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Touring Motor Gliders Association (TMGA)

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  • Steve Sliwa 1

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Updates related to upcoming evens or summaries of events that have occurred.

Entries in this blog

 

2017 Fly-In Events Being Planned

We are in the process of putting together the schedule for 2017: 2017 East Coast Fly-In
April 2016 saw the first TMGA East coast fly-in, hosted by Jim and Kathy Lee (USA Phoenix distributor). The response to the event was such that we decided to continue the fly–in on that coast. Jim and Kathy, however, decided to en-camp for Minden, NV as a permanent base of his Phoenix operation and, in true TMGA fashion, another TMGA’er stepped forward. We are pleased to announce that the 2017 East coast fly-in will be managed by Mike and Suzanne Schumann (new Phoenix owners). The event will be held in Naples, Florida Thursday March 30th through Sunday April 2nd.  The timing was decided upon to coincide with both the Sun-N-Fun national fly-in and baseball spring training. The weather should be great, and Naples is a world-class destination. We’ll be arranging lots of non-flying things to do and we’re confident that we’ll again get a great banquet speaker. Stay tuned for details, but plan on coming for a great time. For non-USA TMGA’ers, there are major international airports within 100 miles of Naples so, think about making this fly-in as part of a great USA vacation.
We’re only five months away from this fly-in, so get on the list by accessing the EVENTS tab on the website, then go to the 2017 East Coast sub-tab. 2017 Mid-America Fly-In
At Minden this September the question was asked: why isn’t there a mid-country Fly-In. Since we didn’t have a good answer, we tasked the question-poser to come up with some ideas (no good deed goes unpunished)! It will most likely be held in the summer, so stay tuned for details. If you have any thoughts or suggestions, please post them to: richard.pearl@motorgliders.org. 2017 Western Fly-In
In 2017 we’ll continue the tradition of moving the western Fly-In around to new locations. Southern California TMGA’er Gabriel Cioffi (turbo Diamond) has volunteered to be the local “sparkplug”, with a proposed fly-in at Camarillo, California. This coastal airport in Ventura County – just north of Los Angeles – offers exceptional geographic beauty and many exciting places to fly to, and ground visit. At this point we’re thinking about late August or early September. Stay tuned.
Steve Sliwa

Steve Sliwa

0
 

TMGA West Coast Fly-In - Sept 8 to 11 - Minden, NV

TMGA 2016 Annual Fly-In Update – August 1, 2016: We’re now 2.5 months away from the fly-in and our attendance list is starting to grow. The event will start Thursday, September 8th and conclude Sunday September 11th. If you haven’t signed up yet, please go to the Event’s Tab in the website > 2016 Minden Fly-In). News Flash: Our featured speaker on Saturday night will be Frank Murphy, and you won’t want to miss his talk. Frank was selected by the CIA to be a Project Pilot in the secret A-12 aircraft program, the precursor of the SR-71 Blackbird. Frank also flew 67 combat missions in the A-1 Skyraider, in Vietnam theatre of action. In all, he has 6,000 military aircraft hours and another 1,000 civilian flight hours. He’s a marvelous speaker and he’ll have you on the edge of your seats. We’ve made arrangement with the Carson Valley Inn for accommodations. We’ll be in their motel section as the entire Minden Valley has been booked for a long time with many events. The rate is $75 for Thursday and $89 on Friday and Saturday (plus $13% TOT). Ask for the TMGA room block rate. The rate is guaranteed only through August 18th, so you need to sign up soon.  You need to book with them directly. Contact the CVI at: 775.783.6629 or 1.800.321.6983, ext 1. Our block number is:  504778. The scheduled agenda is: Wednesday (optional) fly-in arrival. Local flying. Talk to the SoaringNV staff (1.775.782.9595) for some ideas if you’re not familiar with the area.  Dinner is on your own. There’s a restaurant at the Airport (Tail Dragger), one on the entry road (Flight), and many others in Minden and Gardnerville. Thursday – Official start of the fly-in.  We’ll have coffee and donuts/fruit available for arriving pilots. Depending on who arrives when, we can set out some tasks, or just fun fly. We have a scheduled dinner that night at the Carson Valley Country Club – which is a Basque restaurant. If you haven’t been to a dinner like this, the food just doesn’t stop, and is served family style. The price is $40 per person total, including Basque wine. Friday – 8:30    Coffee at SoaringNV hangar 9:00    Welcoming by R. Pearl (TMGA), Laurie Harden (SoaringNV), Bobbi Thompson (Minden Airport). 9:10    Airport Operations (basic orientation) – Thompson/Harden 9:30    Weather Briefing – SoaringNV 9:45    Local soaring orientation – SoaringNV 10:15  Break  10:30 – 4:00  Poker Run contest to local airports; lunch at one of the stops      Dinner – Options: (a) Lake Tahoe diner cruise - Delta Queen. The price is $75per person, all-inclusive (but excluding alcohol). This is a great trip that we’ve done before. The closeout on reservation is August 25th. We will leave for the Delta Queen about 5 PM. (b) Tail Dragger or Flight, or other restaurant on your own. Saturday – 8:30    Coffee at SoaringNV hangar 9:00    Group introductions 9:30    Weather Briefing – SoaringNV 9:45    San Francisco Bay tour briefing   10:30  San Francisco departure – lunch at Half Moon Bay   (to get a sense of what we might see - weather permitting - check out a video made by one of our group (Sebastien Belanger:  link  6:00    Presentation – Frank Murphy, A-12 pilot 7:00    Dinner – Tail Dragger (on Airport grounds), or Carson Valley Inn. Details to follow. Sunday – 8:30    Coffee at SoaringNV 9:00    Grand Re-telling of HAF and Bishop flights 9:30    Weather Briefing – SoaringNV 10:00  Photo op/group picture 10:45  Fly-In conclusion Arrival Information - Minden can be a challenging airport, with many different types of aircraft movements (GA, corporate jets, gliders, helicopters). Check the airport directory for details. Once landed, please come to the SoaringNV office located facing the main runway (1138 Airport Road). Contact SoaringNV with any questions:  1.775.782.9595. You will probably be met during your taxing by the friendly airport staff. We’re trying to get all our aircraft in one general location. Be sure to bring your own tie down rope/chains – just in case. Special Notes: 1.  Registration fee is $20 per aircraft (including one pilot); $10 per additional pilot/participant. All fees to cover hard costs associated with the Fly-In. 2.    Aerial photo opportunity with Andy Robinson. Just picture your TMG set against the Lake Tahoe backdrop. This requires an early launch. Contact Andy at:    andy@bidandy.com. Cost is approximately $100, depending on the number of participants. 3.     When you arrive you will be given a Welcoming packet, including the Airport tie down form ($8/day). 4.     If you are interested in a BFR, or specialized training, i.e. thermaling in gliders (your ship or a pure sailplane), contact SoaringNV directly. Optimally this would be done before Friday so we can all enjoy the group fly-outs. 5.     Rental cars – this can be arranged through Hutt Aviation. They use both Hertz and Enterprise. They will have special rates, and you need to book directly with them:  1.775.782.8277. 6.     The Reno Air Races are September 14 – 18. Think about staying over to see some of the world’s best racers ply their trade. Thursday and Friday are the primary practice days, and the crowds are less, as is the pricing. Finally, if you’re one of the TMGA’s non-USA members, consider coming to this slice of soaring paradise for a holiday. I’d be happy to help you plan your time with us for other area explorations. Please contact me with any questions. Richard Pearl
Fly-In Coordinator
1.916.715.9666
Richard Pearl

