Our next meeting will be at Baron's Inn in Greene , N.Y. on April 23, at around 11:30 AM till around 2:30 PM.  We made it on the fourth weekend Saturday instead of the third Saturday because of the Sun & Fun in Florida .  So please try to come out and support your club.  If you happen to think of someone who might enjoy a good meal and enjoy your club fellowship, try to bring them along too.  The more the merrier!

    We had 12 people show up at our last meeting, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves with the meal and sharing their latest wonders of flight as well as their latest blunders.

        Tom Decker wants everyone to know that he will continue with his technical help when ever it is needed.  He will not be able to attend the meetings but wants everyone to know that he will continue as a member.  He also sent me the Ultra-Light Magazine so we will be able to share it at our meetings.

       Last year it was agreed that I would put an ad in the paper to advertise our club.  I called the paper and they said they will charge us a non-profit rate.  I found out their non profit rate was very profitable for them.  For a piece in the paper about the size of a business card we only have to spend about 200 dollars.  I guess we'll just have to find some other way to advertise. 

       Our President, Mel McKinney was still in Florida .  I can’t blame him because the weather stayed so lousy here.  We heard he was doing some low level flying down there.  He'll have to expound on that for us when he gets back. 

       I was asked to pick-up all the club materials at Tom Hettig's place.  I along with Jim Croisant, picked up all of the club's tapes, hats and  other equipment.

        Tom Hettig's doctor suggested that he stay on the ground because he would get headaches while flying, so he has since bought a boat and is now occupying his spare time in the water.  He will however still fly his models.

        There was mention of going to White Birch Airport providing they are open for a meal at their restaurant.  We would like to see another place for our club to meet,  namely an airport because we need to be next to aircraft.  This will allow the guys to fly-in with their crafts and share the real sport of it.  During the long cold winter we had no activity at all in the air.  Let's hope this year will be dryer than last and we can get out more. 

       Al Osterhout will check into getting us back with USUA again since their re-structure.  He will give us a report on this at our next meeting.  He will find out the true value of belonging if we decide.

        Ray Osterhout said, to say hello to everyone and also said, he would come back to see us at the meetings as soon as his schedule would allow it.

       The meeting started after lunch about 1:15 PM with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by Mel Wightman.

    We started our round table review with Jim Croisant.  He measured off approximately 1400 feet of runway on his farm on Willard road in Chenango Forks.

    Allen Huntley flew for a half hour in February.  He then took his 503 Rotax engine off and sold it to Tom Botheuser for his mini-max.  Allen then put on a new 503 Rotax on his Hawk. 

    Duane is waiting for the snow to leave and will go to the Sun & Fun in Florida .

    Matt flew his C-150 a couple of times before the last meeting and now has it forsale.  He also mentioned the death of Dick Ward.  Dick was my neighbor up on Steed Road in Chenango Forks.  I've known him for at least the last 30 years.  He suffered with that dreaded disease of cancer.

    Tom Botheuser hung up his left wing after fabrication work on it and now is working on the right wing.  By now he will be covering his fuselage an open cockpit version. He's also working on his engine instruments for his new 503 Rotax.

    John Finn got a couple of books on ultralights, his Challenger will have a 503 on it.

    Gill gave a treasure report of $1028.60 plus 140 dollars in cash.  Gil also flew at Allen's place and got stuck in the deep snow.  He figures he burned up 3 gallons of gas trying to get back in the air again.  His ski's got loaded up with snow pretty bad and it just made things difficult to get around and taxi for a take off. 

    Jim Giese had been flying his Flight Simulator 2002 and 2004.  He still has his Kit Fox and has a 912 Rotax in it.

    Dave Thomas got a new prop, took his tank off and painted it.  He mostly is dreaming of flying to 2000 feet this year. 

    George Smith said Monticello airport was closed where he keeps his Quicksilver.  He has been working fulltime on his Savannah .  He bought a BRS for it and it cost $3000.  He figures since it is bright orange and white he figures people should see him if he is down.  The canopy is white.

    Al Osterhout sold his Hawk to a guy in South New Jersey for the use of drug addicts, Alzheimer patients and convicts.  Al is looking forward to obtaining his Sport Pilot's License.  He's looking for the closest testing facility and right now it looks like it is Avoca.  He's also looking for an instructor.  He finally found one who is looking for an airplane, a Luscomb to teach on.

    I asked if anyone had information on a 2SI and would like to obtain a book on one.  Many said, simply go to the web and do a search.

        Our meeting was over at 2:30 PM.  We had a good group of fired up pilots waiting for the weather to break, so they can start flying again this spring.

        Your Secretary,

        Mel Wightman