Welcome to the
Illinois Pilots Association Springfield Chapter
This p;age was most recently updated Thursday, January 28, 2010
The Springfield Chapter usually meets the first Wednesdays of the month at
different locations for dinner, business and socializing. Anyone interest in flying is
welcome to attend the meetings, learn more about the Springfield Chapter, and if you like
what you learn, we will be happy to accept your membership check.
Officers for 2008/2009
President -- John Salz -- jsalz@illinoispilots.com
Vice President -- Darley Copp -- darleycopp@gmail.com --
529-2578
Secretary -- Kathy Coleman -- gofrogs@comcast,net
Trerasurer -- Brian Innis -- blinnis@royelol.org
-- 965-5716
The Springfield Chapter IPA distributes Capital Crosswinds, editted
by Job Conger, to members one week in advance of the monthly meetings, sharing news, web
links and meeting details. If you have news likely to be of interest to Springfield
Chapter members:
1. birthdays and anniversaries of members
2. stories from recent member flying trips, new airplane acquisitions, pilot
ratings
3. events of interest to pilots and owners of general aviation aircraft
4. memories and pictures of Charlie Wells for a fund raising book project now
underway
5. support in the form of donations or advertising support which will allow us
to expand Capital Crosswinds to FOUR PAGES
contact editor -- jobconger@eosinc.com
Membership dues for 2009/2010
are $24 from June through May and may be sent to Brian Innis, P.O. Box 222,
Thayer, IL 62689
A November gathering of Eagles
 The November Slip 'N Skid meeting at The Old Luxemburg Inn, 1500 S. 15th St., brought together a heaping helping of the Copp family who posed for this picture. Most are past or present members of Illinois Pilots Associition. |
 Tom and Dorothy Fitzgerald are as devoted to IPASPI as Slip 'N Skid. Tom is restoring a Bonanza out at Charlie Ramp. Look for pictures and details in a future issue of Capital Crosswinds. |
Flying enthusiasts who can't wait for the next
meeting of the Springfield Chapter, IPA should know about Slip'N Skid Flyers Club which
has been meeting regularly since before IPA was born. Look for an article about the
informal club in the December issue of IPASPI's Capital Crosswinds.
October 7, 2009 SPI Chapter's meting
 Cessna 172 owner/pilot Ed examines al all-metal toy model airplane resembling an Arado Ar-196. He purchased it at a flea market for $2.00. He got a bargain! |
 For several years, IPASPI member Jim "Thunder" Thornton has hosted chapter meetings during warm weather months and let picture taking webmasters mooch soft drinks from the hangar refrigerator during the potluck dinners. That's his Cessna 182 in the background. Some years ago, a man named Thornton ran for Mayor of Lincoln, Illinois, a hoot and a holler up Interstate 55 from Springfield. One of our chapter members "liberated" one of the candidate's yard signs and donated it to "Thunder" who is considering a run for "Mayor of Charlie Ramp" at SPI. There's no doubt that if that position ever becomes an elective office, Jim will be prepared and everyone lucky enough to KNOW him will VOTE for him. |
 Everyone who attends the meetings brings a covered dish to share. As a result, NO ONE goes home hungry, and a grand time is had by all. |
 After everyone had completed the main course and started into dessert, Springfield Chapter President John Salz conducted the meeting as Secrretary Kathy Coleman took notes for the minutes. Many IPASPI members are planning a visit to the Samuel Herschberger Amish dinner facility near Arthur, Illinois. The organization helped the family years ago, and has cherished their friendship (and DELIGHTFUL food and convivial conversation) ever since. If you would like to be a part of this mass convoy/drive to the November gathering, contact Kathy Coleman SOON. |
The next meeting of the Springfield
Chapter IPA is
Wednesday, February 3
at Top Cats Chill and Grill
1822 Stevenson Drive, Springfield
The meeting commences at 6:30 pm. Please be on hand for another great
cathering.
The February 4, 2009 Meeting was TERRIFIC!
Before the feature presentation, members voted to hold the 16th Annual Charlie
Wells Memorial Aviation Scholarship Fly-In/Drive-In Pancake & Sausage Breakfast June 6
& 7, 7 am to noon at Landmark Aviation, accessible via the main airport entrance off
J. David Jones Parkway. For more information visit www.WellsScholarship.com
Members also approved Job Conger to be the new editor/producer of the IPA
Springfield Chapter Newsletter. News of interest to the Springfield Chapter newsletter
readers should be sent to jobconger@eosinc.com
THANK YOU BOB REYNOLDS for producing the newsletter so regularly and so well for
the past several years!
Mark Hanna, Executive Director, Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport,
Springfield, Illinois addressed the February 4 meeting.  Hanna expressed concern over the illegal use of Runway 18/36 as a high speed turnoff where it intersects runways 4/22 and 13/31 by pilots landing at KSPI without permission from the control tower. A map highlighting the "hot spots" was distributed to those attending. During his detailed presentation, he stressed his interest in maintaining closer liaison with the general aviation community and seeing their input in guiding future development.
