Site Selection Committee for BAC Fest 2007 needs suggestions
- Thread starter vanhook
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cabastiani
In The Pattern
Site for BAC Fest 2007
Without question, Frederick, MD, (FDK) just north of Washington, DC, but not in the ADIZ. with two runways, an ILS, enough room to park every member's plane, and home of AOPA. For starters, I'm sure a tour could be arranged of the Potomac Center in Leesburg, a tour of the new Air and Space Museum at Dulles, and a visit to AOPA for an Air Safety Foundation presentation. And then there are all the sights and restaurants of the nation's capital! It might even be possible to get a few of the exotic aircraft based at FDK to display in front of AOPA, or even put on a show for us.
Without question, Frederick, MD, (FDK) just north of Washington, DC, but not in the ADIZ. with two runways, an ILS, enough room to park every member's plane, and home of AOPA. For starters, I'm sure a tour could be arranged of the Potomac Center in Leesburg, a tour of the new Air and Space Museum at Dulles, and a visit to AOPA for an Air Safety Foundation presentation. And then there are all the sights and restaurants of the nation's capital! It might even be possible to get a few of the exotic aircraft based at FDK to display in front of AOPA, or even put on a show for us.
I was just thinking about how i wished i had made it out to Wichita and pulled up the thread about next year. The pictures of the Factory i did not get to see made me think of Williamsport Pa and the Lycoming Factory for a suggestion for next year. The area is very nice. I went to College there for a year before transfering to Ga Tech. I visited the Lycoming Plant several times before it was taken over by Texatron. Most of the Mice have Lycomings. They might still have the clinics for groups like they used to have. Just a thought. I hope to make it next year wherever it is held. Sounds like Wichita was a First Class event.
Mike Dawson
Mike Dawson
Saturday night at dinner in Wichita, those of us that were left were discussing ideas for BAC Fest 2007. Myrtle Beach, SC was mentioned, and received a good response. Two airports, Myrtle Beach International and Grand Strand in North Myrtle Beach. Both very easy to get into.
FranksSport
In The Pattern
How Bout Nashville or Dayton
I suggest the Nashville Area. The local atractions are excellent (an evening at the Grand Old Opry or the Rhyman Auditorium could be arranged) . The Smyna Airport has lots of ramp space. Murphreesboro is also good but a bit smaller. Hotel prices are reasonable.......and the weather is relatively nice in summer. I live in Florida but would fly to Nashville to participate.
If aircraft attractions are a must then the Dayton Area...with the AF Museum might be a good choice.
Franksport
I suggest the Nashville Area. The local atractions are excellent (an evening at the Grand Old Opry or the Rhyman Auditorium could be arranged) . The Smyna Airport has lots of ramp space. Murphreesboro is also good but a bit smaller. Hotel prices are reasonable.......and the weather is relatively nice in summer. I live in Florida but would fly to Nashville to participate.
If aircraft attractions are a must then the Dayton Area...with the AF Museum might be a good choice.
Franksport
I have a couple of reservations ( maybe concerns would be a better choice of words) about a BAC Fest 2007 anywhere near the Washington DC area, and Baltimore. As I understand it, there might be an FAA mandate with respect to the TFR's in the area, and mandatory VFR training within 100 miles of Washington DC. Just something to think about wrt to that area. Don't need the FAA to bust some of us pilots, and would be Air Traffic control issues to deal with.
As for locations on the EAST Coast, I would like to first recommend that we settle for a time, like mid to late Sept or Oct, as the weather will be cooler and not so hard on pilots, passengers and pets. But again just a suggestion. Locations on the East coast, let's see... from my experience I would like to suggest the following areas:
Fredricksburg VA .. AOPA Headquarters ... need I say more?????
Pigeon Ford - lots to do, but approaches kind might be tricky, have to check the maps.
Charlotte - Concorde field fall, football tickets, Nascar museum, big city and lots of other things...
Myrtle Beach .... ocean and other entertainment area's around.
Charleston SC... Historic, and other shopping area's for the wives (slave quarters, etc... Good food and hotels galore.
Savannah GA.. Eighth Airforce Museum. Historic downtown.
Columbus Ohio... Airforce Museum at Wright Pat AFB (Rickenbacker maybe)
Richmond VA... another nice Area...
Oceana VA ... Navy Airstation and other nice things around there...
If I think of more, I'll post them...
Monty Spencer
As for locations on the EAST Coast, I would like to first recommend that we settle for a time, like mid to late Sept or Oct, as the weather will be cooler and not so hard on pilots, passengers and pets. But again just a suggestion. Locations on the East coast, let's see... from my experience I would like to suggest the following areas:
Fredricksburg VA .. AOPA Headquarters ... need I say more?????
Pigeon Ford - lots to do, but approaches kind might be tricky, have to check the maps.
Charlotte - Concorde field fall, football tickets, Nascar museum, big city and lots of other things...
Myrtle Beach .... ocean and other entertainment area's around.
