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July 6, 1999

Daryl Hegyi, President
Tobias Kreisz, Vice-President
Mario LeBel, Treasurer
Debbie Major, Secretary

Mail to: Pacific Ultralight Flying Association
102-16071 82 Avenue
Surrey, B.C. V3S 2L6

PUFA Newsletter published by Glenn Ursel

From The President
by Daryl Hegyi

I was hoping to have more to report for this newsletter, but, alas, the weather and my work schedule have conspired against me.  The only flying I've been doing lately was my Flight Simulator.

The PUFA Father's Day Breakfast was a resounding success, despite the lousy weather.  Everyone admired the new deck at the Glen Valley Clubhouse.  The pancakes, eggs, sausages and strawberries were excellent, as well as being dry under the roof.  Kudos to the chefs and organizers.  No one flew in, mainly because of the awful weather and the flood alert.  However, Glenn Ursel did fly his beaver, to check out the new float struts and seatbelt that he just installed.  He did a low pass over the new north/south runway - just to scope it out, and then he landed in the canal.  He said it was kinda tight width-wise, but there was more than enough length to land and take off.

Jeff Rochon has contacted the Abbotsford Airshow people, and there is an opportunity for ultralights to fly past in a demonstration, and optionally land at the August 6-8 Abbotsford Airshow.  Subsequently, the Abbotsford Airshow Society sent us an application to display aircraft in their static display.  They want a reply before July 15, so if you want to display your aircraft, contact myself, Jeff Rochon, or email harold_kasper@bc.sympatico.ca for a copy of the application.

On the last weekend of July 24-25, we are going to have an overnight fly-in, barbeque, and general party at Glen Valley Airfield.  We hope to see you all there.

Editorial Note
by Glenn Ursel

The purpose of this summer PUFA Newsletter was to provide an accounting of the Mothers Day and Fathers Day Fly-in breakfasts while they are still reasonably fresh in your minds as well as update you on the flying events for the summer.

Jeff Rochon phoned a couple of weeks ago to advise that ultralights will be permitted to be included in the Abbotsford Airshow.  The plan is to have the ultralights coordinate out of Fort Langley and arrive at the airshow between 10:00 am to 10:30 am.  A biography for each common type of ultralight is to be prepared for the announcer in the Abbotsford tower.  After the half hour flyby, the ultralight pilots will have the option of leaving or landing and staying for the day.  Interested pilots are requested to contact Daryl Hegyi or Jeff Rochon for enquiries and to sign up for participation.

On Monday, June 21st, the City of Surrey conducted their public hearing of the Airflow Ultralight Aviation Ltd. request for an approved zoning of the King George Airpark within the Agricultural Land Reserve at 4981 King George Highway.  There was a large turnout of ultralighters to support the approval and only a couple of dissidents against the proposal.  Surrey is expected to approve the zoning.

Due to the inclement weather, Jeff Rochon, Ken Hicks and Julius Szalontai cancelled their planned flight to Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories on June 25th.

July, 1999 Flying Events
Sunday, July 4, 1999, 9:00 am to 11:15 am
Delta Airpark, RAA Chapter 85 monthly pancake breakfast
$3, 9:00 am to 11:15 am
Listen to the pre-recorded arrival procedures for Delta Heritage Airpark
phone 878-9050

Saturday, July 3 to Sunday, July 4, 1999
First Annual Hope Expedition
Muster at Fort Langley and fly as a group to the Hope Airport for an overnight
camping/barbeque.

Wednesday, July 7 to Sun 11, 1999
EAA Fly-in, Arlington, Washington
Arlington Airshow

Saturday, July 17, 1999
Salmon Arm Flyin
10:00 am - 3:00 pm
For more information, contact Barry at 250-832-3198

Sunday, July 18, 1999
Kamloops Fly-in Breakfast
For more information, contact Rob at 250-376-8883 or Dwayne at 250-376-9184

Tuesday, July 20 to Wednesday July 21, 1999
Fort St. John Airshow.
For more information, check out www.fsjairport.com

Saturday, July 24 to Sunday July 25, 1999
PUFA Barbeque at Glen Valley.
10 am, Saturday to 10 am, Sunday

Sat-Sun, July 24-25, 1999
Naksup Overnight Fly-in
Sponsored by the Penticton Flying Club.
For more information, contact Doug at 250-497-5424

Mothers Day Fly-in at Intergalactic Aerodrome

The Pacific Ultralight Flying Association, known as PUFA and the largest west coast ultralight club, held its 14th annual Mothers Day fly in/drive in on May 9th, 1999.  Breakfast was held at the Intergalactic Aerodrome, a small air field located at 8th Avenue and 176th Street in beautiful South Surrey.

