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2013 SoCal Mooney Caravan Formation Clinic

Dave Marten

By Dave Marten
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Dave Marten Proficient

Dave Marten

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Mooney Pilots, 

 

In the spirit of camaraderie and training the Caravan is partnering with our Bonanza brethren to jointly host the SoCal formation clinic. Any of you are welcome to participate!

 

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SOCAL COMBINED (B2OSH/Caravan) FORMATION FLYING CLINIC

 

Location: Mojave Air and Space Port (KMHV) Mojave, CA

 

Dates: April 13-14, 2013

 

Host: Dave Marten and Stephen Blythe

 

FBO: Mojave Airport http://www.airnav.com/airport/KMHV Parking is on the transient ramp mid-field in front of the Café adjacent to self-serve fuel. Transportation to/from the host hotel is provided

Registration  for the SoCal Formation clinic 2013 is now open. Please e-mail form and follow-up with hard copy in the mail w/fee. **attached below

 

The session is oriented to introduce and/or polish formation flying at the B2OSH/Mooney Caravan formation level in preparation for Oshkosh with the secondary goal to prepare pilots for advanced formation. For pilots demonstrating readiness, we will introduce them to initial 4 ship procedures. Safety pilots will be available for the initial flights. Both 2-ship and 4-ship training sessions will be scheduled.

 

We'll be basing out of the Mojave Air and Space Port (KMHV) which boasts plentiful runways and vast amounts of airspace. We’re working with Edwards AFB and Joshua Approach to coordinate our flight ops in and around R2508 and adjacent MOAs.

 

Safety pilots: In addition to your experienced fellow B2Osh and Mooney pilots Jason DiGiacomo and Dave Marten have invited some of their fellow USAF test pilots to assist the clinic as formation instructors. Great opportunity to enhance your formation skills.

 

Each individual practicing his/her formation skills will be considered PIC and totally and solely responsible for the safe operation of the aircraft. Please review the waiver that each person will be required to sign. Dual rudder pedals and working intercom are required.

 

Ground School: Friday, April 12th is arrival day. Formation Academics will be held FRIDAY evening at 7:30 pm following a 6pm group dinner at the hotel.  Two blocks of instruction will be provided:

  • Initial Formation Academics: Introduction and review of fundamental 2- ship procedures focusing on training requirements for B2OSH/Caravan mass arrivals. Mandatory for those who have not previously attended a B2OSH/Caravan clinic.

 

  •  Advanced: For those pilots looking to move beyond the basics. 2-ship maneuvering and rejoins, overhead patterns, and 4-ship fundamentals will be covered.

**Friday evening Ground School will maximize flying on Saturday. 4-ship proficient safety pilots (approved by the clinic hosts) may arrive NLT 0800 Saturday.     

 

Registration fee: $50.00 to cover beverages and snacks, dinner Saturday night, and clinic materials. (any leftover funds will go to B2Osh). Participants need to cover dinners for the Friday evening.

 

 

- B2OSH Pilots: The T-34 Formation Flight Manual is required for participation in this clinic. Also required is thorough familiarization with "On Your Own", the Bonanza specific supplement and general information on this web site.

 

- Mooney Caravan Pilots (and others): Download and study the Mooney Caravan Formation Training Guide Rev 3 from http://www.mooneycar...gMaterials.aspx

 

Each pilot is considered PIC and solely responsible for the safe operation of the airplane whether there is a safety pilot or not.

 

Hotel: Group lodging is available at the Mariah Country Inn & Suites adjacent to the airport. The group rate of $79 includes hot breakfast each morning. Transportation to/from the hotel will be provided. www.mariahhotel.com Please call 661-824-4980 and ask for the “SoCal Formation Clinic” rate.

 

Registration: Please complete a registration form and send to Dave Marten dandtmarten@hotmail.com e-mail and then mail a copy w/fee. 2013_SoCal_registration.pdf

 

 

The clinic announcement can also be found on http://www.b2osh.org...ls/regional.htm

 

Dave Marten Proficient

Dave Marten

Posted
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Posted

We had a great time in Yuma with 8 Mooneys participating. Looking forward to our SoCal Formation clinic. The Beech guys are showing us up big time. So far I'm expecting over a dozen of them. Hoping some Mooney pilots will drag their planes out to play.

 

Here's a teaser from Yuma:

 

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More here:http://mooneycaravan.shutterfly.com/

 

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  • 4 weeks later...
Dave Marten Proficient

Dave Marten

Posted
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Posted 
Fellow Mooney Drivers,


For your awareness incase anyone was going to stop by. We've moved this weekend's clinic from MHV to PTV.

Another spring front is rolling through bringing big winds to the desert (no fun for training).

We're all set for a great weekend! Where are you flying?

---

Pilots,
 
Based on feedback and forecast we've committed to the push to PORTERVILLE.
 
INDIVIDUAL ACTIONS:
 
- CALL MARIAH HOTEL 661-824-4980 and CANCEL your room. Note they were EXTREMELY accommodating. Please and thank them for their support!
 
- CALL BEST WESTERN PORTERVILLE 877-781-7411
-- Book room under "SoCal Formation Clinic" group rate $79.55
-- Book by phone, but here is the hotel website http://www.bestwesternporterville.com/
-- they've been very helpful also. John, the manager, was very friendly.
 
Logistics:
- Your registration fees will help fund a couple rentals cars to shuttle us between airport/hotel/food/beer. 
- I'm working final 'dinner push' for Sat. 
 
