SATURDAY, March 4, 2017. Gliderport Cleanup Day. Eric Solos.

WEATHER
Visibility: Unlimited
Wind: 10-12 kts direct crosswind, from 220 degrees.
Altitudes: Tow altitudes mostly
Time Aloft: Less than 30 minutes including tow.
Max Lift: Sometimes 3-400 fpm
Temperature: Cool in the high 60's.
Comment: Dennis Lyons organized a cleanup day.
Tow pilot: Andrew Ouellet, Jim Rickey.

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CONGRATULATIONS TO ERIC BURLINGAME FOR HIS FIRST SOLO!

The fruit of Dennis Lyons organization skill consisting of numerous Club Members is seen in the following  photos.

Patio Before, 2-25-17

Patio After, 3-4-17

Front Lawn Before, 2-25-17

Front Lawn After, 3-4-17

Tie Down Area, 3-4-17

A massive cleanup job worked on by many members wielding rakes, weedwackers, pitchforks, trucks and trailers, tractors, shovels, hoes, hands and feet. There was so much weed around the field it seemed impossible to get it all done in a single day. But most of it is gone and with a little less rain in the coming months, we may not have to do any more this season.

Thanks, Dennis, for organizing the effort and thanks to all the members who came early and worked until mid afternoon. The field looks great!

Jim Bell getting Big Bird ready to haul out to the launch area at 11:00 am for expected immediate flights.

Dennis Lyons accessory for cutting lawn needs a belt for the drive wheels.

Two members in the photo work hard around the clubhouse and have made significant progress as shown.

Not sure how many members it takes to change a drive belt on the mower.

Unfortunately we see our runway in such beautiful shape just once a year after the rains.

Sergio Grajeda preparing passengers for their demo ride.

Erich Harding, our youngest member, after a very nice flight with a skill set beyond his years.

Clark Woolf back at Avenal after 5 months off.  He soloed in August 2016 but now needs multiple refresher flights.

Alex and friend just standing around waiting for a flight. Christiana is new to our field.

Eric Burlingame about to take his first solo flight in Big Bird from the far northwest end.

Concentration is evident on Eric's face as he prepares for the launch.

Eric off tow and flying downwind for runway 13R. He's in good position.

Eric passing over the launch end of the runway at the right height for a nice midfield landing.

Alex Caldwell taking another passenger up for a demo ride.

Members pushing Big Bird out of the way for the next launch.

Ready to launch on runway 13L with ground crew standing by.

Big Bird parked at the launch end after Eric Burlingame's first solo flight.

Alex Caldwell flying with Olivia Lockhart for a field checkout.

View of the tow plane just ahead of the Orange Crush prior to launch.

Jennifer Bauman in a pensive pose.

Olivia's liftoff puts the glider is good position behind the tow plane.

Olivia is maybe a bit high and slightly to the left of center.

SATURDAY, February 25, 2017. Two new solos, almost three.

WEATHER
Visibility: Unlimited under an early overcast. Late clear skies.
Wind: Mostly light and variable from the northwest.
Altitudes: Tow altitudes and not much more.
Time Aloft: Maybe 20+ minutes depending.
Max Lift: A few quick bumps to 500 fpm.
Temperature: Cold, especially aloft in the backseat of a 2-33.
Comment: Zach Yamauchi and Jim Bell first solos.
Tow pilot: Jim Rickey, Harry Davies, Harold Gallagher, Jan Zanutto

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Wow, what a day. Many flights among 20 or so students and pilots. Tall grass, weeds everywhere, Mike Paoli alone behind a mask weedwacking, Jim Rickey searching for a lost ballast bar in the tall weeds, and best of all, two new solos, Zach Yamauchi and Jim Bell. There was an almost third solo, but Eric Burlingame forgot his license even though he was completely prepared to solo. He'll solo next time out.

                          CONGRATULATIONS TO JIM BELL AND ZACH YAMAUCHI!!

Two happy guys who have just completed their first solo flights in a glider.

Yamauchi's First Solo

Field office at Jurassic Park.

Zach isn't short, the weeds are tall.

Jeff Richardson ready in the 1-26 for a bit more than an sled ride.

Alex Caldwell and Richard Walker after a brief flight in the Orange Crush.

Connor Zabroki, Don Flinn, Bennett Diamond, and Eric Burlingame.

Another training flight takes off on a nice grass runway. Alex Caldwell and Richard Walker.

Don Flinn backseat with Connor Zabroki in training.

Most are Cal Poly students except for Jim Bell in the background.

Jeff Richardson debating with himself about going for another launch in the 1-26.

Lexy Aguirre running the wing for another launch of the Orange Crush.

Wyll Soll and Don Flinn preparing for launch in the Orange Crush.

Zach Yamauchi adding a GoPro to the wing of Big Bird for his first solo.

Zach is definitely ready for his solo flights and will do well.

Zach on tow over the gliderport in Big Bird for his first solo.

Very nice first solo landing for Zach Yamauchi as he rolls towards the launch area.

Troy Wollman about to launch with a friend from school in the front seat.

A favorite hang-out spot for the college crowd.

Jim Bell thinking about his first solo as he finishes his launch checklist.

Jim Bell is calm and collected and confident he will do well on his first solo. He did!!

Visitors to our gliderport await their first launch in a glider.

Eric Burlingame ready for launch in Big Bird.

Beautiful emerald green patterns on the fields around the gliderport.

Late sun and the green Kettleman Hills make for a nice picture of Avenal.

Eric Burlingame maneuvering into the pattern for his landing sequence.

The K Hills never looked so good.

Our beautiful green gliderport, but up close the weeds were waist high.

Wyll Soll and Don Flinn on tow after liftoff in the Orange Crush.

Bennett Diamond and Troy Wollman combine to launch the 1-26.

Troy completing the last items on his checklist before launch in the 1-26.

Our tow plane takiing into position for launching Troy in the 1-26.

On the roll.

With the sun low over the West Ridge, the Orange Crush lands on runway 31L.

Jan Zanutto was doing the towing earlier in the day.

Jim Rickey moving Big Bird into position for launch.

Jim Rickey wandering among the wild flowers.