Napa Fly-in Updates

CalifDan

CalifDan

Orbiting Earth
We had a great first day with the early arrivals!

It was a little windy in the bay area today, but the winds decreased as the day moved on.

The day started early with an email from Chirs Linderman saying that he was on his way, but by public transportation rather than his Sierra. While it was a clear windy day in California, freezing rain existed for the first 100-200 miles of his intended route from Utah. He and wife would be arriving mid-day via Delta and Sacramento.

Thom Smith and wife were the first flying participants to arrive around noon time. Pictures are in the photo section. Not long after, Richard Kutzner arrived as well (his aircraft is in the photo section too). Thom made good time with tailwinds from Oregon and Richard worked a little harder from Bakersfield.

All assembled at our house for late afternoon happy hour and dinner. Ken Vineburg drove over from Vacaville and joined us. He will fly over tomorrow to join in the events. The party broke up a little after 10:00 pm.

Some winery tours are planned for the morning and mid-day tomorrow and all will assemble at the airport sometime after 2:00 pm for tomorrow's activities.

We will keep you posted. Still not too late to show up tomorrow.

Dan Jonas
Napa Valley
 
Dan,

Fantastic job for the Napa/Southwestern Regional Fly In! Beautiful set up, great location, tremendous cooperation from the airport & FBO and finally an outstanding turn-out!

Well done, Dan, and thanks to your lovely bride too!

Chris
 
We had a great Saturday. I may have to count again, but I think we had 9 aircraft and two additional members who arrived by other means. Pictures of today's activities will be posted in the next few minutes and I will try to follow with more sometime tomorrow.

I greeted two aircraft arrivals on Friday. Thom Smith and Richard Kutzner and wives were the early arrivals. Chris & LeeAnn Linderman flew in on Delta, and Ken Vineburg drove over for dinner with us.

On getting to the airport this morning a Sierra was parked in our flight line. Steve Frieson and wife Mary had arrived a little later than planned on Friday afternoon due to a smalll alternator problem that had to be fixed enroute.

Starting later this morning more arrivals began. Not sure of the order, but Ron Sellers, Michael Samak, Mike Peace, Ken Vineburg, Kim Hatfield, Perfecto Bahena and Joseph Ashment all arrived by air. Some of the above brought wives, their own I think. Tom McGinley drove over from Santa Rosa.

We hung out at near the aircraft, looked under the cowling, talked about instrument panels and swapped stories. We had wine and cheese, soft drinks and even a shady place to sit or stand. We even managed to get the BAC banner up and a group shot.

We retired to the airport conference room just a little behind schedule and had a great presentation from Chris Linderman of the Beechcraft Factory tour at BAC Fest and some nice pictures and discussion about the Power Flow products.

Mike Rellihan called us and we did 45 mintues with Mike over a speaker phone. While I have traded emails with Mike, I have never had the pleaseure of sitting down and talking to him for any length of time. Those of you who have, know that besides having a wealth of knowledge about our aircraft, he has a talented way of presenting the information. Mike is able to frame the response so that you not only understand the concept, but you also know why certain things occured in the first place.

Thank you again Mike for being there for us. You made some personal connections today on the left coast and with members from both the Southwest and Northwest Regions and that is ultimately good for the BAC organization.

We had door prizes enough that we drew every name in the hat, threw the names back in and drew many more on a second pass.

We retired across the the terminal at Jonesy's for dinner and I think we were 20 sitting at two tables.

There are many people to thank for helping to make this all happen. Let me start with the one who did the most work, my wife Adrianne. She pretty much organized and prepared the food for the Friday night dinner. She was there everytime I called on the cell phone today when I needed something else to be delivered to the airport. She hustled the chairs, the wine and cheese and soft drinks out to the airport. She took many of the pictures that will be posted on the BAC site. She is not in the group photo because she took the picture.

Chris Linderman was great with direct help and much encouragement. LeeAnne was great, thanks again for the help getting dinner set-up.

I also want to thank all of those who flew in or contributed in various ways. Richard Krutzner donated a CD player for the drawings. The northwest participants flew down from northeastern Oregon and Portland to augment our group. I hope that we can return the favor when they put something on.

