201er's Caribbean Adventure #3: Cuba

[201er]

Tomorrow morning I embark on yet another expedition to the Caribbean in my 201ER. Follow along as I head out to the lovely long prohibited nation of Cuba

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N4361H

 

And if that doesn't work you can follow my spot daily:

http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0qx3v8UKt3rtQecIVYYZyf39kIpQSWBMk

Edited November 18, 2016 by 201er

[takair]

Wow, what an adventure.  Definitely on my bucket list.  Are they accepting tourism now?  Did you have to jump through a lot of hoops?  Have a safe trip. Look forward to your trip reports.

[gsxrpilot]

My wife and I went there last summer. But we flew commercial. It's easy to go, no hoops to jump through. But you gotta go now before all the Americans get down there and cover it all up with Starbucks, KFC and Walmart.

[gsxrpilot]

@201er If you want to spend a great day touring old Havana, let me help you out. Private guides are illegal in Cuba. All guides must be government employees. One profession where private enterprise is allowed is Photography. We connected with this guy named Yosel who is an excellent guide, but gets around the regs by carrying a nice Camera and knowing how to use it. The best day we spent in Cuba was the day we spent seeing the city with Yosel.  And as a bonus, the next morning he stopped by and dropped off a CDRom with all the photos he'd taken of us in and around Havana the day before.  He has a degree in English and speaks it fluently without even an accent. Check him out if you have the time. You'll be glad you did.

The tour guide/photographer we used in Cuba is named Yosel. His website is http://ilovecuba.webs.com He speaks perfect fluent English and we had a wonderful time touring old Havana with him.

[Marauder]

Say hello to Jerry5TJ while you're there. He is there now.


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[Oscar Avalle]

Enjoy!!!!

[yvesg]

I go to Cuba almost every winter... with the airlines. I am planning to do it with my Mooney whenever they are organized to receive private aircraft without charging an arm and a leg. I attended some webinars where some organized groups (mostly USA aircraft) would go there but the price was not right to take part in. I hope Mike has found a way to get there that is acceptable.

For $1000 USD per person I can get a package that includes the airfare from Montreal or Toronto, hotel, food included all this for a week. Flying there and back with my aircraft costs about $1500 just in fuel. Add the hotel and food, time to travel and you can see that if handling fees are significant, this would make it a much more expensive deal... but I really want to do it at some point whenever things align properly.

Attaboy Mike!

Yves

[Danb]

13 minutes ago, bluehighwayflyer said:

I'd guess that he uses about 8 GPH LOP at that speed. I do the same. 

Yep with Mikes L/R tanks and running lop his range is enormous,

Good Luck Mike

[kris_adams]

Very cool!  Following along!

 

[yvesg]

Looks like he cancelled IFR. He is going straight and at 8500 feet. His ground feet is very good for 8GPH

Yves

[peevee]

I love watching people on flight aware for some reason. When one of the other owners takes our plane somewhere I always watch too, and I think they watch me.

[Guest]

49 minutes ago, yvesg said:

Looks like he cancelled IFR. He is going straight and at 8500 feet. His ground feet is very good for 8GPH

Yves

Yves,

His "ground feet" is way because the parrots are flying.

Clarence

[peevee]

definitely don't think I could wring 1100+ miles out of our plane.

[Piloto]

Hope he brings tools and spares.

[peevee]

it's cuba, those guys can fix anything with some bailer twine and duct tape. Just look at their cars.

[Piloto]

Mooneys are not as common as B737s. So the logistics for a broken Mooney are a little bit more difficult. I always carry tools and some spares when travelling abroad. In one instance I end up giving a hand and spares to a fellow stranded Navajo GA pilot at LPAZ (Azores). Be prepared.

José

[yvesg]

1 hour ago, M20Doc said:

Yves,

His "ground feet" is way because the parrots are flying.

Clarence

Have no clue why speed got written as feet! Those nasty French Canadians!

Yves

[Amelia]

I flew my 231 there last December. The flight should have been easy from KEYW, but got vectored around Hell's half acre into horrendous thunderstorms, landed at José Martí Indernational Airportwith 500 feet to spare, in hard rain. Was informed I was the first woman PIC, and the first Mooney231 to land at Havana..They keep score,  Was escorted into Paperwork Central by our own private minder, and eventually joined our "Cultural Exchange" group for a whirlwind long weekend, mostly in old Havana. Friendly folk, everybody but the security types, bless em. Private enterprise were mostly artists, restaurateurs, and taxi drivers. And of course, the ladies selling companionship. Most Cubans speak passable English, and catch them in an unguarded moment, they want to talk. The economics there border on the incomprehensible. Two currencies, no ATMs, Not a shopper's mecca., Once past the bureaucracy, it isn't expensive, but landing and departure fees were high. Loved my experience, would definitely go again, but on my own next time, with time on my own to explore the countryside. My departure was funny. Pilots, but not pax, were told to go preflight for departure, and I picked up my flight bag. A guard blocked my way and wagged his index finger at this abuela who smiled sweetly, and said in Spanglish, "yo soy piloto," brandishing my name tag and my keys. The poor dear couldn't wrap his head around that weirdness, and had to have it officially confirmed.  That same scenario happened twice more on the way to the airplane, and the young minder assigned to me was the most incredulous of all. Eventually I think I won her over, because she turned around as we taxied out, and gave me a broad wink and thumbs up.

I wonder how things might have changed in the intervening year. Looking forward to reading the report! 

[peevee]

43 minutes ago, Hyett6420 said:

he is nearly there, which brings up an interesting point.  Yes he has long range tanks which means he can fly for a long time, BUT then surely after a 6.something flight are you not dog tired and not much use in the landing phase.  I know if i do 5 hours flights, i REALLY have to speed up in the last 30-45 minutes to get back upto speed again.  I liken it a bit like driving for hours on the interstate (boring and not much concentration needed) to then turning  and entering downtown Chicago in the rush hour.  Completely different type of driving and concentration needed.

Andrew

 

PS did he stop off at Jackonsville for fuel?  His flight plan seems to have changed recently.

must have. Pee break?

Edited November 18, 2016 by peevee

[peevee]

wonder if he's carrying a raft.

[carusoam]

I'm watching as well...  looks like he is about to go offshore.

Speaking of watching...  I saw a program on CNBC regarding capitalism beginning to flourish in Cuba.  Look up 'The Profit' where Marcus Limonis visits with a couple private business owners.

The government is strange, but the people are often very educated and very nice.  A Month's pay is tiny. I have had the opportunity to do some business in the Carribean.  The people are wonderful.

Mike did you take the wife and kid this time, or the Dad, or a parrot?  Somebody?

Best regards,

-a-

[Piloto]

I thought he was going to Havana to find Lola at the Copacabana.

 

[thinwing]

Just now, Piloto said:

I thought he was going to Havana to find Lola at the Copacabana.

Nope..wrong city..he is going to visit Teddy Rosevelts charge up San Juan hill...wonder if he packed xtra pants?

 

[thinwing]

Just now, Hyett6420 said:

i watched a program once on a lady who swam or tried to swim from Cuba to Florida, the first time she tried it she was stung all over her face by jellyfish which swim LOTS in those waters.  Interesting how different waters give different reasons for a life raft, down there Jellyfish and sharks, where i live, its just fucking cold (+/- 1 C) (thats supposed to be a cold Emoji)

Yeah just imagine how those hurricane/spit pilots felt about parachuting or ditching in the channel in 1940

[carusoam]

Andrew, I'll take 70's trivia....

Look up Dianna Nyad for her 90 mile swim attempt.  I believe she finished it on a second attempt...

Best regards,

-a-