2005 News

The Redtails gathered this weekend at Reggie’s (Redtail 19) hangar. There was the usual fun and food, with the addition of an Air Show at Cable Airport to enjoy. As you can see by the pictures one of Reggie’s loves is entertaining and cooking hamburgers.

Saturday was a day planned for our first formation practice at Delano but the field was 200 and ½ so the guys that were on time had to divert and return to base and those who ether believed the forecast or were late were able to land and do a little practice after lunch at ‘Ptomaine’ Maria’s on the field. Another great flying weekend for the Redtails.

This week the weather was flat rotten all over the state. A great excuse for a Redtail party. The Redtails gathered at Ron’s hangar to celebrate the year 2005 for what has become an annual event. During the party the heavens opened up but it didn’t dampen the sprites of all that braved the weather to get there. The egg Nog was being spiked with everything from Nutmeg to ‘White Lightning’! Enough can’t be said about the turkey that Alonzo (Redtail 54) fried for us. To the person everyone said it was the best turkey they had ever tasted. We now look forward to having more epicurean delights from him in the future after finding out he was the chief chef for the Hilton here in Los Angeles in his previous life. By the way, he says he can flat mess with some greens!

During the party Mark (Redtail 9) gave us the good news that he had passed his commercial check ride earlier in the week, Congratulations go out to Mark for this flying accomplishment. Mark plans to be flying as a part of his job hopefully in the next month or two.

This week the Redtail Real Estate Group met at Whiteman Airport to celebrate this years success and to plan for the upcoming year. Every Thursday night for the last year, this group has meet, usually at the Van Nuys Airport, to discuss the real estate opportunities in California. Several field trips were made this year to scope out different opportunities.

The Redtails this week gathered at Hawthorne Airport for an impromptu fish fry. After the CBAAI meeting Saturday Jim (Redtail 57) Reynolds called for an emergency Fish Fry. Everyone in favor gave it a thumbs up and Robert Spearman was commissioned to fry the fish. Robert showed off his culinary skills to the max Sunday! Its amazing what the Redtails can do on the spur of the moment! Today the ramp at the CBAAI clubhouse was filled with Redtail Airplanes and the cooking was on! Robert had Catfish, Red Snapper and Salmon in the fryer. Take a look at some of the pictures on our picture page.

The Redtails this week celebrated the Christmas holidays with parties in the Northern and Southern California by attending the annual Christmas parties for the Bay Area Black Pilots and the California Black Aviation Association. A fun time was had by all. Our on Bakari (Redtail 14) preformed a song written by him titled "The Tied Down Blues" which brought the house down! We are looking for more of Bakari's talents soon. (Bakari, also is the creator of the secret Redtail handshake) These pictures are from the CBAAI party with pictures of the BABPA party to come. Party, Party, Party!

This week the Redtails enjoyed Thanksgiving with family and friends. Some flew to their families homes and most took advantage of the shortened workweek and some caught up on honeydoos. Some flew away and some drove away (for a Redtail driving is blasphemy!) for the holiday. Setridge (Redtail 65) and his new airplane was seen at Corona Airport and it was reported that it took him one hour and nine minutes to make the 340 miles from Hayward airport to Corona! You do the math! Also I heard from from Reggie (Redtail 19) that he smoke tested the panel he is building for his Lancair 4P over the weekend and no smoke!

otherwise the winds hampered all but the hardiest from getting up into the turbulence.

After a great time at Harris Ranch last weekend Reggie (Redtail 19) soon to become known as the 'king of burgers' threw an impromptu gathering at his new hangar. Of course we had great hamburgers and an assortment of goodies. For those of you who haven't seen his hangar it is the ultimate in hangars! Several members of Black Porsche of America organization attended and a good time was had by all. I hope to have a few pictures when he completes it. (Do we ever complete a hangar?)

Ron's (Redtail 31) Comanche is back in the air and the engine is really putting out the power. A few more hours and the break-in will be over.

Everyone is getting ready for the holidays and this will be a short week for most of us. We hope to get in some flying this weekend if one of us would name a place I'm sure we would be there.

This week the Redtails headed for Harris Ranch. A record 21 airplanes showed up for the trip. Rudy and Ozell were the flight Leaders for this trip and had everything planned to the tee. Everything from marshaling the airplanes to the games played at the hospitality suite.

The emphasis on this trip was for our Redtails ladies, so all our activities were geared to thank them for flying with us and to encourage them to fly with us more. I think our goal was accomplished! To the person everyone had a great time! During the meeting all the ladies were presented a Red Silk scarf by their hosts. I hope they will wear them with pride and think of the good times we had this weekend. It was a pleasure to see all the ladies sharing their ideas about the Redtails.

The hospitality suite was brimming with music, dominoes, and Texas Hold Um’ (Merritt was the big winner). There were some genuine wolf tickets being sold at the Bid Whist table (believe me; I heard the word “Boston” screamed out several times). The Dominoes table was the same as the Poker, Bid Whist; Redtails and their ladies selling big-time wolf tickets.

On the flight line the Lancair Legacy of Setrige’s stopped all traffic. What an airplane! In its prime color it looked like a sleeping giant! When we asked Set what his speed was coming to Harris Ranch from Hayward Airport he said 300+ knots! When we leave for Pine Bluff next year on a Wednesday to get there on Thursday Set will leave on Friday and arrive on Thursday!

The Redtails this week added another pilot to its rolls in Wali (Redtail 98) Smith. Wali brings another quality pilot for the Redtails to brag about. The best get better!

This week the Redtails found themselves flying kids at Hawthorne Airport and preparing there airplanes for next week when we will have the ladies in our airplanes flying them to our Harris Ranch meting. Ladies do not like 'ugly' so all of us spent some time prettying up our airplanes for them.