Richard Pearl

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TMGA West Coast Fly-In - July 6 Update

TMGA 2016 Annual Fly-In Update: We’re now three months away from the fly-in and our attendance list is starting to grow. The event will start Thursday, September 7th and conclude Sunday September 11th. If you haven’t signed up yet, please go to the Event’s Tab in the website > 2016 Minden Fly-In). Minden is a great place to fly, and the Airport and local community always goes all out for us. There’s a lot to do in the area, so definitely think about bringing the spouse or SO. If you’re looking to purchase a TMG, the Fly-In is the place to be as normally we have at least one of virtually every TMG model on the flightline. It’s also highly probable that we can get you airborne for a demo flight. We’ve made arrangement with the Carson Valley Inn for accommodations. We’ll be in their motel section as the entire Minden Valley has been booked for a long time with many events. The rate is $75 for Thursday and $89 on Friday and Saturday (plus $13% TOT). Ask for the TMGA room block rate. The rate is guaranteed only through August 18th, so you need to sign up soon.  You need to book with them directly. The scheduled agenda is: Wednesday (optional) fly-in arrival. Local flying. Talk to the SoaringNV staff for some ideas if you’re not familiar with the area.  Dinner on your own. There’s a restaurant at the Airport (Tail Dragger), one on the entry road (Flight), and many others in Minden and Gardnerville. Thursday – Official start of the fly-in.  We’ll have coffee and donuts/fruit available for arriving pilots. Depending on who arrives when, we can set out some tasks, or just fun fly.  We have a scheduled dinner that night at the Carson Valley Country Club – which is a Basque restaurant. If you haven’t been to a dinner like this, the food just doesn’t stop, and is served family style. The price is $40 per person total, including Basque wine. Friday – 8:30    Coffee at SoaringNV 9:00    Welcoming (R. Pearl (TMGA), Laurie Harden (SoaringNV), Bobbi Thompson (Minden Airport). 9:10    Airport Operations (basic orientation) – Thompson/Harden 9:30    Weather Briefing – SoaringNV 9:45    Local soaring orientation – SoaringNV 10:15  Break  10:30 – 4:00  Poker Run contest to local airports; lunch at one of the stops Dinner – Options: (a) Lake Tahoe diner cruise - Delta Queen. The price is $75per person, all-inclusive (but excluding alcohol). This is a great trip that we’ve done before. The closeout on reservation is August 25th. We will leave for the Delta Queen about 5 PM; (b) Tail Dragger or Flight, or other restaurant on your own. Saturday – 8:30    Coffee at SoaringNV 9:00    Group introductions 9:30    Weather Briefing – SoaringNV 9:45    San Francisco Bay tour briefing 10:30  San Francisco departure – lunch at Half Moon Bay 6:00    Presentation – TBD 7:00    Dinner – Tail Dragger (on Airport grounds), or Carson Valley Inn. Details to follow.   Sunday – 8:30    Coffee at SoaringNV 9:00    Grand Re-telling of HAF and Bishop flights 9:30    Weather Briefing – SoaringNV 10:00  Photo op/group picture 10:45  Fly-In conclusion Logistics and Payments – Go to the Payments tab of the website, Events Pre-Payment tab. Here is where you’ll pay via PayPal or direct credit card for the registration fee and dinners.  Our dinners need to be pre-paid in advance. As noted above, the Lake Tahoe Dinner Cruise has a August 25th hard date; the Basque dinner has a September 5th hard date. Arrival Information - Minden can be a challenging airport, with many different types of aircraft movements (GA, corporate jets, gliders, helicopters). Check the airport directory for details. Once landed, please come to the SoaringNV office located facing the main runway (1138 Airport Road). Contact SoaringNV with any questions:  1.775.782.9595. You will probably be met during your taxing by the friendly airport staff. We’re trying to get all our aircraft in one general location. Be sure to bring your own tie down rope/chains – just in case. Special Notes: 1.  Registration fee is $20 per aircraft (including one pilot); $10 per additional pilot/participant. All fees to cover hard costs associated with the Fly-In. 2. Aerial photo opportunity with Andy Robinson. Just picture your TMG set against the Lake Tahoe backdrop. This requires an early launch. Contact Andy at:    andy@bidandy.com. Cost is approximately $100, depending on the number of participants. 