Erik Anderson a.k.a. "Da Swede"
Erik Anderson (along with Weasel, Snap-Roll-Sam, and Afterburner Al) is part of the EAA Chapter 18 "Mafia" and has been volunteering for many years. Erik first began in the Custom Aircraft Parking area learning the different types of homebuilts and how to herd them properly. Erik is a product of Milwaukee and was raised on that "tinkering" tradition that built "America's Machine Shop". In this application, the term Swedish engineering does not apply to a car but to the method of keeping an otherwise worthless collection of metal, rubber, oil, and fuel operational.
Erik's special talent in the aircraft field is welding and he has a really nice welded fuselage of a One Design in his garage. His other projects include an RV-6 project with a former neighbor, (they both moved to the Madison area 6 years ago) and a hangar building project at the Waunakee International Airport. (A residential airpark in Waunakee, WI near Madison)
Erik spent 16 years teaching music to middle schoolers in the Milwaukee Public Schools before taking a dream job at Madison East High School. (Madison, WI) Michael McArdle, a long time East teacher created a 4-year high school aviation curriculum, the most comprehensive in the state of Wisconsin. The program grew over his 26 years of teaching to be one of the premiere programs in the country. Erik was picked to take over the program when McArdle retired in 2000.
Erik Anderson resides at the Waunakee International Airport and serves as the Commandant of the Royal Swedish Institute of Aeronautical Studies - Waunakee Campus. Erik teaches at Madison East High school serving as chair of the Aviation department. He is a skilled trumpet player and often plays with the East High Pep band and plays part time in the famous Alvin Styczynski TV and Recording Orchestra (Pulaski, WI) as a trumpet and accordion player. Erik's Weapon of Musical Distraction (accordion) is featured each evening on EAA Radio during The Traffic Jam, and on some nights in the EAA Campground.
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