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  #51  
Old 04-27-2015, 08:49 AM
judoka5051 judoka5051 is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: McAlpin, FL
Posts: 253
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Wow! It sounds like I missed all the foolishness. I flew in (first time ever) on Wednesday morning at 830. We didn't even see another plane until we were heading south to the blue roof. I agree that the "Turn base-final-land." was rushed. Adding flaps and with on hand and slipping turn with the other. Definitely not for the low time, low frequency pilot, but still fun. We flew out before the airshow, and that was when it got challenging. We were getting rushed out of there, and I found myself taking off and following a slow climbing seaplane. I didn't like that!
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  #52  
Old 04-27-2015, 09:23 AM
diamond diamond is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Rochester, MN
Posts: 710
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I went to SnF a few years ago for my one and only time. I won't go back. I was disappointed by the way they shut down access to the HB area for most of the day I was there. Also repulsed by high prices. If I remember correctly, I think I paid close to $5 for a simple hot dog. C'mon, really?
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  #53  
Old 04-27-2015, 11:34 AM
6 Gun 6 Gun is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 846
Unhappy SnF

I have been to SnF probably 25 times over the last 40 years and the last several years I often wondered why one of the airports close by like maybe Zelferhills or Plant City did not start a grass root fly- in the same week were they had free camping and good food for a decent price then you could hop over to SnF a day or two and back to the grass root fly- in after getting ripped off all you could stand and be able to walk around with out someone watching your ever move.
Bob
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  #54  
Old 04-27-2015, 01:44 PM
TS Flightlines TS Flightlines is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Ridgeland, SC
Posts: 2,589
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I drove to Orlando on friday, and got up early and drove in saturday morning. Parked WAYYYY up front, in the gate at 8:00, walked around until 9:00. Saw what I needed to see, talked to a few people, and left at 11:30. Home at 6:00Pm.
Maybe it was me, but I was looking for one of the avionics companies to convince me that I should buy their stuff. I came away feeling that they didnt care one way or the other. Probably due to the long week they had. Hope so.
Hopefully OSH will be better for me.
Tom
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  #55  
Old 04-27-2015, 03:07 PM
Jerry Fischer's Avatar
Jerry Fischer Jerry Fischer is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Winder Ga
Posts: 914
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GLPalinkas View Post
Seems for the last year I've been spending more time away from home. Wish I was home so I could have gone to SnF to see old and new friends. Missing my -6, also

I don't go for the hoopla or the exorbitant pricing, that's for sure. By the way, what ever happened to $25 per pilot and passenger flying in? Just a question for Leeks as he promised a friendlier attitude for aircraft owners willing to display their work.
I think you mean "Lites". Good question
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  #56  
Old 04-27-2015, 03:40 PM
flybill7 flybill7 is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Severna Park, Maryland
Posts: 446
Default Sun N Fun trip report

I flew my 7 into SNF Tuesday noon and departed Saturday morning, camping at Homebuilt Camping and enjoying the hospitality there. (Mary Kay and the HBC volunteers are wonderful). I had a great time. The highlights were seeing the Breitling L39 seven jet team perform for the first time in the US, the Thunderbirds, an F-22 Raptor taxi in, the Navy’s new P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft (I even got to go inside which was of great interest to me as a former P-3 NFO, and seeing a Japanese Zero fly (my first time). I saw 3 of the 4 stars of one of my favorite shows: Airplane Repo. I practiced gas welding in the workshops and sat in on some great forums including Joe Kuberka on Handling In-flight Emergencies and Jan Bussell’s flying RVs tips and techniques.

Clearly, many pilots do not read the SNF Notam – or remember it if they do – but that’s on the pilots, not SNF. I enjoy flying into AirVenture and SNF; it’s exhilarating.

