Richard Koehler

At tonight’s EAA Homebuilders Dinner, Richard Koehler, of Burke, Virginia, will receive the 2007 EAA Tony Bingelis Award, recognizing his involvement as an active volunteer technical counselor and aircraft builder.

Koehler has shared his knowledge of aircraft and provided thousands of hours of advice to builders as an EAA technical counselor for more than 17 years. Koehler, who two years ago received Flying Magazine’s Bax Seat Trophy, also teaches an electrical systems class as a volunteer EAA SportAir Workshops instructor.

"It’s an honor to receive this award," Koehler said. "It’s absolutely essential that we continue to educate our members on aircraft safety. Sharing our knowledge and passion with others will ensure that we don’t become an ‘old-boys club.’"

A former naval officer, Koehler talks about his life after retirement. "I didn’t get married until my 30s," he said. "After observing my friend’s marriages, I came up with new criteria for a wife: She had to enjoy flying. Luckily, I met Jane, who loves to fly with me." Though he doesn’t have any children, he says, "I teach an A&P program at the University of the District of Columbia, and I consider my students my children."

Koehler does a lot of mentoring with younger people because he enjoys watching them learn new, safer piloting and engineering skills. "This course of study (A&P) includes about 2,000 hours of comprehensive lecture and laboratory instruction and experience. It’s spread out in eight classes, and I was lucky enough to teach the first and last class. I love seeing the transformation in my students; they come in like nervous wrecks and leave as confident engineers," Koehler said.

Koehler has built a KR-2 and restored two Mooneys and a Swift. He also has many published articles in EAA Sport Aviation magazine and in chapter newsletters. As an EAA AirVenture Oshkosh forum presenter, Koehler continues to educate and guide aircraft builders, plus he instructs sheet metal and composite workshops at AirVenture. He also writes a technical article in the Chapter 186 newsletter on subjects ranging from simple aircraft maintenance to complete engine overhauls.

Tickets to the Homebuilders Dinner are available at Homebuilders Headquarters.