VansAirForceForums  
Home > VansAirForceForums

- POSTING RULES
- Donate yearly (please).
- Advertise in here!

- Today's Posts | Insert Pics

  #11  
Old 06-15-2010, 01:10 PM
tmillican tmillican is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Columbus, TX
Posts: 98
Default Good comments from all of you

The saving factor on outbound weather is the fact that I have the weekend prior. If I keep an eye on it, I can leave earlier to make it work. The return trip may impact my patients if I postpone the return trip due to weather.

In all, right now the RV trip is an outside possibility.

As for the SFRA training, the comment I made about making the final leg IFR was based on this information:
"On August 12, 2008, the FAA published the final rule, ``Special Awareness Training for the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area'' (73 FR 46797). The rule requires ``special awareness'' training for any pilot who flies under visual flight rules (VFR) within a 60nauticalmile (NM) radius of the Washington, DC VHF omnidirectional range/distance measuring equipment (DCA VOR/DME)."

Troy
__________________
Troy Millican
CFI
Columbus, TX (66R)
RV-8A, purchased flying
Cessna 150F; Beech Baron B55
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 06-15-2010, 01:49 PM
mcencula mcencula is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Delaware, OH
Posts: 435
Default Airlines...

...are too crowded. I'd say the odds of a screaming 2 year old kicking the back of your seat the whole trip are significantly reduced in the RV.

Fly yourself if you can (and it's safe)!
__________________
Mike Cencula
RV-7A (fuselage)
www.our7a.com
Betcha my pile-o-scrap is bigger than your pile-o-scrap.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 06-15-2010, 06:07 PM
mtnflyer mtnflyer is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: granby co
Posts: 180
Default cross country

I'll take the RV anytime up to 1500 miles. When you factor in the traffic getting to a comertial airport (2.5 hrs) parking (.5hr) putting up with surly ticket clerk,(.5 if you are lucky),surly TSA people,(1hr) sitting around the loading gate waiting to load(1hr min) sitting on the crowded aluminum tube next to a guy that forgot to take shower this week and wants to tell you about his exwife who ran off with his mistress..........Well you all get the point.

My oldest son and I are off to Kalispell this weekend, KGNB-KCOD-KGPI and back a few days later,,,On United the tickets would be $1300US plus whatever they could tack on just for fun.. with the 7, it's going to be about $ 360US in fuel plus breakfast in cody before sightseeing over Yellowstone....the waitress is goodlooking but it's the hashbrowns I'm after.
PS It's faster than United

Just to change the subject for a bit [b]All you pilots out there, come to KGNB in the mountians of Colorado for the best pancake breakfast ever. help chapter 1267 send young people to the air academy this summer. Check out our website,@EAA chapter 1267. All this takes place at the newly renovated Granby airport northwest of Denver.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 06-15-2010, 06:21 PM
Bavafa Bavafa is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 3,351
Default

I fly the RV at any opportunity I get within the US whenever weather allows it. It is first class flying (you are sitting in the very front row after all) thus much cheaper then commercial first class flying. And I don't have to put up with the airliners as their service has become very much "Wal-Mart" type service.
__________________
Mehrdad
N825SM RV7A - IO360M1B - SOLD
N825MS RV14A - IO390 - Flying
Dues paid
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 06-15-2010, 06:26 PM
Norman CYYJ Norman CYYJ is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Victoria B.C.
Posts: 1,266
Default

You never have to have an excuse to take your plane flying. If you do it is time to get rid of it.
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 06-16-2010, 08:18 AM
Squid Squid is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Stephens City, VA
Posts: 15
Default Go for it...

Troy,

You might consider flying into Front Royal, VA. KFRR. 3000 ft paved airport about 50 miles west of the beltway. Self-Serve Gas is relatively inexpensive compared to surrounding airports ($4.40/gal). It's just outside of the Class B, but inside of the old 30 mile Mode C veil. You should take the online training, and ensure you're squaking 1200 prior to coming in that far. Other than that it's a piece of cake.

From there you can drive to the VRE in Manassas (train) or Metro in Vienna (subway/train) to get downtown. Will fill you in on more details if you contact me offline.

- John Munroe

RV-8 In progress
Finishing Empenage
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 06-16-2010, 10:29 AM
Mel's Avatar
Mel Mel is online now
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Dallas area
Posts: 10,769
Default Different experiences

I guess I have slightly different experiences with the airlines. Of course given the odds, I would much rather fly the RV, BUT...I find that, generally, if I have to travel over 500 miles to do an inspection, I can fly SouthWest cheaper and quicker. First, I qualify for senior rates, travel to the airport is about 1 hr., I park at the "Spot". It is cheaper than airport parking and they pick you up at your car and take you to the gate and vice versa. It also saves an overnight stay in many cases. And I don't have to be concerned about weather.
And since the customer is paying for travel expenses, I try to go the most reasonable way.