3.  When you arrive you will be given a Welcoming packet, including the Airport tie down form ($8/day). 4.  If you are interested in a BFR, or specialized training, i.e. thermaling in gliders (your ship or a pure sailplane), contact SoaringNV directly. Optimally this would be done before Friday so we can all enjoy the group fly-outs. 5.  Rental cars – this can be arranged through Hutt Aviation. They use both Hertz and Enterprise. They will have special rates, and you need to book directly with them:  1.775.782.8277. 6.  The Reno Air Races are September 14 – 18. Think about staying over to see some of the world’s best racers ply their trade. Thursday and Friday are the primary practice days, and the crowds are less, as is the pricing. Finally, if you’re one of the TMGA’s non-USA members, consider coming to this slice of soaring paradise for a holiday. I’d be happy to help you plan your time with us for other area explorations. Please contact me with any questions. Richard Pearl
Fly-In Coordinator
1.916.715.9666
Richard.Pearl@touringmotorgliders.org      
Richard Pearl

Richard Pearl

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Latest News on East Fly-In :: Event Hotel Announced

Fly-In Participants, We’re now just short of one month away from the event, so it’s time to clarify your intentions. Remember, if your intention is to come, please record it as a yes. We understand last-minute mechanical issues and weather restrictions, but now is when we need to start getting some hard attendance data. 1. We made arrangements with the Melbourne Hilton Rialto Place for $109.00 per night, plus tax. Call reservations at 800-445-8667 and reference TMGA as the booking code or use this link: http://bit.ly/1puzFLE to book directly. The hotel is very close to the Melbourne Airport and about 15 minutes from the beach. They have a shuttle bus but we’ll be having some internal vehicles for our own shuttling. See below for personal car rental services.  IMPORTANT: you should book the Hilton right away. We have a block lock only through 3/15. If you think there is a chance you can come, book now.  You may cancel up to 24 hours before arrival with no charge. Telephone/email NOW! 2. We’ll be setting up some fun dinners at restaurants for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, but they won’t be of the closed-group type we’ve had at other fly-ins. Knowing the number of participants coming to Melbourne, and when, will help us with the reservations. Dinner payments will be the responsibility of each participant. Specifics to come. 3. Flying in to Melbourne (MLB). Tell Melbourne Tower "Parking Atlantic Jet Center" on initial call to the tower.  Atlantic Jet center has tie downs for $8/night waived with a fuel purchase.  Jim Lee, Phoenix dealer and our “boots on the ground” in Melbourne, has some hangar space reserved for $20/night for those who want this option. Contact Jim directly on this:  jimlee@phoenixairusa.com 4. If you want to reserve your own car for personal transportation, there are numerous options at Melbourne Airport. I checked via the website “Kayak” and rates for the period April 7 - 10 are the the $90 to $120 range for the period; numerous major rental firms. 5. Registration fee for the fly-in is $25 for the aircraft and pilot, plus $10 for co-pilot or each non-flying participant. Since we’re not setting up for pre-paid dinners or activities, I’ll just collect the fee at the fly-in via our Square.   6. Fly-out activities - At this time we’re still planning on doing the Space Center fly-by and the Sun N Fun excursion. Jim Lee will be setting this up but he’s at a soaring contest now and we’ll get more intel out shortly. 7. Non-flying Activities - There’s plenty to do in the Melbourne area: land tour of the Space Center, Disney World and other “destination locations”, and of course the beach. If anyone wants to do these activities, drop me a personal note and I’ll work on some coordination.   Please advise if you will be getting your own car. Also, please send me a personal note about your attendance status, and update the information on the website excel spreadsheet. I’ll be on site Thursday. My cell number is:  1.916.715.9666 Richard
Richard Pearl

