EAA FOUNDER PAUL POBEREZNY & HIS SON TOM, May they RIP

EAA 288 Members

Keith Phillips, one of our founding members, along with his wife Linda, has been a cornerstone of the EAA 288 community for many years. They graciously hosted our chapter meetings and have supported us every step of the way for the past 20 years. We extend our heartfelt thanks to both of them for their generosity, leadership, and unwavering commitment. The time has come for us to find our new chapter home.
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Now, it's time for the next chapter.

We’re excited to announce that EAA 288 has moved into our new space located  at 215 Cessna Blvd. This new facility is allowing us to continue everything we currently do—and to expand far beyond.

Here’s just a taste what the new space enables:

A dedicated Young Eagles classroom, including STEM projects
An extensive aeronautical and technical library
Aircraft build space
Tool borrowing and rental
Classroom areas for workshops and training events for young and old
Hangar space for 4–5 aircraft
Room for our flight simulators
Ample space for social activities, gatherings and aviators’ lounge
Imagine this:

Want to build an aircraft but lack the room? Now you can—in YOUR EAA 288 hangar.

Need advice or a casual chat with an experienced Tech Counselor? Do it in YOUR EAA 288 hangar.

Facing a challenge with your airplane? Find support in YOUR EAA 288 hangar.

Want to polish your instrument proficiency? Hop in YOUR EAA 288 simulator.

We also plan to host community and private events in the new meeting room, offering capabilities not currently available within the Spruce Creek Fly-In community.

This is just the beginning.

These are some of our initial ideas—we want to hear yours.

We’re planning more member workshops to discuss priorities and gather your input on what will make this new space a true chapter home. These will be collaborative sessions to explore ideas, determine which initiatives to prioritize, and identify members interested in leading or chairing key efforts as we move forward.

Together, we can make EAA 288 the model of what an EAA chapter should be: a vibrant hub for aviation, education, and community.

How we’ll support it:

To make this vision sustainable, we’ll rely on three key funding sources:

Aircraft hangar rentals to community members
A slight increase in annual dues to cover costs (the amount will be dependent on committed donations)
Donations, like those given for our simulator purchase
While rental income will help, it won’t cover all expenses. Your dues and contributions will be vital to maintaining and growing the space. We are working on creative ways to approach the benefit and acknowledgment of these contributions. Your input is welcome.

Looking further ahead:

Our long-term goal is to own our facility. This new hangar is leased, but we’re starting a Building Fund to prepare for eventual ownership— whether it’s this hangar or another. Again, as always, we invite voluntary contributions from members and the broader community.

Let’s build the future of EAA 288—together. This is our chapter.
We’ll need your ideas, your energy, and a bit of elbow grease to shape this new space into something special for every member.

Twas the night before Christmas, and out on the ramp,
Not an airplane was stirring, not even a Champ.
The aircraft were fastened to tiedowns with care,
In hopes that come morning, they all would be there.
The fuel trucks were nestled, all snug in their spots,
With gusts from two-forty at 39 knots.
I slumped at the fuel desk, now finally caught up,
And settled down comfortably, resting my butt.
When the radio lit up with noise and with chatter,
I turned up the scanner to see what was the matter.
A voice clearly heard over static and snow,
Called for clearance to land at the airport below.
He barked his transmission so lively and quick,
I’d have sworn that the call sign he used was “St. Nick”.
I ran to the panel to turn up the lights,
The better to welcome this magical flight.
He called his position, no room for denial,
“St. Nicholas One, turnin’ left onto final.”
And what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a Rutan-built sleigh, with eight Rotax Reindeer!
With vectors to final, down the glideslope he came,
As he passed all fixes, he called them by name:
“Now Ringo! Now Tolga! Now Trini and Bacun!
On Comet! On Cupid!” What pills was he takin’?
While controllers were sittin’, and scratchin’ their head,
They phoned to my office, and I heard it with dread,
The message they left was both urgent and dour:
“When Santa pulls in, have him please call the tower.”
He landed like silk, with the sled runners sparking,
Then I heard “Left at Charlie,” and “Taxi to parking.”
He slowed to a taxi, turned off of three-oh
And stopped on the ramp with a “Ho, ho-ho-ho…”
He stepped out of the sleigh, but before he could talk,
I ran out to meet him with my best set of chocks.
His red helmet and goggles were covered with frost
And his beard was all blackened from Reindeer exhaust.
His breath smelled like peppermint, gone slightly stale,
And he puffed on a pipe, but he didn’t inhale.
His cheeks were all rosy and jiggled like jelly,
His boots were as black as a cropduster’s belly.
He was chubby and plump, in his suit of bright red,
And he asked me to “fill it, with hundred low-lead.”
He came dashing in from the snow-covered pump,
I knew he was anxious for drainin’ the sump.
I spoke not a word, but went straight to my work,
And I filled up the sleigh, but I spilled like a jerk.
He came out of the restroom, and sighed in relief,
Then he picked up a phone for a Flight Service brief.
And I thought as he silently scribed in his log,
These reindeer could land in an eighth-mile fog.
He completed his pre-flight, from the front to the rear,
Then he put on his headset, and I heard him yell, “Clear!”
And laying a finger on his push-to-talk,
He called up the tower for clearance and squawk.
“Take taxiway Charlie, the southbound direction,
Turn right three-two-zero at pilot’s discretion”
He sped down the runway, the best of the best,
“Your traffic’s a Grumman, inbound from the west.”
Then I heard him proclaim, as he climbed through the night,
“Merry Christmas to all! I have traffic in sight.”

Author unknown

NOTE:  THESE MEETINGS ARE CURRENTLY ON HOLD

Special Homebuilders Meetings will try to be scheduled monthly.  These meetings are about one hour in length and will cover topics for experimental and standard certified aircraft.  Open to all Chapter Members and their guests. Details will be announced.