Fly In - Western NC

[Hank]

Nancy and I are @ Jekyll Island tonight. Nice. We'll be Mooney Ambassadors tomorrow @ KSSI.

Ya'll have a good time!

[Bob_Belville]

Restaurant review: Low Country Boil @ SeaJay's on Jekyll Is. great shrimp! Crab chowder was very good as well.

[Steve65E-NC]

     Morganton, about 7miles SW of Foothills, has some good shopping.  Also Morganton has a very interesting History Museum of Burke County open Saturday 10-2.  Morganton is the County Seat of Burke County which reached to the Mississippi in Colonial times.  I was raised there.

 

    I am based at Hickory (HKY) about ten miles SE of Foothills.  It has  a better selection of Hotels near to airport.  Morganton, Lenoir and Hickory are in a triangle in the Catawba River Valley.  We look at the Blue Ridge (Blowing Rock, LIttle Switzerland, Grandfather Mountain) to the North.  To the far West we see Mt. Mitchell (highest in the East) and the associated Black Mountains. 

 

Steve 65E-NC    

[Bob_Belville]

Okay, here's where I think we are on this party.

 

Plan to arrive at least in time for free lunch Saturday. We'll have 3 sessions: aviation insurance with Eddie Price of Carolina Insurance; Emergency Procedures in your Mooney with Brandon NeSmith, CFII extraordinaire, and a Wings FAAST program with Al Bormuth our FAAST team representative. We'll hope to be through with that by 2:30-3:00 for those who want to head home in the daylight.

 

If folks come in for Friday evening and/or stay over Saturday evening, either at Gary's Switzerland Inn (at 1/2 the rack rate!) or elsewhere nearby, and want some organized activities we'll do our best to provide you with Southern hospitality. A ladies' excursion up to Blowing Rock is offered. See Steve's post from a couple of days ago. 

 

If you just want to do your own thing for the weekend Enterprise Car Rental is available, if you reserve a car it can be ready at the FBO from their Morganton office.

 

So... let's expect nice weather and 40 or more Mooneys over the NC Mountains!

 

 

[fantom]

So... let's expect nice weather and 40 or more Mooneys over the NC Mountains!

While I'm most impressed with your party organizing work Bob, and totally envious of those attending, I'll take the UNDER on the number of Mooneys flying in.

Have a wonderful and safe time.

[Hedge]

I'll try to make it from  UZA

My plane was stuck at UZA for two weeks last month.  Was on my way to Kirk Airbase for my annual and stopped at UZA for another mooney buddy.  Spent the night and got up early to go and the plane wouldn't start.  Ended up having a bad starter (solenoid wouldn't engage).  Because the mechanic co onsite wouldn't work on anything older than 19 years, I was stuck.  I had to remove the starter (not fun) on the tarmac and wait for a new starter.

 

After all that, I got to send my plane to Jim Kirk.  And that guy is great.

[Marauder]

My plane was stuck at UZA for two weeks last month. Was on my way to Kirk Airbase for my annual and stopped at UZA for another mooney buddy. Spent the night and got up early to go and the plane wouldn't start. Ended up having a bad starter (solenoid wouldn't engage). Because the mechanic co onsite wouldn't work on anything older than 19 years, I was stuck. I had to remove the starter (not fun) on the tarmac and wait for a new starter.

After all that, I got to send my plane to Jim Kirk. And that guy is great.

Hopefully the old starter was dead, dead. I struggled over the years with a bending that wouldn't engage at times. Someone turned me onto Sea Foam's "Deep Creep" and one application and it has been working great since.

Almost went down the Skytec starter path, but hoping to get a few more years out of the old one,

[Bob_Belville]

While I'm most impressed with your party organizing work Bob, and totally envious of those attending, I'll take the UNDER on the number of Mooneys flying in.

Have a wonderful and safe time.

Well Gary, you might turn out to be right, we'll see. I do not have 40 positive RSVPs but we start with 5 Mooneys based on the field plus Steve just over @ HKY. DrBill will be herefrom 8A6, Jeff from PDK, Hank from AL, Tom all the way from DYR, Amelia from EDE (unless there is ice!) 2 Mooneys from nearby AVL who we met yesterday @ SSI. Douglas from CLT... (Richard Simile is going to be in AZ, otherwise he would be here, 

 

We'd love to hear from anyone who plans to come. A count will help us plan lunch and the size meeting room we set up. 

[N7186V]

My girlfriend and I plan to be there if the weather is VFR!

