Inspiration

After seeing me fly a few times, Ace has requested to see some "GOOD" pilots. "O.K.-O.K." so I decide to take him to Travis Air Force Base on Sunday.

"Ace don't worry about those big unnecessary things, they are called propellers."I think this taildragger, the 1490 hp North American P-51 Mustang would make a nice little tow plane.
"Even the fire apparatus are funny looking here, huh Ace?"
Mom and Ace in front of Air Force One.
Even though I'm a little disappointed that they seem to really "need" that engine of theirs, I have to admit, the Thunderbirds are some damn good pilots.
Hey, I like this guy.
Well if that isn't some good old fashioned American inspiration I don't know what is, so I decide to take some stick time in my ASW-27 today and bang around in challenging conditions at the Tree Farm area for a couple of hours. And yes, no engine here.

Tam, Ace and the Beach

After a full month of life Ace hasn't had a single big adventure, I haven't hucked a flexwing off a perfectly good mountain and today is just too beautiful outside to pass up. Off to our big adventure at Mount Tam where I got Ace to preflight my glider for me.
"B" Lauch with ace yelling "Nose Down" in the foreground from his full terrain stroller.
C-A-V-U
Now to show Ace the beach.
Mom and Ace chillin in the sand.

Ace and Some Air

A wonderful addition to my lifestyle has left less time for flying and none for blogging over the past couple of months. Ah yes, there has been many changes, even my trusty Toyota couldn't hang anymore, with the 50 percent larger family. So in order to drive my bigger family and live that soaring lifestyle, what car should I get?

Duh! OK, now thats settled.

On to my biggest adventure, ACE! Unfortunately I haven't been able to get him off the ground just yet, as Wills Wing currently doesn't stock anything with a clip in range from 10 to 15 pound. Instead, I have been focusing on the sailplane and getting him to solo. Teri feels he isn't ready just yet, as she indicates that he lacks awareness of ability to control his extremities, that he can't see past 12 inches, blah, blah ... and other made up excuses from her child development degree.

Not to argue, I focus on ground school instead and am very pleased that he has acquired the requisite aeronautical knowledge, even being able to plot several polar diagrams for theoretical airfoils which he is developing. His favorite time however, is spent aboard his full motion simulator with five point harness where he is working on keeping milk "INSIDE" his stomach during inverted maneuvers.
Well thats about all I can do for Ace at this stage, so today, I take the opportunity and head off to WSC to catch some much needed airtime. After confirming with another pilot that you "pull" back on the stick to go up and "push" forward to go down I jump on tow, off to Walker Ridge catching my first thermal over Indian Valley Reservoir.
I work hard and patiently climb to cloud base in weak lift. With just enough altitude, I push into the mountains where the low clouds are scraping over the Southern peaks.
At 90 knots I race up Goat Ridge.
And turn a beautiful Lett's Lake, idealistic scenery with kayakers afloat.
The clouds are obscuring Snow Mountain and others to the North, so I turn around and make my way to Lower Clear Lake.
A turn towards the valley and a tour of Cache Creek and the Rumsey Gap my the way home.
I bring it back to the strip at WSC a hair over three hours after a nice tour despite never getting above 7K feet due to low clouds. Time to get back to Ace and share todays big adventure.

Birthday Air

Today is the oldest I have ever been, so I decide to celebrate ... By doing what? ... Flying of course. Nick, who is exactly 22 years my junior has the same idea, for his birthday. But, in Nicks case there is more reason to celebrate, as today is the first day the law allows him to make the right of passage and act as his own Pilot in Command. Nicks first solo flight aboard the ASK-21, image courtesy of Valley Soaring Association.

The right of passage, soloing an aircraft, includes several traditions, one of which is the notorious bucket of water over your head after exiting the aircraft. As Nicks father is a member of the Williams Fire Department, this tradition is carried out as more of deluge than the standard bucket by use of the local Engine Company, image Valley Soaring Association.
Alright, I can't top that birthday, but I can still fly, so off to the mountains aboard "JH" in tow behind "30Z."

The word beautiful comes to mind while I'm above Goat Mountain with Snow Mountain in the background.
Soaring conditions are weak, but this bare spot provides an amebic little thermal to play with.
An absolutely wonderful view to the North as I fly by Lett's Lake.
Heading back, with East Park Reservoir and the town of Stonyford under my wing.
Bringing her back home to the strip at WSC.
Although the day only provides an extended sled ride, I can't think of a better way of spending an hour and a quarter of my birthday.