Charlie is approaching pre-crash conditions and will be fit enough to handle the CD duties at the Seniors competition in a couple weeks. Therapy treatments for the overhauled shoulder have enabled him to resume all activities associated with the dialysis procedures and he can get into and drive his...

Gale Johnson visited Charlie today and reports he is out of the ICU and in a regular room. He had his last dialysis to balance some chemistry and he hopes to be home Monday or Tuesday. The donor had a history of cocaine addiction and although the doctors assured him this had no affect on the...

Charlie's kidney transplant procedure was uneventful and he is recovering normally. His sister says he is in good spirits. He said earlier that he is eager to hit the road again and be with his soaring family, although this won't be possible for a few months. Karl Striedieck

For all you Spratt watchers, Charlie received a new kidney today (Tuesday). Standby for progress reports. Karl Striedieck

Out and Return Duo Ridge Running Mission Available in KS Duo Cost is $1/mile one-way. (Mt Grove $200/Knoxville $450) Adjusted for level of service requested. All proceeds will go to the US Team Fund.

The KS Duo will be making the competition circuit next year and seats are available at the following contests: Seniors (Mar 8-14), Region 2 (Mifflin, May 24-30), Sport Nationals (Elmira, July 21-30), R4N (Fairfield, October dates unknown). R9 Parowan is filled. The cost is a $200 contribution...

The SSA website listing of 2008 contests shows a 15M nationals at Mifflin in May. This is an error. The listing that shows the contest in Uvalde in August is correct.

The KS "Duo Ordeal" will be offered at US contests again in 2008. The plans are to fly at the Seniors, Perry, Parowan and Fairfield. The price of admission is the same: $200, all of which is contributed to the US Team Fund. Contact Karl Striedieck at (remove nospam) or...

The venerable bionic gate/CD/author Charlie Spratt was in the hospital a couple times over the last few weeks, but seems to have weathered these additional medical inconveniences with no loss of spirit or capabilities. He had lens implants for cataracts and can now see well enough to start...

Contest flights in the KS Duo Discus are available for the R4N contest that will be held at Fairfield, Pa October 7-13. The proceeds ($200/day) will be given to the US Team Fund. Interested pilots may call Karl at 814 237 7996.

US Rules Committee Election Results The winner of the election for the current four year spot on the SSA contest rules sub-committee is Dave Mockler. He will take Dave Cole's place on the five member body that deals with competition rules and related matters. Dave is a member of the flying Mockler...

Pilots on the US competition ranking list will (or have) be receiving a request for donations to the SRA. The return address envelope was supposed to be to the SRA Treasurer (Roy McMaster) but something went astray and the SSA office became the destination. If you wish to send your check directly...

"The Gate" has a new shoulder joint and should be leaving the hospital tomorrow (Jan 5). His left arm is still immobilized so rehab therapy hasn't begun. He can walk but is weak from weight loss and inactivety. He will need assistance at home for things requiring two hands (dialysis hook up,...

To all of my flying friends, Glider Training is what seamlessly enabled me to switch gears and take this event in stride on this one. A guardian angel might have helped as well. I was talking to Detroit Metro tower, circling over a densely populated site 8 miles east of Detroit Metro (DTW)...

The Gate has moved from a hospital to a rehab facility where he is mending before an artificial shoulder joint implant is done, probably next week. He is having trouble keeping food down and that, along with everything else, has made him quite weak. They will do an evaluation on him...

Contact Karl Striedieck karls@ uplink dot net

Dave Cole was the election winner for the seat on the US contest rules committee. Dave (Comp # "A") is an engineer by profession and belongs to the Blue Ridge Soaring Society in Region 4. Members serve four-year terms on the four-member committee. Karl Striedieck

Charlie Minner fell while on the way to the SSA Convention in Atlanta and broke his femur above the knee. An operation to install a plate was successful and the doctors say he can expect about a four-day stay in the hospital. He was in Big Springs, TX when the accident occurred and he was taken...

Do any of you western US glider folks have buddies/contacts who work in either LA or Salt Lake City ATC Centers? We're attempting to arrange for flying above FL180 for the Region 9 contest at Parowan next June. Karl Striedieck 814 237 7996 Thanks.

The 2003 US competition pilot poll is available at http://206.168.3.4/survey/surveys.php It will be open until October 12. The poll opened yesterday, September 18, but the announcement is a day late due to the need to make two minor tweaks. Karl Striedieck