When Patrick Halligan, a board member for Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chapter 25, approached Schweiss Doors owner Mike Schweiss about a good deal on a hangar door, Schweiss stepped up. The chapter was in the process of raising funds for a new hangar and any savings would be helpful.
What Halligan did not expect was for Schweiss to donate what ended up being a bifold door, measuring 54 feet wide by 16 feet tall.
“He looked at me and said, ‘I’ll give you a door,’” Halligan says. “That was his exact wording to me. I think I shook his hand, probably shook his hand too long. It was a very generous offer. I was hoping he’d give us 20% off.”
EAA Chapter 25, based in Lakeville, Minnesota, had been fundraising to build a new hangar for several years, through membership dues, grants, and donations. The chapter had been in its old hangar for nearly 25 years and was outgrowing it.
Fundraising had been going well, but many felt the group was still years away from a new hangar. That all changed when Schweiss Doors donated the door. Not wanting to let such a gift languish, the chapter decided it was time to act.
The old hangar was sold and proceeds went towards building the new structure. Within a few months, the chapter was breaking ground and putting up walls.
The new home of EAA Chapter 25, located at the Airlake Airport in Lakeville, is a 60-foot by 80-foot wood building from Walters Buildings. The 4,800-square-foot hangar provides space for meetings and events, as well as storing a few project aircraft that members are working on.
Volunteers from the chapter helped install the in-floor heating system before Walters erected the structure. After the building was up, the volunteers returned to finish the interior.
“Some guys thought it would never happen, thought we were crazy,” Halligan says. “We’re happy that it has all worked out.”
The generosity towards EAA Chapter 25 continued in the shape of a legacy in honor of late member, Gary Rosch. His widow said she wanted to donate to the chapter in her husband’s name. A notion was presented to use those donated funds to pay for the insulation and installation of the new bifold door. She agreed and gave the chapter two checks to pay for the work.
With those funds, the chapter was able to purchase the Extreme Panel insulation kit from Schweiss Doors. The interlocking white panels of insulation are installed on the door’s interior and create a continuous insulated surface. The panels also mesh seamlessly with the rest of the white metal interior of the hangar.
“It just makes the hangar,” Halligan says. “It’s so nice and bright. It looks really great.”
Halligan says the entire process working with Schweiss Doors went smoothly, from ordering to delivery and installation. Members of EAA Chapter 25 even flew out to the Schweiss manufacturing facility in Hector, Minnesota, to see how the doors are made.
“We had a half-dozen airplanes that flew out and I think about 13 people came with us,” Halligan says. “We had a great tour of the facility. I couldn’t believe how many buildings they have out there.”
The new hangar will help EAA Chapter 25 continue its mission of bringing aviation enthusiasts together, chapter members said. The chapter, established in 1956, is made up of members from around the Twin Cities area. It is one of the first local chapters formed in the United States and boasts around 130 members, with many building planes of their own. The group welcomes anyone who loves aviation, whether or not they fly or have a plane. At the chapter’s monthly meetings, members share information about their projects and speakers are invited to present on a variety of aviation topics.
A new opportunity EAA Chapter 25 is planning to bring to its community is AeroEducate, an educational program that provides age-based aviation and aerospace activities, with the goal of getting children interested in aviation careers. Children will be able to learn about different aspects of aviation while doing fun, hands-on projects like building a glider. The chapter will be able to host more project days and events, thanks to its new larger hangar.
These activities will join the Young Eagles flights the chapter regularly gives to local kids.
“Our goal is to get young kids involved,” Halligan says, adding the chance to offer more youth programs was one of the driving forces behind building a new hangar.
For more information: Bifold.com, Chapters.EAA.org/EAA25
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