Southern Tier Flying Club 66
Richard E. Miller Chapter
April/May, 2009 Newsletter

 Our next meeting will take place at Giffin Field in South Montrose , Pa.  Saturday the 16th of May.   We will have a noon lunch on the grill.  Paul Nulton will be the head chef.  He also is the fixed base operator of Giffin Field and we have heard how nice the runways are.  We thank him for his hospitality!  Here's hoping we have the weather in our favor for flying and camping. 

    Directions are: From Greene, NY Head down route 12 to I-81 South.  Go West on route 17 to the Vestal exit for route 26 South.  Stay on 26 South and it becomes 267 in Pa. It runs into Lawton , Pa. and into route 6.  Turn right, West, and go 5 miles and just past the log cabin on the left you will begin to see fields on the left and a wind sock.  The airport is on the left - large white garage and a green metal hanger.

All are welcome! Says Paul.

    At our last meeting we had a total attendance of 21 including 2 guests.  Our President wasn't there so yours truly did his utmost not to ruin the meeting.  We started off by saying our Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of country. 

    We briefly discussed our trip to the Intrepid and also we were able to collect some moneys towards the trip for the sole purpose of holding the bus seats.  It is imperative that the reservations for the trip be made at this next meeting.  So if you are interested in going you must fork over a 20 dollar bill to hold your seat and pay the balance by August for the trip to take place in September the 19th.  Jim and Ingrid Croisant have gone through many hoops to get all this info and line us up with the buses and the venues so let's not disappoint them with their efforts. 

    Mel Wightman has a sick computer, it apparently has suffered a bad virus, he has had to resort to his Wife's computer at this time.  So please hold on to the email sending until we can find the problem.  I will let you know when we're up again so we can communicate.  I hope this won't take too long...

    Jim Leonard ordered new skin for his plane.  He also took his wife for a ride.  Before they went they had the plane fueled and the attendant over filled it.  This of course got her attention and was somewhat alarming for fear they could blow up.  Jim and his instructor were making NDB Approaches and there were some snow storm activity.  The Governor had come into the airport just after they left, so they missed him.  DARN!

    Gil Aitchison Gave the treasures report of $1160.52 and some change of around $130.00.  

    He also went to Florida and enjoyed nice weather.  They met with Duane and his sons in Lakeland .  They were able to make it to the Sun and Fun.  Gil has been flying and has been working on his T-Bird - put in a master switch and is waiting for a prop.  He also found a piece of Jim Fitzsimmon's hat that got chewed up with his prop the last time he came into Gil's field.  He presented it to Jim at the meeting.

    The CGS Hawk was bought by another person and the latest info is on the internet.

     Alan Huntley's doors finally got thawed out so he was able to get his Hawk out for 20 minutes. 

    Art Capwell is waiting for the wind to die down so he can fly.

    Duane Ross enjoyed Florida .  He flew 3 hours when he got home.  He also flew over Jim Leonard's camp.

   Dan Fiske got his brake pads put in but it still doesn't work.  He had a chance to fly with Tom Parkhurst in his Kitfox for 2 hours at Sidney .  Dan still hasn't got his runway from the gas company.

    Paul Muhlig hugged his plane.

    George Smith was only able to taxi.

    Matt Garbett says there are bumps in the sky that you can't see.  Also flying is the second greatest thing in the world to do./?.>,<.  I think he said, SEX was the first.

    Harry Henderson celebrated his 88th birthday.  He was given cake and a club hat.  He is our oldest Club Pilot so far.  Keep on flying Harry!  He told the story about Harmon Johnson who flew over the Starrucca School House.  Harmon disturbed the students so bad that they had to dismiss school.  Harry said he still remembers when my father-in-law flew his American Eagle Biplane and landed on his girl friend's father's farm.  It had yellow wings and a blue fuselage.  This is when Harry first got the bug to fly someday.  Harry flew his Kitten on his birthday.  It has a Rotax 277.  Harry only weights 120 to 125 pounds.

    Butch Osterhout Has been flying his models and  has been recuperating from knee surgery.

    Bob Hunsinger is learning from our experiences.  He came as a guest.

    Jim Fitzsimmons put in 7 hours.  He says it is a challenge to fly in the wind.  He said we need to get the youth exposed to flying.  He said we can fly into his property anytime.

    Mel Wightman has been busy with his gardening and just got over being sick with the cold.

    Pete Fish Hugged his plane.

    Tom Parkhurst has been flying 25 hours and Jim Smith and Dan Fiske have been having a ball flying the Kitfox.  He says it is one tough little bird and has taken some abuse in good shape.  Both wheels are still on.

    Jim Guditis came with his son Tom.   Both are guests.  Neither joined yet but came for the support of each other to see what our club is about.  Tom works at BAE and has been working on the Black Hawk Simulator.  He made a hard landing with it and decided he would look us up.

    Lou Palombo flew commercially to Sandago and back.  He also said, that April 19th 1775 is the anniversary of the shot that was first heard around the world.

    Norm Dibble thanked us that he could come.  He has two 377 Rotax Engines for sale.  He was just saying a long runway is good for practice.

     The meeting was concluded at around 3:00 pm.

    Your Secretary,

        Mel Wightman