L to R: Rick King, the new 1570 President and outgoing founding President, John Keithly, long time FASF member.
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Above, all smiles, Rick King, has just awarded the chapter’s founding President, John Keithly, a wooden plaque attesting to John’soutstanding service as the 1570’s first President. Today’s meeting was the first conducted by the chapter’s new President, Rick King. The meeting at which Rick was elected, as well as the rest of the Chapter’s new officers, was reported here last October 13. For a list of the new officers, click right here for that story.
Several operational changes were decided today: The monthly meetings will now be held at the War Eagles Air Museum (WEAM) at the Dona Ana County International Jetport, the second Saturday of each month, as previously, but the time has been changed to 9:30 AM from 11:00.
The Board of Directors will meet in the museum executive lounge on the second floor at 9:00, a half hour before the regular membership meeting is convened. Rick said that anyone who is interested is more than welcome to also come to the Board meetings.
Above, Bob Dockendorf, Executive Director of the WEAM, and founding member of the chapter and also an FASF member, reads to latest 1570 Financial Report to the members.
Visiting the Chapter gathering is, Rick Runnels, (above) a locally based Lear Jet Executive Pilot and friend of Rick King’s.
L to R above: Robert Lopez(behind John Keithly), one of the Chapter’s Flight Scholarship awardees, and Founding President, John Keithly, Juan Brito,Bruce King, and a new visitor to the Chapter, Adolfo Deras, who is also an EAA National member who lives in nearby El Paso, TX.
Above, Chapter VP, John Signorino, describing some upcoming fly-out and fly-in event possibilities.
President, Rick King, demonstrates how the Chapter is now listed on the EAA National Home Website with details of its composition, and how the site will have a calendar showing all upcoming 1570 events of interest to the members. He also described the many features of the EAA Home Website, which, among many intriguing features, includes webinars for members who are building experimental aircraft of their own. He also pointed out how National Headquarters is awarding funds to Chapters who want to develop their own Tool Banks for members to use when building their new airplanes.
Close up photo of John Keithly’s Commendation Plaque
The first EAA Chapter 1570 YOUNG EAGLES FLIGHT for 2019 was sucessfully completed this past weekend. As usual, it was conducted at the Doña Ana County International Jetport in Santa Teresa, NM. The participants enjoyed the fine facilities of the War Eagles Air Museum (WEAM) for the entire operation. After the event wound down, the volunteers had a lunch and defriefing in the Executive Meeting Room of the Museum.
Most of the young first-time flyers were able to enjoy the many WEAM exhibits after their flights. Chief Registrar, Melissa Keithly,reported that the morning session saw 55 new Young Eagles take to the skies for their first introductory airplane flight.
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Melissa Keithlybusily registering Young Eagles for the day’s first-flights. By the noon deadline she had booked 55 young people for their first personal airplane flight adventure.
Bob Dockendorfand Tomás Peralta surveying the activities as they get undersay. Tomás was the event’s Organizer.
L to R: Tom Holmsley, EAA Chapter 1570 President, John Keithly, chatting with Fritz Gatlin.
L to R: Juan Britoand Chapter VP, John Singnorino, in discussion before the flying started.
L to R: John Signorino, Juan Brito, Marcia McNamee andMelissa Keithlyat registration table as a parent signs up.
Melissa Keithlydescribing procedure for signing up the children . . .
L to R: Charles Crawford, Tomás Peralta, and Laura Dittlevson,going over the flight line procedures . . .
L to R: John Signorino and John Ortonreturning from the Fllight-Line . . .
L to R: Kathyn and WEAM Operations Manager, George Guerra, at work behind the WEAM Gift Shop counter.
Pres. John Keithlykicks off the program with his Young Eagle Co-Pilot, Yessenia Cano,in his WT-9 Dynamic Aircraft
John briefs Yesseniaon the aircraft controls and instruments, explainnng how they work and why they are important to fully understand.
Yesseniaand Johntaxii out for her first flilght
Johnand his next Young Eagle, Alondra Tinajero, are ready to taxi out to the runway.
A happy new Young Eagle, Alondra Tinejero, and her EAA Pilot, John Keithly, areall smiles after her first demo flight
John Keithly explains sleft wing aeleron flight control to his nextg Young Eagle, Marco Talamontes
John helps Marco arrange and fasten his safety harness.
Marco gives the thumbs up signal that shows he is ready to fly!
Pilot and his Co-Pilot are ready to start . . .
Marco proudly poses with Mr. Keithlyafter his inaugural Young Eagle Flight.
Ready to become another Young Eagle, Alfredo Vargas, is all smiles wth Pilot John Keithly.
While Allan Yapor’sfather stands by, John Signorino (sitting at right) completes the new Young Eagle’s Fllight Logbook entry and fills out his Official EAA Young Eagles Certificate of Accomplishment, attesting to Allan’s 1st Flight Adventure.
