WEATHER
Visibility: Smoky
Wind: Calm; 1 instance of a 5 MPH wind, one 9 MPH gust for the whole day.
Altitudes: Mostly whatever they released at.
Time Aloft: Not much
Max Lift: Not much
Temperature: Hit 60°F before 10, peaked at 70°, stayed above 60° until ½ hour after sunset.
Comment: Great to see so many people out at the gliderport.
Tow pilot: Karl Kunz
Click on any of the images to see larger images.
For a day with such poor soaring conditions, there was a lot of flying activity today--mostly student training, but a couople of members actually found some lift and stayed up for a little while.
Dan Gudgel gave a towpilot check out earlier in the day.
I hear Aleks Radko had a decent soaring flight--really good for November.
A notable achievement was Eric Rinell had his first solo today.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzrjMG39P7hlm8bLVrAyfgUd1wMrQivuw-U6-a740tMkUTd_Bc1WSPLVV2lxKTLmXGeFwWgRyyCgzE3s-IVQoW66iRMg2c7QXfmm6dg10pGRSYMIesbfVT2S3pskRbkJpRulnJZuSaudL/s640/01+eric-long-final.jpg) |
Eric Rinell is on final approach in the smoky skies to his first solo landing. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTzIRXLYAjbzUG-e5Qgeo8dd7zn1HFtapzF8btO50eVGiQQ_D1Q89Fyy1au6VJ8Cx7AC3iOSg44kyVQwG8cri5YHkn1Bqe7cUxzcW5jZQS7VTzoyI7WaftdIsjYCR1XVdKM74xkNNviVh/s640/02+eric-short-final.jpg) |
Eric on short final to his first solo landing. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEIFUI-wK-yKFLMMcJapwK1Y1SbAReEyhb1jPm7zmvJq4PlZywOSrCfD0E0xNe6rVgWM7KiH06cC35lRPt43tFnZtrw8jafha9UlZmWmzKnp5KKX28ncUAG7o4cCp-1Zb2OGuwz_GHj5MF/s640/04+eric-almost-touchdown.jpg) |
Eric just about to touch down at end of first solo flight. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGgro0xKLVQwVskcg1hwNE2g5NAes4XG7kmrQyutE0oeBHZ67eUnHnwRRYXz3lgtOp_DHmblJ_LOyCjkWZU7T8fISAzcBcCc0LvZbisYt2GkHfpP4H19W0Sr-Ak6hGhQvhCFe3KyfcGahY/s640/06+erics-welcoming-committee.jpg) |
Eric's personal Welcoming Committee rushes out to greet him. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglHJOI5MiM0cNxYpUMMbyEcyfypzuMZY6LcF7MADAC7qmJ3GRmiy1FaSc71t26dUAclwem39QGDDMrmGjPZqt81fVjEhNopHIuUNw1gBwm8UA5B-z7meqzxfKlOI25tL5NvzltTsKDlJ8f/s640/07+eric-shower.jpg) |
The Akafliegers bring a a new post-solo tradition to Avenal. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBOOGX5mk0bf_w6BubXVVkAg9Ktb_g83dZ1MyrxY6q39M1hLG72WT5mbkcq33s_UCaKtj4wDcIIV7n6jd2lQP_fkGxfkKl2_Y7MOh983JqBWpS4Goih-FQ0RTQusanNjc7bDl0FSGrENu/s640/08+eric-soaked.jpg) |
Good and wet! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT0IkRhnnWC3n8qn3XDfCI_u0TdtqxfBAm59aPTBtR9LL4EblJhhbEOGhTR4FkUhTXJmZ9Kt7rjkxjlWIHf6i39RJzW2Aa-CNenDFMIXtT1Z4_9jQTILwlhfhrMRD7uOm72PLzhYeEHuyA/s640/09+eric-posing.jpg) |
But Eric is still smiling!
