Hurricane Charley & Skymaster
 

I was wondering how the Skymaster population in South Florida
fared the storm?

Some aircraft were smashed beyond recognition. This upended hulk is a Cessna Skymaster.

more pictures here
charley

WOW,

I was and still am in Sebastian FL (X26) We thought that Charlie would come our way for shure but in the end we were spaired. My buddy was talking to his insurance adjuster today and seh told him that they had 500 claims form Charly as of this morning.

_travis

Those pics are unbelivable, what destruction!.... .I though thouse hangars could handle 150 MPH. (That is what the ads say on the magazines)

where is truth in advertising this days?

Looks like Florida is going to be visited by Francine.
Hurrican Track

I can remember seeing planes tied to cables on the ground, outside at TMB and MYAT. Given the recent history, I would suspect that planes will leave Florida. Anyone know for sure?

So how many Skymasters were lost to Francis?
Any one knows?

I'm in Miami, so few planes flew out because the storm was further North. Here in Florida, those in the path of the storm who don't have a hangar (or who feel the hangar may fail) typically fly the plane -- either North or South -- away from the path. You don't have to leave Florida, just moving the plane 60-100 miles away is enough. And the Hurricane center has gotten so good at predicting the track based on mathematical models, that you can pick an airport to go to with near-certain assurance that it won't turn and go there.

BTW, to show you how good they can predict the storm path, the figure below shows the prediction of a week ago vs the actual path. I have a small place in a Bahamian island called Great Harbour Cay or GHC (Larry Bowdish has been there with me) which is shown in the figure. Note the uncanny accuracy at GHC, indeed for the whole track.

Ernie

Ernie,
Have you been able to determine how your house at GHC made out?

Yes, Larry, house came out fine. Tiki hut on the beach gone, but that's OK, we'll rebuild it.

Ernie

Good to hear, Ernie.
Looks like you get to deal with another one, though.

Yep. We're hoping that, like Frances, it sticks to the projected center-line track, missing both Miami and all of the Bahamas.

Ernie

new center line track does not look good for south florida.

That track would be the worst news for the keys...

Hope it changes again.

Kevin

This afternoon's projection is for the wind speed to drop from 165 to 145, still a lot. And you are right, Kevin, it will be devastating for the Keys.

You folks are all welcome to come to my house. I think I could probably put 3 skymasters in the hangar.

Larry's Hangar
 

What a kind and generous offer. Further evidence of the great character of our country.

Sounds like I party!
 

Larry, I won't have the plane with me, and although Kalamazoo is a little out of the way, I will still bring the Margaritas - is that OK?

I was going to take my plane to KISM for the summer from the UK, but didn't due to FAA paperwork and other issues. Sure glad I didn't based on what Charlie did to KISM. The Ranger Hangers that came down were one place I considered parking.

This has been a very busy season for storms so far, but I still think the best advice I heard was to move the plane far enough inland to avoid the worst of it.

That or build a bunker for a hanger.

During Charlie, we could hear the trees in the woods behind the house getting blown over, but the hurricane party we were at was actually pretty good. The eye passed about 10 miles west of us.

Nothing like a little excitment on your summer vacation as they say.

It looks like LA and MS are trying to help out Florida. Unfortunately, my wife has been in New Orleans since Saturday, was supposed to be on a NWA flight today (Wednesday). When we decided that wasn't going to happen, she hitched a ride on a King Air. Actually, not hitched, more like bought it for the day. Darn, those are expensive. Now, she wants one.
Only a few more weeks and my dead engine will be replaced.