Memphis!

tonycondon

tonycondon

Gastons CRO (Chief Dinner Reservation Officer)
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Tony
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Im going to be in Memphis February 8,9,10,11. Actually will probably be arriving the 7th evening, leaving on the 11th. The SSA Convention is being held in town and should be a good one.

Ill be flying down with a glider club member in his Cessna 140. No transponder so we'll need to find a good airport outside the Mode C ring. Any suggestions?
 
Who needs a transponder? Jesse wouldn't use one. :D

Several great options but only a couple just outside the ring. Millington would be the best although it's well within. Why not just call and arrange for entry without a transponder? That's such a slow-paced terminal compared to most Class B's.

Christmas weekend, I flew through under IFR. They took me right through at 6,000; no deviation at all. Earlier that day, Atlanta took me nearly twenty miles away from the edge of their outer sector. As it was, I filed with a fix giving me more than ten miles to spare. A huge difference in their operations, apparently. Well, besides traffic load.
 
Might have to do that Kenny. Maybe we can get into international ;)
 
tonycondon said:
Might have to do that Kenny. Maybe we can get into international ;)
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LOL Hey, I heard all of three aircraft on my frequency. One was a med flight (Was it Mari? :) ) One corporate bird was headed into International. The controller gave him his choice... 36L, 36C, 36R. Such a difficult choice! He chose center. I started thinking, had it not been so late, it would have probably been very easy to get clearance for an ILS into MEM. I'd have loved the log entry and the experience in and out. I have one into ATL. Perhaps my next trip through!
 
according to flight aware, from about 0400 to 0800 there are only like 10 operations an hour, not counting VFR, but I doubt there are many of those. from 12-1400 there are only around 20/hr. That would be our departure timeframe. could be fun
 
Tony, MEM is VERY accomdating to GA. I've flown into and out of there VFR without a problem. I'd imagine if you called they would fit you in.
 
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that would be cool, have to check it out
 
I have flown into Olive Branch Mississippi (KOLV) several times which is located about 10m east from KMEM. It's a pretty busy GA airport, over 300 operations a day, and is under the Class B shelf.
 
Tony-

The only airport I've flown into in Memphis is General Dewitt Spain. It is a really nice GA airport with good security and verrrrrry convenient to downtown.They were very accommodating to me in my rental Archer. Good security. You didn't say what part of town your convention is in. But if it is near downtown and you are willing to do the permission thing for the transponder/encoder issue it is the way to go IMHO - that or West Memphis, AR. Outside the mode C? I'd say Covington or Tunica either one will get you a rental car. Actually Tunica (which yes is about 20 feet inside the mode C ring - up to you ;) ) might net you a shuttle to Memphis without a rental.
 
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Panola County (PMU) is just outside Batesville, Ms and is right on the interstate. You're 30 minutes drive from Memphis and outside the B. Obviously that's to the south; I didn't see which direction you're arriving from.

Edit: ok you're coming from the north. I'm not familiar with that side of the circle, but it looks like Covington (M04) and Fayette Co (FYE) are both on the north side and near 4-lane highway. Depends on what part of Memphis you're going to.
 
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alaskaflyer said:
Tony-

The only airport I've flown into in Memphis is General Dewitt Spain. It is a really nice GA airport with good security and verrrrrry convenient to downtown.They were very accommodating to me in my rental Archer. Good security. You didn't say what part of town your convention is in. But if it is near downtown and you are willing to do the permission thing for the transponder/encoder issue it is the way to go IMHO - that or West Memphis, AR. Outside the mode C? I'd say Covington or Tunica either one will get you a rental car. Actually Tunica (which yes is about 20 feet inside the mode C ring - up to you ;) ) might net you a shuttle to Memphis without a rental.
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I think its going to be at the Marriott Downtown. Ive got now worries calling ahead to get into the Mode C. Thanks!
 
Future Memphis Area glider pilots:

A Glider Pilot Ground School will be taking place during the convention. The flyer for it is attached. Remember, if you are a Private Pilot, you do not have to take a knowledge exam to add on Private Glider. However, this would be an excellent way to get all the glider specific knowledge out of the way before you start lessons this spring. Plus you could come to the convention which promises to be really good this year! The Vintage Sailplane Association will have several classic gliders on display to help celebrate the SSA's 75th Anniversary. The speaker list is looking to be top notch and the people are always great! Hope to see you there.
 

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Ok Ill be in the MEM area from Feb 7th evening until 11th morning. Anyone else going to be able to make it? SSA Convention is a great place to get intro'd to soaring. Its the SSAs 75th anniversary and a bunch of vintage gliders will be on display along with the hottest new ships from Europe. The speaker list looks to be top notch and the people are always great.
 
What time you heading south on the 7th? If you get close to KUUV( Sullivan, MO) let me know, fuel is around 3.00 here and 2.95 at UBX( Cuba, MO). I work Wednesday, but should be around in the afternoon.
 
I have a test at 9 AM, done at 10. we will be leaving after that, hopefully by 11 AM. In a Cessna 140 so it will be slow going. I cant remember where we were planning a fuel stop at but PM me your phone number and Ill call if we stop close.
 
Dean tells me there is a neglected Pawnee and 2-33 sitting in a hanger behind his at Sullivan.

