1	Red Wing Soaring Association 1963 - 2003
2	Date of Incorporation The club became official on Friday, March 22, 1963
3	Original Roster Anderson, Donald Berg, Owen Cushing, Robert Eisert, Gerald Fisher, Gordon (VP) Goyer, Leland Graw, Richard (T) Hanken, Douglas Henn, Gale Huneke, Burton Jelatis, Demetrius (P) Knight, David Nadeau, Frederick Nadeau, Howard (S) Nork, William Selkirk, John Stuber, John Sweasy, William * Timmons, Lawrence Vangsness, David
4	April 1963 2-22C N10399 Purchased from: Schweizer Soaring School Cost: $3,259.25 (interest free loan from the Red Wing Shoe Company) Two trips to Elmira, NY No. of seats 2 No. in U.S. 100+ Manufactured in 1962 L/D max. 17:1
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12	November 1964 1-26B N1084A Purchased from Dick Graw (he resigned) No. of seats 1 Manufactured in 1959 L/D max. 23:1 Graw owned the 1-26 at the time the club was started and it was available to qualified club members.
13	February 1965 St James Hotel Red Wing, MN Minnesota State Soaring banquet Guest speaker: Dick Schreder Designer of the HP series sailplane Expenses submitted: $50 Expenses shared by RWSA & MSC
14	June 1966 2-22C (N10399) was totaled in a ground launch accident. The pilot received a spinal injury.
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17	July 1966 2-22E N5823V Purchased from West Bend Flying Service Purchase price: $2,950 Manufactured in 1964 L/D max. 17:1 The E model had larger spoilers, a roomier cockpit, and a new canopy with wing root changes to provide for a skylight.
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19	November 1966 The Northwest Soaring Society - flew at Monticello and latter Owatonna - merged with RWSA. George Marks (President & owner of UMG3) Lyle Koehler Barney Doyle Fred Hewitt Dean Medcalf (joined in March 1967)
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21	Secrest International
22	The Early Days Dues: $40 per year Associate dues: $10 per year Auto tows: the car owner got .25 cents/tow Winch tows by 1964 (?) In 1968 auto and winch tows were raised to $1 per tow, $2 for non-members. Ridge soaring in January – RWSA & MSC “ We have been ridge soaring off the bluffs on Lake Pepin for the last few weeks with good success and lots of fun.” NEWSLETTER quote
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26	A Time of Transition During 1968, 1969 and 1970 the club was at a standstill for need of facilities, and membership fell to a low of five. The summer of 1970 was spent at Southport. The following spring John Benson invited the club to operate out of Benson Airport in White Bear Lake, and the club began to grow and remain active. August 16, 1970 The first check to Benson Airport for towing was recorded by the treasurer.
27	Southport – circa 2000
28	Benson Airport home to RWSA since 1971
29	John Benson
30	Fall 1971 BG-12A N3105C Designer: William G. Briegleb No. of seats 1 Kits sold 350 No. in U.S. 75 Manufactured in1971 L/D max. 34:1
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32	Spring 1972 2-32 N7746S Purchased from Jeff Vanalstine Purchase price: $6,500 No. of seats 2 (capable of carrying 3) No. built 87 No. in U.S. 60 Manufactured in 1968 L/D max. 33:1
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36	November 1973 T-hangar construction began. Estimated cost: $2,000
37	December 1973
38	1973 New members: Lee Bradshaw, Ken Clunis, Arlene Larson, Ken Bateman, Dan Webb, and Paul Irlbeck. Ed Finegan and Greg Broburg got their Private Pilot Glider rating. The Board: Ed Finegan – President George (Bud) Crocket – VP Larry Rodgers – Treasurer Pat Worhol - Secretary
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41	Fall 1974
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44	Winter 1973/74 – the Finegan basement
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46	Refinished and flyin’
47	"“Dad," “Dad, I think I found the hamster.”
48	"“If you do a..." “If you do a real good job Mike, maybe you can be the club president someday.”
49	May 19, 1975 Windstorm #1 2-32 $489 of damage 1-26B both wings need replacement 2-22E no damage BG-12A no damage (off site for annual) The T-hangar roof was damaged
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54	February 1976 The 2-32 is sold to the El Paso Soaring Association Purchased in 1972 for $6,500 Sold for $11,700 just 4 years later The money was to be used for: 1) purchasing another 2 place trainer and 2) reducing debts on the 2-22C and the hangar Today’s asking price: $30K to $45K
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58	Spring 1976 2-33 N2492W Retrieved from Colorado by Greg Broburg Purchased for $6,500 No. of seats 2 No. built 579 No. in U.S. 380 L/D max. 23:1 The BG-12 was removed from service.