All the Southwest members who took time to fly here from as far away as Southern California to Utah and as near as a ten minute flight. If you drew a 500-600 nm radius from Napa, our attendees covered much of it flying in and back.

While it was an ejoyable experience putting on the event, in the end I came away with more than I put in. New friends in many locations, more knowledge, a stronger connection to this activity we enjoy so much and a face to the BAC group. How cool is that!!

Dan Jonas
Napa Valley
 
Dan,

We had an absolute blast! Kudos to you and Adrianne for throwing quite the fly-in party. Mary appreciated the welcome to the world of the flying spouse, though she's still a work in progress about feeling completely comfortable in the right seat. For me, it was great meeting fellow mouseketeers on the left coast - I hope to see some of you at the AOPA expo in November!

Be well and fly safe

Steven and Mary Frieson
 
Hello all,

I cannot add much to the kudos, except to agree completely. Dan and Adrianne you were perfect hosts, and the entire group helped add to the knowledge and just plane (plane... good one huh) fun of the event. It was a wonderful day and evening.

Pam and I continue to enjoy this beautiful part of the Bay, what a beautiful place!

You all have a very safe trip home tomorrow, and thank you all, it was truly a pleasure!

Conway (aka Mike)
 
8) Dan and Adrianne, We made it home safely and had a fantastic time! Thank you for all your hard work and hospitality. Did I hear something about making this an "annual event?" :)

See ya next year!
Rich and Shell Kutzner
1472L (soon to be 6588R!)

P.S. It was a pleasure meeting everyone at the show as well!
 
Dan

One more round of thanks and congratulations to you and Adrianne. This has to be the Fly-In by which all others are measured. Can't wait to do it again, but you have to make sure you order the same weather. Flying back this morning, you could see Mt Ranier from Mt Shasta.

Ron Sellers
 
what a treat!!

The fly-in was great. It was super meeting everyone, and always nice to talk flying! Many times you can go to events and feel strange becuase you don't know anyone, but this weekend just seemed relaxed. Special thanks to Dan and Adrianne (sorry if I'm not spelling your name correctly)for hosting the event..your thoughtful planning and effort didn't go unnoticed!! Even my wife had a blast, drinking wine at the Bounty Hunter with her new-found friends. You couldn't believe my surprise when Bernadette (wife) asked me something about some conference in Palm Springs (AOPA), and could we go so she could team up with the other wives! .... I don't think she has plans to sit in the engine-failure seminar.....

See you all next year!!
Ken & Bernadette Vineburg
 
Totally awesome! That really must have been a sight! Glad you got home safely! Plan for BAC Fest '07.....see you there...if not before!

Chris
 
Man, I sure do love seeing these events happen, and reading about them! Great turnout!

I'll be at Bill Heybruck's Wilgrove fly-in on Oct 7th, and at Tullahoma Beech Party on Oct 14th. Then the next one will probably be Gaston's! If the prop stays in one piece....

Other than the prior commitments, light work party days are on now at 34A; and Monty and I hope to arrange another fly-in for 34A before too long.

We spent the day today working on the Spencer Sundowner and Sunny Beech. Sunny B got his prop governor low pitch stop adjusted, and the low-vacuum switch reconnected (somehow the wires had popped off). The Spencer Sundowner got a proper plug harness seal on the left side; a nifty duct adapter in the left induction air duct that makes it a 'piece of cake' now to drop the lower cowling; and all new Teflon/124J extruded-firesleeve hoses, firewall forward. Monty may be posting something on the duct adapter, in case anyone else wants to consider it.

The Sundowner is running and flying sweet now. Jim Spencer got up in it with me for an hour this morning (left seat), for the first time in a long time. The plane flies like it's supposed to now. No scary stalls, no sloppy controls, no erratic pitch and roll response. And I actually got to look around at the ground for a change (right seat), while Jim pointed out some of the local highlights.
 
Mike-

Thanks so much for being a part of our SW/NW fly-in! You made a real connection with many of the west coast folks and reaffirmed our confidence in you as the 'go to guy' as far as our baby Beeches are concerned.

