During last months meeting, talking of the events that are scheduled for this year got me excited. To have stuff on my schedule makes me happy. Even though I am an introvert, I have missed the social interaction of meeting in person. I miss being able to give you ladies a hug or sit next to you at the table during our monthly meetings. Last year so many things got erased, to the point that I threw away my 2020 daily planner before the middle of the year. I’m optimistic this year and bought myself a 2021 planner, and have many events penciled in. I’m looking forward to going to the 99s International conference in Long Beach. I have added Oshkosh to my calendar and need to figure out logistics of getting there and where to stay, but my goal is to go this year. I have wanted to go to the EAA museum for years and find the picture of my Grandpa, and I’m hoping this is the year. Here’s looking forward to a fun-filled year of flying and blue skies.
Two New Scholarships Available!
By Liz Ruth
From the Scholarship Committee: This calendar year, the SLO 99s will be awarding 2 separate aviation training scholarships in the amount of $2500 each. One will be awarded in April(application due date April 1) and one will be awarded in September(application due date September 1). See our slo99s.org website for information on eligibility and application requirements. Our chapter has helped women earn all types of ratings, from Private Pilot to CFII. Let us help you!
Queeenie ready for departure
January 9 Fly-out: Local… and Salinas
By Grace Crittenden
The fly-out to Salinas did not happen after all.
The skies were clear but turbulent cross winds and wind shear were discouraging and not good conditions for Robin Shatto’s tail dragger, so she decided not to fly. Plus there was some stratus and winter fog over Paso Robles obscuring view of the ground needed for a student pilot. Therese Theiler was planning to fly her Cessna 152, Queenie, but she is waiting to take her check ride and fly on her own. We decided to change plans. The surf was high with 20 foot waves crashing over the breakwater at Morro Bay so we decided to do a sightseeing along the coast. The winds were shifting and air was pretty turbulent over the Los Osos Valley, so Therese turned back. Grace Crittenden and Liz Dinan were not deterred but it was also bumpy flying along the coast, and from the perspective of flying over 1000 feet, 20 foot waves don’t look big at all, though the white water was remarkable.
Though Dana Davis did not fly that day, she did join us for a nice lunch at The Spirit.
It turns out that Anele Brooks and her son did fly up to Salinas. They did not get the word about the change in plans. The winds up north were not a problem after all, but darn, the Flying Artichoke was closed.
We did get to fly and test our skills with cross winds and some turbulence.
Big surf - white water off Morro Bay(doesn’t look so big from here…)
Minutes of the General Meeting(1/6/2021)
By Anele Brooks
Attending via Zoom only: Jill Drexhage, Janice Odell, Lynn Edlund, Susan Steeb, Dana Davis, Susan Mercer, Erin Ayers, Robin Shatto, Grace Crittenden, Anele Brooks & Elizabeth Dinan via phone for 23 minutes.
Chairman Jill Drexhage called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. There was a brief discussion regarding Chapter positions and what they entailed. Someone will try to find job descriptions.
Jill reviewed the upcoming Calendar of Events:
Upcoming Flyout to Salinas on Saturday, January 9[see fly-out report above]. The plan is to meet at the Flying Artichoke at 11:30, it is now open on Saturdays. Bring chairs as indoor seating is not available. Grace asked for a head count of people who are planning to attend. She has 1 seat available. Grace flew to Paso last month and noted there was a lot of traffic, but the weather was beautiful and she is hoping for the same this coming weekend.
The February Flyout is to Santa Ynez for the Annual Valentine's Day picnic with the Ventura County Chapter. Jill will reach out to them to find out when it is planned. There were a lot of people there last year.
Dana Davis has a checkride scheduled for Friday, January 15. She has been practicing slow flight, stalls and using the hood. She flew to Salinas on her long cross country. Janice noted she also did her IFR training at Salinas. We all wished her well on her checkride. She quoted the chief of a racing team“No luck involved”!
January 23 is the Southwest Section Winter Workshop, an e-mail with the information has been sent out.
Janice Odell checked the dates for Oshkosh. It is scheduled for July 26 – August 1, 2021.
July 7 – 11 is the scheduled date for the 99s International Conference in Long Beach. Janice still has a room reserved with Elizabeth.
September 9 – 12 is the Joint Northwest/Southwest Section Meeting in Las Vegas. The meeting will be held at the Southpoint Hotel and Casino. It is located approximately five miles south of the Henderson Airport.
Susan Mercer will be moving to Maryland on January 26. She will be 45 minutes from her daughter and 2 miles from a non-towered airport. She is still planning to attend the International Conference in Long Beach and will try to join our meetings via Zoom. In Maryland she expects to face more weather challenges with her flying, but still intends to get her license. She is planning to have a yard sale this coming Saturday. We wish her well and enjoyed having her join us as a very active member of our chapter.
While discussing Susan's move and her new flying challenges Janice told us she had flown around Australia while she was still a very new student and didn't know any better. Maintenance, charts, and flying standards are not the same as in the United States. It is tricky flying in another country/unfamiliar location. Flying around Australia again is currently on her“Bucket List”.
There is nothing new at the airport. We would like to invite the new airport manager to one of our meetings.
Grace asked if anyone has or is scheduled to be vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine. There are 7,000 doses in SLO County designated for 1st responders and health care workers. She has two patients over 100 she is trying to get vaccines for, it will take 2 weeks to get to them. She will receive her second dose on Sunday. Erin read that the FAA has not yet approved all the available vaccines and to check to verify that the one you get has been approved. The FAA also suggests not flying for 48 hours after receiving the vaccine to make sure you have no side effects.
Robin flew to Paso Robles during her Flight Review. When she returned she had a 13 knot crosswind and no good runway to land on. She had a“scary” landing, but did get signed off. The lesson she learned was to depend on yourself, as pilot in command you make the call, not the more experienced pilot in the right seat. She felt she could have made a better landing on a taxiway and in a tailwheel plane there is no room for error. She also flew to Lake Isabella and had an interesting time flying in the mountains, it was fun, but a challenge.
Grace has been looking at photos of Death Valley. She thinks it would be a fun trip and it is close to Las Vegas.
Lynn has been flying a 172M and a 150. She is adjusting to infinite flap settings and has to guess where the flaps are set. She moved to El Monte and is now based at Redlands Airport(where I took my first flight lessons many years ago). She is flying with Mission Flights. They haul medical supplies to Mexico. On her next trip she will be flying a Cherokee Six with an instructor. She has taken on the task of Social Media Manager at Mission Flights. Now that she is retired she is taking on new challenges and having fun. Grace asked if she would write a piece about her next flight for our newsletter when she returns from Mexico. It was remarked that if she was pilot in command on a flight out of the country she will need to file and EFIS. Erin has seen her husband complete and file one, but she has not done it, yet, herself.
Chairman’s Message
Two New Scholarships Available!
January 9 Fly-out: Local… and Salinas
Minutes of the General Meeting (1/6/2021)