SNF Planning

[Kevin Horton]

My late March schedule has opened up, so Terry and I will try to fly to SNF this year. I've never flown to SNF, and only went by car once, many years ago.

The first question I need to decide is which day we should target to arrive. How does the arrival volume compare to OSH? The Sunday before OSH starts, it can be very busy, except if you get there early in the morning. How does the Monday before SNF compare to the Sunday before OSH?

How are the homebuilt camping facilities at SNF as compared to OSH homebuilt camping? Is there some other option we should consider?

Thanks for any advice or info.

[mike newall]

Kevin,

The most important thing to organise is beer with other RV'ers.

Arrange a day, place, flower in the ear and we will be there.

Mike

p.s. That's how I met Dan Horton

[TSwezey]

I arrived early the first day and it wasn't bad at all. The camping facilities aren't as good as OSH but they are not bad either. Enjoy.

[roadrunner20]

Flying in any day before 0900 isn't bad. The controllers do a good job. I've never been to Osh so I can't compare.
I usually fly in thursday & friday mornings. Since I live 15 RV minutes away, I go home at night. I've never done the camping, but the beer encounter sounds good.

[rwarre]

I am also planning my first visit to SNF so I am watching this thread for any suggestions on where to stay if not camping, and transportation to hotels, or other places that accommodate visitors.

[jclark]

Kevin,

Arrival volume in general is lower than OSH although I have experienced arriving at KOSH with no planes ahead of me and at SnF with 10-15 ahead of me (in the old days).

Arrival is SIMPLER as on the last leg, you approach the airport mid-field and turn left or right based on wind. Way less stressful than an OSH arrival.

If you are VFR, be on the lookout in Central Florida ... a LOT of student pilots!

I camp at SnF and do Dorms at OSH. Nice community at Homebuilt Camping. It is "managed" by a family that volunteers year after year to "take good care of us". :-)
There is no dorm equivalent and a hotel most likely requires a car.

If you want (VFR) Flight Following through Florida, you will need to be in the system by Georgia or you are likely to not get service that week.

If no FF then I would suggest arriving (picking up in south Georgia) using KSSI-MONIA-KGNV-KVPKER .... (KLAL with arrival procedure). This avoids two permanent TFRs and much restricted space.

More than you asked for but figured I would throw is out there ...

James

[ronschreck]

Team RV will be performing on Tuesday and Wednesday only! Come by and say hello.

Get there on Thursday if you want to miss all of that.

[DanH]

Kevin,
Morning arrivals have never been a problem. Evening arrivals wait in a circle over Lake Parker until after post-airshow departures, and the hold circle can get pretty crazy. Last year the Thunderbirds closed the airspace for practice without notice on any schedule I saw.

Arrivals tend to aim directly for the Erector Set (the power plant on the north shore of Lake Parker) to begin the approach. So, fly to a point several miles east of the power plant, then turn west and put your head on a swivel. As James said, the rest of the approach is simple.

Here's my nickel tour:

You'll probably camp in the red box, in particular if you arrive early. Unless something has (hopefully) changed, the closest shower is at the red arrow, in the corner of the ultralight campground. You find a gate in the fence and walk down the road to get there.

The best camping is in Vintage, the blue box.

Food/beer is in the green box....so take along your own essentials. The good news is that the food situation is generally better than OSH...a variety of vendors with many menu choices.

The airshow line is in red. That means the entire homebuilt parking area (yellow) is off limits during airshow and T-bird practice times. If you want to walk it, do it in the AM.

[airmel]

There are tram shuttles when you get tired of walking to/from the homebuilt camping area (red box in DanH's pic). We camp there and as James said, the family that takes care of this camping area is great - coffee and sweet rolls in the mornings, etc! The shower facilities are decent - hot water always and no line at the ladies'! We do the dorms in Osh, so can't compare the camping there. Flying in/out is probably easier than OshKosh due to the fact that it will be either east or west, no other runway choices, but definitely keep your head on a swivel! And, lastly, when camping there is no worry about the beer - just stagger back to your tent!

[AltonD]

Excellent tour Dan. The only thing you left out was where they haul off (without permission of the owner) all of the tornado damaged planes.

My advice is to plan your arrival to be crossing the power plant before 10 am local (Eastern, DST). I have never had to circle the lake, even once.
Make sure you have a fresh set of brake pads. Long, slow taxi to the various tie-down areas.
Sun screen.
Home built parking is the best place to park if you are not camping. Yes, it is off limits during the air show, Noon to 5 pm each day.
Tie downs: You will get a lot of arguments, but my corkscrew doggie tie-downs weathered the storm last year. YMMV.
Sun screen.
Plan on a rain shower. It is Florida in the spring.
I usually stay at a Marriott in Lakeland. You will need a car. No shuttle that I am aware of.
Stay away from the FBO. They will hit you with a daily ramp fee if you park on their ramp. Last year, because of the storm, the tried to charge a friend of mine after he was directed to park there.
Sun screen.
Bring a folding chair to sit and watch the air show.

All of that said, I will be back this year. But only for a day. Work issues will only allow me one day.

Oh, I forgot to mention sunscreen. Bring plenty. The spring Florida sun will roast you. Especially if you spend the day looking up wards toward the air show.