HIGHLIGHTS:
 

1. The Board of CCSC met today to discuss some important issues. One is the idea that we may, after all, conduct a "contest" of sorts this year, but call it a Camp instead. It might be too late for any large scale attendance but let's hope we get a few interested pilots. Mario will be conducting the Camp but not flying because his foot is still healing. Those attending the meeting today were Richard Walker, Joe Anastasio, Loyal Savaria, Dave Martin, Paul Hanson, Jerry Smeltzer, Mario Crosina, and Don Van Wyk.

2. Carl Kunz joined the club today and he's a really great guy to have on board. CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEWEST MEMBER, CARL KUNZ !! Carl is a United Pilot on the Boeing 777 based out of San Francisco. He's been a glider pilot for many years, early on up at Sky Sailing in Fremont, CA. While his CFIG has expired we may be able to convince him to reinstate it and become part of our Flight Instructor group. We need CFIG's less in name only and more in being onsite to help with building the club.

3. William "Bill" Deviny came out again today and went for his first glider ride. He said he really liked the feeling of soaring and might just become a member and learn to fly. He works on the North Slope in Alaska two weeks on and two weeks off so his training will be in two-week spurts. He's another good guy we'd like to have onboard and hope he makes that decision. He's promised to fly again when his next two-weeks off occurs.

4. Jack Wiegand and I flew out to Avenal in the Cherokee 140 and spent the day mostly helping others. Near the end of the day, Jack and I flew in the Orange Crush but got off early, then fought the turbulent wind all the way back to the field. It wasn't one of Avenal's better days for smooth and high-lift flying.

5. Steve Schery flew today and was up a fairly long time. While he didn't get too far cross country he did manage to remain aloft for as long as he wanted.

6. Carl Kunz had fun flying the 1-26 for the first time in many years. He did well, no PIO's on takeoff, and managed to find enough thermals to have fun and some good time aloft.

7. Bruce Patton assembled his HP-18 and also went flying up into the mountains both north and south. But he's an experienced soaring pilot, especially here at Avenal and knows the terrain quite well. So we would expect him to be more successful than others today.
 

8. Surprise, surprise. Jerry Badal came out again to Avenal. This is truly amazing since his work often keeps him occupied even on the weekends. This time I think he is really serious about earning his license. He's studying and he's flying far more than I have ever seen him fly in the past. And by the way, he's doing very well, with high flights to altitude, and long flights in the area. He's really getting the hang of thermaling and each week seems to do better than the previous week. One of these days soon Jerry Badal will be our newest licensed pilot.