Article for the Sun Lakes Splash – January 1, 2009

By Gary Vacin, Publicity Director

 

The Sun Lakes Aero Club sponsored three successful activities during November, according to Bob Walch, club president.  Two members, Al Galvi and Elton Dyal, flew Dyal’s Beechcraft Bonanza to the Gen. George Patton Museum at Chiriaco Summit, Calif.  Nov. 8. There they viewed exhibits displaying memorabilia of the life and career of General Patton. On November 17, 33 members and guests participated in a Pot Luck dinner at the Oasis in Sun Lakes Phase I.

 

Seven members and guests participated in a field trip to Skydive Arizona located at the Eloy Airport Nov. 22.  Making the trip were Al Galvi, Earl Cuyler, Grace Cuyler, Bob Walch, Tom Moeller, Elton Dyal,  and Ruth Pew.  The facility owns and operates 11 aircraft, the largest fleet of skydiving aircraft in the world.

 

Shortly after the group arrived, 20 jumpers in their brightly-colored attire boarded a Dehaviland twin engine turbo prop for a fast climb to 15,000 ft. where they left the aircraft for their journey earthward.  After free-falling part of the way, the jumpers opened their chutes and skillfully glided to a grass landing area.  Spectators gathered around the landing site to see the jumpers arrive. 

 

The club’s slate of Spring fly-in/field trips includes Mazatal Casino in Payson, Phoenix Composites at Falcon Field in Mesa,  and Ryan Field in Tucson.

 

Formed in 1996, the club meets the third Monday of each month in the Mirror Room at the Sun Lakes Country Club October through May.  The group has more than 100 members whose interests include general aviation, ultralites, radio controlled model airplanes, hot air balloons, homebuilt aircraft, and even paper aircraft. In addition to field trips and fly-ins, the club publishes a monthly newsletter sent to members via e-mail and snail mail and maintains a web site (http://sunlakesaeroclub.org).  Additional information is available by visiting the web site or by calling Bob Walch, president at 895-8869 or Al Galvi, vice-president at 802-0104.

 

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ANOTHER SUN LAKES SPLASH ARTICLE FOR JANUARY 1, 2009

 

Flying model airplanes will be the topic at the Sun Lakes Aero Club meeting Monday, Jan 19 at the Sun Lakes Country Club Mirror Room.  The meeting will begin with coffee and fellowship at 6:30 p.m., followed by the program at 7 p.m. The public is invited to attend.

 

Two Sun Lakes model airplane enthusiasts -- Red Boyles and John Marsh -- will show and tell about their experiences flying model planes.  Boyles will talk about rubber-band powered model aircraft.  He will demonstrate a model plane he flew in competition at the U. S. and World Rubber-Powered Model Aircraft Championships during the early 1990s.

 

Marsh approaches the hobby from a different perspective, building and flying gasoline and electric powered radio controlled aircraft. A member of the Sun Lakes Model Aircraft Club, he will bring a model airplane, radio-control receiver, and other components used in his flying.   

 

Now in its 13th year, the Sun Lakes Aero Club is open to anyone interested in any aspect of aviation.  Additional information is available at the club’s website,