When someone is truly passionate about something, you can see their face light up when they talk about it. This is the way I get when talking about flying. I love wearing one of my shirts that says“I’d rather be flying” or“Happiest when flying” because it opens up a conversation about flying and people, even strangers, ask me if I’m a pilot. What’s truly exciting is when someone decides they need to do an intro flight because they see how passionate I am about it. Last week I went to lunch with a friend and she said that she can’t stop thinking about wanting to learn how to fly and that she saw how much I was enjoying it. I told her that if she can’t stop thinking about it that she must do something about it. I gave her my CFI’s contact info and she didn’t hesitate in scheduling her intro flight. This morning she had her intro flight and she sent me a few pictures after, and she had the biggest smile on her face. This fills me with such joy, to know that what I do could inspire others to take the first step toward becoming a pilot.
Tied down at Harris Ranch
Fly-outs to Harris Ranch(3O8) on February 28 and Paso Robles on March 13
By Grace Crittenden
Harris Ranch 3O8
Almonds in bloom at Harris Ranch
On February 27:“Looks like tomorrow is going to be a beautiful day to fly. Some friends are flying to Harris Ranch. Do you think anyone else from the Ninety Nines would want to fly?” It is Robin Shatto, always ready for another adventure. She was planning to pick up her sister, Gay, in Paso Robles on the way. We put the word out on the internet and had a couple more people to fly. Terese Theiler joined me, and Dana Davis flew with Carlee Szarek.
It was a gorgeous day. The almonds were blooming. No wind to speak of, but there was a big trash fire, presumably almond tree trimmings, at the end of the left downwind for the pattern that added a little excitement to the approach. We had a lovely lunch out on the patio and the fire was out by the time we took off to head home.
Paso Robles KPRB
Merry Cessna to Paso Robles
The scheduled fly-out to Fox field on March 13 was postponed because of crazy winds down south. Darn, but we had planned an alternate date for the next week, just in case the weather was not cooperative. But Lynn Edmond and Dana Davis and I were ready to fly. The weather was lovely here, so we decided to fly to good old KPBR again, just to stretch our wings. Cynthia Douglas was able to join us for a leisurely lunch on the patio of the FAA office. It was just another beautiful day.
Slipstream editor Charly & assistant/husband prepping their plane in KSBP
The happy surprise on our turn to KSBP was running into our intrepid amazing Slipstream editor, Charly Schaad and her assistant and husband, Rene, getting their plane ready for a flight.
Epilog - a week later there were still crazy spring winds at Fox Field so that fly-out is postponed to April 17 - We will try again!
Grace’s Plane in Paso Robles on 3/13
Minutes of the General Meeting(3/3/2021)
By Anele Brooks
Attending via Google Meet only: Jill Drexhage, Robin Shatto, Grace Crittenden, Erin Ayers, Dana Davis, Elizabeth Dinan, Janice Odell, Lynn Edlund, Susan Mercer, Theresa Theiler, Anele Brooks.
Chairman Jill Drexhage called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m.
Jill asked for volunteers to create a committee to generate content for meetings.
Grace wondered when we would be able to meet again in person. She also reminded us that we used to watch videos related to flying at our meetings. Janice suggested we ask the group who is comfortable meeting again in person and whether we should consider a hybrid meeting again. There was a brief discussion regarding a meeting location. Jill brought up the room available at Aerocademy. Dana will check on it and will know more about it next week. Erin said their classroom and conference room does not have any windows. She believes ACI is a better option due to airflow, a projector screen and the ability to hook into a sound system. Lynn commented that Aerocademy does have a pilots' lounge downstairs with a television. The majority of members voted for an in person meeting with no preference as to location[the next meeting on 4/7 will new be hybrid at ACI, the ed.].
Dana Davis reported on scholarships. The SLO 99s scholarship applications are due by April 1. The application is available on our website. This is a $2,500 scholarship. Dana will be sending flyers to both Aerocademy and Sunwest and will e-mail a copy to the membership. The International 99's also have scholarships available, applicants for the International Scholarship must have been members of the Ninety-nines since January 1, 2021.
The Spring Southwest Section Meeting will be held April 10. The International Conference will be held on-line on July 10. The EAA Airshow at Oshkosh is scheduled for July 26 through August 1. Janice may go. September 9-12 is the Joint Northwest/Southwest Sections Meeting in Las Vegas.
Grace reported on the flyouts. There was an impromptu flyout to Harris Ranch the previous weekend. The next planned flyout is to Fox Field. She has reached out to the Ventura 99s and invited them to join us. Prior to departure she will verify the restaurant at the airport is open. The flyout is scheduled for March 13. Plan to arrive at the field by 11:30. If weather is an issue the alternate date is March 20[this fly-out was postponed to April 17 in the meantime, the ed.]. Grace also asked for suggestions for flyout destinations. Robin Shatto would like to fly to Columbia(O22). She believes it is an approximately 2 hour flight. Frazier Lake has both a grass strip and a paved strip and is located on a lake. It is a private strip, but opens to the public once a month. Grace suggested E45(Pine Mountain) for a flight during the summer. She also thought Watsonville would be a good destination. Calaveras county has a seaplane base – landings and take-offs are made on the river. Elizabeth received her seaplane rating there. She and her instructor flew under the bridge. The instructor told her that if they were questioned about it that they would just say they were“landing on the water”.
Jill is looking for information regarding the repainting of the Compass Rose. It is turning brown and the paint is starting to flake off. Someone believes we began our discussion because the Santa Maria 99s asked if we had leftover paint since they are planning to paint a Compass Rose at the Santa Maria Airport. Prior to beginning work on the Compass Rose at San Luis Obispo we need permission from both airport security and ground control because the Compass Rose in is a movement area. We believe that Kathy Dannecker was the lead on the project last time and she is not interested in heading it up again. Dana also shared that she learned the 99s also paint runway numbers. Dana thinks we may have to have the compass points recalculated. Janice asked the group if anyone had ever used a Compass Rose to set her compass. The only person who had was Elizabeth Dinan. The initial swing of a compass should be swung by someone who knows how to do it.
Dana has the 2nd part of her checkride completed. She finished her maneuvers and soft field landing, but was grounded by fog and needs to complete the rest of her checkride.
Elizabeth let the group know that Fox Field is located close to Edwards Air Force Base. She also obtained the names of the two new female pilots at the field(SBP). Kayley Rolph and Jessica Patterson. Erin said Jessica just received her license and is interested in participating in our flyouts.
Susan Mercer is settling in to her new home. She has been there for a month and is planning to fly tomorrow for the first time. The airport she is flying out of is in Special Flight Rule Airspace and she is looking at another airport about 30 miles away and Class D Airspace. She commented that she misses our weather and being in the air. Elizabeth asked if she had met any 99s – she has not. Her instructor is a woman and the owner of the flight school is a woman, but neither of them are 99s.
Jill asked Theresa about her checkride. She replied that she liked her DPE and is going to Santa Ynez on Wednesday and then will hopefully be done. She has completed the oral portion. Theresa also announced she is selling her Cessna 150. Her plan is to eventually get checked out in a C172 and then a C182. Erin suggested lifting weights(and I second that) to get used to the extra weight on the nose. Theresa is asking $16,000 for the plane. She also suggested taking taxiway Mike off RWY29 to taxi to the fuel pit. Jill suggested she send information out about the plane through our group email.
Chairman’s Message
Fly-outs to Harris Ranch (3O8) on February 28 and Paso Robles on March 13
Harris Ranch 3O8
Paso Robles KPRB
Minutes of the General Meeting (3/3/2021)