Category Archives: 2022

August 2022 Chapter Gathering

Hello EAA Chapter 179 Members and Friends – Join us!


The August Chapter Gathering is scheduled for
Tuesday, August 16th
At the Maintenance Facility, Double Eagle II

Join us – in person!     Visitors Welcome!

5:30 PM — Doors Open
5:45 PM — Potluck
6:30 PM — Program:  DEAA: What’s All the Excitement About? (Jim Kessler, DEAA Chairman)

This month’s Gathering presentation will be about DEAA, the Double Eagle Aviation Academy.  This will be a visual presentation about the aviation academy week hosted by Chapter 179 since 2013. Jim Kessler has served as “DEAA Principal” since 2019, bringing the program to a whole new level.

Bring your questions and suggestions.

POTLUCK! Bring something to share, drinks provided.

Each month, these “Chapter Gatherings” offer time to network with programs  centered on exchanging experiences and ideas about aviation – airplanes, flying, and flying activities – rather than the chapter business which is addressed in bimonthly Board meetings..

Where: City Maintenance Facility at Double Eagle II Airport

Directions: The City of Albuquerque maintenance facility at Double Eagle II Airport is next to the Control Tower. At the last stop sign before turning left to the main airport parking lot, proceed straight through the gate towards the Control Tower. Look for EAA signs. Park in front of the city building.

Driving to Double Eagle II: Take I-40 or Paseo del Norte west to Atrisco Vista Blvd and follow airport signs. (7401 Atrisco Vista Blvd).

July 2022 Chapter Gathering

Hello EAA Chapter 179 Members and Friends – Join us!


The July Chapter Gathering is scheduled for
Tuesday, July 19th
At the Maintenance Facility, Double Eagle II

Join us – in person!

5:30 PM — Doors Open
5:45 PM — Pizza & drinks provided (no Potluck)
6:30 PM — Program: Developing NM Aviation Tourism
Joyce woods, New Mexico Airstrip Network

New Mexico has so much to offer the recreational aviation visitor.  Besides great flying weather, there is a multitude of historical and cultural destinations, backcountry flying, dark skies, and beautiful landscapes to explore.

Joyce Woods leads a Tourism work group in support of the New Mexico Airstrip Network (NMAN).  NMAN is a coalition of state and federal agencies and aviation organizations with a shared goal to increase public aviation access to promote NM tourism and economic development. EAA, AOPA, and the New Mexico Pilots Association (NMPA) are all members.

She will review available aviation resources and show how you can support the effort. NMPA has created an information hub at flynewmexico.org, tied to the state’s “New Mexico True” community websites.  In addition, efforts are underway to improve the info found in a Google Search. Anyone can contribute to help improve the visitor experience to NM airports and promote aviation tourism which especially supports statewide rural airports and communities.

Each month, these “Chapter Gatherings” offer time to network with programs centered on exchanging experiences and ideas about aviation – airplanes, flying, and flying activities – rather than the chapter business which is addressed in bimonthly Board meetings.

Where: City Maintenance Facility at Double Eagle II Airport

Directions: The City of Albuquerque maintenance facility at Double Eagle II Airport is next to the Control Tower. At the last stop sign before turning left to the main airport parking lot, proceed straight through the gate towards the Control Tower. Look for EAA signs. Park in front of the city building.

Driving to Double Eagle II: Take I-40 or Paseo del Norte west to Atrisco Vista Blvd and follow airport signs. (7401 Atrisco Vista Blvd).

June 2022 Chapter Gathering

Hello EAA Chapter 179 Members and Friends – Join us!


The June Chapter Gathering is scheduled for
Tuesday, June 21st
At the Maintenance Facility, Double Eagle II

Join us – in person!

5:30 PM — Doors Open
6:00 PM — Potluck Dinner/Social Time
6:30 PM — Program: On Becoming an A&P  (Bob Waters, A&P)

Join us to hear Bob Waters talk about his journey to certification as an Airframe and Powerplant mechanic (A&P)! He will show the FAA requirements and how he met them. He says there will also be practice quizzes for the audience to test your mechanical knowledge!

Bob, a long time chapter member, served as Chapter President from 2011-2013 and was instrumental in shaping many of the chapter’s activities that continue today. Under his leadership, our chapter moved LOEFI from Moriarty to Double Eagle II increasing community involvement. We also launched our very successful DEAA and expanded our scholarship program for young people.

Bob is an active Young Eagles pilot who recently flew his 500th mission in his Piper Comanche. He serves as the Safety and Education Director for the New Mexico Pilots Association. He has restored a ’46 Taylorcraft BC-12D, a ’68 VW bug and is currently restoring Sandy’s late-’50s Cushman scooter.

It will surely be an entertaining and informative presentation from a true voice of experience.  I base this on how he introduces weather to our aviation academy students, starting simple with a “weather rock”.

Each month, these “Chapter Gatherings” offer time to network with programs centered on exchanging experiences and ideas about aviation – airplanes, flying, and flying activities – rather than the chapter business which is addressed in bimonthly Board meetings.

