T82 2013

[rotarur]

Re: T82 2013

We just made it home a couple of hours ago, running with the weather on our tail. Thanks for another great fly-in and special thanks to Dave and Mary Beth for the time they put into organizing it. We would not have these events without people like them who volunteer their precious spare time for the benefit of the group.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[JBunn]

Re: T82 2013

Glad to hear everyone made it home safety. It was great to see old friends and meet new Commander owners. Beth and I left before sunrise Sunday morning, averaging about 145kts. We made it through the storm and caught up with Radu and Bill Hopkins in Knoxville. We flew up to Maryland together, with Potomac approach vectoring us through the DC corridor into Tipton. We all arrived about 8:15pm with a little over 9 hrs under our belts. Thanks to Dave and Marybeth for putting on a great fly-in. I have lots of pictures and videos I'll post this week.

 

[N4843W]

Re: T82 2013

I made it safely from T82 to Kestral on the north side of San Antonio in 22 minutes (flying 22/22, hence the extra 2 minutes.) Heading back north Wednesday. Many thanks to David and MaryBeth for a great event -- it is more work than any of you that have not done it can imagine. Special thanks to Rob for coming all the way from Scotland and helping rev up the spontaneous "Commander Dance Party" that broke out spontaneously Friday night. I hope there are no videos of the old white guys dancing (hey ... as they say ... dance like there's no one looking!) but a few of your LOCOs .... whoa-BABY! Much fun.

Education sessions were very informative, much knowledge shared. The new Annual Inspection Checklist will be out next week, one result of those sessions.

 

[ksandrew]

Re: T82 2013

Had a great time at T82,

Bit of a rough trip getting home but made it today.

Fueled up at KTVR but they would not match the price on the receipt that I showed them. They were actually pi$$ed that I had bought fuel at that good price.

Due to weather I had to overnight at 2M4, this is where the problems started. Scott County and I think, I was still in La. The town was called Forest.

Nice little airport with no fuel or FBO. But a brand new gate that must have cost $150,000.00 with the governments help.

I could not find the return gate code so concluded that the sheriffs dept. would know. Mistake.

This morning I called them and they had no idea what the code was. I did talk them into picking me up at the motel and saved a $20.00 cab fare. We arrived at the Jail that was adjacent to the airport and the new gate, they both went inside to find the code and left me in the back of the squad car. I could not get out as I was in a cage and the doors would not open.

The gate had been installed last week and the contractor did not give any one the code, we tried 122.8 and the elevation.

Then some smart a$$ detective arrived on the scene, explained that the gate was to keep people like me out. I was getting pi$$ed by this time, wanting an early start.

They did not have a clue what to do so I called the contractor who had been kind enough to place his name on the fence.

They gave me the master code that is used to program in the codes, So I got the gate opened and then It closed behind me. The detective wanted to know the code, I just told him that the gate was to keep smart a$$es like him out.

I departed 2M4 with four squad cars and many folks watching me from behind the closed gate.

I then made it to Eufala on the the East side of Alabama, could not get in so had to return West and land to get internet, Clayton, Alabama. No FBO or fuel. according to AirNav have one plane based there. Back further West to get fuel and then managed to sneak into home base.

Every trip I make I learn something new, and this was no exception. Came in under budget and had a great time.

Thanks to all that worked hard to make this a great event and learning experience..

Life is a barrel of fun.

Ken

 

[janderson]

Re: T82 2013

lol. ..certainly a Ken Andrew story. and good to see you, Ken.
82J looks as classy as ever and must admit Brian has earned rightful duties w/N377SB. it looks great!
nice to see everyone again. there will always be next yr.

thanx also to David and Mary Beth for the great event!

Judi

 

[rgorman]

Re: T82 2013

Hi all,
Man did we have some fun. Margaret and I were excited to be there and everyone made us feel welcome right from the start. My only complaint would be it ended to quick. I want to thank everyone for their efforts in this group. We love our Commander and look forward to the future.

P.S. -- A little crosswind action(Margaret's first ) back into Wiley Post.

 

[rob egph]

Re: T82 2013

Hi Everyone,
I had such a blast, a great family event. Reminded me of my student days almost getting arrested fooling around in a car with a woman! Thanks Lonnie and Dan for brightening up my days on the ground with brief spells in the air. It really was worth videoing the fly bys from the air if I'd thought about it ...duh)
Thanks Dave and Mary Beth who excelled from beginning to end. I just got back a little while ago...via San Antonio (thanks everyone who suggested that) Boerne, Austin, Chicago, London and finally home. Numb bum right now (hope that isn't a banned word)

 

[NW-FLYER]

Re: T82 2013

Guess I'm tail end Charlie nice run through the Rocks yesterday at 14500 not a cloud to be seen. I am rolling this a.m. out of Provo Utah to home never been in the Salt Lake basin very nice. Weather is holding nicely will be a nice run out of here.

 

[davloose]

Re: T82 2013

Thanks for all the kind words here and at T82! I don't think we bought a single drink all week, and everyone was very generous with their appreciation. Well worth the effort (it's not that bad!), to get this great group of people together! I certainly enjoyed having the fly-in in my own backyard, even if the flight was only about 30 min both ways!

Looking forward to next year!