Allan Yaporstands proudly next to his pilot, John Signorino, who is a former Army Combat Aviator and Vice President of the 1570 Chapter. John owns and manages the security locksmithing firm, Pop-A-Lock, in El Paso, Texas.
John Signorino taxis back from his flight with his new Young Eagle, Vincent Hardy, whose lucky father, Philip, went along in one of the Cessna 182 Skylane’s back seats.
New Young Eagle, Vincent Hardy, is alll smiles after his first Flight Adventure as John Signorino’s Co-Pilot.
L to R: Ground Crew volunteer, Laura Dittevson, Vicent Hardy, John Signorino, and Philip Hardy pose beside the Cessna Skylane.
Back down to Mother Earth for the Pritchetts.
L to R: John Signorino, the proud new Young Eagle, Nicholas Pritchett, and his father, Virgil, pose with the newly made out EAA Achievement Certificate and Young Eagle Log Book.
L to R: John Completes new Young Eagle, Riley Franco’sLogbook, as his father, Ruben smiles with satifaction.
Certificate in hand, Riley and his Dad, Ruben Franco, are all smiles, as is their Pilot, John Signorino.
L to R in cockpit of former Army Helicopter: Mike McNamee and his Young Eagle adventurer, Oliver Oropeza. Mike is explaining the controls and instruments to his awestruck Young Eagle. Mike also has a fixed wing Cessna 182 Skylane, which he generously contrtibuted to the event’s group of working aircraft.
Mike sets the rotors in motion as he warms up his chopper for takeoff.
And, straight up, off they go!
Pilot, John Orton(long-time Advisor and former Trustee of the FASF) helps his Young Eagle, Justin Walters, safely and comfortably secure his seat belt and shoulder harness. John is both a former army and Air Foce veteran. His airplane is a U.S. manufactured Diamond DV20, used by the USAF to provide pilot-training for Air Force Academy Cadets.
Final adjustments to the now fastened safety harness, and they were soon aloft.
The new Young Eagle, Justin Walters, poses with his happy Mother, Danielle, and Father, Mike Fisher.
John Ortonexplains, to his next Young Eagle, Kristopher Zapata, how to use the Headset and mic.
Johnexplaining the instrments and controls to Kristopher.
L To R: Chapter Ground Crew Volunteer, Charles Crawfordand Mrs. Zapata, watch as her son, Kristopher gets briefed by John Orton. . .
Kristopherwatches as John Ortongoes through the startup checklist . . .
Johnwatches as his next Young Eagle, Daniel Rayos, gets into the cockpit.
Johnexplains to Daniel the use of the headset and microphone.
Danielwaves adios as John begins to taxi outfor takeoff. The following short (3 min) video shows the start and departure for their takeoff.
El Paso Judge, Alex Gonzalez, just took Larissa Rodriguez (left, standing) up on her Young Eagle Flight in his Cessna 172. Her parents sat in the rear seat. Ground Crew Volunteer, Laura Dittevson, helps by holding open the passenger door.
L to R: Clearly, Larissa’s father, Andres, enjoyed the experience as much as did Judge Gonzalez. The following short (51 seconds) video is of their return to pick up Larissa’s Young Eagle Certificate and Logbook. The second, one (1) minute video, is their discusion of the flight experience. Jim Foster and his Young Eagle are at the end of this video, too.
Professional Instructor Pilot,Jim Foster,poses by the Cessna 172 in which he just initiated Young EAgle, Amna Noor, to the thrill of flying.
Amna and her father look on as Jim finishes up the paper work.
Jim Fosterposes with his Young Eagle Co-Pilot, “RJ” (Ruben) Franco, whose brother, Riley, also obtained his Young Eagle award, earlier, from John Signorino.
EAA Young Eagle Certificate and Logbook in hand, “RJ” poses with his mentor, Jim Foster, and his Mom, Lisa.
German Air Force (Lufwaffe) specialist, Dominic Austen,from chapter 1570, chipped in and did his part, too. His first Young Eagle of the day is seen above: Zion Hernandez.
Jada Gaton is now a Young Eagle, and her mother, Arecely poses by her, as Pilot, Dominic Austen, approvingly looks on.
Andrea Rayos eagerly moves the control yoke in the Cessna 182 Skylane in which she achieved her Young Eagle status, as did her brother,Daniel, who flew with John Orton earlier. Dominic watches from the door. The short (11 second) video below shows Dominicand Andreaas they start the engine to taxi to the runway.
His Young Eagle securely belted in, Andy Werner, gets ready to start up his A240 Aerotek Light Sport Aircraft for their flight. His Co-Pilot is already properly uniformed in his flight suit and aviator’s sunglasses.
L to R: Yound Eagle to be, Michelle Hernandez’ mother, Adriana, takes photos of her daughter, while Volunteer, Charles Crawfordlooks on, while Michelle poses and Andy Werner describes his Chech built Light Sport airplane to Michelle’s Dad.