Where: City Maintenance Facility at Double Eagle II Airport

Directions: The City of Albuquerque maintenance facility at Double Eagle II Airport is next to the Control Tower. At the last stop sign before turning left to the main airport parking lot, proceed straight through the gate towards the Control Tower. Look for EAA signs. Park in front of the city building.

Driving to Double Eagle II: Take I-40 or Paseo del Norte west to Atrisco Vista Blvd and follow airport signs. (7401 Atrisco Vista Blvd).

May 2022 Chapter Gathering

Hello EAA Chapter 179 Members and Friends – Join us!


The May Chapter Gathering is scheduled for
Tuesday, May 17th
At the Maintenance Facility, Double Eagle II

Join us – in person!

5:30 PM — Doors Open
6:00 PM — Potluck Dinner/Social Time
6:30 PM — Program: Exactly Where I’m Supposed to Be
.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  Luke Vaughn, EAA 179 Ray Scholar

Luke Vaughn, a graduating senior from Volcano Vista High School has been volunteering alongside adult chapter members since he was selected for a scholarship in March 2021.

Heading off to the Air Force Academy already in June, he asked to present at this gathering.  Join us to hear Luke’s message to our chapter.

Luke soloed in an Air Force sponsored flight training program last summer.  Since then, he received our Chapter’s EAA Ray Scholarship to finish off his private certificate with Bode Aviation instruction. Encountering many delays as unfortunately is typical for flight students, Luke is now preparing for his checkride which should occur before he leaves for the Academy.

Each month, these “Chapter Gatherings” offer time to network with programs centered on exchanging experiences and ideas about aviation – airplanes, flying, and flying activities – rather than the chapter business which is addressed in bimonthly Board meetings.

Where: City Maintenance Facility at Double Eagle II Airport

Directions: The City of Albuquerque maintenance facility at Double Eagle II Airport is next to the Control Tower. At the last stop sign before turning left to the main airport parking lot, proceed straight through the gate towards the Control Tower. Look for EAA signs. Park in front of the city building.

Driving to Double Eagle II: Take I-40 or Paseo del Norte west to Atrisco Vista Blvd and follow airport signs. (7401 Atrisco Vista Blvd).

Double Eagle Aviation Academy 2022 (DEAA)

EAA Chapter 179 Presents
Double Eagle Aviation Academy 2022
June 6 – 10, 2022 at Double Eagle II Airport

Participants are invited for a Young Eagles flight June 11
Applicants must be between 14 and 17 years of age.
Application deadline has passed. Watch for 2023 program!      
Download Application here.

Our 8th Double Eagle Aviation Academy (DEAA) offers another fun and challenging week at the airport!  Students ages 14 – 17 will explore a future in aviation. Students will learn about many facets of flying and airplanes:

  • learn about career opportunities in aviation from professionals
  • learn and practice reading weather reports
  • learn how to control pitch, roll, and yaw
  • learn the importance of balancing weight in the plane
  • learn and practice interpreting the instrument “Six Pack”
  • learn how aluminum structures are designed to be strong
  • learn what is inside the motors of airplanes
  • learn the legs of a traffic pattern
  • learn and practice communicating at non-towered and towered airports
  • learn and practice assembling a simple electrical wiring circuit
  • learn and practice riveting and rolling aluminum to make part of an aileron
  • learn and practice conducting an aircraft pre-flight inspection
  • learn and practice planning a flight
  • visit the Double Eagle control tower
  • fly with one of our Chapter members on a special Young Eagles rally on the Saturday following

The doors will open at 8:15 AM with time to meet pilots and spend time talking about and sitting in different airplanes each morning. Class starts at 9:00 AM. There will be morning and afternoon snacks and lunch is provided. Each day will end at 4:15 PM. A student notebook with the contents of all the presentations is provided to each student. If you are interested in aviation, this is an exceptional opportunity to discover the possibilities.

Questions?  Let us know.  Contact us at deaa@eaa179.org 

Download Flyer (pdf) and the Application form (pdf) here. 

To pay tuition for students who have been notified of acceptance:

Chapter 179 Scholarships – 2020

Congratulations to recipients and best wishes for achieving your aviation goals!

We granted a total of $14,200 in chapter scholarships including two Air Academy full tuition scholarships.  This includes our chapter’s $5000 match to guarantee receiving a 2020 Ray Scholarship grant.  Meet the Recipients! (PDF file)

Chapter Scholarships

Jacob Edington
Jesus Perez
Madison Thompson
Sophie Haag

2020 Ray Aviation Scholars

Sophie Haag
Jacob Edington

EAA Air Academy Scholarship Recipients rescheduled for 2021

Scott  Morgan
Nicholas Romo


Donate Button with Credit Cards
Want to Contribute?  DONATE TODAY!  We appreciate donations of any amount to our main scholarship fund, the Bob Hartman Memorial Scholarship, or Jay Schmitt Memorial Scholarship. Chapter 179 is a 501c(3) tax exempt charitable organization.  Donate online or send a check to “EAA  179 Scholarship”; P.O. Box 3583; Albuquerque, NM 87190.