Enroute Monday, July 8 Tuesday, July 9 Wednesday, July 10 Thursday, July 11 Friday, July 12

Monday, July 8: Membership Breakfast, BFR Ground School, Maintenance Clinic, Crazy Hourse/Mount Rushmore Tour Membership Breakfast: Monday morning started out at 9:00am with the Membership Breakfast, where we got accounted with new members and discussed plans for the week. Some hints were made indicating that the location of the next convention would be announced on Friday. No one but the directors seem to know, but there is much speculation and sideline betting going on. BRF Ground School: This is the first year in which attendees can receive a BFR from one of four experienced Navion CFI's: Jim Waldron, Paul Thomas, Judy Sorton, and Rollie Zavada. The BFR ground school was held on Monday morning and it was quite well-attended, even by members who didn't plan on getting their BFRs this week. I heard that about 30 people had signed up for BFRs, however, so I suspect we'll be doing this again at future conventions. Maintenance Clinic: This is also the first year that maintenance inspections are being performed for those members who signed up in advance (5 people signed up this year). Ron Judy, with some help from a few other experts, are performing this incredibly valuable service. I know we all love and trust our mechanics at home, but it's always nice to have a second pair of eyes inspect our treasured airplanes. The inspections so far have been averaging about three hours in duration and 1-2 are being performed each day. My inspection will be performed on Wednesday morning so I will have more to report then. Crazy Horse and Mount Rushmore Tour: Our three chartered buses departed from our hotel at 3:30pm. We had a pleasant drive through Deadwood, but were sobered by the fire that came within feet of destroying the town just last week. The valiant efforts of the fire fighters, saved all but just a few houses. We proceeded on to the Heritage Village Restaurant for a buffet dinner, then reboarded the bus for the Crazy Horse Monument. As we toured the Visitor's Center, Mother Nature began putting on a very spectacular lightning show. From there, we drove to Mount Rushmore, and the rain stopped just in time for us to watch the evening show and lighting ceremony. We returned to the hotel around midnight, but we have to get up early tomorrow for the Speed Race Breifing at 7:30am! Most graceful maneuver witnessed at the airport today: While attempting to put on a canopy cover in high winds, the cover became a sail after being caught by a gust of wind, throwing Paula off the wing of her airplane and flat on her back.