SATURDAY, January 28, 2017. Flight operations resume finally.

WEATHER
Visibility: Unlimited, especially when above the Kettleman Hills and one could see the snowy Sierra.
Wind: Calm
Altitudes: Tow altitudes, a few to 3800 msl.
Time Aloft: Mostly tow time at about 18-20 minutes total for a 2000 agl tow.
Max Lift: A few little bumps but nothing sustainable.
Temperature: Mid 50's.
Comment: Work early on filling in gopher holes toward the northwest end of the runways.
Tow pilot: Frank Owen

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Wow. What a large turnout for a Saturday after five straight weekends with no flight operations. Most of the newcomers were from college and were first timers out here at Avenal. The field was just marginal although most ruts made were deep depressions rather than ugly deep tracks. The grass everywhere reminded me of Ireland with green color at every quadrant. In no time we'll have to mow the grass because out here it grows uncommonly fast.

There were quite a few students and student pilots that wanted to fly another flight, and several that wanted to fly even a first flight but the day was too busy to fit many of them in for a flight. The day just seemed to go by slowly with only a few flights per hour. but Don and I were busy most of the time. Waiting seemed to take up an inordinate amount of the day.

I have two students who will solo next time out and another who is very close to solo. So when the next day of operations presents itself, it will be fun to watch them make the first of many solo flights in the future.

Jennifer Bauman, Wyll Soll, Bennett Diamond, and Eric Burlingame wait for a tow aloft.

Lexy Aguirre running the wing for Troy Wollman and his passenger Megan.

The college folks liked to gather around the launch area picnic table with Dulce Blanca in the middle.

Some are familiar: Eric, Olivia, Lexy, Jennifer, and Wyll Soll.

Jim Bell doing a nice steep turn to the left, getting the rust out from being away for 6 weeks.

After his flight, Jim Bell had to walk back to get the vehicle for towing back to the launch area.

Mike Paoli, Richard Walker, Nels Siverson, Karl Kunz, and Bennett Diamond taking in the warm sunshine.

Big Bird after Jim Bell's nice, safe landing in preparation for his solo next weekend.

Big Bird still continues to look great even after many months of usage. A great bird.

Wyll Soll and Don Flinn nearly ready for takeoff in the Orange Crush. Bennett Diamond wing runner.

Jim Bell and Nels Siverson swapping old war stories while waiting for a training flight.

Karl Kunz taxiing out for takeoff in his beautiful 1952 Cessna 170B.

Karl Kunz is heading home to retirement which he did last month from United Airlines.

Jennifer Bauman taking a student for a glider ride while Troy Wollman and another student run the wing.

Don Flinn waiting for the tow plane while Lexy Aguirre gets settled in for the training flight.

Troy Wollman taking another student for an introductory glider flight.

Neiman Walker departing Avenal for San Luis Obispo and back to the campus.

Surrounding the IP is a lot of standing water left by all the rains we've had lately.

The entrance to the solar farm is completely flooded and the ground is drenched at the beginning of our runway 7.

SATURDAY, December 17, 2016

WEATHER
Visibility: Unlimited
Wind: NW at 10-13 kts
Altitudes: 3000 msl
Time Aloft: 30 minutes
Max Lift: 300 fpm
Temperature: Cold.
Comment: Few members present
Tow pilot: Frank Owen

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Not much going on today. Frank Owen showed up in his Cessna 152 and towed until about 1:00 pm at which time we all left.

Troy Wollman was "flight instructing" another college student, John Preslik, and I was getting Jim Bell ready for solo. Troy had a few flights with John, while Jim and I had four launches, of which two were simulated rope breaks at 200 agl. The other two were to pattern altitude as preparation for his solo which will likely take place when he returns after the holidays.

The field was OK along the main runway but quite soft and in some cases actually muddy almost everywhere else. But no ruts were made, except for those made by the tail wheel on the Orange Crush. That wheel must get fixed or we're going to have narrow ruts all over the field this winter. Apparently the wheel on Big Bird swivels nicely and perhaps one or more of our talented mechanics can modify the Orange Crush tail wheel to match Big Bird's tail wheel. That would be a nice present for Christmas.

And that was the day, today. Tied the trainers down and went home.

Harold Gallagher

Preparing the Orange Crush for flight while Frank Owen waits patiently in the tow plane.

Sergio Grajeda helping Troy Wollman's "student", John Preslik, get settled in for the flight.

SATURDAY, December 10, 2016.

WEATHER
Visibility: More than 40 miles under the cloud deck.
Wind: NNW at 5-8 knots
Altitudes: 4000 msl.
Time Aloft: Less than an hour.
Max Lift: 500 fpm.
Temperature: Low 60's to high 50's.
Comment:  Waves to the south, cold air aloft.
Tow pilot: Dan Gudgel, Neiman Walker

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It was a busy day with many people out here, both demo flights and training. We had three visitors who just may come back one day as members of the club. Anthony Azevedo has a business nearby in Five Points which makes a quick trip to Avenal possible. Anthony seemed interested in perhaps learning to fly.

The other visitors were Pete Goulding and Kat Winkelman who live in Paso Robles. Pete just acquired a modified HP-18 and is planning to bring it to Avenal after some work needs to be done on it. Some of us knew Bruce Patton who also built his own HP-18 but not modified much from plans.

Fortunately I had two college students for training flights today and one very young  student, Erich Harding, who is doing well for his age of 11 yrs. The college guys are Zak Yamauchi and Eric Burlingame and both are progressing nicely. Eric already holds a power rating so his progress is moving along more quickly. He will likely solo soon after he returns from the holidays.

