Wayne Cease

The 650 is going to be quite a bit more than $500. You will get LPV approaches and the ability to put Victor airways into the flight plan, and another nav/com radio. If you have the money I'd go for the 650. Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

The pilot. Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

It's a bummer when that happens. I'm based at PDK, so no minimums for me. Getting $0.50/gal off on the weekends is nice, but it's also high enough that I try to fill up elsewhere. Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Check on this option at any FBO. Epps at PDK does the same thing. Not all do it, but it's worth asking. Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

I flew an Angel Flight mission to SAV earlier this year and went to Sheltair. As usual fees were waived since it was an Angel Flight mission. Went there again, but just to drop off my wife for a conference she had in Savannah after we visited our daughter in Kentucky; I love flying private, "I'll just swing by Savannah and drop you off on the way home." The lady at the counter helped us get the Uber driver to that location. She said to call the driver after it was set and update them, happens all the time there. The Uber system would show the right location and the when you submitted the request it would then show it across the runway. Grrr. I was expecting to pay the fees, but the waived them. The lineman even cleaned my windshield; I tipped him. Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Weather is reporting 10" in Cobb County; in northwest part of metro Atlanta. PDK is closed, except for helicopters. Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

I agree. One short stop is fine for a day trip, but hopping around and then switching to ground transportation and back to air again can be a pain.

Other than the stop in Sarasota we spent at least 3 nights at the other two locations. We really only wanted a lunch-afternoon visit with my MIL, her health wasn't up too much more at the time. Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

By yourself, nope. Unless one is well off the beaten path and going to somewhere else off the beaten path. With 4 of us we had several trips that were cheaper than going commercial. Full cost, not just fuel. We've also taken trips with multiple stops that would have been hard to impossible on the airlines and much longer by car. One example: we spent a few days at Disney World, then a few on the beach at Ft Lauderdale, then lunch and the afternoon with my MIL in Sarasota on the way back home to Atlanta. Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Mountains? From Dayton, go to Chattanooga then into Atlanta. You'll need clear air and look in the right places to see hills, much less fly in/over them. Weather concerns are quite valid for a very low time VFR only pilot. Sorry, but you can get "trapped/stuck" for some very benign weather. Been there, done that. Fortunately they were all day trips for us and at departure time, not getting back home. That is what pushed me to do my IFR training earlier than originally planned. After our 2nd or 3rd cancellation for benign IFR weather I walked into the flight school and asked a CFII if he had time later that day. He did and I booked it right then and there and I started my instrument training that afternoon. Fears are typically irrational; concerns can be very rational. Using logic to battle fears is pointless. Using logic and data to battle concerns can work though. I flew my daughters and some of their friends to the beach on several occasions. I always checked with the parents before my daughters invited their friends. One mother surprised me as I knew she grew up flying with her father. Now that she had a kid she had fear of her child flying. That child just missed out on beach trips. My youngest just asked other friends to go on trips with her. My mother doesn't like small planes. She always made sure my dad picked jets, not turboprops when they travel. He's flown with me in a SR22, but there's no way she would. She was a nervous wreck when I flew one of our kids up to visit with she and my dad; kids got a week being spoiled with the grandparents. Now, that was my first flight after getting my PPL, so I fully understand she had some concerns. And I flew the other kid back home. The kids on the other hand loved it. My mother doesn't bother me about flying anymore, but she still won't get in the plane either. The kids love traveling private. Now it takes some pretty yucky weather for me to cancel a flight. More often an early or late departure to avoid bad weather. My typical statement is "anything but ice or thunderstorms", but that got invalidated earlier this year. We had a trip to Charleston to see some tennis, and we love Charleston. We ended up driving due to very strong winds with even airliners reporting moderate to heavy turbulence down near where we'd cruise, plus high gusting winds at landing in Charleston. On our drive we stopped for fuel, snacks and a bathroom break in Columbia, SC on the way and had to hold the car doors open or the wind would slam them shut. We also had to lean into the wind walking into the the store and back to the car. Yeah, not a good day to be flying. Find some good VFR weather and get some flying in. If you really want to travel private, then work on your instrument rating.

Ok, that's horrible. Class B airports are pricey. Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

I'm not we can all agree on that. Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

^This is the issue with the big national FBOs. I have no issue with "premium" FBOs. Just like First/Business class seating or premium cars (Mercedes, BMW, etc) for those that want it it's great. It is a problem though when premium is the only option. That I have to "shop" with a premium FBO to use an airport my tax dollars paid for. The premium FBOs typically have beautiful facilities, but I'm fine with a basic building, often a 50 year old building, at a local FBO. For my needs those are just as good. Most of them today have wifi, so I can check weather and such, so they don't even need to have computers and a weather service. Even if they don't it's been a long time since I've been at one where I didn't get cell phone reception; that may be an issue out west in even more rural areas. The cost at JZI is the same at CHS at Atlantic other than there is no $10 security fee at JZI; there is self-serve fuel for a little less, but the full service fuel is actually $1.02/gal higher. At JZI? *sigh* I bet if the county took it over the costs would match LRO. I've flown into LRO before, and it's great. I was bummed I can't go there this week, well at least not a solid "yes" on the parking. I've flown into CHS before as well, especially if we're just staying in the historic district and don't need a car. I think the fees were lower at CHS then, or maybe it was the difference between prices for a single vs a twin (as if the Baron is really that much bigger than the SR22).

They only have two spots right now and won't reserve a spot. Said to call back tomorrow before departing. Uh, no. I need a rental car reservation lined, which I had for LRO. Back to CHS, but Uber in and then a rental in town. Not a good time to redo the ramp with the Bridge Run last weekend and the Volvo Car Open tennis tournament this weekend. Maybe there just isn't a good time. I very much appreciate your heads-up on this issue. They didn't mention a thing when I originally called.

Where is that price? I see it as $3k w/o GPS. If you need a WAAS GPS in the transponder then it's $3.8k. Those are list prices from Garmin.

Atlantic has a $60 "facility" fee at JZI? WTF? And $30/night. I'm currently flying a Baron. Man I have to get back into a single. Really bummed LRO is repaving right now. I'm sure it will be nice once done. Just bad timing for me. Ugh.

Hmmm, I did call last week and they didn't mention that. I'll call back again. update: called. Well crud. I wish that they had said something last week when I called. Thanks for letting me know. I don't usually check NOTAMs until a day before. It's there; I just checked. Of course the guy on the phone there could have said something about it. sigh

I used Talon when we stopped there back in August. I'd go back to them again in the future. Good experience and prices. Gave us a ride to and back from the LIRR station.

We're heading to Charleston next weekend. CHS has Signature and Atlantic. Didn't even bother checking Signature. Atlantic wanted a $60 handling fee, $30/night, and there's a $10 security fee; it's on the opposite side of the airport from the passenger terminal. So, we're going to LRO, Mt Pleasant. $10/night parking, cheaper rental car rates and cheaper fuel. It's about 8 min longer drive to out hotel. Yeah, I think I can handle that to save $300.

Means it won't fly longer than your bladder will hold out.

^ This. Flying to anywhere east of the Mississippi River works well from Virginia in a single engine piston plane. Going to California will be more of an adventure than a flight, especially for the whole family.

There are at least a few flying and several more under construction. The specs say 215 kts @ 20 gph or 195 kts @ 16 gph for the 180 HP (per side) version and 185 kts @ 16 gph / 175 kts @ 12 gph for the 160 HP version. I swapped emails with one of the builders that has his flying, he said the numbers are rather optimistic.

VOBA - Velocity Owners and Builders Association: voba.clubexpress.com