EAA Chapter 186

05/23/2026

Over 35 of us braved the rain to hear Phil Soucy speak about the SR-71. Phil is a retired Air Force Officer and former SR-71 Reconnaissance Systems Officer (RSO). Phil is a graduate of the USAF Test Pilot School as well as the Air Force Fighter Weapons School. He is also a docent at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC. Phil is Co-Founder and Chairman of MTSI, an Alexandria VA based Aerospace Engineering company. He is an aircraft owner and general aviation pilot. We’re learning about the technical attributes of the aircraft with an emphasis on the navigation systems that allowed it to accomplish its cold war mission — super cool!

04/25/2026

Almost 30 of us are enjoying a presentation by Dick Genaille, President of the Virginia Aeronautical Historical Society (VAHS). The VAHS is committed to preserving aviation history and educating the general public of the many contributions Virginia has made and is making to the development of aviation and aerospace. Last year Dick presented “Aviation Firsts Along the Potomac” where we witnessed the findings of his thousands of hours of research into many historic aviation events along the Potomac River from Washington to Quantico. Dick has discovered some fascinating items in VAHS archives! His talk today began with Morton W. Lester, who wanted to guarantee that early contributors to aviation who weren’t famous wouldn’t be forgotten by history.

I suspect a few of us might wind up joining VAHS …

And don’t forget!:

Saturday May 2 VAHS Annual Meeting
1100 to 1700
Horse Feathers Airport
9669 Green Road
Midland, VA 22728

The Virginia Aeronautical Historical Society will hold their annual meeting on Saturday May 2 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Horse Feathers Airport (53VA), 9669 Green Road, Midland, VA. Horse Feathers is a sod strip located in beautiful Virginia countryside reminiscent of the early days of aviation.

All EAA Chapter 186 members and their families are invited to attend. Admission is free. You are welcome to spend as much time as you like at the event.

Attractions and Entertainment:
- VAHS archives and Hall of Fame displays
- VAHS Hall of Fame guest speakers
- Vintage aircraft static displays
- Airplane rides
- Tethered balloon rides
- RC aircraft demos
- Moon bounce and hay wagon rides
- Irish dancers
- Live music

Food and Beverages:
- Food trucks
- Wine and beer bar

Fund Raisers:
- Silent/live auctions
- Raffles

It is preferred and recommended that fly-ins land at Warrenton-Fauquier Airport (HWY), 1533 Iris Trail, Midland, VA and use provided transportation to/from Horsefeathers (six miles). Please mark your calendars and plan to enjoy the day.

04/13/2026

04/12/2026

Thanks to American Airshow Review visiting Warrenton-Fauquier Airport - KHWY while we were doing our Young Eagles event, we got more lovely pictures of some of our Chapter’s aircraft in action! Our visitors enjoyed the other aircraft too, especially the aerobatic ones putting on impromptu airshows in the aerobatic box, the classic Stearman selling rides, and the jump plane releasing parachutists to brighten up the sky while kids were waiting to fly!

03/28/2026

About 40 of us are learning all about the A-10 Thunderbolt II “Warthog” from our very own Paul Schafer!

Paul Schafer has a degree in aeronautical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and earned his private pilot certificate after graduation. Commissioned through Air Force ROTC, he started his 32-year USAF career in 1980 and primarily flew A-10 Warthogs. An outstanding graduate of the USAF Fighter Weapons School, Paul won the Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award for his combat command in Southwest Asia, and flew more than 40 combat missions over southern Iraq. He retired as a major general and is a defense and leadership consultant in Washington, D.C. He is chairman of the EAA Museum Committee. He is also a docent at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.

Paul started homebuilding when he was an undergraduate. He was a project leader for a student team that designed, fabricated, and tested a self-launch composite glider. He is currently building an Onex in his garage. He holds a commercial pilot certificate with more than 3,000 hours. Paul is a volunteer pilot for Patient Airlift Services. He flies Young Eagles, and is the Eagle Flights leader for EAA National Capital Chapter 186. Paul and his wife live in Fairfax, Virginia.

02/28/2026

Over 40 of us started this Saturday with pancakes, sausage, and blueberries for breakfast!

Our speaker this morning is Captain Benjamin Ayivorh, US Air Force. Many of you remember his Dad, the late Niiben Ayivorh based at Manassas Airport. Captain Ayivorh has a great story to tell. He began his Air Force career maintaining the F-16 with assignments including the USAF 16th Weapons School and the Thunderbirds Demonstration Team. He then went on to earn his Officer commission and has flown the F-15C/D Eagle, T-6 Texan II and T-38C. Benjamin’s beginnings with flight started at a young age from flying with his father who dreamed of becoming a pilot as a young child growing up in West Africa.

See what fun stuff you’re missing if you’re not joining us? Come to Manassas! Our Chapter meetings are the fourth Saturday each month, usually with coffee and donuts at 9:30 followed by a speaker at 10:00.

01/24/2026

Taking a break from the super cold outside, 32 of us are thoroughly enjoying a presentation by Doug “Smash” Yurovich, Col, USMC (ret), former F-18 Pilot and Co-Founder and Chief Instructor at Piston2Jet Flight School.

"Smash" has flight experience in over 70 types of aircraft, including the F-4 Phantom, F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet, and the AV-8 Harrier. He served as a US Navy, Marine Corps Detachment, Test Pilot at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station and has the distinct honor of being the first ever Marine to command a US Navy Carrier Air Wing. At Piston2Jet Smash serves as Safety Director creating, managing, and improving safety-of-flight guidelines and procedures. He's a distinguished member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and is the Chief Test Pilot at Piston2Jet.

His first story came from flying backseat with none other than Canadian test pilot Chris Hadfield — later to become famous as a Space Shuttle and ISS astronaut (and musician!) — in spin testing, complete with a jaw-dropping video. Wowsa! He followed that up with the incredibly scary story of his ejection from an F-18.

We do this fun stuff every fourth Saturday from 9:30 to noon; come join us sometime!

12/02/2025

Our Holiday Party is less than a week away! Please plan to attend at the Chapter House at 12:00 Noon on Sunday December 7 for great camaraderie and good food. As always, we will provide a cooked ham, turkey and beverages. Please bring a favorite side dish or dessert. This promises to be another blockbuster party!

Don’t forget to bring an unwrapped new toy for our annual Toys For Tots collection. Please also consider bringing your 2026 dues renewal form and check to the Holiday Party.

And it’s not too late to RSVP, even though it’s December! You can simply comment on this post. 😉