Congratulations to Ben Berg, and his mom and dad who supported him, as he passed his Private Pilot-Glider Practical Test today!

Despite winds that were a bit gusty, he performed to the test standards over three flights and was awarded his Pilot Certificate. Way to go, Ben! Now you can take that growing list of family and friends for a glider flight!

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.

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.

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.

Our special guest at NESA’s Annual Meeting was John Wood, FAA Safety Team Program Manager at the Portland, Maine FSDO, who presented Bill Batesole with the prestigious Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award, recognizing Bill’s 50+ years of support and promotion of aviation safety and accident and incident free flying.

Bill first soloed at Johnnycake Airport in CT in 1971 and received his CFI-G rating in 1975, instructing first near Waterbury, CT and later at the Schweitzer Soaring School in Elmira, NY. He graduated from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida in 1978, and began flying Piper Navajo’s and DeHaviland Twin Otters for Precision Airlines, a commuter airline based here in Springfield. In 1983 Bill was one of the early pilot hires for Federal Express, now FedEx, where over his 36 year career he flew the Airbus 310, Boeing 727, 757, 767, and 777. He has remained involved in soaring at Harris Hill, as a member of the Vintage Glider Club and long time National Soaring Museum Trustee and current Board President. Bill is a long time NESA member and has held nearly every club position. Thank you, Bill for your many years of service and volunteerism in support of soaring and aviation!

Annual Meeting presentations will be posted to flynesa.com

A big THANK YOU! to everyone who turned out to help with the annual inspections, disassembly and put away of the club ships yesterday.

At the risk of missing someone, the put away staff included club members Bill Batesole, Greg Hunter, Mark Farley, Ben Berg and dad Tim, Sebastian, Colby von Kannewurff and his grandfather, Larry and friend John Bruno, Erik Nelson, plus Rick Sheppe from Post Mills.

Another big THANK YOU! to Andy Gelston who did the annual inspections on the 1-26 and yellow 2-33. All club gliders are good to go at the start of the 2022 season.

A picture from the weekend courtesy of new NESA member Rick Beck who got his first flights with Charlie Freeman on Saturday. Rick lives in Walpole, NH and is a CFI and received his glider rating in 2019.

Greg Hunter flew Saturday and found lift over a small fire and stayed up for around an hour.

One weekend left before we retire until spring. Come out and fly!