Re: Kitfox Aircraft and Stick & Rudder - Sebring & Bahama Bound 2012.
Soooo Cool. Absolutely beautiful!
Re: Kitfox Aircraft and Stick & Rudder - Sebring & Bahama Bound 2012.
Flying in circles leaving the bahamas
Re: Kitfox Aircraft and Stick & Rudder - Sebring & Bahama Bound 2012.
What a privilege to have met with John McBean at College Station yesterday. I was flying a King Air 350 and we'd just shot an approach to RWY 16. We decided to do some pattern work there and heard over the radio, while on downwind, that "Kitfox 102YB was inbound for landing RWY 16, full stop, College Station" and knew that it was John. We took a very brief moment to stop at the base of the tower (thank you Easterwood Tower) and I had the distinct privilege to meet John and sit in his beautiful plane. I only had a brief moment. My plane was still running with my co-pilot at the controls, and gas isn't cheap! BTW, Just for anyone wondering about the Kitfox and their fit...I'm 6' 2", 220lbs and John and I fit in it just fine. It's super comfortable and very roomy for a couple of full grown men in a two seat, side-by-side.
Anyhow....thanks John for hanging around so I could meet you.
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Re: Kitfox Aircraft and Stick & Rudder - Sebring & Bahama Bound 2012.
Homeward bound.
The second night - after a 4 hour trip around the Gulf. Leaving the ocean tomorrow - heading inland.
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South Mississippi Light Aircraft - one of 4 Rotax overhaul facilities in the country.
Their beautiful grass strip - like landing on a golf fairway.
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Just into NM - Mother nature called - not on the chart or GPS moving map
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Paul found this strip last year on my way to Sebring
but too heavy, hot, and late to safely try it. 7050' msl - sloped - obstacles - 1000' useable - probably a no go around.
We were met by an adjacent land owner - he said "we were the FIRST airplanes to ever land there!
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Re: Kitfox Aircraft and Stick & Rudder - Sebring & Bahama Bound 2012.
Looks like y'all made it back to Idaho. It was entertaining to
following your flight. It gave me something interesting to do and watch while I was working in the Rock Pit!
Re: Kitfox Aircraft and Stick & Rudder - Sebring & Bahama Bound 2012.
"If the person in or near the College Station area is willing to give out his name. I wouldn't mind flying down to meet him/her. We can compare planes and do some flying!"
Hello Paul
I am down in College Station. If I would have known that the McBeans were stopping in at Easterwood, I would have stopped by. Anyway, feel free to fly down anytime or come to one of our meetings at our new EAA chapter 1531 over in Bryan.(Coulter Airfield KCFD) Meets the third Saturday at 9am. This is a Kitfox rich area. There are three Kitfoxes in our chapter alone. There is a guy in the Waco Chapter that is seriously considering putting on a Kitfox fly-in in the next few months so I'll send a message if it comes to be.
Jerry
Re: Kitfox Aircraft and Stick & Rudder - Sebring & Bahama Bound 2012.
I will definitely need to make a point of flying down. I will put you chapter meeting on my Calendar, third Saturday at 9am. I live in Garland based out of Mesquite. I work in McKinney so I usually only get to fly Saturday or Sunday. Keep me informed about the Waco Flyin.
Re: Kitfox Aircraft and Stick & Rudder - Sebring & Bahama Bound 2012.
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Re: Kitfox Aircraft and Stick & Rudder - Sebring & Bahama Bound 2012.
Final photos from Bahama trip. Home safe.:)
Our last sunset walk on the beach
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Our last view of Harbour Island before the short-cut of 225 miles across open ocean.
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Notice the clouds?
We started off below (headwinds) - then went above (had a tailwind, but could also see the line of thunderstorms) - found a hole for back down below, then around, and through.
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Customs was a breeze, but Kitfox's still take a back seat (or back of the line) to the jets passing through.
After dropping off our wives in Tampa to airline home - we took a little longer route to visit our business associates, and Kitfox builders & owners.
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After escaping the 100 miles of fog around College Station Texas @ 500' - our excuse was we still needed to stay low to avoid the headwinds over the wide expanse of West Texas & eastern New Mexico.
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Long way between fuel stops - the bladder didn't make it. I saw this unmarked one - that will work.
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Just outside Durango CO - still looking UP from our preferred vantage point. Fourteen'ers in the background.
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Skirting Arches National Monument near Moab UT.
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Interesting geologic formations - it's much colder now (or maybe we're no longer used to it).
Stopped in to see Mark Pringle @ West Desert Airpark (UT99). He flies & does high-quality builds of the Rans S-7 (and has done a Kitfox). A nice flying-club atmosphere - Kitfox's are welcome if your in the neighborhood (he has a mogas pump). This put us in position for straight run to Boise on the west side of the great Salt Lake, and it's airspace - except for a huge restricted area.
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We called the military approach controller - and amazingly they let us through. Because the worsening weather and the headwinds kept us low - their big tethered barrage balloons within the deep valleys were used eliminate any radar blind spots. We saw numerous bombing ranges with real tank & plane targets.
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We couldn't get over or through the last set of mountains due to rapidly dropping ceilings & snow, so we went around.
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Stayed tuned, we'll head way south again next January - a different direction to a different set of islands. Please keep an eye on our web sites in the near futures as we produce some video's of our adventures.
Best Regards,
Stick & Rudder Aviation, a dba of Stick & Rudder, LLC.
Paul Leadabrand - managing member, flight instructor
Email: kitfox.training@gmail.com
208-477-1318
Web site: stick-rudder.com
P.O. Box 170891
Boise ID 83717
Re: Kitfox Aircraft and Stick & Rudder - Sebring & Bahama Bound 2012.
That was wonderful! Thanks Paul & John for sharing the adventure! :D