Site Selection Committee for BAC Fest 2007 needs suggestions

V

vanhook

Around The Moon
The Site Selection Committee for BAC Fest 2007 needs some suggestions on potential locations. For some time it has been tentatively planned that BAC Fest 2007 would be held somewhere in the eastern half of the US. Because of our concentration of members in the northeast and all the way down the Atlantic coast to Florida we're looking for a location probably east of tha Appalachians and somewhat central north-south. We're focusing in the North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland area.

We'd like an area that is GA friendly, would have moderatley priced accomodations and also has attractions that spouses and significant others would be interested in. Two areas that are under consideration are the Outer Banks area of North Carolina including a visit to Kitty Hawk or the Asheville, NC area.

I'd like to hear some additional suggestions. Don't just suggest a place. Tell us what it has to offer both aviation wise and otherwise and what facilities and accomodations are available. Also if you have any connections for arrangements let me know (and be prepared to help organize).

Cloyd
President, BAC
 
Eastern Half

Isn't Bac 2006 also in the eastern half of the country. I'm always amazed that eastern folks think that the west is anything past Ohio or so.

There is also a concentration of members up and down the west side of the country. BAC 2006 in Wichita would be great, but that's at least 18 hours round trip even in my Duchess. The northwest had an event, but that's about 8-9 hours round trip. What's up with the southwest group?
 
BAC 2007

How about considering Norh Las Vegas. There are usually deals on rooms and pleanty of entertainment. The airport has shuttles to most hotels and the gas prices are normally the lowest in the area. There is nothing like flying over the Space Needle, Pirate ships and Pyramids.
If you want the Las vegas feeling with a more remote site, how about Jean Airport. There is a hotel casino at the airport and it is close to Las Vegas and Primm where rooms are also cheap. Primm is where the strong man competitions are held. Although it isn't on the East Coast, the weather will probably be a tad bit beteer for flying.
 
Re: Eastern Half

CalifDan said:
Isn't Bac 2006 also in the eastern half of the country. I'm always amazed that eastern folks think that the west is anything past Ohio or so.

There is also a concentration of members up and down the west side of the country. BAC 2006 in Wichita would be great, but that's at least 18 hours round trip even in my Duchess. The northwest had an event, but that's about 8-9 hours round trip. What's up with the southwest group?
Click to expand...

Dan has a point. Our aircraft are slow enough that travelling great distances to an event is not something to take lightly. As an example I did a quick plan to fly from MYF in San Diego to Charlotte International:
KMYF Time Fuel Fuel Cost
KPAN 2:50 26 104
KTCC 3:30 33 132
KPWA 2:45 26 104
KDYR 3:38 33 132
KCLT 3:49 35 140
Total 16:32 153 612

This would require at least 3 days each way. Add on a three day event and we have a two week vacation gone.

My suggestion would be to split BAC Fest into an east/west event on odd years. 2007, being odd, would have a BAC Fest in the eastern half and in the western half. In Even years have a National event at a resort town or town where there's entertainment value like Branson MO, Nashville, Colorado Springs, Las Vegas, Asheville NC, Atlantic City, Reno, San Fransisco, San Diego....(It doesn't have to be a BIG town just one that has enough outside activities to be atractive to non-flying parners.)
 
Re: Eastern Half

CalifDan said:
Isn't Bac 2006 also in the eastern half of the country. I'm always amazed that eastern folks think that the west is anything past Ohio or so.
Click to expand...

I don't think it was our intention to consider Kansas "west". If I remember correctly we figured we would make the first national convention in the center of the country, the second year further east, and the third year further west.
 
Tim is corrrect.

The general plan was to have the first BAC national at the home of the Mouse (I think that was Liberty, KS), although that's been shut down so we'll be at the Beech factory in Wichita, which is NOT east.

The second one was to be in the east and the third in the west with a rotation in that order.

Quite frankly BAC activity on the west coast has been slow to develop. I would like to see more members step forward and volunteer to organize events.

I would hesitate holding the national event in an area that has not supported local events and asking a large portion of the membership to fly cross country to attend the event.
 
West Coast

Great, will be looking forward to 2008!! If I can, I might even try for Kansas, just need to wait and see if business will allow me a week off.

While my post was intended as only mildly critical, and a chance to lament a long held opinion about the geographical perceptions of east coasters, it does bring up some issues. Ever notice how the east coast based national news organizations have weather people that stand in front of everything from California to Utah while telling us the weather in New England? The only way that does not happen is if the east is clear and we are experiencing storms worthy of Ark building. At that point, we already know it's raining.

Anyway, I've noticed that some of the other BAC areas have made a better effort to put together regional events. That said, I've also noticed that attendance has often been very small due to weather and sometimes schedules. I've watched patiently for a California area event for the year I've been a member. If there was one, I missed it.

I thought we had a southwest director. Perhaps we need to get a core group together to plan things for this area, but as a regular follower of these forums, I've seen nothing asking for any help doing so. It is a little hard to encourage the growth if there is little interaction.