After many years of toil Setrige (Redtail 65) has a fast mover. How fast? How about 240 plus knots by the end of the downwind leg on departure! Oh my that Lancair moves. I would hate to be the guy who has to go against him at Skyhook next year when he decides to open it up!

In southern California Ron (Redtail 31) is now installing his new motor. The Comanche will have its full horsepower and Ron says he will be ready for Skyhook in May. Ron and Setrige should enjoy breaking in their engines at full power. In Setrige's case two hours will be the 600 or so miles!

This week a couple of Redtails flew off to new and different places. The El Mirage Dry Lake in the Mohave Desert just west of the Famed Edwards Air Force Base and East of Victorville, California was the focus of their attention. The following is the flight log of the flight:

We climbed out through Newhall pass and turned east in the Santa Clarita Valley to the Antelope Valley. The floor of the antelope valley is about 3400ft so we cruise climbed at about 4700. The desert is a interesting place. There must be nine or ten small private and military airports out there. The private airports are glider and ultra-light airplane stuff and the military has three or four or more out there. The ones we saw today one had a ‘predator’ on the tarmac.

I did some homework last night on the conditions at El Mirage and they said it had 2” of water on most of it. Well, it turned out to have 2” of water over the west end of the lake, enough to stop us from landing that portion of the lake. After making a low pass to investigate what the surface on the east side of it looked like. There were a bunch of motorhomes and motorcycles buzzing around on the ground on the lakes periphery but no one in the center of the lake which is the runway area. We made a few passes over the folks who waving at us. It was disappointing to not be able to land there but what the hell we were flying! It gave me the jones to get back there when the lake dries out. I will bring a chair and lunch and spend the day there.

This past Saturday, the Redtails got together and dined in Fresno, California at the Fresno-Chandler airport restaurant. The weather was nice with scattered clouds, which was a lot better than the night before which had rain throughout Northern California. The day also marked my "return" back into aviation, albeit it as a passenger, since my accident of breaking my leg at the beginning of Aug. Ron Lisberg, Redtail 1, flew from SoCal up to Sacramento to pick me up so I could enjoy the day and be a part of the luncheon. I appreciated the gesture since this flight calls for him to fly right over Fresno and continue 140nm further north and return back to Fresno. I was excited as I saw Ron taxing in to pick me up, but nothing would have convinced me that it would get stronger. As he powered up on takeoff and started his rotation, the biggest damn smile appeared on my face. I haven't had this big of a smile since I soloed for the first time as a student-what a feeling to be back in the air!

After landing at Fresno-Chandler airport and taxied at the restaurant, we were met by Cash, Redtail 6, to help me disembark. Inside, we hooked up with Horace, Rayvon, and the host for the day Harold Grooms. For me, they were sight for sore and "healing" eyes. Before and after we ordered lunch, there was good conversation and a sense of relaxation. The foods ordered ranged from a full plate salad to a 1/2lb grilled burger with items in between, and, they were all very good! Harold, treating the day as a vacation, ordered dessert--Chocolate cake. Boy, did it look good. How good? Good enough for me to order one as well. Why not! I'm celebrating my return back into the air <smile>.

After lunch, we moved into the main area of the terminal building to further relax and to discuss Redtail business. The main topic: Redtail growth of participating members. We created a few new club implementations in hopes to make the California Redtails even more of the leading chapter of BPA! Upon leaving the terminal for our airplanes, we had a picture taken to prosperity.

The ride back up to Sacramento was longer than the flight to Fresno thanks to the 35kts headwinds. But, I didn't mind because I was in the air! When you're a very active pilot and all of a sudden stricken to the sidelines and even house ridden, you don't mind being in the air a little longer. Hell, take your time! The ride was nice and the Ron even demonstrated the electronics in "Tumbleweed" to me. All I can say is, "How sweet!"

For myself, I would like to thank: Redtail Harold for the nice luncheon; Redtail Ron for flying up to Sac and back allowing me the outing I so desperately needed; To the all Redtails present, for their gesture of friendship they bestowed on me! The reason that I am a Redtail is for the fact that want to fly with other quality pilots, to share experiences, and to make friendships that are lasting and meaningful. Believe me, I have that in...the Redtails!

This week, the Redtails participated in elections in the Bay Area Black Pilots Association (BABPA) and the California Black Aviation Associations (CBAAI) and represented the Redtails well. Xavier (Redtail 99) Marshall was elected as President of the CBAAI and David (Redtail 49) Cunningham, President of BABPA, has a formidable staff to work with for the next year.

After his election as President, Xavier delivered a moving speech about the direction he wanted the CBAAI to take over the next two years.

The Redtails, of course, did some flying after the meetings in Hayward and Compton. Those Redtails from the South went on to French Valley(F70) for lunch and the Redtails in the north went to see the Red Bull races over the San Francisco Bay during the naval "Fleet Week" celebrations held in the bay.

The Redtails this week gathered at the Airtel Plaza Hotel to break bread with Norris Hibbler who was in town for a minute Wednesday night. We all had a great time while Norris told about how to survive a crash and answer all the questions we could ask him about aircraft insurance for which he is a wealth of information. Norris is opening an office in Southern California and we look forward to visiting with him more often. For insurance quotes from his email him at redtail43@california-redtails.org.

The Redtails this week participated in the California Black Aviation Association's 12th annual Compton Air Fair this weekend. Since most of the Southern California Redtails belong to the CBAAI we were intimately involved in the planning. The VIP reception on Friday night before the Air Fair was also a success. The Air Fair was a complete success! The Air Fair was closed by Redtail 1 and Redtail 57 doing a formation flyby. What a great time we had!

