EAA Chapter 229 - Winter Haven, FL

What does 24,000 hours teach you about engines that quit? Richard Belford spent a career finding out — and brought six of those stories to our last chapter meeting. The ABC checklist isn't just words on a kneeboard.

Twenty-Four Thousand Hours and the ABCs of an Engine That Quits | EAA Chapter 229 Richard Belford — 24,000 hours, CFI-I, MEI, former FAA DPE — shares six engine failures and the FAA ABC checklist that brought him home each time.

Our members got an inside look at something pretty remarkable this week — Bartow Airport's Remote Digital Tower. Instead of a traditional glass cab perched above the field, controllers work from the ground, watching a live 360° panoramic view of the airport across 15 high-definition screens. The system even switches to thermal camera mode at night.

Here's the part that hits close to home: Gilbert Field is next. A backup tower unit is planned for KGIF, with full remote operations from Bartow expected by April 2027.

Read the full post on our website 👉 https://eaa229.com/inside-bartows-remote-digital-tower-the-future-of-atc-is-already-here/

Next meeting: Saturday, June 6, at 9:00 AM — Hangar 100. Rick Belford will be presenting on off-airport landing sites. Hope to see you there!

Inside Bartow's Remote Digital Tower: The Future of ATC Is Already Here EAA Chapter 229 toured Bartow Airport's Remote Digital Tower — a live test of the camera-based ATC system coming to Gilbert Field (KGIF) by April 2027.

Five trips. Florida to Panama. In a Piper Tomahawk with 108 horsepower, no GPS, and a fuel system that lied to you the whole way.

At our May meeting, Robert Taylor sat down with a chart of Central America and told us how he did it — Cuba airspace, cheesecloth-filtered fuel, 70 mph headwinds, and a feet-vs-meters misunderstanding that ended his Panama business dream on the spot.

Full story on the blog 👇

Vero Beach to Panama in a Piper Tomahawk or Bust in 1978! Robert Taylor flew a Piper Tomahawk from Florida to Panama five times in 1978 with no GPS, no life raft, and a fuel system that made the math sketchy. Here's how he did it.

This week, EAA Chapter 229 volunteers spent nine days on the ramp at Sun 'n Fun 2026 in Lakeland — running tie-down sales and keeping hundreds of arriving aircraft organized and secure. And yes, one of us may have ended up in a very unique cockpit. 🛩️

Big thanks to everyone who showed up and put in the work. You made us proud.

👉 https://eaa229.com/nine-days-on-the-ramp-eaa-chapter-229-at-sun-n-fun-2026/

Our next monthly meeting is Saturday, May 2, at 9:00 AM — Hangar 100, KGIF Gilbert Field, Winter Haven. Come see us!

Six Days on the Ramp: EAA Chapter 229 at Sun 'n Fun 2026 EAA Chapter 229 volunteers worked six days at Sun 'n Fun 2026 in Lakeland, FL — selling tie-downs and keeping the ramp running for hundreds of arriving aircraft.

At our April meeting, Steve and Angie VanCleve shared the story of their rescue flights — hauling shelter dogs from Enterprise, Alabama, to adoptive homes in Central Florida in a 1970 Cessna 182. Close to 30 flights. Hundreds of dogs that were days away from euthanasia. Now living on couches across Central Florida.

And then there's Rosie. But you'll have to read the post for that part.

Full story on the chapter blog 👇
https://eaa229.com/dog-legs-to-alabama-how-steve-angie-are-saving-shelter-dogs-one-flight-at-a-time/

If you love animals and can sit in a back seat for two and a half hours, you might just qualify. 🐶

Dog Legs to Alabama: How Steve & Angie Are Saving Shelter Dogs, One Flight at a Time | EAA Chapter 229 Seventeen puppies. One 1970 Cessna 182. Two and a half hours each way.

Meet Dave Hurd and his Glasair II-S, N472SF. 🛩️

In 1991, a BIG BOX arrived at Dave's door — a kit that would take years of evenings and weekends to transform into a flying airplane. Built from fiberglass, powered by a Lycoming O-320, and finished to airworthy standard, N472SF has since logged over 425 hours in the air.

Dave shared his builder's journey with our chapter, and we captured the full story on the website. Check it out 👇

https://eaa229.com/order-placed-at-oshkosh-91-dave-hurds-twenty-two-year-glasair-build/

Order Placed at Oshkosh '91: Dave Hurd's Twenty-Two-Year Glasair Build | EAA Chapter 229 Dave Hurd ordered his Glasair II SL kit at Oshkosh in 1991. Twenty-one years and eleven months later, N472SF lifted off for the first time. Here's the story of a build, a chapter, and 425 hours aloft.

✈️ EAA Chapter 229 — Monthly Meeting This Saturday!

Join us this Saturday, April 4, at 9:00 AM at Hangar 100, KGIF — Gilbert Field, Winter Haven, FL.

We have a very special presentation this month! Members Steve and Angie will share the incredible story of how they use their Cessna 182 to rescue innocent puppies and give them a second chance at life. Aviation meets compassion — you won't want to miss this one!

As always, whether you fly, build, restore, or simply enjoy airplanes and aviation — you are welcome to join us!

🐾 Puppies. ✈️ Planes. 🤝 Community.

See you Saturday!

👉 Learn more: eaa229.com

Join us this Saturday and every third Saturday of the month to share your aviation experiences with us, let's come together to create safer skies.

Happy Veterans Day to all Veterans.

We will be at Sun 'n Fun April 1-6. We are excited to see you there.