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2022 Fly-In?

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I love Monterrey, but I'll be surprised if participation is high. Those who live out west are used to mountain flying and crossing over toward Colorado or New Mexico, is not a big deal. Most from the east have no experience doing such. I have flown to the west coast and have taken two mountain flying courses over the years, but man ... Monterrey is sure a long haul. Doubt I would commit to that. OK, here's an idea .. .how about the Black Hills area?
 
I for one won’t go to California in current times. My vote ( not that it counts) is Laughlin.
 
tgertzen said:
I suggest KMRY, Monterey California. It covers everything on Glenn's list previously posted.

Some highlights are:
- Golf coarse within walking distance
- Plenty of aircraft parking, two FBO's with hangars. Reasonable fuel prices.
- Resort hotels nearby (some on the water) big enough to hold our group.
- Casino's, shopping, the beach(!) all ridiculously close.
- Low DA, two runways, IFR approaches.

Thoughts?
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Well last time I golfed, I Tee'd off on hole #2 by the parking lot, that had a huge tee off fence to protect the cars and I still managed to hit over the fence and hit my own car in the parking lot :) So I won't need the golf-course !!
 
Seems like nearly time to announce? If not, where are the top 3 contenders?
 
The Beech Aero Club locked in Palm Springs CA for September 29 - October 2nd so we will be out west with our Commander.

Mary and I are excited to hear where COG has planned. This could turn into one heck of a month to six weeks in the air visiting the south and west. :)
 
Hmmm, Gary. Your itinerary makes me start running numbers in my head…at least from Atlanta (where I live) to Palm Springs, CA. Thirteen hours total flight time before two required fuel stops for the 1600 nm distance and 160 gals total fuel. At $5/gal that’s $800 each way. Now a quick check on commercial flights shows 7 hours flight time and $170 each way (booked in advance). But there’s two of you so let’s call it $340 plus Parking.

So essentially flying yourself and Mary is twice the time and cost roughly. Ok, makes sense. Definitely worth it.
 
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Rarely can one justify owning a plane and using it for travel just based on the cost comparison between it and commercial. If I'm just going to New York and back I fly commercial but if I want to stop half a dozen places along the way and make it an experience I fly my plane.
 
Commander91gm said:
Rarely can one justify owning a plane and using it for travel just based on the cost comparison between it and commercial. If I'm just going to New York and back I fly commercial but if I want to stop half a dozen places along the way and make it an experience I fly my plane.
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Exactly....there is ZERO economic sense for traveling by private aircraft. At least as an accountant would look at it.

I also like to hunt, and I can tell you that there is absolutely no more expensive way possible to put meat on your table than by hunting for it.

We fly, hunt, fish, camp, etc. primarily for the fun factor. Nothing wrong with that at all.
 
I used to think NEVER was it economically justified but not so, just rare as you say Joel. The best justifications seem to be flying from origins and/or to destinations that commercial doesn’t serve and the other big justification is last minute excursions. Another big advantage not so much economic but more convenience is you are on your own schedule, not the commercial airline schedule. Get to airport late by commercial and it’s game over. Get there late via general aviation and it’s no factor. Something I failed to mention above for Gary’ excursion is commercial will require him to drive further to BWI airport vs close-by Ocean Springs and airlines are now making you show up 2 hours before departure. Don’t get me started on security checkpoint experiences when flying commercial either. If we could ever get one of these digital auto pilots certified for our plane then I think you could bring some books along to read or watch movies while flying, maybe not.
 
You're absolutely right as much of a hassle as it's become to fly commercial it may still not be cost effective to use our planes the majority of the time but the hassle factor is so much lower.
Obviously not everything can be cost justified-we've owned a second home for close to 25 years that at best we spend a month at each year. Can't cost justify that either.:rolleyes:
 
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Jaybird said:
Hmmm, Gary. Your itinerary makes me start running numbers in my head…at least from Atlanta (where I live) to Palm Springs, CA. Thirteen hours total flight time before two required fuel stops for the 1600 nm distance and 160 gals total fuel. At $5/gal that’s $800 each way. Now a quick check on commercial flights shows 7 hours flight time and $170 each way (booked in advance). But there’s two of you so let’s call it $340 plus Parking.

So essentially flying yourself and Mary is twice the time and cost roughly. Ok, makes sense. Definitely worth it.
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Ahhhhh......but not to be herded like cattle, have to wear a mask, and with all my metal parts get the full body search every time, I'll pay the extra. ;) Mary and I plan on a few stops along the way to spend a few days here and there. Getting back to Waco is a must and catching up with a few friends always makes it worth our own schedule. The other plus is we want to catch both club events, maybe the balloon festival, San Diego, and maybe even a visit to Camarillo to see our old Sundowner.
 
Someone asked me last month how much the commander costs per year to own, I told her I have no Idea, As long as I have the money, I write the checks. There's nothing like getting the gear up, the flaps up, and setting climb power, then looking out over the wings as the ground below gets smaller and smaller....
 
atjudge said:
Someone asked me last month how much the commander costs per year to own, I told her I have no Idea, As long as I have the money, I write the checks. There's nothing like getting the gear up, the flaps up, and setting climb power, then looking out over the wings as the ground below gets smaller and smaller....
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Amen, Mr. Judge. Well said. Feel the exact same way.
 
Yeah and I’ve seen some newbies before they even got their ticket run out and buy some overpriced old beater Skylane and spend enough on it they could have had a new Pilates (almost). And then they’re grounded 8 months waiting on all the mods the A&P talked them into. He forgot how to fly. Best to keep one eye on these expenses.
 
Another friend of mine with an old 182 two years ago put an engine overhaul and New Garmin avionics into it and of course was way upside down at about $110k total investment at that time. He was really upset over that aspect but just had a bad addiction to spending money on planes. You know there are rehab clinics for this disease. But times change. Some whippersnapper at his field has been chasing him to buy that plane and my friend finally decided to part with it when the offer got to $200k. It’s in pre-buy now but not sold so we shall see. We both are laughing that in two years he’ll buy the plane back at 25 cents on the dollar possibly if it’s still legal to own your own possessions, ha ha. Gulp!
 
I don't really care where we have the COG fly-in, but rather than be fixated on where it is going to be, it probably is going to come down to whoever wants to be responsible for putting it on.

I hate to admit that I am one of the ones who is the recipient of the work of the organizers - I am overwhelmed with my business as I am sure that many others are also. We sincerely appreciate the hard work and efforts of the organizers of these fly-ins. Someday, I hope that post business sale I can be one of the ones who has the time and resources to put on a fly-in.

If someone wants to put on a fly-in in then we need to support them no matter where it is. I can only imagine the work involved in doing something like this.
 
I will bring up Fort Collins again. The Hotel accommodations were incredible, the FBO was outstanding. The workshops were well organized and very interesting.

Colorado is on the East side of the mountains - which I think a lot of folks would prefer.
I am on the West side of them - but I have crossed them multiple times.

Frank
 
Update! It looks like the dates that will work for the resort & FBO are Sept 16th-17th. Stay tuned...
 
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Glenn! Updates? September is getting tight for me, might be for others as well. Hate to miss again this year.
 
N4843W said:
Glenn! Updates? September is getting tight for me, might be for others as well. Hate to miss again this year.
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Sept 16th-17th seems firm and it looks like Colorado.
 
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