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| We have incurred more
than the normal amount of expenses lately due to the current
projects. These include: a major irrigation system upgrade and
assuming responsibility and support of the airport courtesy car.
Twenty-seven people have made generous donations to
the Twisp Airport Improvement Club. This will allow us to finish the
irrigation project and have it operating for the summer months.
Thank you for your support. |
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Thanks to the financial donation from
Annette and Tony Wiederkehr we will be proceeding with the upgrade and
relocation of our irrigation pump and equipment early this spring.
We have set May 1st as a target date for
completion of this project.
Our system requires the installation of a water
storage tank and a larger motor and pump. A drawing of the
preliminary location is located to the left. At the same time we
will relocate our airport beacon to the north side of the field. A
new power source near the new location will be used to power the items
directly related to the operation of the airport. This includes:
runway lights, airport beacon, irrigation system, and the welcome center
requirements.
Plans for the welcome center/ briefing room are being
worked on now. One possible outcome is shown to the left. The
front section would be a briefing room, the center a public restroom, with
a storage area to the rear. The current building is movable and
could be relocated if a larger, more permanent building is constructed in
the future.
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| The big tank arrives |
Moving and cleaning the
tank |
Building the pilot lounge
floor |
Moving the floor into
position |
The new irrigation system is now up and running. Yeah! It
works! The grass will be reseeded, so by summer there should be a lot more
green at the Twisp Airport. More sprinklers and grass has been added in
front of Don Owens' hangar.
| Thank you, Annette and
Tony, for your wonderful gift to the Twisp Airport Improvement Club.
Our total income comes from our annual pancake breakfast and
donations. Most of our projects and improvements are paid for out of
donations. Your donation of $3,000 will help us make the Twisp
Airport a better place to fly out of. One project at the top of our
list is an upgrade of our irrigation system so we can keep the grass
runway green and in better condition. Hopefully you and your fellow
glider pilots will see a direct benefit as you operate out of the Twisp
Airport. We will combine the $3,000 with some local, volunteer labor
and get that accomplished by next summer. We look forward to seeing
the sailplanes flying out of Twisp in 2010. Once again, thanks for
supporting the Twisp Airport! |
Sailplanes return to
Twisp
They like it here! Apparently
the flying conditions out of the Twisp Airport are excellent for sailplane
flying, and we like it that way. Gliders are the ultimate green
machines. The only power they need is a tow to about 3000'.
After that, they use only the energy of the sun, wind, and thermals.
About Soaring:
The freedom and
exhilaration of soaring are incomparable! By using currents of rising
air for lift, you can fly hundreds of miles over several hours on a good
soaring day.
Soaring is also known as gliding - one
of the oldest forms of flying. People were flying gliders for many years
before powered airplanes came about, including the Wright Brothers! In
the early days, a glider-ride usually meant a short flight, probably
launched from a hilltop. Today we fly sailplanes: high performance
aircraft that can stay aloft for long periods of time, and all with no
motor!
Soaring is a safe, fun, and
educational sport; and it is practiced every day by hundreds of
thousands of pilots on every continent (except Antarctica - brrrr)!
Sources of Lift
How can a sailplane climb? Sailplanes
are always descending gradually through the air as they fly. If the air
around the sailplane is rising faster than the aircraft is descending,
then it will be carried upward by the rising air!
When the sun heats the ground, it also
heats the air just above the ground. Like a hot-air-balloon, this warm
air will gently rise upwards in columns or blobs called thermals. Air
can also be forced upwards by wind blowing up over a hill (called
"ridge-lift") - or, under certain conditions, because of high
winds blowing across mountain peaks (called a
"mountain-wave"). On good mountain-wave days, some pilots are
able to reach altitudes where oxygen tanks are required!
Sailplanes or gliders as they are
often referred to, come in all shapes, and sizes. There are two place
trainers, single place, and even three place craft. Sailplanes are made
from aluminum, wood, or a special fabric stretched over steel tubing. Some
sailplanes are extremely refined, designed for maximum performance and
constructed from exotic composite materials while others are designed for
training new pilots necessitating rugged economy.
Wingspans can very from under 40
feet to nearly 90 feet. And the empty weight (no pilot) of sailplanes can
be as little as 250 lbs, or nearly 1,500 pounds.
Competition sailplanes use carbon
and fiberglass composites molded into extremely strong and accurate shapes
to provide strong, lightweight structures using advanced aerodynamics to
create the most refined aircraft ever created.
Sailplane pilots fit snuggly in
the cockpit and control the craft by moving the control stick to
manipulate aircrafts control surfaces. All sailplanes are designed to be
disassembled and trailered. The wings and tail are removable and slide
securely into a special trailer for the trip home.
Just like cars the sky is the
limit when it comes to price on sailplanes. There are used sailplanes
available for $10,000 to $25,000 and top of the line racing types that can
cost $150,000 or more. Most competition types cost between $50,000 and
$85,000.
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| Minutes for Twisp Airport Board meeting:
April 7, 2010
The meeting was held in Bob Ulrich's hangar
(temperature was 45 deg.!) Board members present were: John O'Keefe,
Don Owens, and Bob Ulrich. Also in attendance were: Dave Sandos,
Paul Wagner, Sandy Beebe, Bob Howson, Mike Palm, Fred Wert, Mike Real, and
Mike Port.