Richard Pearl

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Fly-In East Update

The East Coast Fly-In is shaping up and the attendance sheet is starting to be populated. This fly-in is for all you Easterners who looked at the Rockies and the Sierra for the trek West and said: maybe not! We’ve got a great fly-in planned for our event home base – Melbourne, Florida (MLB). Sun, Sea, great flying, and great camaraderie…it doesn’t get any better. The official dates are Thursday April 7 thru Sunday April 10. Our experience with the West Coast events is that many pilots arrive a day early. We’re working to get our event hotel to be on the beach.  As usual, everyone makes their own reservation so staying elsewhere is always a personal option. The travel time from the beach to MLD is only 15 minutes. More on this to follow. Here’s the basic itinerary: Thursday – arrival. Lunch and dinner on your own. There is a huge number of restaurants in the area. We’ll be coming up with suggestions. Friday – AM briefing on the day either at the hotel or the airport. Dinner will be arranged at a Melbourne-area restaurant.  Activity options: o   Fly-out Option:   Sun-N-Fun expo, which is only 45 minutes away by air. Airport options are landing at the expo airport (somewhat complicated) or a nearby airport and shuttling to the Expo. o   Non-Flying Options:  Ground tour of the Cape Canaveral Space Center or Drive to Sun-N-Fun. Saturday – AM briefing. Saturday night is our Fly-In dinner.  Activity options: o   Fly-Out Option:  Fly the approach to the landing runway at the Space Center. 200 feet off the deck. WOW! Lunch at an airport within reasonable striking distance of MLB. o   Non-Flying Option: Airboat ride in the Florida wetlands. The departure point is only 30 minutes from MLB. Sunday – AM briefing. Departure for home. To sign up go to our new website (www.motorgliders.org) and Navigate to ‘Events’ > ‘2016 Melbourne Sign-Up’. Remember, the sign-up spread sheet column for Attending has menu options for Yes, Probable, Maybe, Unlikely, and No.  If your goal is to come, please hit the Yes. We understand about weather and mechanical issue cropping up at the last minute. If you’re thinking “possibly”, then hit either the Probable or Maybe buttons, depending on how strong your feeling is.   Best Regards,   Richard Pearl Chair, TMGA
Richard Pearl

Richard Pearl

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2016 TMGA Fly-In West

2016 USA Fly-In (West) – September 8th thru 12th - Minden NV For 2016, it's back to Minden, Nevada, our “home base”. Start thinking about this event, scheduled for Thursday, September 8th thru Sunday September 12th.  They call Minden the “Diamond Mine” of soaring for a reason…so prepare for world-class flying in terms of altitude achievements and distance flying. All this, with LAKE TAHOE just 20 miles away.  Weather permitting, we’ll try for a San Francisco Bay Tour with a lunch at Half Moon Bay. Flying over the Sierra crest at 12,000 MSL it’s a straight shot to the Sacramento valley and then on to San Francisco with a pass over the Golden Gate Bridge. For our international group, why not combine aerial pleasure with land pleasure, i.e. a family holiday to San Francisco AND the fly-in. Minden is only hours away via from the City By The Bay via the interstate. More on the fly-in in later newsletters – but mark the dates now! Oh, and for those who love speed, the incomparable Reno Air Races are scheduled for September 16 – 20, 2016. Come to the TMGA fly-in, enjoy Lake Tahoe or San Francisco for a few days, then enjoy the Air Races for some or all of the days (guaranteed action every day).   [ Minden Sign-Up Sheet ]   
Richard Pearl

Richard Pearl

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2016 TMGA Fly-In East

2016 USA Fly-In (East) – April 7th thru April 10th - Melbourne FL This will be the first TMGA event on the East coast. Jim Lee, the Phoenix USA distributor will be hosting this event at his home base at Melbourne International Airport (MLB) in Florida. MLB  is a Class D airport with lots of advantages: plenty of area for our aircraft, nearby hotels/motels with conference facilities, restaurants, and of course, local attractions e.g. Disneyworld, the Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center, and world-famous beaches for non-flying activities. Jim says that it’s highly likely that a Space Shuttle runway over-flight (200 foot above the runway), called the NASA Tour, can be arranged. The picture at the right shows Jim’s daughter Rachel setting up on base leg for the fly-by. You won’t get to do this anywhere else in the world! We’ve timed this fly-in to coincide with the Sun ‘N Fun International Fly-In and Expo for those who want to experience the #2 air event in the USA. The Expo is about 2 hours from Melbourne, or perhaps a short hop to a near-by airfield and then a car shuttle to the event. The East coast event is only four months away, and we’ll be posting information in the Event section of the Website shortly…so start thinking about coming NOW! If you are one of our non-USA members, think about a flying/family vacation in a world-famous part of the USA. We would love to have you!  [ Melbourne Sign-Up Sheet ]
Richard Pearl

