It’s Todays Flight for 2025

[Ibra]

8 hours ago, Ragsf15e said:

This is what Washington looks like right now

Such days are a pain: you go “vmc-on-top” to find the sun, then you find another layer above !

You have more guarantees when paying for “UV session” 

[Ibra]

Short flights to Chantilly racecourse and Reims-en-Champagne (LFQA) for visit of Vranken Pommery champagne caves 

Edited September 29 by Ibra

[Mooney in Oz]

The tunnel colours and lights of the city are like magic.

[Jerry 5TJ]

Nice flights in a J yesterday between Baltimore and Long Island.  Good thing we departed Republic VFR as there were 25 IFR departures in the sequence because of the Ryder Cup.  We “only” waited 35 minutes. 
 

[N201MKTurbo]

On 9/6/2025 at 9:20 AM, N201MKTurbo said:

I was having dinner with my wife last night and said we should go somewhere this weekend. She said that sounds great. So I reserved a hotel in Grover’s Beach CA.

We got up this morning, packed a bag and headed to the airport. This is what I Found:

I knew they were going to work on the ramp, I thought they were just going to seal the cracks. Oh, well.

They now say there will be a usable ramp this Friday.

[Stubby]

It was a beautiful day up north yesterday. Record breaking highs today, then possible freezing temps by Sunday.

[Ibra]

Week-end trip from Rouen (LFOP) to Saumur (LFOD), the hardest bit was  climb to 2000ft as it was windy (storm Amy), however, we know the worst was behind and we were flying toward nicer weather.

On return the windsock has given up indicating ! 

[bonal]

Yesterday my CFI friend and I took a short flight to LVK for an AOPA town hall.  The turnout was a full house the new CEO made a very nice presentation first about his history in GA and then a pretty detailed list of issues that they are focusing on for the coming year.  It’s very clear that he has a real commitment to the GA community.  Weather was perfect for our flight except for a real strong headwind for the flight home mostly no better than mid one twenties miles per hour ground speed but surprisingly smooth nevertheless.  He flew the P51 pictured below.  Another famous attendee was Julie Clark in her beautiful 34 sadly I was the only Mooney on the ramp.

[exM20K]

Southern end of the Smokies starting to get some color.

-dan

[exM20K]

How about some airplane noise? Sort repositioning flight. Note the new Vector Plane Pass equipment in the thumbnail. 

-dan

 

[N201MKTurbo]

The wife and I flew to San Luis Obispo on Sunday. I was originally going to land at Oceanio, but I got a good deal on a rental car at SBP. On line people were saying there was county transient parking by the tower. While I was taxiing in I told ground that I wanted to go to transient parking. The ground controller said I could only park there for 2 hours. And the only overnight parking was at the FBO. So I taxied over to ACI. They were very nice and treated me well. When I went to leave they said the parking  for 4 days was $195! WTF!? I was mad as hell. I said The comments on line said parking was $12 per night. They said it would have been $12 if I would have parked in transient parking. ??? I said the tower said that was not possible. They succumbed to my complaining and didn’t charge me a ramp fee, so it only cost $40 per night to park on their ramp.

I will never deal with ACI ever again and I won’t be going back to SLO cal.

[Hank]

5 hours ago, N201MKTurbo said:

So I taxied over to ACI. They were very nice and treated me well. When I went to leave they said the parking  for 4 days was $195! WTF!? I was mad as hell.

I will never deal with ACI ever again and I won’t be going back to SLO cal.

I feel your pain. I helped my mother in law moved from FAY (Ft. Bragg) down to Sweet Home recently, the website says nothing. My last visit at Christmas, parking was $50/night, so imagine my surprise to find it's now $100/night "due to the size of your plane." Fortunately I won't have to ever go back!

[Thedude]

On 10/16/2025 at 10:27 PM, N201MKTurbo said:

The wife and I flew to San Luis Obispo on Sunday. I was originally going to land at Oceanio, but I got a good deal on a rental car at SBP. On line people were saying there was county transient parking by the tower. While I was taxiing in I told ground that I wanted to go to transient parking. The ground controller said I could only park there for 2 hours. And the only overnight parking was at the FBO. So I taxied over to ACI. They were very nice and treated me well. When I went to leave they said the parking  for 4 days was $195! WTF!? I was mad as hell. I said The comments on line said parking was $12 per night. They said it would have been $12 if I would have parked in transient parking. ??? I said the tower said that was not possible. They succumbed to my complaining and didn’t charge me a ramp fee, so it only cost $40 per night to park on their ramp.