|
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19OZ-dQrRduooi3KMZEcceZzsEPWn5lUBElX62YXm_wgI1q0FnQpPuD6xd-RZRiGKuuSZ4VH864Au9EmnoKovZvoACy1YoJLnwmgI8aQ3dxT_bH_4qIlXgyr2eiUPFu_ZEVoYGDeR8HIZ/s640/11+richard-peter.jpg) |
Richard Walker is ready to run the wing for glider partner Peter Sahlberg. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyW6rI_GqqJuxHF9WHu6wxqabfmOGGoyzspr7l2z8OEchmNcRSAi4u7IGn-RzMPq3slQZTk3XftBXzJAeeJIXkfDgubdc7I5mZ-xpW9Jiru4bUymf3glMXnFT9LMTkM6-3BtTuoleITOC/s640/20-jessie-don.jpg) |
Jesse is smiling before going up for another lesson from Don. She should be soloing soon. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7hcC2agEIHEu5I-rdWIvT4MaMBmC_wo0Nnlc2VF0SG8qis1LTrsEvhogAUURqBIMA5uitSV7eIqqzBJYwj19ofyAW0D64frv92q_YqN6lD4nWT6aI_AEyFHXw4xshfzmslGwGN25Pr_O/s640/41-sergio-wating-for-clear-pattern.jpg) |
Peter Sahlberg checks the sky for traffic while Sergio waits in Casper. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9o3VRvcg1wj8WJKdSPJy0fgOYO1c8Bn6kkFsgc40S7YMg8rnYSHZS7ZuJQWCVg2w0_PMAI3yHEvSqLz_rORud30aShO2q0X5PL0AV1FEXnBDZAgPusq0D1VIyuAiCRw9crNxKsJwNXRjF/s640/42-sergio-on-roll.jpg) |
Peter has let go and Sergio is concentrating on the takeoff roll. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqXpV7isGbeZ0BIRDhB3185kPAONQhmSGQtN4LnOxM_vADQdf-T67LRCTV5aP_K6xepRsK2KS9QkrgyaKR9t43ksRh-vosagmv19tv4LxO5xYoN1ssdrdBmKcuqF1lEFc7VS3HvTCEmKnS/s640/43-sergio-done-too-soon.jpg) |
Back way too soon. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia1qRzuB2cLCQq3w-toXqGPW9lRwwlMUD14a8t1Bh3VZVP33hzlyNsMSDdy-ANowKG4XMg0dXcSMDFVvae1xK1yxHp_0mgiIgh7E20CIyi_a4TNxwGvbv9B4-VQnMUSVBE0jsDcDBNQJT1/s640/51-will-ready.jpg) |
Will Bergman is ready to roll and waiting for the tow. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVv7-vW2CfxuvHzW9cR_mzr89amojsXsXf9O7YbuqtD1-x7VT_GDKLnUKOUDZArneu8fWdgAgBqJtvKDn3Jn9grDQ1Q77MxJ3jSmp_dmk_KkfPnwp0nfNbAhSdH8oJBy_v-TOS3DyGZi1o/s640/52-will-starting-takeoff.jpg) |
Jessie is giving the launch signal and Will is about ready to... |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAUh9RZcPFykmZ-T1eGUhIu8X_nBiC_NMYplm7irLrvxA6QoAzo4or-FzbsfwPXQuFpH_VKcG1XEdoysItx-i3gosfZFbtRbXpr1Q-CYjbCuTiEWVQv7Lgqij1Z1KeKz1VRlNgr2iVkw_b/s640/53-will-rolling.jpg) |
...get going |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvk6DOOo2XBnU64LvsYeZEmQRYu73QXXhMpGQblVj1IeYqxPPGNiYDFDjfezGLheTzsGekbluLNhpsT8fBANCAqaP3ji_O9YV2mNuUEKPgv3Tm5byRWjJD4DP5ZNtkhwQwRJkzCFhbrXdh/s640/64-flyby.jpg) |
Member Ken Talovich and two of his RV-8 friends fly by on way to... |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHTe-0scnsH33blS87J95VDoLHyxl6FhaX0gamF_WAFMc2mwDJx4V-nS2EoYjPwpCCG266wofphZArXj1h9hipGREM8-PnP-lbcl8B-YngUhk6D6rgaQY1OhX6LWrWAYpVOB2Z_H24bzd5/s640/68-missing-man.jpg) |
...Missing Man formation in remembrance of Jan Zanutto. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_fTdGbGSwSQp5ukykQcbCZnmYaukShGvNdSl8uJZqV2IetAkPjeh1GwZUVvVpGfooGg0M7fyrq6C6LHGw8puNTka4jfinj2gPOki1qtChyphenhyphenTjJ6BqkQp4oP9ZsYkiIHXv1ws_uN81GLRaq/s640/80-patio.jpg) |
Rick Eason giving a tribute to Jan Zanutto. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIduK4J4GrDkVh389kkk61W7pzvT1ymMj7OdjIqEkwDbqpiDdBF-IwW_AdYQRqQ0mjKvmzNr723pI5D7mqcf_wgRXyyJw-cMLQgVlzCj6OrWhAtDhlLV6FbKA8GCAdCPViViL0rWGqBUY/s640/84-serving-tables.jpg) |
After the tribute we headed to the cow line in the Clubhouse. |
|
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF76qlNasHe2SCbABdGogxkr7ScQDxc9pYRGzeRPZWuCLZ2bxrC7SZaAl_saHOnygyq-FZ6CDFv6h5KXC-R9-L_PLt5yVWNT6CRWGaUR9h6lMXVA9muxzJUc_lSLIe5PbqXqfnUgi4ptr-/s640/88-eating.jpg) |
Flying, food and fellowship; a great day! |