On Friday, March 10, 2017 at 6:20:14 PM UTC+3, Frank Whiteley wrote:
Long time owner and operator of Turf Soaring passed away Weds.

Roy M Coulliette

VISITATION: Monday, March 13, 2017, 9:00 – 10:00 a.m., LDS Church of Peoria, 9543 West Jomax Road, Peoria, Arizona 85383

FUNERAL CEREMONY: Monday, March 13, 2017, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m., LDS Church of Peoria, 9543 West Jomax Road, Peoria, Arizona 85383

GRAVESIDE SERVICE: Monday, March 13, 3017, 1:30 – 2:00 p.m., Queen of Heaven Cemetery, 1500 East Baseline Road, Mesa, Arizona 85204

In 1994 I spent a few weeks in Phoenix. At first it was a business trip, and then I stayed to attend Space Access conference, staying at the house of the conference organizer, Henry Vanderbilt, and helping out with a few errands.

At other times I headed out to Turf.

I have to say the reception was as warm as you could hope for. They asked me what I wanted to fly. I said the ASK21, as I hadn't seen one before (I'd flown Grobs before). I went for a flight with one of the instructors -- a bit of soaring, mild aero, slack rope. Got back down and they said: "I'll sign you off now as a solo student under supervision. You can do anything you want .. go cross country .. except take passengers. There's the price list to come and get you if you land out. Don't hit a saguaro cactus -- if you're lucky there's a fine, and if you're unlucky it'll fall on you and kill you. Take your New Zealand log book to the FAA office and get a reciprocal license if you want to take passengers. I'll write up the student paperwork now while you go and do two more landings on type for insurance purposes. Take two 1000 ft tows. We'll only charge you for one of them."

I did end up doing the FAA visit and in the next couple of weeks took almost everyone I knew in Phoenix for flights :-)