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7/6/2010
Roger Worden had a 5-hour flight in the PW5 over the Tehachapi mountains. If his Volkslogger flight trace is accepted by the SSA, this will complete his Silver badge. Clear skies were interrupted by scattered showers of champagne.
 

5/15/2010
Bill Tappan soloed in a Blanik L-13! Bill sez: "Having flown only Schweizer, I found the Blanik a little "different" to say the least. I flew two patterns with Mary and it clicked! She turned me loose and despite the temptation of great looking cu's, I flew a perfect pattern with a smooth landing roll to the staging area! No pushing required. Looking forward now to some great summer flying and hopefully my commercial practical."
 

5/2/2010
Nick Ounanian has achieved his Private Pilot - Glider certificate. Congratulations, Nick!!
10/18/2009
OCSA has begun flying at Skylark Airport at Lake Elsinore, CA, thanks to the Lake Elsinore Soaring Club.

10/1/2009
OCSA has ceased operations at Hemet-Ryan Airport due to actions and decisions by airport management. Club aircraft are currently available at Tehachapi, and others will be available at Lake Elsinore and Warner Springs in the near future.

8/7/2009
Congratulations to Tim Guckes for adding a Private Glider rating to his Commercial ASL Rating!

8/7/2009
Congratulations to Steve Willems on achieving his Private Pilot-Glider rating!

6/20/2009
We now have a Videos page! If you have OCSA-related videos posted on YouTube, get in touch with the webmaster and I'll post them here.

6/14/2009
See pictures from the OCSA 50th Anniversary Celebration.

3/31/09
See Dave Raspet's report on the 2009 California City Wave Camp.

3/22/09
Jerry Snedden Achieves his Third Diamond

Today March 21, 2009, OCSA member Jerry Snedden achieved his third diamond flying his ASW-20 from the Region 12 wave camp in California City into wave. Check out his video on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRmwM86_MDg

Initially launching into what appeared to be good thermal conditions at approximately 1pm, Jerry released at 1500 agl and worked several lines of clouds attempting to gain altitude but each time he worked west he hit severe sink.  Finally gaining enough altitude in what he later determined to be secondary wave he was able to penetrate through light rotor sink and connect with the primary wave just east of Barren Ridge.  Connecting first in smooth air to 1-2 knots, soon the ships variometer pegged 10 knots and thrust skyward he was Diamond bound. 

Passing thru 14k msl he felt his toes go numb and to stay warm he began to "run in place" while seated. Joshua Approach Air Traffic Control (ATC) was very helpful and provided a clearance within the designated Cal City wave window thru Class A to FL270. His legs encased in long johns remained warm, but now he wished he had put on the Ugg boots he left on the warm deck. When 4 1/2 hours later he was back on the ground, his toes quickly came back to life when his trace showed he had topped out at over 23,000 ft with a total altitude gain of 18,992 ft.  Plenty of cushion for Diamond altitude!!!!

It's time for OCSA to congratulate Jerry on his achievement and hope the circulation in his toes soon returns to normal. 

Three Diamond cheers (and some electric socks) for Jerry!

3/1/09
OCSA's winch has now become operational at the Hemet-Ryan gliderport.  Sunday mornings, usually our quietest time, has seen a burst of activity as we winch from 7am to 11am.   If you have not flown a winch before, it is quite an experience. The rapid 45 degree climbout to 1500 ft in 30 seconds takes several launches to get used to...it puts an adrenaline experience in front of our zen sport. After the winch is put away, we head over to the Bambi's Airport Cafe for a late breakfast and then return for an afternoon of aerotowing.
 

Click the pics.

1/25/09

Watch OCSA's Year in Pictures video on YouTube.
(Choose the "Watch in HD" option.)