Schedule:
- No change to basic plan
- Start w/ Group dinner Friday 6pm (if desired)
- Friday Academics: 7:30-9:00pm at Hotel meeting room (both advanced and fundamentals)
 
Arrival:
- Park on main ramp in front of terminal
- Bring chocks tiedown ropes should be available
- I'll be there by Noon on Friday call 605-390-8044 w/ issues
 
Questions: 605-390-8044
 
----------------------------------
 
Pilots,
 
Welcome! We've got a great weekend of formation flying planned. Here is an overview of the pilots registered. A 'final' roster will be sent tomorrow:
 
Dave Marten - Mooney (host)
Stephen Blythe - Bonanza (co-host)
Larry Brennan - Mooney
Larry Gaines - Bonanza
Jason Digacomo - Bonanza (co-host)
Michael Apodaca - Bonanza
Edward Black - Bonanza
Ron Fairfax - Bonanza
Edward Fernandes - Bonanza
Michael Landau - Bonanza
Phil Verghese - Mooney
Ashley Mullen - Bonanza
Stan Stewart - Bonanza
Jim Webber - Bonanza
Richard Schmidt - Baron
Richard Davis - Baron
Morton Boyd - Mooney
Paul Kortopates - Mooney
Mike Radomsky - Cirrus
Hank Carlson - Bonanza
John Wilson - Mooney
Hank Canterbury - Bonanza
Chris Cygnet - Baron
 
Late Players - call Dave Marten 605-390-8044 or dandtmarten@hotmail.com <mailto:dandtmarten%40hotmail.com>  or david.marten@edwards.af.mil <mailto:david.marten%40edwards.af.mil>  
 
However, we're faced with one very important challenge: WIND! We'll be looking at 19-20mph sustained on Saturday afternoon and increasing on Sunday. Another cold front is rolling through. Here is this afternoon's Forecast Discussion:
 
BY SATURDAY MORNING...MODELS INDICATE THE ARRIVAL OF THE STRONG JET MOVING INTO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. MODELS THEN SLOWLY DROP THIS JET SOUTH TOWARD CENTRAL CALIFORNIA CLOSER TO SUNDAY. MODEL MEAN SEA LEVEL PRESSURE /PMSL/ ANALYSIS SHOWS A NEAR 998MB LOW PROGGED TO MOVE INTO THE GREAT BASIN MOVING BY SUNDAY MORNING. YET...BEFOREHAND... 
MODEL PMSL ANALYSIS HAS THE PRESSURE GRADIENT FROM SFO TO LAS AT NEAR 15MB ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON. WHILE THE POTENTIAL FOR A HIGH WIND WARNING EVENT IS STRONG ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY...WINDS MAY REACH ADVISORY LEVELS ON SATURDAY. WILL THEREFORE ALLOW THE SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT TO CONTINUE WITH THE MENTION OF VERY STRONG WINDS OVER THE WEEKEND...AND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK...ALONG WITH COOLER TEMPERATURES STARTING AROUND THE SAME PERIODS. IN COMPARISON...THE SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON MAY REACH BETWEEN 17MB AND 19MB TO THAT ON SATURDAY WHERE THE GRADIENT MAY ONLY REACH 15MB. AS THE EVENT APPROACHES...ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS WILL BE POSTED TO REFLECT THE POSSIBLE WEATHER THIS WEEKEND.
 
And the Associated WX Statement:
 
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - HANFORD CA
934 AM PDT WED APR 10 2013
 
CAZ095-098-099-110445-
KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS-INDIAN WELLS VALLEY- SOUTHEASTERN KERN COUNTY DESERT-
934 AM PDT WED APR 10 2013
 
...STRONG WINDS POSSIBLE THIS WEEKEND IN EASTERN KERN COUNTY...
 
AN APPROACHING WEATHER SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO BRING ANOTHER ROUND OF STRONG WINDS TO THE KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS THIS WEEKEND AND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. WIND GUSTS OF 50 TO 60 MPH OR HIGHER ARE POSSIBLE.
 
STAY TUNED FOR LATER FORECAST UPDATES AND POSSIBLE ALERTS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
 
Way forward:
 
Option 1: Press ahead and hope for best on front timing
- Should have decent WX Sat AM, but conditions may deteriorate Sat afternoon and Sunday will be worse
 
Option 2: Move to alternate location: Porterville (KPTV)
- Rationale: Weekend WX is forecast clear and winds less than 10kts. Located in just north of Bakersfield PTV is on the upwind side of the Sierras and will not experience the desert winds expected at Mojave.
- Pros:
- Uncontrolled field, formation friendly,
- 150' wide runway, SS gas, airport café,
- Excellent working airspace (although not R2508) - used by Redstar and RVs for formation clinics
- Lodging: Group rate at Best Western ($79)
- Transpo: registration fees cover 3x full-size rentals to shuttle pilots between airport/food/hotel
- A bit (15-20 min) closer for our NorCal buddies
- Known better WX! (less risk of grumpy pilots)
 
- Cons: 
- Last minute venue change will have your host scrambling (he can hack it)
- Attendees will have to cancel reservations and re-book (Mariah has a 24 hr cancellation policy)
- Somebody may not get the word! 
 
My recommendation:
 
- Happy to solicit input tonight, but the deadline for a decision can be NLT than 10am Thursday. If we move I will need to call every registered pilot Thursday morning and ensure we've gotten the word out to everyone.
 
- Based on current forecast I believe we should MOVE to Porterville. Commit early rather than try to flex logistics on-the-fly. As I pilot I don't cancel a mission based on the forecast, but I damn sure will do everything I can to alter the plan to mitigate impacts!
 
 
Blue Skies (and tailwinds)!
 
Dave "SARDOT" Marten, Maj, USAF
Experimental Test Pilot
Assistant Director of Operations, 419th FLTS DSN 525-0311 COMM (661) 275-0311 Cell (605) 390-8044
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