Richard Pearl

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2016 SSA Convention

SSA Convention - TMGA is hosting a booth (with the financial assistance of the Phoenix, Pipistrel, and Sundancer organizations) at the Annual Soaring Society of America (SSA) Convention in Greenville, South Carolina, Feb 18-20, 2016. If you would like to participate in the booth, please contact TMGA Director Paul Randall via message on this website.
Richard Pearl

Richard Pearl

0
 

2015 Annual Fly-In - West - Planning

2015 Annual Fly-In - West - Planning
Oct 1-4, 2015 It's now definite ... we are going back to Cottonwood, Arizona. The fantastic Sedona area location, the wonderful reception we had by the city of Cottonwood, and the facilities, made for an easy decision. Specifically, the fly-in will be Thursday October 1st thru Sunday October 4th, and this year we're guaranteeing no repeat of the unusually high winds we had last year in June. Actually, the weather is marvelous there in the fall, with beautiful foliage, ever-changing light patterns on the Red Rocks of Sedona, and milder temperatures. This year we expect to be able to fly to the Grand Canyon and several of the national parks for day flights. The October time frame also means that we should miss the monsoons of summer, and the late fall storms. Last year, many pilots arrived at least a day early, on Wednesday, and this seemed to work out just fine. The actual schedule hasn't been set yet, but will most likely see daily fly-outs, and evening group dinners. Since it's the Sedona area, there are also many outdoor activities for non-flying partners. We'll be working on these arrangements but, like last year, they'll all be extra-special. So, mark your calendars! We'll be setting up a special sign-up sheet in the Events section of the TMGA website, and starting a special Forum section. If you're planning on coming, let all of us know via the Forum, and as soon as possible. Remember, the Fly-In is for all TMGA'ers, both owners and prospective owners. We'll be working with the various TMG manufacturers to have demo aircraft at the event. If you have an extra seat available for a passenger, or if you need a seat, note that on the signup sheet. We'll again have a Map of the prospective attendees. Also, if you are one of our 195 non-USA members, consider coming to the event as part of an American holiday. Last year, Hideki Matsuura of Japan came specifically for the fly-in, and we were pleased to get him airborne on many days in several ships. A great small-town airport and community close to the world-famous Sedona Red Rock wonderland. Our local TMGA group surveyed the area and recommended the city known as the "Heart of the Verde Valley". The city and the local community are really rolling out the red carpet for us. The municipal airport (3,560 MSL; 4,250 X 75 runway) has sufficient room for us (and we're anticipating a lot of TMG's on the ramp), they are making a large hangar available to us at no cost, waiving the tie down fees, and they're offering low-cost fuel. If you've been to one of the past Minden, Nevada Fly-Ins, you know how great they are: super soaring, a congenial group of aviators and those actively looking at TMGs, knowledge-sharing of aviation, maintenance, and safety issues, and just plane (couldn't resist) fun. The TMGA fly-In is the world's largest gathering of touring motor gliders. At our previous events we had TMGs come from all over the country, and many potential TMG owners attended to check out the various aircraft. We expect that the major TMG importers (Pipistrel, Phoenix, Lambada, and Diamond) will again have aircraft there for demonstration rides. Other proud TMG owners of the legacy brands (Ximango, Grob, Taifun, Fournier, etc.) have always taken up non-owner attendees for rides. For this Fly-In, when you combine fantastic soaring and a vacationers delight (some of the country's best national parks, old west charm, mining camps, back country jeep tours, unique shopping and restaurants, etc.), you should definitely think of extending your stay to truly capture the spirit of the region. Sedona is 10 air miles and 19 car miles to the northeast. Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (PHX) is a two-hour drive to Cottonwood for those arriving commercially. We've made special lodging arrangements with the Quality Inn of Cottonwood, and Enterprise Rent A Car. We're currently working on some fun restaurants and group activities. We're hopeful that we can entice Andy Robinson, an aviation photographer who has previously worked with our group, to fly out in his modified Cherokee Six for some air-to-air shots (over the Red Rocks, etc.). You most likely won't be able to duplicate this opportunity again. It won't be inexpensive, but it will be memorable. Due to time limitations, there will be a limit on the number of potential photo flights, so you'll need to sign up early and coordinate with Andy. Pictures below are Steve Chase in his Lambada, and Roland Martin in his Ximango, Jim Lee in the Phoenix from Andy Robinson's photo shoot over Lake Tahoe:      In addition to Andy, Sedona aviation and soaring photographer Ted Grussing (part of the Team Sedona logistics and planning group), will be documenting this event from the air and the ground. VERY IMPORTANT. This event is being staged in one of the country's premier vacation areas. If you're thinking seriously of coming, you need to book your room early. Note: there are other hotels in Cottonwood, and in nearby Jerome and Sedona, but the Quality Inn has given us a great price, and they are only a short 10 minute walk to the airport. Quality Inn (928.634.4207); ask for the Touring Motor Glider Association special rate. There is a no-fault cancellation period 24 hours prior to arrival. Note: the property has only 50 rooms; our price cut-off date is Sept 1st. We also need you to sign up NOW in the TMGA web site Events section, 2014 fly-in spreadsheet. This is critical for us doing the planning, and critical for you because we have to make restaurant and activity arrangements. The registration fee is $20 per aircraft, including one pilot; each additional participant is $10. All fees go for hard costs at the fly-in, or directly to TMGA support. There will be experienced TMG instructors at the Fly-In. If you need a BFR, or are a current power pilot and a glider pilot, you can get an on-site TMG endorsement in your aircraft, or the instructor's aircraft. Spread the word. If you know of any TMG pilots, encourage them to participate; if you know someone who is interested in TMGs, have them join the TMGA and join in the Fly-In fun. If this will be your first long distance excursion, use the website to set up a 'caravan', either through the Forum or direct contact by others who have signed up in the Event spread sheet. Available non-flying activities include the Verde Canyon Rail Road, Indian ruin tours, wine tasting, ghost towns, mining towns, backcountry jeep tours, and southwestern art and shopping. We'll be setting up some organized tours; other activities can be coordinated. We'll be rolling out information on the website, and in direct email communication, over the next few months. In the meantime, see what's in store for you as you visually fly with Ted Grussing (first picture) and Michael Tomazin (second picture) shown below:   9  
Richard Pearl

