2010 West Coast Touring Motorglider Fly-In [Heads-Up!]

[Webmaster]

I have been interacting with Richard Pearl, Ray Buhr, and Fred LaSor who are the organizers for what we hope will be the Annual West Coast Motorglider Fly-In. Although the plans are still fluid, I though I would post them as soon as possible so people could make plans.

Tentative Schedule:

Fly-In: June 25-27 at Minden, NV. This will include dinners, social events, presentations, and outstanding soaring in prime season.

Trek: June 26 through July 3 to Cedar City/Parowan Utah. The ASA will be hosting their annual (serious) soaring meet June 29 through July 8. The soaring can be outstanding at Parowan and the company is good. Since Parowan is crowded, they are suggesting we rendezvous at Cedar City (19 miles away). We can still join in on the meals and socializing and hook up for soaring.

Last year we had 3 Ximangos at the Parowan meet and 2 at the Minden Fly-In. Perhaps this year with advanced planning we could do even more. Depending who signs up we can expand our activities.

For example, does anyone want to work on soaring badges? Should we arrange for some aerial photos? There is a chance there might be some wave at Minden at this time (May is normally good, June has some occassional days.) We could also trek around and do some sightseeing.

What sounds good? Anyone from the East want an adventure ... just join us. Last year Tom Muller from Georgia was one of the Ximangos.

[Steve Sliwa]

Touring Motor Glider 2010 Fly-In

The Second Annual West Coast Fly-In will be held June 25 – 27 at Minden, Nevada. Activities will include flying, technical discussions, a show and tell, Friday night Basque dinner, Saturday night BBQ, and flying. SoaringNV at Minden will again be the on-site host. SoaringNV will just be finishing up a glider cross-country camp so there will be a lot of glider activity out there.

This year we are planning an optional fly-out after the main event to Cedar City/Parawon, Utah, where the Auxiliary Sailplane Association will be holding their annual Camp & Contest (June 28 though July 8). We plan on staging our group at the Cedar City airport. Everyone we’ve talked to says that the Utah area is spectacular to fly in.

Last year we had 10 ships and 20 pilot/spectators at the event. A great time was had by all, although the weather could have been more cooperative. Pilots came from north and south California, the southwest, and the northwest.

Contact Richard Pearl (pennyrich@aol.com) or Ray Buhr (jb92563@yahoo.com) for details, comments, and suggestions. Updated information will be posted in the Yahoo group site: Touring_Motor_Glider Fly-In. Join if you’re not already a member. You need not have a glider to participate in the event, and I expect that glider flights with participants can be arranged. Ray and I will make basic arrangements with hotels, restaurants, and the airports. Obviously, everyone is responsible for their own tie down fees, hotel, and meal costs.

Here is the website information: link

[Steve Sliwa]

Richard Pearl asked me:

Also, where did you stay in Cedar City? Would you recommend it for the group?

Although the experts are Ron Snedecor and Tom Muller, who have open invitations to stay at Victoria's Bed & Breakfast - the spot at Parowan, I replied with the following:

Hi Richard

I will get this going on the website and will announce it to the group as well.

BTW I think you meant July 8th below, not August 8th.

A list of hotels is at: AirNav: KCDC - Cedar City Regional Airport

I have stayed at the Hampton Inn twice and think it is fine with several restaurants right near by.

Note that the pilots recommend the Bed & Breakfast in Parowan Victoria's Bed & Breakfast but I suspect the rooms will be taken before we can sign up. But for people who go other times it would be good to know.

Rental cars at Cedar City can be arranged through the FBO: Cedar City Airport :: Sphere One Aviation

I am planning to come with Ximango and Cirrus. Besides me I plan to bring my brother and wife, both are glider pilots. My brother has a diamond. We all plan to head to Cedar City and stay through about July 3. I have contacted Ron Snedecor and Tom Mulller, the attendees from last year to get it on their calendar. We shall see if we can get more attendees.

Should be fun.

Steve

[Steve Sliwa]

I am hoping to bring my family to the Fly-In at Minden and off to Parowan. My wife will fly our Cirrus and bring my brother's family. He and I will fly the motorglider.

I think Tom Muller is hoping to make it and Ron Snedecor is likely. I hope others will start planning to overlap with us. It could be fun.