It's been fairly quiet for the Redtails this past week. The one exception was preparation for the annual Reno Air Races, held Sept 16-19th., by Redtails, Ed Dutreaux and "Cash" Copeland. Ed is an annual fixture there at the air races flying his Cassett while Cash serves as his crew chief. As of this writing, Ed has turned in a top speed of 222mph during preliminaries, which is 4 mph faster than last year! The entire Redtail family is hoping that he can repeat or better this during the official qualifications later on the week for the weekend's shootout!

This week the Redtail update will be short. Out of 64 members 8 showed up! October Fly-out planned.

There are few activities the Redtails look forward to more than our Oceano Campout weekend. This years outing was as expected a rousing success. The conversation around the campfire was filled with flying stories, how to cure the problems of the world and who could tell the best lies!

Some of the not so robust Redtails opted to stay at the Radisson Hotel rather than risk the Pismo rat snakes, the cold, and the humiliation of trying to master the fine art of assembling a tent in front of their flying peers. Tri tip sandwiches were the bill of fare for Saturday evening along with an assortment of fruit and cookies stolen from Milton's fruit basket. The weather was the usual morning fog that burned off around 1100hrs and came back the next morning about 0400hrs. With the full moon out and the pitch black campground located adjacent to the runway, Jim tried several times to trip into the fire ring. Horace and Milton did the retrieving for the fire wood stack where the rat snakes live. Of course, Horace being from the country (Mississippi) had forgotten what lurks in wood piles until he came back with a wheelbarrow full of cut logs and we told him and he turned "white".

Those who stayed at the Radisson enjoyed the famous brunch at the dinning room on Sunday morning. All in all, it was another great weekend for the Redtails. no one remembered to bring cameras so the event wasn't documented. What a shame!

Several Redtails this weekend attended the Black Pilots of America General Membership meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania this weekend and were treated to a great time. Thanks and kudos go out to Derek and Delta Grier and the Roscoe Draper chapter for a hosting a great event. Pictures of some of the events and highlights of the event will be posted here in a few days. Congratulations go out to John Hicks Jr. for being elected unanimously to the Chairman of the Board. The Redtails would also like to thank the Bronze Eagles Flying Club of Texas for their resolution of support on the Redtails White Paper.

We as usual had a great time with them bantering back and forth relentlessly on any subject that came up. It seems that whenever a Bronze Eagle and a Redtail get together there is competition. After the dinner Saturday night while waiting for the vans to pick us up some Redtails didn't want to wait for the vans and caught a cab. A couple of Bronze Eagles saw this and also waved for a cab and the race was on! between the cabs! I guess both cab drivers made a little extra money on that ride, I know ours did. Another instance of the fierce competition was seen between the two of us in racing elevators, one group took one elevator and the another took a different one. A few insults were thrown about slow airplanes and the elevator race was on!

The Bronze Eagles President (Anthony) disputed the fact that we had three times as many airplanes at Skyhook as they did so Here is the list!

This week the Redtails are preparing to overnight at the Pismo Beach airport of Oceano. Some will brave the night in the camping area and some less hardy souls will be in nearby hotels, some will actually fly there, some will drive, and some will drive their motorhomes. It is a good bet all will have a great time.

After a years hiatus and a new Corvette Cleve (Redtail 45) is back on the active Redtail Roster. Welcome back Cleve!

This week the Redtails were going through a couple of annuals, and not having a place to fly as a group went there separate ways. Not flying will make the Redtails dull! We will make up for it this weekend though with several of us going to the National Meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It should be an exciting weekend in Philadelphia and you will here about it first here in the Redtail news section.

The Redtails are gearing up for this month's outing at Oceano Airport for a weekend of campfire stories, short field landings, and low ceilings. Who can forget the snake hunt in the campground, or the 'E's raccoon. Did I tell that story yet? When the raccoon came down the tree and made a bee line for Eric's flashlight beam? Did I tell you what happened next? Did I tell you who can snore louder than an radial engine starting? Did I tell you who is afraid of snakes? Did I tell you about the famous Pismo Fence Snakes? Did I tell you about how much wood we burned in a weekend? Did I tell you what to much tequila will do to a Redtail? Is this going to be fun?

This week the Redtails ventured to San Diego for their meeting. Montgomery Field to the Mexican Restaurant to be exact. We were treated by our gracious host Maurice Orange (Redtail 11). the flight down and back was uneventful with the exception of Horace Noble having to pick his way through a line of monsoonal thunderstorms between San Diego and Las Vegas. In talking to Horace after he landed he said "That stormscope is worth every penny". if you will remember Horace led us from Lubbock, Texas to Hot Springs, Arkansas with his Stormscope and none of us got wet!

It was good to have Otto Hooks as a guest at our meeting. Otto keeps busy in his retirement flying all over the country. Darryl Mack (Redtail 40) made the trek to Oshkosh again this year. We discussed some of the issues we plan to bring up at the national meeting in Philadelphia on the 13th of this month.

Another week of beating the heat in Southern California and the Las Vegas Area, and a perfect week for flying in the Northern California. The Redtails this week didn't do a lot of flying. The hot weather is a real bummer to inspire flying. The tarmac is hot, the airplanes are hot, this writer spent the weekend indoors in air conditioning with outside temperatures of 109f.

Several members flew to Camarillo Airport for lunch on Saturday but most were pointing to this weeks meeting in San Diego's Montgomery Field. The Redtails have never as a group been to MYF and the long range forecast looks good.

Last weeks rumor about one of the Redtails buying an airplane came true, but, he wants to keep it a secret until he comes to a meeting in it. . .

Preparations are being made for the Compton Air Fair in September where we (Redtails) shall attempt to get as many airplanes in the sky as possible for the air portion of the Air Fair.

