Jan. 16, 2005.

There’ve been a few things going on around here. Someone put a Genesis into Lou & Mike’s hangar at Hollister. It’s a mystery.

A few of our members liberated a Cessna 182 from a high school in San Jose. Here it is on it’s way to Mike Reynolds’ place in Nevada where Mike will part it out. The next time you pop a pull-tab, think “Cessna” – You could be setting a trim tab.

(I don’t know any of these guys.)

Lou and Mike were at the Hollister hangar yesterday tuning-up their new MX. I took a picture and somehow managed to lose it in my system. Blade went to the beach and back in his ‘Hopper. Here’s Blade returning to the barn after working on his tan.

Then, I got a call from John Gould, near the airport in his Ford, letting us know that the Odyssey was landing. Sure enough, here it comes!

Mark Beirele (pronounced “buy early”) and Jim Doherty had flown up from Mark’s place near Santa Margarita to show us the Odyssey (Jim and Mary are building one) and to give us a chance to meet and chat with Mark.

Jim emerging from the Odyssey:

A few of us hung out and ogled awhile and then went to the Ding-A-Ling for lunch. Then, onward to South County for the official meeting.

The meeting was fabulous! Mark gave us a run-down on how he’s spent his life so far, producing airplanes. There are several forms of Thundergull aircraft – see his website – www.thundergull.com. Mark estimates that there are about 400 airplanes currently flying that his company has produced.

Following the presentation, we all trooped across the road for a close-up examination of the Odyssey. Sure is an elegant airplane. Here are more photos:

Many thanks to Mark and to Jim and Mary Doherty for making this day possible! It was a great one for us all.

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1/16/2005 VM