The Labor Day fly in was rained out although some pilots did get to fly Thursday and Friday. One of the forecasts I looked at called for partly sunny on Saturday and being an optimist, I headed out that morning. I drove almost to Moorefield before turning back, the steady rain and low clouds were too discouraging. I had even cooked a venison roast the night before. Some members stayed until Sunday morning, the food being eaten for lunch Saturday. Quite the contrast to Memorial Day weekend when not a drop of rain fell.

I had an unusual flight not long ago, XC after a tow at Ridgely MD, not so much from the flight itself but the flight of another craft nearby: a model rocket. Not the kind you buy in the hobby shop, this was a big one. I was at 4000 AGL and it went well above me. I was a mile and a half away and it was spectacular, not something you see on every flight. I checked into the club, these guys have FAA clearance to 14,000 ft. and are serious about their hobby. They saw me and had to delay operations, another pilot landed nearby and got chewed out on my behalf. A few miles later I was joined in a thermal by a bald eagle, it buzzed me twice with talons out and hissed at me. I didn't know they hissed. Not much of a noise for a bird that's our national symbol, the lowly chicken makes more noise. Landed after 26.7 miles and 2 people drove to get me, not knowing the other was on the way even though they arrived just a couple minutes apart.

You won't find any classifieds in this issue, we need to figure out a better system in order to share ads with the Capitol and Maryland clubs. Hopefully we'll find somebody to organize all the ads. If you have anything you want to sell call me or send the ad.

Safe landings and look out for rockets.

Mike