N4843W
New member
SE MI
- Aircraft Year
- 1977
- Aircraft Type
- 114
- Reg Number
- N4843W
- Serial Number
- 14173
First, we have not had a Great Lakes get-together for some time now. I propose Sunday, December 6, KJXN, Jackson, MI. Good, central location. Good restaurant. Great Ramp. Cheap(ish) fuel, good approaches including ILS. All are welcome, of course ... Perhaps we can even draw a couple of Canuks!
Second, for MI pilots, Operation Good Cheer is an annual event where this year 5300 infants, children, youths and adults with disabilities will receive gifts and for many, this is the only Christmas they will see. From the base at Pontiac KPTK, flights are made all over the state of Michigan. If you can get an average of 20 wrapped packages per plane, that requires 265 flights! Pretty amazing when you think of it. I have done it for 8 or 10 years and it is a fun and gratifying event. They have everything down like clockwork. They give you an arrival slot and from the moment you call into PTK tower, they will direct you from there. They have hot coffee and food and a ton of help, at registration, briefing, etc. etc. They give you taxi instructions to your loading zone where a big happy smiling crew will load your plane (you can supervise of course) to your destination. (You do get choice options, once you arrive at PTK.) Then when you arrive at your destination, another happy crew with more coffee and food will unload you.
We just got word yesterday that they need another 40 or so planes and pilots. I signed up two non-Commander drivers and Mike Wetherbee of COG is flying for sure, as am I. We are maybe going to depart together and try for the same destination if possible, and anyone else is welcome to join, or meet us briefly at Pontiac. For those of you in other parts of Michigan, it is absolutely great for you to come to PTK then end up back at your home base . You will be able to get a load to there, or to somewhere close or on the way back. So please don't let that be an obstacle.
The form is attached, and they are very anxious to get this nailed down, so if you can help, please do it today! Thanks for your consideration.
Second, for MI pilots, Operation Good Cheer is an annual event where this year 5300 infants, children, youths and adults with disabilities will receive gifts and for many, this is the only Christmas they will see. From the base at Pontiac KPTK, flights are made all over the state of Michigan. If you can get an average of 20 wrapped packages per plane, that requires 265 flights! Pretty amazing when you think of it. I have done it for 8 or 10 years and it is a fun and gratifying event. They have everything down like clockwork. They give you an arrival slot and from the moment you call into PTK tower, they will direct you from there. They have hot coffee and food and a ton of help, at registration, briefing, etc. etc. They give you taxi instructions to your loading zone where a big happy smiling crew will load your plane (you can supervise of course) to your destination. (You do get choice options, once you arrive at PTK.) Then when you arrive at your destination, another happy crew with more coffee and food will unload you.
We just got word yesterday that they need another 40 or so planes and pilots. I signed up two non-Commander drivers and Mike Wetherbee of COG is flying for sure, as am I. We are maybe going to depart together and try for the same destination if possible, and anyone else is welcome to join, or meet us briefly at Pontiac. For those of you in other parts of Michigan, it is absolutely great for you to come to PTK then end up back at your home base . You will be able to get a load to there, or to somewhere close or on the way back. So please don't let that be an obstacle.
The form is attached, and they are very anxious to get this nailed down, so if you can help, please do it today! Thanks for your consideration.
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