Idaho to Sebring FL - LSA Expo

[jdmcbean]

Well its a New Year and we're at it again...

Off to Sebring Florida for the 2013 Light Sport Aviation Expo. We have a Spot link if you care to follow along. Click here: Idaho to Sebring (http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0iZ0r5h6dZ0uasFs8s9odk2klWMNHAe BD)

Taking 2 aircraft: A New Turbo Light Sport and the New fuel injected 912iS Light Sport.

We are heading out on Wednesday the 9th and one mission is to land at grass and dirt strips along the way in every state crossed.

[MotReklaw]

Any stops planned in Alabama or west Georgia?

[DesertFox4]

God speed. Safe flight and have fun. We'll be watching the Spot page. Best of luck with the new 912iS. Your fuel bill should be smaller this trip.;)

[AirFox]

Anyone get the Spot link to work yet?

[SkySteve]

They haven't left yet. Leaving on the 9th.

[AirFox]

Thanks Steve. I'll keep tuned in on the 9th. Sounds like a fun trip!

[MotReklaw]

Regarding these "flight following" trips, what costs/equipment is required?

Anyone know?

[Dorsal]

a "spot"
http://www.findmespot.com

Subscription is not much per year.
I have one and my wife finds it very useful when I (and likely one of my sons) are taking longer trips.

[MotReklaw]

Thanks, Dorsal

[SkySteve]

From here it looks like a great day to fly to Utah. Have a great trip John.

[DesertFox4]

I made this thread a "sticky" for the duration of John's trip so it will be easier for members to find and track progress.

Follow trip at link below.
Spot tracking link Idaho to Sebring,FL - LSA Expo. (http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0iZ0r5h6dZ0uasFs8s9odk2klWMNHAe BD)


Currently looks like some good thunderstorms in the New Orleans,LA area moving slowly N.E. :(

[SkySteve]

Thanks, Steve. That helps. I've been watching here in Utah (in the sidelines). Man, they're really moving along!! Any guess as to where they stop for tonight?

[desertfox1]

They are enjoying the hospitality of Rocky and Denise (orange and white
model7 SS). Both planes just purring along.

[SkySteve]

Very cool. I first met Rocky and Denise at the Ogden, Ut airport. I saw their Kitfox on the ramp and walked over and talked with them. They were on their way back to Texas from a Kitfox factory fly-in. My Kitfox was still in the reconstruction stage and I hadn't heard of the factory fly-in. I went to it the following year. Much of my motivation for attending was because Rocky and Denise were such nice folks.

[jdmcbean]

Quick post
Stuck in San Marcos this morning due to IFR.
Both aircraft running great.. iS is averaging 4.02 gph running 5400-5500 continuous. Still tweaks on prop pitch needed.

Spot-Idaho- Sebring,Fl link. (http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0iZ0r5h6dZ0uasFs8s9odk2klWMNHAe BD)




4206

4209

4210

4211

[DesertFox4]

Looks like they made it to(DST) Destin,Fl. Checked in "OK".:)

Spot Link- Idaho to Sebring,Fl. (http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0iZ0r5h6dZ0uasFs8s9odk2klWMNHAe BD)

[MotReklaw]

McBean, Are you guys going to the Bahamas this year?

[jdmcbean]

No we are not planning another trip the Bahamas.. maybe another time..
Think we may make a stop in New Orleans in the way back this year.

Been an interesting trip today.. Typical southern weather.. low, dark, and unpredictable.. Would post pictures but refuse to self incriminate... it's Pauls fault ya know :)

[ken nougaret]

hey john,
if your flying over orlando between 3pm and 2am this week i'd be happy to give you a quick tour of the cessna citation repair facility (all corporate jets).
it would be nice to get kmco used to seeing kitfoxes.
ken

[896tr]

I think John likes Florida.

[jdmcbean]

Thanks Ken... We are in Sebring and just saw your offer.

As for liking Florida... We keep flying around looking for the mountains :). And all the grass strips are private :confused:

[Tom Waid]

Thanks Ken... We are in Sebring and just saw your offer.