We hope to get you out here in person for the next fly-in...even if Delta does the flying!

All the best,
Chris L.
 
Well, when I do get out that way again, it'll be in Sunny B (again), not Delta! I hope to God I never have to set foot in a commercial airliner again for the rest of my days! Sure wish I had not missed that dinner event; and especially the wine, bread, cheese, and company in the shade by the BAC Banner. I also always love for the chance to look at all the new-to-me BAC member airplanes.

I was happy to be able to contribute a little from here. I was pleasantly surprised to see so many names I recognized from past parts purchases. Two things I could wish for:
Somehow put names to the faces on the group photo under the BAC Banner, if there is any practical way to do it.
Add the year to the album name for the NAPA Valley Fly In Album. I tried, but it isn't published so I'd have access. Whoever created the album will have to update the name field.
 
Names, Dates

Mike,

The Album is renamed with the dates and the two group pictures have the names. It was pretty late Saturday night when I put those on and I admit that I was running out of steam. Watching everyone else get to fly in and out finally got to me today and we flew the Duchess down to Half Moon Bay for a late lunch. I'll get around to getting the names in the rest as soon as I can.

Fly-in Participants,

I'm glad that you all made it home safe, at least the ones who left already...I think Mike Peace is still hanging around. It was another beautiful day from here to points just about as far as we can fly in a day.

Ron, you were looking across more than the state of Oregon. Those days are rare but incredible. What a sight that must have been!

I'm also happy to hear that the event was special. It is an amazing experience from my perspective as well. I've told friends that I was planning a "party" for 20 people that I had never met. The usual response was "why?".

We know the answer to that.

Dan Jonas
Napa Valley
 
Congratulations to Dan on a SUPER EVENT. Glad to hear all had a great time and that the weather cooperated for a change. Also nice to hear about fellow BACers getting together and putting faces with names. I'm already looking forward to BAC Fest 2008 out on the left coast. Dan, thanks for your effort you did a super job.

Cloyd
 
Don't know how to say it any better than has been said already.... Dan, Adriane ..... fabulous job! All the effort you must have put into this was soooo much appreciated. You really pulled a great one off here. And as a "fly-in newbie", I gotta say that I feel that this fly in was a huge benifit to the club in the way wives got involved. Maybe it was the wine tours, the great accommodations (thanx again Dan!!) but my wife was chomping at the bit to attend. She made some new friends, had a great time Saturday with Shell and Holly, and the entire group that attended Dan & Adriane's dinner on Friday. She really enjoyed herself! For that I thank you all. I am SURE that she will be more interested in attending future events.
The flight back was indeed beautiful, didn't even mind the 25+kt headwind. The 580 (or so) nm trip took just 3 hours 40 minutes down, but nearly 5 hours back. Actually saw 162kts ground speed at one point on the way down, averaged 140kts, but the trip home we averaged only 110-115. But my wife wouldn't let me have the plane back once I handed it over to her over LKV. She flew all the way home and did a great job at that. She finally got the "picture out the window" and learned to maintain alt/ heading quite well.
Thanx again to all that made this such an enjoyable event for the both of us.

Thom & Dianne
 
How'd that happen? I was logged in, but I guess I was not recognized... but as guest. O well, just like I was the only arrival that had to contend with winds of 020 @ 23 with gusts to 29.
And oh yeah, I was the ONLY one that called base turn to 16. Haven't flown in a tower environment for a loooong time.

Had a GREAT time!!
 
What a great Fly-in , my first. Dan, you and Adrianne put together one great fly-in. It was nice to have met all those who attended, and to see the other aircraft. I'm sure I speak for Perfecto who flew down with me.

Had to stay one more day to see the sites of the Bay area. We departed today Monday for Troutdale Or.

Thanks to all
Mike Peace
 
napa flyin

Thanks again Dan and Adrianne for the fly in.

I was not a member until now, the flyin convinced me. It's nice to see such a good group.

I was just selling the organization to a Duchess that was stranded at my shop this morning. I hope he gets as much out of this as I am.

Joe Ashment
N7990L
 
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