Yes, food is a little overpriced inside the show, but staying at HBC defrayed much of the food cost. Most days I had breakfast and dinner at HBC (where you make a donation for the food) and only bought lunch ($14) in the show. The donation water/sodas/beer at HBC save a lot too. Even the $14 lunch I don’t begrudge SNF. Prices are the same at most entertainment events. If I can afford to fly a $50+/hour plane (in fuel alone) I can afford to pay a little more for lunch.

HBC is a bit of a walk from the show but they do have a tram service which helps save the feet. Yeah, the HBC showers aren’t as good as my house or Triple Tree, but are about the same as AirVenture.

Fuel prices flying to SNF were $1-$1.50 a gallon less than they were six months ago so the trip fuel costs were significantly less. My co-pilot and I paid $337 total for the wristbands and camping. For four full days, that worked out to $42/person/day; not a bad deal I think. The many SNF volunteers I encountered were uniformly friendly. I met a lot of people and enjoyed talking flying with them.

My feeling is that SNF and AirVenture are what you make it. SNF does have its faults – my biggest grip is the Homebuilt parking area being fenced off and closed during the airshow – but I think the good vastly outweighs the bad. Spending the week at SNF in total aviation immersion sure beat working!

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Last edited by flybill7 : 04-27-2015 at 06:50 PM. Reason: Add picture
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  #57  
Old 04-27-2015, 06:03 PM
KJBSouth's Avatar
KJBSouth KJBSouth is offline
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Spring Hill, Florida; Flushing, Michigan
Posts: 105
Default +1 It's what you make it.

I have flown the Swift into SNF in the past.

This was the fourth year Dolly and I worked as security volunteers during the weekend before the show. On Sunday and Monday we were each given a SUV and asked to guard the show side taxiways leading to RW 9/27. Over the course of two ten hour days I interdicted three errant vehicles. One driver was trying to deliver a portapotty and had been told to just head north on foxtrot. A few RVs taxied by as they were leaving the active. For our work we were given camping and show passes for the week. We parked just off Juliet Road.

I wanted to buy our RV-7 external lighting at show prices, and managed to negotiate 28+ percent off catalog for the package at Spruce. And, no shipping or sales tax. The lights will be drop shipped directly from AeroLED's. Fantastic. We also picked up two Tosten grips, some epoxy and primer. Now if the QB wings and fuselage will arrive....

Just as good as buying at show prices was the chance to get detailed quotes for IFR panel equipment from both Dynon and Garmin. I plan on making a choice by the end of Airventure.

I walked to HBC and admired all the RV's. Perhaps in 2017 we'll be there.
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  #58  
Old 04-27-2015, 07:07 PM
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g3xpert g3xpert is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Olathe, KS
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TS Flightlines View Post
Maybe it was me, but I was looking for one of the avionics companies to convince me that I should buy their stuff. I came away feeling that they didnt care one way or the other. Probably due to the long week they had. Hope so.
Hopefully OSH will be better for me.
Tom
Hi Tom,

I spoke with you at Sun-N-Fun and very much enjoyed meeting you for the first time. Trust me - we care if you buy our stuff.

We hope you at least felt that we answered all your questions in crazy detail. We engineers are probably much better at that than "convincing".

Thanks,
Steve
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  #59  
Old 04-28-2015, 06:11 AM
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rleffler rleffler is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Delaware, OH (KDLZ)
Posts: 4,196
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TS Flightlines View Post
.
Maybe it was me, but I was looking for one of the avionics companies to convince me that I should buy their stuff. I came away feeling that they didnt care one way or the other. Probably due to the long week they had.
Tom,

I suspect some of that was burn out after a couple of days, but then again, SnF doesn't have the crowds that OSH has. Actually, I think it's a good thing and most of the avionics vendors have a low key sales approach. Most will answer any questions that you ask, but I don't think any of them attempt to convince you that their product is the silver bullet solution that you need. I think it's better than them acting as car salesman.

See you at OSH!

bob
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  #60  
Old 04-28-2015, 06:33 AM
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DanH DanH is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: 08A
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flybill7 View Post
That is a great picture!
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