Corvair College #16: November 6-8, 2009
|
White Plains Airport, Gilbert, S.C.
|
CC#16 will be held at White Plains Airport in Gilbert, S.C., Nov. 6-8, 2009. Our hosts will be Ed and Val Fisher, above. These are the same hosts
and location as CC#12. You can learn more about Ed's work in aviation by looking at his Web site, RaceAirDesigns.com.
Over the years, Corvair Colleges have evolved to be a very high quality experience packaged in a single weekend format. I have always noticed that the
second event held at any location is particularly good because it benefits from the experience gained in the first. CC#16 has a number of things going for it
that indicate it will be a very rewarding experience for all who attend. Successful Corvair builders and pilots like Mark Langford, Dan Weseman, Joe Horton and
P.F. Beck have already told me they are planning on attending. Additionally, our main core supplier, Larry Hudson, will be coming from Indianapolis with core
engines. Roy Szarafinski will also be on hand to display his fifth bearing and provide technical assistance. It is a good opportunity to learn a lot and
meet many of the luminaries of the Corvair movement in a relaxed social setting.
I have said it many times, but it bears repeating that many of the successfully flying Corvair pilots trace their first attendance of a Corvair College to the
beginning of the most productive period in their build. Our long-term statistics prove that builders who attended a College are more than twice as likely to finish
their project within 36 months.
In consumer society, we are constantly bombarded with the message that you should buy things instead of building them. To press this point, marketing agents do
a good job of making anyone feel doubtful about their own abilities to accomplish anything. Corvair College is an outstanding opportunity to break free of this mentality
in the company of like minded people. I have worked in experimental aviation for 20 years. The single most important thing a builder can do to increase the odds of being
successful is adopt a mindset of a self reliant individual. The College is a place where builders can come and learn and have fun in an environment of fellow builders who all have
chosen the path of using their own hands to create their destiny in aviation. A single weekend in the company of positive people will contrast very strongly
with the people who sadly think that they can experience the spirit and rewards of homebuilding solely by opening their wallets.
CC#16 has two differences that builders need to be aware of: The Dining Plan and the attendance limit. First, the College is still free, like every one I have ever held.
But, when using the online registration, builders can read about the dining plans that Ed and Val have put together. While Ed's new hangar is located 50 feet from the runway,
there are no restaurants nearby. Ed and Val did a spectacular job last year providing food from Friday afternoon through Sunday morning, including a catered dinner on Saturday
night. A number of people left Ed with generous donations, but he was substantially upsidedown on the event. Ed and Val put a lot of hard work into these events, and
we are organizing the dining plan this year to ensure that they can plan logistics and cover costs. We used this system for Corvair Colleges #14 and #15, and builders
enjoyed it as it allowed everybody to stay focused on work and fun. A speical thanks to Corvair builder Ken Pavlou, who donated his time to develop and run the online
registration at the https://corvaircollege16.wufoo.com/forms/corvair-college-16-registration/ Web page.
It should be noted when you sign up that Ed and Val will rapidly be sending the order into the caterers. You're not required to attend if you sign up, but we
have no refund process.
We will limit the amount of builders to 48. This number does not include the hosts, staff or pilots flying in. I do expect the registration to close very quickly.
By giving us a paragraph on the status of your project, it will allow us to better target the presentations and physical organization of the event. The event will have
something for everybody, from the earliest beginner to the returning pilot. This will undoubtedly be the best organized College we've had to date.
Here is my standard College disclaimer:
This is a private event held at a private facility for the benefit of people who are there to learn and have fun. In the past nine years, literally hundreds of people
have attended Colleges, and 99% of them had a great time. We don't allow any talk of politics or religion. I do not allow people to attend who are planning on
commercially benefiting from doing so. We reserve the right to remove anyone who is detracting from the experience of rank and file builders. The above words should
come as a comfort to anybody who is looking forward to an exceptionally friendly, positive experience.
Anyone who has an interest in building and flying their own Corvair engine is welcome. You need not be a Manual owner to register. However, to get the most out
of the experience, the more homework you do before you arrive the more you will learn when you get to Corvair College. The people who make the most educational
progress are people who have already read the Manual, and in many cases, watched the DVDs. After going through this material, you can arrive armed with a list of
questions and procedures you'd like to see in person.
As the event grows closer, we will publish far more detailed lists of what to bring, where to park, etc. For now, we'd like to get registration under way.
We look forward to seeing you at Corvair College.
Last Friday night, I drove 150 miles south to the Merrit Island Bird Sanctuary to be 10 miles from the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center. At 11:59 p.m., the shuttle
left right on time, as captured in the above photo. It was the last night launch ever in the 25 year history of the shuttle program. At 10 miles, it's bright enough on a moonless night to read
fine print. The sound arrives after 30 seconds. There are large events in aviation like this launch, not to be missed. Corvair College #16 is a tiny event in the
panorama of aviation, but potentially a very large one in your own personal story. In the final analysis, it is more important what you will personally do in
aviation than the history you will read about or witness. If 2010 is to be your year in aviation, then Corvair College #16 is your milestone event.
Corvair College #16
Corvair College #14 Part 1
Corvair College #14 Part 2
Corvair College #14 Part 3
Corvair College #14 Part 4
Corvair College #13
Corvair College #12 Part One
Corvair College #12 Part Two
Corvair College #11
Corvair College #10 Part 1
Corvair College #10 Part 2
Corvair College #10 Part 3
Corvair College #10 Part 4
Corvair College Canada
Corvair College #9 Part I
Corvair College #9 Part II
Corvair College #9 Part III
Corvair College #9 Part IV
Corvair College #9 Part V
Corvair College #8 Page 1
Corvair College #8 Page 2
Corvair College #8 Page 3
Corvair College #8 Page 4
Corvair College #8 Page 5
Corvair College #8 Page 6
Corvair College #7
Corvair College #6
Corvair College #5
Corvair College #4
Corvair College #3
Corvair College #2
Corvair College #1