Website http://co-opa.com	March 2022, Vol. 22, Issue 3

President's Message:

No more masks! Fingers crossed it stays that way for a while. Come
celebrate the last few days of winter with us. Lots of things to discuss
at our CO-OPA Monthly Meeting on March 17th,, the usual Third Thursday
of the month. Come join us in the Bend Builders Assist hanger, 63030
Powell Butte Road, on the south west corner of KBDN, at 6pm.

Bring your own dinner, and we’ll eat right away before food get
cold. As always, many thanks go out to Mike Robertson, and Mike Wissing,
for letting us use their space.

Weather.gov forecasts 70% chance of rain, and gusts of 22 mph.
Weatherunderground.com has been softening their forecast, but still
predict 25% of precipitation in the morning. We can keep on eye on it
for another day, but right now it looks like our Fly-out will stay on
the ground at CJ’s @ The Airport. As usuall, an email blast will go
out Friday with the details of our final destination.

Newsletter Inputs:

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

Please send comments and story ideas to: gem@rellim.com

Calendar:

17 March – Monthly Meeting
19 March – Monthly Fly-out

14 April – Monthly Meeting
16 April – Monthly Fly-out

19 May – Monthly Meeting
21 May – Monthly Fly-out

Fly-out:

2nd times the charm. The CO-OPA Fly-out for January had been planned
for Hood River, Jernstedt Airport (4S2). But fog that lingered until the
afternoon nixed that. But we got lucky for February, well not so lucky
as we expected.

Five airplanes, from Bend, Prineville and Cline Falls made the trip,
joining up in the air. Pilots Gary Miller, Forrest Seal, John Foster,
Joel Haynes, and Ken Fayal made the trip. With two passengers.

The forecast was good, partly cloudy, high temperatures around 50,
and winds around 10 knots. Oh, by the way, gusts to 23 knots from the
West.

We received a practical demonstration of the gust effects while
crossing over the ridge into the Hood River valley, at different points.
There was more than a little chop. No complaints of sudden altitude
shifts, or potential loss of control, but we all got beat around enough
to keep our seat belts tight, and a firm grip on the yoke. Luckily the
wind was mostly right down 4S2 runway 25, so landings were not a real
problem.

Shaken, but not stirred, and safely on the ground, we headed to The
Twin Peaks Cafe. It is just West of the airport boundary, and a pleasant
walk. Food was a bit slow in coming, the new normal, but worth the wait.
The delay gave us plenty of time to discuss the things that pilots
discuss while bloviating.

On the way back, all the pilots headed East towards The Dalles, to
avoid the wind over the ridges. Once past the ridges, it was a nice
flight back up the Deschutes River Valley to Bend.

All in all, a good day was had by all. And we'll know better the next
time the 4S2 forecast is for gusts 23 knots.