Saturday we had some hot start issues with the Callair and ran the battery low. Putting it on charge did nothing. Sunday we finally figured out that the lightening on Friday fried the GFI sockets in the hangar and the issue was magically solved when we found and plugged the charger into the one socket that actually still worked! Duh. So, after a slightly delayed start Sunday proved to be a great soaring day and finally a lot of ships got out of their boxes..

FYI – Fridays lightening also took out the gas pump and the main gate. Hopefully both will be back in business for next weekend.

Here is a small sampling of photographs and a video from this weeks ACE camp. Thank you to all of the NESA folks who helped out – ACE Camp Wrap Up – 2023 | New England Soaring Association (flynesa.com)

Until next year..

This Sunday, between or after your flying please ask what help you can give to set up for ACE Camp (which starts Monday morning)… we need to get the classroom set-up in the terminal, clean the terminal, stock the refrigerator cut wood for the wing-rib workshops etc., etc.

Thanks!

After a great weekend of flying and instruction, here’s a reminder that the member meeting is this Saturday, July 29 at 10 a.m. This month we will not get the grill going – hopefully the weather will cooperate, and we will be able to start flying a little earlier in the day.

Hope to see you out there!

Springfield is hosting the Green Mountain Aerobatic Contest this weekend. There are several NOTAMs relating to that contest this weekend for KVSF. They include:

Aerobatic aircraft within an area 1 NM radius of KVSF from the surface to 4500 feet AGL

Runway 11 right traffic

Runway 23 right traffic

Please check NOTAMs prior to flight in case there are others. Thank you, Brian, for pointing these out!

Hope to see you out there!

The forecast weather forced the cancellation of the member meeting and flying on Saturday, June 24. We will let you know about Sunday flying tomorrow evening.

I sure hope this weather improves sometime soon.

Hope to see you out there!

Congratulations to Ben Berg for passing his Private Airplane flight test with DPE Daryl Smith. Ben and Bill (his instructor) have been busy flying the Cessna 182 to meet all the requirements for the rating. This included night flying, instrument training, cross-country and solo cross-country flights plus all the maneuvers required. Ben taught himself flying skills using his home flight simulator, achieving a high level of proficiency before he started his actual flying in the 182. Ben learned to fly in sailplanes and he achieved his Private Glider Pilot rating, so he knew how to fly, adding the engine was easy.

Ben is another NESA success story, teaching junior members how to fly. The Honor Roll list of NESA juniors going on to aviation careers is long. ACE Camp and the CAP Glider programs with the dedication of skilled volunteers are are also making a big difference in introducing young people to the world of aviation and all this is happening at Hartness State Airport KVSF.

We have a lot to be proud of.

Good morning. Alasdair and I have decided to cancel operations for today. Last evening we thought it would be flyable, but the Terminal Area Forecast is much worse this morning than it was last night. So far tomorrow looks good, so keep your fingers crossed the forecast holds up.

Hope to see you out there.

The official start of Summer is upon us, and the weather forecast is promising! If you have not been out to the airport yet this season, it’s a great weekend to be there.

Friday, we will have a tow pilot available for soaring. Instruction is available Saturday and Sunday.

The member meeting is Saturday morning at 10. We will assemble the 1-34, have a brief discussion about situational awareness in the launch/landing areas, and cook hot dogs on the grill. The grill will be going late morning to not interfere with flying.

Hope to see you out there!

Holy cow! It finally looks like we will have a flyable weekend. I will be out to tow tomorrow (Friday), and the soaring forecast shows there may be some lift, unlike last year’s Sink-o de Mayo.

Saturday we will assemble the orange 2-33, starting by 10 am. Then we will fire up the grills for hot dogs and hamburgers, done early enough to give a full afternoon in the air. The forecast is very promising for both Saturday and Sunday. We have tow pilots and instructors – all we need is you! There are still a few slots available on the schedule, so sign up for your season checkout if you have not done that yet.

Hope to see you out there!