Hello EAA Chapter 179 Members and Friends – Join us!

The December 2024 Chapter Gathering
Tuesday, December 17th
Join us – in person!  Visitors Welcome

5:15 PM — “No Host” Dinner at BJ’s Restaurant @ Cottonwood Mall
6:15 PM — Introductions, Program
Program — Year End Volunteer Recognition and Optional Gift Exchange

Our holiday party is primarily a social event, full of holiday cheer and aviation camaraderie. A short program will reflect on the many 2024 accomplishments of our member volunteers.

We continue our lively tradition with an optional gift exchange ($20 limit) where those who bring a gift will receive a gift.  Anyone may participate. Regardless, plan to come and share some smiles and laughter with fellow aviation enthusiasts

Where:  BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse at Cottonwood Mall 10000 Coors Blvd, Albuquerque

Directions:   —    North or South bound on Coors Blvd to Cottonwood Mall, 10000 Coors Blvd NW. Take the Cottonwood Loop around to the south end of the parking lot. BJ’s is in a building of its own.

Monthly 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.
Arrive anytime from 5:00 and dinner is not required.
We hope to see you there!

Hello EAA Chapter 179 Members and Friends – Join us!

The November 2024 Chapter Gathering & Annual Meeting is
Tuesday, November 19th
Join us – in person!  Visitors Welcome

5:15 PM — “No Host” Dinner at BJ’s Restaurant @ Cottonwood Mall
6:15 PM — Introductions, Annual Meeting, and Program
Program — “The Saga Continues (but the end is in sight!)”
                   By Bill Hutson, Zenith CH-750 STOL builder

After introductions, the Chapter will conduct it’s annual meeting to elect Officers and Board Members for 2025. Check the Newsletter for the slate of candidates; nominations will also be taken from the floor.

Bill Hutson shows his Zenith at LOEFI 2024

Following the election, Bill Hutson relates his Saga

Bill Hutson’s journey began in May, 2011 with a visit to Mexico, Missouri, the home of Zenith Aircraft and the birth place of the Zenith CH-750 STOL. This isn’t their only model, but was the one for Bill. The first rivet was pulled on 12 May 2011 with the last on 2 June 2024. 13 years and 22 days later, the end is in sight!  Airworthiness certificate was issued September 2024 with the first flight TBD.

Bill presented for our chapter as he got started on this project—back when (pre-COVID) we regularly met at Copper Canyon Café.  Join us to catch up on his build story!

Where:  BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse at Cottonwood Mall 10000 Coors Blvd, Albuquerque

Directions:   —    North or South bound on Coors Blvd to Cottonwood Mall, 10000 Coors Blvd NW. Take the Cottonwood Loop around to the south end of the parking lot. BJ’s is in a building of its own.

Monthly 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.
Arrive anytime from 5:00 and dinner is not required.
We hope to see you there!

Hello EAA Chapter 179 Members and Friends – Join us!

The October 2024 Chapter Gathering is
Tuesday, October 15th
Join us – in person!  Visitors Welcome

5:15 PM — “No Host” Dinner at BJ’s Restaurant @ Cottonwood Mall
6:15 PM — Introductions & Presentation, PLUS Presentation of LOEFI Awards
Program — Local Flying – Mountainous Terrain & Military Drop Zones in AEG Class Delta – Wendy & Sean Smith, Local ATC Controllers

Wendy and Sean are long-time members of the local ATC staffs. They will make a presentation  on flying in mountainous terrain, and have some information on new military drop zones in AEG Class Delta airspace.

• Wendy’s parents are now retired controllers, and she married a controller – Sean. She has been  a controller in ABQ’s tower since 2008, and is the Community Outreach Representative; she “… truly believes that having abetter relationship between pilots and controllers makes it easier for all of us.” To top it off, she was selected as a controller at Air Venture this year.
• Sean, born and raised in Albuquerque, has been a controller at our En Route Control Centers (ZAB) for 18 years. He serves specifically the southeast part of New Mexico (Roswell, El Paso, WSMR, and Canon and Holloman AFBs, plus airspace on the border with Mexico). To top it off, he is also the lead simulation developer for ZAB.

This will be a most interesting presentation (and discussion?). We hope to see you there!

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. Again this month, in the midst of the summer’s heat, we will meet at a restaurant. You may anticipate that with cooler weather in September, we will return to Double Eagle II Airport.

Where:  BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse at Cottonwood Mall 10000 Coors Blvd, Albuquerque

Directions:   —    North or South bound on Coors Blvd to Cottonwood Mall, 10000 Coors Blvd NW. Take the Cottonwood Loop around to the south end of the parking lot. BJ’s is in a building of its own.

The August 2024 Chapter Gathering is
Tuesday, August 20th
Join us – in person!  Visitors Welcome

5:15 PM — “No Host” Dinner at BJ’s Restaurant @ Cottonwood Mall
6:15 PM — Introductions & Presentation

Program:  OSH 2024 plus Pietenpol Restoration Preparation  by Lee Otto

Bring your favorite Oshkosh 2024 photos on a USB drive to share!  We’ll play them on a photo slide show during dinner.