As for liking Florida... We keep flying around looking for the mountains :). And all the grass strips are private :confused:

There is Pierson (http://www.airnav.com/airport/2J8).

And while you appeared to be busy buzzing the Shuttle Strip (http://www.airnav.com/airport/KTTS) you passed Arthur Dunn (http://www.airnav.com/airport/X21) with one paved and one grass strip.

It's nice to have you guys back in Florida. I'll try to get to Sebring on Sunday. (It'll just be me. Linda has family business.)

Tom

[DesertFox6]

Most of those neatly manicured, private, Florida grass strips have little tiny, numbered, wind socks on one end of each strip. Way too small to read until you're in the flare by my reckoning, but it you don't like the crosswind on one, there's usually 17 others laid out nearby for you to chose from.

Happy landings...! :D

"E.T."

[DesertFox4]

Looks like a nice day to head for New Orleans,LA. Safe flight guys.:)

[henrysamson]

I was able to get some Kitfox training today when John and Paul stopped by on the way back from Sebring. It went really well. I had made arrangements to land at several private airfields nearby and I took this picture at one of them. I will be attaching my wings tomorrow and will hopefully be towing my plane to the airport in about a two weeks. I told the owner of this field that it won't be long before I'll be up there again!

[DesertFox4]

Contrats Hank. Getting some dual in that hot rod with Paul and John sounds like a fun day. Hope your first flight goes well. Keep us updated. We love and require photos by the way.;)

[DesertFox4]

Well I'm assuming John and Paul got weathered in in N.M. We're having a very wet weekend here in Phoenix. No flying Kitfoxs here unless they are IFR equipped. :eek:

[SkySteve]

Same in Utah. Snowing and everything is IFR.

[DesertFox6]

Their last SPOT report puts the planes in a hangar area just southeast of the tower, so hopefully the IMPORTANT members of the entourage are under cover! :D

Being stuck for winter weather is never nifty, but a lot less beautimus spots in Moo Nexico than Santa Fe come readily to mind!;)

"E.T."
(And what's with all this wet stuff falling out of those low-hanging gray thingies all day?? This is "ARID"-zona fer 'Fox-sakes!:eek:)

[jdmcbean]

Yes.. 2 day stuck in Sante Fe.. I can think of and have been stuck in much worse areas. Sun coming up and making a run for it.. Not sure where we'll end up today. Hopefully home.

[DesertFox4]

Safe flight guys.

Spot-Idaho to Sebring FL - LSA Expo (http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0iZ0r5h6dZ0uasFs8s9odk2klWMNHAe BD)

[DesertFox4]

Just off the phone with John. He and Paul are safe in Farmington,NM.
Our area winter storm is making homeward progress slow. Enjoy Farmington guys. Glad you are making the good decisions. Love that SPOT tracking.

[jdmcbean]

Been interesting.. Travelled across the US many times in the Kitfox and it is always enjoyable even with challenging weather. Winter advisories are in effect:mad:
4295

[jdmcbean]

Beautiful PRIVATE unmapped grass strips near College Station Texas - arranged by Hank for his proficiency training.

[DesertFox4]

Hank's got a great aircraft and a little piece of Texas heaven to fly off of.:)
About as good as it gets.

[jdmcbean]

Anyone care to take a guess??
Ken you're not allowed

[DesertFox4]

Aircraft carrier USS Jimmy Carter.

[henrysamson]

Lewis Airport on the west coast of FL?

[R.Owen]

Cedar Key Airport

[jdmcbean]

Cedar Key Airport

That didn't take long... Had to stop for a stretch...

Have a few others but on the other camera.

[R.Owen]

Great place for a meal

[DesertFox4]

Followed the SPOT all afternoon. Welcome home finally John and Paul. :)

[SkySteve]

I was following too. That last leg was quite a flight, crossing alot of restricted airspace flying around the backside of the storm. Nice work. I was thinking it would really be nice to have a big screen with weather.