Christmas came early for Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 534 at the Leesburg International Airport (KLEE) in Florida.
On Nov. 19, 2021, trucks from LakeSide Electrical Services rolled up in front of the chapter’s hangar door and started to unload tall ladders and a lot of boxes.
A few days before, Tracey Dean, the Leesburg airport manager, contacted chapter president Steve Tilford to see if it would be possible to install new overhead lights in the hangar. The old ones were probably put in when the hangar was built 25 or 30 years ago and were fluorescents, many of which had not been working for some time.
The fluorescent lighting was so dim that some members had to bring in their own high intensity flashlights when they were doing some close work on aircraft.
When the old light fixtures were taken down, several were found to have bad ballasts and hornets nests in them. These poor mud daubers were now going to have to find new homes.
The new lights are light emitting diodes (LED) made by Envoy Lighting and each produce 21,000 lumens of white light, turning night into day. They hang down from the ceiling about three feet and bathe the hangar floor in welcomed energy efficient white light. Now you almost need sunglasses!
For some years chapter members have been hampered by a lack of suitable light by which to build, repair, and teach local kids the excitement of working on airplanes.
Chapter volunteers were available to move planes and current projects around so the electricians could set up their ladders where they needed to be.
While the electricians were there, Tilford also had them wire up a new air compressor that was donated to the chapter. Members note the old compressor worked, but it vibrated a lot and sounded “like a 747 was flying through the hangar.” The newly donated compressor is “much quieter and higher capacity,” they add.
“These changes will help to make the mission to expose local kids to the wonders of aviation much easier,” chapter officials said.
Through the chapter’s youth program, members hope to inspire young people to learn to fly, build, and repair airplanes.
OSHA will LOVE that first photo!!!