HIGHLIGHTS:
 

1. CONGRATULATIONS, CURTIS !! This young (72) man was determined to solo and has promised to go on and get his Pilot's License. There was a few weeks lull while he went to the FAA and got his Student's License in order to solo. He might even have soloed in late November had I not forgotten to tell him about the need for a Student License. But now, the solo was a nice Christmas present and a great start for the New Year.

2. Curtis and I launched on four flights, the last three to pattern altitude in preparation for his solo. I wasn't sure all the cobwebs were going to be erased from his skill set since his last flight in November, but he quickly showed me his pre-solo skills were quite intact after all. It was an easy decision for me to get out of the glider since he did so well on the previous flights. Then, the three solo flights were very well done with not a glitch in any of the launches, releases, and patterns. His landings have always been nice and gentle, so he really deserved the accolades for his first three solo flights.

3. Perhaps if Curtis doesn't mind me telling his age of 72, it will inspire many more seniors over 60 to come out and enjoy the thrill of learning to fly. Gliders, of course, are not nearly as dangerous as powered aircraft in spite of the common belief that flight without an engine is seemingly impossible. And being aloft in the quiet and serenity of glider flight is an experience worth working for. So, for all those of you reading this story who have decided that you're too old for any such dangerous nonsense, just come out and try it once. You might even get hooked on this great way to fly. And then what a story you'd have to tell all the folks at the local nursing home !!

4. Joe Anastasio was out today as well, and flew once in the Blanik searching, in vain, for some reasonable lift. He found some zero sink, but that's not much to enjoy for any length of time. As usual, he then set to work on repairing and improving our glider fleet, for which all of us owe him huge thanks. Many of his projects go unnoticed because we have come to expect maintained and flight-ready gliders even though at various times, they are not so until Joe goes to work on them. Thanks again, Joe, for all your wonderful and unselfish contributions over the past years.

5. Durval flew out in his Cessna 140 and did a few tows for us. Other than that, he simply enjoyed being at Avenal and having the chance to fly as often as possible. As Loyal said, "I don't know of anyone happier to fly than Durval".

6. The bad news is that Loyal is thinking about moving to Hawaii. And the process is a lot farther along than I imagined. I don't blame him, the weather is nice and mild throughout the year, and he won't have to tow any more. But if it happens we'll miss him greatly while being happy for him that he is pursuing another of his goals. Stay tuned.