This week the Redtails meet at Napa County Airport for there monthly meeting. The Bay Area Redtails didn't have far to go (about 30 miles from Hayward) and were there in strength. The regular business was taken care of and the talk was who would be going to the General Membership Meeting of the Black Pilots of America in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in August and the Redtail Specific issues.

The rest of the afternoon was spent grilling our newest member Paul Webb, Jr. DDS on his flying background and how it related to Horace (Redtail 33). Paul and Horace had us in stitches at times. Horace our money collector twisted his arm and squeezed $70 out of Paul and 'Top Gun E' got the 411 on him, he picked Redtail 48 as his callsign and he officially became a Redtails right then and there! Welcome Paul (Redtail 48).

Today several of the Redtails in the south meet at the CBBAI clubroom at HHR to do some serious hangar flying and Ron Jenkins (Redtail 88) was seen perfecting the fine are of landing the Cardinal today at WHP. Ron has about 5hrs in it and from the looks of his landings he is ready! Rumor also has it that one more Redtail has purchased an airplane. Next weeks Redtail Website News hopefully will have more info on this.

This weekend the Redtails, supported the California Black Aviation Association (CBAAI) and the Bay Area Black Pilots Association (BABPA) by going to their meetings in Compton and Hayward respectively. After the meeting at Compton we all flew the great distance of 4 miles to Hawthorne airport to the CBBAI's clubhouse and cooked hamburgers on the grill an hangar flew for the rest of the day. Of course the trip to Pine Bluff was the most popular subject of the day.

The Redtails this week were honored with yet another new quality member in Marvin Lowrance. His call sign will be Redtail 84. Marvin flies a Mooney but we won't hold that against him, because he also flies a Cessna Turbo 182RG. Welcome Marvin.

Another banner weekend for the Redtails. Ken Barns of San Leandro, California became a Redtail. Ken has a Stinson L5 and a Cessna 180 based at Hayward. Ken had been hearing about the Redtails from Cash (Redtail 6) and then Ed (Redtail 8). Having been disappointed from other so-called "flying clubs" for not doing hardly or no flying at all, he was looking for a group of pilots that fly airplanes! And after hearing about the flying that we do throughout the year, he wanted to be a part of it.

Ron Jenkins (Redtail 88) has bought a Cessna Cardinal and is waiting for the paperwork to be completed so he can fly it. Ron said he was tired of hearing us talk about flying and wanted to fly his own airplane, Congratulations Ron! Ron will base his new Cardinal at Whiteman on Redtail Row. We should have some pictures by next week of Ron's new ride!

The holiday weekend of July the 4th saw most of the Redtails enjoying the weekend with family and not much flying.

Rayvon Williams (Redtail 3) was this week awarded his Master CFI designation. He is also an AOPA Airport Support Network representative, an Angel Flight pilot and serves as an Aviation Safety Counselor for the FAA's San Jose FSDO.

The National Association of Flight Instructors took pride in announcing this significant aviation accomplishment on the part of Rayvon, a resident of Scotts Valley, CA. To help put this achievement in its proper perspective, there are approximately 85,000 CFIs in the United States. Fewer than 500 of them have achieved that distinction thus far. The last ten national Flight Instructors of the Year were Master CFIs while Rayvon is one of only 38 California aviation educators who has earned this prestigious "Master" title

The Redtails traveled to Harris Ranch for our regular meeting and lunch. The meeting was a debrief on our Pine Bluff Arkansas trip, and a review of our competition scores. Everyone was truly disappointed at the formation scores as shown below. Ed (Redtails 8) was the newest member present and had to buy the Mountain Oysters and as usual everyone at the table had to taste those bad boys. The weather was perfect and the winds favored the the Redtails from the south.

After the lunch the Redtails flew the 40 miles to the former Black township of Allensworth, California making several circular passes and breaking out in our trademark Redtail Starburst. We then formed up just north of Allensworth and made our traditional Redtail low pass. Ozell (Redtail 55) visited Bryce Canyon this weekend and brought back some great pictures. Look for them on our picture area.

Members of the California Redtails, led by Redtail 55, Ozell Austin, decided to take the FAA up on the suggestion that High Altitude Chamber training is valuable to safe flight operations. Per Ozell, “The High Altitude Chamber is directed toward understanding and surviving in the flight environment and covers the problems of both high and low altitudes. By visiting the chamber we can get recommendations and procedures to prevent or minimize pilot errors that may occur in flight.” Ozell was joined by Redtail 6, Forrest “Cash” Copeland and Redtail 3, Rayvon Williams to visit Beale AFB, experience the ground school/altitude chamber, and report back to the California Redtails for a future group fly-in.

The three pilots departed Hayward Executive airport at 1600 on Tuesday, June 21 in Ozell’s classic 1960 Comanche 250 and arrived at Marysville (KMYV) in time to have a nice meal and catch game six of the 2005 NBA finals.

At 0700, the next morning, the three Redtails “reported for duty” to the 9th Physiological Support Squadron. This 134-member squadron, a $90 million operation, provides physiological support for Beale's U-2 high altitude reconnaissance mission. The 9th Physio (whose motto is “Between Life and Death”) additionally, serves as a regional Physiological Training Center, and provides altitude chamber training support to FAA rated pilots.

After a few hours of ground school, led by Major Julia Sunstrom and her highly motivated team covering such topics hypoxia, hyperventilation, supplemental oxygen and physiological functions, the three Redtails were suited up for the “ride” to 25,000 feet.

One of the key learning objectives for the Redtails was to determine their personal symptoms or indications for hypoxia. The ascent begin to 5,000 feet, then back to sea level, where the three pilots spent 30 minutes breathing 100% oxygen. After this period the pilots went from sea level to 8,000 feet, then to18,000 feet in less than five minutes. Both Ozell and Rayvon debated whether these speeds were more in line with Comanche 250 or Bonanza S35 climb rates.