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63	1977 1-26B sold for $750 (unable to find replacement wings) 1-26A N8680R Retrieved from Michigan by Bob and Paul Irlbeck Manufactured in 1963
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65	1977 BG-12A sold to Paul Irlbeck for $1,300 – August 1 After some investigation, it was found that the natural grain of the wood gave a false impression of a crack.
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67	Summer 1979 LP-49 N230LP Retrieved from Illinois by Dick Stone and Jeff Garry Purchased for $8,700 No. of seats 1 Kits sold 46 Sold complete 7 No. in U.S. 22 Manufactured in 1970 L/D max. 33:1
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69	July 1979 2-22E sold for $3,700 (seldom flown) New members: Les Stordalen Ray and Darlene Gosselin Steve and Linda Peterson
70	August 1980 Windstorm #2 1-26A N8680R totaled 2-33 N2492W totaled Only the LP-49 was airworthy.
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74	Fall 1980 L-13 N2328 Retrieved from Reno by Tom Render and Roger Brogren Purchased for $9,000 Manufactured in 1970 (The LP-49 was damaged in September)
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76	December 1980 L-13 N142AS Retrieved from Los Angeles Purchased for $12,000 Manufactured in 1978 and the last L-13 imported into the USA Total Time: 40 hours New members included: John Hirte, Bob Lockman, Floyd Bedbury, Bob and Dan Wander, Jerry Quinn and Ray Schroeder.
77	Fall 1981 LP-49 sold for $8,500 Purchased by the Northern Ohio Soaring Association. Sailplane inventory Two L-13’s
78	Spring 1982 Pilatus B-4 N201AS Retrieved by Frank LaValley and Mike Finegan. Purchased for $11,250 No. of seats 1 No. in U.S. 40 Manufactured in 1977 L/D max. 35:1
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80	Summer of ‘82 By June 16^th, 12 members were checked out in the Pilatus: Floyd Bedbury, Ed Finegan, Bob Irlbeck, Bernie Kegan, Alvin King, Chuck Matson, Steve Peterson, Ray Schroeder, Hank Snyder, and Les Stordalen. Plus our test pilots: Roger Brogren and Bob Wander.
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82	1983 Membership Rate Structure Active member: $135 Inactive member: $35 Associate member: $25 Membership equity share: $450 Flight Charges All ships: 12 cents/minute ($7.20/hour) Demo flights: $25
83	1983 … Tow Charges: set by John Benson 1000’ tow $10 1500’ tow $12 2000’ tow $13 2500’ tow $14 3000’ tow $15 3000’+ $2/1000’
84	1983 CFIG’s Roger Brogren Chuck Matson Dave Rhyti Les Stordalen Bob Wander
85	October 1986 L-13 (N142AS) was totaled during an off-field landing. There were no injuries. On the lighter side: Walt Johnson, Bob Turrentine, Mike and Susan Lavely, and Rich Palmer became new club members during the year.
86	Spring 1987 L-13 N99970 Purchased from a club in Oregon. Retrieved from and flown at Driggs, Idaho by Roger Brogren, Chuck Matson, and Les Stordalen. Manufactured in 1975
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88	198_ L-13 (N2328) sold to John Benson Presently owned by Stanton Sport Aviation Sailplane inventory Pilatus B-4 L-13 N99970
89	"1990 Board Members" 1990 Board Members Jim Faragher – President Brian Snowberg – VP Barney Doyle – Treasurer Bill Donkers – Secretary The club manual containing the sailplane Flight Manuals, By-Laws, Code of Regulations, Club Operations, etc., was introduced.
90	September 1993 L-23 N258BA Retrieved from Rockford, Illinois by Tom Curran and Ray Schroeder. Purchased new from the factory No. of seats 2 No. in U.S. 60+ Manufactured in 1993 L/D max. 27:1
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92	April 1994 PA-18A 150 N6983B Retrieved from Texas 180HP Piper tow plane Manufactured in 1956 It was originally used as a crop duster and to tow aerial banners. AND … did you know it came with 2 extra props?
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95	September 1995 L-13 (N99970) was totaled during an off-field landing. There were no injuries.
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97	September 1996 L-13 N48039 Manufactured in 1975 In 1998 it was disassembled for refurbishing.
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99	Heading to the paint booth - Thanksgiving weekend 1999
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109	And now, a few “I remember” photos.
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130	Benson International
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