Airmail Beacons in Southern Wisconsin
At our next meeting, enjoy a presentation from Michael Jaeger from The Kelch Aviation Museum in Brodhead, WI! Funny how cutting-edge technology becomes obsolete – and perhaps entirely forgotten – in the blink of an eye. You“ve seen airport radar equipment, used a GPS on your phone, and maybe even sent packages “by airmail” – but did you ever wonder just how these everyday conveniences came to be? Modern day navigation and our understanding of getting from Point A to Point B was influenced heavily by the US Postal Service’s beacon towers, one of which stands at the Brodhead Airport in southern Wisconsin, near the The Kelch Aviation Museum. Airmail was a critical component to the development of American aviation in the 1920s and 30s – but how, and why, did this affect rural towns and real people? This presentation will explore the role light beacons played in the advancement of airmail, airways, and navigation, shedding light (pun intended) on aviation and USA history. 
Presenter Michael John Jaeger is a volunteer docent and researcher at the Kelch Aviation Museum. He’s a former pilot who’s always loved looking at the landscape from above in small planes. He also likes to share with others how aviation in days past helped shape our local area and the world we live in today. The presentation will include a brief overview of the Kelch Aviation Museum, then we will move onto the early history of aerial navigation and the role and significance of 1930’s airmail light towers, low frequency radio range navigation. We will have questions following the presentation time permitting. Want to know more about early aerial navigation? Check out Arrows Across America! Dinner at 6 pm (Sloppy Joes) Donation requested to offset grocery costs Weekly Shop Night
Have you ever wanted to learn how to pull a rivet? Are you mechanically inclined but have no space at home to build things? Are you interested in just seeing the internal workings of an airplane? If any of these apply to you, or if you are just curious, join our intrepid Monday Night Mechanics each Monday from 7:00 pm until folks get tired. We recently rebuilt an engine and completing an aircraft begun by one of our members who unfortunately passed before the plane was finished. The aircraft will eventually hang in our museum in memory of the late, great Roy Stuart. If you are interested in attending, please contact Glen Malkmus, our Shop Coordinator. Under 18? Please make sure to bring a responsible adult with you. Simulator Group takes
|
Around The Chapter
Ava & her Ray Scholar headset!
Jimmy after his solo!
Nicole twisting wrenches!
Jared in the 737 simulator!
EAA Chapter 838 of Racine, WI
Proud Member of
