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.
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!
Report: June 22 2023 Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club Dinner Meeting
DAFers enjoyed a delicious lasagna dinner at our June 22, 2023 meeting at the Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club.
After dinner Chris Harshman conducted club business, then we were treated to hearing about the adventures
of our presenter Lt. Col. Dee Chester.
Dee has an interesting resume, including being a pilot, space historian and soon-to-be Citizen
Astronaut. She shared details about her upcoming two-hour plus flight (likely in early 2024) into space with Virgin Galactic, including
the rigorous training exercises. The departure and return will happen at the impressive Spaceport America located
in New Mexico. Dee will travel on Spaceship 2 Unity, with the Mothership being White Knight 2 (named Eve after Richard
Branson's mother).
Having been a lover of all things relating to outer space since she was five years old, Dee is very much looking forward
to this upcoming adventure. She even said she would come back to share her space flight experience with us!
She will post her adventure on her Facebook page also. Dee committed to this flight in 2017 at a price of $200,000 and has been patiently
waiting for six years. She says the going rate now is $450,000...so save your money if you want this ride of a lifetime!
Report: March 31 2023 Fly-In to New Cuyama
DAF Fly-in to New Cuyama 3/31-4/2/2023
DAFers arrived the day after a early spring storm on a cool sunny day in New Cuyama. Four planes and four cars brought 15 DAFers to the valley. We started with a drive to Condor’s Hope olive farm and vineyard, for a tour and tasting. We had to ford a swollen stream to reach our destination. That evening our happy hour was in the Cantina at Blue Sky Center and dinner at the Buckhorn restaurant.
On Saturday we headed to Carrizo Plains National Monument to look for some wildflowers. 
On the way we stopped to acquire a shovel and hoe to help Tim, a stranded Brit, to extract his stranded car from deep sand in the park. He was shuttled by DAFers into park and late in the day we heard he successfully extracted his car. 
In the Carrizo Plains National Monument we enjoyed a picnic lunch amongst antique farm equipment and enjoyed seeing wildflowers throughout our drive. Afterwards, we headed to Sagebrush Annie’s in Ventucopa for some red wine tasting. Larry and his wife shared great stories as we enjoyed their wines. Then we headed back to Blue Sky Center for Sunset Sips Mead Tasting with our hosts, Jack and Melanie. Afterwards, more laughs and stories were shared at the Cantina. Dinner was once again at the Buckhorn.
In the morning we received a double delight of watching a rocket launch from Vandenberg and a balloon launch. The cows were mesmerized by the brightly colored balloon.
Thanks to all that attended for making the weekend a success!
Report: February 23, 2023 Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club dinner
Our February 23, 2023 dinner at CBYC had a good turnout. Dinner was a delicious Mexican buffet. After dinner, President Chris Harshman conducted club business, after which I introduced our speaker, USAF Colonel (retired) Roy Martin.
Colonel Martin has a distinguished flying career, starting in Viet Nam, where he flew over 200 combat missions as an F-4 pilot. After this service he was admitted to and graduated from the USAF Test Pilot School. Following his military service he was a test pilot for Northrop for 32 years and retired as Chief Test Pilot from Northrop Grumman (West Region). During his career, he accumulated 11,000 hours in more than 70 types of aircraft.
His presentation was interesting. He described the process followed as Northrop experimented with an F-5E, modifying the design, to ‘quiet’ the noise signature of the sonic boom created by the jet. How was this done? The nose of the supersonic F5 tactical jet ‘testbed’ that was being used was enlarged, giving it more of a bulge underneath (similar to a pelican’s pouch) under the cockpit. This affected the airflow created a quieter sonic boom in the process. For more info on this project, go to
https://www.nasa.gov/connect/ebooks/nasa-ebook-quieting-the-boom
- John Mahany