While traveling the West Coast, AMA Foundation Executive Director Steve Haston was invited to visit the Torrey Pines Gulls at the Poway Flight Center, a private club field dedicated to F3K/DLG contests, F5J contests, the club's Foamy Fun Fly events, and general thermal duration fun flying.
Steve had the following to say about his visit:
"On Saturday, March 28, I had the opportunity to visit the Torrey Pines Gulls at the Poway Flight Center. I came to meet with donors, members, and potential partners and stakeholders, and those conversations were productive and encouraging. A Gulls member, Gary, played an important role in helping make those meetings possible. He had been part of the planning process for weeks and helped create introductions to potential partners with strong aviation connections. Because of that groundwork, I left with promising conversations underway and a clear path toward building partnerships and sponsorships that can strengthen the work of the AMA Foundation.
"The Torrey Pines Gulls was formed by soaring enthusiasts in the late 1960s and later became an AMA Chartered Club in 1970. The club began at the Torrey Pines Gliderport in La Jolla and later expanded to inland flying sites at Poway and Encinitas as interest in thermal soaring grew. The club's standing in the soaring world has been earned over decades through competition success, innovation in aircraft design and control systems, and a long tradition of welcoming and training new pilots.
"The site itself has become renowned for its soaring conditions, and Torrey Pines has been part of radio-controlled glider history since the 1950s, including a world endurance record flight in 1956. In 2003, AMA recognized the Torrey Pines Gliderport as its first National Model Aviation Heritage Landmark! This is a place where the air itself seems to invite flight. The combination of geography, weather, and history gives the field a character that is hard to describe unless you have stood there yourself and watched sailplanes ride the sky with grace and precision.
"One of the most special moments about this visit came when Gary asked if I would say a few words during a memorial moment honoring their longtime club president and friend Cliff Hunter. I did not know Cliff personally, so when I arrived, I began asking members about him. Every person I spoke with shared the same kind of response: Cliff was a steady presence, a mentor, a friend, and a foundational figure in the club and the wider community. His wife and daughter were there as well, which made the moment all the more personal and moving.
"My remarks were brief, but after hearing so many heartfelt stories, I felt as though I had come to know him, and I only wished I would've had that opportunity. I had the privilege of presenting Cliff's wife with two gifts: a special challenge coin and a memorial brick in the Walk of Fame, recognizing the impact of Cliff's 50-plus years in the hobby and sport.
"Cliff's legacy is exactly the kind of legacy that reminds us what this community is built on. Clubs do not become strong by accident. They are shaped by people who show up, lead, mentor, and care deeply over many years. That spirit was alive at the Poway Flight Center, and I was honored to witness it. Cliff, your memory and legacy will live on, and it was my privilege to visit your field."
