EAA Chapter 297 was chartered January 15, 1968 in Wilmington, North Carolina and met in members' homes in the early years. Initially, there were ten members who lived in the Wilmington and Chadbourn areas. As the chapter grew, the Columbus County members formed their own Chapter in Chadbourn.
In the mid-1970's, the chapter met in a leased hangar at the Wilmington Airport until a Chapter building and hangar were built at Debose Field (now Stag Air Park, Inc.) in Pender County near Burgaw in 1987.
Today, the chapter's membership has grown to almost 100 members and meetings are held the first Saturday each month starting at 10:00 a.m. Visitors and new members are welcomed, so come visit us!
The banner photos are: A half scale Wright Flyer built by the chapter and which now hangs in the Wilmington International Airport lobby. The RV-4 on short final is just one of the more than forty experimentals built by chapter members. Of course, minting Young Eagles is one of the chapter's youth programs. Chapter 297's No Whinning Saloon is widely known for it's delicious lunches following every meeting!