Long time FASF and EAA Member, Bob Dockendorfposes proudly with his new Hall of Fame medal about his neck.
The FASF’s long-standing member from El Paso, Bob Dockendorf, has just been elected by the Board of Directors of the El Paso Aviation Association and the local Aviation Community to be inducted into the El Paso Aviation Hall of Fame. This past weekend celebrated this significant event with a special banquet, packed with area aviation celebrities and held at the Dona Ana Country International Jetport‘s famed War Eagles Air Museum (“WEAM”).
Most know Bob as the Executive Director of WEAM, but there is more you may not know:
Not just for his accomplishments as Director of WEAM, where, as its Executive Director, he has taken the historical facility to a new level of admirable excellence, but he was a key founder among the few local area aviators who started the highly successful new EAA chapter 1570 at the Dona Ana County International Jetport.
He also directed the start of the John and Betty MacGuire student Pilot scholarship as part of that same EAA 1570 project. This student contribution provides both an aircraft and flight instruction for young adults up to and including their first solo flight.
Those are but just a few of his aviation contributions to our local communities. Besides his personal membership in the FASF, Bob’s beloved WEAM is one of our proud Local Business Supporters, too.
Here is a quote from the official Aviation Hall of Fame Award plaque created in Bob’s Honor:
Even in his childhood days, Robert J. (Bob) Dockendorf had a passion for history, aviation and museums. Born and educated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, several job promotions and opportunities eventually brought him, his wife Mary and their family to El Paso, Texas.
He served proudly as the Squadron Leader of the Sun Country Squadron of the Commemorative Air Force as well as an Officer of Chapter 1570 of the Experimental Aircraft Association.
While completing his career as a property and casualty insurance broker, he served in a professional advisory capacity to the newly formed War Eagles Air Museum. When he retired from his successful insurance career, he was offered the opportunity and challenge to serve as the War Eagles Air Museum’s Executive Director.
Being armed with aircraft, automobiles, memorabilia, and a deep desire to succeed, he led the staff and volunteers at War Eagles to the accomplishment of the mission of the museum, “To Educate and Encourage,” paying specific attention to youth. All those efforts helped bring new life and energy to the Dona Ana County International Jetport at Santa Teresa, New Mexico, adjacent to El Paso, Texas.
The following photographs were taken this past weekend at the ceremony and Banquet held in Bob’shonor, whereBob was inducted into the El Paso Texas Aviation Hall of Fame.
L to R: John Keithly, President of the EAA Chapter 1570 chats with Virg Hemphill, FASF Aviation News Scout and Volunteer Docent at WEAM. To Virg’s right in background, is FASF member and also Docent, Charlie Overstreet.
L to R: Docent Charlie Overstreettalking with Mario Campos, also a Docent at WEAM. Both are members of the FASF.
L to R: Ammber Valverde,Daedalian Aviation Scholarship winner, engaged in a lively discussion with her table mate, former El Paso, TX Mayor and renown local Aviator, Suzie Azar, who is also one of the FASF’s Advisors. Ammber is a Junior at the University of Texas El Paso (UTEP) and also a member of the New Mexico State University (NMSU) AFROTC. She plans to be an Air Force Pilot.
L to R: at the Daedalian Society Table is: Virg and Jenine Hemphill, Roger Nichols, Mayre Sue and Charlie Overstreet, and Mario and Judy Campos. All are active FASF members.
The El Paso CAP Table with two prior Hall of Fame awardees, Roland and Debbie Torres, along with their Cadet Honor Guard: From (R to L), Cadet Captain Hunter Spierin Dress Blue uniform, and C/CMSgt Jonathan Herl, C/Amn Eryal Martinez, C/MSgt Daniel Erives, , and C/A1C Vida Rote. This is the group of CAP Cadets who conducted the Flag Ceremonies at the opening and closing of the event.
L to R: Virg Hemphill, Honored Hall of Famer, Bob Dockendorf, Roger Nichols, and Jenine Hemphill.
Bob Dockendorf after accepting the Hall of Fame Award, speaking to the guests.
View of the tables and attendees at the Banquet.
Guest speaker and aviation enthusiast, “Doppler” Dave Spielman, long time Chief Meteorologist for the ABC Network TV Channel in El Paso, TX, KVIA.
Ammber Valverde with Daedalian Flight Captain, Roger Nichols. Roger’s flight is helping mentor Ms. Valverde
Amberposes with Mr. Dockendorfalong with Laura Ditlevson, former winner of the EAA MacGuire Student Pilot Scholarship.
Ammberintently listens to former FASF Trustee and present FASF Advisor and Chair of the Dona Ana County International Jetport’s Board of Directors,Col. John Orton. An ex USAF JAG officer, John continues to fly his own Experimental Aircraft.
