FIRST MAINTENANCE DAY

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From: ZASoars

Many thanks to the members who came on out this windy Saturday and helped get a lot of good work done on the PW 5 and the Grob 102.  Still some work to do but great progress was made on preparing these gliders for their annuals. As usual a good meal was had by all at The HI-WAY cafe after the mornings work . Come on out and join in on the fun next time you have a spare Saturday .

 

The Maintenance Crew

Important Insurance News

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From: ZASoars

To all members .  Please take note that there are only 2 aircraft flyable in the club as from this date on ( until the Spring ) . The board decided to reduce the high Insurance charges by taking some of the club equipment off " flying risks " for the Winter months to help our expenses.

If you make a flight this Winter it will have to be in the Blanik 303BA . The Tow plane in use is 898 up 'til the time that 87Z is re-assembled , which will hopefully be in a couple of weeks.

Happy Landings ahead .

Saturday: Flying No, Maintaining Equipment Yes

The maintenance crew needs you tomorrow. You won't be distracted from intensive maintenance work by flyable weather conditions. Wind gusts are forecast to be - well, higher than the stall speed for most of the glider fleet, actually.

Fwd: Winter projects

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From: Bixby, Craig
Date: Oct 26, 2006 11:45 AM
Subject: Winter projects

Hello everyone from the Maintenance Crew

 

Well sadly the summer flying has pretty much come to an end and as such it is time to look at getting the aircraft not only put away for the year but ready to fly again in the spring.

 

As Ron Clark has already posted on the Blog, Saturday's from now on will be spent accomplishing the above.

 

With this Saturday's weather in question some of the work could begin and continue through the following Saturday's.

 

We have a tentative list of items we have seen that need to be done.  Anyone that is aware of additional things please bring them to our attention.

 

Our first tasks during the next couple of weekends will be the washing/waxing, lubing, etc of the Astir and PW 5 readying them to be derigged and place on/in their trailers for the winter.  This will free up hangar space and make room to also store the Blanik Trailer.

 

As Ron mentioned Everyone that is available is welcome to come out and assist in getting the aircraft bedded down for the winter and ready for next spring.

 

Thanks

 

The Maintenance Crew

Fwd: Anyone interested in flying Wed ?

Ron Clarke asks:
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From: ZASoars
Date: Oct 24, 2006 4:24 PM
Subject: Anyone interested in flying Wed ?

Based on the excellent conditions on Tuesday ( should have known !) is anyone interested in tomorrow ?

 

ZA. 

WINTER MAINTENANCE LEARN AND HAVE FUN TIME !

From: ZASoars

As the soaring season draws to a close every member is invited to come on out to Alexandria on Saturday mornings to help get the club fleet ready for the 2007 season. This program has in the past enabled many members to gain a lot of extra understanding of what it takes to keep the glider fleet in an airworthy state. As we have several qualified Aircraft technicians in the club you will have the oppportunity to learn what they look for and what it takes to "tune up" the fleet.

As from this coming Saturday, October 28 we plan to make a start on the two single seaters . Of course if the weather is flyable we'll fly.

Each Saturday it has become customary to all move on down to the "Hi-Way Cafe" for lunch and yet more hangar flying around noon.

Come on out and join in.

 

Thre Maintenance Crew.  

Fwd: Sunday 10/22 flying cancelled due to wind and coldness

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From: Ken Harry
Date: Oct 21, 2006 10:44 PM
Subject: Sunday 10/22 flying cancelled due to wind and coldness

Due to the forecast of cold and wind Sunday, the DD's of crew 8 have decided to call off flying.

 

Start the fireplace and kick back with some football!

 

Ken

Fwd: Friday Results

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From: ZASoars
Date: Oct 20, 2006 11:23 PM
Subject: Friday Results

If you were not at Alex this Friday you missed some 4- 6 knot thermals as reported by Dan De Witt, and confirmed by others. You also missed the opportunity to fly north to Wabash and then south to Last Resort before heading home after it turned "blue". The passage of a cold front always brings good soaring and today was no exception.  Dan, Larry, George, and ZA were lucky enough to be able to make it to the airfield, and then into the skies. Lynn Joyce towed and we all took advantage of the "end of season " thermals for several hours. Don't miss Saturday it looks good too.

ZA.

Fwd: Friday Flying

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From: ZASoars
Date: Oct 19, 2006 11:22 AM
Subject: Friday Flying

Lynn Joyce has kindly offered to tow tomorrow and so far we have 3 pilots interested in flying.

 

I would suggest first take off 1:30 if thats OK with you Lynn ?  ( Lynn said he could tow 'til 3:30 latest )  

 

CU at noon to help get the equipment out .

 

ZA.

