Our next meeting will be Saturday, August 20 at Mel McKinney's place in Susquehanna Pa. on his field.  I guess he will supply the food because his Nephew Dave Schwartz didn't say any different.  Thanks Mel for volunteering your place and for the food preparation. 

    We had a total of 12 guys show for the picnic and meeting. Two were guests: John Stopka and John Svegl.  The Jumbolyiah Judy made was great as usual along with the roasted corn, bar-be-qued chicken and the drink that was furnished.  She also had many kinds of salads and cake.  If you guys missed this meeting, too bad.  Maybe you'll try harder to participate next time.  It was a great meal!  Judy's bill for the food was $40.20 and the guys paid $ 61.00 for all her effort.  Thanks again for the great spread and I hope you'll think about doing it again in the future.  Dave Thomas is blessed having a fine cook in the family.

    The meeting started with the pledge of allegiance to the flag by our president Mel McKinney.  Mel was saying we need to have some form of notice of our meetings in the paper and as a result of this Norm Dibble will put it in the Windsor Standard,  Tom Lewis will see that it gets in a paper in his area and Mel McKinney will put it in a paper in Susquehanna.

    Well it was officer election time again so I elected to continue with my Secretarial duties; Gil Aitchison will continue being Treasure and a Director.

    Since George Smith wasn't there we decided to make him president. The vote was unanimous.  Just kidding George!!!!  Mel McKinney said he'd continue as he has with our help when he can't make the meetings in the Winter while in Fla.

    An official Board of Director's meeting was on August 16th it was agreed by a vote that they resume their duties.  Be it as it may....  George Smith, Gil Aitchison, and Dave Donorra are our directors for 2005 and 2006.

    Our round table review was started after the installation of new officers.

    Mel McKinney said, Steve Faber's Cherokee 140 was for sale for 18,000 and said, it had been recently painted.  He thought he should go buy it but then wonders why he'd think of such a thing because of all the expense to keep one.

    Dave Thomas did some fancy cross wind flying and scared himself as he was flying.

    John Finn had his belt drive for his 503 engine.  We talked about bolts for his 503 engine.  Grade A bolts are too brittle. To make a long story short John is looking for aircraft bolts only.

    Norm Dibble put 3 and 1/2 hours on his craft this year and has put on another hour since.

    Al Osterhout has rheumatoid arthritis, osteo artritis, trouble with his knees.  He said  he's not flying until he gets his health under control.

    Charlie Olbrich wanted to go flying that day but it was IFR and he felt he needed some dual with Tom Lewis. He has a 503 Rotax in his Hawk and has been experiencing bad gasoline in the hose at the pump when the last guy would use it.  He latter in the day did fly with Tom Lewis in Tom's Rans.

    Tom Lewis has 10 hours this year on his Rans.  He has been moving along with his 601 Zenair.  Tom also said that two place ultralight trainers will need N numbers on them by 2008. 

    Mel McKinney is still a licensed Commercial Pilot.  An experimental light sport can be used for commercial purposes but if it is an experimental amateur-built he can't charge.  He would like to be able to maintain his aircraft under the 51% rule.  

    Mel also mentioned that he saw Paul Tibbits (who is now 90 years old ).  Paul was the B-29 Pilot that dropped the first bomb on Hiroshima and with him was his navigator who's first name was Dutch.   The B-29 as you remember was called the Enola Gay which was named after his mother.

    John Stopka had two books to hand out.  One was on Flying Weekend Pilot and the other was Flying Safely.  

    Mel Wightman has been busy working on his Wooden Cherokee (his home with three new bump-outs) and hopefully it will be done before cold weather sets in. 

    Jim Croisant hasn't done any flying lately.  He claims he has 1250 to 1275 feet with some trees at one end of the runway.

    Lance Bunker came back home a month ago it seems he had a heart attack while in Denver Colorado .  He had to spend quite a bit of time to recuperate.  He was at a clinic in Denver and that was when he had his attack.  He must have known he was close to one at the time. What better place to be with lots of help.  He also experienced an infection in his abdominal area.

    Lance also said he has a MX Quicksilver for sale for $2500.00 it is located off Route 235  approximately 1 mile past the rail road trestle out of Harpursville on the right side.

    The meeting ended at around 2:30 PM.  After the meeting, Dave Thomas's brother had the pleasure to fly with our President Mel McKinney. this was the highlight of the day to see another future ultralighter smitten with flight.  Many thanks to Dave Thomas and the new owners of Zaverton's Field for having us there.  It was very well planned.

        Your Secretary,

            Mel Wightman