HIGHLIGHTS:
 

1. Well, it was a busy weekend for sure. And had it not been for Dan's agreeable nature it would have been a longer weekend. Jack Wiegand was scheduled for his checkride on Sunday, and Julie Butler was scheduled for hers on Monday. But early Sunday, we discussed doing both checkrides on Sunday and since none of us wanted to come out again on Monday, we did did get both done on Sunday.

JACK WIEGAND: As you can see from the photo above, a very small but determined young man came out to Avenal with his parents just three days after turning 13 years old. Jack was so small it was hard to take him seriously, that is until he started asking questions that really floored me. His manner was so much more grownup than his stature, I did a double take at the early questions. Pretty soon I realized that I could no longer afford to just treat him as another young person wanting to take a demo ride. Jack was determined to move toward his pilot's license. But look at the photo above of Jack when he was barely 13 and you'll see why it was hard to consider him a candidate. That tiny guy asking me questions turned into a nearly six footer who has flown 150 glider flights and has more experience in the air than almost anyone I can think of that ever went for their checkride. When he started training, he literally could not reach the rudder pedals, regardless of how many cushions he put behind him. He had to slide himself toward each rudder pedal as he learned to fly and at first it was comical. In no time, however, I came to appreciate his determination in spite of not being able to properly push the rudders. I have had so much satisfaction training Jack that I am sorry to see him graduate to being a Licensed Pilot. For example, on the day he soloed (on his 14th birthday) he had already amassed 69 glider flights with me in the 2-33. He was so competent at flying a glider that I had no hesitation at all of letting him fly the single seat 1-26 even though we had no chance to train in it. Nevertheless he flew it beautifully and after his three solo flights in it, he then went aloft chasing thermals the rest of the afternoon. I have loved every minute of flying with Jack and wish him success in his future endeavors. He has already begun training in power planes and no doubt he'll do well in that area of flight. Having said all that, the real force behind Jack, supporting him in his dream to learn to fly are Irene and Dwight Wiegand. They have been helpful in every way imaginable either taking him to Avenal on numerous occasions, or encouraging him when he was dispirited, while providing the all-important financial assistance to get through Jack's training. Without Irene and Dwight, Jack would probably be just another young man, leaning on the outside fence of the airport, wishing he was in the air, as so many of us have done when we were his age.

CONGRATULATIONS JACK, AND THANKS TO IRENE AND DWIGHT.

JULIE BUTLER: For years now, Julie has been the dependable crew chasing after Morgan Hall as he flew his hang glider around the mountains of California, or perhaps elsewhere as well. When Morgan came to Avenal to see what soaring was all about, thinking he might want to go after a pilot's license, Julie was along as she has been with Morgan for years. I'm not sure what prompted her to take a demo flight but she did and during the flight handled the controls very well. I remember telling her that perhaps she might think about learning to fly gliders because she had a very nice touch on the controls. Well, folks, as the old cliché goes, the rest is history. Julie became enamored with soaring, committed to training, studied on her own, passed her written exam with a 97% and flew like bird. She said she didn't want to have a higher score than Morgan to avoid making him feel bad. Hmmm, no competitive spirit there, eh? I am proud of her accomplishment and really enjoyed training her. She learns quickly, studies hard, retains well, and maintains a discipline found in few other students.  Her personality has been a joy to all who have been at Avenal with her. Even though she schedules early, she readily gives up some of her scheduled time if there is a need for it, or for someone needing to get home early, or for a demo flight that happens to interrupt the normal operations. In spite of all that she still manages to get her training done quietly and unobtrusively. In all of her efforts, however, she has been supported unfailingly by Morgan Hall, her honey of a few years, and for that we thank Morgan. We expect to see Julie now embarking on her cross country phase alongside Morgan in his ASW-20 while Julie flies her DG500 now being prepared for her up in Northern California. Thanks for the wonderful months of flying with you, Julie and I wish you much success in your future flying.

CONGRATULATIONS JULIE, AND THANKS TO MORGAN HALL.

2. The photos on this page tell the story of what went on over the weekend. Beginning with Friday when Jack Wiegand flew four flights with Dan Gudgel towing. Then on Saturday, Jack and Julie flew again as final review flights before the checkride on Sunday. And on Sunday, Peter Sahlberg came out to fly and after numerous frustrating launches over the past few months, Peter finally hit the big one. He soared over 2.5 hours, reached altitudes over 7000 msl, roamed the area, used up altitude then promptly got it back again on at least half a dozen occasions. Great going, Peter. Now all we have to do is schedule his checkride near the end of September and another CCSC pilot will join the ranks of Licensed Pilots.

3. Chris Karapostoles is another of our pilots who is nearing his checkride. Chris has been in Florida on aerial exercises flying the Navy's legacy FA-18. We are happy to report that Chris made it to the top of his class in those exercises and of course we would have accepted nothing less than first place. So, is he our own favorite TOP GUN?

4. Andrea Mersino hasn't been at Avenal lately due to commitments for basketball, pole vaulting, and assorted other extracurricular activities. But now she has some time and is determined to get her Private License by the end of September. I think she can do it but needs to concentrate on both flying and ground material. Today she flew refresher flights for renewal of her solo privileges and is on the training cycle again.

5. Mak Balucas was out again, continuing his training and making good progress. I suspect he'll be soloing within a few weeks especially if the weather calms down a bit. It has been very turbulent on tow these past two months of summer with cool air aloft and a blazingly hot sun.

6. It was nice to see Allen White out again this weekend. Allen has been towing for Hollister and although a member of our CCSC hasn't always had the time to visit. Today he was here and we hope he continues to visit us more often.

7. Harlow Voorhees did the bulk of the towing on Saturday with Cliff Stone doing a few just to maintain currency. Harlow is our energizer bunny because he just keeps going all day long with nary a break in the towing. Thanks to both of these good guys who keep us all up in the air.