Today's Message Index:
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1. 05:45 AM - 109 NC Airports in One Day (Ron Schreck)
2. 06:23 AM - Re: Labor Day weekend 2007 (Patty Hamilton)
3. 07:11 AM - Re: NC Airport Tour is DONE! (Ken Harrill)
4. 04:43 PM - Re: NC Airport Tour is DONE! (Robert Cutter)
Message 1
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| Subject: | 109 NC Airports in One Day |
Can't say that I'm ready to do it all over again, but a long shower and
a good night's sleep are just what I needed after flying for over
seventeen hours on Wednedsay! I'm not sure where the idea came from, but
at some point I decided that it sure would be neat to touch down at all
of the public use airports in North Carolina. Then some idiot (perhaps
me) suggested that it might be possible to do it in one day! That's 109
landings in 24 hours! (110 if you count my home field, which is a
private airport.) As Tom May, my next door neighbor pointed out, that's
a landing every thirteen minutes. Impossible! As it turned out, after
seventeen hours and six minutes of flying time I touched down at all 110
airports (109 public plus one private) and averaged a landing every nine
and a half minutes. Total distance, not including circling to land and a
few bomber patterns behind "normal" pilots, was 1991 nautical miles and
the average speed was 116 knots. The total elapsed time was 19 hours, 51
minutes from the first public airport, Concord Regional Airport (JQF) to
the last, Siler City Municipal Airport (5W8). I spent two hours cooling
my heels at Currituck County Airport (ONX), waiting for sunrise so I
could start knocking off the unlighted airports. First Flight Airport
(FFA) at Kitty Hawk was the first unlighted destination and it felt
pretty awesome to land at the site of man's first powered flight at
first light on Independence Day! Being a holiday, most of the restricted
areas were cold and all of the military bases were quiet but a few
events did make me wonder if the day was to be successful.
Upon arrival at Wilson Industrial Air Center (W03) at 1:42 AM the
airfield lights refused to come on when I triggered the mic button. I
didn't want to have my record blemished by omitting a single airport so
I circled the field at about 800 feet and made out the runway markings
by the moonlight. A single porch light on a building next to the
approach end made a good target, so I established a landing pattern and
accomplished the "porch light" approach to runway 21. My landing light
and a =BE moon gave just enough light so see the centerline of the
runway on short final.
There are 21 turf fields among the 109 destinations and some of them are
downright scary! The shortest are 1400 feet long with huge trees at both
ends! I managed a touch-and-go at all of them, but must admit that it
would have been a real challenge to make a full-stop landing at some.
Keck's Airport (N88) was real special. The NC Airport Guide has "special
notices/warnings" which note that Keck's has "agricultural equipment on
runway and buildings on NW edge of runway." What they don't say is that
if you stray just 10 feet off the centerline you will leave your wingtip
in a tractor garage. There are mowers, tractors and junk all over the
place and an aluminum irrigation pipe is laid across the center of the
runway. As if all these obstructions were insufficient to deter one from
attempting to land, the farmer jumping up and down and furiously waving
his arms was also a good indicator. I managed to touch down between the
irrigation pipe and the tractor and I still have both my wingtips, so I
must have missed the tractor garage.
I now know where Goose Creek (28A) got it's name. I was forced to land
long as about fifty geese strolled across the approach end of runway
four. I was pleased to see some of my RV buddies emerge from a hangar at
Goose Creek and wave frantically as I passed by. I gave them a blast of
smoke and a wing rock then raced off to the next destination.
I refueled four times. The first stop was at Currituck County Airport
(ONX) at 3:09 AM. It was very dark and very quiet and I stayed for
nearly two hours, waiting for first light. It was so peaceful that I
feared I would fall asleep and miss the entire day! The old gentleman
that helped refuel the plane at Curtis Brown Field (EYF) was thrilled to
hear all about my trip and was amazed to see a flight plan with 109 turn
points! Tad Sargent, one of my RV formation buddies met me at Ashe
County Airport (GEV) and supervised the refueling while I took a break.
He even used his own credit card to pay for the gas so I didn't have to
wait around for the interminable credit card approval process. Thanks,
Tad; I owe you a few bucks and a whole lot more. The last fuel stop at
Macon County Airport (1A5) was the most expensive at $4.64 per gallon,
but hey, they gotta' make a living and I was in no position to bargain.