For the main program, Lee Otto will share his experience joining the annual Brodhead Pietenpol Fly-In and his learnings at Oshkosh.  He’ll talk about the people he met and why they love their airplanes.  He’ll also mention what he learned about this airplane and a bit of its history.

Where:  BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse at Cottonwood Mall
                10000 Coors Blvd NW, Albuquerque
Directions: North or South bound on Coors Blvd to Cottonwood Mall.  Take the Cottonwood Loop to the south end of the parking lot.  BJ’s is in a separate building.

Monthly Chapter Gatherings offer time to network with fellow aviation enthusiasts.  Programs are centered on exchanging experiences and ideas about aviation – airplanes, flying, and flying activities. Chapter business is addressed in bimonthly online Board meetings.  We hope to see you there!

The July 2024 Chapter Gathering is
Tuesday, July 16th
Join us – in person!  Visitors Welcome

5:15 PM — “No Host” Dinner at BJ’s Restaurant @ Cottonwood Mall
6:15 PM — Introductions & Presentation

Program: The Pietenpol Air Camper
Presented by Tom and Lee Baker, Pietenpol Owners/Builders

Tom and Lee have built and owned more than one Pietenpol and will share fantastic photos and their experience. We met them when they came out to fly on the EAA Ford Tri-Motor in April. Old birds attract the best aviation enthusiasts!

Considering that our chapter is embarking on a Pietenpol restoration project, this video presentation should help us understand what we’re undertaking!

Join us to also hear also about plans to get started on our local project.

Where:  BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse at Cottonwood Mall
                10000 Coors Blvd NW,  Albuquerque
Directions: North or South bound on Coors Blvd to Cottonwood Mall.  Take the Cottonwood Loop to the south end of the parking lot.  BJ’s is in a separate building.

Monthly Chapter Gatherings offer time to network with fellow aviation enthusiasts.  Programs are centered on exchanging experiences and ideas about aviation – airplanes, flying, and flying activities. Chapter business is addressed in bimonthly online Board meetings.  We hope to see you there!

The June 2024 Chapter Gathering is
Tuesday, June 18th
Join us – in person!  Visitors Welcome

5:30 PM — “No Host” Dinner at BJ’s Restaurant @ Cottonwood Mall
6:15 PM — Introductions & Presentation

Program: Adventures in Civilian Flight Test
Presented by Eric Achen, flight test pilot and chapter member

You may have seen Eric’s Pitts displayed at a Young Eagles event. He’s flies just about anything anyone needs him to fly, for a living!  He’s ferried aircraft and is a professional flight test pilot.

Join us to learn more about his experiences and unique aviation career!.

Where:  BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse at Cottonwood Mall
                10000 Coors Blvd NW,  Albuquerque
Directions: North or South bound on Coors Blvd to Cottonwood Mall.  Take the Cottonwood Loop to the south end of the parking lot.  BJ’s is in a separate building.

Monthly Chapter Gatherings offer time to network with fellow aviation enthusiasts.  Programs are centered on exchanging experiences and ideas about aviation – airplanes, flying, and flying activities. Chapter business is addressed in bimonthly online Board meetings.  We hope to see you there!

The May 2024 Chapter Gathering is
Tuesday, May 21st
Join us – in person!  Visitors Welcome

5:30 PM — “no host” Dinner at BJ’s Restaurant @ Cottonwood Mall
6:15 PM — Intro & Program

Program: Zenith Super Duty Build by Gregg Cuoco

Gregg Cuoco will share his fast moving build story.  If you monitor our Facebook group, you’ve seen his informative and entertaining time-lapse videos, capturing every step of the way. Come hear his story in person and at normal speed!

Gregg is a retired heavy jet aircraft mechanic with 35 years at UPS Airline. He earned his Airframe & Powerplant degree at Eastern NM University in Roswell.  He owns Top Gun Firearms and is interested in building custom homes, pistol shooter competition, off road desert riding, and aviation. Gregg lives in Corrales, has two daughters and has been married for 38 years.

Gregg is currently building a Zenith Super Duty, powered by a Viking 195T with a Dynon panel, complete with AutoPilot.

Where:  BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse at Cottonwood Mall
                10000 Coors Blvd NW,  Albuquerque
Directions: North or South bound on Coors Blvd to Cottonwood Mall.  Take the Cottonwood Loop to the south end of the parking lot.  BJ’s is in a separate building.

Monthly Chapter Gatherings offer time to network with fellow aviation enthusiasts.  Programs are centered on exchanging experiences and ideas about aviation – airplanes, flying, and flying activities. Chapter business is addressed in bimonthly online Board meetings.  We hope to see you there!

