Jeff Erekson

Westbrook, Connecticut

Jeff caught the aviation bug in the mid-90’s as a teenager in Arlington, WA. He convinced his parents to let him build a Ragwing Sport Parasol in their garage. His father, a Boeing engineer, helped tutor him through the construction process, though it was never completed. At age 15 Jeff received flight instruction in a two-seat Quicksilver. During that same time, he purchased a Lazair Series 2 ultralight, which he flew all through high school, enjoying the best parts of low and slow, open-air flight.

After getting married and graduating college, Jeff moved to the Dallas area. He purchased and flew a Minimax and also completed his Sport Pilot certificate in a Legend Cub. During that same period, he joined EAA Chapter 393, the DFW Lite Flyers, later serving as vice president. He also formed a partnership with another chapter member and they jointly purchased a homebuilt Sonex. He and his partner flew the Sonex for the next few years enjoying the extra speed and cross-country range not found with ultralights.

Jeff and his family then moved to Connecticut for a job change in 2011. That same year he purchased the aircraft design rights and jigs from Pops Props for the Zing and Cloudster ultralights. He formed a new company, Simplex Aeroplanes, and began selling plans and limited materials kits. The business has always been a part-time hobby venture, a means of staying connected to his roots. Recently the regular operations were turned over to his teenage daughter as method of teaching her the basics of small business. .

In 2013, Jeff became a Sport Pilot CFI, providing part-time flight instruction in a 1945 Piper J3 cub. Since that time, he has given numerous pilots tailwheel training in the J3 Cub, while also providing transition training in other aircraft such as the Aeronca Champ, Flight Design CTLS, Quicksilver Sport 2S, and Piper Sport Cruiser. In 2015, he finally became a Private Pilot after flying for nearly 20 years in ultralights and light sport aircraft.

In 2020, with the help of a few other dedicated pilots, Jeff was instrumental in forming an equity aircraft club called “Chester Light Fliers, Inc.” Jeff was elected to serve as president and board chairman. The new club utilized materials from both the EAA and AOPA to successfully apply and receive tax-exempt status as a 501(c)7 non-profit corporation. With ten founding members, they purchased a 1946 Aeronca Champ. With the help of another CFI, the two instructors spent numerous evenings and weekends giving all members the necessary transition training to become proficient and meet insurance requirements.

Today Jeff is working with his aircraft partner, and fellow CFI-S, to recover their jointly owned 1945 J3 Cub using the Stewart System. He continues to provide part-time flight instruction and transition training during the warmer months. He is also currently working towards his Commercial certificate, which he hopes to finish shortly.