Weekend Report May 17 - 18

Saturday was not a very good day for instructing - the weather was too good! With the exception of a 1-hour pause in operations at 1pm, the Blanik was in motion the entire day. It's impractical to get more than one lesson on a day like that. Students are reminded that the "fast track" training program requires showing up early, before the lift starts.

The mid-day pause was due to a funeral service in Post Mills Cemetery, next door. We took the opportunity to convene an impromptu ground school at the south end of the runway.

The flying on Saturday was outstanding. The new Blanik pilots, Tom, Tim, and Andy G, are all well on their way toward figuring that plane out. Tim topped off the day by soloing. We thought that Andy's flight to 8200 feet was the best of the day until Doug landed the 1-23 and reported that he got to 9600 feet, still below cloudbase. Steve disappeared for a couple of hours in PM, but I was in the air for both his takeoff and landing/departure, so I don't have his story. Jason had three flights in the 1-23.

Evan (T8) scored another 250 kilometers in a double out-and-return flight to Stowe and Quechee. I think he likes that glider.

At the end of the day, the flyers who couldn't make it to the cookout were replaced by diners who weren't able to fly that day. Thanks to the food contributors.

There was no flying on Sunday, due to weather. We accomplished some maintenance on three of our four gliders and the towplane. We replaced the electric vario in 3J, gave the Blanik some TLC, and started covering the 2-33. Thanks to the workers: Pete, Sonny, Kevin, Nancy, and our fearless leader, Andy.

Sorry to end this with a nag, but... our logsheet discipline still isn't the greatest. We don't always write down our takeoff and landing times, and we keep forgetting to enter the pilots' full names. Sonny reminded me that we have two Toms, three Andys and at least 4 Petes in the club. Let's not make our treasurer's job any harder than it already is.