Going to Great Falls Montana 4th of July weekend

BruceEicher · #1 06-02-2016, 08:49 AM

What's up in Great Falls? Wife's family has a renunion so our plan is to fly in Saturday AM and depart Monday the 4th.
Any hangar space? (I have yet to call the FBO)
Any RV activity?

JonJay · #2 06-02-2016, 12:42 PM

Hey Bruce -
I was there in October (commercial). There was very little GA activity that I could see of any kind. There where a sparse few commercial hangars and a couple spam cans at what looked to be an FBO. I was quite surprised. Perhaps I missed something but I thought I got a pretty good look at the field. I tend to look at those things even when I fly commercially as most of us, and I am sure you, do.

However, if you are fly fisherman, and can find the time, pm me. I can set you up with a guide for the day. There is some very good fishing on the upper MO about half way between Great Falls and Helena, maybe an hour or so drive.
I managed to catch this 6 1/2# Rainbow, along with another 30 or so trout that day averaging in the 2-4# range.

hydroguy2 · #3 06-02-2016, 10:07 PM

Just a quick 69nm straight south of KGTF is Townsend(8U8). which hosts a fly-in breakfast on the 4th for the last 10 years or so. 60 planes and 250 people usually.

BruceEicher · #4 06-02-2016, 11:18 PM

Thanks Jon and Brian.
I have not taken up fly-fishing but do enjoy fly-breakfast. I am sure a brother-in-law would love to ditch the third day of the reunion with me and hop down to Townsend. You going Brian? Shoot me any details if you can.
Cheers!

PS, Townsend has fuel listed for $3.82! That will pay for the hop!

B1WSO · #5 06-03-2016, 08:13 AM

Front Range Aviation is on the far south side. Easy to miss if coming in commercial. Fair amount of GA activity out of there. Mike will take care of you. He has pulled me up in the hangar for mx or wx several times while visiting there.
Have fun!

hydroguy2 · #6 06-03-2016, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BruceEicher

Thanks Jon and Brian.
.........You going Brian? Shoot me any details if you can.
Cheers!

PS, Townsend has fuel listed for $3.82! That will pay for the hop!

I'm trying to talk them into dropping the price for fly-in folks. maybe $3.50...but might only be a dime or nothing. we are one of the lowest $ in the whole state already.

Get there early if you're coming. serving food about 0800 and runs out by 1000.
Yes, I will be there. I start prep cooking the day before. It takes time to cook 50# of spuds, 8# of bacon, 6# of sausage and a dozen onions. Then the morning of the fly-in we start cooking 25 Dozen eggs and seasonings at 6am. along with plenty of Coffee.
Me on onion duty

Glenn on the grill

Here is one of the roaster ovens. it gets topped with cheddar

Then about 0800, Glenn and I can turn over the grill to the EAA for several hours of pancake time.

Didn't get to fly...but took a seat in a newly restored stearman

they(pilots and townies) all seem to enjoy the food and friends

Usually have 60-70 planes

BruceEicher · #7 06-04-2016, 12:45 AM

Thank you so much Brian.
I am hungry right now looking at the spuds, and you have yet to show me the bacon!

Have you ever attended an EAA 105 breakfast? Every first Saturday, tomorrow, at Twin Oaks Airpark is about the same size crowd and spread, grits instead of spuds, but even Van takes his turn at the grill.
I will invite a GIB to your event, but won't let them slow me down if he or she sleeps in.
This is great, now I am excited to visit (and ditch) the in-laws!

Cheers to blue skies (and no floods) !
Bruce

BruceEicher · #8 06-04-2016, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B1WSO

Front Range Aviation is on the far south side. Easy to miss if coming in commercial. Fair amount of GA activity out of there. Mike will take care of you. He has pulled me up in the hangar for mx or wx several times while visiting there.
Have fun!

Thanks Chad! I will give Mike a call.

I flew a 172 into great falls once, but is was to drop off Katie for a commercial flight, then turned to returned to Shelby without ever stepping off the Tarmac.

At Shelby I needed to explain what an RV is...I am the only one (RV) to visit there to my knowledge...

2johns · #9 06-04-2016, 05:16 PM

Bruce-

Good advice on using Mike and Front Range aviation. In fact that is where our EAA chapter is headquartered. We have lots of RV's in our chapter - some flying and some under construction. 2-RV4's, 3-RV6's, 2-RV7's, 3-RV8's, 2-RV9's 1-RV12. No RV10's. Not all of them are hangared in Great Falls but in the local area. Mine is the RV12. I've lived here for eighty years and most of my flying is now early morning flights in the local area. North to Glacier Park, East to the Missouri breaks, west to The Bob Marshal Wilderness. Tough choice.

JonJay · #10 06-05-2016, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B1WSO

Front Range Aviation is on the far south side. Easy to miss if coming in commercial. Fair amount of GA activity out of there. Mike will take care of you. He has pulled me up in the hangar for mx or wx several times while visiting there.
Have fun!

Good to know as I plan to be there again soon.