The lovely spring season is upon us bringing green hillsides, wildflowers and instability.  Spring often provides some very good flying conditions but the weather can be fickle.  A hoped-for great
post-frontal day with cumulus clouds and cool temperatures with bright sunshine can easily turn into an overdeveloped cloudy day with rain or now showers in the mountains.  A forecast pleasant onshore flow may end up being overly brisk winds with a high gust factor.  But, on some days, it does all come together and that's what we are all out there para-waiting for in the Spring.

Upcoming BAPA events include the Elk Mountain Fly-in on April 20-22 where Penguin, Stan, Al, Gregg and friends will most likely create a huge bonfire after some good flying and enthusiastic wood-gathering.
On May 5-6, Gene Pfeiffer will organize the annual Anderson Flat fly-in at this lovely site close to Yosemite. There is some space at Gene's cabin nearby for pilots to stay.  May 12-13 is the NorCal XC League at
a site-to-be-determined.   On May 19-20, the annual BAPA Thermal Clinic at Potato Hill is full with a waiting list, as usual.  Tom Moock leads this useful clinic each year.  June 9-10, the XC League goes to Dunlap
and June 16-22 is the Rat Race at Woodrat Mountain in Oregon.  BAPA will organize a fly-in at Hat Creek on June 22-24.  The U.S. Nationals are in Lakeview, Oregon from June 23 - 29.  The Umpteenth Annual
Lakeview fly-in is from June 30 - July 4.

For additional information and contact information, please visit the
BAPA Event Calendar at www.sfbapa.org

Have a great Spring, everyone!

Arnel and Ann - photo by Andy Stocker