Simviation Forums

Went up for a quick rental checkout today, with a very affable older gentleman named Armand.
He took it real easy on me, whis is good and bad, I guess... but we did the usual: some steep turns, MCA, stalls... a t&g and a full stop.
Pretty good despite 8 weeks of rust, blustery crosswind, and being fairly out-of-whack in the strange new airport area.

No in-flight shots this time, but here are some snaps from the airport:


     


The airport sits on a sandbar, basically- right in Hillsborough Bay. The Davis Island Yacht Club shares the island with the airport , some nice homes, and a few shops.

     


Maybe next time I come I'll get a better shot of this Navion, done up in Luftwaffe colors...




A sweet little AA-5:

     


Some lady offered to take my picture... not a banana-hammock shot, but why not. Note the Bonanza...

     


I'm almost definitely going to make another flight while I'm here- probably next Sunday, although if we have a short work day this week I might make a quick hop in the pattern or something during the week. I'll take some pics from the air then... very nice scenery around here.

Excellent.

Some lady offered to take my picture... not a banana-hammock shot, but why not.

There is a God!

Maybe next time I come I'll get a better shot of this Navion, done up in Luftwaffe colors...

Are you sure that's a Navion? Looks like a Focke-Wulf/Piaggio P149 to me (explaining the Luftwaffe bias)...

Nice shots Sean...

We have a "fly-in" community in my town, and I swear I saw a single-engine prop plane done in Luftwaffe colors, looked almost like a FW-190.

Maybe next time I come I'll get a better shot of this Navion, done up in Luftwaffe colors...

Are you sure that's a Navion? Looks like a Focke-Wulf/Piaggio P149 to me (explaining the Luftwaffe bias)...

Nice shots Sean...

Woopsy-doodle... you're right: according to the FAA site, it is a Focke-Wulf.

Great shots, Sean!!

 You need to get to the beach and get a little color on those legs!!

   Looks like your having a good time!!

 


 Remember Bikinis,  Not banana hammocks!!!!!!

Woopsy-doodle... you're right: according to the FAA site, it is a Focke-Wulf.

I googled N53043 to confirm my suspicions... Used to be a Boeing Stearman and a C-172 amongst other things...

We have a "fly-in" community in my town, and I swear I saw a single-engine prop plane done in Luftwaffe colors, looked almost like a FW-190.

It may have been one of these:

http://www.warbuddies.homestead.com/FW190.html

We have a "fly-in" community in my town, and I swear I saw a single-engine prop plane done in Luftwaffe colors, looked almost like a FW-190.

It may have been one of these:

http://www.warbuddies.homestead.com/FW190.html

It wasn't actually a FW-190, just done in the paintschemes of several i've seen.  If it was one i'd be flipping out and coming back with a camera later.  ;)

Great shots Sean...

Sean you rascal...you posted that shot of yourself in the wonderful warm sun knowing full well it is minus nineteen here (without the windchill), snow squalls and another snow storm on it's way today.  :)    ;D

We do so love the winter but we also like sunny, bright and calm winter days...hope we see one soon as cabin feaver might set in.    ::)    ;D LMAO
The last month seems like we have a nice morning and then bing bam boom we get snow squalls, high winds, (very high winds) and the sun goes off to another universe.  

If you get a chance let us know the rental costs down there for a Cessna 172 and if you can or you see a later model for sale of the same can you give me an asking price?

Have fun!

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

Oh, yeah by the Sean we have a major storm headed our way today!!  You know Snow, sleet, wind and maybe change to freezing rain for a bit.  Looks like a good time for you to be in Tampa!!  
You lucky S.O.B.!!  

 Keep the pictures coming!!  At least looking at the warmer weather might make me feel a little better!!

 Cory

Great shots Sean...

Sean you rascal...you posted that shot of yourself in the wonderful warm sun knowing full well it is minus nineteen here (without the windchill), snow squalls and another snow storm on it's way today.  :)    ;D

We do so love the winter but we also like sunny, bright and calm winter days...hope we see one soon as cabin feaver might set in.    ::)    ;D LMAO
The last month seems like we have a nice morning and then bing bam boom we get snow squalls, high winds, (very high winds) and the sun goes off to another universe.  

If you get a chance let us know the rental costs down there for a Cessna 172 and if you can or you see a later model for sale of the same can you give me an asking price?

Have fun!

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

To answer the first question:
I've only investigated Atlas Aviation at Peter O. Knight; a very well-equipped school/FBO with a nice selection of aircraft for rent. The 1979 N-model 'hawk I flew was not bad at all; old radios but new tires... you know, just right.
Spare me some typing and visit their website: prices shown there. I'd imagine their fees are about average for an urban area in this state- there are a gajillion little fields down here, though, and I'm sure one can rent almost anything at almost any price. But if you ever fly down to Tampa, KTPF is the place to stop- very very close to downtown and all major highways. Plenty of parking spaces, and maybe hangar space for transients.

http://www.atlasaviationinc.com/

For more info on other airports, try a search of the state of Florida here:

http://www.airnav.com/

Most rental outfits will be listed for each airport.

Second question: Look here for starters...

http://www.trade-a-plane.com/index.shtml

Meanwhile, I'll keep an eye out... I may go to a local fly-in breakfast next Saturday; I'll ask around.

We have a "fly-in" community in my town, and I swear I saw a single-engine prop plane done in Luftwaffe colors, looked almost like a FW-190.

It may have been one of these:

http://www.warbuddies.homestead.com/FW190.html

It wasn't actually a FW-190, just done in the paintschemes of several i've seen.  If it was one i'd be flipping out and coming back with a camera later.  ;)

Are you sure it wasn't a WAR FW-190 replica? they look just like the real thing, only 1/2 scale.
But it could have been anything: I've seen a couple of Zodiacs and Marchettis in the NE done up in German military schemes.

Oh, yeah by the Sean we have a major storm headed our way today!!  You know Snow, sleet, wind and maybe change to freezing rain for a bit.  Looks like a good time for you to be in Tampa!!  
You lucky S.O.B.!!  

 Keep the pictures coming!!  At least looking at the warmer weather might make me feel a little better!!

 Cory

LOL- yes, I was watching the Weather Channel last night... sucks to be you, I guess.

And don't worry, there will be plenty of pix: I'm off to FOF in a few minutes, and I have a 1GB and a 512MB card ready to fill.