Chapter 59 photo of the month

Chapter 59's Photo of the month.
Most of these photos are simply taken at one of our events. They are all just random pictires and are not staged in anyway.
The photos are not limited to airplanes, but will include people, places, and things of interest. So please, if you have an interesting photo that you would like to see included, send it to me.

Click on the image for a larger view

The December 16th, 2006 Christmas Party for the family and friends of the USAF 661st Support Squadron.
It's hard to say who had more fun, the kids or their parents.

We love these guys and really enjoy hosting their Christmas party.

Notice the improvements to the hanger??

June 2005, The guys gathered at the McGregor site where chapter 59s new headquarters will be built.
Here Dale, Boyce, and Elwin try to figure out how to read an electronic transit.

It's hard work out in the hot Texas summer sun so the guys set up a tent to provide a little shade.

And finally the pad has been poured, the ramp was poured and the steel showed up for the hanger.

EAA Chapter 59 is going to have its own home after 45 years.
Read the July 2005 issue of the Grapevine for more details and information.

Photos compliments of Mike McMains

November 2004, Veteran's Day Fly-in. Scott Field, Waco/Crawford, TX.

Well for the first time in several years Phill Grisham seemed to have gotten the short end of the weather control strings. This years fly-in turned out to be more of a "drive-in" event.
Not to worry though, we still had plenty of terrific food and ample chapter members around to help take care of it.

This years Veteran's Day event had special purpose and heart felt wishes for the safety of our Military men and women who are again fighting to protect America in some foreign land.
Jon Botsford offered the blessings of thanks and a prayer for our troops.

Irv and Betty Lou Guyer with their RV-6

Here's a great photo of Irv and Betty Lou Guyer taken at the Low-N-Slow flyin on Sept 11th, 2004.

We managed to corner them and forced Irv to stand still long enough for Betty Lou to climb back up to the top of the seat so we could get this photo.

Irv reportedly built the RV-6 before he had his pilots license. Now that's what we call dedication and commitment. The RV came out great and the two them are having a blast with it.

Air Venture 2004, Chapter President Emmette, Craver took a serious amount of digital photographs at this years Air Venture, some of them are really impressive. Like this Pits Special with cutaway panels to display the internal construction of the frame and ribs.

Now I've got enough pictures to take care of the photo-of-the-month page until next Air Venture.

Thanks Emmette.

June 5th, 2004 First ever Southwest Regional Wild Blue Wonders Competition.
Chapter President Emmett Craver poses with the two groups of students who participated in our first WBW competition.

On the left our the kids from Midway Middle School. They called themselves the Project Pheonix.

And on the right are the kids from McGregor Middle School who named their group The Alitidudes.

Click here to read about the SRCWBW, 2004

The three photos shown here are my best pick for April 2004.
In the first photo are two pilots who deserve all the respect we can give them.
April 1st, 2004. I was at the Mexia/Limestone airport when a squadron of helicopters came in for refueling.
There were six Bell ranger OH58 Kiowas and one BlackHawk. The troop was enroute from Ft. Poke Louisiana to Yuma AZ. to work as an observation team for troop and pilot training exercises.
A 3-day trip for the old Bell helicopters. Two of the Kiowa pilots were woman.

The two officers in the photo are Captain Joel S. Magsig, (left) and Major Michael L. Odgen, (right). Capt. Magsig was the pilot who was shot down in April 2003 over Baghdad Airport in a Blackhawk helicopter. He managed to land his severely crippled Blackhawk and managed to survive the incident along with others to talk about it today.

I have no doubt that Capt. Magsig is one of the best officers we have to impart his knowledge and experiences to the troops who are about to be deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

I spoke with Major Odgen for a few minutes and he told me that the moral of his troops and that of the troops they have been training was high. He said that the troops knew and understood that they were doing something that absolutely had to be done if America was to survive this conflict.
Whether you agree with the politics of this war or not is your problem, I personally don't care and have not intention of discussing it here. But no one should question the valor and bravery of the men and woman who are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan today.

I personally am honored to have had the opportunity to shake the hand of Captain Magsig and Major Odgen and I asked them to tell the troops that they encountered in their training exercises that we are all praying for them and I asked him to tell them all Thank You on my behalf.
Ron McKinley

Young Eagles Air-Boss Phil Grisham attended the Oct 2003 flyin.
Phil is slowly getting better and stronger after having a really bad year.
Good to see you Phil and thanks for the help.

Sept 20th. 2003, Low-N-Slow Fish Fry McGregor Municipal Airport.

Some of the growd having a good time eating and wondering around looking at the airplanes. This is what we like to see, folks from all around the area brought their kids in to see what the EAA and airplanes are all about.

