No Flying New Year's Day

Surface winds west at 24 mph
Winds aloft west at 40 mph
Wind chill 9 degrees
Ceiling 1000-2000 feet
2-5 inches of snow overnight
40% chance of more snow

We could put skis on the glider, tie a rope at the end of the runway, and fly like a kite.
Or we could release at 1000 feet halfway down the runway and land straight ahead and back where we started.

Or maybe we should not fly.

See you at the banquet - Jan 12th. (Reservation deadline Jan 2nd 6 pm. See Wingtips for details.)

George

A free bird is free no more, or The aerobatics man does the cross/country thing, or Soaring to new heights in the middle of the Mexican desert.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Mario Lazaga
Date: Dec 31, 2007 1:20 AM

Soaring report from Monclova, Mexico.
This past Saturday, December 29th, our beloved CFIG Dale Igram took
his final exam IN SPANISH and accumulated enough points to receive his
new license as a CMM (Certified Married Man.) He also received a crew
member for life.
Mario and crew were serendipituously in the neighbourhood (about 200
miles away) and drove to meet him and helped him prepare for his big
test.
Needless to say, the celebration after his accomplishment was full of
music and dancing, mariachis, singing cousins, brothers, singing
uncles, sisters, granmothers, and LOTS of other relatives. I also
brought some of my relatives, but hey! This is Mexico!
True to his talent, Dale went through some new acrobatic manouvers
which are typical of mexican weddings.
I left my camera USB cable in Indy so you will have to wait until
after New Year to see the pictures.
Congratulations Dale
-------------------------------------------------
Note to Darren.
Happy New Year!
Feel free to edit any of this.
CU

[Edit it? It's perfect the way it is - ed.]

New Year's Day Flying

No way! See the update.

Larry Miller has volunteered to tow for us on New Year's Day. If the weather cooperates, we will show up about 11 AM and start flying about noon. Watch this blog for updates.

George

Last Flights Of 2007. . .

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: ZASoars
Saturday Soaring was as good as it gets in December ! Bob Currie
showed up and started the tow plane first crank ! Cloud bases were
low so we went to Rachels for lunch . After lunch bases were still low
but Tod Herrli flew and made the best landing I've seen for a while -
way to go Tod . The Saunders family had made four flights by the time
I left so maybe made more ? Dan De Witt will be up to speed in the
contest next year as he raced back from Alexandria town after each
release ( before he got too low ) .
Thanks to Larry Miller for braving the cold in the heatless tow plane
and shame on the folks that didn't show up ! We know John Weber was
skiing somewhere out west and Mario was down in the sunshine of Mexico
. Hopefully New Years Day will be flyable - keep a look out for news.

ZA.

Saturday Flying!

Larry Miller has offered to tow on Saturday, Dec 29th. Come about noon to get the equipment out. We'll start flying about 1 pm.
George

No Maintenance this Saturday

Ron tells me there will be no maintenance work at Alex this Saturday, Dec 15. Snuggle next to the fire and watch the snow fall!

George

Fwd: Message to the members

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: ZASoars

Maintenance update .

Today we completed the Winter Maintenance projects on the club gliders
- And with no less than 3 of our excellent Tow Pilots lending a hand
! Thank you to ALL who worked in the mild weather and the cold - we
know you all are now much more familiar with the procedures to get the
fleet back up to pristine condition for the coming soaring year .
George Saunders retrieved the Grob rudder from the workshop in Ohio
today also, so thanks to George too.

BUT as they say "it's not over ' til it's over " . So if you would
like to show some appreciation to our loyal Tow Pilots - keep a look
out for an e-mail inviting you to a Tow Plane polishing party - there
will be 2 . The Tow pilots make notes on who of the glider pilots help
keep their flying machines in good repair and find them the best
thermals ! These events take place in the warmth of the heated
workshop once the Tow Plane annuals have been done and we spend a
morning cleaning and polishing these to perfection . Expect one
invite in December and another in March .

The Maintenance Crew.

Fwd: Saturday Maintenance

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: George Saunders

With just a couple of weeks to go before year end we hope to complete
the Maintenance work on the club gliders this weekend. Thanks in
advance for those who will help this coming Saturday and especially to
ALL who have helped this past 2 months . Your commitment to helping
keep the club fleet in excellent condition is greatly appreciated . We
know you will all enjoy soaring all the more this next summer in the
newly cleaned up sailplanes !
We'll be starting at 9:00 am Saturday .

The Maintenance Crew.

Fwd: Maintenance Report

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: George Saunders
Thank you to everyone who helped with maintenance today! Four people went to Waynesville to pick up the Grob after it's annual. Seven of us cleaned and lubricated one Blanik, Bravo Alpha. A great time was had by all!! Join us next Saturday from nine to noon as we work on 809S. There is nothing more beautiful than an freshly waxed sailplane!
George Saunders