Who would want to go to Gaston's...

I am not so worried about it- the additions to attendance are not much, and tend to be people who are "like us" - if you get my drift.
 
Diana said:
It was initially a small gathering of AOPA forum members back when it was the yellow board.
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Yes, but didn't every one of those AOPA forum members end up on PoA?
 
Well, not to worry, Gastons can only get so big. The space is limited and each year we're running out of cabins earlier and earlier. We're more or less at peak capacity as it is.
 
jesse said:
Well, not to worry, Gastons can only get so big. The space is limited and each year we're running out of cabins earlier and earlier. We're more or less at peak capacity as it is.
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My understanding was that last year some people actually stayed at a different hotel, which kind of eliminates half the fun of Gastons, IMHO.

I said 2 years ago, to Chip, that I was considering only going to one more Gastons, and then trying to see OSH and SnF. This may be my last year at Gastons, just so that I can experience the others. Flying ain't getting any cheaper!

Of course, I say that, but then, next year, around this time, I'll be super gung ho for Gastons again. It always happens :D
 
Wow. So does this mean I'm really not welcome?? :frown3:
 
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4763E said:
Wow. So does this mean I won't really be welcome?? :frown3:
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absolutely not Kim. Some of the comments today seem a bit off base from the way it really is. I dont think Ive ever met anyone at Gastons that I didnt like, and as far as Im concerned, there is no reason to make this an exclusive group. Anyone who wants to come should be there, and anyone who doesnt want to come, for whatever reason, shouldnt feel obligated. Its a fun weekend and a great way to see old friends and make new ones. EVERYONE is welcome.
 
4763E said:
Wow. So does this mean I'm really not welcome?? :frown3:
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Nope, not at all, no one has said you "MUST BE A POA MEMBER with 5000 posts to attend"

Some simply feel, that considering how at least 90% of the Gastons attendees are active PoA members, calling it a PoA event isn't a bad thing. Everyone is always welcome.

Personally--I really have no opinion on this matter..although I'll certainly help stir the pot if necessary :)
 
jesse said:
Nope, not at all, no one has said you "MUST BE A POA MEMBER with 5000 posts to attend"

Some simply feel, that considering how at least 90% of the Gastons attendees are active PoA members, calling it a PoA event isn't a bad thing. Everyone is always welcome.

Personally--I really have no opinion on this matter..although I'll certainly help stir the pot if necessary :)
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Well, I really enjoyed meeting everyone at Gaston's last year - and it made me have a "cozier" feeling about the blue board...because I didn't have any history with any of you people until then. But, if some of you were going to consider me a "party crasher" I was going to be feeling sad about that...

Maybe it should just be a fly-in that, once upon a time, was started by some really cool folks from one of those pilot internet forums...that has grown into a really nice opportunity for pilots undaunted enough to fly into that place to get to know one another and have some fun flying together...

Last year, before I went to Gaston's, I was worried that there would be so many people there I would feel intimidated and not know anyone. It was scary for me. But from the second I landed I felt so welcome and included...(thank you Spike).

This year I hope to have the opportunity to get to know some of the people I didn't have the opportunity to spend time with last year...there just wasn't enough time to talk to everyone.

That is, if you all will still have me...;)
 
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4763E said:
Wow. So does this mean I'm really not welcome?? :frown3:
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Hmmm...

...well, help me out here.

Were you WELCOMED last year? Didja have fun, get feted-over, fly and be flown, and enjoy being the object of both adulation and envy?

The very strict standards for Gaston's fly-in participation and appreciation:

1. Pulse;
2. Love of aviation.

Any questions?

PS- Nice toes help, too!
 
SCCutler said:
Hmmm...

...well, help me out here.

Were you WELCOMED last year? Didja have fun, get feted-over, fly and be flown, and enjoy being the object of both adulation and envy?

The very strict standards for Gaston's fly-in participation and appreciation:

1. Pulse;
2. Love of aviation.

Any questions?

PS- Nice toes help, too!
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Don't worry, Spike...Diana and I will be sportin' some toes...:thumbsup:
 
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4763E said:
Well, I really enjoyed meeting everyone at Gaston's last year - and it made me have a "cozier" feeling about the blue board...because I didn't have any history with any of you people until then. But, if some of you were going to consider me a "party crasher" I was going to be feeling sad about that...
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Party crasher? No way. Getting "cozier" with fellow pilots of any (board) color is what Gaston's is all about. Of course getting rides in unusual airplanes (like a Bird Dog) is icing on the cake.

Maybe it should just be a fly-in that, once upon a time, was started by some really cool folks from one of those pilot internet forums...that has grown into a really nice opportunity for pilots undaunted enough to fly into that place to get to know one another and have some fun flying together...
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Sounds good to me. I like to think of it as PoA function because several PoAers deserve the credit for putting it together, not because I want to limit to any particular group. Heck, they even allow lawyers to attend:D.

That is, if you all will still have me...;)
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We not only will still "have" you, we want you there (even if you don't bring the airplane).
 
