BACFest 2025
- Thread starter HEHaag
- Start date
pwf
Level Cruise
Peter and Leili got home this evening after an uneventful (though initially bumpy) ride... two hours flying time to our base north of Toronto, plus a 15 minute stop for Customs. Just about the easiest BACfest we have attended !
Sorry we bugged out early but we did not want to be stranded by uncertain weather tomorrow; scud running is not an option when we had to cross about 80 nm of the Allegheny mountains!
We just wanted to give Harv our sincere thank you for putting together the 2025 BACfest. We had a great time !
Peter
1980 Sierra MC-707 C-GTJS
Sorry we bugged out early but we did not want to be stranded by uncertain weather tomorrow; scud running is not an option when we had to cross about 80 nm of the Allegheny mountains!
We just wanted to give Harv our sincere thank you for putting together the 2025 BACfest. We had a great time !
Peter
1980 Sierra MC-707 C-GTJS
a2324pilot
Orbiting Earth
Sorry to miss the banquet this evening, I hope everyone had a great time. Special thanks to Harvey and Janet for hosting this years BACFest. The location was great the preparation was excellent. Another great BACFest in the history books.
The Weiser’s got home with 7.15 hours on the tach and course deviations for weather. We were able to stay out of the showers and maintain 4,500’ MSL, so not bad.
It was great to see everyone and we are looking forward to next year in Virginia.
The Weiser’s got home with 7.15 hours on the tach and course deviations for weather. We were able to stay out of the showers and maintain 4,500’ MSL, so not bad.
It was great to see everyone and we are looking forward to next year in Virginia.
JohnFoster
Climbing to Cruise
I made it home @1:30 am flying commercially last night. Another enjoyable BACFest is complete! I had never been to Central PA, and quite honestly, had it not been for this years BACFest in Lock Haven, I would have probably never chosen this area for a visit. Beautiful country, rich aviation history, and airports scattered around every corner.
Harvey and Janet, thank you for all your work putting this years successful event together. It was nice to finally meet you!
For those who stayed at the Best Western through Sunday, be sure to check your hotel invoice. I did not notice until this morning, but they charge me $239 for Saturday night! I called the front desk, spoke with the manager. He apologized and issued me a refund. I may not be the only one who was accidentally overcharged.
See you all next year.
John
Harvey and Janet, thank you for all your work putting this years successful event together. It was nice to finally meet you!
For those who stayed at the Best Western through Sunday, be sure to check your hotel invoice. I did not notice until this morning, but they charge me $239 for Saturday night! I called the front desk, spoke with the manager. He apologized and issued me a refund. I may not be the only one who was accidentally overcharged.
See you all next year.
John
Attachments
peschi
Level Cruise
The Germans are back home safely thanks to the professional Lufthansa pilots on duty steering the 747-8 from Washington D.C. over the pond.
Thank you Harvey and Janet for all your efforts to make this BACFest again a memorable one!
I enjoyed the time with you all again and looking forward to see you next year!
Thank you Harvey and Janet for all your efforts to make this BACFest again a memorable one!
I enjoyed the time with you all again and looking forward to see you next year!
Mouseflyer
Administrator
Another fun event with great people. Harvey and Janet - wonderful job coordinating it all.
Thanks goes to all of you who attended BACFest 2025. There were 47 people in attendance. As an international club, we had two people from the UK, 3 from Germany, and 5 from Canada. Nine airplanes were flown in. Forty people attended the Awards Banquet and 36 people toured the Piper Museum. Thirty-five people attended PSU Penn Tech Aviation and Lycoming Engine facilities, five ladies toured PSU Arboretum and Palmer Art Museum, and forty-three people toured (rowed the boats) through Penn's Cave. Six airplanes were flown to the three airports (KIPT, N45, KLHV). For the Thursday evening Pizza Party, we went through 15 pizzas, fruit and vegetable trays, delicious cookies. and lots and lots of beverages. Also, I want to thank Jim Shafer of Power Flow Systems and George McKinney of Air Parts of Lock Haven for putting on clinics and Doug Wenker, manager of KLHV for his help.
Hope you all had a good time. See you next year at BACFest 2026 with JP in charge. Harvey & Janet
jharva
Level Cruise
I thoroughly enjoyed my first BACFest and will certainly attend many more in the future. My departure on Sunday morning (to NH) was in mostly desolate skies with little to no ground in view (thus confirming the wisdom of Saturday departures for some). It was also good to get to square off against Alan White's orange plane at KIPT.
Thank you to Harvey and Janet for all the efforts - and especially the very interesting AirMail presentation.
Thank you to Harvey and Janet for all the efforts - and especially the very interesting AirMail presentation.
My vote is for PSU!!!!!
JoeKirby
Flight Levels
Harvey, I got your box of swag today. Sorry I had to miss BACfest but at least I now have the shirt. As to my plane, insurance will take care of it, just a prop, engine inspection and exhaust but it won't be soon. Poplar Grove, that just did the engine, is backed up about 7-8 months. At least it should be done by BACfest 26. Thanks, again for sending my shirt.
