Harvest Moon at Avenal

Perfect Autumn Day

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Here is the Harvest Moon setting this morning at Avenal...

 

 

And here's the Harvest Moon rising this evening at Avenal...

 

In between the setting and the rising of that big moon, there was a fine day of flying at Avenal.  New members, advanced students, beginning students, introductory flights, single seaters and Larry's burgers.  We're fortunate and thankful to live and soar here year round.  
 

Mark's Solo!

WEATHER
Visibility: Clear    
Wind: Light
Altitudes: Up there
Time Aloft: Not so long
Max Lift: Not so much
Temperature: 100+
Tow pilot: Jim

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Mark's First Solo Flight!

 

After a lot of very diligent and focused work, Mark made his first solo flights on Saturday.  They were excellent and he's looking forward to many more.  For certain, a day to remember for Mark and all of us.

Jim towed, Darrell ran his wing and got the pictures, while Larry, Richard and Kevin watched from the sidelines.

Darrell's Solo!

WEATHER
Visibility: Cloudless Blue  
Wind: SE and then SW and then SE
Altitudes: Almost 6,000    
Time Aloft: Lift started early... and was still cooking
Max Lift: 4-6 knots
Temperature: 100ish
Comment:
Tow pilot: Jim R.

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Darrell's First Solo Flight!

A first solo is a noteworthy accomplishment.  And a big part of life in a soaring club.

Darrell has been focused and diligent in his preparation and worked hard to get to this point.

And not only that, he spliced his first weak link this weekend.

 All of us at CCSA say "Congratulations" to Darrell, and look forward to many more accomplishments to come.

Piper --> USAFA

Great News for a CCSA Alum

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Piper and her father, Chris, were members at CCSA.  Chris and Piper have flown around in all sorts of aircraft for years.  She started her more formal aviation training in gliders and, despite the challenges of training during COVID, she first solo'ed here in late 2020.

 

Since then, she's gone on to complete her initial power training, and is still focused on a future in aviation.

Next month, she leaves to start her training at the US Air Force Academy.  Its a great honor to be nominated and selected to attend the academy and in her case, its well deserved.  I'm confident she'll have a strong future as an aviator for our country.

Her story is featured in a recent KSBY article.

And here's Piper receiving her Private Pilot Certificate.

 

I know all our members join with me in congratulating Piper on this accomplishment and wishing her the best in her next endeavor.

2024-05-05--Day 4 of Central California Soaring Contest

Single-click on any of the pictures to bring up the full screen image.

If you can view on a desktop computer, or Smart TV, after you open the first picture to full size, use your left and right arrows to have a manual slideshow.

 

 

 

Today's Task!

 

 

 

Land-out at Corcoran

Land-out at Corcoran

Land-out at Corcoran

How about one of these for a towplane?  (Not Cheap!)

Andrew in Blue Tow coming to aerotow out of Corcoran.

Land-out in a wheat field.  No damage, but no aerotow either.

Land-out in a wheat field.

 

 

 

2024-05-04--Day 3, Contest Cancelled due to weather. Three try wave flights. Instruction in Clubhouse. Banquet.