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Trip to see the Eclipse 8/21/2017

Thread starter mcgrathm
Start date Aug 8, 2017

mcgrathm

New member

Aug 8, 2017

#1

Hey all,

I know there are a lot of people going crazy about seeing the eclipse this year. First time in 99 years i think for a full solar eclipse.
People are starting to hike the prices up in hotels rental cars etc. Nuts.

Since I work for the DOT for Oregon they are pretty much shutting down for a day or two until the mess is over, so I thought I might just fly up to the center of the path and experience the eclipse from the air. Get a couple minutes of Night flying in the middle of the day... LOL

Is anyone planning something similar?

J

jukelemon

New member

Aug 8, 2017

#2

Re: Trip to see the Eclipse 8/21/2017

That is a very cool idea. It is going to be pretty intense in KY. Looking forward to it.

tb163

New member

Aug 8, 2017

#3

Re: Trip to see the Eclipse 8/21/2017

we are going too , but we have to fly pretty far steve

F

Frank

New member

Supporting Member

Aug 8, 2017

#4

Re: Trip to see the Eclipse 8/21/2017

Salem is about a 15 min flight from my airport so would be easy. Pearson will go partially dark since we are so close to Salem. Not sure how much light there will be.

jmcb

New member

Aug 9, 2017

#5

Re: Trip to see the Eclipse 8/21/2017

There will be 500 planes at Madras. Bend airport will be full, so I expect it'll be crazy here in central Oregon. Was planning to fly that morning, but not with the traffic they're expecting. Probably going to stay in our back yard and watch.

mcgrathm

New member

Aug 9, 2017

#6

Re: Trip to see the Eclipse 8/21/2017

jmcb said:
There will be 500 planes at Madras. Bend airport will be full, so I expect it'll be crazy here in central Oregon. Was planning to fly that morning, but not with the traffic they're expecting. Probably going to stay in our back yard and watch.

When I was in Salem a few weeks people are talking about renting camping spots in there back yard for $100's a night.

Doesn't seem to be that much excitement back in Tennessee.

mcgrathm

New member

Aug 9, 2017

#7

Re: Trip to see the Eclipse 8/21/2017

tb163 said:
we are going too , but we have to fly pretty far steve

What location are you heading to?

tb163

New member

Aug 9, 2017

#8

Re: Trip to see the Eclipse 8/21/2017

Mike, Tenesee ok Kentucky, Hopefuly the weather will work out and we can go by plane. Do you have any sugestions?? Steve

mcgrathm

New member

Aug 9, 2017

#9

Re: Trip to see the Eclipse 8/21/2017

tb163 said:
Mike, Tenesee ok Kentucky, Hopefuly the weather will work out and we can go by plane. Do you have any sugestions?? Steve

If you plan on stopping there are some people I know in Alabama going to M33 (Sumner County airport). Very close to the center of the path i believe.

Commander91gm

Moderator

Supporting Member

Aug 9, 2017

#10

Re: Trip to see the Eclipse 8/21/2017

I am going to be in Mexico (Yucatan) that week -doubt if there will be much eclipse to see down there.

mcgrathm

New member

Aug 9, 2017

#11

Re: Trip to see the Eclipse 8/21/2017

Commander91gm said:
I am going to be in Mexico (Yucatan) that week -doubt if there will be much eclipse to see down there.

That sounds like fun too....

FS

New member

Supporting Member

Aug 9, 2017

#12

Re: Trip to see the Eclipse 8/21/2017

Is it legal to wear eclipse glasses while flying? That's a serious question, given the potential visual issues and eye damage if you're not wearing them. They're not plain sunglasses, I think they are red filters ... ?

Pchaser

New member

Aug 9, 2017

#13

Re: Trip to see the Eclipse 8/21/2017

FS said:
Is it legal to wear eclipse glasses while flying? That's a serious question, given the potential visual issues and eye damage if you're not wearing them. They're not plain sunglasses, I think they are red filters ... ?

Not a chance!
Have you ever tried a pair of them on?

nruzic

New member

Aug 10, 2017

#14

Re: Trip to see the Eclipse 8/21/2017

I think it would be so cool to fly away from crowded and set an autopilot do an enroute holding pattern for about the 5 minutes or so of the total in the path and watch it - 2 pilots on board would be safe.

If someone used the eclipse time to do the 3 full stop landings & take-offs does that count for the 90 day night currency or not?
Technically not I think because it's not between sunset & sunrise?

mcgrathm

New member

Aug 10, 2017

#15

Re: Trip to see the Eclipse 8/21/2017

FS said:
Is it legal to wear eclipse glasses while flying? That's a serious question, given the potential visual issues and eye damage if you're not wearing them. They're not plain sunglasses, I think they are red filters ... ?

Wasn't really thinking about looking at the eclipse, but rather the experience of it when flying.

However I will have the GoPro in action.

tb163

New member

Aug 10, 2017

#16

Re: Trip to see the Eclipse 8/21/2017

Sumner county looks good, M33, anybody want to meet there??
Steve

mcgrathm

New member

Aug 11, 2017

#17

Re: Trip to see the Eclipse 8/21/2017

tb163 said:
Sumner county looks good, M33, anybody want to meet there??
Steve

I would get there early. I went ahead and emailed them asking what kind of crowds they were expecting. Here is there replay:

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w

unctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w

oNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w

ontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w

ontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> I am going to have a full house, airplanes coming in from all over the world, literally. If you come in, I cannot guarantee a parking spot. I am looking for options to park people in the grass. Also, departures will take some time because I am not planning on having taxi lanes where I park aircraft.

Warm regards,
Roe Massey
Sumner County Regional Airport
Manager
1475 Airport Rd
Gallatin, TN 37066
Office: (615) 452-7248
Cell: (757) 763-0076
m33scraa@gmail.com

F

Frank

New member

Supporting Member

Aug 19, 2017

#18

Re: Trip to see the Eclipse 8/21/2017

Lots of activity here regarding the eclipse.
Pearson Field will be closing for part of the day as they are concerned about the number of people (public) that will coming down to the park (next door to the airport) and crowd control.

Madras OR., is expected to have at least 100,000 arrive and it is a town with a population of 6500. The cell companies are setting up extra cell towers. Reports today of 40 min delay getting over the Cascades to eastern Oregon. Many towns have run out of gas but are getting in new supplies.
Prineville OR is not far away and is having a festival and expect around 30,000.
Bend OR got hit hard on fuel and the airport ran out of aviation fuel. Several of the airports have instituted a reservation system.
People are also flying down from Alaska.

All in all - simply amazing!

All I have to do is step outside and will be able to see it. Not 100% but they say 99%.

J

jukelemon

New member

Aug 19, 2017

#19

Re: Trip to see the Eclipse 8/21/2017

Yeah...I thought about flying but our airport is going to be a zoo as well. We are right at 99% here too I believe.

atjudge

New member

Aug 19, 2017

#20

Re: Trip to see the Eclipse 8/21/2017

Do not loose your eye sight looking at this thing...many places have put out urgent notices telling people NOT to use the glasses they bought at their places because they found out they are counterfeit.

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