HIGHLIGHTS:
 

1. The CCSC club meeting focused on how to go forward with the towing based on the fact that Loyal will be leaving in the next few months and we need to find another source for our gliders. We didn't resolve much in the meeting but Richard Walker seemed to indicate that at least the topic is seriously being looked at now by all the members. More on this as it develops.

2. Jeff Lowe continued his flight training, this time concentrating on stalls, and more of the stick and rudder practice in the form of finding and staying in thermals. Every once in awhile, Jeff likes a cold blast of air so he opens the canopy and we enjoy the cool air aloft. In case you're wondering, yes, the glider flies quite well with or without the canopy open.

3. Hanna and her prom date, Brad Miranda, were at Avenal today. Hanna flew the Cherokee 140 out to Avenal with Brad in the back seat as passenger. He video taped the flight and therefore Hanna had to demonstrate her skills with a perfect landing at Avenal. They flew together in the Orange Crush after lunch, then had to return to Fresno to get ready for the evening dinner and prom. It was earlier than I wanted to return so Peter Mersino obliged and flew back with them in the 140.. I stayed on at Avenal hopefully long enough to fly my own glider.

4. As mentioned, the Mersino family (well, almost all of them) drove out to Avenal both to fly and so Peter could return with Hanna and Brad. While they were here, Jacob and Andrea flew several times in the Blanik, had some fun aloft, didn't remain up there for too long, and generally helped out where necessary around the field. Then at the end of the day, Jacob drove Andrea and I back to Fresno where I picked up my car.

5. The reason for the switch was my intention to fly my glider for a change. I haven't flown it in months and I need to remain current in high performance sailplanes. So, in addition to it being a necessity, it was also welcome fun. I flew for an hour and hovered around 5000 msl out in the mountains. Not a great flight but good to be alone in such a beautiful ship.

6. After the CCSC meeting, Mario and others went to the runway launch area and began staking the numbers on the ground for the Soaring Camp that starts next Wednesday. They carefully measured out enough positions to handle the expected entrants.

7. Andy Reistetter flew the 1-26 after the meeting and actually went up several times, reporting not as much lift as I had experienced earlier in the day with my student, Jeff Lowe.

8. Steve Schery went aloft and I was planning on joining up with him for some cross country flying. But as usual, I didn't get aloft until very late, and about the time I launched, Steve was on his way back to the field. So we never connected but Steve did have a nice long flight, I believe over two hours.

9. Roque Serpa really did show up. Don't faint, it's true. He's alive and well and just might show up again to continue his interrupted soaring career. It would be nice, indeed, to see him back in a glider soaring over the mountains.

10. Jerry Badal also was on hand and flew the 1-26, not finding much lift. Of course, in the 1-26 one cannot venture too far without finding lift so the search area is a bit limited compared to other higher performance sailplanes.

11. Royson Parsons and his daughter, Erin, attended the club meeting as a wonderful show of interest in all things connected to the CCSC. They then both went out and helped Mario layout the launch grid for the Soaring Camp. Erin decided not to fly today but she and her Dad will be back again soon.

ONE MORE PHOTO BELOW