Flight Line Newsletter Excerpts
Winter, 1998
From the President’s Cockpit...
Tony Lauck is suffering from a severe shortage of material for a
winter "Flight Line". I urge any member with winter tales of summer
to get them to him pronto.
At the January meeting, your Board
approved the purchase of a new L-23 Super Blanik for the club.
Strenuous efforts and advertising for a second hand one since last
November were fruitless, as those who already have them don't want to
sell. We need an extra trainer. We had a successful new member
campaign last year, and we must deliver more training facilities this
coming season, to satisfy the resulting demand. We intend to employ
three instructors for the same reason. Dues remain the same as last
year. Tow rates are under discussion and will be kept as low as
possible consistent with John Mahony's L-19 costs.
The Board has
had discussions with John Mahony about getting another L-19 on
strength. Unfortunately the financing required would have required
an unacceptable increase in the tow rates. Ideally another towplane
would have matched our increasing business, but we can only do so
much at one time. John fully realizes the significance of this, and
will make every effort to keep the two he has airworthy for the whole
season.
At the same meeting, Steve Ludemann's Red and White
color scheme for the 2-32 re-paint was approved.
We will again
be running a club display in the University Mall in Burlington this
coming April, since the last one was very well received. We will also
be running a Youth Camp, probably in August, and a National Soaring
Seminar in June scheduled to avoid the Region One Contest at
Morrisville. All the other regular events will reappear, when we
publish our Calendar of Events. Heidi will be running the DinerSoar
in a refurbished kitchen, and Margarett Roy has agreed to be social
director just this one more year. She needs a helper, prepared to
carry the torch next year.
This year, I intend to stress FAI
Badges as one important measure of achievement. These badges are the
real signs of your soaring abilities. We will run seminars on the
requirements for A,B,C, Bronze C, Silver C, Gold C, and, yes,
Diamonds.
Rick Hanson has prepared a comprehensive list of
pre-opening work required on the club equipment. This work, which
will include rebuilding the golf carts, is scheduled for April. In
the meantime, he would like to organize a Ski-Fest for members at
Sugarbush. Any takers? Please contact him at
shazaam@together.net.
We are compiling a new member data base. We need your latest address,
Business, Home, and Sugarbush local phone nos, and e-mail address.
Either mail this to Box 123 Warren VT 05674, or e-mail to the club at
soar@sugarbushsoaring.org. The sooner we get the new data, the sooner we can
publish it.
Incidentally, you now know who to complain to in
the future about club affairs - me! I want to emphasise club
operations this year. The great white fleet can look after itself
pretty well, but all club members deserve equal consideration. I'm
looking forward to a great year. Happy Soaring to all.
Now, back
to the simulator..................................................
John Daniell
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