Richard Pearl

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2014 Annual Fly-In West

2014 US Touring Motor Glider Fly-In West June 12-15, 2014 | Sedona, AZ It's now definite: Cottonwood, Arizona. A great small-town airport and community close to the world-famous Sedona Red Rock wonderland. Our local TMGA group surveyed the area and recommended the city known as the "Heart of the Verde Valley". The city and the local community are really rolling out the red carpet for us. The municipal airport (3,560 MSL; 4,250 X 75 runway) has sufficient room for us (and we're anticipating a lot of TMG's on the ramp), they are making a large hangar available to us at no cost, waiving the tie down fees, and they're offering low-cost fuel. If you've been to one of the past Minden, Nevada Fly-Ins, you know how great they are: super soaring, a congenial group of aviators and those actively looking at TMGs, knowledge-sharing of aviation, maintenance, and safety issues, and just plane (couldn't resist) fun. The TMGA fly-In is the world's largest gathering of touring motor gliders. At our previous events we had TMGs come from all over the country, and many potential TMG owners attended to check out the various aircraft. We expect that the major TMG importers (Pipistrel, Phoenix, Lambada, and Diamond) will again have aircraft there for demonstration rides. Other proud TMG owners of the legacy brands (Ximango, Grob, Taifun, Fournier, etc.) have always taken up non-owner attendees for rides. For this Fly-In, when you combine fantastic soaring and a vacationers delight (some of the country's best national parks, old west charm, mining camps, back country jeep tours, unique shopping and restaurants, etc.), you should definitely think of extending your stay to truly capture the spirit of the region. Sedona is 10 air miles and 19 car miles to the northeast. Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (PHX) is a two-hour drive to Cottonwood for those arriving commercially. We've made special lodging arrangements with the Quality Inn of Cottonwood, and Enterprise Rent A Car. We're currently working on some fun restaurants and group activities. We're hopeful that we can entice Andy Robinson, an aviation photographer who has previously worked with our group, to fly out in his modified Cherokee Six for some air-to-air shots (over the Red Rocks, etc.). You most likely won't be able to duplicate this opportunity again. It won't be inexpensive, but it will be memorable. Due to time limitations, there will be a limit on the number of potential photo flights, so you'll need to sign up early and coordinate with Andy. Pictures below are Steve Chase in his Lambada, and Roland Martin in his Ximango, Jim Lee in the Phoenix from Andy Robinson's photo shoot over Lake Tahoe:      In addition to Andy, Sedona aviation and soaring photographer Ted Grussing (part of the Team Sedona logistics and planning group), will be documenting this event from the air and the ground. VERY IMPORTANT. This event is being staged in one of the country's premier vacation areas. If you're thinking seriously of coming, you need to book your room early. Note: there are other hotels in Cottonwood, and in nearby Jerome and Sedona, but the Quality Inn has given us a great price, and they are only a short 10 minute walk to the airport. Quality Inn (928.634.4207); ask for the Touring Motor Glider Association special rate: $79 plus tax. There is a no-fault cancellation period 24 hours prior to arrival. Note: the property has only 50 rooms; our price cut-off date is May 12th . We also need you to sign up NOW in the TMGA web site Events section, 2014 fly-in spreadsheet. This is critical for us doing the planning, and critical for you because we have to make restaurant and activity arrangements. The registration fee is $20 per aircraft, including one pilot; each additional participant is $10. All fees go for hard costs at the fly-in, or directly to TMGA support. We also need you to sign up NOW in the TMGA web site Events section, 2014 fly-in spreadsheet. This is critical for us doing the planning, and critical for you because we have to make restaurant and activity arrangements. The registration fee is $20 per aircraft, including one pilot; each additional participant is $10. All fees go for hard costs at the fly-in, or directly to TMGA support. There will be experienced TMG instructors at the Fly-In. If you need a BFR, or are a current power pilot and a glider pilot, you can get an on-site TMG endorsement in your aircraft, or the instructor's aircraft. Spread the word. If you know of any TMG pilots, encourage them to participate; if you know someone who is interested in TMGs, have them join the TMGA and join in the Fly-In fun. If this will be your first long distance excursion, use the website to set up a “caravanâ€�, either through the Forum or direct contact by others who have signed up in the Event spread sheet. Available non-flying activities include the Verde Canyon Rail Road, Indian ruin tours, wine tasting, ghost towns, mining towns, backcountry jeep tours, and southwestern art and shopping. We'll be setting up some organized tours; other activities can be coordinated. We'll be rolling out information on the website, and in direct email communication, over the next few months. In the meantime, see what's in store for you as you visually fly with Ted Grussing (first picture) and Michael Tomazin (second picture) shown below:   
Richard Pearl