 

[wab003]

Re: T82 2013

Hi Everyone,
I had such a blast, a great family event. Reminded me of my student days almost getting arrested fooling around in a car with a woman! /QUOTE]


Glad you clarified that was "fooling around in a car with a woman" and not "fooling around with a woman in a car".... ;-)

Would you like a scaled down copy of the Golden Tire trophy for this year? I anticipate Gaby will be more than happy to share.

Cheers!

 

[ksandrew]

Re: T82 2013

Brian. (N377SB)

Let us know that you get home to KEAT, Flight Aware has cut you off short.

You really had the ladies in my office upset. They were getting emails from Flight Aware about Sierra Bravo heading North West and thought that it was me. They forgot that I am now 82J.

They thought that I had said "To hell with work, I am going to Alaska" They were very glad to see me yesterday.

What it really was, the fact that I am the only one that can release payroll for direct deposit, and payday is the 15th.

Life is a barrel of fun.

Ken

 

[NW-FLYER]

Re: T82 2013

Brian. (N377SB)

Let us know that you get home to KEAT, Flight Aware has cut you off short.


Ken

LoL like the police story you wrote Classic Andrews!
I can see why flight aware cut me off because I did get cut off. I sent Wendy home on a jet this morning in Salt Lake she was not feeling to well I understand 3500 NT miles in a small plane can wear you out. I rolled in perfect weather through a very complicated VFR transition route out good thing I studied it half the night and plotted it on foreflight so could follow the lines. I was making good time expecting a head wind I was getting 135 knots above a broken layer at 10,500 smooth all is well. I made a big mistake when this little notice pops up update for stratus 2 ready for down load. I thought cool and clicked on it. I started and took my screen away for what it said could be 20 minutes. Mistake number two I thought not now Ill wait till I'm home. That for some reason disabled the Stratus completely. I had no in flight nex rad radar, or any of my tools I normally use. Later I saw a huge stratus layer ahead no pun intended. I could tell it was bad news and was getting hits on the storm scope 100 miles out. I dropped to 6'500 and was under it. A little chop started I slowed down to 110 knots then the ceiling started dropping and snow was blowing over the wind screen. I told ATC I think I'm going to have to drop to 4,500 you may loose me.
He comes back with contact Seattle Center on 135.6 so I did no answer I'm still at 6,500. I try three or four more times, then try Salt Lake who handed me off and look up the freq. on foreflight I have it correct. Now it's raining and the moderate turbulence are giving me grief I drop to 4,500 but it looks real bad ahead. I am right over an airport La Grande Oregon so I hit VFR on the transponder and bank right to better sky's descend to pattern and land. I go in the FBO and start looking for a phone number for Seattle Center. A few minutes later the phone rings and it's Center " is 377SB there? yes so I talk to him. He says I'm am so glad I found you. We just lost you after the hand off due to mountainous terrain and knew you were getting close to bad weather. I am glad I don't have to send a search and rescue. I said me too I lost radio contact with you and had to get down the weather was deteriorating fast. That was the right decision he says here's a number to call if it happens again. He was very nice I was expecting an ass chewing but he knew it wasn't my fault. All our aircraft have to be accounted for.
So here I sit in a Hotel forecast looks good for tomorrow and I was worried about the Rockies. Once on the ground foreflight grabbed the radar with the cell coverage holly crap I would had diverted earlier had I had it working and saw that.

The good news is I treated myself to the best slab of prime rib I have had in years tonight for my birthday today. I may set a record for longest return trip from a fly in although I did have a handicap. Wendy can't do 8 to 10 in the air a day like I can. Had to call in to work for the second day in a row what a shame (not).
Never a dull moment in the life of an Aviator I love it.

 

[NW-FLYER]

Re: T82 2013

I just went to the Stratus 2 site to see if I can resolve the problem. I don't have a problem, the route I flew does not have coverage yet. I'm maybe 50 miles from tower coverage soon to come. They say early 2014 every thing will be covered ya right Oh bama spent all the funds.

 

[gmores]

Re: T82 2013

Good call on the early landing Brian. We are flying for fun, after all. So no reason to push it.

Personally, 6-7 hours (especially if IFR) is enough for me in one day so now I use that time limit for planning.

 

[JBunn]

Re: T82 2013

Posted about 100 pictures of the festivities in the gallery today. Videos coming soon.

 

[Pat]

Re: T82 2013

Jim,

Thank you for the pictures. They are great. I wish we could have been there.

Question:
What was Lonnie doing behind his plane?

Pat

 

[rjames01]

Re: T82 2013

Jim,

Echoing Pat ... Fantastic pictures!

And to ask another question ... is there a story behind Lonnie's modification to the Commander Owners welcome message?

...Bob

 

[NW-FLYER]

Re: T82 2013

Made it home with a nice smooth as glass 155 knots at Hot Shot altitude what a ride!

 

[gmores]

Re: T82 2013

Looking for your Pic`s Jim Bunn,

Juergen Koehn
N5893N,114A/GT

http://gallery.commander.org

 

[painlesspotter]

Re: T82 2013

http://gallery.commander.org

Great photos. I just hope that when Judi puts some up on the rotating banner that some names get added so that we know who all of the clowns are. BTW-on Jim B's gallery, shot #115 with 1239J, looks like he was almost committing to a gear up full stop.