Skymaster Forum - 2006 Meeting

Fellow Flyers,

The following is a report from yours truly to the new Executive Board, some or all of which may be posted on the SOAP home page along with pictures (Larry and Kevin M. are working on that as we speak).

Esteemed Cessna-nauts:

Looks like we did it again (staged another SOAPA Fly-In), and CONGRATULATIONS all around!!! No pilots were actually harmed (though some were slightly hung-over) during the event. Skymaster Happy Hour was held 108 floors above street level, and the view was amazing! Good job, Larry Bowdish and Jerry DeSantis! Mary Lightfine handed out pre-stuffed attendee envelopes, each containing a copy of the proposed SOAPA By-Laws, a Skymaster Happy Hour free drink coupon, a Desert Queen paddle-wheeler dinner boat ride ticket, and a colorful name tag featuring a Skymaster flying in front of a palm tree, with a city (Las Vegas?) in the lower back ground. Mary had to make up each name tag separately (the program refused to do a database merge) - and also designed the T-shirt and hat logos and ordered hats for this year - thanks for the hard work, Mary!

We had 19 attendees sign up, of which all but a few attended. Following Larry Bowdish's welome and introduction, Paul Rooy presented the proposed SOAPA By-Laws, advised the attendees what the 2006 Executive Board officer nominees were (Paul Rooy - President, Larry Bowdish - Vice-President/Secretary, Jerry DeSantis - Treasurer), and invited floor nominations until the Friday elections.

Jim Sandman did a fine job of discussing C&D aircraft heaters, and Larry Bowdish told us more about Simple Green than we ever knew before - I'm going to buy some. Sparky Imeson gave an excellent presentation on mountain flying (remember, never go into a canyon farther than you can turn around, and the FAMOUS 50/70 RULE: If you've achieved 70% of your take-off flying speed at the time you're 50% of the way down the runway, then there's enough runway to take off - but watch out for rising terrain and obstacles - the 50/70 rule merely addresses runway length, not whether one can clear obstacles or terrain AFTER take-off.

The Desert Queen dinner cruise was great fun, and the food unexpectedly good! Wayne Craw, Jim Muse, and Paul Rooy ended up on the open-air third level smoking cigars and drinking beer out of HUGE commemorative cups (48OZ?), while the rest of the attendees lounged in air-conditioned comfort on the first level, munching salad and socializing. David and Yvonne Jarrett and Jim and Joyce Muse were kind enough to choffer everybody to the boat lanch in Boulder City and back - thanks! Jim and Joyce Muse brought professional PA equipment along, including a large LCD projector, and a Chevy Suburban to help ferry attendees around - good job, guys!

Friday morning started with Larry Bowdish relating a brief history of SOAPA followed by a SOAPA business meeting, during which the By-Laws were unanimously approved with the change to Par. 1 deleting a membership fee and providing anyone interested in Skymasters may join by notifying the SOAPA Vice-President/Secretary. A copy of the SOAPA By-Laws as approved is attached to this e-mail. No attendee was brave enough to volunteer to be an officer, so the 2006 Exeucutive Board proposed slate was unanimously approved: Paul Rooy - President, Larry Bowdish - Vice-President/Secretary, Jerry DeSantis - Treasurer.

Keven Kenison introduced and screened a fascinating video on Skymaster acrobatic flight. Herb Harney related how he, Larry Bowdish, and others have started a Skymaster formation flying act (we're going to have our own AIR SHOW next year!), and presented an excellent video on CD he produced. It's really good, with original musical soundtrack, and Herb donated the $10 sales price to SOAPA ($80 collected towards next year's Fly-In)! The overhead shots of Larry Bowdish's C337 steadfastly flying across the countryside as if wearily returning from some endless crusade, set to slow, ploding music, evoked images of some war-sick Hobbitt finally retuning home after epic adventure. When the mains finally touched the green turf of Larry's home strip all heaved a sigh of relief. If you want one, contact Paul Rooy for your copy - send $10 plus $5 shipping, proceeds going towards next year's Fly-In and the U.S. Postal Service.

Bob and Herb Harney did an excellent job of reviewing ADF (invented by Bill Lear) navigation (three of us still have one aboard) and trips to Canada and Alaska using same.

Following was a discussion period, during which we brainstormed ideas for next year's Fly-In. David Jarrett donated $100 towards next year's Fly-In and volunteered to research how to perform an efficient post-card mailing to Skymaster registered owners (maybe con the Baron Thomas organization to do it for us?), a job Kevin Mackenzie has done during the previous two Fly-Ins - Thanks, Kevin!. Joyce Muse volunteered to spearhead the effort to identify items and side activities which will appeal to spouses/significant others during next year's Fly-In, and Keven Kenison volunteered to research Trade-A-Plane ad costs (in the C337 For Sale section, of course) to publicize the Fly-In. Yvonne Jarrett suggested we all relate the stupidest flying blooper we've ever starred in, and at the end of the Fly-In, all can vote on the best blooper, with a prize going to the winner! Good idea! (humor is the best medicine... :-)

We then descended upon the Thai restaurant across the street (large spicy lunch specials for $5.99) en masse, and continued our discussion, followed by an afternoon at the pool and free evening. What a great time! Thanks to everybody for making it work, including the 2006 Exec Board - you did a great job! Thank you, Jerry DeSantis and Larry Bowdish, for co-chairing the event. Larry Bowdish carried a SOAPA 2006 FLY-IN hat with him to give to Jerry as a "Get well soon" gift.

Well there you have it, Argonauts - two attendee's view of the Fly-In. Let's do it again next year!

This e-mail is addressed to the 2007 Exec Board as well as the 2006 Exec Board. 2006 Exec Board members: please let me know by return e-mail whether you wish to remain on as Exec Board members for the 2007 Fly-In - if I don't hear back from you I'll understand you do not wish to remain on the E-Board, and I'll remove your name, with my profuse thanks for your help organizing the 2006 Fly-In.

Paul & Mary
N462DA