Raw GoPro footage from N6274X, edited by club member Dave Ridley. Audio is original cockpit.

Fly-Out Reports·▶ Video

Mountain Flying With the Sierra Soaring Club: A Member Fly-Out

Eight club aircraft, one density altitude briefing that made everyone nervous, and the most spectacular formation of 172s ever assembled over the Sierras.

Sarah Mendez
Sarah Mendez·January 28, 2026·3 min read·KGYY — Gary/Chicago, IN
💬 22 Comments

Our club does two fly-outs per year. The spring trip is always somewhere ambitious. This year, eight of us flew the Sierras in a loose formation that our CFI diplomatically called "creative spacing."

The density altitude briefing the night before was one of the better aviation education moments I've experienced. Our most experienced member, a former military pilot, stood up with a whiteboard and spent forty minutes on what happens to a 172 at 9,500 feet on a warm afternoon. Nobody asked questions because everyone was too busy taking notes.

We all made it. We all had the best flying day of the year. That's what clubs do.

#Mountain Flying#California#Club Fly-Out#Video
💬 22 Comments
Sarah Mendez

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Sarah Mendez

KGYY — Gary/Chicago, IN

Private pilot, club treasurer at Lakeview Flyers. CFI candidate. Prefers tailwheels over tricycle gear, always.

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Ray Hutchinson
Ray HutchinsonKPWK — Chicago Executive3 days ago

This is exactly why I joined a club instead of renting. The numbers worked on paper but the community is what actually keeps me flying.

Tamara Ellis
Tamara EllisKHOU — Houston Hobby5 days ago

Shared this with our club WhatsApp. We've been arguing about dues structure for months. This is the clearest explanation I've seen.

Greg Nakamura
Greg NakamuraKSNA — Orange County, CA1 week ago

Nine years in flying clubs. Can confirm: the engine reserve is sacred. We learned that the hard way before we learned it the right way.

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