We hope you all had a good safe year in 2005.  Let’s all work hard to continue the good safety record of our club and it’s members.  At least two of our members closed out the year with some flying in the last hour of the last day of 2005.  Tom Mcquinn (Challenger ) and Mark Anliker (Kolb) landed at my home airstrip near Loda late in the afternoon on December 31st.   I had wanted to fly the next morning, the first day of 2006 and so did Raymund Theron, but it was too windy for us.  My first flight of 2006 was on January 2nd.

In case anyone is counting, we are now beginning our 24th year as an ultralight club!  It’s hard to believe it has been that long.  We still have a few members from those earliest days.

In another birthday, our club web site is now 5 years old.  Thanks go to past president Mike Ostrander for getting it starting and keeping it going.  We are on the web!  People have used the site to find our club and to contact the officers.  If you've never seen it, go to the location shown above in the heading.

The next meeting of Illini Skyriders will be held this Saturday, January 21 at the Red Wheel Restaurant, 741 Broadmeadow Rd in Rantoul, ILL.  The location is on the west edge of Rantoul on Rt. 136 about one block south of the Amoco (BP) station.  Please join us for dinner as early as 6:00 PM.  The meeting will start at 7:00.

REMINDER.  Annual club dues of $25 are due this month.  Please pay at the next meeting or send a check to the Treasurer.

The November 19th meeting of Illini Skyriders was held at the Red Wheel Restaurant in Rantoul Illinois.  There were 12 members present.  The meeting was called to order at 7:30PM by president Richard Davis.  We were reminded that membership dues are coming up for next year and a number of members paid their dues at the meeting.

There was a period of discussion and reminiscing about our flying in 2005.  Also new member Tom McQuinn talked at length about developments at the Paxton Airport.  It is hoped that the city can find someone to take on the contract as FBO at the airport.  A current applicant wants the city to put in a new automatic credit card fuel pump. The high cost, and insurance concerns will probably prevent that happening.

The major business for this meeting was the election of officers for 2006.  When asked, the current officers stated they would be willing to continue.  No new candidates were nominated to replace them.   It was agreed unanimously that the current officers shall continue to serve in 2006.  The meeting was adjourned at 8:30PM.

Some of you probably plan to take advantage of the new Sport Pilot rule.  Anyone currently flying can get credit for your flight time in ultralights but you must do it before January 31st of next year.  Curt Shoaf and I have been studying for the test and we will probably be the first to go through the process.  The written (or the knowledge test) is not that difficult.  You must answer 40 questions out of 211 possible and get 70% correct.  I’ve been working with a computer-based program,  the ASA Sport Pilot Prepware.  It is an excellent product that allows you to practice taking the test and keeps track of your mistakes.  After about a week with the program I am getting 100% correct on almost every practice test.

All Light Sport Aircraft will need to have a proper annual condition inspection just like “real” airplanes.  Under the new LSA rules the owner can do this inspection if he has attended a 16-hour training course that is specific to airplanes, trikes, or powered parachutes.  Weekend courses are already being offered in our area.  For more information go to www.sportaviationspecialties.com

Mark your calendars.  The longest running, largest, and best Ultralight Safety Seminar in the entire USA will take place on February 25th at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.  It was started nearly a quarter century ago by Charlie Wells and has been copied by other states.  Plan a day of seminars, product displays and safety information for ultralights and sport aircraft.  Our club will have its February meeting just one week before this seminar.  Plan on being at the February meeting if you want to meet up and car pool.  We will have more details in the February newsletter.

Every year at this time I try to offer this reminder.  The next month or two is likely to offer the least amount of good flying weather.  You should consider doing your engine and airframe repairs now!  Don't wait until it breaks, and don't wait until the good flying weather returns.  Rotax  2-stroke engines should be inspected and de-carboned every 200 hours.   The crankshaft should be inspected and main seals replaced every 5 years.  It will cost a few hundred dollars but can save much more in medical bills and damaged parts if it quits at a bad time.