IAC chapter 78 Practice Days

I know we've all pontificated this year on the best course for our membership and concerns with demotivation among members during this season of COVID-19.  Here's a little summary to inspire some hope for the future of our club.

 

I had sent out an invite to Chapter 78, the Minnesota chapter of the IAC for a potential critique.  The day of the event we had one participant cancel yet managed a gathering of seven aircraft flown by eight pilots in categories from Primary through Unlimited.

 

Two members/competitors who are presently without aircraft due to maintenance drove to the event, one brought his wife who is a member and non-flying volunteer.  Some of the non-flying volunteers who are non-members of the club but aware of us took time out of their Saturday to show support and learn more about the sport.  This was one of the biggest play-days our club has hosted in YEARS.  Typical critique sessions have been one or two of the upper category pilots, a couple in Intermediate and maybe a Sportsman pilot.

 

We enjoyed participation of two NEW members, one had actually received his IAC membership card just a couple days before this gathering.  Both were hoping that our contest would continue. (In the end, the Doug Yost Challenge had to cancel.).  It would have been both pilots' first competition.  In an effort to assist these individuals, both Craig Gifford and myself provided safety pilot duties during the course of the day so our new members could get some hands-on one-on-one instruction with an 'out' should something go astray.

 

All were welcome, all participated.  As the box closed and the day came to a conclusion, we even gave one ride to a non-member student pilot who has volunteered at our Contest and is committed to join the IAC.