At 18,000 feet the pilots were asked to remove the O2 masks and experience the altitude. For all three it seemed to be “OK” and the ascent to 25,000 quickly followed. At this altitude the pilots were again requested to remove the masks, but this time they were asked to complete a series of math problems and answer some simple questions. It took about 2 minutes for Ozell to recognize the onset of hypoxia and he was quick to re-attach his mask. At 3 minutes Ozell asked Rayvon why he was smiling as he wrote on his clip board. Rayvon, feeling light headed, got the message and re-attached his mask. At this point everyone was looking at Cash Copeland who seemed to be really enjoying himself by just staring into space. It was not till later that Ozell and Rayvon determined Cash was trying to figure out what the “slash” in the equation “45/5=” meant? Seems as if when Cash was in school this version of new math was still on the drawing board.

Once back at sea level the three Redtails joined Major Sunstrom and team for a debrief and some photos. Overall the Redtails agreed this was a worthwhile educational experience and one that confirms for each what to expect should hypoxia ever become a problem. As Cash Copeland said on departure, “This is something every pilot should experience; we need to understand as much about our bodies at altitude as we do our airplanes.”

The Redtails meet at Harris Ranch to discuss among other things what to do about the score sheet below. Integrity, impartiality, honor went out the door with this event.

This writer has finished his vacation from updating the website for a few weeks and is back on the job bringing you up to date on the activities of the Redtails again.

We went to Pine Bluff to participate in Operation Skyhook and had a great time. We brought 17 airplanes to Pine Bluff and got a disappointing second place finish. Congratulations go out to the Bronze Eagles of Texas for winning first place.

The bright spot was when our own Eric ‘E’ Williams won the Top Gun award. Eric participated in all the events contested. All the Redtails are very proud of ‘E’, because he put in the work and practice to out duel everyone who participated. The Redtails look for him to repeat in 2006.

	"v" Formation	Right Echelon	Line Abreast	Optional Pass	General Airmanship	Total	Total Points
Redtails
Horace Noble	29	26	29	29	25	138
Harold Moss	30	25	28	28	25	136
Bob Griffin	30	28	29	29	28	144
Danny Perkins	25	15	25	30	15	110	528
Bronze Eagles
Horace Noble	28	26	30	26	25	135
Harold Moss	25	30	25	25	30	135
Bob Griffin	25	30	28	30	30	143
Danny Perkins	30	30	30	30	30	150	563
Atlanta Raptors
Horace Noble	29	10	18	16	15	88
Harold Moss	20	10	20	15	15	80
Bob Griffin	23	15	22	25	25	110
Danny Perkins	20	10	15	10	15	70	348

We were disappointed in the scores we got in the Formation Flying competition. Congratulations Bronze Eagles.

The Redtails have been active since Operation Skyhook by attending the FAA altitude chamber demonstration at Beale Air Force Base and the report by Rayvon Williams (Redtail 3) Follows:

The Redtails, for the 3rd year, were requested to perform at Allensworth, a historical black town now state park. The day started with the Redtails gathering at Delano airport which is only 12 miles away from Allensworth. This serves as our place to brief the flight. After discussion, it was agreed that a multi-pass multi-formation show was in order consisting of echelon right, in-trail, v-formation, and a low pass.

As the Redtail group approached show center in the "In-Trail" formation, the people on the ground was in plain view as they looked upward at the sheer number of planes that passed overhead. From the "In-Trail", the formation shifted into the "fingertip" on the next pass. Rudy "Born to Fly" Melson was flight leader and was flying a perfect line for the element. The third and fourth passes, the "V" and echelon right, were then established. After the final pass which ended with all Redtails making an 70degree break left to return to Delano, it was Eric "E" Williams turn to put the cap on the afternoon by continuing the break to fly back around and lowering to 500 agl for a Redtail "Highspeed-Lowpass". After returning back to Delano to debrief, Ron received a call from the events coordinator to express their delight and appreciation once again for a fine demonstration.

On tap for next week, the Redtails puts the final touches on the "Redtail Overcast" and the "Redtail Domination" of Skyhook!

Our regular monthly meeting was held at Hayward Airport in 'Cash' Copland's hangar. The weather continued its unusual mix of unstable air residing all over the state, which prevented most of those in Southern California from attending our meeting. Of course the team of Jim, Ron, and Ron braved the IMC elements and came in Jim's pressurized Skymaster. After meeting we broke for lunch and Jim, Ron, and Ron braved another IMC flight home through the elements.

During the meeting the Redtails discussed how we would try to encourage the other chapters in BPA to come back after we hand out some good old whoopin's to them. We also counted up those who were going to fly and those riding. It seems like twenty seven airplanes coming to Pine Bluff is a conservative number. Next week I'll have a better rundown on how we plan to dominate every event.

For those reading this, we are planning to come to Pine Bluff in what we call the 'Redtail Overcast'. I'll let the cat out of the bag by telling out plan to meet at Hot Springs, Arkansas at 1200hrs to form up and make our entrance to Pine Bluff. From Hot Springs we plan to form our 'Redtail Overcast' and fly in formation to Pine Bluff. When we arrive at Pine Bluff we plan a little surprise for the City of Pine Bluff and the surrounding areas.

Those wishing to see this aerial spectacle make your plans to be at Grider Field at 1300hrs, history will be made! We have alerted the press to this historic occasion and they will be waiting. Please make sure the women and young impressionable girls there are restrained behind the fence. Experience has shown in the past they tend to charge out onto the ramp to welcome these studs as they get out of their airplanes after landing and taxiing to the tarmac. The Redtails will as in past years put up a booth to sign autographs and take pictures. This year we plan to sell t-shirts with our autographs on them.