Oh Yeah, and bags fly free!
__________________
Mel Asberry, DAR since the last century.
EAA Flight Advisor/Tech Counselor, Friend of the RV-1
Recipient of Tony Bingelis Award and Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award
USAF Vet, High School E-LSA Project Mentor.
RV-6 Flying since 1993 (sold)
<rvmel(at)icloud.com>

Last edited by Mel : 06-16-2010 at 10:42 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 06-16-2010, 10:44 AM
PropellerHead's Avatar
PropellerHead PropellerHead is offline
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Pisctaway, NJ - USA
Posts: 105
Default If decide to RV it...

Paul mentioned Shannon airport near Fredericksburg. Nice airport and it's plenty out of the way of the DC mess.

You might also try Stafford which is brand new and northwest of Shannon. Only downside to Stafford is no FBO if you should need it. Upside to Stafford is some restored Stearmans based there :-)

Manassas Regional is probably the nicest in the area, conveniently located (can take local roads instead of RT-95 and 1), and there's plenty in the area to see, do, or eat. You're also 10 minutes near two mall-zillas in the Tyson's Corner area for shopping and eating (Gallery and Tysons II).
__________________
Happy Landings!
Kevin "PropellerHead" Schlosser
----------------------------------------------------
Tooling Up for an RV-10 build.
Relocating to VA. Planning custom home build around RV workshop with wife's blessing!
My Website: www.propellerhead-online.net
RC Model Club: www.jcsportfliers.org
RC Bowling: www.rcbowling.org

Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 06-16-2010, 11:18 AM
rv7boy's Avatar
rv7boy rv7boy is offline
Forum Peruser
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Austinville, Alabama
Posts: 2,458
Default Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mel View Post
I guess I have slightly different experiences with the airlines...
I agree with Mel. Even though I am beginning to detest the airport TSA Tango more and more, in general the airlines are reliable...and safe.

I was going to post a suggestion to travel by Amtrak, but the schedule was so ridiculous, it was laughable. Cost was reasonable, but to travel from Austin Texas to Washington DC would require leaving Austin on SATURDAY with train change in Chicago. Two nights on a train. No thank you! Wife and I rode a train from Birmingham to New York City one time. Nice trip but been there, done that! Reminded me of why I became a private pilot. Sorry to hijack the thread. Hope I haven't offended any train folks out there...this is supposed to be an RV forum.
__________________
Don Hull
RV-7 Wings
KDCU Pryor Field
Pilots'n Paws Pilot
N79599/ADS-B In and Out...and I like it!

?Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights;
it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living." Miriam Beard
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 06-16-2010, 05:51 PM
Capflyer's Avatar
Capflyer Capflyer is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,082
Default

My take from the DC area and inside the SFRA:

Fly commercial into DCA and be done with it. You'll be a metro or taxi ride away from your meeting, take in some leisurely sightseeing downtown and dinner at a nice restaurant to get you past the dreaded late afternoon/evening thunderstorms we get here, then back to DCA for the trip home. Sleep on the flight home. I've flown in and out of all three of the major airports here, BWI, IAD, and DCA. DCA by far has been the easiest and quickest for security, baggage claim, and just plain old shortest time to get to the gate. You'll also get some great views of DC if you come in from the North (be sure to sit on the left side of the plane), and departing North (sit on the right side of the plane).

If you really want to fly up here in the RV you need to be prepared to possibly stay a little longer because of wx. Plus, you'll need to figure in hotel accommodations. Fly into KGAI where you are only a short taxi ride away from the metro that will take you quickly and reasonably priced anywhere downtown. Since you would be coming in from the SW, file IFR and pick a slow time at IAD so you can cut through the bravo airspace. Use the GPS 14 approach (LPV) so they don't send you past KFDK to EMI then back to KFDK to start the VOR approach.

While the rule to take the SFRA course is for VFR, I would STRONGLY recommend you take it even if you plan on flying IFR. I have witnessed way too many intercepts and silly pilot stuff over the past few years and it really takes something as minor as squawking an incorrect code to trigger a violation and definite suspension. The online course is informative and you will learn something.

Long trips such as this require lots of time flexibility this time of year and are definitely more expensive. The up side though is that you really can't beat the fun of doing it.
__________________
Mike
JAMES AIRCRAFT.com

Flying - RV8 Hot Rod "Drone Killer"
Flying - RV8 "Look'n Good"
RV4 - FAST & FUN! Rebuilt, Flown, Sold
RV-7A Built, Flown, Sold
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:11 AM.


The VAFForums come to you courtesy Delta Romeo, LLC. By viewing and participating in them you agree to build your plane using standardized methods and practices and to fly it safely and in accordance with the laws governing the country you are located in.