Don Flinn had the majority of students that included Bennett Diamond, Connor Zabrocki, Alexia Aguirre, and Andrew Ochoa. There were numerous flights today and it kept Neiman Walker busy both learning early with Dan Gudgel and later on towing alone. All agreed his performance was excellent.

There were two demo flights today from construction workers temporarily stationed at Lemoore Naval Air Station. They were just a few days away from returning home to Maryland where they have homes.

We were happy to see John Harbick finally show up once again after being away for several months. But in that time he had to endure more "stuff" than anyone should expect. Hopefully the holidays will be kinder to him and Peggy than they have so far.

Lenticular clouds to the south but fairly mild winds here in Avenal.

Erich Harding keeps progressing nicely, especially for an 11 year old young man.

Erich's landing was almost completely unassisted with a nice smooth touchdown.

The Orange Crush is just beginning its takeoff roll. 

Sergio Grajeda and Larry Johnson helping Joe Anastasio assemble the PW-5.

Dan Gudgel is teaching Neiman Walker how to fly the tow plane expertly.

Don Flinn and student launching in the Orange Crush.

Alex Caldwell and John Harbick going for a nice flight together. It's about time John flew again.

Typical lineup of gliders waiting for a tow.

Neiman Walker learning quickly and is doing very well for first time towing.

Don Flinn and student launching in the Orange Crush.

Glider inbound on short final for runway 31L.

Alex Caldwell and John Harbick on tow again in Big Bird. 

The PW-5 sits between the two trainers. Joe Anastasio is flying today along with a few more college students.

Zak Yamauchi, Bennett Diamond, Connor Zabrocki, Wyll Soll, and Andy Ochoa.

Zak Yamauchi ready for another training flight with great enthusiasm.

Jim Rickey, surprise, about to fly the 1-26 after a few weeks of helping others. Connor standing by.

Neiman Walker now flying tows with no guidance from Dan. He's doing quite well.

Jim Rickey ready for launch. That's Wyll Soll running the left wing.

Now that's what we liked to see. Jim Rickey enjoying the momentary launch.

Don Flinn and Bennett Diamond on final for runway 31L. Nice picture.

Don Flinn launching with Andy Ochoa in the Orange Crush.

Andy Ochoa and Don Flinn on final in the Orange Crush landing runway 31L.

Eric Burlingame waiting in Big Bird for the Orange Crush to land on runway 31L.

Another good day of training with the air smooth enough for good tow experience. Get as much training in these winter days as possible and you'll be happy you did when the really good soaring conditions arrive in Spring.

Harold Gallagher

SATURDAY, December 3, 2016. Akafleig activity.

WEATHER
Visibility: Unlimited.
Wind: Light and variable from the WNW.
Altitudes: Mostly tow altitude.
Time Aloft: Less than half an hour.
Max Lift: 300 fpm.
Temperature: Mid 60's.
Comment: Lot of training activity.
Tow pilot: Dan Gudgel and Jim Rickey, and trainee Andrew Robinson.

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Sorry for the delay everyone. I had an unusually comprehensive final exam in the Remote Sensing course I'm taking at Fresno State and studying for it consumed inordinate amounts of my free time until last Tuesday at which time it came to an end, not sure how successfully.
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There were more than a dozen people at Avenal today, mostly college students continuing their training. But we did have a nice Mexican family arrive so that the son, Ever, could take a demo flight with Dan Gudgel. Of course he loved the flight and wondered if there might be more in the future. See the photos of the family.

Don Flinn had a full schedule of students including Lexy Aguirre, Connor Zabrocki, John Preslik, and Bennett Diamond.

Zak Yamauchi, Eric Burlingame, and Jim Bell flew two flights each. Jim is ahead of Zak and Eric in his training but Eric is a power pilot and likely to solo much sooner than Zak or Jim. They all had fun today and learned a lot. Zak especially was thrilled that he made a final touchdown and landing unassisted.

With the holidays coming up soon, it is likely there won't be as much training as before, especially because most of the college students head home (all over the country) for the Christmas/New Years holidays.

Mama Mercedes Loya , daughters Mariana and Nayeli waiting as brother Ever prepares to fly on a demo flight.

Dan Gudgel in back, Ever Loya in front as they pass by Ever's family.

The Loya Family, Ever, Mariana, Oswaldo, Nayeli, and Mercedes.

Sergio Grajeda getting settled in and preparing for a nice afternoon launch.

Sergio Grajeda about to launch in the Schweizer 1-26

Jim Bell continuing his quest for solo flight and getting better each training flight.

Jim is a happy guy because he realizes how much he's improved since starting flight training.

Dan Gudgel flying with Andrew Robinson who is training to be a tow pilot.

Andrew Robinson must fly at least three flights with Dan as one qualifying parameter for towing.

Mike Paoli being assisted by Dan Gudgel and Bennett Diamond before launching in the 1-26.

Dan Gudgel, Neiman Walker, Eric Burlingame, John Preslik, and Bennett Diamond.

Eric Burlingame waiting for the rope to tighten before launching in Big Bird.

Zak Yamauchi all bundled up and ready for his first flight with me.

The end of the day with perhaps one more flight before dark.

Remember that this is the best time of year for early flight training. The air is smooth and learning to tow is so much easier now than when the air is turbulent. Even the off-tow aerial maneuvers are clearer and easier to learn now, so make plans to get it all done while the air cooperates.

See you next week,

Harold Gallagher