HIGHLIGHTS:
 

1. Drew came to Avenal determined to learn to fly gliders. He already has a power license but that doesn't guarantee he can easily learn glider flying. After a few flights it became apparent that Drew was a quick learner. In fact, he learned in nearly the fastest time and flew three solo flights with ease. That's not to say he wasn't nervous, or at least, a bit anxious. But he dealt with those emotions and did well. Now he can go forward and add the rating to his Private Pilot's License. CONGRATULATIONS, DREW!!

2. Morgan Hall made it happen. He investigated it, organized it, managed it, and encouraged members to put up enough money to buy it. So we proudly add "Big Bird" to our fleet of gliders. There were some 10 or 12 members who put up cash, and Carl Kunz, on his own time and expense, flew to Chicago to inspect the glider and talk to the maintenance folks there. It was a wonderful example of what can happen when one person moves forward in spite of seemingly impossible odds, thinks clearly enough to see how such a transaction could happen, then pushes hard through phone calls, emails, and a check out of his own pocket to secure the purchase. All that took place and Morgan is the guy who did it..

CONGRATULATIONS, MORGAN, AND THANKS FROM ALL OF US!!

3. Bart Klusek is nearing his checkride, now scheduled for November 7th. We wish him luck and look forward to him being awarded his Private Pilot's License - Gliders. Bart surely has worked hard these past few months in preparing for the checkride. He also has been one of the hardest working guys around the clubhouse. He arrives in Avenal on Friday evening and early Saturday morning one can find him cleaning the gliders and getting them ready to fly. He also cleans up around the clubhouse and most of the members who show up on a Saturday probably don't notice how much work has gone into getting the area ready for habitation. THANKS, BART !!

4. Yutaka Buto is on his way to a checkride, although it isn't scheduled yet. But my guess is that sometime in mid-November, he'll take the test. He was flying today in anticipation of that ride.

5. Ed Lowder, a recently arrived MD in Fresno, came out to see the Club in operation. He really pitched in with all the rest of the members in assembling Big Bird. He hasn't yet mentioned joining the club but he did so well on his flight that I suspect he's tempted to come back and finish what he had started in gliders a few years earlier.

6. Andrea Mersino was in the thick of things all day, then finally flew Big Bird in the afternoon. She is so close to her license but now it looks like basketball at her high school will take precedence over gliding and her checkride might now be put off for months. Oh well, we tried to make it happen earlier but somehow it just wasn't in the cards.

7. Mak Balucas also was helping out everywhere, mostly driving the golf cart, and helping assemble Big Bird. He flew the Orange Crush in late afternoon on his first unsupervised solo flight at 3000 agl. Mak continues to work on getting better at flying but for now, he needs to just enjoy the thrill of being alone up there, flying wherever, with no one in the back seat hassling him over imperfect technique.

8. Carl Kunz was on hand, doing what everyone else was doing, helping to assemble Big Bird, then flew the 1-26 in not very good lift. He enjoyed it anyway and was a major player in making the glider addition happen. THANKS CARL FOR ALL YOUR HELP !!

9. Bruce Patton showed up, helped out, then took his glider back to SLO for some winter work that never seems to get done during soaring season. Sure was nice to see Bruce again, it's been awhile. He's retired from Diablo Canyon but spent much of the last few months as lead engineer on one of the teams that competed in the Reno Air Races. They came in third.

10. Near the end of the day, Julie Butler and I went aloft to get her more comfortable flying the Blanik. She is going to be flying a DG100 around the first of the year and flying the Blanik is a good introduction to a higher performance sailplane. She did well on this flight and we might take one or two more next time.