Archive for the ‘Scholarship’ Category

Green Castle Scholarship 2012 Rules Announced – Open for Applications

Sunday, January 22nd, 2012

The Green Castle Aero Club and its members would like to welcome candidates to apply for the Bill Kimble Flight Training Scholarship.  We offer this scholarship periodically to honor the memory of Bill Kimble, one of our founding members, by awarding the chance to earn a pilot’s license to a deserving young person.  The ideal candidate  someone with an enduring attraction  to aviation.  Past graduates have gone on to become airline pilots, military pilots, flight engineers and air traffic controllers, or simply begun a lifelong hobby.  Earning a pilot’s license requires two closely related types of training:  study of flying theory and rules “on the ground” to pass a written test and acquisition of practical skills “in the air” to pass what is referred to as a “check ride.”  This year, we have revised the Scholarship into a two phase experience with the intent of potentially making it available to more individuals.

The Club’s flight training scholarship will be offered in two phases.  Recipients of the Phase I scholarship will be enrolled in our ground school free of charge. The goal of this phase is to prepare for the written test required for a private pilot’s license.

Recipients of our Phase II Scholarship, drawn from the Phase I recipients after they have been observed in ground school for a period of time, will go on to flying with an instructor.  The goal of this phase is to pass the “Check Ride” and earn a private pilot’s license.

For details and for downloadable Announcement and Application forms (or a Scholarship Poster,) click on this SCHOLARSHIP link.

Green Castle congratulates Chris Lenz, winner of the 2011 Bill Kimble Flight Scholarship

Monday, May 23rd, 2011


Chris lives with his parents Bret and Connie in North Liberty and attends 11th grade at Clear Creek Amana School District. The Lenz’s are longtime active Green Castle members who are probably familiar to anyone who has been to many of our Club activities. Among other things, Chris and his Dad actively maintain the runway lights at Green Castle. Chris has a self-employed summer job mowing lawns and promises to do a little mowing at Green Castle as well. Chris hopes that the pilot’s license he earns this year will be the first step to becoming a professional pilot. If it is, he will be following the footsteps of his maternal grandfather and his older brother.

Now accepting applications for 2011 Green Castle flying scholarship

Saturday, February 19th, 2011

Bill Kimble, flight instructor and charter member of Green Castle Aero Club

For detail and a link to download scholarship materials Click on SCHOLARSHIP

(or go to the SCHOLARSHIP page in the “Flight Plan” section of this website on the upper right side of the home page. )

2010 Bill Kimble Green Castle Flying Scholarship Winner is Skyler Rath

Monday, June 7th, 2010

Skyler Rath (foreground) with parents Scott and Laurie Rath

This year’s Bill Kimble Green Castle Scholaraship winner is Skyler Rath, from North Liberty, an entering 11th grader at Solon High School.  Skyler is “retired” from Motocross competition.  He is a trap shooter and an excellent student.  Skyler hopes to eventually go to the Air Force Academy and become a military pilot.

We welcome the Rath’s the Green Castle Aero Club!

International Learn to Fly Day at Green Castle 2010

Sunday, May 16th, 2010

Our first annual flour drop was held on Saturday, May 15, 2010 at Nelson Field.  In the morning, eleven groups took advantage of our inexpensive introductory flights.  Many of them had wanted to try flying in a small plane for years.  Several young children were entranced by the chance to fly. In the afternoon ace pilots from near and far took to the sky for one or both of two competitions.  All donations for food and bags of flour go to our Bil Kimble flying scholarship.  The flour drop requires a two person operation.  The pilot is responsible for judging wind and air speed so as to bring the plane precisely over the target (a blue tarp about eight feet square staked beside the runway) at no lower than 300 feet above the ground.  The bombardier is responsible for releasing a popcorn sack of flour at just the right time so that it will fall on the target.  Sound easy?  See below.

The Field of Battle!

Impact site and flour trail

The Bomb: a popcorn bag filled with flour and numbered

Brett Lenz standing next to the Target

Some of the Crew: left to right – Jim Beeghly, Chris Lenz, Kathy Barry, Walker Olson, Brett Lenz, Tim Scheer

Flour Drop Winners: Left Bob Berry 3rd place , Center Mark Eads 1st place, Right, Randy Stannard 2nd place

Spot Landing Winners: Terry Koehn 1st Place, Tim Scheer (in hat) 2nd Place, …….3rd place (not pictured)

What's Wrong With This Picture?

Fortunately, there was not a spelling competition!