A serious case of get-home-itus was beginning to take hold of me.
I finally arrived home at Gold Hill Airpark at 8:09 PM and was greeted
by all of my neighbors who were gathered for the Independence Day
picnic. George Orndorff kept the grill hot for me and I topped off the
day with a burger and Miller beer.
My thanks to Larry Bowen, Tad Sargent, Len Leggett and Tom May who
called several airports to warn them of my arrival and to my wife, Kathy
who manned the "command center" at home, keeping everyone appraised of
my progress as I sent text messages to her along the way. It was a great
trip.
Total Airports: 110 (109 public use plus 1 private)
Total Elapsed Time: 19 hours, 51 minutes.
Total Flying Time: 17 hours, 6 minutes.
Furthest distance between two airports on route: 65.4 NM
Closest distance between two airports on route: 1.16 NM
Average distance between airports: 18.26 NM
Average speed along route: 116 knots
Ron Schreck
RV-8, "Miss Izzy"
Gold Hill Airpark, NC
Message 2
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| Subject: | Re: Labor Day weekend 2007 |
Bill,
It sounds great! It was such a nice suprise to see you this weekend. I
didn't realize you were at Ashe county. We had a nice meal at Shatley
Springs. Thanks so much for the ride! I would love to do the Va. Creeper
trail.
Patty
>>> bill28104@yahoo.com 7/5/2007 3:54:21 PM >>>
<bill28104@yahoo.com>
Well, another holiday has passed and the next one in
line is Labor Day. I offer as one option for SERVers
a return to Ashe Co. and Jefferson Landing for the
long weekend. Besides cool weather, you will find
bike riding on the Va. Creeper trail,
canoe/tube/kayaks on the New River, meals at Shatley
Springs and other good selections. A cookout at our
house is also likely w/ homemade ice cream and other
goodies. Shopping and siteseeing at W. Jefferson and
Blowing Rock galleries and antique stores also fill
the bill. I found 3 and 4 BR condos avail. that
weekend for about $75-80 per nite per couple. As
before, we can rent cars as needed to supplement our 2
for max movement around the area. There may be a few
aviators wanting to buzz around the mtns. and sitesee
as well. Depending on interest, we can reserve rooms
as needed. If another venue is more in demand, we can
go elsewhere, but this can start the discussions for
another SERV gathering...looking forward to hearing
everyone's thoughts...Reno
Now that's room service! Choose from over 150,000 hotels
in 45,000 destinations on Yahoo! Travel to find your fit.
http://farechase.yahoo.com/promo-generic-14795097
Message 3
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| Subject: | Re: NC Airport Tour is DONE! |
Very cool, Smokey. Especially the VAF write up.
Ken
On 7/5/07, Lenleg@aol.com <Lenleg@aol.com> wrote:
>
> Conrats Ron .... a fourth of July to always remember !!!!
>
> Len
>
>
> ------------------------------
> See what's free at AOL.com <http://www.aol.com/?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000503>.
>
>
> *
>
> *
>
>
--
Ken Harrill
803 238-2199
Message 4
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| Subject: | Re: NC Airport Tour is DONE! |
Way to go Ron. And to think this all started with ...hmmm. just
thinkin'...
Congrats!!
RVRC
Robert Cutter
----- Original Message -----
From: Steve Glasgow
To: rvsoutheast-list@matronics.com
Sent: Wednesday, July 04, 2007 10:06 PM
Subject: Re: RVSouthEast-List: NC Airport Tour is DONE!
Way to go Smokey. We knew you would make it.
Cappy
----- Original Message -----
From: Ron Schreck
To: RV Southeast List
Sent: Wednesday, July 04, 2007 8:48 PM
Subject: RVSouthEast-List: NC Airport Tour is DONE!
I'm back! Touched down at Gold Hill Airpark at 8:09 PM. Can't say
my 110th landing for the day was my best, but it sure felt good! I have
had the hamburger and Miller beer, so now's time for a shower and bed.
I'll provide a comprehensive report sometime later. For now, thanks for
all the support along the way and the words of encouragement as well.
109 NC Public Use Airports in 19 hours, 51 minutes!
Later,
Ron Schreck
RV-8, "Miss Izzy"
Gold Hill Airpark, NC
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