Sunday, April 7, 2019

April Workday

WEATHER
Visibility:  Good
Wind: Light
Altitudes:  up to ~,7000 msl
Time Aloft: hours
Max Lift:  4 knots
Temperature:  pleasant


Our spring workday at Avenal was a big success.  At least 20 members were on hand to cut, haul, hack, wrench and generally get the grounds and equipment tuned up for spring soaring.  And after the morning work, we had pizza and then flying.  I think Aleks was the last to land just before 7 pm.  A good day all around!
Equipped for Duty!




One of our several collections of Tumbleweeds.  We moved this one from the east side of the fence to our Grand Tumbleweed and Palm Frond Pile on the SE corner of the property.

Richard was kind enough to allow us to turn one of his trailers into a Tumbleweed Transport.

It took more than a few loads, but this pile is gone.

Reassembly following the annual.

Jim working; Don & Martin "assisting"(?)


By the end of the day, it was back together and ready.

Thanks to good installation work by Wyll and Neiman, supervised by Martin, the DG now has an LX8000 flight computer and linked variometer.








Alex' Nimbus stretches its wings a little after a long winter in the trailer.
Here's outgoing CCSA President Mike Paoli signing some official looking papers.  We all owe Mike a big "Thanks" for having devoted a lot of time to giving good leadership to the club through these past few years.




Tuesday, April 2, 2019

WEATHER
Visibility:       Great
Wind:             Calm, finally!

Time Aloft:    40 Minutes
Max Lift:        +200 FPM
Temperature:  80° F
Comment:      First Solo!


After many delays due to excessive winds, Jessie solos! She has been very patient for this day, and always thought, "Safety First" on the prior days when she was ready to solo, but the wind did not cooperate to let it happen.


Jessie is all smiles right after her first solo flight:

Jessie's primary instructor was Don Flinn
Proud Instructor Don gets in the picture.
First solo in the logbook, it is time to take a second flight. 
Jessie set and ready to go on her second solo flight.
Fellow Akaflieger Bennet is running the wing on her second solo flight.

Jessie has her glider in perfect position as she waits for the towplane to lift off.
Coming in for a landing after her second solo flight.  it is 4:53 PM, and it was short flight because the little bit of lift thta was earlier had evaporated.
You can see in the above two pictures there is an overcast, wind is calm, and it is getting about 4:45 PM.  Nary a bump during tow: lift was not to be found.  It was a short second solo.
Just about stopped.

Great job, Jessie!

It also needs to be mentioned that Bennet and Jessie came out early and helped with the cleaning and maintenance items on the other 2-33 and the club's 1-26.  Two Club ships annualed, a first solo, and Bennet took a flight with Don to regain currency.  An awesome day!