This Saturday, October 26, is the final monthly meeting of the season. The weather forecast is for sunny and low 60s. We will wash the gliders, grill some burgers or dogs, and do some flying. Please come out to help, as more folks make it go faster.
I hope to see you out there.
Airplane pilot David Beach soloed a NESA glider today! David joined the club at the beginning of the season, has been a regular at the field, and flew with most of the club instructors. Jerry signed him off and Jim towed him to 3000 feet for a 30-minute flight.
Great job, David!
Mike soloed yesterday! Mark Farley signed him off, Jim towed him to 3000 feet, and he did the rest. Smooth landing to end a great flight.
We had a great cookout yesterday, after all the flying was done for the day. About 20 people attended, and a good time was had by all. Alasdair volunteered and organized a feast of grilled chicken, burgers, veggie burgers, hot dogs and Italian sausages. Several people bought salads or desserts.
Thanks to Alasdair for spearheading the event, and to all that attended for making it a success. The next afternoon cookout is scheduled for Labor Day weekend, but there is a lot of flying to be done between now and then.
Hope to see you out there.
The safety meeting today was a success. We had 28 attend in person and another 16 online. We had a couple new members attend, and at least two joined after the meeting!
The weather did not allow us to assemble any gliders today, so our plan is to assemble tomorrow. Hopefully, we may be able to accomplish a couple currency flights before any weather gets to KVSF later in the day.
Hope to see you out there.
The annual safety meeting is scheduled for Saturday, April 6. In order to allow as many people as possible to get to the meeting, coffee and donuts start at 9:15 and the meeting will begin at 10:00. Weather permitting, we will hold it at the KVSF terminal building. It will also be available on freeconferencecall.com for those unable to attend in person. The link will be sent out next week. After the meeting, we hope to assemble gliders.
We will evaluate the weather forecast on Wednesday, April 3 and make a decision on how much of the meeting will be in person and when we will assemble the gliders.
Hope to see you there!
The annual safety meeting is scheduled for Saturday, April 6, from 9 am until noon, in the Springfield airport terminal building and online. We will send out an invitation with a link. The plan is to have lunch and then assemble a couple club gliders after the meeting. If the weather cooperates, we will begin conducting currency flights.
Greeting, NESA folks!
The annual meeting was this past Sunday, January 21, at the Crown Point Pub in Springfield. Almost 50 club members and guests attended, enjoying a social hour, buffet dinner, and member meeting. The meeting minutes will be posted to the club website after they are approved at the next board meeting.
Jim gave the President’s report, noting that the club welcomed seven new members in 2023, and thanked the twelve club members that either towed, instructed, or both. Jerry Smith presented the Treasurer’s report on a very successful year. A brief slideshow on the 2023 year in review was followed by the annual awards presentation. Winners were:
Uplift Award: Ava Saemann (presented by last year’s winner, Jim Malecha)
Cross-Country Award: Pieter Schwarzenbach (presented by Bob Morehardt)
First Solo Award: Ava Saemann
President’s Award: Jerry Smith
The club members present constituted a quorum, and voted in favor of the ballot of club officers and directors:
President: Jim Malecha
Vice President: Larry Perry
Secretary: Andy Kozak
Treasurer: Jerry Smith
Directors: Bill Batesole and Dave Carton (Steve Hurd and John Watkins begin their second year of a two-year term)
The attendees voted on monthly member meetings. They will be on the last Saturday of each month, April thru October. The meetings will be at 10 am, except for May and August, which will be a 4 pm picnic, provided volunteers organize those two events. Keep an eye on this space and your email for details as those dates approach.
Fundraising was discussed. T-shirts are available in yellow, orange or gray (sizes S thru XL) and polo shirts may be available, if there is adequate interest. Club members, watch your email for details.
The other club officers and I are looking forward to the upcoming season.
Thanks, and hope to see you out there!
JiM
Saturday, October 28th is the big day and the weather looks excellent!
As we now close into the end of our soaring season, the sailplanes need a wash before hibernation. Starting at 10am we will get all the gliders clean followed by a burger/dog lunch. After our bellies are full, we will start the spot landing contest.
Spot landing is closest to the touchdown point (not before but beyond) and stopping closest to the stopping cone. The Grand Prize will be a free 2500’ tow. Second place a SSA bucket hat and third place you get to drive the golf cart.
Cost of spot landing flight is a pattern tow, but no flight (glider use) fee. Pre-solo students can compete with CFIG on board.
During the day, a clean 2-33 will be available for flight instruction.
Come one, come all and show off your washing, eating and precision flying skills!
Colby VonKannewurff earned his private pilot certificate today, completing a checkride with NESA member Daryl Smith in a Connecticut Soaring 2-33 at Windham airport, down in CT. Alasdair Crawford was the recommending instructor. Most of you know Colby as a NESA fixture at KVSF for the past several years. He just started his freshman year at UConn. Way to go, Colby!