The Redtails this week had yet another new member join the Redtails rolls. Ed Dutreaux brings enthusiasm, race experience and another fast airplane to the Redtails. Ed's Redtails callsign will be Redtail 8. Ed says he can't wait for Skyhook! So can we all!

This weekend another great practice for the mighty Redtails! the Redtails got together in Delano at there airport home. Formation practice was the first order of business with two V-tail Bonanza's and a Cardinal RG, then other teams were formed. The Duke and two Cessna 310's were formed, and last but not least the three experimentals. We expect one more team of 172's.

The next order of business was the Pylon Race practice and orientation. Those who had never participated in a Pylon Race were eased into the race with faster and faster times, then debriefed by videotape. Of course the course record was broken by our newest Redtail Ed Dutreaux. Could he be the ringer at Skyhook?

The balloon burst was practiced with 11" balloons (the ones at Skyhook are 18") everyone was allowed to make as many passes as they wanted. We believe we have discovered why these balloons sometimes go through the prop! the Redtails were able to use our new helium tank and balloon clips for the first time. All the chapters in BPA should use the clips!, they sure save the fingers tying the balloons on those cold days.

We were having so much fun we forgot the flour bomb drop, but we plan to have at least three more sessions before we are victorious at Skyhook.

This week the Redtails were honored be a visit from the Black Pilots of America's President Mr. Palmer Sullins. President Sullins visited with the Redtails in northern California on Friday Night and Saturday at a meeting of the Bay Area Black Pilots Association.

Another highlight was that the Redtails added another member, BJ McCurdy. BJ a long time member of the Black Pilots of America and the Bronze Eagles of Texas have settled in Studio City, California and joined the Redtails. Thank you Anthony and the Bronze Eagles for BJ, you lost a good one but still on the family of BPA.

I was really nice to here from my good friend and cohort David Alexander of the Bronze Eagles this week. For those that don't know David, he is the Bronze Eagles webmaster and the only man in all of BPA who will spar with my writings, (although Wejay and Ken will come up to fight on occasion). Take a look at David's handiwork on www.bronzeagles.com for examples of his work. As David has said in the past, 'you have to be in the mood to write this stuff and his stuff always gives me motivation!

Oh, Have you heard? The Bronze Eagles are changing their motto from "We Fly" to "We Float" When you look at their website you will see why. They also have on there schedule several practices for Skyhook! You think they hear the Redtails footsteps after they backed into the championship last year at Skyhook?

By now EVERYONE knows that I have guaranteed the Redtails would have twice as many airplanes attending Skyhook than the Bronze Eagles and I have put my personal money on it!

It goes without question no chapter other than the Bronze Eagles will even mount a challenge, so I feel safe in expanding this bet to any chapter foolish enough to accept my wager. While it is most satisfying to out-attend the Bronze Eagles because they only have to fly a couple of hours and at last count they have nine or ten working airplanes, getting them to fly them to Pine Bluff when the weather is less than 50 mile visibility and ceilings are less that 20,000ft and no more than three clouds insight on their route most of them probably won't show.

The Tuskegee chapter will be the only chapter that you can count on to be there, rain or shine the ‘Hawk’ will lead his contention of Bonanza there. The Atlanta Raptors if they do show up will come in on Saturday and put in there usual hardship clause saying they couldn’t find an airplane to rent and want to have Skyhook cater to them because of it!

Next week I will have a rundown on all the chapters one by one to see how they stack up against the mighty Redtails at Skyhook.

The Redtails were honored by a visit from the Black Pilots of America's Vice President this week. Mr. Juan Haygood paid a visit to the Redtails as a part of his getting out to know the chapters. All of you have seen our first page and had to agree with our dominance at Skyhook to get this far, Vice President Haygood came to see how this wining machine will in fact dominate Skyhook. Juan heard about all the good things the Redtails are doing and how they plan to dominate at Operation Skyhook from the Redtails.

During his visit Juan was taken on an aerial tour of the Los Angeles basins by Redtails President Ron Lisberg.

Mr. Haygood had a sneak peak at the inter workings of most successful chapter in our national organization. He got also had a chance to break bread with some of our members but in all honesty when it came to Sushi, Tandoori, and Kim Chee we found out Juan was strictly a meat and potatoes kind of guy!

Sunday some of the Redtails enjoyed and afternoon at Oxnard Airport in Gene "Two Stars" Fussell's hangar while some of the Redtails couldn't get out of bed on Saturday for the Fly-out at Paso Robles airport.

The Redtails apparently have a bunch of Friday night party animals that can't hang on Saturday. We don't like to mention names here but one of the guys nom de plume is 'Cash'.

By now the most of the other Chapters are just digging out of the snow and are franticly playing the game of 'catch up' with the Redtails. The Redtails as usual will have a surprise or two up their sleeves to unveil at Skyhook.

note: JD, we will not be coming to Oxnard again without you submitting that application!

This week the Redtails added another member to it's rolls in the person of David Cunningham. David has a beautiful Piper Warrior which he must wax and polish daily and keep in a hangar.

Beware that Warrior will hurt your eyes if you look at it the wrong way! David is also the President of the Bay Area Black Pilots Association. Welcome David, David we know will make us proud!

For activities, the Redtails flew to Delano this weekend, our practice field and our regularly scheduled meeting to perfect the mechanisms President Ron (Redtail 1) invented for Flour Bomb Drop.

