40 Vol.3 No.2 / Februar y 2014
LIGHT PL ANE WORLD
advanced ultralight instructor under the old exemption
program. He was a dealer for Mini-Max, Quicksilver,
Titan, and others. The 2,200-foot sod strip began with
an RC field on the south end and gradually expanded to
hangars, a go-kart racing track, and a residence and
workshop near the south end. Besides building airplanes,
Tommy's hobbies include building motorcycles and
other interesting custom ground vehicles. The long running
fly-in is organized and run by members of EAA Ultralight
Chapter 88 (Edinburg, Illinois), also known as the Midwest
Illinois Crophoppers.
The fly-in draws about 60 aircraft each year in late
August, including ultralights, light-sport aircraft, home-
builts, and vintage and general aviation (GA) aircraft that
can handle the sod runway. Some of the ultralights still go
"crophopping." When the corn and soybeans are young, the
entire area is a safe emergency landing zone. However, in
late August those ripening ears of corn are bound to hurt as
you go in, so I would avoid them. The dedicated members
of this small chapter put on a well-organized three-day
fly-in with a food vendor, public address system, and an-
nouncer. They have raffles, prizes, and contests for both the
pilots and the kids. Tommy once said he regrets the event is
sometimes called the Tommy Georges' Fly-In when it is the
chapter members who do the work. In fairness, Midwest Il-
linois Crophoppers Ultralight/Light Aircraft Rendezvous is
a mouthful.
ABOUT THE KIDS
EAA has long recognized the importance of stimulating
interest in aviation with youth programs such as the
EAA Air
Academy
camps, Young Eagles, and KidVenture at Pioneer
Airport during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. This chapter does
A newly restored CGS Hawk fl own in from 60 miles away.
Tommy Georges doing the annual candy drop for the kids.
Photography by Dan Grunloh
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