EAA Ultralight 110 Round Robin

Hello- I’m writing this two weeks after our meeting, and a lot has happened since, so this will be a snapshot including some recent activity.

Golden West EAA Regional Fly-In is June 29 – July 1 this year, at the Yuba County Airport (MYV), Marysville. Website: http://www.goldenwestflyin.org/. Harold Marchant halthehrbl@sbcglobal.net is our man on the scene, as well as he can be. Hal met with the main man there this past week and checked runways. The plan is to bring a stronger ultralight presence this year, with a separate runway and area for UL’s.

There is some discussion of forming a flight, with ground crew, to fly from our area to Golden West, with a group of airplanes. The trip up may look like this:

Hollister to Los Banos

Los Banos to Turlock

Turlock to Lodi

Lodi to Rancho Murieta

Rancho Murieta to Freedom Field

Freedom Field to Marysville

Wouldn’t that be a kick!! By the way, check www.freedomfield.com, a private strip started by Ray Mello, that has turned into quite an ultralight/sport presence.

Blade Doyle didn’t make the February meeting. He was in Auburn flying a Rans that he’s considering purchasing.

Lou Janis gave a run-down of people who provide Sport Pilot instruction:

LODI AIRPORT:

Bill Bardin instructs in an Allegro or a Challenger. That’s an Allegro on the left. His e-mail address is billbardin@surewest.net. He is also a Sport Pilot-Designated Pilot Examiner and a Designated Airworthiness Representative.

There are two other instructors there, David Gall and Terry Miller.

Cost is $135/ hour, dual instruction.

Check their very nifty website at www.californiasportaviation.com.

REID HILLVIEW AIRPORT:

Amelia Reid Aviation, in tailwheel airplanes, $90/ hour for the aircraft, and $45/ hour for the instructor.

Lou gave a brief presentation about the Castle Air Museum http://www.elite.net/castle-air. We’re planning a Fly-Out to go there on April 7^th. This will be a lively topic for discussion at the March meeting.

John Gould gave a very brief demonstration of his vision for an aircraft with a view, and he’s not kidding. He’s bought a Cessna 336 in pieces, that he plans to re-assemble with bubble on the front similar to a helicopter. Go John! John is also interested in partnering-up with others in an Odyssey. He noted that the Odyssey runs about $42,000.

George Nicholson offered his assistance in ground support for up-coming fly-outs.

Lou Janis noted that there is movement afoot in the City of Hollister to tear down the Weatherly Hangar. The person to contact about that is Tim Floyd At 831/636-5435. John Feemster says that apparently the City wants a single renter in Weatherly, paying more than is currently coming in from the building.

John Feemster: John and George Watson have purchased the Rans that Mike Ettle was building. They have received a new engine for the airplane, but as it turns out, the exhaust manifold doesn’t fit the engine. So there’s down-time while the factory makes corrections.

John also announced that this will be his last year of instructing, Darn!

Harold Marchant noted that we need a chapter library. He has a book that he wants to make available to anyone who would be interested, Ultralights. (There is effort going toward the Club’s use of a lockable cabinet at Wings of History for such items.)

David and Janet Hinjosa brought their trike to the airport today, in their trailer. They have it set up ready to fly, and ready for us to see after the meeting.

Here’s David with his beautiful machine.

Steven Winegarden flew in from RHV today.

R.D. Gomez is looking for a partner in a Taylorcraft BC12-D. He’s shopping!

George Watson says the Genesis has about 2 hours to go, and will be ready to fly. Note that the Genesis is for sale on Barnstormers.com. You can also see it at http://www.uptomyassinalligators.com/thegenesis.

Jim Shaw’s Falcon should be flying in April.

Bill Denison flew this morning with Robin Reid in the hornet, and will qualify for flying in one more hour!

David Egli joined us today – we haven’t seen you in a long time, David! His Rans S-18 will be registered as a homebuilt experimental.

Vaughn McIlrath is currently reviewing ground school in a community college class in Monterey. At the first meeting, the instructor was ticking-through all the various pilot ratings that one can earn and did not mention “Sport Pilot”. Vaughn asked “What about Sport Pilot?” The instructor and most of the 30+ people in the room had no knowledge of the rating. We have some educating to do.

We initiated a fund-raising raffle event at the meeting. On its first time out we learned that this may be illegal – we need to check that out. And, we raised $27 for the club.

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Vaughn McIlrath March 4, 2007