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Flying into south TX for a Starship launch?

Thermos

Thermos

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Hey -

My wife and I are planning a trip in the RV-7 sometime after the end of October from the Boston area to Brownsville/SPI to see a SpaceX Starship launch, whenever that happens to be. I've never been south of San Antonio, and this will be our longest trip to date in the RV. Obviously we'll be at the mercy of weather and launch issues, but I'd appreciate any gouge from the greater VAF mind on visiting that area - good airports/FBOs, good places to stay, etc.

Live long and prosper 🖖

Dave
 
Thermos said:
Hey -

My wife and I are planning a trip in the RV-7 sometime after the end of October from the Boston area to Brownsville/SPI to see a SpaceX Starship launch, whenever that happens to be. I've never been south of San Antonio, and this will be our longest trip to date in the RV. Obviously we'll be at the mercy of weather and launch issues, but I'd appreciate any gouge from the greater VAF mind on visiting that area - good airports/FBOs, good places to stay, etc.

Live long and prosper 🖖

Dave
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I'm out of KIKG (Kleberg County), a little north but I used to be a KTXW (Mid-Valley). Brownsville/South Padre is the closest, Class D. It has rental cars and FBO etc. Port Isabel is also close, KPIL. It is an old Army Air Corp base (P-39s in WWII). South Padre has more of the big hotels, some with good views of the launch site. Port Isabel is more of a Winter Texan area with more reasonably price accommodations. If you get to South Padre make sure you eat at Dirty Al's, best fried shrimp ever. KPIL is just a country airport, usually not much going on, no tie down fees, etc. I haven't flown into Brownsville in a while. The border is a little confusing and it is not hard to wonder into Mexican airspace if you are not careful.
 
What a great idea.
I would like to fly out too to see a launch of the big booster/spaceship.
Please keep us informed with any additional information.
 
Just keep in mind that the launch rate might be 25% for the starship.
They have it scheduled in September right now. No date.
I winter in Port Aransas KRAS. Will drive down to see it again but can’t catch a launch ,YET

Boomer
 
Thanks guys, I appreciate the SA. It's certainly risky trying to schedule anything around a developmental flight test, but my wife and I need a break and south Texas in November will be warmer than home!

Best,

Dave
 
Did you go Dave? Any report? Where did you stay? I am planning to fly by the Starbase right after Thanksgiving. I am not planning to see any launches just fly around the TFRs and see the facilities.
 
I remember flying a C-150 into Space Coast Regional to see a Space Shuttle launch back in the 90s.
An absolutely epic experience!
 
Sounds like a Tuesday launch, 11/19, weather permitting. I should have flown down for the last one, as this time I'm going to be working.

Would love reports from anyone who has done it for next time.
 
Vlad said:
Did you go Dave? Any report? Where did you stay? I am planning to fly by the Starbase right after Thanksgiving. I am not planning to see any launches just fly around the TFRs and see the facilities.
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Hey Vlad,

No, we didn’t go…at least not yet - too many other things going on right now. But we still plan to go and if SpaceX keeps up their launch cadence there should be a lot of opportunities next year.

We didn’t do a lot of investigating of places to stay, but if you’re just looking for a tiedown and cheap(ish) gas, Port Isabel (KPILJ seems like a good option. There aren’t as many hotel options around Port Isabel as are in Brownsville but it seems to be less crowded.

Dave
 
Thermos said:
Hey Vlad,

No, we didn’t go…at least not yet - too many other things going on right now. But we still plan to go and if SpaceX keeps up their launch cadence there should be a lot of opportunities next year.

We didn’t do a lot of investigating of places to stay, but if you’re just looking for a tiedown and cheap(ish) gas, Port Isabel (KPILJ seems like a good option. There aren’t as many hotel options around Port Isabel as are in Brownsville but it seems to be less crowded.

Dave
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I live in Kingsville, around 100 north. If I were flying in I think I would go to Brownsville, rent a car and stay on South Padre Island. Don't stay in a fancy place unless it just rings your bell 'cause you won't be able to see the launch from there anyway. You need to go to the beach that faces the launch site about 5 miles across the bay. We are planning to go down a stay a few days to watch the launch and stay in something mid-priced like a Wyndham. You will need a car to get around. Make sure to eat a Dirty Al's.
 
Observations from the trip down.

South Padre isn’t prepared for this.
15-20k people
5 k cars

Total disaster. More later.
Good first.

Launch and Isla Blanca park is the place to be.
5 miles across to see Starship

Could see LOX loads and all from park.

Very LOUD and that was awesome
Internet was very slow. OK get that

Could see from anywhere on the point.
Saw the Fireball from our vantage point
Didn’t know the chopstick catch got scrubbed
Till I watched it on YouTube
The internet was slow and couldn’t hear anything

For people coming to watch, my thoughts for my next trip.
Stay on the island
Rv park, KOA, Hotel
Walk to park
Arrive earlier, arrived 3 hours before made last parking spot at church
Parking lot
Bring more adult beverages


Other observations
People did go to the Starship base the day before and see the stack
Every model of Tesla were there including trucks in numbers



The bad.
45 minutes to get to bridge
45 minutes to get Over bridge
No communications with Port Isabel on stop lights
We were some of the first ones out


Overall good trip.
Boomer
 
rv8ch said:
Very cool, Larry! Could you hear it?
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No, couldn’t hear it but didn’t think to take headsets off and try. It was one of those awestruck moments. Plus, we were just starting our holding turn toward the rocket which had my attention 😬!
 
More thoughts on watching the launch.

They have cruises out of Port Isabel.
30-$40 PP
Dolphin Cruises
Or Osprey Cruises

Or find friends with a pontoon or boat in area.

Boomer
 
Maybe a little off topic.
I was born and raised in Brownsville. I probably spent most of my high school weekends on Padre or Boca Chica. It's kinda funny to think back then Boca Chica was desolate. Nothing out there. We used to have huge bon fires from pallets from CarlingSwitch. We would stack them for some awesome fires.
Fun times.
I drove so much, I would wrap food in foil and cook it on the exhaust manifold. The trip was the perfect cook time.
Unless something changed, there is no road between Padre and Boca. It's a drive back to Brownsville then out to Boca. Probably 1-1/2 hours.
The cruise option sounds best. It eliminates the parking lot drive. A hotel room on Padre is probably next best, but no doubt very expensive.
I don't recommend camping. Been there. Done that. Not fun. All that sand gets quite literally everywhere.
 
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