Aviation Explorer Post 8

06/21/2026

Thank you to everyone who attended today's Pancake Fundraiser and Young Eagles Flights!

We appreciated today's support. Those who didn't make it this year, we know life has a way of filling the flight schedule and you can support us in many other ways.

To our pilots at Top City Aviators, parents, Scouts, Gate 36, and volunteers: WOW! Thank you for making this event a success. The teamwork was remarkable and some scouts took multiple shifts for 4+ hours on their feet and some slept only a few hours to put in their expertise.

It was extra-special having the EAA pilots who donated their time, fuel, and aircraft. Together, 28 Young Eagles flights were performed, introducing nearly 40 youth to the wonder of aviation. Lifetime memories were made.

Gate 36 Eatery & Spirits By J. Engroff donated the pancake syrup. Gate 36, if you noticed a sudden disturbance in the Pancake Force this morning in the restaurant, it was because your syrup was fueling a new generation of aviators and the community encouraging them. Oh, and that was totally not us wafting pancake smells towards your Saturday morning customers!

A selection of photos from today can be found at:
https://hangar.post8.org/photoalbums/pancake2026/ and can be easily added to Facebook feeds and downloaded.

Now to bed while I dream of winning our next event, but I can't share it just yet because the scouts haven't completed the plans. Loose lips sink chili bowls, and I'm notoriously bad at keeping secrets. Let's say there may be a future competition involving aviation, bragging rights, and enough of [redacted] to require its own NOTAM.

Keep your airspeed up, pancakes warm, and your dreams pointed toward the horizon...and give it more butter...err, RIGHT-RUDDER!!

06/20/2026

Post 8 - Morning of the Pancake Fundraiser, 2026

06/20/2026

Pancakes flying off the griddle! K eep your eyes on the road and your appetite pointed toward Billard Airport before 11:30 AM (Eagle Flights until noon). Here's a look at the morning so far... 😄

06/20/2026

EAA Chapter 1693, also known as the Top City Aviators, are having a safety meeting as I type this. They are preparing for flights. You can see on the screen a review of the KTOP area and discussion of weather. One pilot said, "We couldn't have asked for any better weather than this."

I suspect the syrup dispensers are their secret aviation fuel. Every time someone refills one, another pilot appears. Scouts have not yet commented on this phenomenon as they're mixing the pancake batter and discussing food safety.

See you soon!

06/20/2026

Scouts, advisors, and parents spent this evening getting Post 8 ready for tomorrow's Pancake Fundraiser!

The grounds have been cleared and mowed, the hangar floor polished, and plans made for Young Eagle flight sign-ups. A few brave volunteers even battled "severe weather conditions" on Friday night to make sure everything is ready for our guests. 🌪️😄

AI was used in one photo, but it's an exercise to the reader to determine which one; Tommy Lee Pugh may say there were no alterations. Gregory Rudnick could be auctioned for yard trimming services if we don't have a good turnout this year.

If you're reading this Saturday morning, stop what you're doing and come support your local Aviation Explorers! Breakfast is hot, the airplanes are ready for pre-flight checks, and we'd love to see you at the hangar for our fundraising efforts.

06/18/2026

"Here is something we’ve NEVER done before!"

That's a perfectly exciting sentence from Post 8 and yet a slightly terrifying one from your pilot.

I didn't broadcast this bit about Saturday as to avoid jinxing Saturday's weather, but the pancake final approach is just a day away, and this is something I'd have loved to experience as a kid.

Kids ages 7 to 17 can take a Young Eagles flight, courtesy of Topeka's own EAA chapter #1693 and volunteer pilots! The forecast is looking wonderful (knock on wood!!!), with partly-cloudy skies that I'm hopeful to remain VFR while side-eying the KTOP METAR.

Flights run 8 AM to noon, first-come, first to fly.

While waiting, enjoy pancakes and sausage, meet fellow aviation geeks, watch air traffic on a monitor (or your phone from the Post 8 Spotter Network!), ask lingering aviation geeks how ADS-B works, admire a unique pancake griddle that goes in circles (like our advisors!), argue over what makes planes REALLY fly, make friends with strangers, and what we really want: watch the Scouts scramble pancakes and flip sausages, hopefully not in that order.

Breakfast is an at-will donation benefiting Aviation Explorer Squadron Post 8, America's oldest continuously registered Aviation Explorer Post, serving youth in NE Kansas since 1952. We're 100% volunteer-run, no paid staff, helping young people develop leadership and aviation skills.

If all else fails, they've gained the ability to make one humongous breakfast!!

06/17/2026

Please join me in congratulating Luke B. on successfully completing his check ride and earning his Private Pilot license.

Luke recently completed his term as President of Post 8 while pursuing his own aviation goals. Just a day after his milestone, he departed for boot camp.

Ground school endorsement testing came to an end of a 2-year cycle on Sunday. I've learned earning a PPL requires patience, perseverance, and practice.... and you thought I was going to try making more alliterations like we did for this Saturday's pancake Event title, didn't you?!