This item yet to be named will go on sale after Operation Skyhook for all the chapters who don't have these skills. The device intended for Cardinal RG's, Cessna 210's, and low wing wing airplanes will allow those that don't have an operational window to deliver a highly accurate Flour Bomb. The device can also be rigged for delivery of up to 20 bomb's just in case the rules allow saturation bombing!

For the new members attending this was a chance to familiarize themselves with the Pylon Race. Beware Black Pilots of America, the Redtails have a couple of sleepers!

This week some of the Redtails flew to Whiteman Airport, home base for five of the Redtails. Norse (Redtail 51) dropped by from SNA along with a few drive by's for lunch, While Jim (Redtail 57) practiced closed pattern work on soft-field landing and take-offs. That P337 of Jim's with the Robertson STOL kit is like a wild bucking bronco when that 560hp lifts its nose off in 10ft! Whew! hold on to it Jim! Roll on the power! Between Horace landing his wild stallion RV8 and Jim in the bucking P337 Delano next week should be a blast!

The Redtails this week turned to an old friend in the person of Iris Rideau and celebrated the Mardi Gras celebration at her Chateau and Winery in Santa Ynez, California. Ms. Rideau uses this day to bring friends to her ranch to taste her wines for the coming year. The Redtails being wine experts since Iris educated us on wines at the Black Pilots of America's national meeting in August of 2003.

The weather couldn't have been more perfect at Santa Ynez. When you were in the sun you were wishing for a hat and while you were in the shade you put on the Redtails jacket! The weather was marginal in both the Bay Area and Northern California and Southern California early in the morning but by noon the fog lifted and broke into a beautiful VFR day. Kudos go out to Stanley for being the go to person at this event.

Everyone is pointing to Operation Skyhook and making plans their plans to dominate again this year in the team competitions. See the picture section for Winery pictures.

After many weeks of unstable weather the Redtails this week got on the phone Friday night and started talking about how good the weather was going to be on Sunday throughout the state. Word spread like wildfire! The Redtails were looking for a place to fly on Sunday!

After a few phone calls it came to two places, Delano or Harris Ranch. Ozell spoke up and said the Redtails needed to put their grub on at Harris Ranch. 1:pm was chosen as the time and we would use the Red Frequency to communicate.

Well, we did it and a nice contingent of Redtails showed up! And get our grub on we did! Lead by a 28oz Prime Porterhouse Steak ordered by 'E' to a trendy dinner salad our figure conscious lone female Redtail ordered, we put our grub on! I can truly say that if you had put a hand between some of our guys and their steak you would have pulled back a nub!

The Flying was a blast with all the Redtails in the air talking and selling wolf tickets about how fast they were going and who out clum' who!

The weather was glass smooth and a twenty knot wind on our nose pushed some of us going and worked against us coming back. It can't get too much better than it was today. I reckon this is the feeling we will have coming from Skyhook with the team trophy this year, but that's another story. Pictures to follow!

Thanks Bronze Eagles for co-hosting "Slapdown". Anthony, the check is in the mail.

Rideau winery Mardi Gras celebration is next Saturday at Santa Inez. Call Ron or Eric for information. Also, the Redtails will open the Moreno Valley Black History Month parade.

The Redtails meet this weekend at the restaurant overlooking the grounds of the San Louis Obispo airport. The weather was rotten and those that didn't like clouds didn't make it. Rain, Rain, Go away, come again another day! We Californians are not used to this kind of weather! Normally when we plan a meeting or a fly-out you can put money on the weather being perfect!

We still had enough to have a meeting and get some of the chapter business done, and pick up another quality new member Tom Parker assigned Redtail call sign #4

The weather was horrible in the southwest this weekend but it didn't dampen the sprit of those who attended "Operation Slapdown" Weather took its toll on the number on the members who planned to and were hampered by the infamous Pineapple Express that filled the air with instability and moisture. Those that came were treated to a great weekend of fellowship. The Redtails, able to get there by superior flying skills braved ice, rain, and IMC conditions started with an opening barrage by guaranteeing they would have twice as many airplanes at Skyhook than the Bronze Eagles. President Ron Lisberg put up a bet of a $2 bill to seal it!

The Tuskegee and New Orleans chapter was to first to arrive and put all the other chapters they were the team to beat in the formation competition. Of course if you have only one airplane you have the perfect formation! Our Chairman of the Board John (xx) Hicks boasted he would be the winner of the Formation event and the Prayer Meeting and was willing to put money on it! The Flour Bomb drop will probably be won by the Redtails because the Chief Judge Les Morris was seen huddled in a corner of the hospitality suite with one of the two designated money droppers from the Redtails. I don't think they were discussing the Summer Flight Academy!

The real contest this weekend is when on a trip to the local Wal-Mart Superstore a boot store was spied by Anthony Hall. On the way back to the Wal-Mart we had to stop at the store. This was no ordinary cowboy boot store this is a place where a cheap pair of boots were $1000, yes you read it right $1000! Well Anthony, Jim, and Two Stars went in and came out with five pair! I was asked not to reveal exactly who bought what but $10,000 changed hands! Was this the real start of Slapdown? My boots look better than yours!

They all promised to come back next year and buy more now that they knew the store was so close to the hotel!

The flying trip to the WAR museum was icing on the cake for the weekend. Everyone talked about the airplanes of their era that was on display. Bronze Eagle Jim Brown took a walk down Memory Lane when we came upon the versatile Jeep on display. Everyone also remembered the deuce and a half which could go almost as many places as the Jeep. We all took pictures by the Tuskegee Airmen area they had set up and walked away with a sense of pride.

Between all the meals we shared and the good times watching movies in the hospitality room, smoking cigars in in the lounge, the challenges we were supposed to be doing didn't materialize because we were just having to much fun being with each other! Maybe next year!