CalifDan
Around The Moon
I finally made it home early this afternoon. I drove back the KPIT and flew commercial to KORD then on to KICT. KORD – KICT required two aircraft and was four hours late, so pretty much normal. I reconnected with my electric car and continued my road trip. I visited Meteor Crater and Grand Canyon along the way. I had not been to Grand Canyon in 50 years, but I have seen it from various aircraft over the years from several hundred feet below the rim (when it was still legal) to about 40,000 feet. It is still most spectacular standing on the rim.
I had a great time at BACFest. It is always great to connect with old friends and make new ones. I missed a few that I had hoped would be able to attend but there will be more BACFest events. I would encourage all members who have not attended a BACFest to put it on your bucket list. There is a reason that the first one is the start of a series.
Thanks to Harvey and Janet for hosting a great event. Putting on a BACFest requires effort often concentrated in a series of peak processes. Getting the venue set and arranging the location, hotel, and meeting space is just one. Another effort is required to identify, visit and set up the various tours and/or events. Transportation has to be considered. Having cold beer, soft drinks and snacks in our hospitality room does not just happen. And when that is all done, the host(s) get to worry if the weather is going to cooperate and if their plan will come together.
Harvey and Janet did a great job and delivered in all categories. Even the weather for the most part. Thank you both!!
The aviation-related tours were great. I enjoyed visiting with a few of the students at the technical college and seeing how their training is achieved. The Lycoming tour presented a much larger facility than I expected. There is a lot going on there. Penn Caves was interesting. I’ve been through a few caves, but never on a boat.
I got to fly to those tours with Bob Prange. That was a very special treat. Thank you again Bob! Prior to this, I did not know that Bob’s aircraft is the same aircraft he learned to fly in. That might not seem unusual until you consider that Bob retired from a career flying aircraft a few years ago. We all love our aircraft, but few of us will celebrate a golden anniversary in their aircraft relationship and I think Bob has passed that milestone or will soon.
Thank you to those who stepped up for next year.
I had a great time at BACFest. It is always great to connect with old friends and make new ones. I missed a few that I had hoped would be able to attend but there will be more BACFest events. I would encourage all members who have not attended a BACFest to put it on your bucket list. There is a reason that the first one is the start of a series.
Thanks to Harvey and Janet for hosting a great event. Putting on a BACFest requires effort often concentrated in a series of peak processes. Getting the venue set and arranging the location, hotel, and meeting space is just one. Another effort is required to identify, visit and set up the various tours and/or events. Transportation has to be considered. Having cold beer, soft drinks and snacks in our hospitality room does not just happen. And when that is all done, the host(s) get to worry if the weather is going to cooperate and if their plan will come together.
Harvey and Janet did a great job and delivered in all categories. Even the weather for the most part. Thank you both!!
The aviation-related tours were great. I enjoyed visiting with a few of the students at the technical college and seeing how their training is achieved. The Lycoming tour presented a much larger facility than I expected. There is a lot going on there. Penn Caves was interesting. I’ve been through a few caves, but never on a boat.
I got to fly to those tours with Bob Prange. That was a very special treat. Thank you again Bob! Prior to this, I did not know that Bob’s aircraft is the same aircraft he learned to fly in. That might not seem unusual until you consider that Bob retired from a career flying aircraft a few years ago. We all love our aircraft, but few of us will celebrate a golden anniversary in their aircraft relationship and I think Bob has passed that milestone or will soon.
Thank you to those who stepped up for next year.
A23ABobP
Flight Levels
Thank you Harvey and Janet. That was another BACFest to remember. Your planned events were just what we like, some aviation and some just local flair. I also highly recommend BACFest to those who have not attended one. Every BACFest I have attended has shown me another little corner of the US I would not have otherwise experienced and has helped form new friendships and reacquainted me with old.
Bob
Bob
niechiro
Around The Moon
We also got a charge like that of $229.00 for our last night. I am guessing that this was not an isolated incident. Please everyone, check your bill for your hotel. Make certain every night is the group rate of $129/night. I just printed and looked at my invoice for the Best Western Hotel today and noticed this discrepancy. Thanks John for the heads up.
When Catie and I checked in, the receptionist handed me a form to sign that had the charges listed for the three nights. The Thursday and Friday were showing $129 but the Saturday listed $229. After spotting this and questioning it, she corrected it to the BACfest rate and reprinted the form. Our charges at the end of the stay were correct.
I talked with Heather, the manager of Best Western hotel this morning, explaining that some people were charged the wrong amount for Saturday night. She said that she and Grant reviewed the list of attendees this morning and that those charged extra had not been booked under the BACFest rate and were credited the difference this morning. If you did get charged, wait a few days for credit back. If you have questions, contact her at (570) 748-3297.