 

More Frightening Than My Last BFR

The Carpenters are hosting a Halloween costume party at our home on October 28th at 7:00 PM.
Although not a CISS event, all of our CISS friends are invited.
Please RSVP by email if you plan to attend.
Chris

You’re invited to have
A frightfully good time at our
Spooktacular Halloween Party on
Saturday, October 28th 2006
7:00 p.m.
“Ghosted” by the Carpenters
Carmel, Indiana
Afraid you can’t come?
Please RSVP
Adults only, costumes required.

Email to RSVP and ask for directions if you need them.

Scouting Outing

DT reports:

On a cold and windy Saturday last weekend Mike Nichols and his sometimes able assistant, Don Taylor, introduced a passle of Boy Scouts to soaring. There was a weekend Camporee with over 2000 Scouts at the American Model Association field and Reese Airport near Muncie. A number of Young Eagle flights were given and Mike set up his Libelle right next to the airplanes and the FBO. The transportation van would drop off the Scouts for a glider intro at the time of their flight. Mike brought his not insignificant collection of Soaring and EAA magazines for free distribution, and many of the boys walked off with something to read and dream about. In addition to the Scout introductions, a number of EAA members and Scout leaders also were curious and we did our best to encourage them to come visit us at Alexandria. As a sidelight, we got to see some huge radio control model warbirds and a jet engine powered R/C model fighter jet fly some routines. And a "full scale" Army Apache helicopter dropped in to the delight of all in attendance, young and old.
DT

Fwd: Friday flying [?]

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From: ZASoars
Date: Oct 17, 2006 5:04 PM
Subject: Friday flying

At this time Friday looks like the best possibilty for soarng this week . Remember the season is drawing to a close and any thermals are better than no thermals !

Anyone interested in flying ?

 

Let me know, and maybe we can put a flying day together , 

 

ZA.

Fwd: CISS: Sunday report for the Blog.

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From: <mario.lazaga>
Date: Oct 15, 2006 8:06 PM
Subject: CISS:  Sunday report for the Blog.

Hello aviatrices and aviators,

We had a nice day of soaring.

Didn't look promising in the morning, but got better in the afternoon.

We had Clark Allen taking 3 instructional flights, one of which was a tow rope break exercise that he handled beautifully.  He was also invited to be a passenger for Dale Igram in the acrobatic flight of the day.

We all went to have lunch, and when we came back, Don Taylor had already arrived to take to the skies.  He took 303BA and said that he would go to 2000 and stay up half hour.  I bet him lunch that he wouldn't be able to stay half hour. He landed 50 minutes later, smiling and thinking about that 1-pound steak I owe him at St. Elmo's.

Ron Clarke went up, disappeared, and re-appeared two hours later doing that two-thumbs-up thing he likes to do.

A couple of guests friends of Dale were very nicely impressed by the view from up-there.

Gerry Simpson and Dan Dewitt went up in the 103, came back, and immediately went up again, convinced that they had actually flown in WAVE in Indiana.

 

Thanks to John Schlechte, the tow pilot of the day, to Dale, the instructor of the day, and Mike Beckage, always crewing with contagious gusto.

 

Mario Lazaga

Fwd: Don't miss out !

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From: ZASoars
Date: Oct 14, 2006 10:07 PM
Subject: Don't miss out !

Today was goood !  Sometimes the thermals were  over 1000 ft /min to 6500 msl.

 

Tomorrow should be good too - come on out ( early is best )  and take advantage of the end of season thermals. Dress warm for altitude !

 

ZA

Fwd: Last Resort Canceled

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From: George Saunders
Date: Oct 12, 2006 6:05 PM
Subject: Last Resort Canceled
To: CISS members

Our Away Weekend at Last Resort has been canceled.  (October 14-15).  We will fly at Alexandria as normal.  Predicted high winds out of the West have shut down operations at the North-South runway of Last Resort.  West winds should present no problems at the East-West runway of Alex. 

 

See you this weekend

 

Pete Detore

George Saunders

 

Mystery Hawk Crashes Aircraft Shop

Regular readers know I'm a sucker for any story having to do with
hawks, so (via r.a.s.) here's a link to some photos of a hawk that crashed into a builder's shop.
I would just like to make the observation that I would not, under any circumstances, allow those talons anywhere near my lap, as the guy in the picture is doing.

2007: The Place To Be is Albert Lea

In 2007, the US Open Class and 18 Meter Nationals will be held along side the Region 7 Sports Class Championship in Albert Lea, Minnesota. The first practice day is Sunday, May 27; the regional ends on Sunday June 3, and the national contests end on Thursday June 7. Albert Lea has a great reputation for fun contests with good conditions. ZA already plans to attend.
More details about the event here.