A Deal I couldn't Pass Up

[Vlad]

I wasn't planning Sun-n-Fun this year. A boot camp I got myself into was mentally exhausting. Hitting rules books hard in a third language at advanced age wasn't a walk in the park. Flying was put at the backburner...

One morning a snail email comes. From my good buddies of volunteers days - hey you, you are guaranteed free food, lodging, and booze of your choice! Come for the week, or for a few days. We would love to have you! If there is any way you can make it, please let us know...

Shoot frack the books! I am in for the weekend. WX cooperates, airplane is in top shape let's go. Friday after school straight to the airport the craft was preloaded and overfueled with cold gas last night. Plan is to get from NJ to Georgia in one shot. Plan is to utilize all available VFR altitudes to minimize headwind. It's only 666 nautical miles to Baxley, Georgia KBHC if I work that red knob right and watch the winds I can make it non-stop. Plus there is a 5-star hotel rooms right at the airport terminal. The manager already reserved one for me.


Philly.





Some other state.






Passed Circle of Doom.







Little airport somewhere in Virginia.








Burning Carolinas.








Winds calmed down it looks like I would even have a legal 30 min fuel reserve.
Here comes smoggy Georgia. It took only 5 hours in my RV9A to get here.







Baxley KBHC. Inside this little terminal is a tired pilot dream.







Two hotel like rooms with showers and fresh linen.
















A group of RV12 pilots were on the way to Indiana. I was so tired I couldn't even communicate clearly. We exchanged some jokes and called the day.


Tomorrow early Sat morning I am leaving for Lakeland...

[TS Flightlines]

What a great idea!!! Transient rooms in the FBO!!!
3J1, (which will be under expansion) can certainly use that!!!
Awesome Vlad!
Tom

[Av8torTom]

Vlad - love your pics and write-ups...
Hope to be able to join you in the air soon.

T.

[turbo]

Not bad I must say. I see why you decided to come down. Good rest for the brain.

I did a long flight yesterday from stuart fl to Suffolk co va. 763 statute miles in 4hours20minutes, 32gallons, at 7,500'. Had 12 mph push.

Feels good to have the rv in ct now. You headed over to block island for a visit this weekend?

I have been thru Baxley before. Seems like they have low price on 100LL too.

[Vlad]

Good morning RV! Ready for a 2 hour morning run to Lakeland?





Bye Baxley.





Rough engine? What the heck? Oh it's Okee Fenokee Swamp and it's auto rough. I hope friends of Bob Leffler's son don't fly today out of Moodies.





Lakeland frequencies were loud and clear 20 min out. They managed to switch runways twice and some traffic was piling up at holds. OK all sorted out Lake Parker controller was lining up flying gypsies by the book.





I picked up a red slow taildragger and got myself into the published current of traffic.






RV turn base NOW fly to the end... welcome to Sun and Fun!!





Parade.






Escort.





Nice parking spot.




From now I do nothing. Only a little flying between the airshows...

[Vlad]

I had couple hours to browse the grounds and watch the airshow. Then we go flying. Then we go to a birthday party. Then we go to Tampa. Tomorrow early morning I am leaving...

New King of RVs.






Earney's Squadron.






Serious contender here. Steve Melton. This RV is already going places I couldn't even dream first year.






The highest flying RV airframe in the history of mankind on static display.





Some of the fastest on dynamic display.






As soon as entered first pavilion who I see? Papa Turbo!
Plans corrected at once, we go to Quiet Birdman retreat and have some lunch.






Famous Jerry. After the airshow we are waiting for doors to open. Time is ticking and main entrance is still closed. Jerry makes a commander decision to sprint around and enter from the side.




Richard is a student pilot and an aspiring filmmaker. We go up in my RV to try his new camera.

[Vlad]

Richard and I spent about an hour filming his sights. Need to hurry up before field is closed for night airshow. It looks like nobody at Lake Parker and frequencies are quiet. We follow procedures and somewhere by the V shaped building we remind about ourselves. OK lost RV land anywhere and go where you park. What a great flying day! How about a glass of wine?





Birthday Party was at its climax by the time we got there. Then there was Tampa and a perfect shop visit. An RV10 in the making. I've never seen something that compact, clean and well organized.










I spent the night in private jungles of Tampa. My preferred booze of choice was barely touched and will wait till next year

[Vlad]

Flight from Florida to New Jersey was a non event. I learned cells placement from my last year trip. There was a usual convection around Palatka and I spent extra 30 minutes going around it.






Next marching was to South Carolina. My usual fueling spot at Barnwell KBNL had usual pump problem and I hopped to a nearby grass field Dry Swamp. Very friendly place with little museum on the field. The owner was very kind to open the museum for me.





Bye Kurt I'll be back.







There were some low visibilities on my way north but nothing convective. I climbed to 17,500 and stayed there for 4+ hours. Cool and smooth ride all the way to home airport.






It was a great weekend of flying. Special thanks to my two friends who made it happen. Those who are still building keep going. Eventually you will run out of parts and call Mel

[Jeff Vaughan]

Great story and excellent T shirt!

[rv7boy]

Originally Posted by Vlad

Little airport somewhere in Virginia.

Travelling Russian is either very sneaky or was very tired and got mixed up about photos. Vlad, you can't fool us Southern boys. That is Raleigh-Durham International Airport in NORTH CAROLINA...not VIRGINIA!

Oh well, you travel so much and you take so many photos, it's easy to see how you could get confused. You've probably photographed more of these United States than we have!

We enjoy your trip reports!