Truckee Bash, July 21st, 2007

This year it was the turn of NCSA to host the Annual Truckee Bash.
By custom the three clubs who fly in Truckee rotate the event.

Richard Pearl showed his Chef's credentials, and brought out his giant smoker to Truckee to feed 84 people on Saturday July 21st. The feast was first class, per Richard's reputation!

The highlights of the menu were Richard's delicious smoked ribs.

The barbecued salmon, prepared to perfection by Ben Hirashima, was good too. Ben is a pro at the grill.
What a sumptuous Banquet!

About 18 NCSA club members attended the bash, including several private glider owners and two students (Norman Leung, Eric Nelson and friend) who were flown in
by Thomas Daniel, one of our Tow Pilots, in his Cirrus. Check out his glass cockpit above, as he demonstrates a steep bank over Lake Tahoe.

After landing his Cirrus, Thomas took the opportunity to refresh his glider skills with a flight in 81C.

We also had the pleasure of seeing one of our former club members,
Irv Powalka, who drove in from Southern California to get reacquainted with old friends, such as Willy Snow.

During the Bash weekend and the next, many long flights were flown:

Saturday, July 21st: Ramy, Shannon, Yuliy all flew close to 500KM

On Sunday, Ramy, Yuliy and Morteza also flew close to 500KM, while
Jim Conger flew about 335 miles.

The following Saturday, July 28th, Yuliy flew 850 KM, Ramy flew 680km,
Uwe flew 570km, Mike Mayo flew 460km, Jim Conger flew 380;

the next day, Sunday July 29th, Ramy flew 760km, Yuliy 770km (but got fewer points than Ramy) Shannon flew 410km and Uwe flew 360km.

The afternoon before the Bash, Ken Ferguson and Bill Levinson decided to move our storage container to the other end of the tie-down area, to be closer to our 2-place gliders.

Also, the day before the Bash, the highest tow I have ever experienced in Truckee
was requested by a potential Trial member who wanted a long tow to sharpen his tow maneuvers and turns on tow. Here is Paul Pencikowski on tow in Blanik AS above 10,000' on the way up to 11,000' before releasing from Pawnee 6Z near Mt Pluto.
It's best not to ask the cost of the tow.

NCSA's newest club member, Norm Leung, was apprehensive before the flight with Thomas, and sought assurance that the pilot was a safe pilot. Here is Norm, after the Bash, preparing to fly back in a sunset flight. He emailed back that they landed back in
Palo Alto just after dark and that the Cirrus was well equipped with advanced instruments for night flight. Norm was relieved that Thomas was a very experienced pilot. The flight
was a treat both going and returning and was very comfortable for everyone after all.

The next day, several club members had flights in the Grob, including Bill Gage, while the NCSA Board meeting was being held; and later,
Mark Violet, is seen here smiling after a two-hour thermaling flight in Grob 81C.

Grob 81C is on final for Runway 19, Truckee.

-- Monique Weil