Also, while I have been able to figure out where some of you are from, there is nothing in a posting that lets me know if these are people who are nearby. What if we included the home base of the member in their postings? I'm in the Napa Valley, so if we do something here there will be a few issues:

1. If you really want to enjoy the wineries, you will have to make it a several day trip so you can have a 12 hour recovery before returning.

2. I won't get to fly anywhere, so that sucks. But I would figure out a way to barbecue, or at least get us to a good restaurant (Jonesy's right on the field is pretty good).

Last issue. I did not know that we had plans to do the center, east and then the west. Did I not read the newsletter well enough? I know that the directors do a meeting every so often. Is there maybe a little more information that could get out?

Still looking forward to personally meeting my first fellow BAC member,

Dan Jonas
Napa Valley California
Duchess N800AD
 
Re: West Coast

CalifDan said:
while I have been able to figure out where some of you are from, there is nothing in a posting that lets me know if these are people who are nearby. What if we included the home base of the member in their postings?
Click to expand...

Just click on the username, to the left of each post and you can see where they are from.
 
Re: West Coast

CalifDan said:
Perhaps we need to get a core group together to plan things for this area, but as a regular follower of these forums, I've seen nothing asking for any help doing so.
Click to expand...

Here is a call for help and here is some info for previous sw fly-ins... I think one of them was cancelled due to weather. furnace creek, Sedona.
 
I will be happy to organise and host an event once I've gotten my license and have taken delivery of my shiny old mouse.

36u (Heber City municpal in Utah) is set in a beautifull valley (elev 6000) with enough golf holes to keep Tiger satisfied. And if visitors stay in cozzily small groups, then I'll happily host people at my house in the mountains.

I called them last week, and tie downs are $7.- a day, $50.- a month.

check out my website www.jaisworld.co.uk for things to do. Really, I don't intend to flame this forum, just an excited new Mouseketeer.
 
Glad to see we're stirring up some interest in the Southwest.

But still looking for suggestions for location for BAC Fest 2007 in the east.

Cloyd
 
To get back to the original question... on my way from Georgia back to Connecticut last month, one of my fuel stops was Ocean City, Maryland. Now that looks like a cool place to spend some time. Never been there to vacation, but it looks like a big beach resort area with the airport at one end. Nice airport, big ramp, relatively cheap SS gas, golf courses, amusement park, many high rise hotels on the beach, etc.

Just thought I'd throw that out.

Kerry
N6629R
 
vanhook said:
Glad to see we're stirring up some interest in the Southwest.

But still looking for suggestions for location for BAC Fest 2007 in the east.

Cloyd
Click to expand...

That's an eezy one (in terms of the East)..Toronto :lol:

Then again, that 'd be somewhay..NE..or is it ~Central NE :shock: :roll: (least in Canadaa)

Certainly not the 'Big' eezy though 8)

btw.. http://www.canadianaviationexpo.com/

All welcome :D
 
I recommend the Baltimore Inner Harbor area. When we lived in Pennsylvania we used to drive down for fresh crab, stroll the harbor area for history and other neat things. Perhaps someone with greater familiarity with the area can chime in and add some more things to the "to do" possibilities in the area.
 
Re: West Coast

CalifDan said:
While my post was intended as only mildly critical, and a chance to lament a long held opinion about the geographical perceptions of east coasters
Click to expand...

Love to hear criticism myself. Otoh,.. some folk a bit touchy. :wink:
 
East coast

Coming from out West, I would like to attend in an area that has several attractions. Perhaps we should think about the Disney area or a historic area; DC, Gettysburg etc. Since this will be my Vacation, I would probably stay a few more days to take some tours.
 
Virginia Location

Here's my suggestion: Norfolk-Virginia Beach. There are some very GA friendly airports here. Norfolk Internat'l is fine, friendly, but a little pricey on Gas. Nearby is CPK or PVG, both very friendly and all GA. Good ifr approaches and flat surroundings for bad weather.
Flying stuff is: Kitty Hawk NC 30 min flight to Wright Bros. museum/ first flight airport FFA. 20 min to JGG for a great on the runway restaurant. RIC has a air museum (SR 71 etc) and the Hampton air and space museum and Langley AFB are all close. ORF tower is usually agreeable for tower tours. Sundays there is a nearby good grass strip for weekly cookouts. Another local private museum has lots of ww2 stuff ( P40, P51, TBM, Skyraider, buzz bumb that runs, about 20 others)
For the non fliers there are beaches, dolphin watching boat trips, fishing, lots of shopping, live music everyday at the oceanfront stages( different stages have diff music each day)
I am sure that if the location is wanted the tourist center here can offer more suggestions.
 
Lawnchair said:
Being a western canadian don't get me going on the center of the universe "Toronto" Gawd help us...
Click to expand...

ok,

Btw, lived in Lotus land a few years myself (on & off)..back ina day...

LOVED it :!:

Bit $$$ these days to even think of Livin there today..for me :lol: :lol:
 
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