The air field is the home of the not so famous modern day Red Baron (Fred Baron) who is trying to revive the first World War flying ace, Manfred von Richthofens Flying Circus without much success.  Freds main air fights are launched for protecting his air field from those darn planes dropping flower bombs onto the noble cross that is painted on the roof of his main hangar and that darn snoopy who is always trying to sneak up on him by flying out of the sun in his Sopwith

Camel Beaver.  It is only in the nick of time that the Red Barons biplane is able to do a imalan manoeuvre to get away from a certain simulated kill.

We are all having lots of fun in this serious flying.  The breakfast was graced by sunshine, rain and hail but the brave aviators, Glenn Ursel in his Beaver and Jeff Rochon in his beautiful red Renegade, flew in despite

the uncertain weather.  It was later reported by an unreliable source that the Red Baron was attempting to recruit Jeff to join his flying circus; however, Jeff said he didnt want to be a clown.  Hed rather be a free flying trapeze artist.  The Red Baron was seen with large Maltese stick-on crosses, looking for a chance to paste them on Gordon Hindles tail but he was outsmarted by the Silver Fox.

Mike Langford flew his big Hughs helicopter in.  Im sure that its a Hughs because any guy that owns a $300,000 Harvard and a $500,000 T28 would fly a Hughs helicopter.  We were honoured by his presence - it was great to see him here.  He handled the chopper like a ballet dancer.

We had lots of Mothers at our function.  We introduced the single men to the single mothers.  You never know?

The food was fantastic.  Marie and Larry White and their daughter, Debbie, were here at the crack of dawn to get the food ready.  It was a gourmet feast with pancakes, bacon, sausages, eggs and Starbucks coffee.  To see Marilyn Parsons pancake flipping was worth the trip!

Flowers were given to the mothers, daughters and grandmothers.  I even saw a guy in drag get flowers! Oh well, everyone had a good time.   We will all remember the Mothers day of 99.  We will all look forward to the summer of 99.  Everyone fly safe and remember Big Brother has reduced our height to 1400 feet for flying over the Intergalactic Aerodrome and adjacent White Rock area.

The Gulf Islands is now 1,000 feet!  I dont see how we can say altitude is a pilots best friend when they keep pushing us lower to tera firma.

Fred Baron
May 23, 1999

Fathers Day Fly-in at Glen Valley Airfield

The Fathers Day Fly-in on Sunday, June 20th, 1999 was held at the Glen Valley Airfield
in the Fraser River swamps of North Langley.

Unfortunately, the weather was beastly (light rain and cloudy) and there were no hardy souls that flew in.  However, we had a good number drive in and a good time was had by all in spite of the inclement weather.
 
 

At the time of the Fathers Day PUFA Breakfast, the Fraser River was nearing its peak and there was some flooding of the Glen Valley Runway as can be seen in the picture above.

The river peaked a few days later but only rose slightly above this level so there was no damage to any of the hangars or the runway.

The PUFA breakfast was prepared by the able hands of Glen Valley pilots, Gorden Denham (pancakes), Claude LeClair (scrambled eggs) and Tobias Kreisz (bacon and sausages).  And a fine breakfast it was!

Some of the PUFA members toured the new Glen Valley Runway recently constructed by Bill MacIntosh.  The new runway is expected to be an improvement for winter operations due to the higher clay content of the soil versus the peat component of the current runway.

The area above became flooded with water the week after this picture was taken but all flood waters have seen receded.

We thank those people who came despite the rainy weather.  Hopefully next year will be sunnier!