More inspections!

Sunday at Hollister started with a breakfast at the Ding-A-Ling restaurant on the field and then a little look-see into Hugh Bikle's Museum hangar where hanging from the ceiling is his father Paul's, made in Elmira NY, Schweizer 1-23E.  In 1961 Paul used the Sierra mountain wave to set an altitude record of 46,267 feet with a still standing altitude gain record of 42,000 feet!  Below the glider is one of Hugh's antique airworthy(flyable) bi-planes, a 1926 Travel Air 4000.

 Underneath the wing, on the floor, is the removable left wing-tip from his latest toy, a  U15 Phoenix S-LSA motorglider{http://www.phoenixairusa.com/}  It was flown out to Hollister from Florida in three days, I heard{http://phoenixairusa.blogspot.com/}

I now know what I want from Santa!

Next was a visit with my friend Tim and his bird-friend Tonto:

Now for some inspections

2T, an LS-8a, belongs to Peter Deane who helped represent the US in the 32nd FAI World Gliding Championships in Argentina this January.  16, a Discus 2a, is owned and flown by David Greenhill, a US standard class champion.  I was lucky to have crewed for them at the national contest in Montague, CA a few years ago.

 Peter and David are friends AND competitors in sailplane racing!

In the afternoon the early overcast cleared and I met Ken Ward in the hangar area for the inspection of his Lithuanian-built Lak-12 open-class glider.

Meanwhile back on the ramp, pilots and their gliders were assembling in preparation for launching.  2-3 hour flights were enjoyed my many!

It turned out to be a good flying day!