MM
 
MEM is very GA friendly, have been there several times. Wilson air treats you very well. Will probably park you in the BACK though if you are leaving the plane for more than a few minutes.
Don't try to leave when Fed Ex is leaving, fun to watch but not fun sitting in line to get out. (BTDT, once).
Try Jimmy's Interstate BBQ, it is GREAT!
 
yea we wont be going into MEM. the airplane is transponderless. I called MEM tracon the other day and the guy tried to tell me that mode C was only required in the Bravo. whatever, i guess I know their rules better than they do. Radio on the plane is marginal as well so Im not even sure we will be able to get MEM approach from outside the ring to get permission in to land at the airport we want. May end up at an airport up the road from where we would like, but outside mode C ring.
 
Kennet, Missouri is another good fuel stop -- constantly has cheapest fuel available enroute from here to Alabama. Also, if ya'll get hungry for some grub along the way, bump over to Sikeston (KSIK) and check out Lambert's. They'll get you in-and-out fast and the food is REALLY good. Although, in the 140 might have to watch your W&B afterwards. ;)

Have fun and take pictures! :D
 
CJones said:
Kennet, Missouri is another good fuel stop -- constantly has cheapest fuel available enroute from here to Alabama. Also, if ya'll get hungry for some grub along the way, bump over to Sikeston (KSIK) and check out Lambert's. They'll get you in-and-out fast and the food is REALLY good. Although, in the 140 might have to watch your W&B afterwards. ;)

Have fun and take pictures! :D
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oh yea will do. one major consideration is range on the 140. im pretty sure we'll be stopping in centralish MO due to that. 85-90 knots for 4 hours still doesnt get you far!
 
Dean-
Our planned fuel stop is Cuba, MO. Unless fuel is cheaper in Sullivan. Ill call you when we get there.
 
Ok looks like the weather is going to be good for us. worst forecast ceilings for route are at Memphis and they are looking at 3000 feet. Tailwinds should put our groundspeed over 100 knots, woohoo! Looking forward to hopefully seeing some POAers along the way. Dean, we'll be stopping in Cuba for gas probably around 130 or 200 PM. Steve, probably in Memphis around 400 PM. I'll call you before we leave Cuba.
 
Just got word that Tony and Matthew S arrived safely in Memphis in the C-140.

MM
 
Tony called when they got to Cuba, but I was 80 miles away and wouldn't be home for a couple hours. He said they would try and stop Sunday on the way back. Sorry I missed them:(
 
When Tony called and said he was in Cuba I thought he had overshot his destination....:rolleyes:

I really wanted be on the ramp when he landed at Memphis, but two things played against it. 1) Although it was good VFR here and there, there was a lingering band of low overcast midway between making about half the trip MVFR. 2) I had to be at an airport commission meeting at 7pm tonight. No IAPs available at my home airport and I didn't want to chance a layer after sunset.

Weeks of no conflicts and then when I really wanted to be somewhere aviation related (soaring convention) I'm previously committed everyday of the activity. arggh:( :(

I'll just have to save some pennies and fly further north next time.B)
 
The trip was fantastic. Trip down was smooth. Stopped in Cuba, MO for 3 dollar a gallon gas. No weather was encountered although forecasts were calling for 3000 foot ceilings at MEM. Clear skies were abound. Its probably a good thing you didnt try to meet us at Baker Steve. We had to stop in Osceola, AR and call Memphis Approach on the phone to get permission into the Mode C veil. Didnt get in until sunset. The convention was amazing. We got to talk to Dick Johnson, famed glider flight test pilot, Dick Vangrunsven, of RV fame, who used to fly a glider like mine. Also got to visit with lots of friends made during last years convention. I found a lead on finding some info I was looking for on the glider, so that was exciting. The presentations I went to were generally good. Shawn Knickerbockers talk about cloud flying in his Nimbus 3 with 26 meter wingspan and a Dynon 10A EFIS (picture attached) was outstanding. A program about the flight test program at Mississippi State's aerospace department was pretty cool. George Moffat, former World Champion talked about landing out, and a great presentation was given on flying your first contest. My friend with the C-140, Matt S, had arranged our housing with some longtime friends of his. He is a former glider tower and cropduster, now flies Trikes and gliders, and is an A&P for FedEX. We had a wonderful time watching aviation videos and visiting with them. Trip home was equally good. Forecasts for Iowa this morning were not good. Des Moines was forecasting 1500 OVC during our arrival window. We expected to encounter lowering ceilings by Northern MO. After letting the sun melt the frost of the wings we were off. We stopped in Cuba again for gas but they werent open until 12:30 and it was 10:30. We went down the road to Rolla/Vichy and got our tanks full. There were several dilapidated DC-3's sitting around which was cool and sad. Pictures attached. Trip back into Iowa was a non event. Forecasts were seriously broken, DSM was reporting 11000 OVC as we went by. Ames was clear. Total round trip was 10.5 in Matts beautiful Cessna 140. He has now realized the utility even his "slow" airplane has and that yes, even he can fly around the country in it. He claimed I was the extra "margin of safety" for him that made the trip possible. I responded I was simply the ballast that gave him the courage.

Also included are a couple nice shots of the amazing sailplanes that were on display. Many Vintage gliders were there celebrating the SSA's 75th anniversary and boy were they nice!
 

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Sorry we couldn't get together this weekend, Tony. I know I would have enjoyed the convention.

I was flying back from Columbus this afternoon and heard the Central MS Soaring Society on Jackson Approach out towing their gliders.

They're based here:

http://www.airnav.com/airport/MS08

Might have to drop in for a visit.
 
Go for it Steve. They may not have hard points, but gliding really is just cool. If you havent already, go to the SSA's website www.ssa.org and check out the Where to Fly tool. Looks like that club has a Blanik L13, like the one you will fly at the end of March, and a PW-5, which is a pretty cool single seater that Chris Wyckham and Matt have flown.
 
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