Ministers Arrive: Hold Last Meeting of 2016

      High Sierra weather held fine and most of our ministers were able to make the mid-holiday gathering in Tahoma.   The gathering in downtown Tahoma was a festive affair in keeping with the season.   Our meeting gave the crew a chance to catch up on all forms of information since media is making news everywhere(tweets, blogs, snaps, TED's, etc).
      Our Minister of Aviation captured much attention as she discussed the aviation scene with its two large, fatal crashes(Russya and Colombia).   Russyan aviation officials have grounded all Sukhoi aircraft of the model that crashed.   Investigators have identified metal fatigue in the structural frame as a component contributing to the crash.  In Colombia, officials have detained the owners of the charter airline involved with the fatal crash that killed a Brazilian football/soccer club.   The plane ran out of fuel before the crash.   Flight controllers are also being investigated.   Not a good week in aviation.
More reports to follow
      The Minister of Aviation also discussed the new Walter Extra plane that is powered by an electric engine.   It set a climb record for a plane its size and weight using a new battery-powered electric motor.  Very impressive.
      The Minister of Manufacturing reported on the progress of the project in SoCal that is creating the largest hydraulic press in the USA: a monster that will be capable of pressing metal with 60,000 tons of direct pressure.  That's correct: 60K tons.  Components for the actual machine are being made near Cologne, Germany.  Completion is scheduled for early 2018.