2012 Fly In

[billsheila]

Just one point of clarification for folks regarding the rooms -- we reserved a block of rooms for the "SOAPA 2012 Fly-in" but people will have to call the Inn on their own (phone number available via the link) to reserve their room. They have a variety of rooms available with views, balconies, hot tubs, whatever you want, also at a variety of prices. It may also be worth noting that the room rates all include a full hot breakfast each morning and an "afternoon tea" (to the extent we are around and not out exploring/flying).


Lastly, the Inn has requested that guests please confirm their rooms as soon as practicable, so that they are best able to accomodate everyone's specific requests of room type and so forth.

Thanks,
Bill Taylor

[hharney]

My partner in the Twin Comanche will be flying the Hudson next week and will get some real live experience with the adventure. I may send a GoPro with him to document it and then share with this message board. He will be flying out of Teterboro (see charts below).

Here is a link to the VFR Terminal and the back of the chart has the VFR corridor layout.

http://aeronav.faa.gov/index.asp?xml.../chartlist_tac

Here is great video presentation that was at SNF in 2007. After reviewing this it, I can see it will be really exciting to experience this adventure. Join us at SOAPA 2012

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3u_x6qhut0

[awilps]

Hi all,
Fairly new to SOAPA, as we just started operating O-2's last year. I'm really excited to hear about this gathering, especially since it is basically in our backyard! Hope to be able to join you, flight schedule permitting.

I can also HIGHLY recommend Survival Systems...all of our crews have gone through it for overwater operations. Indeed, intense, but very rewarding and changed the way I personally fly and equip forever.

See ya soon I hope!

[Dale Campbell]

Hi Larry,
Sounds like a good meeting location. I Always wanted to do the flight down the Hudson, but since the Towers came down, I figured it was not possible. Sounds like fun with a group of 337's. Count me in for now. I did not run that by the wife yet.
Dale

[Dale Campbell]

Hi Larry,
Do you have any information on the hotels or dates of meetings and the day of the Hudson river flight yet. Dale

[billsheila]

Dale;
The detailed itinerary will be coming out later this week. Stay tuned it is going to be a whopper...seriously, we are working to finalize a few things and then will get it all posted soon. We are working hard to make it fun and also keep the costs reasonable. In the meantime, I suggest you book your hotel directly with the Inn per the information in the leading post to this thread. The arrival should be for Wednesday as the meeting and activities will begin bright and early on Thursday morning, followed by stuff on Friday and Saturday, with departures for home any time Saturday PM at your discretion.

Will be back to you soon with the final details.

Bill and Ken.

[billsheila]

Fellow SOAPA members;
Please accept this apology in getting the final details for our New England Fly-In published and posted. Ken and I hope that despite the delay, you will be pleased with the activities we have set up and be able to join us all in New England for our late summer/early fall rendezvous.

Please refer to the itinerary below and also the EARLIER POSTING with details for booking the hotel accomodations that have been set aside at the Inn at Mystic.

We have attempted to keep the registration costs to a minimum and will not be renting a SOAPA van. Much stuff is walkable from the Inn and when we go for our fly out adventures and other excursions we can hire local cabs which we feel will be easier and likely cheaper overall. Cost per head will be $75 each. This will include the boat tour, Danbury cookout, and miscellaneous expenses for SOAPA. Your room rate (which includes breakfast and afternoon tea to the extent we are around), cabs, airport parking fee (if any....still under discussion) and outside meals at restaurants etc will be at your expense.

Please note that the specific details on the boat excursion are still being finalized along with the Danbury cookout, so these items may be subject to modification depending on a few factors.

Any questions about the event please post and also please send your registration via email confirmation to Larry or post here in reply and Larry will help keep a count. We will take registration money upon arrival, so please don't be SOAPA deadbeats and say you will come and then don't show -- or the opposite -- ie wait till the day of the event and then show up!!! It will make it hard on us trying to plan some of the events without a reasonably clear headcount.

Once again. we appreciate the short notice here and Ken and I are really sorry for the delay in getting this out, but life has gotten in the way of SOAPA for both of us and this has just taken more time to get organized than we would have liked.

We look forward to seeing you!!!

SOAPA New England
EVENT ITINERARY

Wed September 5th PM folks arrive at Groton Airport KGON (Columbia Air)
Wed PM -- come as you are, SOAPA “shoot the bull” session at the Inn at Mystic

Thursday September 6th - EVENT OFFICIALLY STARTS
7:30 – 8:30 AM - Breakfast provided with room rate Inn at Mystic
8:30 – 10:00 AM – SOAPA Business Meeting
10:00 –10:15 AM – mid morning break
10:15 – 11:30 AM – Paul Rooy and Mary Lightfine, South America Skymaster Tour
Noon – Lunch at Floodtide Restaurant, Inn at Mystic (self paid)

1:30PM -- Ditching Discussion at Survival Systems Inc, Groton, CT
3:00PM – 3:30 PM -- Hudson River “Laby Liberty Tour” Briefing Session
3:30PM – Walking and Sightseeing tour of Mystic area.
5:00PM – Refreshments at an establishment of our choosing followed by select seafood dinner feast (…or whatever you want).

Friday September 7th
7:30 – 8:30 AM – Breakfast (provided with room rate)
9:00 – 9:30 AM – taxi shuttle to Groton Airport (self/shared payment)
10:00 AM – Departure from Groton land KPOU (for regroup)
10:45 AM – Depart for Hudson River Corridor "Lady Liberty" fly-out
11:30 AM – Heading north out of Corridor
12:15 PM – Land at Danbury Airport KDXR for Lunch New England Style “Pilot’s Cookout”
2:30 PM – Depart for Groton KGON…landing 3:30 or so (taxis back to Inn at Mystic)
5:45 PM – “Popeye” boat tour out of Mystic Harbor area c/w refreshments
6:30ish PM -- Dinner at "Skipper's Dock", Stonington, CT
8:00 PM -- Boat Cruise back to Mystic

Saturday September 8th
7:30 AM – 8:30 AM – Breakfast (provided with room rate)
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM – check out/taxis to Groton Airport
10:30 AM -- Visit Red Tails exhibit at Groton Airport
Lunch (to be determined)

Saturday PM activities at your discretion:
Groton Naval Sub Base
Mohegan Sun Casino
Other ideas?

Depart for home at your discretion Saturday PM or Sunday AM (book your room accordingly!)