Official Publication of Airventurers, a Non-Profit Pilot s Association Volume 57, No. 11 Nov 2017 WHERE HAVE ALL THE PILOTS GONE? I remember when I was learning how to fly at Van Nuys Airport in the mid 70's. What an exciting time to be a pilot. General aviation was growing in popularity and getting your Private Pilots Certificate was a much-desired goal. FBO's were all around the airport catering to pilots and aspiring pilots. They provided airplanes, instructors, tie down spaces, hangars and more. It was not unusual to be number 15 for landing on Runway 16. The landing traffic pattern often went out to Newhall Pass and you just waited for your turn to land. Phil Aune was a controller at the airport at that time and I am sure he remembers those years very well. How times have changed. There were 311,086 licensed pilots in 1985. By 2015 that number had dwindled to 170,718. There are numerous reasons for this decline but we have to deal with the reality of what general aviation is today and what it will be tomorrow. PILOTS WANTED! Bottom line, we have to do our part to keep general aviation and the Airventurers a place where people want to be. We can do this by reaching out to the flying population and letting them know that Airventurers is a flying club that provides pilots activities that are designed to keep members and their spouses involved in aviation in the air and on the ground. We need new members to be able to continue to do this. Get a new member ASAP. Marv Rifkin, President DINNER MEETING Sunday, Nov. 19th Lulu s 6:00 Socializing 6:30 Dinner 7:00 Speaker Our speaker will be Jim McMichael, Lt. Col. USAF, Retired Viper 101 F-16 Fighting Falcon Combat Jet; how it came to be and flying it RESERVE AT AIRVENTURERS.ORG *NOTE: November dinner meeting changed to Nov. 19th due to the fly-in to Nellis AFB on the 10th HAPPY HOLIDAYS Please RSVP ASAP for the Holiday Party on December 2. An outstanding evening is being planned for you at the beautiful Braemar Country Club in Tarzana. Come and celebrate 2017 while we also look forward to a terrific year of Airventurer activities in 2018. BOARD MEETING Signature Aviation, VNY Saturday November 18th 10:00 am To reach the editor: judyrifkin1@charter.net we d like to hear what you have to say
AIRVENTURERS APPLICANT CHECKLIST DATE APPLICANT SPONSOR FEE DINNER MEETING co-host add l 2/16 Landi Eisenberg Y Y FLY-IN co-host 2/16 Hnarakis Eisenberg Y Y Y Y 12/16 Brend Frangos Y Y Y 2/17 Cavallaro Shaby Y Y 2017 CALENDAR DINNER BOARD FLY-INS DESTINATION HOST JAN 15 28 21 CHIRIACO SUMMIT SAVAGE FEB 12 18 24-26 GOODYEAR/SCOTTSDALE PUNT, EISENBERG MAR 12 25 18 DUNE BUGGIES AT OCEANO KIRSCHNER APR 9 22 28-29 AOPA REGIONAL CMA MAY 21 27 13 6TH ANNUAL POKER RUN SAVAGE, CHEER JUNE 11 24 10 CASTLE AFB SAVAGE JULY NONE 29 22 CASTLE AFB SAVAGE AUG NONE 26 5 CLUB PICNIC CMA SAMOJEN, LANE, BOUJO SEPT 2 23 8 SAN DIEGO RAINEY SEPT 2 23 30 PAGE, AZ CASHIN, PUNT OCT 15 28 PAGE, AZ NOV 19 18 10-12 NELLIS AFB EISENBERG DEC 2 16 HOLIDAY PARTY STEWART add l PAGE, AZ, GLEN CANYON DAM TOUR This fly-in, meticulously planned and executed by Tim Cashin and Henry Punt was a ton of fun for the 13 other Airventurers that joined them. Going and coming, we flew two different routes over the Grand Canyon the camera doesn t do justice to the magnificent scenery. It s truly one of the wonders of the world. First on the agenda was lunch at a local shopping center, then we headed out to the Glen Canyon Dam for our tour. The dam was completed in 1966 and forms Lake Powell. It is 710 feet high, and is one of the last of its size to be built in the U.S. The dam itself is a matter of controversy. Environmental groups want to remove it and water managers and utilities say it s a source of renewable energy and protects against drought. It s an interesting subject and you can read about it at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/glen_canyon_dam. After a really nice docent-led tour of the dam, we checked into our hotel then went back to Lake Powell to catch our boat for the afternoon tour of the lake and some of the canyons. Everyone got their own headset for the narration, and it was a nice, relaxing way to end the day (which had started about 5am for some of us) and get ready for dinner. Most of us hit the hay right after dinner in preparation for an early start the following morning. And we did leave early, both coming and going, but in spite of that, we had bumps. Just ask Mike Savage about Monument Valley. Thanks, guys, for a really nice fly-in.