Luke may have traded his Post 8 Dress Blues for a military uniform, but I have a feeling the skies haven't seen the last of him. Congratulations, Luke. Don't forget, the rest of us will be practicing our pancake-flipping and eating skills at the June 20 Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser while he's away!

Make sure to indicate if you're going to the Pancake Fundraiser -- it'll help us measure out the perfectly proper proportions of pancake portions... argh, here we go again!!

06/10/2026

Upon walking into the KSNT 27 News Studio this morning with Dane G. Kroll, we became increasingly convinced that artificial intelligence had finally taken over NE Kansas television.

"Claude says we're on in 90 seconds."

"Claude, move Cameras 2 and 3."

"Claude, cue my next segment."

The unmanned cameras swiveled obediently into position like something straight out of a sci-fi film. With no humans rushing around the studio just minutes before the 9 AM broadcast, my brain immediately jumped to one conclusion:

Claude AI had seized control of KSNT.

Turns out, the real explanation was less alarming. Aviation Explorers Isaac B and Braiden J had arrived for their first television appearance on KSNT to spread the good word of pancakes and aviation for our "Flippin' Flapjacks for Fueling Future Flyers" Fundraiser this June 20th (10 days away!).

The guys shared that, weather permitting, we'll be linking with the Topeka EAA - The Spirit of Aviation Young Eagles Flights for youth ages 8 to 17. It's a great combination: fill up on pancakes, top off your syrup reserves, talk with current Post 8 Explorers like Isaac and Braiden, meet volunteer pilots from Topeka's EAA chapter, and watch kids log their very first flight experience.

We had a behind-the-scenes look at the control room (featuring Dane Kroll!) and the automated studio. Honestly, if airplanes were controlled the same way TV cameras are, we'd all be asking, "Claude, request takeoff clearance and zoom in on Runway 18."

Eventually, we met the real Klaud in the control room (see photos), proving that the only intelligence taking over KSNT was the human kind.

If you missed the live segment this morning, check it out here:
https://www.ksnt.com/fox-43/aviation-explorers-post-8-invites-you-a-pancake-breakfast/

Thank you to Dane G. Kroll, KSNT Savanna Miller, Klaud, and the KSNT 27 News crew for making our Explorers feel welcome and for letting us peek behind the curtains at all the button-pushing, timing, and organized chaos that somehow turns into a seamless broadcast. You make it look as natural as an experienced pilot buttering a landing (or me buttering pancake). 🧈

And Dane, if we don't see you flying at Philip Billard anytime soon, you're always welcome to help us make pancakes disappear faster than an airplane in IFR climbing into the clouds.

If you're still reading, don't forget to add our event to your calendar here: https://hangar.post8.org/events/pancakes/

06/09/2026

Anna C and Jaksyn W landed on WIBW today. I bet they even remembered to file a flight plan before entering the studio! Thanks for making our TV appearance possible, WIBW Melissa Brunner!

The sky’s the limit with a pancake feed coming up later this month. >>> https://www.wibw.com/2026/06/08/topekas-aviation-explorers-plan-benefit-pancake-feed/

06/06/2026

The new 2026-2027 Aviation Explorers officers were announced today!

If you're not aware, Scouts interview for officer positions with the current youth leadership team, and selections are made by the teens themselves after considering leadership ability, participation, initiative, character, interests, and commitment.

I suggested awarding bonus points for pancake-flipping proficiency and airplane-related dad jokes, but was quickly reminded that the scouts -- not the volunteers -- run this program.

Congratulations to our newly selected officers:

✈️ President: Anna C.
✈️ Vice-President: Caleb M.
✈️ Secretary: Jakob R.
✈️ Flight Operations Officer: Braiden J.
✈️ Flight Safety Officer: Cole H.
✈️ Public Relations Officer: Isaac B.

This year featured a record number of candidates interviewing for officer positions. The Advisors were impressed not only by those selected, but by every scout who stepped forward and demonstrated a willingness to lead. I'm not just saying that to increase my word count. (editor's note: take away his keyboard, pls!) The professionalism and maturity displayed during the interview process made the decisions especially difficult for the scouts.

Over the years, I've heard countless stories about how Post 8 helped young people grow in confidence and leadership. That growth comes from opportunities like these. Post 8 is somewhat unique in that the scouts run the program (not the parents/advisors). Youth leaders guide meetings, organize activities, solve problems, and shape the direction of the Post 8 (with input from 100%-volunteer advisors).

Looking forward to seeing what this new officer team accomplishes in the coming year. Congratulations to all who interviewed, and thank you for your willingness to serve and lead!

And finally, thank you to the parents, guardians, and families who support their youth in Post 8. The scout may be in the spotlight, but every successful young leader usually has family behind them providing encouragement, patience, transportation, and occasionally a reminder that yes, the KTOP airport is on the other side of Topeka. Your support is one of the greatest gifts you can give your teen, and we are grateful for everything you do.

Now where's my pancake apron?