West Coast Mooney 2016 Get Together LOCATION PREFFERENCE

[FlyDave]

Please select your preferred location

[bonal]

Watsoville and Santa Maria will have possible marine layers might I suggest STS they have a big restaurant at the terminal also LVK has a good sports bar just a couple hundred yards from the transient tie downs at the golf course. Harris would be fine my wife and I have been meaning to add it to our destinations I can round trip it so fuel not an issue and an instrument approach sadly does not apply to me.

[VetRepp]

WVI: Ella's at the airport WVI is American cuisine w/ a lot of Italian specialties. It's not bad at all. The Mexican Restaurant (Zunigas was very good but closed and replaced by Ella's a while back) - If the Sat before (the 9th) worked - it would fall on their second Saturday promotion and fuel would probably be @ $4.00. but likely $5.00 on the Sunday. Rayvon the airport manager is very accommodating and who knows if he knew 25 planes   were coming in, it would be worth a try to ask him to  extend

3o8: Harris Ranch has only 1 runway which is 30ft x 2820ft - Which can sometimes present an interesting landing

(STS is close enough to SFO bay that it can get fogged in often as well, but like most Coastal airports (it's more common in summer than winter to get fogged over))

Food for thought - Pun intended

 

[bonal]

I fly VFR to STS all the time. winter it is less an issue I still think LVK would do good the restaurant at the sports bar/golf club is big enough for a large group and the food is very good also lots of room for a big gaggle of Moonies on the west end parking. But I will go any place as long as the weather permits. Just providing a couple suggestions that I know would likely work.

[FlyDave]

3 hours ago, bonal said:

Watsoville and Santa Maria will have possible marine layers might I suggest STS they have a big restaurant at the terminal also LVK has a good sports bar just a couple hundred yards from the transient tie downs at the golf course. Harris would be fine my wife and I have been meaning to add it to our destinations I can round trip it so fuel not an issue and an instrument approach sadly does not apply to me.

Bonal,

I'm trying to keep it somewhat centrally located. Since STS is 50+ miles north of the bay area it doesn't fit that criteria.

I called Beeb's at LVK and they couldn't accommodate 25-40 people. I don't know how many people are coming - probably won't know until we get there - but we've got to plan for the maximum number of attendees.

Dave

[FlyDave]

3 hours ago, VetRepp said:

WVI: Ella's at the airport WVI is American cuisine w/ a lot of Italian specialties. It's not bad at all. The Mexican Restaurant (Zunigas was very good but closed and replaced by Ella's a while back) - If the Sat before (the 9th) worked - it would fall on their second Saturday promotion and fuel would probably be @ $4.00. but likely $5.00 on the Sunday. Rayvon the airport manager is very accommodating and who knows if he knew 25 planes   were coming in, it would be worth a try to ask him to  extend

3o8: Harris Ranch has only 1 runway which is 30ft x 2820ft - Which can sometimes present an interesting landing

(STS is close enough to SFO bay that it can get fogged in often as well, but like most Coastal airports (it's more common in summer than winter to get fogged over))

Food for thought - Pun intended

 

VetRepp,

Thanks for the clarification - Italian, not Mexican at Ella's at WVI.

Also, they added the LPV approach in the last couple of years. I used to fly there to visit my mother but I never did like the localizer approach!

Dave

[bonal]

Beeps is a pretty big place I'm surprised they can't handle that many. Oh well just a suggestion wherever it's decided is fine by me.

[DaV8or]

Some observations from someone that eats at these places because I really have little else to do with my airplane-

The restaurant at Harris Ranch can easily handle a large party and the food is very good. However, the landing strip and parking there can not. On the upside is, they enjoy 300+ days of sunshine.

Ella's at Watsonville could handle a big group with prior warning, but the airport parking may, or may not be challenging depending on the weekend. The food is excellent but not cheap. It is a very popular and busy airport. The traffic pattern can be very busy and a bit scary on a good weekend. Parking within the designated "transient" parking can also be challenging. They have a marine layer much of the year and in winter the weather can be hit or miss. With the supposed "El Nino" this year it may be a challenge. We shall see...

Pepper Garcia's at Santa Maria is a bit different story. Their ramp can easily handle a big group. No problem parking. The restaurant can handle a big group no problem. The food there is mediocre at best. Not good Mexican, but fairly priced. KSMX gets the marine layer as well and additionally some very windy and gusty days as well, but it is a nice big runaway and they have a crosswind runway.

There are other mid state airport restaurants in California, but it's tough to recommend many that are of note, or able to handle big parties. I am OK with any on the poll, but I think over all, I would pick Ella's @ KWVI.

 

[MB65E]

Whereever is good with me. Never been to Ella's. That'd be fun. 

If the fog is bad, we could default to another location instead of a full up cancel. Options are good.

-Matt

[flight2000]

This is almost as bad as herding cats..... 

Dave, thanks for taking this on. I've been wanting to attend a fly-in for awhile and this is a great chance.  