Charleston SC... Historic, and other shopping area's for the wives (slave quarters, etc... Good food and hotels galore.
Savannah GA.. Eighth Airforce Museum. Historic downtown.
Columbus Ohio... Airforce Museum at Wright Pat AFB (Rickenbacker maybe)
Richmond VA... another nice Area...
Oceana VA ... Navy Airstation and other nice things around there...
If I think of more, I'll post them...
Monty Spencer
Clinderman
Around The Moon
I'm beginning to think the Fredericksburg, VA site makes a lot of sense. With AOPA being there we certainly have plenty of aviation related connections. Plus maybe the club could get some "free" publicity. It isn't that far from Lycoming's home so maybe they could be pursuaded to send someone down to give a talk. It's a pretty area and fairly centrally located on the east coast (maybe a long run for FL folks, but hey, somebody has to make the hike...right Don!)
Also, the comment about the time of year hits home. Anywhere from the Mason-Dixon line on south can be pretty hot and humid in summer. I support more of a fall or spring time as well, so that we can avoid the heat.
And now you have my two cents..........
Also, the comment about the time of year hits home. Anywhere from the Mason-Dixon line on south can be pretty hot and humid in summer. I support more of a fall or spring time as well, so that we can avoid the heat.
And now you have my two cents..........
sjcote
Orbiting Earth
Clinderman said:
Chris,
Won't there be some issues with the ADIZ for Baltimore (Baalmur, as they say there)? I agree it has a lot going for it as a destination.
Re Kerry's suggestiion, Ocean City, MD is a really nice area. Attractions range from the Boardwalk to Chincoteague Island (Hmm, "little Beech" drivers vistiing little horses). It is pretty much a duplicate of Myrtle Beach, SC (though OC is spread out a little more and fewer golf courses).
'Course all of the above is still East Coast. I won't even bring up sites here in New England. Weather Gods don't like us, ya know.
Steve Cote
Comments on various comments:
Norfolk/Lower Chesapeake Bay - I think this is a great idea. There's some gorgeous flying around that area and down along the Outer Banks - recent and pending changes to MOAs and the addition of RNAV based airways are making this even more accessable. Some other nearby attractions not mentioned include Norfolk Naval Base, Colonial Williamsburg, and the Ocean Beach area makes a greak place to keep the wife and kids entertained. For those that choose to fly-in commercially Norfolk is a relaxed destination but competative enough to be affordable.
Baltimore/DC - although a great deal of attractions there is a bit of a dearth of GA friendly airports with lots of space and we're one major terrorist incident or political wind change from having the whole thing bollixed by a large TFR and/or change in the ADIZ rules (like the aforemetioned familarity training being proposed).
Nashville, TN - Smyrna is a great airport but we need to be careful and pick a weekend without a major NASCAR or other event at Superspeedway - the ramp at Smyrna is filled on these weekends and race day qualifies for the "blanket sporting event TFR" and sometimes draws a larger and explicit TFR due to event size and/or VIP guests.
Frederick, MD - There are some interesting tie-ins and it might be worth investigating AOPAs interest, some press for our birds couldn't hurt. A concern is that Frederick is < 10 miles outsize of the DC ADIZ (and within the 100 proposed for the training requirement) and is < 5 miles outside of the normal expanded boundaries of the P-40/R-4009 airspaces (Camp David). Sometimes there are non-standard expansions of a greater area (such as for summits and other high profile state visits) that cover Frederick and these are unfortunately short notice events.
Overall I'd put in a solid vote for Norfolk/Richmond or similar even if Nashville would be much closer to me.
I also vote strongly to move the fly-in to an earlier or later month, August sucked - even September cuts the heat and convective activity a lot without a lot of net increase in IFR.
Norfolk/Lower Chesapeake Bay - I think this is a great idea. There's some gorgeous flying around that area and down along the Outer Banks - recent and pending changes to MOAs and the addition of RNAV based airways are making this even more accessable. Some other nearby attractions not mentioned include Norfolk Naval Base, Colonial Williamsburg, and the Ocean Beach area makes a greak place to keep the wife and kids entertained. For those that choose to fly-in commercially Norfolk is a relaxed destination but competative enough to be affordable.
Baltimore/DC - although a great deal of attractions there is a bit of a dearth of GA friendly airports with lots of space and we're one major terrorist incident or political wind change from having the whole thing bollixed by a large TFR and/or change in the ADIZ rules (like the aforemetioned familarity training being proposed).
Nashville, TN - Smyrna is a great airport but we need to be careful and pick a weekend without a major NASCAR or other event at Superspeedway - the ramp at Smyrna is filled on these weekends and race day qualifies for the "blanket sporting event TFR" and sometimes draws a larger and explicit TFR due to event size and/or VIP guests.
Frederick, MD - There are some interesting tie-ins and it might be worth investigating AOPAs interest, some press for our birds couldn't hurt. A concern is that Frederick is < 10 miles outsize of the DC ADIZ (and within the 100 proposed for the training requirement) and is < 5 miles outside of the normal expanded boundaries of the P-40/R-4009 airspaces (Camp David). Sometimes there are non-standard expansions of a greater area (such as for summits and other high profile state visits) that cover Frederick and these are unfortunately short notice events.
