W10 June News

Welcome to summer!
It has been a while since our last update, so we thought we would update you all on a few of the developments here at W10.

• First, and foremost...The Roaming Radish at the south end of the field is going to open for lunch for us this Sunday (June 11, 2017) at 1pm.  Come hang out with friends, neighbors, and users of W10.  Pulled pork sandwiches and hot dogs will be served for only $12, or just come to hang out.  If you haven't been to the roaming radish, you can get there from the airport by walking up the last ramp on the south end, and following that to the end.  From the road, the address is 5417 Crawford Rd, Langley 98260.  If you haven't been before, the restaurant itself is housed in an old aircraft hangar, and the food is amazing.  I believe that they will staff the bar as well, should you care for a drink.  Fly in if you like, then walk up.  Please RSVP with a head count by Thursday if you plan to join us, so that we can have enough food on hand.
• And nearly as important - the road has been graded from the pavement at Lake Leo Way to Venturi Way(!!!)  This is just a first pass, but you can now safely drive even the lowest of vehicles in from 525.  Additional grading, drainage, and gravel are planned for the coming weeks, but it is already immensely better than it had been.  (This road continues to be privately owned, and improvements are privately funded by the neighbors. Please drive slowly and respectfully to ensure that the financial investments being made towards road improvements last as long as possible.  Thank you.)
• I am currently researching flight simulators, and plan to put one in at the airport managers office.  I am currently torn between FAA approved or nice non-approved options.  If you would have an interest in using an FAA approved flight simulator at a rate of ~$50/hour, please let us know and we may be swayed in that direction (and maybe talked into a nicer system depending on interest).  Time in an FAA approved "Basic Aviation Training Device" can be logged for up to 2.5 hours towards a private pilot rating, up to 10 hours towards an instrument rating, and for maintaining instrument currency.  Please respond promptly, as I would like to make this purchase soon.
• The tetrahedron has been temporarily removed.  Due to the design, it was not accurately indicating wind direction, and was deemed to be more hazard than help.  (Although it was amusing to watch it spin in circles when the wind blew).  If anyone would like to take on the project of fixing the tetrahedron, please let us know.  We would like to get it reinstalled as soon as possible, but it will take someone with a little fabrication and/or welding skill to either move the pivot location or fabricate a vertical tail section.  Again, let us know if this is something that sounds interesting and we can work out the details.
• Several of the tall trees to the south of the runway have been taken down.  We plan to continue to improve the clearway to the south as time allows.
• We have also started clearing a section on the west side of the field, just north of the Coffee Roasters as a new transient parking area.  In addition to clearing the trees, there will be some dirt work needed, but when finished should provide a tie down area which does not encroach on the runway safety zones (as sometimes happens when people park at the head of the coffee roasters trail).
• Many thanks to Matthew for helping to get the tractor running reliably (and thanks to the Roaming Radish for allowing us to use it).  We had passed over offers to help mow in the past, because it was just a little too finicky (dangerous) to let anyone else on it. A fresh battery and a new starter solenoid has made a huge improvements, so if folks wish to spend some time sitting on a tractor, let us know and we can work you into the mowing schedule =)  (It takes 8-10 hours for a full mow, but it need not all be done at once.)
• We continue to blast moss off the runway little by little.  With 62,500 square feet of asphalt to maintain, nothing goes quickly with our modest tools, but we will continue to whittle away, while trying not to interfere with normal runway use.
• Thanks to all of the local users who have been dutifully paying their use/access fees.  With several months now behind us, we can start projecting, and budgeting for future maintenance activities.  The first order of business will be proper repair of the runway cracks, and the sink hole developing at the south end.  That will be completed this summer.  We will advise when we have a firm date.
•  We are building a fire pit near the "Porter House" which will be available to anyone that would like to hang out around a fire.  The pit itself should be finished in a day or two, and we will continue to add amenities throughout the summer.
• We are carving an aircraft camp sight into the woods just south of the north wind sock, which will allow under wing camping.  That may take a little time to finish getting prepped and graded, but we look forward to offering the additional recreational option soon.

So, much going on, and more to come.  And again, please RSVP by Thursday for lunch on Sunday with number of heads, and let me know if you are interested in an FAA approved flight simulator on premises.
Blue Skies,
-Sky (and Tara)
 360-321-0510