By Rick Durden
President EAA757
After five Huckleberry Pancake Breakfasts at the Boundary County Airport last summer were attended by more than 1,200 happy pancake connoisseurs, Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 757 of Boundary County raised and distributed over $12,000 in scholarships for aspiring young pilots and aircraft mechanics.
Good weather helped turnout as people drove and flew in on the last Saturday morning of May, June, July, August, and September.
With some 60 airplanes flying into the July festivities, breakfast visitors were able to see airplanes from the most modern to restored antique and classics going back to the World War II era.
The breakfasts could not have been the success they were, or even possible without the dedication of EAA Chapter 757 members and volunteers.
The Chapter’s thanks go out particularly to local businesses that went above and beyond the call of duty to make donations of food and equipment, including Northern Air, Super One Foods and especially Three-Mile Café, the longest-time sponsor of the breakfasts. Our thanks also go to the Bonners Ferry Rotary Club for its generous cash donation.
Because of the financial assistance provided by the flight scholarship program, many Boundary County young people have learned to fly, earned advanced pilot ratings or become certificated aircraft and powerplant mechanics. A number of them have gone on to careers in professional aviation.
Included among those who have been assisted by the scholarship program are Laila Jessop, private pilot, Phil Weaver, aircraft and powerplant mechanic, and Nicole Blackmore, certified flight instructor, all of Bonners Ferry. Blackmore and Iacoulucci are now flying professionally as a flight instructors at Northern Air. Two beneficiaries of the scholarship program in the last few years who are now flying for airlines are Dalin Hubbard and Johannes Snyder.
EAA Chapter 757 also held a Young Eagles Day in 2024 as part of an EAA initiative that introduces children to aviation by providing free introductory flights to children ages 8-17. During the event, EAA Chapter 757 members flew took over 60 kids for flights over the Boundary County Area.
The Huckleberry Pancake Breakfasts and Young Eagles Day also gave residents of the area an up-close view of the Boundary County Airport and let them see some of the value it provides to the community including flight training for future airline, military and recreational pilots, a base for forest fire fighting, emergency medical airlift, air transportation and recreation for our area.
EAA Chapter 757 thanks everyone who came to the airport and enjoyed its breakfasts and Young Eagles Day. We’re planning to continue all the events in 2025, so mark your calendars for 8 to 10 a.m. on the last Saturday of the months of May through September. We’re looking forward to seeing you at the Airport. We’ll also be announcing the date of our Young Eagles Day for 2025 so stay tuned!