Overall I'd put in a solid vote for Norfolk/Richmond or similar even if Nashville would be much closer to me.
I also vote strongly to move the fly-in to an earlier or later month, August sucked - even September cuts the heat and convective activity a lot without a lot of net increase in IFR.
paulwerbin
Headed to Andromeda
more on this idea of trying NC VA ocean areas. If you want to see the outer Banks look into Manteo KMQI. it has gas lights approaches etc. all of this is missing from First flight 10 miles away.
The Norfolk VA Beach area has some MOAs etc. but they are easy to avoid, usually offshore, Lots of friendly ATC here to help. Norfolk is an easy big airport,90 min by car from outer banks. Williamsburg is close also.
The Norfolk VA Beach area has some MOAs etc. but they are easy to avoid, usually offshore, Lots of friendly ATC here to help. Norfolk is an easy big airport,90 min by car from outer banks. Williamsburg is close also.
cabastiani
In The Pattern
Richmond has space, runways, and approaches. And also a great air museum. And it has all the advantages of Williamsburg, Norfolk, and First Flight in easy reach.
paulwerbin
Headed to Andromeda
Manteo is mainly a somewhat larger airport with access to Outer banks area. It has cabs, fuel, lights, approaches etc. In the immediate area there is access to great offshore dep sea fishing. Marlin, tuna, Mahi etc. Very nice beach area all over the outer banks FFA to hatterass and Oracoke. Otherwise I think it is somewhat of a day trip from Norfolk, Richmond, Williamsburg VA area.
The area has a number of very active MOAs close by. Good help avail from the military ATC guys if you want it to stay clear. But also the only place I have ever flown under (4000 Ft. under) two helicopters being refueled at once from the same tanker.
Any military of aviation history buffs should try to get to this area sometime. You can see F22s fly attack patterns, F18s doing touch and goes, The Wright Bother's site, and maybe tour the biggest navy base in the US. All in one day
The area has a number of very active MOAs close by. Good help avail from the military ATC guys if you want it to stay clear. But also the only place I have ever flown under (4000 Ft. under) two helicopters being refueled at once from the same tanker.
Any military of aviation history buffs should try to get to this area sometime. You can see F22s fly attack patterns, F18s doing touch and goes, The Wright Bother's site, and maybe tour the biggest navy base in the US. All in one day
paulwerbin
Headed to Andromeda
Oh.. The Buzz Bomb.. you necer know I guess.... But the fellow that owns the Buzz, PBY Catalina, Corsair, P40, P51, ETc. has purchased an old grass airport and is setting up a private museum for the planes in a corner of Virginia Beach (nice hobby, Huh?). He still flies or has someone fly most of them. If we have a small group it is usually possible to set up a tour.
Re: How Bout Nashville or Dayton
I've mentioned several times that a combo event in conjunction with Beech Party would be a tremendous deal for those interested in the history of the Beech Aircraft Company - add to this lots of stuff to do in the Nashville area, great commercial airline access(JetBlue, Southwest) and it becomes accessible to a large number of our group.
Second the Outer Banks, specifically Manteo, Nantucket, Kitty Hawk could be fun but less aviation related stuff to do other than Kitty Hawk.
Oct in Tennessee is spectacular. - http://www.pbase.com/shelbyrv6a/
Shelby
FranksSport said:
I've mentioned several times that a combo event in conjunction with Beech Party would be a tremendous deal for those interested in the history of the Beech Aircraft Company - add to this lots of stuff to do in the Nashville area, great commercial airline access(JetBlue, Southwest) and it becomes accessible to a large number of our group.
Second the Outer Banks, specifically Manteo, Nantucket, Kitty Hawk could be fun but less aviation related stuff to do other than Kitty Hawk.
Oct in Tennessee is spectacular. - http://www.pbase.com/shelbyrv6a/
Shelby
Nashville, TN - Smyrna is a great airport but we need to be careful and pick a weekend without a major NASCAR or other event at Superspeedway - the ramp at Smyrna is filled on these weekends and race day qualifies for the "blanket sporting event TFR" and sometimes draws a larger and explicit TFR due to event size and/or VIP guests.
I also vote strongly to move the fly-in to an earlier or later month, August sucked - even September cuts the heat and convective activity a lot without a lot of net increase in IFR.[/quote]
I would not recommend Smyrna - I own a hanger there and think Nasvhille(JWN) or THA Tullahoma - Beech Party would be better.
Shelby Smith
Based at JWN
I also vote strongly to move the fly-in to an earlier or later month, August sucked - even September cuts the heat and convective activity a lot without a lot of net increase in IFR.[/quote]
I would not recommend Smyrna - I own a hanger there and think Nasvhille(JWN) or THA Tullahoma - Beech Party would be better.
Shelby Smith
Based at JWN