Last year at Parowan we had 3 Ximangos in several thermals over 2 hours and got up to almost 18,000 feet (in thermals). Ron and Tom got some wave soaring in before I got there.

It will be fun!

[Horst31]

Steve,

Parowan sounds great. I would love to join the group, but can't commit yet.
Minden is not possible for me.

I will keep you posted .

I am going on April 18 thru 24 to the soaring/wave camp in Marfa, Tx.

Horst Stratmann
N96SX

[John Lawton]

Greetings Team,

Anybody on the east side of town interested in forming up and heading west to attend the motorglider event at Minden? I'm thinking seriously about going.

Regards,

John Lawton
Whitwell, TN (TN89)
Ximango #135

[Steve Sliwa]

Hi John

It would be great to host you. Tom Muller will be coming East and he starts near Thomasville, GA as I recall. I think this will be his 4th trip West with his Ximango.

Steve

[Rob Morgan]

Hello Everyone,

I just read the thread on the idea of a west coast fly in at Minden in late June. I don't know how fixed everyone is on going to Minden, but I personally believe Bishop to be the better destination for soaring conditions around the first part of July. I personally intend to head to Bishop around the 3rd or 4th of July and plan to stay for about a week. I've been flying the Sierras for about 25 years now and have flown Minden, Tuckee, Air Sailing, Bishop, Lone Pine, Inyokern, Tehachapi, and California City from Memorial Day to Labor Day during many of these past years. Though Minden offers beautiful views of Lake Tahoe, I believe soaring conditions are generally more consistent and favorable at Bishop. The furthest distance I've traveled in my Ximango with the engine out has been out of Bishop....275 statute miles. Bishop (like Minden) offers multiple runways. Bishop also offers closer restuarants and hotels to the airport. I'd bet if you ask people who have flown from Minden to get their 1000K flights, at least 80% will tell you they headed to the White mountains between Boundary Peak and Lone Pine. Well, Bishop is located in the Owens valley with the White Mountains running north to south just a few miles to the east of Bishop.

If flying from Minden or from Bishop, come prepared with oxygen. This is a must! It's not uncommon to fly well above 10,000 ft. Being able to soar between 15,000 to 17,999 is a very real possibility.

BTW....there is usually a really good 4th of July fireworks show put on at the Bishop airport every year. It's usually a big hit with pilots and families alike. If anyone would like to chat about flying the Sierras or Whites, you are welcome to give me a call at 858-442-6194.

Rob

[John Lawton]

Hey Steve,

I swapped emails with Tom over the past couple of days. He's in New Zealand now on a soaring trip, but said he does indeed plan to attend the meet at Minden again. Tom and I are going to compare notes when he gets back from New Zealand and try to formulate a plan.

I'm open for wherever the flying is good. I don't care at all about attending the ASA meet at Parowan. In fact, I'd much rather avoid that crowd entirely. I'm just wanting to soar somewhere with different scenery and big lift. June and July aren't the best months for soaring here in the Sequatchie.

It'd be nice to have a couple of eastern Ximango's to form up with to make the journey for safety reasons, but I've flown back and forth across the country several times and have no qualms about doing it alone again if need be. The biggest deal for me is finding someone to keep my runway mowed while I'm gone. That time of year I need to mow every 4 days or so to keep it from turning into a jungle. The real difficulty for me is finding someone that I can trust to run a 65 hp diesel tractor and $30,000 mower and not tear it up or mow down my runway lights!

Rob, I'd LOVE to fly in the Owens Valley! I've always heard great stuff about that area and I've been wanting to do some flying out that way since the early 80's, but just never had a chance to. I would prefer to go with someone experienced in the area, though. I've read that conditions can get pretty strong there in the summer.

Regards,

John Lawton
Whitwell, TN (TN89)
Ximango #135

[Rob Morgan]

John,

I didn't intend to mess up anyones plans to go to Minden. Minden is a nice place and fun to fly, but I personnally think Bishop is more consistent and favorable around the early July timeframe. I'll be glad to help anyone who might like to come to Bishop and learn and fly the Owens Valley, Sierras and the Whites. The Whites on a good day are the closest thing we have to a glider freeway out here in the west.
Rob