Chapter Leadership

Dan Hurst

Private Pilot, Mechanical Engineer

I was first introduced to the EAA as a kid while visiting a family cabin in central Wisconsin. We decided to go to “an airshow” while on that trip. Little did I know it was the largest airshow in the world, Airventure! Later I went on to attend Montana State University for a degree in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Aerospace. I have been working in the airline industry for the past 10 years designing In-Flight Entertainment and Connectivity Systems, and Cabin Reconfiguration/Refresh installations. In my free time I fly a C-172 or work on my Kitfox 7 project.

Max Hopfinger

Skier, Private Pilot, Instrument Rating

I was born and raised in Upstate New York participating in alpine ski racing, football, and dirt bike enduro racing. I moved to Bozeman in 2018 to pursue an associates in Aviation as well as a bachelors in finance with 1 more year left. I am an avid mountain biker, hunter, dirt biker, and sledder.  I received my private pilots license in June of 2020, and over the next year and a half I completed my instrument training and my multi private certificate. I am currently working through my multi commercial training. I am looking forward to all of the opportunities and experiences that the future will hold within our chapter and beyond!

John Sackett

Senior Vice-President and Nuclear Engineer

John I. Sackett is a nuclear engineer, retired from Argonne National Laboratory. Currently, is serving as a senior vice president of Advanced Reactor Concepts, a startup company developing an advanced nuclear reactor to be built in Canada. He previously owned a C-182 with ~3500 hours in the airplane and currently owns a Kitfox series 7 with plans to build another this year.

Connor Cawthorn

Private Pilot, Gliders, Airplanes

Connor found himself in the Gallatin Valley to pursue the Aviation Sciences as well as the Finance program at Montana State University. After graduating from the Finance program in the spring of 2020, he has been focusing on his Operations Analyst role at a local equipment manufacturer. Connor’s love of all things aviation started from a young age with his grandfather being involved in the
EAA while building a Volksplane. From there it evolved into paragliders where he had the opportunity to fly all over in the Mountains-West region. The sport evolved into faster and faster wings for him with the culmination being high-performance speedwings that were flown with skis on to facilitate snowy take off and landings. In addition to gliders, Connor has been working through is fixed wing ratings. He holds Private ASEL, AMEL and Instrument ratings. To keep up on currency and act as a time builder, he purchased a Rans S-6S Coyote II in completed form. He has enjoyed the learning curve that is maintaining and flying experimental aircraft!