The 2nd Annual Gathering of Mooneys at Lake Tahoe was a success.  Everything we planned came off without a hitch.  The only thing we could not control (unless you are Al Gore) was the weather.  And it cooperated a little, but not enough.  Fifty Four Mooneys either flew in or their owners drove in from their home airports or nearby airports and were well-rewarded with lots of food, drink, seminars and good old VMG camaraderie!  All Friday morning the weather at Tahoe was clear and severe VFR.  We arrived at 9am.

We had about half of the Mooneys arrive all day on Friday.  Many headed to the lake or the mountains for some high mountain fresh air and relaxation.  Others hung around the airport and told Mooney tales.  Several members gathered at the pool at the Lakeside Inn for unannounced/unplanned weed-whacker Margaritas by Mike & Pam.  At 6pm, Michael Golden, our host, broke out the hamburgers and hotdogs and we had a BBQ on the ramp.

The rest of the Mooneys braved the weather on Saturday morning and beat the rain.  We had lots of coffee and pastries (Thank You Top Gun Aviation) and spent the morning catching up with old VMG friends and making new VMG friends.

Lunch was sponsored by Top Gun Aviation and they sure out did themselves this year.  The food was 5-star.  Thank You Tom and Mark Rouch!!!  There was plenty of food since only half of the Mooneys made it due to the weather.  Several Mooneys landed near Sacramento and drove in which is a good option next year if the weather doesn't cooperate.  At lunch, Phil reviewed the upcoming fly-ins to Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands up in Washington.  This will be our first fly-in to WA and member Jeff Mirespay has planned out a great weekend.  Don't miss it.  He also talked about a spectacular fly-in to beautiful Page, AZ on Lake Powell in October.  Details will be posted soon.  Then we showed a short movie tribute to the first 20 years of Top Gun Aviation, enjoyed by all, and well-deserved recognition to Top Gun Aviation.  Finally, AOPA Vice Presidents Bill Dunn and Melissa Rudinger gave keynote addresses.  What an honor to have them join us and also make themselves available to members 1-on-1.

Then onto the seminars.  We had 2 separate tracks this year; 1) for pilots and owners, and 2) for our flying companions.  The Flying Companions track included "Mooney Destinations in the West" and was presented by Michael Coyle who braved the inclement weather and not feeling so well himself.  He made a very enjoyable and informative presentation with his great insight.  He should be good at this as he writes for Pilot Getaways, so he should know.  He was followed by Jan Maxwell who gave a "no baloney" presentation on how to land a Mooney if your pilot becomes incapacitated.  This seminar was filled with direct information and lots of humor.  I heard lots of members buzzing about this afterwards and it was well-deserved.  Jan is both informative, humorous and direct.  If you listened to her, you will know what you have to do to put that Mooney back on the ground and walk away.  On the pilot/owner side, Tom and Mark of Top Gun, Paul and Robert of LASAR, and Don of Don Maxwell Aviation delivered another exceptional panel.  They were also available to do 1-on-1s with any owners that had any questions about their Mooneys.  They were followed by Ronnie Kallies and Dan Jenkins, of Mooney Airplane, who gave us an update on the factory and talked about Flying our Mooneys by the Numbers.  Thank you to all for great seminars.

Saturday night ended the official fly-in schedule with our 2nd annual Pool Party.  This year we had food and beer in addition to the weed-wacker Margaritas provided by Mike & Pam Whitehead.  We moved indoors due to the weather which was clear, but cool.  The Lakeside Inn bent over backwards to take care of us.

See you next year!

Phil & Larry

                     
         Andrea, of Mountain West parking planes at TVL

          
                                                                            John Deptula purchases Capt. Jim Price's first
                                                                            book sale entitled "Stay Current Like a Pro"

Some folks thought it was cold, so Phil & Larry started a campfire!
in the FBO

                        
         Informal gathering poolside at the Lakeside Inn on Friday            Our well-armed Margarita bar

   
Phil doing his lunchtime welcome!            Top Gun's 20th Anniversary            Our host, Michael Golden

 
                    AOPA VP Bill Dunn, and Melissa Rudinger provided our Keynote Address

The pool party was inside the Lakeside Inn due to the cold weather!
A huge VMG THANK YOU to Mike Bradford, owner of Lakeside Inn
and to LASAR for the food and Mooney for the drinks!

The greatest airplane on Earth!
And that's the end of this tale!

Photos courtesy of members Jim Price