A Very Happy New Year to all, my hope for 2004 is, it will be a peaceful one and all our serving forces will return to their homes and loved one’s. Sometimes I find myself being frustrated with our nation not remembering History. The Roman and British Empire’s did we not learn anything from the fall of both? 

For all our flying community 2004 will be a different one I believe, the Sport pilot has left the DOT and gone on to OMB, and it will take time, in the meantime our sport will stay as it has been for a while in the doldrums. No mention has been made about what changes if any, came out of the DOT. I do suspect some changes, after all this is a government office would it be possible not to have their four pennyworths. I don’t think so.

To finish out the year The Florida Flying Gators Fly In, was a great success, everybody enjoyed it, what a mixture, Powered parachutes to a Robinson Helicopter, all we lacked was spectators who missed out on a very fine day in everyway.

So we go into 2004 with a raise in membership fee’s what a dumb idea, we will loose more members than the increase will bring in revenue. This is the year for those wonderful people who invested in our airport. The debt will be paid off. 

New Officials are wanted to be officers for the ensuing year, a big responsibility and congratulations to those of 2003, well done and thank you.

A new year for me very different from the last thirteen, having raised the drawbridge, bought two guns and this time I have bullets in them, ready for the next time anyone who tries to rob me. This time I will be there to greet them. There is the danger of becoming a recluse but will live with that, its better than finding everything gone. Then I thought gees everything is replaceable, that was the dumbest idea I have had for 2003 is my age showing that much, I had better get it together again.

What would I like to see at the Gator field in 2004, more flying! Remembering those days when we used to fly somewhere for breakfast, fly a round robin to visit other airfields, we hardy know what is out there, and what clubs are active, a job for Fred Griffith, at least he’s always ready to go, but he would need support, so Gator pilots extract the finger and fly all those airplanes that’s what they are for. Check those Nodams though, we are on high alert.

Gator field is looking its very best with all the work Fred and Rex have put into it during 2003, a credit to their hard work, mowing, seeding, aerating, thanks guys your work has not been appreciated enough, Mr. President please take note!

Dear Ole Robbie after his surgery is looking great, dare I say handsome, and it was good to see him back at the meetings and Fly In.

Will I be doing any work in 2004, it depends, if the Aero Sports Connection still supports me as they have done for a lot of Years and want me too. I shall do a few, I am not asking for support from the manufactures, mainly because they have not got it, and there is not the need for my services like there used to be, and major air shows charged too much so the spectators have disappeared, and even the free one’s spectators won’t help with donations, its an era that’s over, it will come back, but I doubt whether I shall be around to see it. MY Wish For Everybody In 2004, May it be the Best you have ever had Health, Wealth, and MUCH MUCH Happiness.