AOPA Expo

[mgooderum]

I'm going - just booked with America West today. Airfares are forcing me in and out of LAX so I get a scenic tour of the Greater LA basin - I'll be around all Saturday - lodging still to be TBD but probably back towards San Bernadino. Timing means I'm really going to just be around Saturday.

I'll be wondering around in one of my BAC shirts. Does somebody familar with the show layout want to suggest a time and place for mid day Saturday to link up and have a little mini BOF (BOF is convention speak - "Birds of a Feather")?

Maybe a fresh discussion thread for specific hookups at the show?

 

[CalifDan]

AOPA Meet

I have the banner. Cell phone is (707) 225-7890. I have already seen Bob Lewis and received a call from Steve Freisen. I will be here all four days...I'm here now. Happy to coordinate a hook-up or two. The Diamond Twinstar flew under me on the approah yesterday. Nice flight down....2:45 and no bumps. Looking forward to meeting old and new BAC'ers.

Dan Jonas
Napa Valley

 

[mgooderum]

Looks like Jeanne and her husband are carpooling out to Palm Springs with me tomorrow. I think we'll be up there around 9-10a for the whole day. I've got Dan's cell and might give him a call when I get in tonight. I forgot my BAC shirt when packing - we'll see if I have time to swing home before heading to MSP.

 

[CalifDan]

AOPA Meet

Hey, I'm sitting in the Friday general session now. Please do call when you get here and leave a contact number if I do not answer.

I have pictures from the parade of planes and got the banner displayed on the route. Can't post pictures till later due to bad internet connectivity. Working off the Treo only for now.

Dan Jonas
Napa Valley

 

[hifiguy]

Click on the link at bottom of the page,
http://www.aopa.org/expo/2006/virtual/061108parade.html for the video. Looks fun! Wish I could come down but I am stuck in Bakersfield, I have to work tomarrow.
Take lots of pics!
Rich

 

[BobLewis]

Anyone still planning on flying to Palm Springs, I just returned and I wish I could have stayed longer, it is great. Thermal Aviation at JC Airport is the place to go. Fuel is 3.53 compared to 5.65 and Dan, Thermal Aviations owner, had hangars available for 30 bucks a night. Signature is over the top on costs. Our AOPA deal is 5.65 (50 cents a gal less)however, they sell fuel in LA for 4. 63. Thermal is the place to go. I met Dan Jonas down there and he had a good flight too. I'll leave the stories to him as he will be there all weekend.

 

[knownbliss]

Posting a photo with the banner in the photo section-We went for the day with Mike Gooderum and it was a fun experience. I flew one of the simulators with Dan's prodding and am really glad my Mouse doesn't go as fast as the Baron!
.
Made the seminar on Single Pilot IFR and watched the parade of planes heading back to the airport. My favorite were the Rolls Royce powered planes followed by the Commanders...those you could feel going by!
.
Dinner was fun at the Blue Coyote-Mexican...I felt like a little brain surrounded by Big Brains(!), but it was great to meet a group of people that share the same passion.
.
Today Mark, Jeff and I retraced the drive by air partway for a little trip to Redlands. It was not fun for the back-seater with the turbulence near the ground, so we headed back home to Fullerton. Thanks to Mark, I will be able to go east with less anxiety. He is an excellent navigator! Such a great weekend.
.
The south west area should be looking ahead as a plan is in the works for a Spring Fly-in to Fullerton. Thinking early to mid May...Stay tuned!

 

[CalifDan]

AOPA

We probably should have made it an official fly-in because we did better than many that have been announced.

I count the following members at AOPA for one or more days.

Bob Lewis, Mark Gooderum, Jean Gurnee, Steve King, Steve Frieson, and myself. Spouses include Mary Friesen, Jeff Gurnee and Adrianne Jaski (my wife). We should also include future pilot Brandon Frieson who is in the picture posted by Jean.

I believe that member Mike Peace was also at the Expo, but I was unable to make that hook-up even though we did exchange voice messages.

I have quite a few photos of the parade of planes and a few more of us in front of the banner. I will try to get them posted in the next day or so.

We had a great dinner with all the Saturday BAC attendees and it was great to meet a few new members.

Adrianne and I had a great flight home today. We had expected to stay an extra day in Southern California, but the weather up this way was worsening over the next few days so we flew home in mostly clear skies although with a 15 plus knot headwind most of the way.

I attended all three days, including the parade of planes the day before the EXPO. This was my first AOPA EXPO and I will admit to weighing my membership from time-to-time. I came away from the experience with some very good impressions of the organization. Their political action and the Air Safety Foundations merit your consideration when renewing or joining.

In particular the morning "general sessions" were more useful than I expected. I was particularly impressed with the final session where a complete and detailed analysis of the recent elections was presented as they related to those issues at the forefront for AOPA (predominately user fees).

It was great to see all the aircraft and the technology. There were vendors there that I wanted or needed to talk with. I thought the seminars were pretty good, but I think that is an area that can be improved on. One of the best aspects of the EXPO was the opportunity to talk with other pilots from all over the country. Everytime I had food at the EXPO I sat with other people and the information exchage was always great.

I don't know if Hartford is in the cards for next year, but I would urge all of you close enough to consider attending.

Finally, Jean Gurnee is serious about a spring Southern California Fly-in. The Southwest Region is going to try and get as many of our members together as possible so if any of you want to get into the act either plan to attend something we are planning or step forward and host one yourself. If I can't attend I will ship the Southwest Banner so that we can continue to add our members photos with it to the photo forum.

Dan Jonas
Napa Valley

 

[Clinderman]

Great write up, CalifDan! Sure wish we could have made the trip. (Our Sierra is still waiting for parts to arrive!) I am looking forward to seeing the other photos.

Eveyone needs to send CalifDan or me an email with your flight plans so we can get them posted for PT (President's Trophy) points. This "fly-in" was official in that sense.

Chris L.
Southwestern RD (Interim)
Sierra N5106M
KSLC