PGC Photo Album

PGC Class Of 2009

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Andy Carazo - FAA Check Ride - May 20, 2009. Andy is all smiles as he gets the official secret FAA handshake that makes him a new certificated pilot. It seem like Andy was (literally) wet behind the ears just yesterday. Congratulations Andy !!! Hey, can you spell XC ? (Photo by Chip)

PGC CLASS OF 2009
MEMBER		ACHIEVEMENT
Andy Carazo		5/20/09 - Certificate
George Mark		6/1/09 - Certificate
Kyle Coulson		6/1/09 - Certificate
Brett Hanley		7/19/09 - Certificate
Bob Thompson		7/19/09 - First XC
Don Uyhazi		8/25/09 - CFIG
Tom McCarthy		8/29/09 - Glider Rating
Carmen Vecchione		9/17/09 - First Solo
Julian McLeod		9/13/09 - First Solo
Tom Peterson		10/3/09 - CFIG
Geoff Nye		11/1/09 - First Solo
Kevin Cornell		11/1/09 - First Solo
Stephane Poussou		11/8/09 First Solo
Tris Colket		11/22/09 First Solo
Carmen Vecchione		11/29/09 - Private

George Mark - FAA Check Ride - June 1, 2009. George gets his wings and the all important secret FAA handshake from Randy. I'm sure we'll see George picking up a few more signoffs this year. Congratulations George!!! (Photo by Chip)

Kyle Coulson - FAA Check Ride - June 1, 2009. Kyle is pretty relaxed ... looking cool ... and all smiles as he gets the official FAA handshake from Randy. Of course, as soon as he got his license, he wanted to take dad for a ride - see following photos. Congrats Kyle !!! (Photo by Chip)

George then gets the secret PGC handshake from one of his PGC instructors, Phil Jones. Congratulations George !!! (Photo by Esser)

June 1 was a happy day as two PGC members completed FAA check rides for certifications. Chip Fitzpatrick, Kyle Coulson, George Mark and Phil Jones are in high spirits in this post checkride photo. (Photo by Esser)

Klaus Esser, ace photog for PGC, reports Chip Fitzpatrick was so elated with Kyle's performance, Klaus said it looks like he tried to give Kyle a little smooch?! Hey, I'm just the messenger on this one. I will have to talk to my partner about this, though ... first those bike outfits ... now this. (Photo and reporting by Esser)

Kyle Coulson completes his FAA checkride and jumps into a Grob 103 to give his dad a ride. Dad is smiling in the photo on the left before the takeoff ... and he is smiling after they land ... looks like Kyle did a great job !!! (Photo by Chip)

Andy Carazo - Andy is all smiles before his attempt for the Bronze Duration. Andy flew H2 in thermals around PGC for 1 hour and 45 minutes - and just missed the two hour requirement. Best part is he gets to try it again !!! (Photo by Chip)

Andy completed his Bronze Duration on his next attempt - Congrats Andy - I can see a 'Silver' lining in your future !!!

Although Kyle Coulson and George Mark differ in life experience, they clearly shared a fine soaring experience on this June Day. (Photo by Phil Jones)

