With the retirement of our long term class scribe, Alfred (Rosie) Cler, I am making my meager attempt at continuing our submission of superior class columns. There is no way I can come close to matching the last 30 years of excellence from Rosie. And, hopefully, for the fall issue, we will find a classmate that will relieve me from my less than comparable efforts. I am sure the entire class joins me in expressing our very sincere appreciation for the yeoman job Rosie has done reporting our class activities since he took the reins in 1985. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your unfailing dedication and service to our class. We will not forget your timeless work.

Not that he was ever really lost, JT Smith recently located Steve Bishop in a care facility near Longmont, Co. Unfortunately, shortly after a recent 2-hour visit by Jim and Jenny Glaza, and Deanne and John McCullough, Steve passed away suddenly on 25 April, 2015.

In addition to Steve Bishop's death, I also need to inform you of the untimely loss of Jerry Farquhar's wife; Dorothy C. Westby, who died quietly in Okeechobee, FL, March 17th, 2015, after a long illness.

O K, on a far lighter note, let me get on with the task of bringing you up to date on a few of the class members who have been busy leading interesting lives.

A quick call to Phil Meinhardt, aka; "The Sage of the Desert" (his words), and now a permanent resident of "the good life" in Palm Desert, CA., disclosed that Goose Gulbransen rolled in to visit him. To honor the occasion, Phil hosted a small dinner party featuring Pat & Earl VanInwegen and friends.

Phil mentioned that the class social circle in Palm Desert grows over the winter as he and the Vans are joined by Vic and Suzanne Yoakum, and occasionally Greg Boyington and June Colgan. While in-residence it seems there is a nearly constant circuit of social activity. During the remainder of the year, the Sage, currently between wives, lives in indolent pleasure working on his novel and sampling the many female opportunities present in the Palm Springs area.

In the front row are Pete Roe, Jock Schwank, Bruce Mosier, Andi Biancur, Gordy Savage. Standing: Jim Waddle, Jack Brush, Jim Glaza, Fred Porter (head only), Dick Sexton, Wayne Kendall, Dave Reed, George Pupich, Tony Bilello, John McCullough.

Following some excellent food, some shared laughs, the typical update on various assorted ails and age-related medical problems, Wayne Kendall gave a very useful presentation on the collection of cold medications he encountered on the counters of our local drug stores. If I were to capsulize his description of the more common over-the-counter remedies, I would conclude that the more words in the title, the more it costs without providing a requisite number of benefits. In reality, compare ingredients, and do not ignore the generics in selecting what you believe you need. He left us with a well thought out paper to guide in future searches.

One of our authors, Gordy Savage, informed us that he is well along on his next book. It is nice to know that he has joined several of our other classmates is producing something to share during retirement. His new book is tentatively named Teleportal, with a possible subtitle of Escape to Long Valley because it promises a sequel. Gordy has finished the first draft and second draft, and is now working with a Beta-reader (his daughter, Kathy). When he gets her input it will go to a professional editor for final proofreading. Note--Gordon's first book Peacemaker has been added to the AOG graduate authors webpage.

Jack Brush spoke about his upcoming speed record attempt in his Aerostar. He outlined the involved bureaucratic process required by the FAA, and the intricate elements necessary to validate an effort to have any record recognized at both national and international levels.

First, there are all sorts of international aircraft records recognized by the FAI (Federation Aeronautiqe Internationale) whose US representative is the NAA( National Aeronautic Association) The class most light aircraft are in is C!D ( Reciprocating engines with take-off weight 3858 to 6614 lbs. The interesting records are out and back closed courses of varying lengths. The short lengths (3km, 15km, and 100km were set three years ago by a hot rod czec trainer with a big retrofitted engine). The 500km and 1000km records were set in a turbocharged Bellanca in 1975 about 340 mph. There was only one made. The longest, 2000km, was set in a turbocharged Aerostar in 1975 similar to mine flying at 272 mph.

Second, most souped up Aerostar 700s could match that record, but it's a challenge because it requires 4 hours flying 1100 nautical miles.

Third, his Aerostar is reportedly faster or less draggy than others due to 30 years of tweaking the rigging, drag reduction, and a quirk of fate when, in 1974, about 100 wing sets were subcontracted by Ted Smith to Ryan Aircraft in San Diego. They were made exactly to specs with very smooth laminar flow. (Recall Ryan built Lindberg's wings.) There are lots of administrative hoops to jump through. You can't just do it and use FlightAware. Jack knows the airplane will complete the required course within flight manual altitudes and power settings, so his roles are the paper work, navigation, and staying awake watching the autopilot for 4 hours. The glider folks have developed tiny portable GPS- based flight data recorders that record position and altitude data every second. And, since fast recips are not the latest fashion, if he can log the speed he expects of 310 mph any record he sets could stand for a while. Stay tune.

With the assistance and approval of his widow (Linda (Bourque) Sheppard, the class has taken action to have Val's grave marker here at the Academy replaced with a marker that more appropriately honors the special place he holds within our class and in Academy history. The new plaque is now in-work and should be in place well before our 55th Reunion in October.

Jim Glaza tells me that 15 of his group of 31 who will have completed their 17 day sojourn from Amsterdam to Vienna by mid-May are Academy Classmates/widows. Jim is planning a trip to Machu Picchu and the Galapagos for May of 2016, but is not sure any openings will be available by the time this is published. As a group leader for Overseas Adventure Travel/Grand Circle Travel, he has established our class as an "affinity group," which garners an additional 10% discount of all travel costs (including air fare). Jim tries to put together a Class of '60 focused trip every year.
Hopefully by the next issue, we will be reading the prose of a much more accomplished writer with additional news of class happenings. Go to the class web page for more news.