[Bob_Belville]

My girlfriend and I plan to be there if the weather is VFR!

Thanks James!

[Bob_Belville]

Okay lads and lasses, this isn't Mooney Summit but I'm pretty happy with how our Mooneys to the NC Mountains Fly In is coming together for THIS Saturday, November 15.

 

Schedule:

• 11:00 A.M.: Al Bormuth, FAAST coordinator, will conduct a FAA WINGS program. If you're not in the WINGS program get signed up this week to get credit.
• 11:45 A.M.: A North Carolina BBQ lunch! free courtesy of Foothills Regional Aviation. Brent Brinkley, Manager.
• 12:15 P.M.: Eddie Price, owner of Carolina Insurance, Forest City, will make a presentation on Aviation Insurance issues. Eddie is a pilot and a serial aircraft owner.
• 1:00 P.M.: Brandon NeSmith, owner of Table Rock Aviation, CFII, land, sea, tail dragger, aerobatics..., will conduct a session on emergency procedures in our Mooneys. Brandon has a great deal of Mooney experience and this will be a do not miss presentation.
• 1:45 P.M. Robbie Greer, owner of Twin Lakes Avionics, will brief us on avionics issues, glass, ADS-B and more. (My panel was done by Robbie 2 years ago and I can recommend them w/o hesitation.).    

You should be able to take in the whole program and get home before dark even if you're coming from some distance!

 

But that's not all:

• We have a 7 passenger courtesy car available is some (ladies?) would like to spend time in Blowing Rock. (If there are more than 7 we'll swipe one of our cars...)
• We have arranged with Thermal Valley.net, based @ KMRN, to be available for a tandem hang gliding experience. Visit http://www.thermalvalley.net/ for details. Larry Falls, the chief pilot of the Dragonfly tow craft is a retired naval carrier pilot and former Mooney owner. Bring warm clothes!
• If folks want to stay Saturday evening we will screen "Boots on the Ground" the story of the men and women who built Mooney Aircraft. Mitch and Jolie (MooneyGirl here) spent several years, while the factory was in mothballs, filming, producing, and editing this wonderful tribute to the solid citizens who cared so much about the planes and the people.
• The wonderful Switzerland Inn in Little Switzerland has a very special rate for anyone who comes in Friday or stays over Saturday night. Gary is one of the 5 Mooney owners based @ KMRN.

What else?

 

Please let me know if you think you're coming so we can plan food and set up the meeting room which can handle about 50. I would dearly love to see 40 or more Mooneys here. (A certain Florida MS'er has doubted we'll get there.) Please reply her with your plans including how long you will be here - overnight?, etc.

 

The weather forecast as of this morning for Saturday @KMRN is for cool and clear with 0% chance of rain. High of 50. If that holds true it will be about as good as we can expect in the middle of November.  

[Hank]

Count me in! My wife is a maybe.

[Amelia]

Rob and I hope to arrive Friday afternoon, hire a car, and go see dear old friends up the mountain from Marion for the night. We will spend Saturday Mooneyakking, then aim to get home to the swamp by dark Saturday evening. Looking forward to it!

[carusoam]

New term on MS!!!

mooneyakking

Precious,

-a-

[Bob_Belville]

Wonderful Mimi, we'll be looking for you! Might find a bottle of wine for you to take back to Chowan County.

[Wildhorsesracing]

As long as the forecast stays VFR my wife and I will be there. 

[Bob_Belville]

David, are you all set for ground transportation and lodging?

[Bob_Belville]

I think so ... ?

Jordan says they are running up to Switzerland for us all, and to call the Inn day-of with an updated ETA. She also mentioned Gary will be in sometime Friday by then and also be driving up? Brent also offered the Courtesy car if we had a bunch together needing to go, but I thought to leave the car for someone who may need it.

We should be in late afternoon ... Five-ish.

Tammy and I have never been before and she may need someone to show her around Blowing Rock to help spend our hard earned money? These fly-ins may be more expensive than I anticipated? :-)

Sounds like you've got it covered. I want to make sure everyone has a good time... not sure that extends to sending Nancy shopping though...   

[Amelia]

maybe there will be room to send my nonflying non-girl spouse along on the Blowing Rock trip? He might think that's more fun than plane talk.

[Bob_Belville]

maybe there will be room to send my nonflying non-girl spouse along on the Blowing Rock trip? He might think that's more fun than plane talk.

I should think so. (Nancy says he feel asleep in CarolAnn's pinch hitter session.) 

