HIGHLIGHTS:
 

1. Hanna Marlette came back from the Air Force Academy on leave for the holidays and was moved to visit us here in Avenal. She looks great so I guess the discipline and hard work at the USAFA is good for her. She managed to overcome some virus attacks (the medical kind) and isn't any the worse for wear. She flew the 2-33 today with me and hasn't lost any of her glider flying skills. Back to the USAFA she goes on or after January 4th and again we wish her great success in her future at the Academy.

2. Jeff Lowe's friend, Chris Gray, had some previous power training some years ago but has never flown a glider. So today, he had his first introduction to hanging on to the stick while on tow, and working hard with his feet on the rudders off tow. I think he'd do well if he decided to take up the sport and might be nice for he and Jeff to travel together to Avenal on Saturdays.

3. Morgan Hall and Julie Butler decided to build a concrete pad for one of the gliders and that's the first order of business for each of them. As we said before, neither Morgan nor Julie let anything stop them from making great contributions to our club and its facilities. Thank you both on behalf of all the CCSC Club Members.

4. Jeff Lowe went aloft twice in the 1-26, had fun, didn't set any duration records but enjoyed the unlimited visibility and the smooth air. It's a good time for everyone to practice maneuvers to see just how well one can perform them in the absence of bumpy air. Maneuvers like boxing the wake, steering the tow plane, straight and turning stalls, MCA, steep turns rolling out on predetermined headings, forward slips to a landing, etc.

5. My son, Harold III, went for a glider ride today since he didn't get to go last week when his kids went up. This was his second or third flight and I think the last time was back in May, 2002. He enjoyed the experience but probably won't be flying gliders on his own any time soon. With two young kids, and based at Ft. Lewis, Washington, he won't have much chance to get started on such training.

6. My grandkids, Sara and Andrew, went up again today. Sara liked it as much as last week, but Andrew wasn't as impressed this time. I think the only reason he went up is because his older sister went up.

7. Morgan Hall and I went up in the Blanik specifically for spin training. We were able to get four of them done with a 4000 agl tow. That means he did them exceptionally well, recovered quickly, regained some of the lost altitude and spun it again. We did two from the traditional straight ahead stall and two from the common thermaling bank stall. It was fun and instructive for Morgan and not altogether unusual since he has been flying hang gliders and was used to doing spins in them. This time the spin was a bit more adrenaline-producing but his skill at entering and recovering from the spin was both his own ability to do well at anything in-flight as well as his experience at spinning the hang glider.

8. Bart Klusek and Alex Caldwell were using the Blanik at lot during the afternoon, doing various maneuvers including spin training. Bart will likely be signed off in the Blanik as he has been in the 2-33. Alex has been giving him some very good training in the Blanik as well as good tips on beginning cross country flying.

9. Daniel Solis arrived mid-afternoon and went up for a few flights after waiting for the grandkids to have their turn. Daniel keeps adding solo flights to his log book and will be soloing the 1-26 quite soon, perhaps even next time he visits Avenal. He announced he's also taking power training at the same time so I'm sure his glider skills will really help him master power flying. Soaring is the foundation of power flying.

10. The day was slow and uneventful, with beautiful but cold weather. We had a half dozen visitors all of whom opted to come back some other time. We continue to attract visitors and that's great because often they are the next full time club members.