EAA Chapter 1116 - Palm Springs Wings

09/19/2026

Happy Saturday, everyone!

WELCOME BACK, EAA CHAPTER 1116 - PALM SPRINGS WINGS! ☀️

What a great way to kick off the 2026–2027 season! We were thrilled to welcome everyone back today and enjoy some beautiful blue skies, great company, and best of all, temperatures under three digits!

Of course, no EAA gathering would be complete without coffee, donuts, and good aviation conversation. ☕🍩 We had plenty to celebrate and lots to look forward to as we begin another busy year for our chapter.

‼️Some things discussed today at the meeting:

EAA has confirmed that our chapter flew its 5,000th Young Eagle in January 2026! 🎉

That is an incredible milestone and a wonderful reflection of the many volunteers, pilots, families, and supporters who have helped introduce young people to the possibilities of aviation. 5,000 Young Eagles… and counting!
We are looking forward to planning our upcoming Young Eagle events and getting more young people into the skies ✈️ A big thank you, Robby,for your tireless efforts!

✈️ RAY SCHOLAR UPDATE

Jacob Snyder shared some encouraging news. He has logged 11.1 flight hours, including night flying, is studying for his written test, and is getting closer to his first solo flight!

Jacob also gave special thanks to his instructors Robby, Kevin, and Ethan for their guidance and support.

Keep up the great work, Jacob! We’re cheering you on! 👏

🔧 DAVIDOW SCHOLARSHIP UPDATE

We’re also excited to share an update on our Fall 2026 Davidow Scholarship recipient, Leah Kerr-Monroe.

Leah is completing her Airframe training at Chaffey College and plans to begin Powerplant training in spring 2027. The scholarship will help support her FAA exams as she works toward her goal of becoming a helicopter mechanic. 🚁🔧

It is wonderful to see Leah’s hard work bringing that goal closer. A special thank-you to Betty Davidow and everyone who helps make these opportunities possible.

Seeing the students move forward is what this is all about!

👀 LOOKING AHEAD

We’re also looking forward to continuing our work with our friends at the Palm Springs Chapter of the Air & Space Forces Association, Chapter 134. Ian Sitren was present today to express his excitement in moving forward to support the future of the aviation industry.

‼️ There is a lot of shared enthusiasm for helping young people discover aviation and explore opportunities in the aerospace community. We’ll have more to share as those plans develop!

HERE’S TO A GREAT NEW SEASON!

It’s shaping up to be a busy and exciting year for EAA Chapter 1116! There is plenty to look forward to.

Thank you to everyone who came out today. It was great seeing familiar faces and welcoming everyone back!

We hope to see you next month!

📅 Saturday, October 17, 2026
✈️ EAA Chapter 1116 — Palm Springs Wings

08/22/2026

https://youtu.be/HvO-DzTZh7E?is=w_dDVFAqzSpvGn_7

William Hines took his love of airplanes to new heights, and his pa...

08/19/2026

One of our chapter’s most valued partners. Congratulations Desert Jet crew!! 🛩️👩‍✈️🛩️👨‍✈️💯🇺🇸

We're excited and honored to be featured by Greater Palm Springs Business Insider!

The article highlights Desert Jet's record season, continued growth, and how private aviation helps connect visitors, business leaders, aircraft owners, and flight crews to everything that makes Greater Palm Springs such a special destination.

We're grateful to our customers, partners, team members, and community who continue to be part of our journey.

A special thank you to Bob Marra and the GPS Business Insider team for sharing our story.

👉Visit our website to read more and click through to the full article: https://rebrand.ly/desert-jet-record-season-featured

08/19/2026

Looks like our home airport is growing up! 👨‍✈️👩‍✈️🛩️🛩️

A $1.57 million FAA award will move Riverside County closer to building an air traffic control tower at the Thermal airport, advancing a project local officials have pursued for years as traffic and investment have grown.

06/24/2026

We hope everyone is having a wonderful summer and finding time to enjoy the season.

Our monthly meetings will resume in October, and we look forward to seeing everyone again then.

If you're staying local this summer, stay cool and enjoy the sunshine. If you're traveling, we wish you safe travels and memorable adventures.

For those attending EAA AirVenture 2026 (July 20-26 in OshKosh), be sure to take plenty of photos and tag us, we'd love to follow along and see your experiences from aviation's greatest gathering!

Until then, stay safe, enjoy your summer, and be well.
See you in October!

05/03/2026

04/30/2026

We are incredibly proud to see one of our young pilots recognized by the Riverside County Office of Education. Watching him accept this award is a powerful reminder of the passion, dedication, and character that define the next generation of aviators.

Our chapter takes great pride not only in his achievements, but in the caliber of young people who add to our aviation community. The future of flight is in very good hands.

Congratulations, Aiden!

04/20/2026

Our April EAA meeting included perfect weather, an amazing breakfast, and honoring the life of Sid Burks, Vice President and Secretary of EAA Chapter 1116, Palm Springs Wings.

If you didn’t know Sid personally, it wouldn’t take more than a quick Google search to find that he was a passionate advocate for aviation, education, and history. A student of desert, aviation, and military history, he dedicated countless hours to learning and sharing his knowledge with others throughout the Coachella Valley. Whether through community lectures or conversations at the hangar, Sid had a remarkable ability to bring history to life and inspire those around him.

He served for many years in the California Community College system as both an instructor and administrator, and later continued his work in education as a full-time lecturer at California State University, San Bernardino, where he taught Career Technical Studies. His impact in the classroom was profound and reflected in the deep respect and admiration of his students, many of whom praised his passion, knowledge, and dedication.

Sid was known as a serious enthusiast of military, aviation, and desert history, and he shared that enthusiasm generously with the community. His presentations across the Coachella Valley enriched countless lives and helped foster a deeper appreciation for the history that surrounds us.

Perhaps the biggest legacy he leaves with our chapter, besides our fond memories with him, is coming up with the idea of connecting us to Chaffee College and working with them and Betty Davidow to form the Davidow AMT Scholarship Program, that has already supported four students, and will continue to in perpetuity. This is the ONLY program of its kind in the entire country of EAA chapters, as featured in the August 2025 edition of the EAA magazine.

Beyond his accomplishments, Sid will be remembered for his kindness, his willingness to share, and his unwavering commitment to education and aviation. In addition to being a great pilot, and one of the most dedicated members our chapter has ever seen, Sid volunteered his time driving blood around, and also leading a widow care program in his church.

He will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Blue skies and tailwinds, Sid.

The meeting also included some information on future Young Eagle events by coordinator, Robby Phillips. Stay tuned for more planning coming on that around September.

Thank you to all who came and shared in the meaningful morning with us!

*Special thanks to Mike Shear and Elizabeth Witte for keeping the eggs, bacon, and pancakes coming. Thank you Melissa Witte for your assistance in setting up and breaking down, along with keeping the coffee, drinks, and food flowing. Sloan’s restaurant provided their delicious pancake batter and member, Julian, provided fresh eggs from his very own chickens.

04/10/2026

An email will be coming your way soon, consider this your “save the date.” We can’t wait to see everyone there!

*if you are not on our email list, please call 760-302-1116 to RSVP.