The Chapter 59 members all worked like crazy but had a good time doing it. You can see more photos and articles on the chapter Events page and also in the September 2003 Grapevine Newsletter.

August, 2003

Here's a photograph that really tells a long story. You could probably call this caption "the little airplane that could", or "The little airplane that just wont quit".

Another possible capture may be "Damn - These experimental guys are really good".

But That's N6520G sitting there running like a charm, Yes - that's my airplane.

That's Les Miller of Trim-Aire Aviation in Mexia at the controls and a newly rebuilt prop after she went down into the trees last May, 2003.

It sort of hurts to see what is left of a good little airplane like this, but the photograph and the spirit captured in the image is just too good to waste, I had to publish it.

You can read more about the story and the little airplane here.

Phill Grisham was gracious enough to bring BIG RED over to the wedding and gave Anne Botsford a ride home

I said Phil gave Anne A ride. Last reports said she had no problems doing this at all.

Rebecca New Boyko and crowd at the April Fly-in Wedding

Click on the photo for a larger view. Mike McMains at the controls of Jon Botsfords new GN1
Pietenpol look-A-like
Actually the airplane is not new but it is to Jon and that's all that counts.

Click on the photo for a larger view. Jim Hail sent this along for me to include on the web site.
I really think Jim is just showing off with this photograph.
I mean, come-on Jim, you're really making the rest of us, (especially us "spam-can" owners), feel really bad here.
Give us a break will-ya!
Just kidding Jim. And as for the rest of us, well we will just have to keep dreaming I guess.

Feb. 2002 How sweet it is!
This is from the Wings For Christ Winter Survival Breakfast.
Don't ask, we wont tell. The answers would go something like this;
I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, No he didn't, No he didn't, and Yes it certainly is.

These first two photos are of John Foys new RV-8
John sent me these photos on January 15th, 2002 .
For a complete review of John's building process
click on this link. John's RV-8 Project

June 2000
Boyce Vardiman's Avid Flyer
Click on the image for a larger view
July 2000
Paul Fugate's Replica P-40
Click on the image for a larger view

Sept. 2000 Young Eagles Event

This expression just about says it all. November 2000, Veterans' Day

No, this was NOT shot with a telephoto lens.
And yes it was a little cool to be flying in an open cockpit.

"Thanks Mom & Dad"
Now that's what we were looking for. April 7th 2001 Young Eagles Event
Here's an aerial view of the Cougar Landings 2001 Fly-in.

Here's a glimps of Nick Pocock's Farman Sport.
This is not your normal WW-I aircraft restoration project.
Nick is going for a full Musium quality restoration.