AVIATION NATION AIR & SPACE EXPO NOV. 10-12TH 12TH NELLIS AFB (LAND AT KVGT) THIS EVENT WILL BE THE AIR COMBAT COMMAND S CLOSING CELEBRATION FOR THE AIR FORCE S 70TH BIRTHDAY IT WILL FEATURE AN ARRAY OF BOTH STATIC AND AERIAL ACTS INCLUDING THE THUNDERBIRDS AT THEIR HOME BASE FRIDAY NIGHT COCKTAIL PARTY/LIGHT DINNER PARTY SATURDAY ENJOY ALL THAT THE AIRSHOW HAS TO OFFER UNWIND WITH A MINI HAPPY HOUR AFTER A FULL DAY AT THE AIRSHOW 2 NIGHTS HOTEL-2 PARTIES-TRANSPORTATION Double $324-Single $292 or $333.99 & $301.03 with CC Checks to Don Eisenberg, 5163 Valjean, Encino 91436 or pay online at www.airventurers.org
ARRIVE THURSDAY, JANUARY 18th DEPART SUNDAY, JANUARY 21ST $600 PER PERSON, INCLUDES 3 NIGHTS LODGING, 1 DINNER, 1 BREAKFAST 6 PERSONS ONLY ($618.23 with credit card) ALL 6 STAY IN THE SAME CABIN WITH 1 BATHROOM, NO BATH OR SHOWER IN CABIN 7:30 am on Friday, we ll mount up and start down the canyon Friday night, we ll stay at Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the canyon Saturday morning after breakfast, we ll climb back up by a different route Saturday afternoon, relax at the Maswik Lodge MAXIMUM WEIGHT OF RIDER IS 200 POUNDS JOEL KIRSCHNER, 310-277-1811, JOEL@JOELK.COM
IMPORTANT DATES IN PROPOSED SLATE OF OFFICERS 2018 November 10-12 Nellis Fly-in 18 Board Meeting PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT SECRETARY TIM CASHIN CLIFF BUSICK TONI SCHARFF 19 Dinner Meeting, Election December 2 Holiday Party 16 Board Meeting January 18 Grand Canyon Mule Train TREASURER JUDY RIFKIN Election of officers will take place at the Nov. dinner meeting. Nominations will be accepted from the floor. Besides the above and the immediate past president, there are four additional directors and numerous chairpersons. This is YOUR club please think about volunteering. 2018 FLY-INS MORE THINGS TO PONDER If swimming is so good for your figure, how do you explain whales? If cats like mice, why can t you buy mouse-flavored cat food? Why are a wise man and a wise guy opposites? Jan. 18-21 Mules Kirschner Feb. 17 Search Dogs, Santa Paula Rifkin Mar. Grand Canyon Skywalk Landau Apr. Poker Run Savage May Columbia Eisenberg June Caverns Part 2, Benson Busick Why isn t 11 pronounced onety-one? Or tenty-one? July Picnic??? If a person with multiple personalities threatens suicide, is that considered a hostage situation? Aug. 18-19 Confusion Hill Simansky So what s the speed of dark? If space is a vacuum, who changes the bags? If tin whistles are made of tin, what are fog horns made of? Sept. Sacramento Samojen Oct. Barretta & Crash Lab Klenner Nov. China Lake Rainey Dec. Holiday Par