On Tuesday, January 7, 2020 chapter member John Tate’s RV-6A loosed the surly bonds and became a flying aircraft.

Originally started in 1997, the project had passed through the hands of three previous builders before John was able to get it to the finish line of a successful airworthiness inspection and RV grin-generating first flight.

Many EAA 1541 members helped along the way, particularly Dick Rupe, Ken Schwartz and Tech Counselor Dan Masys. The aircraft’s registration, N787TJ, reflects both John’s day job as a Dreamliner pilot for United, and the fact that all of the good N7xx numbers ending in JT had already been reserved by a pilot named John Travolta.

Congratulations, John!