includes pilots, non-pilots, aircraft owners and aviation enthusiasts. If you think it is a "good-old-boys club," think again. One-quarter of the membership is female, and all spouses and family members are encouraged to attend the monthly meetings and events.

"We want to provide a place where anyone with an interest in aviation can come and feel welcome," said Nelson. "We want people to know that you don't have to be rich to fly; we can help people learn that owning an airplane can be affordable. We help people learn what [kind of airplane] they can afford."

Barger agreed, saying, "We are an active group. With all the new hangars about to be built here, we will become more active. You do not have to be a pilot, or an aircraft owner; the chapter is open to anyone. If you have an interest and you want to be a part of a group that likes to meet and talk about airplanes, and get more involved, that is what the chapter is all about."

FMI: www.eaachapter1389.org