Observations From SNF '09
 

What follows is a short synopsis of my personal experience at SNF this year.

My 13 year old son, Bruce, and I departed Perry, Ga. (PXE) around 1645 last Thursday. The time was chosen in order to arrive after the air show and to take advantage of the nice, late afternoon air. The two hour ride was very enjoyable especially since I planned on 140kts and was easily seeing 155kts g/s at 2300 rpm. I even throttled back a little so we wouldn't arrive too early!:eek:

At Lake Parker we were converging with three other aircraft and I was directed to take a turn 'round the lake for separation. Following the others into SNF, we complied with instructions to land on 27R and that's when I made my best SNF landing ever! What a way to start the experience. :)

Tied down in the homebuilt parking area and was promptly met by Dana Overall. Great meeting you Dana and good to see Black Magic back in service! I have a feeling we will meet again…..OSH?

Bruce and I carried our personal bags to our EAA chapter campsite where we set up the tent and I quickly grabbed a cold beer. This year, I had one of the members carry down all my camping gear in his truck instead of stuffing it all in the plane. That worked out great and we will definitely be doing this from now on.

The next two days were spent doing the SNF thing…..eating, drinking, walking, talking, and our annual biplane ride in the 1928 New Standard. I was planning to leave for home Sunday morning but decided to leave after the show on Saturday to again take advantage of the early evening conditions.

Aircraft attendance seemed to be down this year. I have been attending since 2000 and can remember times when there was always something flying overhead and no down time during the airshow. Also, fewer freebies at the vendor areas. :(

Falcon Flight was perfect as usual. Great job guys!

LSA and Ultralights were full of variety. Coolest was the Bleriot and Eindecker from Aerodrome Aircraft. Check them out.

All the dirt and dust was a drag. Plane got a bath yesterday, she was filthy. :(

I will attend next year and have ideas to maximize our camping experience and make it more comfy for those mid afternoon siestas.

Also, I will plan to arrive and depart after the airshow from now on. That really worked out well and landing after dusk on Saturday night was incredible. I need to do more night flying.

SNF, for all its faults, is still an annual destination for us and I strive to improve the experience each year. Best thing is that I can depart PXE with full tanks and return with around ten gallons left! I'm already planning for next year and what I will do differently.

[IMG][/IMG]

I ran into Bob Smith, and Rick Gray. For anyone that can get a chance to see Rick's new Harmon Rocket it is worth a "look see".


Another great SnF.

Nice to "run into you";) while tying down......and yes, plans are already made for OSH.

After launching out on Sunday as a three ship with Speedy and Chatterbox, we flew to Cedar Key. By the time we got there, I had already checked the winds aloft and found what was a 3:45 trip down was going to be a three hour trip back home so we bugged out, up to 10,500 and rode 40 knot tailwinds all the way back.

I say all that to say this, I'm seeing my time machine down your way several times before OSH comes around..................

Hi Dana.....
 

....and a slight left turn to 2J3 on your way to Macon would be most welcome.:)

Unfortunately, I was very busy this week and didn't make Sun 'n Fun:(

Later,

Horrible
 

I thought it was horrible.
Many reasons.
1. Sand sand and more blowing black nasty sand. Gets all over and into everything. Tailwheel was all gored up. took 2 days to clean the plane out and Im still not done.
2. Turnout was abysmal. You could count the top shelf show planes on one hand. 5 years ago it was packed by Wednesday. This year, half full on Saturday.
3. Nothing to look at in the vendors. 5 years ago there were all kinds of new cool technologies to play with. Now, its all ho hum. 5 years ago "Now thats cool" . This year, "Yawn"
4. Air show. If I never see another Extra 300, MX-x, look alike plane do an aerobatic routine it will be fine with me. 5 Years ago it was Reinbeck bi-planes duking it out, all kinds of warbirds and vintage planes flying around, just a lot of neat stuff. This year, just a long list of look alike, fly alike planes. There were a couple of cool routines. The AeroShell guys are awesome. Stearman did a nice job, as did the Citabria.
5. I call it the "cool" moments. 5 years ago, Stealth, F-4's, Corsairs, DC-3's in formation, Avengers, and on and on, just one "cool" fly-by after another. This year, I cant even remember one "cool" moment.
6. Where are all the stunning planes? 5 years ago there were lines of those stunning Lancairs 4's, tandem turbo prop Legends, workmanship galore to walk around and admire at every turn. This year, I could count on one hand.

Sorry for the nasty report. I wish I could have done better. If it were not for hangin out with my buds, there would have been no upside what so ever.

End of rant.

I attended almost EVERY Sun-N-Fun from 1984 until 2005. In my opinion, the fly-in started down hill around 2000.
Fatal accidents every year, and almost total lack of safety, especially in the light plane area. I gave it up.

Take a break
 

I attended SNF for several years running. Last year, I walked around for a day and said - "I've seen it." I was tired of it.
I decided to sit it out this year. I'll probably go back next year, but I'm perfectly happy to fly-in, pitch a tent in the shade next to a buddy's camper (the best kind of camper - someone else's:D) and sit in the hamock with a cool one and a magazine. Walk around and see the flightline airplanes after the show when the crowds and the heat die down.

Don't do it the same way everytime. Find something new. You don't HAVE to follow the crowds.

My $0.02

Speaking of which, I believe this year's fly-in was accident-free, no?

something to do
 

Just a suggestion: Maybe next year try to volunteer a day or two. go to the sheet metal class and share some of your metal skills with someone who is just starting.... Or come on down to the volunteer kitchen. we made 2,500 sandwiches per day during the show and were cleaned up and out of there by 11:00 a.m. every day. It would get you a free day pass for the event. If you volunteer for 4 days it gets you a week pass and free camping. Just something to think about and put a new spin on your Sun-N-Fun experience.


Rich Denton

accident free
 

we only had one incident in paradise village. an LSA came in a little hot and went off into the ditch, no one got hurt.