9D9-4A7-VQQ-SRQ-FMY-RYY-9D9

EdFred

EdFred

Taxi to Parking
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White Chocolate
Next month, should be a fun trip.

Stop in and see the Jones' in Atlanta on the way to Jacksonville, spend a few days in Jacksonville. Then over to Sarasota to see the only guy from HS I am still in contact with, but haven't seen in maybe 10 years. Then down to Fort Myers to see family, and back through Atlanta to stop off and see more family on the way home.
 
Keep us posted on the dates. I'm in the area, too (on the other side of Atlanta).

Say hi to Chuck at VQQ for me. That's where I like to stop when I visit my folks.

I think Chris is down there near 4A7, right? Any particular reason you're stopping at RYY on the way back?
 
SRQ is a nice airport. I would recommend Jones Aviation as the FBO but they are no longer owned by Jones. The company that took them over is now called Volo. From what I have heard they are still GA friendly. Dolphin tends to really cater to the jet crowd. Call both and see what you think. I seem to recall parking was like $10/day or $60 for the month.

Some people do skip the whole SRQ thing and go to Venice airport. I have not flown into the airport but I have been on the property and it was nice.

One the other side of Tampa Bay I did stay at PIE and used Sheltair for my FBO and was really happy with them. They even pulled my rental car up to my plane when they heard me arriving. Parking was I think, $8/day.
 
smigaldi said:
SRQ is a nice airport. I would recommend Jones Aviation as the FBO but they are no longer owned by Jones. The company that took them over is now called Volo. From what I have heard they are still GA friendly. Dolphin tends to really cater to the jet crowd. Call both and see what you think. I seem to recall parking was like $10/day or $60 for the month.
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I was at Volo only a few days ago. They are nice folks and seemed GA friendly as I saw some small airplanes parked right outside the door. They had a little snafu where they ran out of JetA so they had to call Dolphin to come fuel us and another airplane. They said they would make up any difference in price but there was none. I could see they were really embarrassed about that and they waived all fees including the overnight.
 
smigaldi said:
SRQ is a nice airport. I would recommend Jones Aviation as the FBO but they are no longer owned by Jones. The company that took them over is now called Volo. From what I have heard they are still GA friendly. Dolphin tends to really cater to the jet crowd. Call both and see what you think. I seem to recall parking was like $10/day or $60 for the month.

Some people do skip the whole SRQ thing and go to Venice airport. I have not flown into the airport but I have been on the property and it was nice.

One the other side of Tampa Bay I did stay at PIE and used Sheltair for my FBO and was really happy with them. They even pulled my rental car up to my plane when they heard me arriving. Parking was I think, $8/day.
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I fly to Venice (KVNC) at least a couple times each year. There are three choices for parking. The city often has some spaces available at a reasonable rate and you can get a card for the electric gate from them. There is a flight school (Florida Flight Training, where the best terrorists go) and an associated maintenance facility which sometimes has parking for free if you buy their gas (cheapest on the field). Then there's the Venice Jet Center. I've had good and bad dealings with them and their management seems to change policies occasionally so it could be good now. Last time I stayed with them they had a pretty hefty tiedown fee with little or no service in return.

It's been a few years since I landed at SRQ but I believe they are more GA friendly than either PIE or TPA. One time I landed at TPA it took 20 minutes to get a VFR departure clearance. The FBO is friendly but the prices are steep. Usually my reason for TPA is picking up or dropping off airline pax and the FBO will shuttle you back and forth to the airline terminal for free so I didn't mind paying the ramp fee. There are two other airports in the Tampa area, Clearwater and Whitted. Whitted (KSPG) was very GA friendly last time I was there several years ago and might make a decent alternative to SRQ especially if you're going to the Bradenton area a its just across the bridge. Clearwater (KCLW) is a quaint little backwoods airstrip with one big problem: no night flying.
 
4A7 to visit the Joneses
VQQ because it's closest to the ball in Jacksonville
SRQ because that's the closest to my buddy - he said Venice is "way too far."
RYY because it's 5 minutes from my aunt and uncle - they live on Old Stilesboro Rd
 
gismo said:
Clearwater (KCLW) is a quaint little backwoods airstrip with one big problem: no night flying.
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Actually it is no night take offs. You get in late you can still land as long as it is before 9pm lcl.
LNDGS PERMITTED 0700-2100, TKOFS PERMITTED 0700 UNTIL 1 HR AFTER SS WHICHEVER IS EARLIER.
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When my step-dad was alive and I flew down to Florida last year that was the closest airport. But with that little restriction and the issue of getting my rental car it was easier to do PIE.
 
