Website: http://co-opa.com/ Jan/Feb 2011, Vol. 11, Issue 1 President's Message: Two months into the New Year and already way behind! December we met at McGrath's Fish House for a fine holiday dinner and had a good turnout. In January it was great to have EDCO drop in and take out comments on the proposed drone testing area. I feel that our concerns are finally being heard and the next plan should be better for it. This month we have a last minute conflict with the Bend Airport Master Planning Committee meeting which will be at 5pm in in Cafe 3456. The CO-OPA will still meet downstairs at our usual 6pm and potluck at 6:30pm.. After dinner those that want to can move upstairs for the tail end of the Committee meeting. Calendar: 17 February - Monthly Meeting 19 February - Monthly Flyout 17 March – Monthly Meeting 19 March – Monthly Flyout 21 April – Monthly Meeting 23 April – Monthly Flyout 19 May – Monthly Meeting 21 May – Monthly Flyout My Inbox: Don Wilfong has emailed every to mention that the 2011 dues are now due. CO-OPA is the best deal in aviation at $10/year. You can email dues to: CO-OPA c/o Don Wilfong 210 S. E. Cessna Dr. Bend, OR 97702 Also be sure to pay your state OPA dues of $25. You can pay online: http://www.oregonpilot.org/membership/dues/ In other news, the Redmond Airport is looking to fill a volunteer Airport Commisioner eat. The main duty is to meet once every 2 or 3 months to advise the county on airport operations. Those interested should contact Anna Jonson at (541) 330-4640 or annaj@deschutes.org Web doings: As always you can check out current and past CO-OPA newsletters, view our membership list and view hot aviation links on our website at: http://co-opa.com To access the members only areas the username is "BDN" and the password is "123.0". 2010 Charity: CO-OPA ANNUAL CHARITY PROGRAM: First I want to thank everyone that participated in our 2010 Charity Program.......It was a resounding success again........ with the dollars we donated plus the additional dollars donated by the Teachers they were able to pick three deserving students to give a good Christmas to. As usual most of the gifts were for necessities with a few fun gifts. The Teachers took the kids shopping, wrapped all the gifts and helped deliver them. Don & I helped again this year in delivering the gifts on Christmas eve morning......you can not help but get a little choked up when you see the kid's and their family's faces. This continues to be a very worthwhile and heartwarming program and we can all be proud of the good we have done. We have actually helped to change kids lives for the better. We have been doing this for many years now and we will be looking ahead to the coming holiday season and the opportunity to help other deserving students. Thank You again. Norma Wilfong, Program Chairperson. January Flyout: FLY-OUT FUN........Hey we had a beautiful fly-out day on Sat. Jan. 22. We gathered at Pro-Air at 0900 hrs. to depart to Burns. Gary and Ed were in Gary's Turbo 210 and Norma and I were in our Skylane. Norma and I took off and when Gary did not come on the radio we called him and someone else answered and said he was parked and both he and Ed were out of the plane......we turned around and returned to find Gary with a low battery. After he brought his car up and they jump started the plane we both took off for Burns. Burns now has a new F. B. O. (some months ago) and the place has been cleaned up, someone is there, the courtesy cars are much nicer and the people there are first rate and friendly. We met the Mayor of Burns and visited with him for a while......it seems the old F. B. O. people are unhappy with the change and in fact have filed law suits over being ousted......politics even in a small community. The Guy running the F. B. O. went out and started the courtesy car and had it warmed up for us by the time we were ready to head to town...nice service. We went to R J's Cafe (on the left as you head toward Hines), it is not fancy but the food is good and they always have a nice fresh salad bar. We then drove around Burns and Hines looking the place over and then drove out to the Casino.. wow.. it is not too much and the only think happening there was the machines.....they only run the blackjack tables one evening a week. We made our way back to the airport where Gary needed to pick up some fuel........well there was someone else trying to get fuel and the card system was not working..... so..... one of the guys from the F. B.O. Came out with a key and after a bit had things working again.....nice to have someone there to take care of the problem. After Gary got some fuel we headed for home.....We saw some large herds of Antelope as we flew back along Highway 20 coming home........What a great day...... Don & Norma Wilfong Random Thoughts: Not getting enough flying in due to the weather? Then check out some new aviation related TV shows. OPB is showing The Aviators which is a 30 minute weekly show usually done in 3 or 4 smaller segments. The producers are Canadian and much of the footage is from north of the border. The only bad part is that it only airs in the middle of the night so program your DVRs. Even more fun is Flying Wild Alaska which airs Friday nights on the Discovery Channel. The show follows old bush pilot Jim Tweeto and his family run airline: Era Alaska. A lot of the 'terrifying' runways they fly into are a lot easier than Pilot Butte but it is still fun to see how the pros do it. – Gary E. Miller Military Drone Budget: News reports state that the requested military budget for drones in 2011 will show a decline in 2011 from 2010. Planned purchases for 2010 may also be cut back. So maybedrones are not a growth induxtry after all? Google it, or read more here: http://www.mobmit.com/cash-for-drones-levels-off-in-pentagons-new-budget/ Newsletter Input: Please send any newsletter input to : gem@rellim.com