Back to events

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	The December 16th, 2006 Christmas Party for the family and friends of the USAF 661st Support Squadron. It's hard to say who had more fun, the kids or their parents. We love these guys and really enjoy hosting their Christmas party. Notice the improvements to the hanger??
	June 2005, The guys gathered at the McGregor site where chapter 59s new headquarters will be built. Here Dale, Boyce, and Elwin try to figure out how to read an electronic transit. It's hard work out in the hot Texas summer sun so the guys set up a tent to provide a little shade. And finally the pad has been poured, the ramp was poured and the steel showed up for the hanger. EAA Chapter 59 is going to have its own home after 45 years. Read the July 2005 issue of the Grapevine for more details and information.
Photos compliments of Mike McMains	November 2004, Veteran's Day Fly-in. Scott Field, Waco/Crawford, TX. Well for the first time in several years Phill Grisham seemed to have gotten the short end of the weather control strings. This years fly-in turned out to be more of a "drive-in" event. Not to worry though, we still had plenty of terrific food and ample chapter members around to help take care of it. This years Veteran's Day event had special purpose and heart felt wishes for the safety of our Military men and women who are again fighting to protect America in some foreign land. Jon Botsford offered the blessings of thanks and a prayer for our troops.
Irv and Betty Lou Guyer with their RV-6	Here's a great photo of Irv and Betty Lou Guyer taken at the Low-N-Slow flyin on Sept 11th, 2004. We managed to corner them and forced Irv to stand still long enough for Betty Lou to climb back up to the top of the seat so we could get this photo. Irv reportedly built the RV-6 before he had his pilots license. Now that's what we call dedication and commitment. The RV came out great and the two them are having a blast with it.
	Air Venture 2004, Chapter President Emmette, Craver took a serious amount of digital photographs at this years Air Venture, some of them are really impressive. Like this Pits Special with cutaway panels to display the internal construction of the frame and ribs. Now I've got enough pictures to take care of the photo-of-the-month page until next Air Venture. Thanks Emmette.
	June 5th, 2004 First ever Southwest Regional Wild Blue Wonders Competition. Chapter President Emmett Craver poses with the two groups of students who participated in our first WBW competition. On the left our the kids from Midway Middle School. They called themselves the Project Pheonix. And on the right are the kids from McGregor Middle School who named their group The Alitidudes. Click here to read about the SRCWBW, 2004
	The three photos shown here are my best pick for April 2004. In the first photo are two pilots who deserve all the respect we can give them. April 1st, 2004. I was at the Mexia/Limestone airport when a squadron of helicopters came in for refueling. There were six Bell ranger OH58 Kiowas and one BlackHawk. The troop was enroute from Ft. Poke Louisiana to Yuma AZ. to work as an observation team for troop and pilot training exercises. A 3-day trip for the old Bell helicopters. Two of the Kiowa pilots were woman. The two officers in the photo are Captain Joel S. Magsig, (left) and Major Michael L. Odgen, (right). Capt. Magsig was the pilot who was shot down in April 2003 over Baghdad Airport in a Blackhawk helicopter. He managed to land his severely crippled Blackhawk and managed to survive the incident along with others to talk about it today.
	I have no doubt that Capt. Magsig is one of the best officers we have to impart his knowledge and experiences to the troops who are about to be deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. I spoke with Major Odgen for a few minutes and he told me that the moral of his troops and that of the troops they have been training was high. He said that the troops knew and understood that they were doing something that absolutely had to be done if America was to survive this conflict. Whether you agree with the politics of this war or not is your problem, I personally don't care and have not intention of discussing it here. But no one should question the valor and bravery of the men and woman who are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan today. I personally am honored to have had the opportunity to shake the hand of Captain Magsig and Major Odgen and I asked them to tell the troops that they encountered in their training exercises that we are all praying for them and I asked him to tell them all Thank You on my behalf. Ron McKinley
	Young Eagles Air-Boss Phil Grisham attended the Oct 2003 flyin. Phil is slowly getting better and stronger after having a really bad year. Good to see you Phil and thanks for the help.
	Sept 20th. 2003, Low-N-Slow Fish Fry McGregor Municipal Airport. Some of the growd having a good time eating and wondering around looking at the airplanes. This is what we like to see, folks from all around the area brought their kids in to see what the EAA and airplanes are all about. The Chapter 59 members all worked like crazy but had a good time doing it. You can see more photos and articles on the chapter Events page and also in the September 2003 Grapevine Newsletter.
August, 2003	Here's a photograph that really tells a long story. You could probably call this caption "the little airplane that could", or "The little airplane that just wont quit". Another possible capture may be "Damn - These experimental guys are really good". But That's N6520G sitting there running like a charm, Yes - that's my airplane. That's Les Miller of Trim-Aire Aviation in Mexia at the controls and a newly rebuilt prop after she went down into the trees last May, 2003. It sort of hurts to see what is left of a good little airplane like this, but the photograph and the spirit captured in the image is just too good to waste, I had to publish it. You can read more about the story and the little airplane here.
Phill Grisham was gracious enough to bring BIG RED over to the wedding and gave Anne Botsford a ride home	I said Phil gave Anne A ride. Last reports said she had no problems doing this at all.
Rebecca New Boyko and crowd at the April Fly-in Wedding
Click on the photo for a larger view.	Mike McMains at the controls of Jon Botsfords new GN1 Pietenpol look-A-like Actually the airplane is not new but it is to Jon and that's all that counts.
Click on the photo for a larger view.	Jim Hail sent this along for me to include on the web site. I really think Jim is just showing off with this photograph. I mean, come-on Jim, you're really making the rest of us, (especially us "spam-can" owners), feel really bad here. Give us a break will-ya! Just kidding Jim. And as for the rest of us, well we will just have to keep dreaming I guess.
Feb. 2002 How sweet it is! This is from the Wings For Christ Winter Survival Breakfast.	Don't ask, we wont tell. The answers would go something like this; I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, No he didn't, No he didn't, and Yes it certainly is.
These first two photos are of John Foys new RV-8 John sent me these photos on January 15th, 2002 .	For a complete review of John's building process click on this link. John's RV-8 Project
June 2000 Boyce Vardiman's Avid Flyer Click on the image for a larger view	July 2000 Paul Fugate's Replica P-40 Click on the image for a larger view
Sept. 2000 Young Eagles Event This expression just about says it all.	November 2000, Veterans' Day No, this was NOT shot with a telephoto lens. And yes it was a little cool to be flying in an open cockpit.
"Thanks Mom & Dad" Now that's what we were looking for. April 7th 2001 Young Eagles Event	Here's an aerial view of the Cougar Landings 2001 Fly-in.
Here's a glimps of Nick Pocock's Farman Sport. This is not your normal WW-I aircraft restoration project. Nick is going for a full Musium quality restoration.