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
Report: Edwards Air Force Base Drive-In, February 9, 2023
On February 9th, 2023 a group of fortunate DAFers drove up to Edwards Air Force Base for a 4 hours tour of the flight lines and the base museum. The DAF drivers and passengers first met several aircraft which flew in to General Fox field. We drove up to the base gate, which is the furure home of the unfinished off-base museum and a circle of Century fighters waiting patierntly in the sun for the museum to be finished.
The Air Force provided us with a Blue Bird bus and a guide, Mr. James Tucker, the base historian. We drove all over the base, starting with the original hangar, used for the 1st gas turbine aircraft testing in 1943. The hangar houses an amazing group of aircraft and engines. We also saw the Test Pilot School, the flight lines, the maintenance hangers (some open, some closed) and then ended at the on-base Museum. James Tucker narrated (without a mike or speakers) an entertaining history of what we were seeing (and not seeing) and never lost his audience. We also had the pleasure of Meeting George B. Welch, Director of the Air Force Flight Test Museum, who gave us the low-down on the many relationships the base keeps up with veterans, aircraft restorers, and librarians across the world.
All in all the whole day was a great as it could be. Our Club is fortunate to have Rick Shaw as a board member, as it was Rick's background as an Air Force major which gave him the edge in pushing for our visit and finally getting us admitted. Three cheers for Rick! And thank you for all the DAFers, chauffers and pilots, who made this such a memorable day.
Report: Dominguez Adobe Rancho Museum Drive-In, January 21, 2023
23 DAFers made the Saturday morning drive to Carson for a private visit of the Dominguez family's historic Adobe home and gardens. Celest, our historian and tour guide, brought the museum alive with her narration of the origins of the Dominguez family's influence in the South Bay area.
The last rooms on our tour were devoted to the 1910 Los Angeles Air Meet, which pretty much stopped us dead in our tracks. Its a must-see, including the diorama created by Danny Thomas's set design crew.
Mitch and Steve used their superior navigation skills to locate a brew pub nearby where we retired for a lovely lunch. Not all made the lunch, as it was a perfect flying day, with snow on the mountains and light breezes.
Thank everyone for coming along!
Report: Fun times in Alamos, Sonora, Mexico, November 2022
On Friday, November 4, 5 airplanes and 18 people arrived in Alamos, Sonora, Mexico for a relaxing fun and sun filled long weekend. Upon arrival at Alamos, we got the party started with margaritas and snacks in the huge 12 plane hangar. The weather was warm but nice with evenings quite pleasant. We enjoyed scrumptious meals and libations at several of their dining locations.
The group was entertained nightly by a variety of authentic Mexican musicians, plus a small Ballet Folklorico Troupe from the nearby town of Ciudad Obregon. For the early risers, on two mornings we had enjoyed walking exercise around town, the Mirador and a nearby hike up Parque la Colorada, plus a hacienda history talk. The Sonoran Cooking Class and the Tequila Class were well attended by eager learners! Hiking, horseback riding and bicycling were popular options too as was lounging and swimming at the numerous pools. Fourteen folks boarded a tram for a tour around town. The Swickard/Alcantar family and staff at the Hacienda de Los Santos were quite attentive to the needs of the group, tending to every little detail!
After Alamos, several planes took off for more adventures in San Carlos for beach and sailing fun! Some traveling north rerouted due to bad weather on the day of return. Travelling to Mexico often includes additional challenges but fortunately this trip did not produce any Bonehead Awards! All planes that travelled returned safely by the end of the week.
Thank you to Patti and Tom LaGrelius for organizing such a memorable trip.
Report: Sunday social meeting at Schlob
Sunday Social at Scholb
On Sunday October 16th, nineteen DAFers join us for a Sunday social and happy hour event at Scholb Premium Ales in Torrance. We had our own set of tables and an area almost to ourselves. A couple folks brought snacks to share. Best of all was the comradery shared by aviation enthusiast!
If you have a favorite hangout for socializing near KTOA, let us know. We plan to hold more of these events in the upcoming year.