May 4,5,6 2007 (Friday-Sunday)
Last Update 07/23/2008
Stan Foat is the event honcho for Soarfari Event 1 for 2007 is a three day weekend visit to Inyokern Airport near Ridgecrest and China Lake, California. This location has provided exciting early season soaring for Soarfari in both 2005 and 2006.
Tow plane: Sierra Soaring Club Cessna 182 … Note: SSA Membership required, and simple SSC club membership required, fees included in tow fees.
Sierra Soaring Club phone number may be (760) 375-7018, or try soaring@sierraSoaring.com
The use of the club towplane requires both membership in the club and membership in the SSA. Club membership can be obtained by filling out a form at the airport. Fees for club membership are included in tow costs.
IYK has a "Super AWOS". It is on 122.8 and 3 clicks gets an update and 4 clicks asks for a radio check (just transmit and the Super AWOS will record it and transmit it back). If you are more than 8 or 10 miles out, it is hard to hear (it seems to have a low power transmitter). Normally no one is on the ground to give wind updates.
To get there: Take Hwy 178 East from Hwy 14 or West from Hwy 395. Turn North on Airport Road (very hard to see at night). Follow Airport Road past the airline terminal parking lot to gate 5. Gate 5 is sort of tucked down at the end of a narrow drive with tall chain-link fence on both sides. Enter the UNICOM frequency for IYK on the keypad to open the gate. Be sure you know the frequency before you drive to the gate with your trailer as it may be hard to back out if you can not open the gate. When passing through the gate, which is at an angle, you will have to be careful to clear your trailer at the gate because the road takes a little turn. Then carefully drive across the taxiway and turn in to the the parking via the South end, otherwise you'll have to drive along the whole long unbroken guard rail along the taxi way (for the dragsters). Glider tie down area is located on the dirt strip between the taxiway (also former weekend drag strip) and runway 15/33. IYK is a large airport with three runways, lots of space, and little traffic. There is scheduled puddle jumper service several times per day (morning, noon, and evening.) which we will need to watch for, listen for, and stay clear of. Last year they usually used runway 15/33 which we also generally operated off of.
Do not walk, jog, bike or drive through the RED ZONE, a painted red border in front of the terminal or you may soon be talking to Homeland Security.
RV camping on the airport was OK last year. Facilities were spartan last year, but maybe the Sierra Soaring Club restroom will be available this year (Since we technically will be joining their club for tow service!). The closest restaurant, Mexican Cuisine, on 178 is good and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Local hotels include Best Western, Heritage Inn, and Carriage Inn among others.
Soarfari visited Inyokern in 2005 & 2006. It was a good flying event for the late April time period with flights up to Mt. Whitney area. No Soarfari members had landouts and everyone had a good time.
You can contact
Airport and Local lodging information may be found at at http://www.inyokernairport.com/
AIRNAV info for IYK at http://www.airnav.com/airport/KIYK
2005 at IYK>>