Bob Thompson - First XC Flight - July 19, 2009. Bob is setting up his new Discus in this prior photo - and all this preparation came to fruition this Sunday when Bob stepped away from PGC - flying to Pottstown Muni, Quakertown and Return. Not a cake walk as Bob says, "I had a couple of VERY good looks at possible landing sites along the way, but managed to get back up and finish the task." Congratulations on your first XC flight, Bob - hope to see you out there for your Silver Distance next !!!	Brett Hanley - FAA Check Ride - July 19, 2009. Brett gets his wings and Randy gives him the official secret FAA handshake. In addition to being an avid club member and great new glider pilot - I have to say Brett is one of the most well dressed glider pilots we have in the club - sporting a spiffy shirt with a collar for his check ride! (Hey Chip, please take notice.) Congratulations Brett - on your soaring achievement - and for upgrading the image of glider pilots at PGC !!! (Photo by Phil Jones)
Don Uyhazi - CFIG - August 25, 2009. Don (right) gets the official CFIG handshake from Dave Sakmar on this beautiful afternoon at PGC - and joins the very excellent PGC instruction team. Congratulations on your achievement, Don! Tom McCarthy (photo right) - FAA Check Ride for Glider Rating - August 29, 2009. Tom (left in photo) receives the secret FAA Checkride Handshake from Randy Rickert on a sunny morning at PGC. Chip reports Tom was very good student, despite being an active power CFI at Hortman Aviation Services at NE Phila. Chip says Tom also has a few tatoo’s, some nice band jerseys as stage set up crew, and likes to wear his baseball cap backwards. He started last year on the recommendation of Joe Miller - but may have to leave us for an employment opportunity in Florida. Hey, you gotta go where the work is these days. Congrats, Tom!
	Carmen Vecchione - First Solo - September 17, 2009. Carmen looks confident and gives a thumbs up in the photo on the left .... and Jack holds the Grob wing as Carmen carefully performs last checks before his first solo takeoff. (Photos by Don Uyhazi)
	Carmen has a perfect first solo flight and is happy, contented and dry ... as he gets the secret Solo Handshake from Jack Goritski in the photo on the left. But when Jack refuses to let go, Carmen has to know a Wx change is coming ... and Yes! .... the tradition continues as we have another wet-down for a fledgling pilot! Congratulations Carmen - we hope to see you in you flight test photo soon. (Photos by Don Uyhazi)

	Julian Mcleod - First Solo - September 13, 2009. Julian looks very comfortable before his solo in the photo upper left .... and then has a perfect flight and puts the ship on the mark for his landing - photo above. Julian covers up as Chip Fitzpatrick and (who is this?) administer the PGC Solo Celebration wet-down. This is only the second this year, I think - we need more of these !!! By the way, Julian is the poster boy on our "Learn To Fly Page" - he came out a couple of years ago to take a ride - and was hooked on gliding! Congrats on your Solo, Julian !!!
(All photos in this group by Don Uyhazi)	Tom Peterson - CFIG - October 2, 2009. Tom and his check pilot (Joe Miller) recite a little prayer before the flight in the photo above. Tom's prayer is the typical verse from The Right Stuff, "Lord, please don't let me screw up." Joe's is actually the same, "Lord, please don't let Tom screw up." Joe is discussing glide ratios with Tom in the photo on the left, reviewing how you can precisely calculate how far a glider will go based on the glider's L/D ratio and resulting glide slope. Tom says, "Sure, where were you when I landed out on a final glide during the third day of the Caesar Creek Regionals".
	Tom gets the official Gold Seal head stamp (photo left) and the secret CFIG handshake from Joe Miller (above) - joining the very excellent PGC instruction team. I know Tom will be an excellent instructor. Congratulations on your achievement, Tom!
Stephane Poussou - First Solo - November 8, 2009. Stephane gets the secret solo handshake from PGC instructor, Chip Fitzpatrick, after completing his first solo. Congratulations Stephane !!! I don't have any other photos and therefore suspect Stephane escaped the damp solo right-of-passage ... hey guys, we have to maintain tradition here - maybe we can catch up when Stephane gets his certificate? (Photo and reporting by Chip)	Tris Colket - First Solo - November 22, 2009. PGC Instructor, Haven Goulding, works with Tris on his pre-solo preparations and Mike Little does the hookup.
Tris Colket - First Solo - November 22, 2009. YES !!! We have a successful solo splashdown ... and Jack Goritski performs the PGC Solo Right of Passage on this cold November Day. Congratulation Tris !!! Haven provided a little more background on Tris. "Tris is an ab-initio student and soloed on his 41st flight at PGC. He pulled a 92 on his FAA written ... and his approach and landing were very near textbook ... just ask Goritski. Ken Reinhardt and Jack Goritski gave Tris his phase check and pre-solo check ride. He flies jet powered RC helicopters as a hobby ... and has approximately 10 hours of flight training in helicopters ... and has flown Microsoft Flight Simulator since its inception." Goritski really enjoys this part of the ceremony ... he is such a people person.	Carmen Vecchione - Certificate - November 19, 2009. Carmen takes off (top photo) ... and receives the secret FAA Checkride Handshake from Randy Rickert after ace-ing the checkride on this chilly day at PGC. Congratulations Carmen !!! Hey, where is your sweet vinyl girlfriend? (Photos by Don Uyhazi)