[Bob_Belville]

Mooneys to the NC Mountains Fly In is coming together for THIS Saturday, November 15. KMRN

 

Schedule:

• 11:00 A.M.: Al Bormuth, FAAST coordinator, will conduct a FAA WINGS program. If you're not in the WINGS program get signed up this week to get credit.
• 11:45 A.M.: A North Carolina BBQ lunch! free courtesy of Foothills Regional Aviation. Brent Brinkley, Manager.
• 12:15 P.M.:Eddie  Price, owner of Carolina Insurance, Forest City, will make a presentation on Aviation Insurance issues. Eddie is a pilot and a serial aircraft owner.
• 1:00 P.M.: Brandon NeSmith, owner of Table Rock Aviation, CFII, land, sea, tail dragger, aerobatics..., will conduct a session on emergency procedures in our Mooneys. Brandon has a great deal of Mooney experience and this will be a do not miss presentation.
• 1:45 P.M. Robbie Greer, owner of Twin Lakes Avionics, will brief us on avionics issues, glass, ADS-B and more. (My panel was done by Robbie 2 years ago and I can recommend them w/o hesitation.).    

You should be able to take in the whole program and get home before dark even if you're coming from some distance!

 

But that's not all:

• We have a 7 passenger courtesy car available is some (ladies?) would like to spend time in Blowing Rock. (If there are more than 7 we'll swipe one of our cars...)
• We have arranged with Thermal Valley.net, based @ KMRN, to be available for a tandem hang gliding experience. Visit http://www.thermalvalley.net/ for details. Larry Falls, the chief pilot of the Dragonfly tow craft is a retired naval carrier pilot and former Mooney owner. Bring warm clothes! (This will only be available if a couple of people let us know they are interested.)
• If folks want to stay Saturday evening we will screen "Boots on the Ground" the story of the men and women who built Mooney Aircraft. Mitch and Jolie (MooneyGirl here) spent several years, while the factory was in mothballs, filming, producing, and editing this wonderful tribute to the solid citizens who cared so much about the planes and the people.
• The wonderful Switzerland Inn in Little Switzerland has a very special rate for anyone who comes in Friday or stays over Saturday night. Gary is one of the 5 Mooney owners based @ KMRN.

Jolie's Mooney Ambassador's banner has a temporary home in the KMRN FBO lobby!

 

The weather forecast as of Wednesday for Saturday @KMRN is for cool and clear with 0% chance of rain. High near 50. Should be VFR for most of you.

Hope to see you here!

[Bob_Belville]

Morganton Weather outlook:

Fri Nov 14  45^° 24^° Sunny Chance of rain: 0%  Wind: NNW at 8 mph Sat Nov 15 47^° 28^° Sunny Chance of rain: 0% Wind: ESE at 3 mph Sun Nov 1653^° 40^°  Partly Cloudy Chance of rain: 20% Wind: S at 5 mph 

We have BBQ ordered for about 70. 

Gary will be providing transportation to Switzerland Inn between 4 & 5 tomorrow afternoon. 

Several plan to go to Blowing Rock.

• 11:45 A.M.: A North Carolina BBQ lunch! free courtesy of Foothills Regional Aviation. Brent Brinkley, Manager.
• 12:15 P.M.: Eddie Price, owner of Carolina Insurance, Forest City, will make a presentation on Aviation Insurance issues. Eddie is a pilot and a serial aircraft owner.
• 1:00 P.M.: Brandon NeSmith, owner of Table Rock Aviation, CFII, land, sea, tail dragger, aerobatics..., will conduct a session on emergency procedures in our Mooneys. Brandon has a great deal of Mooney experience and this will be a do not miss presentation.
• 1:45 P.M. Robbie Greer, owner of Twin Lakes Avionics, will brief us on avionics issues, glass, ADS-B and more. (My panel was done by Robbie 2 years ago and I can recommend them w/o hesitation.).

Y'all come!

[N7186V]

Looks fabulous! My girlfriend wants to watch the Ohio State game at noon if anyone wants to join her. I'm assuming the FBO had a TV in the pilot's lounge.

[N7186V]

Looks fabulous! My girlfriend wants to watch the Ohio State game at noon if anyone wants to join her. I'm assuming the FBO had a TV in the pilot's lounge.

Or that there is a sports bar near the airport.

[Bob_Belville]

Well... our airport is several miles from a sports bar. But there is a TV and couches. We'll work it out.