|
Following adjournment, Hanna chatted with a Springfield Chapter
IPA member. Hanna also noted that all but seven of the T-hangars at Charlie Ramp are generating revenue, and that there is space at the southwest part for the erection of another row of T-hangars when there is market demand. Slated for the months ahead is the extension of the concrete ramp southeast of Hangar 3 to the LRS facility and paving the area between Charlie Ramp and the McClelland Aviation FBO ramp nearby. Also slated is the extension of boundary fences to 10 feet height to prevent roaming wild deer from jimping over the current fence into the airport interior and threatening safety of aircraft arriving and departing on the runways. |
On August 30 & 31, 2008
our chapter welcomed
Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress
"Sentimental Journey"
restored and flown by the Arizona Chapter, Commemorative Air Force
to Springfield, Illinois, Pictures from this visit are posted here
October 17, 2008
Several SPI Chapter members drove to the Oba and Lorene Herschberger Farm near
Sullivan, Illinois to enjoy an Amish-supper prepared and served by every Herschberger
family member old enough to help. Several years ago, the Springfield Chapter held a
fundraising event for their son Samuel who lost an arm in a farming accident in 2001. For
some years the family hosted home-cooked suppers for reserved seat visitors to rause funds
to pay medical bills for Samuel. Visitors from all 50 states and 44 countries attended
those dinners, and the story of the family generated national feature news attention and a
book. The family revived the dinners this summer, and IPA/SPI arranged a visit soon
after we heard the good news.
Pictures below are thumbnailed for faster loading. Click on any for
a larger view and "Back" to return to this page.
 1, The family, as all Amish families, get around by horse-drawn buggy. |
 2. Part of the visiting IPA members and families posed for a picture before heading in for a great meal. |
 3, Samuel Herschberger (left), tallks with Jerry Coleman who initiated the Springfield fundraiser several years ago. |
 4. A tablefull of hungry travellers enjoys the evening as Darley Copp gets ready to take a picture from the other end of the table. |
 5, Bruan Birecky (left) and Jim Thornton, two stalwart, long-time IPA members. |
 6. Cassie and Marissa. |
 7. Left to right: The Copp family's grand daughters Cassie, Marissa, and daughter Barb smile for the camera guy. |
 8. Darley Copp. |
 9. The rockin' babe in pink was a delight to these IPA members. |
August 6, 2008
At our annual Route 66 Cruisers club, we hosted members from this terrific group who
have displayed their antique and classic cars at our annual springtime Charlie Wells
Memorial Scholarship Breakfast at Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport. We also presented
one of two scholarship checks to winning candidate Kaleb Sisson. The second check
will be delivered to the other winner, Chad Jennings of Springfield, at the
September meeting.
Pictures below were taken by AeroKnow webmaster and new IPA member
Job Conger and are thumbnailed here for faster loading. Click on any for a larger view and
"Back" to return to this page. Larger, higher-definisition pictures will
be sent to any IPA member or AeroKnow supporter who writes jobconger@eosinc.com and specifies the
number(s) of pictures, size and resolution desired..
 1. Jim Thornton's Cessna 182 was a centerpiece of the occasion which Jim generously hosted at his hangar on Charlie Ramp. |
 2. Many Route 66 Cruisers came to the cookout, most pictured here. |
 3. This beautifully restored Model A Ford was driven on its own wheels to the big event. |
 4. Pictured here, left to right are 2007 Charlie Wells Memorial Scholarship winner coordinator Jerry Coleman, winner Kaleb Sisson, Darley Copp and 2008 Springfield Chapter IPA president John Salz. |
 5. Darley likes to hang with good-looking, intelligent men, especially scholarship winners. |
 6. Jerry, Kaleb and John talk flying. Kaleb is 18 years old, son of Richard and Stephanie Sisson of Virden, and is working on his instrument rating at Lewis & Clark College. |
 7. There WAS a check to present, and here, Jerry turns over the do-re-mi to one of the hardest working aviation students in central Illinnois. |
 8. During the business meeting Kaleb stood to thank Springfield Chapter and Cruisers members. |
 9. Darley Copp presented Chad Jennings with his Charlie Wells Memorial Aviation Scholarship check at our September 3 meeting. SPI/IPA dynamo Jerry Coleman saw a camera and appeared as if by magic when I took the fine picture. (JUST KIDDING, JERRY!) Actually, the Jerry-meister was instrumental in founding the schlarship, and he's one of the best liked gentleman at the airport!. |
Springfield Chapter Illinois Pilots Association
Names Scholarship Recipients
The Springfield Chapter, Illinois Pilots Association (IPA) has named Caleb
Sisson and Chad Jennings recipients of Charlie Wells Memorial Aviation Scholarship Awards
for 2008. Sisson, 18, of Virden, Illinois, attends Lewis & Clark College, will use his
award to earn his Instrument Flying Rules pilots rating. Springfield resident Chad
Jennings, 25, has just completed Air Traffic Control School in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Funds for the scholarships are raised by the Springfield Chapter during its annual
fly-in/drive-in pancake breakfast at Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport and through other
activities throughout the year.
## 30 ##
PURCHASE IPA Hats
When you purchase an IPA hat, $5 of your purchase
goes into the IPA scholarship fund. Contact Darley Copp -- 529-2578 -- for details.
COMING SOON AVIATION SPI on Facebook
JoMembership in Facebook costs nothing and is a great way to share news and
photos with your associates and friends. Job Conger is already a Facebook enthusiast. If
you are too, search for him and invite him to be a Facebook friend. If you are not part of
Facebook, become one and then search for Job Conger from "Peoria, IL" because
they don't have a separate regional listing for Springfield. This will be great fun.
Everyone can post notes and pictures. News of the new group will be posted here as soon as
it's up with pictures.
Illinois Pilots Association members are part of United States Pilots Association
which distributes its monthly
America's Flyways magazine to all members, For more information about
USPA visit www.uspilots.org
For more information about Illinois Pilots Association, visit www.illinoispilots.org
and www.illinoispilots.com
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