WV Fun Flyers - March - 2003
A word from your President
Practice makes PERRFEKT
Wow. It's finally is here. Flying season is here. The buzz of props can be heard on the increasing fair weather days. The clear mornings have allowed an increase in airtime and flying skills. For instance, Steve has been building time on his new Red Back trike. By starting early in the morning he can avoid the turbulence found in the later day and begin to feel out his trike and improve his flying skills. There is nothing that feels quite as good as "tuning" into your flying machine. This is the feeling that we all strive for so that we can feel relaxed in the air but still be alert and sensitive to the condition of the machine and the air around us. This can only be had by practice. The more we fly, the better pilots we become. Have you ever considered how some of the really good pilots got to be really good? It is practice. In the air and on the ground we can practice our flying skills. You don't have to have a plane to look, observe and learn about local weather and flying conditions. Sometimes the aircraft may be a micro example. One of the best light plane pilots I know learned much of his skill flying radio controlled models. For some, it may be radio work or flight planning using a computer flight simulator. Practice helps us by generating experience in what we love to do. No flight is exactly like the next. Each take off, flight, and landing gives us a new perspective in which to evaluate our flying skills. Practice your flying skills. When driving, evaluate potential landing fields. Can you land safely? Where are the power lines? Is there a ditch, road or fence? When you are in the air look at the same field and compare what you find on the ground with what you see from on high.
Look for ways to practice flying whether you are in the air or on the ground. While we may never be perfect pilots, let us strive to become better, safer pilots and enjoy the sport we love. Practice, practice, practice!!!!!
Fly Safe
Curtis Pack
A Note From the Treasurer
It is almost time again to renew your Fun Flyer's membership. Membership renewal is due by the May meeting (camp out and fly-in).
Renewal of dues is $15.00 and new memberships are $20.00. The cost for a new membership includes a T-shirt.
If anyone is interested in purchasing red or white Fun Flyer logo T-shirts, you can get one for $8.00. We also have caps for the same price. I will have the shirts and caps with me at the May meeting.
If you can't make the May meeting, you can pay your dues by mailing them to me at:
Laura Jensen
630 Granada Way
Charleston, WV 25364
If you mail in your dues, please include your full name, address, telephone number and email address, if you have one. We are in the process of updating the membership list and this information will help us compile an accurate list.
We will have new membership cards for each member who pays dues in 2003. If you mail in your dues, I will mail back your membership card. If you pay at the meeting I will hand them out when you pay your dues.
Hope to see all of ;you at the May meeting!!! (April too!) - Laura Jensen
Minutes Saturday March 1, 2003
At 2:20 p.m. the March meeting was held at Curtis Pack's office, opposite the Henry Upton Airport in Leon, West Virginia. There were about 35 people in attendance, as near as I could count since they move around too much to be accurate.
One of the first issues was to remind us all about the muddy conditions at the airport. PLEASE be careful, the more mess we make now the more of a clean up job we will have in the "Clean-up" weekend - the weekend before the "May Day Fly-In."
There was a great deal of discussion and participation on what to use on the floor of the "Hen House" (lounge). It was decided to use vinyl tiles with colors red/grey. The need for a new refrigerator was also discussed and it was decided to purchase a new one. Tom Davis was given permission to make the purchase.
We were also reminded that at the May meeting the $15.00 membership fee for the year is due.
John Boulton was commended for his contribution of the cartoons being used in the Newsletter.
Laura Jensen, treasurer, will take the minutes at the next meeting as the secretary will be attending Sun & Fun in Florida.
Sun - n - Fun
Lakeland, Florida
An authentic reproduction of the Wright Brothers Flyer will be the centerpiece of a 24,000 square foot exhibit celebrating the 100th anniversary of powered flight at this year's Sun - Fun EAA Fly-In, which will be held April 2nd - 8th at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in Lakeland, Florida.
Pilots
As ultralight vehicle drivers, (103 UL Folk), we have to yield to all other airborne traffic, even birds if we're smart! Since we co-exist in the general and commercial aviation world, it behooves us to learn some of the stuff they know. With that in mind, and because most of us (including most licensed pilots) are notoriously low budget people, it is a good thing when we can get flight education information free. You might enjoy the following website: www.studentpilot.com. Check this site out!
Event
Morningstar in Dayton OH! Come see it at the consolidated Fly-In on July the 20th - 21st at Morningstar Airfield west of Dayton Ohio! All UL and experimental are invited!
This is the joint fly-in of the EAA chapter 48 and Dayton UL club previously mentioned. Make plans now! Mark your calendars and plan to attend.
Member's Articles
This month's member story was written by Kevin Pauley and Laura Jensen. Read their adventures with "The Prop Machine."
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Gil Watkins, News Editor
WV Fun Flyers
2721 Riverside Drive, St. Albans, WV 25177
304-727-6331
Email: gil@wvfunflyers.com