I will never deal with ACI ever again and I won’t be going back to SLO cal.

I'm based on KSBP, I didn't realize they limited transient parking time now, that's really frustrating. There have been a number of changes going on here and there's so much more big private traffic now (where the hell are all these gulfstreams and challengers coming from??), I have to assume that's why aci thinks they can charge on arm and a leg.

[bonal]

1 hour ago, Thedude said:

I'm based on KSBP, I didn't realize they limited transient parking time now, that's really frustrating. There have been a number of changes going on here and there's so much more big private traffic now (where the hell are all these gulfstreams and challengers coming from??), I have to assume that's why aci thinks they can charge on arm and a leg.

Welcome to the hotel California 

[N201MKTurbo]

It doesn’t bother me that ACI charges what they do. It is a free country, they can do what they want. What bugs me is there is no option and they don’t post their rates. How are we supposed to make decisions about our flying? Since when is parking more than fuel? 
 

There were quite a few unused tie downs on the GA side of the runway. They could easily have designated some of those as transient parking. I would have happily Ubered to the other side to get my car.

[MikeOH]

Reading experiences like this one is why I ALWAYS call the FBO ahead of time to find out what ALL their fees will be.  If there is 'no other choice', including using a different airport, at least I don't get an unexpected surprise.

[toto]

2 hours ago, MikeOH said:

Reading experiences like this one is why I ALWAYS call the FBO ahead of time to find out what ALL their fees will be.  If there is 'no other choice', including using a different airport, at least I don't get an unexpected surprise.

I do the same, but via email. I want the fees in writing. 

[Marc_B]

Chasing storms yesterday from Austin to Florida. Wound up stopping in New Orleans and Tallahassee cause the Mooney was moving faster than the front!  Alaska and a couple other commercial aircraft were landing at TLH to go to Million Air as they were having a sale on fuel…plus wx to Tampa and Orlando was blocked. Florida Flow Control I’ll bet was lit yesterday.

”If you have time to spare go by air” indeed. 10a arrival turned to a 7p arrival, but my ride was smooth and the Mooney stayed dry.  Modern weather tools are really pretty incredible.

PS. KNEW is a fav…first rate FBO (Flightline First), good fuel prices and fun airport to fly into right on Lake Pontchartrain.  Put it on your list if you’re in the area and give yourself an excuse to check out NOLA  

[exM20K]

58 minutes ago, Marc_B said:

TLH to go to Million Air as they were having a sale on fuel

Wow: $2.95 showing in foreflight for SS 100LL.  I'm in and out of TLH a bit, and that Millionaire has been one of the more expensive outfits in this part of FL ($7-8 fuel, $40 ramp fee etc.)  Glad to see they've cut those prices and hope it persists.

-dan

[dkkim73]

8 hours ago, Marc_B said:

Chasing storms yesterday from Austin to Florida. Wound up stopping in New Orleans and Tallahassee cause the Mooney was moving faster than the front!  Alaska and a couple other commercial aircraft were landing at TLH to go to Million Air as they were having a sale on fuel…plus wx to Tampa and Orlando was blocked. Florida Flow Control I’ll bet was lit yesterday.

”If you have time to spare go by air” indeed. 10a arrival turned to a 7p arrival, but my ride was smooth and the Mooney stayed dry.  Modern weather tools are really pretty incredible.

PS. KNEW is a fav…first rate FBO, good fuel prices and fun airport to fly into right on Lake Pontchartrain.  Put it on your list if you’re in the area and give yourself an excuse to check out NOLA  

Great story, PIREP, and pics! 

[Ibra]

Flew with co-owner to Shoreham (EGKA) in UK before returning to France at night after TCUs have vanished. Clouds are easy to spot on halloween full moons 

[dkkim73]

5 hours ago, Ibra said:

Flew with co-owner to Shoreham (EGKA) in UK before returning to France at night after TCUs have vanished. Clouds are easy to spot on halloween full moons 

@Ibra That looks like a NASA photo or a Christmas card! Some of these night+cloud flights are magical. I remember flying home between layers with the moonlight overhead, returning from my IFR checkride in Minnesota; such a great feeling and a great memory. 

You and Sue and Matthias will have to have a European Mooney Moon Photo contest.