Brian

[ShermAv8tor]

3 hours ago, bonal said: Watsoville and Santa Maria will have possible marine layers might I suggest STS they have a big restaurant at the terminal also LVK has a good sports bar just a couple hundred yards from the transient tie downs at the golf course. Harris would be fine my wife and I have been meaning to add it to our destinations I can round trip it so fuel not an issue and an instrument approach sadly does not apply to me.

Bonal,

I'm trying to keep it somewhat centrally located. Since STS is 50+ miles north of the bay area it doesn't fit that criteria.

I called Beeb's at LVK and they couldn't accommodate 25-40 people. I don't know how many people are coming - probably won't know until we get there - but we've got to plan for the maximum number of attendees.

Dave

Maybe I missed a previous post.…but…Hard to give suggestions without knowing where approximately the central location is? Also what is the proposed date?

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[MHemperly]

I voted Santa Maria just because I haven't been there. I'll show up wherever as long as it's vfr

[FlyDave]

All,

If you haven't seen my previous topic on this get together, here it is:

http://mooneyspace.com/topic/17236-west-coast-mooney-2016-get-together/

Please post in either my previous topic or this one if you plan to go (January 10) and how many will be in your party.

Thanks,

Dave

[wishboneash]

Definitely not Beebs (LVK) for me. At most I get a high speed taxi. I vote for Santa Maria since I haven't flown there. 2nd choice would be WVI.

[Immelman]

Advection fog (marine layer) is not often a factor in the winter months in WVI.

I cant fly in to Watsonville either.... because I am based there! Its a nice field but the current manager, RW, nice guy as he is, has gone about jacking the fuel up to be about the highest in the region. 2nd Saturday he will match or slightly beat the best self-serv price in 50nm (LVK) so if you can time it then, its reasonable.

 

What happened to SBP?

[xrs135]

11 hours ago, Immelman said:

What happened to SBP?

SBP could not accommodate such a large group of people.

[kortopates]

SBP handled hundreds of us for the CAL Pilots Annual meeting; but I presume your concern is the restaurant there can't accommodate us all.

Have you considered the Radisson's for lunch at SMX? That might be easier than going off field.

[Immelman]

OK understood!!

I have been away from the fly-in scene for some time, and hope to attend but won't mark myself down as a definite (don't worry about accommodating me for food).

One thought - at any event with a huge group for food I've never been able to carry a conversation with more than the 2-3 neighbors closest to me ;-)

[kmyfm20s]

Anybody know a good Taco truck that could come to the field:)? 

[MB65E]

There is a Tri tip guy just down the road from the south county airport (e16)  that would love to have us all I bet.  Awesome food. 

He has a mobile smoker and travels! 

I'll find a name...

 

-Matt

[FlyDave]

7 hours ago, kortopates said:

SBP handled hundreds of us for the CAL Pilots Annual meeting; but I presume your concern is the restaurant there can't accommodate us all.

Have you considered the Radisson's for lunch at SMX? That might be easier than going off field.

Paul,

I did call the "Vintner's Bar and Grill" in The Radisson at SMX and they can accommodate us as well. If we settle on SMX we can choose either place. I'd like to nail this down and start making final arrangements this week.

Dave

[kortopates]

There is a Tri tip guy just down the road from the south county airport (e16)  that would love to have us all I bet.  Awesome food. 

He has a mobile smoker and travels! 

I'll find a name...

 

-Matt

If you are interested in the Tri-tip person, Jolie arranges fly-ins to nearby Oceano using him every May for Airport day and December for Toys for Tots which just happened a couple weeks ago. Oceano is perfect for that option since it has the area to set up and picnic. Plus the airport has tables in a storage hangar there that Jolie uses for those events. Would have to verify with Jolie though to be sure. The other advantage of Oceano is that everyone has free access to the ramp unlike the other nearby options.

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[carusoam]

The Immelman challenge...

Picture yourself hanging out on the ramp with 30 people you know pretty well.  You just haven't physically met them before.  You might recognize their face or their plane, probably a fuzzy avatar memory.  Introducing yourself goes over pretty easily.

The really fun part is some people bring family.  Some family may be really similar to your own.

You may really enjoy the whole thing.

If for some reason you don't get to meet everyone. There will always be a next time.  Your closest Mooney friends will sense any tension you may experience.  Next thing you know, you will be organizing a Mooney fly-in yourself, hoping the whole Mooney world can attend.

My experience may be somewhat unique.  I am only a PP with a passion for a Mooney...

Who's been here on MS longer than Immelman?

Best regards,

-a-

[Bennett]

One of nice things about SMX is that you can taxi right up to the back door of the Raddison. Lots of tie downs, and the hotel rates aren't bad for those who want to stay over a night. Food is not, in my opinion, spectacular, but that's not the reason for the get together. The terminal at SMX has several brands of rental cars for those who might want to stay over and explore the area. Frankly, I don't care where the meet will be held. Just decide soon, and let us know.

[DaV8or]

On December 21, 2015 at 11:31 PM, Immelman said:

I cant fly in to Watsonville either.... because I am based there!

At the designated time, fly the pattern, land and tie down in transient. You have then flown in.  

If there were ever to be such a goofy thing as a fly in to Byron, I would likely do this. I am not right in the head. (FAA spies... I am not the droid you are looking for.)