12/7/08
OCSA Awards

Click on the pics
for full-size images
 

Lifetime Membership
Harry Irvine
for years of maintenance work

President's Award
Mary Rust
for instruction program upgrade

 

Lone Eagle
Jerry Snedden

Dual Eagle
Chris Mannion and
Larry Tuohino

 

Family Soaring Contest
Timed Flight
Roger and Nicole Worden

FSC Multiplace Task
Chris Mannion and Ricky Culp

 

FSC Spot Landing
Steve Willems

FSC Altitude
FSC Solo XC
Dan Rihn

 

Off-landing and
FSC Speed Triangle
No award

9/18/08

Tony Terrigno received the FAA's Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award. This honor is awarded to pilots who have achieved 50 years of safe flying. In Tony's case, its been 60 years! Congratulations, Tony!
9/6/08
Three OCSA members competed in the Dust Devil Dash:
Place Pilot Crew Landing Distance
6th (of 22) Jerry Snedden Jeff Donoho Tiger, NV 315 nm
8th Larry Tuohino Swantje Tuohino Minden, NV 277 nm
20th Roger Worden Irv Powalka Olancha, CA 83 nm

(Click the pics for full-size images)

From Jerry
From Roger
Place Name Sailplane type Landing place Raw dist H'cap
1 Sean Franke Duo Discus Alturas 455.1 406.86
2 Marty Eiler ASW-27 Alturas 455.1 400.49
3 Garry Dickson 1-26A Luning, NV 236.5 390.23
4 Doug Levy 1-26A Bridgeport 223.3 368.45
5 Pete Kovari DG-300 Reno / Stead 324.9 311.90
6 Jerry Snedden ASW-20 Tiger NV 314.7 284.17
7 Tom Riley Spirit Carson City NV 292.0 275.06
8 Larry Tuohino PIK-20D-78 Minden 277.3 270.92
9 Mike Wills 1-26B Bishop 156.7 258.56
10 Cindy Brickner ASW-27 Carson City NV 291.3 256.34
11 Joedy Gregory 1-26B 3 mi South of Bishop 154.0 254.10
12 Bob Maronde ASW-27 Minden 277.3 244.02
13 Jeff Byard Genesis 2 Bridgeport 222.5 211.15
14 Paul Robinson 304CZ Tonopah NV 216.9 206.06
15 Greg Cole Sparrowhawk Bishop CA 156.7 183.34
16 Jim Dingess ASH-26E E of Tonopah NV 216.9 182.85
17 Doug Fronius LK-10A Lone Pine CA 105.0 173.25
18 Ian Cant Russia AC-4B Independence CA 119.0 141.97
19 Ron Hodge 1-26D Coso Junction 70.4 112.64
20 Roger Worden PW-5 Olancha CA 83.4 100.08
21 Cam Martin LP-49 California City CA 23.3 27.49
22 Philippe Athuil ASH-25M 25.6 Crystal    

 

 

8/22/08

Chris Mannion took his first flight in the PW5

Tim Guckes soloed in the Blanik L13.

8/20/08

Steve Willems soloed in the Blanik L13.

7/26/08

OCSA installs a PC in the clubhouse at Hemet-Ryan to enable students to practice soaring with the Condor soaring simulator.

 

6/14/08

Greg Van Grunsven soloed in the Blanik L13.

5/12/08

Here's a video of the recent trip to Coyote Dry Lake.

 
3/15/08

Hemet-Ryan is host to a new crop of flowers and a new crop of student pilots. Lots was accomplished by the Private Pilots at the Work Day, and the students got a lesson in crosswind takeoffs. Click the pics for a full-size view.

3/1/08
There will be a memorial service for Joe Stasnek at one of the Hemet-Ryan gliderport hangars on April 5 at 5:00 p.m. Among other remembrances, the video "An Evening with Joe" will be shown.
1/17/08

In January, OCSA again participated in the SSA Region 12's booth at the Academy of Model Aeronautics convention.

(click for full size)

1/9/08
Welcome Dave Raspet to the ranks of the OCSA instructors! Dave recently acquired his CFI-G rating and will be working with OCSA pilots and students soon. Congratulations!