Treasurer's report: We currently have a balance
of $2,741.66 with no outstanding bills. We anticipate purchasing
insurance for the courtesy car at aproximately $618. Also we will be
paying approximately $1,800 for the new irrigation pump . Don Owens
will prepare and mail out letters requesting donations for 2010
The bids for runway construction were
discussed. The board will recommend the Lloyd Logging bid (the low
bid) to the Town Council.
It was decided to purchase insurance for the airport
courtesy car and get it back into service.
The irrigation project was discussed. We still
plan to have it completed and operating by May 1.
Relocation of the windsock was discussed.
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Minutes for Twisp airport Board
meeting: February 2, 2010
 |
The meeting was held in Sandy Beebe's
hangar. Thanks Sandy. Board members present were: John O'Keefe,
Don Owens, and Bob Ulrich. Also in attendance were: Mike Palm (Airport
manager), Mike Real, Sandy Beebe, Ross Darling, Bob Hoffman, Mike Port, and
Morgan Smith. |
|
Don Owens (Treasurer) reported that
with the $3,000 donation we have $6,142.40 in our account with no current
bills. |
|
The irrigation system requirements,
relocation, and upgrade were discussed. Mike Palm suggested a 2000
gallon water storage tank needed to be added to the system. Morgan
Smith volunteered to get information on pump and motor requirements.
Mike Port will install the required electrical power. A target date of
May 1 was set for completion of the project. |
|
Runway construction was
discussed. Mike Palm will contact George Reynolds of Riedesel to
discuss construction schedule and other issues. The requirements for a
runup area were discussed. |
|
Requirements for maintenance of the
grass were discussed. |
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The 2010 flyin dates are to be July
9,10, and 11. It was felt that all activities would be on the north
side of the field this year. |
Minutes for Twisp
Airport Board meeting: July 23, 2009 at 5:00pm (the delay in
posting was due to an equipment failure)
The board met at
John O’keefe’s office lobby.
Board members
present were: John O’Keefe, Don Owens, Bob Ulrich.
Others present were: Dave Sandos, Morgan Smith, Mike Port, Fred Wert, and
Mike Palm
| Location
of new hangars on the South side of the airport was discussed.
The issue was the setback from the runway to mitigate penetration of
the 7:1 slope. It was decided that the next hangar in line (going East)
would be setback 25’ the front edge of Bob Hoffman’s hangar.
It was estimated that the next hangar would not penetrate the 7:1
slope more than 3’. The idea was to remain in compliance with FAA standards
as close as possible with all new construction. A board proposal is to be written and submitted for vote
at the next board meeting. |
| The
numbering system lists Bob Hoffman’s hangar as S1 and increase
going to the West. The new
hangars going to the East are to be identified by letters, i.e. A, B, etc. |
| Dave
Sandos suggested more involvement in the local political selection process. |
| The
relocation of the irrigation valves and the purchase of a new pump was
discussed. The board voted 3:0
to authorize $2000.00 for this project.
Further expenditure may be authorized at a later date if required. |
| The
airport beacon needs to be repaired or replaced. Mike Port and Don Owens are to do an evaluation and
report. |
| The
possibility of a well on the North side was discussed. |
| Fred
Wert’s hangar carport was discussed.
Mike Port suggested removal. Fred Wert wanted a request in writing.
The board agreed to compose a letter to Fred regarding the issue. |
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Minutes
for theTwisp Airport board meeting of: June 29, 2009, at 4:30pm.
The
minutes of the June 22nd were read and approved except for a change
of format for “attendance.”
Board
members present: John O’keefe, Bob Ulrich, and Don Owens.
Also present was Mike Palm.
It
was approved that the minutes of each board meeting will be posted on the Twisp
Airport web site, in a “timely manner” to serve as a public notification.
The
board affirmed, unanimously, that carports attached to the outside of airplane
hangars are not permitted.
The
allowable height of new hangars was discussed.
It was decided that, since most hangars on the south side of the runway,
already penetrate the 7:1 slope, that any new hangar located on the south side
would not be any higher the, highest existing hangar. This would be no higher than Bob Hoffman’s hangar, which
would be 18’ at the peak.
Hangars
on the North side of the runway are not to exceed a height of 25’.
This also is based on the height of the existing hangars on that side.
The
board decided to adopt the verbiage from the new lease as a standard for paving
in front of newly constructed hangars. This
reads as follows: “Lessee shall be obligated to pave any taxiway or area in
front of the premises (between the aircraft hangar and runway) in a like manner
to match the existing taxiways or areas existing on either or both sides of the
premises. Such paving shall be
completed within sixty (60) days of completion of the construction of any
aircraft hangar on the premises. Such
paving shall be at the sole expense of the lessee.
For purposes of the paragraph, “completion of construction” shall
mean six (6) months from the issuance of a building permit, or after final
inspection and approval of the aircraft hangar by the Town’s building
official, whichever occurs first.”
Meeting
adjourned at: 6:30 pm.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Minutes for the
airport board meeting of June 22, 2009
In attendance: John O’Keefe, Bob Ulrich, Don
Owens, Mike Palm, Morgan Smith, Bob Howson, Mike port
The new lease was reviewed and requirements for
paving in front of the hangars was noted.
The board decided against allowing carports next to
hangars.
It was decided that Mike Palm would grade, and
gravel a road behind the existing hangars in lieu of buying into the existing
power and taxi paving.
The board decided to keep the number of members at
three.
$80.00 was contributed for repair of the courtesy
car.
The board decided that as airport land leases
expire, those lease holders will be required to comply with the new lease
requirements.
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