MINUTES
309 CHAPTER MEETING
APRIL 17,2006

The Carolina Piedmont chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association met at the Quaker Steak and Lube in the South Park Shopping Center on April 1, 2006. The food was excellent and the companionship cordial. 

The meeting was called to order at 7:15 pm by President John Wigney who introduced  member Sam Stewart to provide details of a new proposal that the chapter has received regarding the establishment of a hangar/shop/meeting place at the Gastonia Airport.  The new proposal was for the chapter to lease the Cottonair hangar which is a finished hangar and is somewhat larger than the one which has been on the agenda for construction by Chapter 309.  Sam indicated that the facility is a single large room with as of now no separate meeting room or bathroom.  The potential lease arrangement is still open-ended with respect to adding these facilities.  Sam shared that the hangar would provide space to hangar at least four aircraft and to house at least two projects, possibly more and should yield space for a chapter project.  A cash flow analysis indicates a requirement on the chapter of about $21 per month towards the rent.  Discussion of the proposal was very positive and the Chapter unanimously approved a motion to proceed with the negotiations to lease the facility. 

Several visitors and one new member were introduced. 

Bob Thayer and Andy Moscarelli were introduced for a show and tell program.  Bob is in the process of building a Sonnex and has chosen to power it with a half VW engine.  The majority of the program centered on the work they have done towards producing the power plant and the necessary propeller.  This latter activity was demonstrated step by step beginning with the selection of the wood for the pattern blank, the layout of the propeller shape and the position and shape of  major cross sections of the propeller.  The project also included the construction of  a parallelogram type duplicator  router system.  A video was presented showing the cutting of the pattern and the test propeller they have made.  It was not made clear whether the project will be graced by a propeller produced by their own efforts.  However,  the evidence of their work indicates they have developed the skills and the knowledge to certainly go that route.  The presentation was quite obviously well received. 

The meeting adjourned at 9:00 pm