Keep us posted on the dates. I am on the East side of Atlanta, but would like to do dinner and a round of POA lie telling if possible.
 
smigaldi said:
SRQ is a nice airport. I would recommend Jones Aviation as the FBO but they are no longer owned by Jones. The company that took them over is now called Volo. From what I have heard they are still GA friendly. Dolphin tends to really cater to the jet crowd. Call both and see what you think. I seem to recall parking was like $10/day or $60 for the month.
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I'm a big fan of Dolphin at SRQ. Really nice people, nice facility, and they seem to be decently priced. Really easy to get in and out of from a car standpoint. Its right off of US-41, so its really easy to find, if people aren't familiar with the area, it would probably be a good bet. Rectrix (the newest FBO on the field) seems to really, really cater to the turbine crowd. Come to think of it, I don't know that I've ever seen a piston plane parked on their ramp.
 
There is no other good option to SRQ is you are going to Sarasota. Jones Aviation is gone now (has been for a while), but I used Cirrus Aviation last time I was there and they were awesome.

Sounds like a fun trip. Say high to my grandmother/aunt in Sarasota. You'll know them by seeing the overweight lady and the old woman (not many of them there :rolleyes:).

I love love love love love Sarasota/Venice area. If you're not pressed for time, land at Venice and walk to the beach. Not a super long walk, but worth it, especially since you live in the frozen mitten of the United States.
 
Keith Lane said:
Keep us posted on the dates. I am on the East side of Atlanta, but would like to do dinner and a round of POA lie telling if possible.
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What?! We're all honest folk. Especially Ed. ;)
 
KSCessnaDriver said:
Rectrix (the newest FBO on the field) seems to really, really cater to the turbine crowd. Come to think of it, I don't know that I've ever seen a piston plane parked on their ramp.
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Phew, who picked that name? Sounds like a body part (you know which one I'm talking about). :yikes:
 
rpadula said:
Except about cruise speed. :smile:
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Hey, my Aztec can cruise at 175 ktas!

at climb power and 32 gph with the head temps shooting up even in winter...
 
SkyHog said:
There is no other good option to SRQ is you are going to Sarasota. Jones Aviation is gone now (has been for a while), but I used Cirrus Aviation last time I was there and they were awesome.
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Ah yes Cirrus, I had forgot about them. I have talked to those guys several times and they seemed like a good group. But I don't think they have any FBO services. Aren't they the flight school/airplane rental/pilot shop guys?
 
If my airport on the east sides opens, I could get over to 4A7. Maybe there's some nearby food joint we could have a little PoA meet and greet at.
 
When I lived in Sarasota (7 years ago) I used to rent from Dolphin. I found them to be pretty good across the board. When I went to Ft Myers to visit family I used to land at Page Field - FMY.
 
Hope you can get it stopped before you run out of runway at VQQ!

:rofl:

btw, my experience with the FBO there was a very good one.

EdFred said:
4A7 to visit the Joneses
VQQ because it's closest to the ball in Jacksonville
SRQ because that's the closest to my buddy - he said Venice is "way too far."
RYY because it's 5 minutes from my aunt and uncle - they live on Old Stilesboro Rd
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Steve said:
Hope you can get it stopped before you run out of runway at VQQ!

:rofl:

btw, my experience with the FBO there was a very good one.
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I should be ok. I'm not flying a Grumman. :D
 
Lance F said:
If my airport on the east sides opens, I could get over to 4A7. Maybe there's some nearby food joint we could have a little PoA meet and greet at.
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What's the hold up? I see it is notamed closed til the 25th, but I flew over today and it looked like everything is done, and although I only took a quick look, I didn't see any X's on the runway.
 
Dave Theisen said:
What's the hold up? I see it is notamed closed til the 25th, but I flew over today and it looked like everything is done, and although I only took a quick look, I didn't see any X's on the runway.
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The whole ramp is tarred and gravel right now, and they lacked a small area to get paved up to the FBO. Then, the weather turned cold. They have to have 55°F weather in order to put down asphalt. Ain't happenin' this week. and next week don't look so good either. :yikes:

They have been closed since 21 September. Was supposed to take 6 weeks, but rain and unexpected soft ground caused delay until it got too cold to pave.
 
There were some legitimate excuses for the delays. However there were also good days when the contractor didn't work at all. I think we got hosed.

There's a meeting tomorrow with the city, contractor, engineer and FBO to discuss a limited opening, whatever that is. I'm going to go and try to encourage something positive. I gotta get my plane back in my hanger. It's annual time.
 
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