Richard Pearl

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2013 Annual Fly-In - West

2013 Western US Touring Motor Glider Fly-In July 25-28, 2013 | Minden, NV The TMGA recently completed its 5th annual Fly-In. Thirteen ships - coming from California, Nevada, Texas, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and Florida - made the journey. Altogether, we had thirty participants (pilots, copilots/family, interested pilots). A resounding success! Each year brings new challenges, and improvements. The weather was somewhat challenging this year, but there was also outstanding soaring. Our on-site host, SoaringNV added a complete, air-conditioned, office suite that was a marked improvement over the open hangar. Many of us went on a delightful diner cruise on beautiful Lake Tahoe. The Saturday night presentation by Gerhard Deffner on his trip in his Stemme from Germany to Iceland and back was spellbinding. We expended the fly-in to four days (Thursday - Sunday) and that seemed to be a big hit. Andy Robinson did a fabulous job of aerial photography with those pilots who signed up for pictures over Lake Tahoe. We're starting our planning for 2014. It will most likely be in late June. Start thinking about it now, and if you have any ideas, let us know via the Forum.                
Richard Pearl

Richard Pearl

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July 2012 Annual Fly-In

The 4th Annual Fly-In is now in the history books and by all accounts it was a resounding success: 22 ships from 7 states across the country, 34 pilots and co-pilots, 50+ TMG-interested participants. Add to this all the camaraderie, great accommodations at Walley's Hot Springs Resort and Spa, wonderful food at all three restaurants, and outstanding presentations on TMG's, mountain flying, and soaring/ aviation in general. And of course there was the usual world-class Minden weather. After three years of three-day events we decided to extend the Fly-In by one day?and we still didn't have enough time to accomplish everything. Wow, this thing is really taking on a life of its own! Ships began arriving Wednesday, a day early, with virtually everyone on the flight-line by Thursday: Grob, Ximango, Lambada, Taifun, Diamond, Stemme, Scheibe, Moni, and Mira Slovak's Bucher Jungmann. We were individually welcomed by Minden-Tahoe Airport Executive Director Bobbi Thompson and her excellent and efficient staff. Dinner Thursday was at the local-area brew pub/restaurant, Flight, where we had a private room reserved for us. Most everyone stayed at Walley's Resort, a short ten-minute drive to the facility nestled at the base of the Sierra. We believe the spouses, especially, loved it. The formal kick-off was Friday morning, beginning with introductions, followed by presentations on the local area (Laurie Harden, owner of SoaringNV, and Bobbi Thompson), mountain weather (Fred LaSor -- local glider specialist), and aero-medical issues (Dr. Morgan McCarrol). A quick lunch and most of the ships launched. Peak climb that day was just over 16,000 feet (a not unusual altitude at Minden). Our Photographer-In-Chief, Andy Robinson (Big Andy) started the first of several air-to-air photo missions. Andy's Cherokee 6 is the aerial platform; pilot and master aircraft mechanic Michael Haisten (Auburn Airplane Works) flies while Andy shoots through the space where the rear door has been removed. This is VERY precision flying and thorough pre-flight briefs are mandatory. You can see some of Andy's work in the Gallery section of the web site. There's nothing quite like a picture of you in your ship with the spectacular Lake Tahoe in the background. If you come next year, you need to sign up early for this very special opportunity. Dinner on Friday night was at the Basque restaurant located at the Carson Valley Country Club. We warned everyone to come hungry; everyone went home stuffed and happy. Saturday morning started with individual introductions, followed by a talk on mountain-flying techniques by SoaringNV chief pilot and instructor Russell Holtz (flying wiz and author of some of the best soaring instructional guides on the market), and a detailed weather briefing. Lunch, and then launching into the cloudless sky for another high-flying day. Dinner that evening was at the Minden-Tahoe Airport Taildragger restaurant. BBQ steak or chicken with all the fixings. The highlight Sunday morning was the introduction to the group of Mira Slovak, and a DVD showing of his extra-ordinary life and accomplishments. Aviator (Continental Airlines), motorboat racer (national champion in the unlimited hydroplane class), TMG record-setter (Germany to Santa Paula, CA in his just-constructed Fournier), and patriot (he escaped from Communist-dominated Czechoslovakia in 1953 to Western Berlin by commandeering one of his airline's aircraft. In the DVD you see him attaching an American flag emblem to the tail of his Fournier prior to the initial launch, and hear the special song/music written about freedom and the desire to