A Nice Weekend in Santa Ynez - June 2024
15 DAFers ventured to Santa Ynez for the Old Santa Ynez Rodeo and wine tasting on June 21-23 - mostly by airplane but a few by car. Friday evening started with our traditional happy hour social at the Royal Copenhagen Inn‘s Secret Garden. Thank you, Larry, for discovering the secret place. Our group dinner was enjoyed by all at Leonardo’s Cucina Italian Restaurant in Solvang.
On Saturday our group had a picnic at the Gainey Winery under the shade of old California Oak trees and views of the vineyard and hills, while enjoying delicious sandwiches from the El Rancho Market Place Deli in Solvang. In the afternoon, some members explored Solvang and wine tasted, while others went to watch the Santa Ynez Rodeo. TOA Tiger Squadron opened the rodeo with a formation fly over. Everyone was enjoying our Saturday evening happy hour so much that we ended up ordering pizza and salad and closed out the night at the Secret Garden.
On Sunday, a few DAFers continued to explore the Santa Ynez/Solvang area including the Elverhoj Museum of History and Art Solvang which displays the history of the Solvang area and was free. Another wonderful DAF fly-in in the books.
Lunch Fly-in to New Cuyama, CA May 11 2024
Our DAF group met at the GAC at 10am as the morning marine layer was just starting to break up. The weather forecast for late afternoon was calling for a potential early return of the marine layer which caused a couple of the VFR pilots to cancel out on the mission, but the IFR aircraft/pilots continued. Weather forecast was clear and sunny at our lunch destination so we had four airplanes with eight DAFers on board head to New Cuyama.
It was a spectacular day there and our lunch fly-in coincided with an annual New Cuyama Blue Sky fly-in and wine tasting over the weekend. So, there were plenty of airplanes and helicopters on the ground there.
Report: October Fly-In to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta
Amazing Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta
Del Amo Flyers finally were able to complete the fly-in to Albuquerque and attend the amazing International Balloon Fiesta. The DAFers arrived in Albuquerque in eight private planes and a few commercial flights for a total of twenty-one people. After arriving on Friday, we were hosted by Palmer’s sons-in-law at his brewery in downtown Albuquerque, Boese Brothers Brewery. Here we were all intrigued by the tour of the brewery and knowledge of the brewing and distilling processes.
Early, very early, Saturday morning we all boarded the buses to the Balloon Fiesta.
The pre- dawn and morning were filled with amazing sights.
Hangar Potluck 2023
On August 26 the Del Amo Flyers met for our annual Hangar Potluck. DAF Board members and volunteers set up the hangar on Saturday morning, the caterer arrived on time, and the weather was perfect for an indoor/outdoor event.
Sixty four DAFers and friends helped make the event a success. Craig Ekberg graciously opened up his hangar again to host our event. You couldn’t ask for a better backdrop for our annual summer social!
This year we kept the event simple with potluck appetizers and dessert and The Original Taco Man Tacos. The event was a chance to enjoy the company of fellow DAFers and a chance to meet several new members. On Sunday the DAF crew returned Craig's hangar to normal navigation, hearded the tables and chairs back to the Western Museum of Flight, and began planning for next year. See you then!