The April 2024 Chapter Gathering is
Tuesday, April 16th
Join us – in person!  Visitors Welcome

5:00 PM — “no host” Dinner at Craft Republic, off I-25 at Jefferson
6:00 PM — Intro & Program

Program: Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award Presentation—Emilio Verastegui

Joe Kluk, FAASTeam Manager of the Albuquerque FSDO will present the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award to Emilio Verastegui. The most prestigious award the FAA issues to certified pilots, this award is given to pilots who have contributed and maintained safe flight operations for 50 or more consecutive years of piloting aircraft. More info,

Join us to congratulate Emilio as the story of his 50 years of flying is shared by Joe — plus special memories presented by Emilio himself!

Where:  Craft Republic; 4301 The Lane at 25 NE; Albuquerque (off Jefferson, near I-25)
Directions: From I-25 northbound, take Jefferson Exit 229.  Turn west (left) on Jefferson for .2 mi.  Turn Right on “The Lane at 25 NE”, then left into the parking lot.

** Note: returning to this location, we will have a main room downstairs and a speaker system so you can hear better than our first time.  The owner also knows to plan more staff for our crowd. We apologize for the previous inconvenience and do not anticipate that again.  See you there!

Monthly Chapter Gatherings offer time to network with fellow aviation enthusiasts.  Programs are centered on exchanging experiences and ideas about aviation – airplanes, flying, and flying activities. Chapter business is addressed in bimonthly online Board meetings.  We hope to see you there!

The February 2024 Chapter Gathering is
Tuesday, February 20th
Join us – in person!  Visitors Welcome

5:30 PM — “no host” Dinner at Craft Republic, off I-25 at Jefferson
6:15PM — Program:  The Longest Flight in the X-15 Reconsidered                                          by Chris Gelzer

On April 20, 1962 Neil Armstrong made what turned out to be the longest flight in the X-15. It was not supposed to be that way. Typical flights were between 9-10 minutes: this one was 12:28. He has often been blamed for what happened and this is an alternate view.

Christian received his PhD in the History of Technology from Auburn University. He taught for several years before taking the job as historian for NASA’s Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center, Edwards AFB, in 2002. He has written or co-authored five books and edited another five, as well as published peer-reviewed articles and given public talks. He served as a technical expert for the theater release First Man. His wife was the chief historian at Edwards AFB and now works for AFOTEC, and

Christian has worked remotely since 2001. He is finishing his current book and hopes it will be available in 2024. It is about an alternate spanload to the elliptical, the one used in every airplane you’ve ever seen, touched, or flown on. Ludwig Prandtl, origin of the elliptical spanload (1918), published a second spanload theory in 1933 that remained virtually unnoticed. His ‘bell’ spanload is more efficient, experiences no adverse yaw, and has flown on a number of airplanes at the AFRC. Christian is also finishing his Sport Pilot certificate and has a Quicksilver GT-500 at Mid-Valley Airpark.

Where:  Craft Republic; 4301 The Lane at 25 NE; Albuquerque
Directions: From I-25 northbound, take Jefferson Exit 229.  Turn west (left) on Jefferson for .2 mi.  Turn Right on “The Lane at 25 NE”, then left into the parking lot.

Monthly Chapter Gatherings offer time to network with fellow aviation enthusiasts.  Programs are centered on exchanging experiences and ideas about aviation – airplanes, flying, and flying activities. Chapter business is addressed in bimonthly online Board meetings.  We hope to see you there!

The January 2024 Chapter Gathering is
Tuesday, January 16th
Join us – in person!  Visitors Welcome

5:30 PM — “no host” Dinner at BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse
6:15PM — Program:   Hard Lessons Learned by Ted Hartenstein

Learn from Ted’s experience as an Air Force rescue pilot, Air Force Rescue Coordination Center supervisor, and crash investigator.  Ted will share stories from the 40 or so crash scenes he responded to, and dozens more cases he worked as a mission controller.

Ted is currently the Senior Aerospace Science Instructor at Volcano Vista High School (VVHS) in the USAF Retired Reserve.  He served 14 years active duty as a combat rescue helicopter instructor pilot, 15 years AF Reserves including AFRCC mission controller/supervisor, 7 years Arizona Air National Guard as senior command post controller for the largest F-16 wing in the Air Force, 10 years in Spokane Fire Department as FEO/Paramedic, 11 years in Pima County Sheriff’s Department as Deputy/Detective including fatal traffic collision investigation, and about 8 years of varied commercial aviation including cargo, passenger and medevac.

Ted flies an RV-8 and frequently shares his passion for aviation. He’s an active EAA Young Eagle pilot with our chapter and was instrumental in getting the VVHS Guitar group to perform at LOEFI 2023.

Where: BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse, Cottonwood Mall, 10000 Coors Blvd NW, Albuquerque
Directions: North or South bound on North Coors Blvd to Cottonwood Mall, 10000 Coors Blvd NW. Take the Cottonwood Loop around to the south end of the parking lot. BJ’s is in a building of its own.

Monthly Chapter Gatherings offer time to network with fellow aviation enthusiasts.  Programs are centered on exchanging experiences and ideas about aviation – airplanes, flying, and flying activities. Chapter business is addressed in bimonthly online Board meetings.  We hope to see you there!