The flyover at Moreno Valley was postponed until March because of the predicted rain that never appeared on Saturday. The Redtails this week were also preparing to make the trip to El Paso for 'Slapdown' We have one eye on the weather and the other on chats and plotters. We might have to dodge some weather getting to El Paso but that never stop us before. Just a warm-up for the cross country to Pine Bluff.

We have also been perfecting our secret handshake only to be used by Redtail on Redtails. Ron (Redtail 32) has now perfected the landings on his new Comanche 250 and has yet to be convince anyone his airplane cruising at 190mph. Jim (Redtail 57) is ready to try his P337 out at 17,500ft in route to El Paso. Those who have not made reservations at the hotel before the 14th of February will have to pay the regular rate, so get your reservations in before Monday.

The Real Estate meetings on Thursday nights have been most productive with Val Verde being the target of most of the activity. Watch us grow!

The Redtails meet at the Delano Airport Saturday and discussed plans for the upcoming 'Slapdown' at El Paso and the flyover this weekend at Moreno Valley.

The weather was as usual this time of year great in half of the state and lousy in the other part. This time the bay area was marginal VFR and the south was severe VFR. The lunch was bread and water Redtail style, Brie and fresh French bread, with Perrier Water.

A list was compiled on how many airplanes were going to 'Slapdown' and it looks like we will win the 'most airplanes' award hands down. As an adjunct those coming to 'Slapdown' will be asked to guess how much fuel they will use to make the trip and how long it will take them to make the trip. We will make up a form to submit before the flight. Everyone will be on his honor to report the actuals. We will award prizes to the top three.

Some of the more sophisticated Redtails will be bringing some of their best cigars with them for a smoke-out at the hotel (Radisson Suites) Sunday.

Don't be surprised if on the flight to and from the museum Sunday a race breaks out on the 17miles between El Paso and 5T6.

The Redtails were foiled by the weather this weekend. Having no permanent place to meet because of our members diverse locations the Redtails must count on our normally great weather and plan on it, yet these last few months Mother Nature has not been her consistent self. Our usual practice location has got a case of Tule Fog and this throws us off our feed.

Having no meeting to fly to this weekend the Redtails worked individually on our spot landing skills. Of course, we meet in our respective areas ,the bay area members at Hayward Airport in Cash's or Ozell's hangar, and the Los Angeles area at Ron's hangar at Whiteman Airport, and at the CBAA's clubhouse at Hawthorne Airport.

Hopefully we our plans are to meet at Delano Saturday for our meeting and get some practice in for the fly-over at the Moreno Valley Black History parade on the 12th of February. We intend to do the fly-over while those not participating in the flying will ride in the parade. At the end of the parade we have a booth to man for the rest of the day. Those flying will be transported by the parade committee to the booth for the Riverside Airport. We are looking to a fun day of pressin' the flesh and turning folks on to aviation.

Our regular Thursday night investment meeting has us looking at LLC's and LLP's for ourselves and in the next few weeks looking to set them up.

The Redtails added another member this week in Jarvis DeLaine. Jarvis is a Private Pilot with Instrument Rating. He flies mostly C182s, C177s (fixed gear), and Archers out of Hayward and Oakland airports. Welcome Jarvis to the most outstanding chapter in the Black Pilots of America. Our meeting in Jean, NV was postponed one week so everyone was on there own to prepare for our trip to Jean. Jim (Redtail 57) has an encounter (a new pinstripe) with the side of of a hangar in his P337 and has to do some reinforcing on a wingtip and Ron (Redtail 1) found a crack in Tumbleweeds spinner that must be replaced. All the Redtails are pointing towards the El Paso 'Slapdown' next month on Saturday the 19th through the 21st. We are still trying to negotiate an agreement with the hotels and FBO's. The decision will be made and published in next weeks update.

The Redtail officers meet this weekend in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida for the Black Pilots of America's Board of Directors Meeting. The meeting was held on Saturday morning where the new board was sworn in at the meeting. Each chapter gave a report on their activities for 2004 and their planned activities for 2005. Each committee gave their reports on the planned changes for the next year. Everyone left the meeting with a renewed attitude on how this will be our best year ever. And of course their were the usual parties enjoyed by all who came. Pictures are pending.

The Redtails again gained a new member this weekend and are proud to have Bill as our newest. Bill is in the process of getting his Private license under the tutelage of Capt. Fred Pitcher. Bill is flying about once a week and has about 10 hours in his log book. After speaking to Bill most of the Redtails encouraged him to try and get at least two flights a week under his belt.

Some of the Redtails are preparing to go to the Black Pilots of America's Winter Board of Directors meeting hosted by the South Florida Chapter, we are looking to have a great time there and get a little business out of the way. The festivities start on Thursday and continue through Sunday night.

Flying? well the weather has been unseasonably rainy in California. Ron (Redtail 1) and Jim (Redtail 57) were able to go to Stockton (SCK) for a week of intense training on Jim's Cessna P337. Both came away with stories about their encounters with icing.

We can't wait for better flying weather later this month to fly to our regular meeting at Jean, Nevada.

As planned the Redtails Started the year off by flying. The weather cleared on Saturday and the Redtails took to the sky. Most of us just flew around chasing the cumulus in the air, taking pictures, and generally turning money into noise. Everyone wanted to just get in the air to bring in the New Year. The last week of the 2004 hampered our style but the Saturday as with the Rose Parade it didn't rain on our parade. Listening to a television reporter say it hand not rained the day of the parade for 55 years only proves we live in the land of aviation.

This week the Redtails added another member in Tyrone Brown (Redtail 25). Tyrone is the proud owner of a great looking, heavy liftin' Cessna 182 and is very enthusiastic about flying with us to all the good places on our 2005 Calendar. Welcome aboard Tyrone!