NESA Celebrates Sink-o de Mayo

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In the days leading up, today looked to be a pretty decent soaring day. The strong gusty winds we’ve seen for weeks were forecast to subside to a more friendly 8-10 kts. Jim Malecha arrived to tow, Andy Kozak, Bill Detrich, Brian Xander and, eventually, after having to w##k, Alasdair arrived to fly, Larry ran ground.

Soaring was not to happen today. Andy launched in the club 1-34 around 12:30 and towed to 2000′ AGL and released in a 200 fpm thermal…which quickly petered out and no more lift was found. As Jim landed the tug and taxied back to tow Brian, staged on the runway, Andy radioed “left downwind for 29, landing long on the grass.”

Right after Andy landed, Brian launched in VOL and towed to 3000′ AGL and found glassy smooth air.

Andy took a second tow to 2000′ and before he’d released, Brian radioed on downwind for landing.

With those results, Bill and Alasdair decided today was not meant for soaring. We all agreed that with it sunny and temps in the mid 50’s, it was a great day to be at the airport.

Jerry is towing tomorrow (Friday), Greg is the only sign up so far to fly. Tow pilot and instructors are available Saturday, so far no one has signed up to fly. C’mon out!

Sunday is Mother’s Day. Alasdair will be giving new member Tim Renner his first glider instructional flight if a tow pilot is available.

Please choose a date and put your name on the calendar to fly, tow, or run ground support.

Weekend Report

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A great weekend of soaring!.

Saturday was breezy but saw good lift with lots of club member and intro flight activity. B9 reported 9,500ft in wave. Several flights of 3 hours or more. Monthly meeting on Saturday evening was lightly attended however and did not attain a quorum.

Sunday, was blue but again lift was great. The Orange 2-33 got assembled and flown, so all club ships are now back on the flight-line for the season. Several long flights again with altitudes up to about 8,000ft.

The season is in full Spring fling. Get out here and fly.

Weekend Updates (last & next)

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Last: An unremarkable soaring weekend, but some useful early season stuff taken care of including – More club member spring Check-flights, A Flight Review, 2 new tow-pilots checked out in the Callair.

Next: Forecast for this weekend looks OK. We’d like to get more check-flights accomplished, get the Orange 2-33 assembled and back on-line and there is also the first of the monthly membership meetings scheduled for Saturday after flying. So, if you haven’t been out to the field yet this season, its time. See you this weekend.

A nice Monday & the Weekend Outlook

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Despite a valiant attempt Easter Sunday was a bust due to snow squalls all day, so some folks took advantage of the weather today for a little Monday flying. Bill Batesole towed.

  • Charlie Freeman got glider current again flying the 2-33 and 1-26 and so we have one more instructor back on the list. At this point for CFI’s – Alasdair, Bill, Charlie, Jerry and Mark are all current. Only a couple more to go.
  • Moshe flew his Russia;
  • Greg Hunter got his Spring club check-out in the 2-33 with Charlie, then had a nice soaring flight in the Club 1-26.
  • Alasdair and Mark also re-checked out to instruct in the CAP gliders.

The forecast for Friday and the weekend looks decent so

  • If you haven’t been out to fly yet this season it’s time. Sign up now if you need a Spring check-flight or instruction.
  • Come out and help assemble the other 2-33 and the 1-34. It’s time to get some more club ships back on line.

Towing Check-outs

  • Anyone that needs a club towing check-out, please reach out asap. Bill, is our chief tow-pilot. He will be around until May 7th then travelling for a month, so if you’re in need of towing check-outs for the Callair, speak up now please.

See you at the airport soon.

A Great Day of Soaring

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Brian Xander towed, Jerry Smith instructed, and Ben Berg, Jim Malecha and Eric Nelson flew, Eric staying aloft for three hours, topping out at 5,800′ MSL. Tow plane battery issues cut the day short, but we should be up and running by end of the week.

Happy Tuesday

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Gorgeous sky

Good soaring today and two more instructors now current in gliders.

We are in good shape to begin Member Spring Check-flights beginning this weekend (April 9th/10th). Please use the Scheduling system to sign-up for your check-flights and/or instruction.

Scheduling Link: Scheduling Calendar

Today’s Safety Seminar recording

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Here is the link to the recording of today’s meeting. sorry – was 10 minutes in when I remembered to start recording: https://fccdl.in/26YgcDx7jM

What a great turn out – we had roughly 24 in-person and about the same again on-line.

Thanks to all attendees. Apologies for the initial technical difficulties but a very engaged group and some great discussion. It was nice to see some new and some prospective new members too.

After lunch we assembled one of the 2-33’s and the 1-26, so starting to get the club fleet put together. Club member spring check-flights will be available starting next weekend.

1st Launch of the 2022 Season 3/21/22

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The winds were strong and roily, but that didn’t stop Bill Batesole from launching Tim Chow for the first flight of the 2022 season. Tim reported that it was pretty turbulent and returned to mother earth after a short flight.

If weather looks cooperative for our April 2nd Safety Meeting, we’ll conduct the meeting from the VSF terminal building via freeconferencecall.com and in-person (for those able to attend) and assemble club gliders following the meeting. Expect us to make the call about a hybrid/virtual meeting on Wednesday, March 30.

1st launch – 2022