Volume 7 Issue 8
August 2001

Safety Concern

Message From Blair Airport Authority
1)Please do not leave airplanes unattended on taxiways and aprons.
2)Please do not leave hanger doors open and unattended as you are responsible for any loss or theft of your hanger mates.
3)Please do not leave your children unattended or place themin the danger of airplanes.   Remember this is an airport and they do not understand the dangers of aircraft.
4)Please do not park on the grass or in front of hanger doors as this hampers the mowers and your neighbors from getting their airplanes on to the taxiways safely, use the parking lot.
5)If you are flying for an extended period of time, you may park your vehicle in the hanger.
6)Please pull your aircraft out of the hanger and onto the taxiway prior to starting your airplane so as not to blast your neighbor with hanger dust.  Please remember that your neighbor may like a clean and undamaged airplane.
7)When parking your airplane or glider, please make sure your airplane or glider is well off the taxiway for your safety and your fellow pilots.
8)Please do not block the taxiways, aprons, or center driveway while washing your aircraft. Use the hydrant and hose south of the hangers.
9)Remember that pattern altitude is 1000 ft AGL.

Soaring in July...

The weather in the second half of August become quite soarable. The longest flight for the month was two hours and thirty minutes flown by Chris Wilson and Bob Craig.  The first thirty minutes of this flight was a ferry flight from Columbus to Blair.    Other long flights were one hour and 31 minutes flown by Chris Wilson and Jaime Alexander.  Bob Dyer and Chris Wilson flew over Columbus NE for one hour and 20 minutes.  Mac Mckain soared for one hour and seven minutes in the Blanik and 1-23 in the same day!  OSC gave 8 introductory flights in August.

Comments from Flight Operations...

Jaime Alexander
September 6, 2001
Hi All,
Labor Day has come and gone. School has started and the rush of life accelerates as we dive into Fall.  We have had a number of really nice soaring days in the latter part of the Summer and I am looking forward to our "second soaring season" which we get each Fall.  The fronts move through with more vigor, leaving behind cooler and hopefully "lifty" air.
This is an invigorating time.
Having said all that, we need to give thoughts to some things.  The temperatures will be lower, expecially if you get a good climb.  You may need that jacket!  A number of new members have joined, all needing training and we again (temporarily I hope) have only one Blanik available. So plan on getting out in time to get your turn, and then remember to come back on time if others are waiting.  If you are going alone and are 1-26 qualified, get it out and up.  We seem to be chronically short on volunteers for the SOF position.  We need to remedy this.  The "dog days of Summer" are gone!  We need to reinvigorate ourselves and get out to take advantage of the "second season."  See you at the field.
Jaime Alexander
Flight Officer

New Members

Shad Sunderman, and Alex Pares.  Shad is a graduate of UND and is flying BeechJets out of Eppley.  Alex is only 13 and is not yet flying BeechJets!  Alex's Dad is a commercial balloon pilot.

About the Gliders...

The Estimate is in on the wing repair.  Bill says it will cost approximately $1600 and this will be covered by insurance.  The parts are on order but won't be in for about 4 weeks.
Bill Stukenholtz will be at the airport on Monday 10 Sept, to install the radio in 99950.
Bob Craig