President’s Report for May 2006 

Ann Sasaki 

After a long winter, we jumped right into summer and then last weekend, back into winter for a bit.  Very odd. 

However, this is shaping up to be a really good year at the coast, after a few recent mediocre years.  For weeks, it’s been good several days per week.  Instead of tailoring one’s schedule around the one day that the NWS says will flow from the West, now you can choose which day to go flying.  How about Tuesday?  No, let’s go on Wednesday.  OK, that sounds good….and Thursday and Friday too.  So that’s a pleasant surprise – day after day of flyable weather.

Ann flies at Elk Creek - photo by Tom Bair

The first weekend in May was the Anderson Flat fly-in.  What a beautiful spot that is!  The hills and meadows were green and the streams running.  As you benched up, you could see many snow-covered peaks in the distance.  The flying was varied – it ranged from pretty turbulent and ratty, to strong and soarable to light and soarable.  I think everyone who went to the fly-in had a great time and got some good air.  Thanks to Gene Pfeiffer for opening the site and for organizing the annual fly-in. 

In mid-May I went on vacation to Elk Creek and Woodrat.  It was enjoyable to meet, fly and hang out with some really nice pilots from Chico and from the Woodrat area.  Although the whole region was under an extreme high pressure condition, we managed to get in some good soarable flights both at Elk Creek and Woodrat.   

Peter Warren at Woodrat - photo by James Smyth

On May 20-21, Tom Moock led the 6th annual BAPA Thermal Clinic at Dunlap.  Saturday was a good day for flying – everyone got in two flights.  The morning flight was fairly strong with some pilots getting about 1600’ over launch.  The afternoon flights started off in somewhat windy conditions but even those who waited until later to fly were rewarded with relaxing, cruising around the valley flights.  I enjoyed sharing a light thermal with a hang glider who appeared suddenly and then dashed off across the valley. 

Tom’s lecture on thermalling was great as usual.  We were lucky to have use of the rec room at the Sierra Highlands campground – on Sunday it was really storming out and we had to take at least one break for folks to go out and save their tents from being blown away.  But despite Sunday’s weather, the clinic was terrific and I think everyone felt it was time well-spent. 

Apparently the Fouts Springs Road reopened in time for Memorial Day weekend.  This is good news as everyone loves to fly at Potato Hill, one of our most accessible sites.

Tom Bair's feet at Woodrat - photo by Tom Bai

We’re going to get some more BAPA hats made this year – the colors will be khaki and navy with an embroidered BAPA “logo”.  Julie will be putting photos up on the BAPA website in the not-too-distant future and we’ll work out the details of how to order hats. 

The third weekend in June, Gregg Hackett has a “patriotic” fly-in scheduled for Potato Hill.  More details to come.