Trip Planning - Need Fuel/Food stop

[GeorgePerry]

Quote: Seth

Even though a stop is the best way to reduce speed, as Jim mentioned, the biggest speed killer out there, we'll stop whenever she wants to.  She got me these mini F-14 cuff links for Valentines Day!

 

[Seth]

Great Pic George!  It was a sad day when the F-14 was retired. 

[Seth]

Just a quick follow up to thank everyone for their suggestions.  It was a great realxing weekend almost two weeks ago now. 

We departed GAI - Gaithersburg, MD in the morning and and I had planned to make a stop in Brunswick - BQK.  We didn't make it that far and ended up diverting for a restroom break at RBW - Low County Airport in South Carolina.  The clouds hadn't yet formed below us and she could see the coulds in the distance, so she asked for an early bathroom break.  I made a quick easy diversion, we put 20 gallons in (there was no landing fee) and continued.  There were some parachuters over the airport and we got to watch them jump before departing.  As we crossed the weather front in GA we hit some clouds but mainly remained above them.  The clouds had a base around 1500 or 1800 but did facilitate an instrument approach into ISM at Florida.  I'm still amazed at how an autopilot can just fly you down the immaginary WAAS glideslope.  I would have had no problem flying a VOR, LOC, ILS, or NDB approach as I used to in the F all the time, but modern avionics really are, for lack of a better word, cool.

The people at ISM are FANTASTIC - Kissimmee Jet Center.  I would reccomend them to everyone.  Fuel was the cheapest of the entire route - $5.14 I think per gallon, and they didn't charge for three overnight parking days - arrived Friday, left Monday.  The rental car was easy too - pulled right up to the plane and were off driving to the hotel after about 7 minutes from engine shutdown to putting the car into drive.  During preflight on the way out my girlfriend relaxed in the pilot lounge.  The building isn't amazing or anything - it's perefctly adequate, but the service is top notch!

When departing, we saw T-6's and P-51's giving rides at the airport.  I think I managed not to drool too much watching them take off, enter the patter via overhead break and land.  I think my pre-flight took longer just on purpose to watch them.  Some of you may remember my organzied plan to own a T-6 with a group of other pilots at some point . . . one day.  We'll test that out with the Citabria or Decathelon first.

My girlfriend was tired after walking through the parks and slept most of the trip back.  EPCOT does stand for Every Person Comes Out Tired.  We flew non-stop from ISM to GAI in just over four hours.

Again, thank you for all the suggestions.

Take care,

-Seth