achieve one's goals). All this, and being just a wonderful, approachable, human being. It was an honor and a privilege to have at the event; Mira received a standing ovation from the crowd when he completed his talk, and is looking forward to returning next year, perhaps in a Fournier. Bobbi Thompson (Minden-Tahoe Airport director presented awards for coming the longest distance (Al and Susan Simons - Connecticut), oldest pilot (Rolf Isley), and youngest pilot (Eric Sweeney). Special TMGA coffee mugs were given to all pilots and copilots attending. The TMGA presented the "Flight Line" award to Lambada for having the most aircraft (6) on the tarmac this year. This is a perpetual award; we retroactively included Pipistral (2009), Ximango (2010), and Stemme (2011) as previous winners. A TMGA "Judges Choice Award for Aircraft Excellence" was presented to Steve Sliwa for his beautiful Ximango, and a "Pilots Choice for Aircraft Excellence" was presented to Eric Sweeney for his hand-crafted Moni. Concluding the Fly-In was assembling the group for a Photo. This year we all gathered around the Flight-Line award winner Lambada while Andy Robinson snapped away. Special thanks to Laurie Harden, owner of SoaringNV for providing the hangar space to hold the event and general logistics. Several TMGA members took advantage of her operation to gain pure-sailplane soaring; without a doubt, they?re better TMG pilot's because of that experience. Special thanks to Bobbi Thompson and her staff (Chris, Cathie, and ?Mountain Mike?) for their invaluable support. Finally, special thanks to Ron Snedecor for the on-site logistical coordination. (Yours truly was presented with a special cow bell by Laurie and Ron, wearing ?Where's Richard? t-shirts. Apparently they were unimpressed with my spending a few hours during the afternoons with my wife at Walley's). Somehow, we ran out of time for scheduled presentations. Steve Sliwa ("our web site guru") and Michael Haisten & Eric Sweeney were unable to give their talks on how to get the most out of the web site, and mechanical issues, respectively. Next year, guys, we promise. Perhaps we'll have to extend the Event yet another day. We have a few official TMGA coffee mugs left. The price is $7 each plus shipping. Please advise and we'll ship until we run out. If there are a lot of people wanting them we'll put in a new order. And now it's on to planning for next year. We need to find out when potentially competing events are going on so as to reduce scheduling conflicts. We will also be sending out a follow-up questionnaire about the event, asking for your comments and suggestions on how we can improve the Event. In the meantime, we'll set up a separate "thread" in the Forum section of the web site. Fly high, Fly often, and Fly safely. Richard Pearl Chairman, TMGA   .tablingSMS { width:90%; margin: 5px auto 5px auto; border-spacing: 4px; } .tablecellSMS { text-align: center; width: 33%; } .tablecellcaptionSMS { vertical-align: text-top; text-align: center; padding-bottom: 20px; font-size: .9em; line-height: 1.0em; } .tablecellcaptionSMS div{ text-align: center; margin: 0 10px 0 10px; } .tablecellSMS img{ max-width: 90%; width: auto; text-align: center; max-height: 250px; height: auto; } Fly-In Headquarters was hosted at the SoarningNV hangar on the Minden Flight Line Ron and Laurie tease Richard about needing to be in multiple places at once! Steve Sliwa accepts the Judges Award for Aircraft Excellence for his Ximango. Eric Sweeney accepts the Peoples Award for Aircraft Excellence for his Moni homebuilt Richard Pearl gets a certificate of Appreciation for Organizing us Eric Sweeney gets the award for the Youngest TMGA Pilot in attendance. Rolf Isley gets the Award for the Oldest Pilot to Fly In (91 years young) Al and Susan Simmons get the award for the pilots traveling the furthest (CT) Mira Slovak gives a talk and answers questions from a DVD. Mira Slovak gives a talk and answers questions from a DVD. Mira answers questions after the DVD. Hans Nilson serenades the troops before flying on Sunday. Mira Slovak departs in his Bucher Jungmann Group picture on Sunday morning. Roland Martin in his N97SM over Lake Tahoe            
Richard Pearl

Richard Pearl

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2011 West Coast Fly-In Report

2011 TMG Fly-In
June 2011 
Minden, Nevada The 2011 TMG Fly-In was a roaring success. Twenty four (24) ships graced the flight line, including: Grob, Taifun, Ximango, Stemme, Lambada, Samba, Phoenix, Diamond, Pipistral, and Fournier. Aircraft came from California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Florida. Between pilots, friends, and prospective buyers, 40 people participated in the flying, presentations, and meals. We believe it is the largest gathering of TMG's in the country, and most likely the world. Five ships went on to Parowan, Utah to link up with the Auxiliary-powered Sailplane Association's annual soaring event.
Richard Pearl

Richard Pearl

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