2017 Annual Holiday Party
The 2018 DAF board was introduced, and we have some new blood this year. Kelvin Vanderlip has joined the board as Webmaster, Gary Palmer is the new Membership director, and Vince and Heather La Duca will be handling Dinner/Door. Patti LaGrelius has stepped up as President, taking over from Larry (who seems to think flying down from Placerville for every dinner and board meeting is a little much. What a wimp!). Mitch Taylor is now Treasurer (a scary thought), James Pavlick is the new Secretary, and Robert Beckwith has taken the reins at Fly-ins. Linda Howard will continue with Decorations, Maggie Smith and Laurice Churchill will keep up their great work with Programs, and Steve Sappington and Nancy Schunke are our Photographers.
We're looking forward to another fantastic year, with some interesting programs and unique fly-in destinations. Happy New Year!
What Happens in San Carlos, Stays in San Carlos
Total Luck Quotient
October Dinner Meeting
But before fly-in czar Mitch Taylor revealed who would win the coveted Mystery Fly-In trophy, fellow DAFer Dave Hopkins delivered a comprehensive update on the status of Santa Monica Airport. He noted that closure of the airport would set up a dangerous precedent that could affect TOA’s future. And even if SMO’s closure didn’t directly threaten TOA, the increased traffic directed from a closed SMO would certainly complicate and add to congestion at TOA.
Mitch then provided an overview of the fly-in test and provided the correct answers to both the difficult and not-so-difficult questions (the long-standing rule that anyone who contested a question would be response for organizing the following year’s fly-in kept challenges to a minimum). Finally, Mitch revealed the team with the highest test score: Team Hahn. Congratulations to Curtis and Lisa!
And none of this would have been possible without the hard work of Mitch, Steve, Nancy, Robert, Dan, Bob and Lynn in creating and helping to administer the test. Thanks, DAFers.
Mystery Solved!
October saw another successful DAF Fly in with 19 participants, 8 aircraft, and 14 lunch participants. This year included the second annual malevolent mystery mishap by the voltage-sucking battery vampire preventing one plane (not two like last year) from participating. Of those that flew to Brackett, it is worth noting that the first plane to arrive at the destination was Kel Vanderlip in his Cessna 150. A bit of a coup considering horsepower and cruising airspeed of the later arrivals! The lunch bunch enjoyed a sunny, if fire-induced hazy, view of the San Gabriel Mountains and the airfield traffic. The group was unexpectedly treated to the Brackett Antique Aircraft Display/Car Show which is normally held the third Sunday but for some reason was Saturday (contrary to their website and published media). A hardy few walked over to view the Puddingstone Reservoir before heading back to home base.