EAA Chapter 1027
Willits, CA
(Mendocino, Lake, and Humbolt Counties)
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EAA Chapter 1027:
Chapter meetings typically occur on the second Sunday of the month at the clubhouse at Willits Airport/Ells Field or at Boonville Airport.
All pilots of experimental and certified aircraft as well as people interested in aviation are welcome to attend!

2011 Officers:
   Paul Trexel, President
   Dick Johnson, Vice President
   Marilyn Harden, Secretary
   Harold Weston, Treasurer
2011 Board:
   Fred Baron (Garberville)
   Bryant Whittaker (Boonville)
   Art Williams (Lampson)
   Dan Ramsey (News & Webmaster)

Ells Field, Willits CA (O28)
EAA 1027 CLUBHOUSE is located on Ells Field (028, CTAF 122.8, Rwy 34, R.H.) on the mountain two miles northwest of the City of Willits which is approx. 120 miles North of San Francisco on Hwy 101.  Runways are 16 (primary takeoff, downslope, left pattern) and 34 (primary landing, upslope, right pattern) with PAPI (5-clicks). Our mailing address is 1320 Poppy Dr. Willits CA 95490  or E-Mail chapter president Paul Trexel.

SPECIAL NOTE:
Aircraft older than 35 years may be eligible for California property tax exemption. For more information refer to the BOE website.

Sell, Buy, Trade, Wanted:

Club members with something to sell, buy, trade, or wanted, contact Dan Ramsey.

Other northern California EAA Chapters:

Looking for Fun Places to Fly?

End-of-Year Holiday Meeting

Dec. 17, 2011: EAA Chapter 1027 held it's annual Holiday Meeting at Ukiah Garden Cafe. Approximately 20 members and spouses attended from Mendocino and Lake counties. Membership voted to retain the existing officers and board for 2012 while by-laws are being revised and updated. President Paul Trexel was awarded a special gift in recognition for his work on behalf of the chapter and local aviation. Members discussed various fly-ins, fly-outs and other events for the coming year. The first meeting of 2012 will be announced soon.

Boonville Meeting Successful;
Lee Beery Wins Award at Lampson

Nov. 13, 2011: The Annual Boonville Fall Fly-In was again successful with great weather for the event, says President Paul Trexel. Thirty-three members and friends enjoyed a great barbecue burger lunch provided by the Boonville EAA Chapter 1027 members. The Livermore Vans Air Force group arrived with their signature fly-by in their Rv's.Aircraft flying in ranged from a Cessna 310 to a rare Tri-Champ. Kirk Wilder treated some aircaft to parking on his newly paved taxiway to his hangar. Regretably, Bryant and Penny Whittaker were unable to attend due to a loss in the family, our condolences to the Whittakers.

The next gathering will be the Annual EAA Chapter 1027 Holiday Dinner, Saturday, December 17th at 6 PM at the Ukiah Gardens Cafe.

President Trexel also announced that Lampson member Lee Beery recently receiving the FAA's Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award for 50 years as an aircraft mechanic in a ceremony at Lakeport. Charles Taylor was the mechanic that designed and built the engine for the first flight of the Wright Brothers. Lee Beery is the proud owner/pilot/mechanic of a Varga, seen at left.




Chapter Board Meets After Fly-In and Great Meal


EAA Chapter 1027 held its annual board meeting following the regular monthly fly-in and meeting on Sunday, October 9th. Lunch was pulled pork sandwiches proved by Jim and Marilyn Harden plus salads, desserts and beverages brought by other members. Aircraft flew in from Ukiah, Boonville, Lampson, Garberville and other area airports for the event.  Officers and board members Paul Trexel, Dick Johnson, Marilyn Harden, Harold Weston, Fred Baron, Bryant Whittaker, and Art Williams discussed a review of the chapter bylaws, the EAA Young Eagles program and chapter maintenance of the Willits airport.

The November meeting of EAA Chapter 1027 is  planned for Sunday, November 13, at the Boonville airport. If rain, at Bryant Whittaker's house; if shine, at Kirk Wilder's house/hangar. All pilots and anyone interested in flying is invited to attend.

