1 1/2 months late with these Mentone comments...

[Kevin_Richey]

Three observations that I feel deserve mentioning:

1. Our President, Scott Lewis, spending a lot of time encouraging lots of pilots and other attendees to buy the nifty PRA 50th Anniversary t-shirt, as well as entering the raffle for donated items that were worth some bucks. All to not line Scott's pockets, but to help our treasury funds.

2. Our Vice President, Tim O'Conner, spending a LOT of time conducting not only seminars but also pilot briefings. I think Tim could use a personal assistant at Mentone, he was that busy! He was awarded the Pilot & Machine award, by the way. Well deserved.

I believe it is mainly through Tim's efforts that the FAA is interested in what the PRA has to say and do, instead of ignoring us.

3. Ron Awad giving alot of his personal time and $$ to share gyroplane flight with many, many folks. I traveled to Mentone w/ Chuck Strough, who lives in Boise, ID. He used to fly a Dominator. He sadly sold it when it became too difficult to climb up into it. Chuck says it is the best gyroplane he has flown!

I met Ron for the first time this year at Mentone, and asked him if he would give an old Dominator pilot a ride. He didn't even hesitate to say he would. Chuck says it was great to be up in the air in a Dominator and also just as great to fly with Ron Awad!

I also met Mitch at Mentone. For those who don't know, he and his family, from Tasmania, just are finishing up their whirlwind tour around Canada and the US, stopping at Mentone for the big 50th event.

He didn't want me to ask Ron for a ride in Ron's Dominator, so I asked Chuck to ask Ron. Chuck did, and stepped aside for Mitch to go when it time for Chuck to go. Apparently Mitch liked his ride in Ron's machine so much that they went up for more when Mitch's family came through South Carolina a few weeks later!

All three men gave many rides in their two-place gyroplanes.

I think these three guys deserve our thanks for all they do and have done for our organization and gyroplanes here in the US . I do know they each have their critics, but all that they do outshines all the crap that any critics can talk about!!!

[CLS447]

Thanks alot , guys !!!!!

Well done !

[GyroRon]

Thanks Kevin, but truthfully, Tim does way more than Scott and myself combined. And I don't do much other than love to fly and share that with others.

[JEFF TIPTON]

And that Ron is what makes you great!

[barnstorm2]

Thank you Kevin!

Lots and lots and lots of people pitched in and made it a great convention.

Ron,

That is what gets people hooked on our wonderful sport and you have a knack for it. Thank you.

.