Friday evening, the 4th, we will host an informal dinner on the grass.  This event will be a group effort by those that fly, or drive in, and plan to camp at the airport or stay at a local motel.  The BBQ grill will be going and transportation will be available to make a short shopping trip to Hank's Market.  From that point on it will be an evening of socializing, hangar flying, and a good time.  Our grass area has increased and there will be room to park airplanes and camp.

If hanging out at the Twisp Airport is not your thing, there is a variety of activities available in Twisp and Winthrop.  In Twisp on the 4th of July weekend, check out the All West Arts Festival at the Twisp park, or go to the opening of, "Brilliant Traces," at the Merc Playhouse.  If BBQ is not up to your standards, plan a short trip to the Twisp River Pub, a local favorite!  The annual 4th of July parade in Twisp will begin at 11:00 am.  Like motorcycles?  The  Goldwing Touring Association will be holding their annual rally in Winthrop.  We have one courtesy car and will attempt to make transportation available for those who need it.  Come for the weekend!

=======================================================

Below is a copy of the letter that Morgan Smith sent to the members of the TWISP AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT CLUB.  If we are to continue with the projects that will make our airport more beautiful and viable for the long term it is going to require the support of all of our members.  I know that all of us from time to time have seen airports that are neglected, with weeds growing, and airplanes with half flat tires.  The Twisp Airport is not like that now and we are working hard to keep it from ever becoming that way.  Twisp is, and is going to continue to be an airport that is a pleasure to fly to and and airport that we will be proud to operate from.  By the way, the new grass is up! Yea! With the recent sunshine and rain the timing could not have been better.

Hello,
As many of you know there several projects underway at the Airport.

1) Runway Improvement:
Since being awarded the State grant for runway overlay engineering there have been several meetings for the purpose of establishing a workable approach to getting the construction grant and engineering work done. The next window for construction money award in July of 2009. The entire project requires 5% local matching funds. The feasibility of the airport group covering the 5% on the construction grant is the primary issue. Redesel engineering is optimistic this can be accomplished, the WSDOT rep. and some in attendance at the last meeting are less so. Nothing more heard from WSDOT or Redesel since the meeting.

2) Irrigation, grading , fertilizing , seeding.
A 4 inch irrigation line was put in 2 years ago. The trench was dug by Paul Christens employee and Paul's equipment. The main valve and schedule 40 pipe was purchased with $2500 donated by Port, Beebe, Smith, Owens, and O'keefe. The installation labor was donated by Owens, Port, Ulrich and Smith. Pump and cement ring donated by Port.  During the first year of operation one zone was operational. This funded by multiple $200 donations of O'keefe, Owens, Beebe, Port, Smith and John Boch. This year an additional 4 acres was irrigated with 7 more zones. This required 36 heads, thousands of feet of sked 40 pipe, 7 control valves, and very large donations of time by Palm, Smith, Ulrich,  Beebe and Wert. And large donations of equipment use by Port, Ulrich and Mike Palm. Beebe, Owens , Smith, Port,  Fred Cooley and Fred Wert all made additional $ 200 contributions to support this. Bob Hoffman donated free Biennial flight reviews as his contribution this year. Additionally funds were depleted from the Improvement Club to cover costs. Additional money is needed to acquire a mower (which will be operated by volunteers) and re-build the Imp. club balance so money is available for grant matching funds and events such as the upcoming pancake breakfast in July.
Hopefully there is a consensus that the gradual " greening" of the airport, is desirable. While it is wonderful to be able to land on grass if you so desire, the area provides a location for events and camping, and will attract many to come to Twisp. The great $100 hamburger locations are becoming few and far between.
The system already has a lateral in place to feed the south side of the airport as well. For comparison take a look at Chelan Airport.

3) Snow removal
While the city does plow with a truck. The operation of the large snow-blower is left for us. It does a great job, but needs work and shelter ideally.

It has been proposed by the Improvement Club that we ask you to contribute what you can to support ongoing projects. The donations are tax deductible when payable to the "Twisp Airport Improvement Club"
Mail to: Don Owens- Treasurer,  122 Finley Canyon Rd. , Twisp Wa. 98856

If you donated time, labor or $ and are not mentioned in the mailing please forgive me, this is written from memory. (Got you in the update Fred W.)

On May 1 I ended my term as Airport Manager and Mike Port took over. Mike Palm is the assistant manager.

Please pass this on to others who have an interest in the airport. If anyone has information on mowing equipment please let Mike Palm know.

Have a great summer,
Morgan

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

More lawn underway for this summer

If you fly into the Twisp Airport this summer you should be seeing a lot more green!  Volunteers, Morgan Smith and Mike Palm, have been trenching and installing the necessary plumbing for the expanded lawn area. Altogether the project will involve the installation of 800' of 3", 900' of 2", 600' of 1" and 600' of 3/4" PVC pipe.  Mike donated the use of his excavator for all the trenching.  Thanks Mike!  By this summer it will be seeded, the sprinklers will be going and the new grass should be showing some new green.  Speaking of "green," this project will cost in excess of $2,500 just for material.  If the volunteer labor and donated equipment were added in, it would cost a lot more.  This is a very good value for the Twisp Airport!  Unfortunately, our airport has very little in the way of income to keep these project going.  Therefore, we have to rely on donations.  We suggest a $200 donation from each person that is holding an airport lease or has a hangar on the field.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Private pilot ground school finishes with practice FAA exam!

January 2nd was the last class of Morgan Smith's ground school program.  The class began on October 17 with 20 eager students.  The attendance varied up and down between 15 and 20 during the term.  Morgan feels that between 5 and 8 students will go on to take the official FAA written exam.  A significant number of the attendees were already experienced pilots, but saw the class as a good chance to review piloting skills.

Morgan is considering another class in the Spring with possibly an advanced instrument class in the future.  

Thanks Morgan for all your time and effort and a job well done!!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Free airplane ride day," big success once again.  By 0730 hours flight operations were set to begin.  Morgan Smith had his beautiful Aeronca Champ ready to go.  Mike Port's Super Cub was fueled and ready.  The heavy metal (three 4-place Cessnas) were also set to carry passengers.  The three Cessnas were owned and flown by:  Mike Palm, Bob Ulrich, and Bob Hoffman.  Paperwork and administration were handled by Fred Wert.  Bob Howsan assumed duties as "Airboss."  Paul Wagner and Don Owens assisted with boarding safety.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pictures and highlights from the 2007 pancake breakfast

On Friday we had five RV's fly in from Spokane and on Saturday, four more RV's arrived from Arlington, Washington.  Also, two very nice Cessna 182's flew in and remained until Sunday afternoon.  One of the 182's had been featured on the cover of "Sport Aviation."  A good turn out of airplanes arrived on Sunday for the breakfast.

Prior to the "steak fry" Saturday evening, Ross Darling, put some of his beautifully restored military vehicles on display and suspended a large camouflage net overhead to provide some much appreciated shade.  An adequate number of one pound New York steaks were purchased from Hank's Market and cooked on an open grill.  Along with salad, corn on the cob, and potato salad, it was a meal to remember!  We watched an entertaining flying demonstration by the RV pilots, an impromptu air show, and a balloon chase.  Of course, the hangar flying went on well into the evening!

==========================================================================================================================    

The car is back in action, but requires a "sign out" by one of the airport board members.  The sign-out book is in the lockbox and the required phone numbers are on the outside of the box.

==========================================================================================================================