A reminder, this weekend is Memorial weekend so we’ll be flying Saturday, Sunday and Monday.  There will be a cookout after flying on Sunday.  Bring a dish to share and something to throw on the grill.

A new 1-26 has joined the fleet.  Bill tracked her down then Larry and Walter made the long trip to Marion Airport in Ohio (same place the Blue 2-33 was acquired from) to bring her home.

So Big Blue and little blue are both together and in their tie-downs ready to go.

The 1-34 is still in the Barn from its winter hibernation and needs to be put together for the season.  Let’s get some volunteers and get that done this coming weekend.

Work continues on the yellow 2-33 refurbishment which is getting closer to being ready for recovering

In addition to Saturday’s safety briefing, cleaning, and assembly, some members committed some soaring:

• Paul H. had a spring checkout with Jerry along with a nice thermal to 5,000′.
• Greg H. had his spring checkout with Charlie
• Jerry and Bob M. took a little cross country flight down towards Monadnock at 8,700′
• Walter took up a prospective member.

The season has officially started and spring conditions are good!

Good turn out for this mornings Spring Safety Seminar.  As requested here is a link to this years presentations : 2018 Safety Seminar Presentations

After lunch two work groups tackled (i) assembling and lubricating the 2-33.  Jerry Smith then did the test flight.  (ii) washing and waxing the 1-26 and delivering it to the maintenance shop for its annual inspection. Hopefully ready to go next weekend.

So the 2018 season is off and running and it’s time to schedule your Spring club check ride.  The instruction sign-up sheep can be found here.

See you at the airport!

Former NESA member, 2 Lt Katie Brechbuhl, soloed her first high performance USAF turbo prop T-6 at Columbus AFB, MS. Congrats, Katie!

Saturday 4/21/2018 @ 10am, FBO Building

Agenda so far is as follows:

• Spring , Currency & Proficiency (Bill)
• Airport & Ground Operations (Colin)
• Operational Changes for 2018 (Jerry)
• Towing Procedures & Signals (Walter)
• Professionalism and Safety 14CFR 91.103 (Jerry)
• Scheduling of Student pre-season reviews;
• Open Forum;

The 2-33 fuselage and wings went to the Skunkworks early December and were back at Springfield before the end of the year.  Thanks to the CAP for loaning us their trailer for to make this happen.

The fuselage looks good and has been primed ready for the second half of the project – recovering!.  All covering materials have been purchased.  Bill has already constructed a  fuselage ‘rotisserie’ and begun inspecting the wheel, cables etc. to determine what if anything we should replace prior to recover.

We will be reaching out for volunteers as needed to assist with the recovering etc. which will be a good winter club project and a great chance to help out the club and to  learn about fabric work etc.  Thanks in advance to all involved.

Alasdair

On Wednesday, Larry, Alasdair and Walter displayed a glider on the green at Woodstock during the weekly farmers market.  Several flyers were handed to interested market goers who will with any luck tell their friends too.  Hopefully we will see a few rides or even pick up a new member.

P.S. Walter is trying to organize another round next Wednesday and is looking for a volunteer to display their glider.  If you can help out please let Walter know.

NESA will be displaying a glider at the Woodstock farmers market on the green in Woodstock Wednesday afternoon (2pm – 6pm).  Stop by and say hello and help us do a little recruiting.

Not the greatest weather weekend, but despite that we had some activity and on Sunday we also put the 1-34 together after its annual inspection.  All controls are nicely lubricated and moving freely.  So, all club ships are on-line and ready to fly.  Come out and fly them.