Great Turnout for Boonville Airport Day and Potluck Dinner


The weekend of August 12,13,and 14 had spectacular weather for the Boonville Fly-In hosted by EAA Chapter 1027 member and Boonville airport manager Kirk Wilder and Chapter 1027 member/assistants. By noon on Saturday, 30 aircraft were parked on the grass and the ramp, having flown in from all over the state. Several campers had pitched their tents and enjoyed the the 3 day event, featuring live music, authentic Mexican food and a great potluck dinner with evening entertainment.

Several of the local pilots were busy all day Saturday giving rides to the folks from the area, giving them the experience of flight and to see their hometown from the air. A Coast Guard C-130 made two passes over the runway to the cheers and salutes from the crowd.

The September meeting of EAA Chapter 1027 has been canceled due to vacations. Go flying instead! And watch this website for announcements on future meetings.

Boonville Airport Day and Potluck Dinner
Saturday, August 13

Boonville Airport Day
EAA Chapter 1027 members invite all northern California pilots and friends to the 12th annual Boonville Airport Day and Potluck Dinner on Saturday, August 13, 2011. Festivities begin at noon with dinner starting at 5 P.M. Please bring your favorite potluck dish; drinks are provided. If you get hungry that afternoon, visit "Alicia's Taco Stand" in front of Kirk's hangar. Beverages available, too. Also, Boonville airport manager Kirk Wilder will host a pre-party party at his hangar on the airport on Friday evening (Aug. 12) with pizza and goodies. On-airport camping is available for pilots and drivers. (Car parking: Enter from Estate Dr. and park on the south side of the hangar.) Contact Kirk or Cindy for additional information at 707-895-2949. Check AirNav.com for info on Boonville Airport (D83) and check  the National Weather Service for weather forecasts.


Willits RV Fly-In a BIG Success!


July 12, 2011: The Willits Fly-In held last Sunday at Ells Field was a success says local EAA chapter president Paul Trexel. "We had at least 35 aircraft that flew in from around northern California. We even had a twin-engine aircraft do a fly-over for us on its way to Montana. Lots of fun!" The event was catered by Taquiera Ramirez with Mexican food and cool snow cones. The public was invited to attend the four-hour event to watch aircraft arrive and takeoff, including four members of the Van's Air Force from Livermore. Two short-takeoff-and-landing (STOL) planes also entertained the crowd by getting airborne in about 200 feet. As an unexpected surprise, three CalFire aircraft circled the north end of the valley watching a potential fire. Two aircraft flew in the evening before the event and tent-camped at the airport.

Willits Airport Administrator John Sherman says "We're trying to encourage more pilots to fly in to our local airport and enjoy the amenities of Willits." Pilots were offered the use of a courtesy car by David Bowen of Sierra Pacific Aviation so the campers could go into town for dinner and supplies. The event was set up and the site prepared by volunteer members of Experimental Aircraft Association chapter 1027 based in Willits. More than 400 gallons of aviation gas were sold by the city during the fly-in.



Willits RV Fly-In and Avgas Raffle
Sunday, July 10th!

EAA Chapter 1027 announces a special event for its July meeting: the Willits RV Fly-In and Avgas Raffle from 1100 to 1500 at Willits Airport (O28). The date is Sunday, July 10. Here are FIVE good reasons to attend:
  1. Open to ALL aircraft, especially Vans RV aircraft with participation of the "Vans Air Force" from Livermore. Whatever you fly -- or drive -- you are invited to attend this popular summer event.
  2. Twenty gallons of 100LL aviation fuel will be raffled off, 10 gallons in each of two categories: certified/manufactured aircraft and homebuilt/experimental aircraft.  Tickets for the raffle are just $5 each. Your five bucks could be worth $50+ in fuel! (And Willits ExxonMobil fuel is among the lowest prices in northern California!)
  3. ONE-DAY AVGAS SPECIAL: $4.99/gallon for ExxonMobil 100LL SUNDAY, JULY 10 ONLY!
  4. The best Mexican food in Mendocino County, provided by Taquiera Ramirez, made on-site to order! Check out the menu HERE. And Sno Cones for dessert!
  5. Other good stuff: Historical Aircraft Certificates for aircraft built before 1975.
Most important, you'll have fun! With the poor spring flying weather, you've been looking for a good excuse, er reason to take a Sunday flight to the "Gateway to the Redwoods".  Here it is! Come join other NorCal pilots and friends and the big event: Willits RV Fly-In and Avgas Raffle, July 10th at Willits Airport/Ells Field.

