On Sat, 11 Jun 2005 20:09:37 -0400, "Morgans"
wrote:


"Tedstriker" wrote

Do they close the airport to departues at 19:00? or is that just how
soon to leave to get somewhere else before dark?

Yes, the airport is closed to arrivals and departures.

that woud be a bummer if one left by air, to go to a hotel, then
couldn't get back in to the fly-in. But I don't think I'll have that
problem, being in a homebuilt/showplane. They usually want all those
they can get. And mine qualifies for that front and center parking
area they've reserved for past champions, and those with over a
thousand hours total time. Mine has about 1,650.

Yea, you will have a parking spot, but I don't know where people that come
with showplanes, sleep.

Show plane camping which is (or was) the same area as the
Antique/Classic/Contemporary.

I've seen many a spot reserved in there, so I suppose you could stake
out your spot, and come back to it. A Cozy parked next to me did that
twice. They had a nice air conditioned room at a friends place about
a half hour flight out.

Me? I just don't enjoy flying that Ripon Arrival. I don't mind flying
close to other airplanes, but I want it to be with some one I know
well doing the flying. At least the Deb has a wide speed range and a
low stall speed coupled with relatively light wing loading.

I've never had a problem getting out, BUT you have to be ready to
leave at the end of the air show. That means packed up, with the
plane pulled out into the space between the rows. You have to wait
for the ground crew to spot you and then guide you to the taxiway. No
engine starting until the ground crew tells you to start. That is
done with the plane pulled out into the area between the rows of
planes and pointed parallel to the rows so you don't blow any one away
when you do start. the year it was so hot and dry, you couldn't see
more than about 50 feet behind me when I started the Deb. It took
darn near two pails of water to wash the windows before leaving.

I file IFR, but usually put the pink sheet of paper on the floor and
depart VFR.

If you are nice and polite and contact the ground crew ahead of time
and are ready to go as soon as the field opens you can be one of the
first out.

Early on you don't have the rush to get out as you do on Saturday and
Sunday. You need to have your shh... er ... stuff together, radios on
frequency, watch the flag men, and be ready to do what you are told,
when you are told and it'll run smooth as clock work.

They are usually either two or three deep at the hold and two abreast.
They alternate left and right sides. When they say go, you firewall
it and had out. Depending on speed watch for passing traffic or being
passed. If departure is on 36 that right turn just before the tower
can be interesting if you are on the left. :-)) You do learn to
"stay on your side of the runway" until about time to turn.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com