Flying Aces Inc. Newsletter vol.32 #7 July 2001
The Leading Edge
GENERAL MEETING: SUNDAY the 8th at San Jose Jet Center at 7:30pm
PROGRAM "ALASKA ROUND TRIP IN A C-150" by manager Doug Groom
INSTRUCTOR MEETING TUESDAY, JULY 3RD 7PM at INBOUND.
BOARD MEETING To be announced
CONGRATULATIONS TO:
Our newest Commercial Pilot, Aces' Financial Officer Christoph Bohmann who is finishing up
his Flight Instructor rating with Doug Groom who just renewed his CFII for another two years
based on student passes!
July Birthdays
Prashant Kanhere on the 27th, Tom Gerkins and Steve Ostrowki on the 28th and Robert Lucca on the 30th.
AUGUST PICNIC WED 8th AT WINGS OF HISTORY AT SOUTH COUNTY--MAYBE?
We are planning our annual picnic at South County's air museum. Good reports about the place but they
need a donation to make it go and we need response (831) 475-6868) from potential attendees to
coordinate cars/aircraft and judge enthusiasm. Small response means we will be with Pres John Goud's
house overlooking the valley. Let us know in the next 2 weeks so the board can plan.
ACE TERRY RIDGWAY DONATES $700 TO DEDUCTIBLE TRUST FUND
In September 1999 Terry had a ground loop incident at Reno which he fully detailed to our
Safety Evaluation Board and was featured in or Jan 2000 Leading Edge. He cooperated fully
with the club regarding this incident except when it came to accepting reimbursement by the
Deductible Trust Fund. He said if it meant a general assessment of the membership (as is
usual to replace shortfalls) he didn't want the money. The Fund trustees had never faced
this problem before. But after 20 months of tough negotiations we are happy to announce a
resolution. He has graciously agreed to accept the balance above the minimum $1000, ie. he
gets $300, donates $700 to club, no assessment, case closed. On top of that he just got his
instrument rating!!! What a guy! Thanks Terry.
WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST ACE: DAVE LION
Dave is receiving instruction from CFI candidate Christoph Bohmann under Groom's supervision.
SAN JOSE TO THE ARCTIC IN A C-150
Praveen Gopinath, this one is for you. At the last general meeting Praveen wanted to know what it was
like up there. About 20 years ago Aces Doug Groom and Kit Maxwell were wondering the same thing.
So after a lot of questions and planning they were off in his 150 for 3 weeks and 10000 miles up the
highway, around Alaska, and down the coast to answer the questions. About an hour of slides for this
months program will give you the idea but there is nothing like the real thing!!!
FROM THE MANAGER
Membership response to the club's dilemma was amazing at the last general meeting.
We came up with more ideas than we had time to work our way completely through.
But the principal problem of no aircraft for our students seems to be solved.
The active Aces CFIs have agreed to buy Squadron II memberships for their active students!!
For those Aces who are not taking instruction there were a lot of ideas centering around
some kind of reverse minimum flight, i.e. the club buys you membership if you elect but you
have to reimburse the club 1/12 for every month you DON'T fly. If interested further give us
a call at (831) 475-6868. It sounds crazy but it just might work. The club
buys you membership. If you use it it's free to you. If you waste it you pay the club $25 for
every month you don't us it. Now there is an incentive to stay current! The cost to the
club would be similar to before where we paid the equivalent of 1/12 membership for every Ace
that flew a Squadron II aircraft in any given month. So let us know if there is enough
interest in setting up this kind of program.
In other matters: It has proven almost impossible to get aircraft insurance for a one plane club.
And it would be risky to obtain and operate said plane. The Board voted unanimously to give up
the SJC tie-down. Squawk immediately if you have a better idea.
Another idea we are working on is providing a centralized on-line scheduling service for some of
the smaller aircraft groups as a way for members to have access to their aircraft and as a
service currently not available to their members. What do you think?
Douglas C. Groom ali@cruzio.com