SUN LAKES SPLASH ARTICLES

FEBRUARY 1, 2009
By: Gary Vacin, Publicity

 

Dr. Hector Garcia, a cardiologist and FAA medical examiner from Tucson, will be the featured speaker at the Sun Lakes Aero Club meeting Monday, Feb. 16 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.

Dr. Garcia, who also has an office in Douglas, Ariz., will give a general overview of the medical certification process and explain how the FAA Medical Center in Oklahoma City has become more responsive to pilots’ medical issues.  Medical technology has changed tremendously in the last 20 years, he says, and some medical conditions that would have grounded pilots for life, such as heart problems and diabetes, can now be treated to the point that some pilots can regain their medical certificates and return to flying within a few months.

Dr. Garcia, who has been a designated FAA medical examiner for 18 years and a pilot for more than 35 years, owns a Piper Comanche aircraft.
         

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, www.sunlakesaeroclub.org or by contacting Bob Walch, president, 480-895-8869 or Al Galvi, vice-president, 480-802-0104.

 

 

The Sun Lakes Aero Club has announced the following activities for the remainder of the Spring, according to Earl Cuyler, club activities director:

Feb. 21 – Field trip to the Chandler Municipal Airport for breakfast at the Hangar Restaurant and a tour of Chandler Air Service

          March 21 – Field trip to the Cessna maintenance facility at Williams Gateway Airport in Mesa

‘         April 18 – Cowboy Potluck Cookout at Sisk Park

          A field trip to the Sun Lakes Model Airplane Club’s new facility near Coolidge has been planned for  May.

The Sun Lakes Aero Club meets the third Monday of each month from October through May. More information about any of these activities, or the club in general, is available from Earl Cuyler, 480-895-5525;  Bob Walch, 480-895-8869 or Al Galvi, 480-802-0104

 

Aero Club Visits Performance One Aviation

 

Nine Sun Lakes Aero Club members visited Performance One Aviation at Falcon Field Airport in Mesa January 17.  Formerly known as Phoenix Composites until changing ownership earlier this year, Performance One Aviation is the largest, most established builder assistance center for experimental aircraft in the Southwest.

 

Now in its 20th year, Performance One Aviation is a complete construction, service and modification facility for all makes and models of experimental aircraft, specializing in carbon fiber composites.  The company has provided builder assistance on more than 200 aircraft and completed more than 100 aircraft.  The company also modifies, services and inspects experimental aircraft and can assist on any phase of a building project.

 

Company president Heath L’Hoste provided a guided tour of his facility, and described the various projects under way, including several Lancair and Glassair composite aircraft and a rare ViperJet.

 

For more information on the Sun Lakes Aero Club, check the club’s web site, www.sunlakesaeroclub.org.  The group meets the third Monday of each month, and the public is invited to attend. 

 

 

Pictured above are the nine Sun Lakes Aero Club members who toured the
Performance One Aviation facility at Falcon Field in Mesa January 17 -- 
Back row (l-r): Elton Dyal, Gary Woodbury, Harold Thomas, Ben Thompson. 
Front row: Al Galvi, Bob Walch, Earl Cuyler, Vern Nelson, Gary Vacin.