And watch for Boonville Airport Day (D83) coming in August!

Willits EAA to Attend Area Fly-Ins

May 20, 2011: EAA Chapter 1027 recently announced that it will participate in area fly-ins instead of holding their June meeting. Please join us in supporting northern California aviation! The two events are:

Ukiah Airport Day: June 11 at Ukiah Airport (UKI), CA.

Golden West Airshow & Fly-In: June 10, 11 & 12 at Yuba County Airport (MYV), CA. EAA President/CEO Rod Hightower will speak Thursday evening!

And watch for Boonville Airport Day (D83) coming in August!

Great Turnout for Boonville Fly-In


April 10, 2011: The spring weather cooperated nicely for the Boonville Spring Fly-In hosted by "Captain Kirk" Wilder and his staff including Jim and Jeanne Nickless, Bryant and Penny Whittaker, Bob and Sandra Nimmons, Ed and Fely Smith, Larry and Janet Lombard, Jerry and Barbara Bowers, Tao Tebbits, Cindy Wilder, and Marilyn and Jim Harden. Kirk and staff put on a great barbeque, enlisting the services of Head Chef Larry Lombard who was willing to cook your burger any way you wanted it, as long as it was "medium"!

There was a wide variety of aircraft in attendance including the newest RV, the RV12, a Long EZ , Super Cubs, a C-310, a Robinson R44,  a French Robin, and the Livermore RV Squadron lead by Harry Crosby. The final aircraft count was 28 fixed wing and one rotor wing at the event. The burger barbecue sold out at 60 meals served and 67 folks in attendance. All had a good time and are looking forward to EAA 1027's next event which will be announced soon.


Chapter Members Full of Beans


February 13, 2011: EAA Chapter 1027 featured Judy Ramsey's International Lunch of home-made chili con carne and  French bread at its February club meeting. Also included was a tossed green salad, beverages and ice cream for dessert. There were 32 pilots and friends attending the meeting with 18 aircraft flying in from places as far away as Livermore and other attendees driving in from Santa Rosa. Several people participated in the chapter's first swap-meet/flea-mart. During the event, the City of Willits airport generated $575.00 in fuel sales.

The next chapter meeting will be at the home of Kirk Wilder, adjacent to the Boonville Airport (D83) on March 13, beginning at 12 noon. Non-EAA members and local people interested in aviation are welcome to attend. The lunch will be barbecued hamburgers and other tasty treats ($5 donation).


New Year Kicks Off with Mexican Lunch

EAA Chapter 1027EAA Chapter 1027January 9, 2011: Jim and Marilyn Harden made authentic Mexican Posole for the first EAA Chapter Lunch and Meeting of 2011. The soup was made with pork, hominy, and many flavorful spices. It was topped with onion, cabbage, and peppers to taste. Tortillas, chips and salsa were available and dessert was ice cream. Beverages, too.

The meeting included special framed awards for officers Dick Johnson, Harold Weston, Marilyn Harden, Dan Ramsey, and a belated award to past-president Jim Harden. Numerous guests attended the meeting, including Andre and Jane Berthet of Pleasanton, who took and shared these photos of the event. Mendocinco County Sheriff Allman was the guest speaker.  VP Dick Johnson asked about interest in attending the EAA Airventure this year in late July in Oshkosh, WI. Also in the plans is a possible flock flight to the Evergreen Air Museum and Spruce Goose in McMinnville later this spring.

The club's next meeting will be on Sunday, February 13, at the clubhouse at noon, featuring home-made chili con carne and home-made bread, provided by Judy Ramsey. Lunch is $5.00 (donation). Everyone interested in aviation, EAA member or not, is invited to attend the open meetings eac month. It is a gathering of flying friends with or without experimental or certified aircraft.
For more information on chapter membership, contact president Paul Trexel.


EAA Chapter 1027's website is now in its sixth year!
Archives: 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006
Website provided by Mulligan Aviation

EAA Chapter 1027: Mendocino, Lake and Humboldt Counties, northern California
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