The Season is in Full Swing

On March 15th the damn broke and a herd of restless glider pilots flooded the field.

Many were able to get in their spring check flight...

... and some also did their spring tow checks.

The weather gods are smiling on us so far, take advantage of it. Come on out and enjoy some flying. The field is dry, the tow pilots willing and the instructors eager.

And as usual there are lots of people standing around to give you advice on your last landing.

Welcome FUYE and FUZH!

Our new ASK-21s are out of the box and itching to fly. Dave, Luke and John have been diligently working for weeks, in the chilly workshop installing the instruments.

Eddie Hollestelle and Chris Eaves spent the day at SOSA Feb 28th doing the final inspections required for the C of A.

A large crew of people arrived to help rig the new members of our fleet: FUYE and FUZH.

We may be able to fly FUYE and FUZH as early as April 1st if all the paperwork has arrived in the mail! Pencil it in your calendar.

Ultimately the K21's position in our fleet is for student training. With this in mind the first weekend or two will be focused heavily on instructor checkouts to facilitate a speedy transition to student training. But don't worry we won't turn eager members, interested in the new toys, away. You will all get a turn.

First Solo Flight Of the Year

After a perfect check flight on Feb 28th with instructor Joe Stubbs, James Stang had the first Solo-Student flight of the year.

The cold weather was certainly taking it's toll on the poor instrcutor who forgot to wear his long johns.

The SOSA AGM

The SOSA Annual General Meeting was held February 7th this year at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. 2008 was a successful year despite the damp weather.

Sadly this year two of our long standing and very hardworking board members stepped down, our President and Treasurer Dave Springford and CFI John Brennan. John also held the positions of President and Grounds director over his long service on the board. Our trusty Aircraft Maintenance director Al Grant also stepped down this year.

We should all make an effort to thank these three and all those on the board of directors. Many hours go into running our fine flying club.

The new board of directors are:

President and Treasurer - Andrea Kuciak
CFI - Tom Coulson
Secretary - Jack Leach
Aircraft Maintenance - Joe Stubbs
Grounds Equipment - Lorna Novosel
Grounds Facilities - Sergei Morozov
Membership Director - Terry McElligott
IT - Luke Szczepaniak


Dave Springford was awarded the SOSA Flight Achievement award for his 999 point day at the 2008 World Soaring.



Newly licenced pilots Vlada Dekina, Mark Karamis and Niel Wilson receiving their certificates of acheivement from the former CFI and new President.

Awards were also handed out to:

• Tom Coulson for Instructor of the Year (DR. WOLF DIETRICH LEERS AWARD),
• Shirley Dashper for a significant contribution to the non-flying operations at SOSA (THE REINHARD AWARD),
• Dave Simek for a significant contribution by a first year pilot (KEN LARMOUR AWARD),
• Paul Fish for the best flight by a Silver Badge Pilot (THE ROYAL CROWN COLA SOARING TROPHY),
• Wilfred Krueger for the fastest triangle (500 km) done out of SOSA (THE DOUG WINGER 500),
• Scott McMaster for a significant contribution by a Tow Pilot (DOUGLAS C. WINGER MEMORIAL TROPHY).