I didn't mean we should exclude anyone! Just didn't want to see it touted to folks in general on boards with folks we don't know. I can go to plenty of fly ins like that and much rather go to smaller ones with folks I know or friends of others.

That being said: anyone sportin' some toes should always welcome <g>.

Best,

Dave
 
lancefisher said:
Party crasher? No way. Getting "cozier" with fellow pilots of any (board) color is what Gaston's is all about. Of course getting rides in unusual airplanes (like a Bird Dog) is icing on the cake.



Sounds good to me. I like to think of it as PoA function because several PoAers deserve the credit for putting it together, not because I want to limit to any particular group. Heck, they even allow lawyers to attend:D.



We not only will still "have" you, we want you there (even if you don't bring the airplane).
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Thank you...you get another bird dog ride...right after Spike...:)
 
Well, I can see I've buggered things up completely!

I'm just not a big crowd fella. I much prefer smaller groups, being closer and being able to visit more. There are plenty of really BIG fly-ins and they just aren't for me. Doesn't mean others can't enjoy it. So if I came across as leaning toward excluding anyone, I apologize. That wasn't my intention. I just didn't want to see it touted to the world, see it get huge and maybe commercial. But, that's just me. I really enjoy the smaller group, lack of commercialism and being able to visit with more folks that are really nice on an individual basis.

Some of it is safety. If Gastons gets real crowded we can lose some of the freedom and graciousness we currently enjoy. Some of it is intimacy; you just don't get as close with bigger crowds. Some of it is just me; I'm just not comfortable among a throng of folks. I'd rather take a hike alone or with one or two folks than be in a gaggle. But, that shouldn't make anyone feel excluded.

Sorry if I offended. Wasn't my intent.

Best,

Dave
 
Dave Siciliano said:
Well, I can see I've buggered things up completely!

I'm just not a big crowd fella. I much prefer smaller groups, being closer and being able to visit more. There are plenty of really BIG fly-ins and they just aren't for me. Doesn't mean others can't enjoy it. So if I came across as leaning toward excluding anyone, I apologize. That wasn't my intention. I just didn't want to see it touted to the world, see it get huge and maybe commercial. But, that's just me. I really enjoy the smaller group, lack of commercialism and being able to visit with more folks that are really nice on an individual basis.

Some of it is safety. If Gastons gets real crowded we can lose some of the freedom and graciousness we currently enjoy. Some of it is intimacy; you just don't get as close with bigger crowds. Some of it is just me; I'm just not comfortable among a throng of folks. I'd rather take a hike alone or with one or two folks than be in a gaggle. But, that shouldn't make anyone feel excluded.

Sorry if I offended. Wasn't my intent.

Best,

Dave
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No offense taken, Dave...I was just checking to see if I had violated some unspoken rule by showing up last year. :redface:

I'm not a big crowd person either...but I think that's one of the nice things about Gaston's...we don't have to all do something together all of the time. I spent some quality time with just a few of the people while also getting to meet a lot of others. And there were others, like you, for example, I didn't even meet. (Although Diana told me while we were there that you were a really great guy...)

Fortunately, Gaston's isn't big enough to turn into a Reklaw kind of event where hundreds of airplanes fly in.
 
4763E said:
No offense taken, Dave...I was just checking to see if I had violated some unspoken rule by showing up last year. :redface:

I'm not a big crowd person either...but I think that's one of the nice things about Gaston's...we don't have to all do something together all of the time. I spent some quality time with just a few of the people while also getting to meet a lot of others. And there were others, like you, for example, I didn't even meet. (Although Diana told me while we were there that you were a really great guy...)

Fortunately, Gaston's isn't big enough to turn into a Reklaw kind of event where hundreds of airplanes fly in.
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Thanks Kim! Sorry if I stepped all over myself with golf shoes! Some times us older former infantry guys forget what wonderful folks we're around and address the troops too candidly <g> This darned board is great, but one can't see winking eyes, moving hands or smiles when reading.

Best,

Dave
 
gibbons said:
No worries Dave. Anyone who knows you at all knows you would never intentionally offend. Looking forward to seeing you at the fly-in, whatever it's called.
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Thanks Chip! As I work through the private messages sent expressing concern, I'll try to remember that!! Nothing like hurting the feelings of folks you most want to make feel good.

Best,

Dave
 
Dave Siciliano said:
This darned board is great, but one can't see winking eyes, moving hands or smiles when reading.
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I hate that part, too...if we were all sitting around the fire at Gaston's talking about this there would be no misunderstanding...:cheerswine:
 
4763E said:
I hate that part, too...if we were all sitting around the fire at Gaston's talking about this there would be no misunderstanding...:cheerswine:
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Yeah, except that we don't need any more fires at Gaston's!:yikes::rofl:

But Kim no, you were certainly most welcome, and remain so!
 
Dave Siciliano said:
Thanks Chip! As I work through the private messages sent expressing concern, I'll try to remember that!! Nothing like hurting the feelings of folks you most want to make feel good.

Best,

Dave
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I knew what you meant, no hurt feelings here.
 
4763E said:
No offense taken, Dave...I was just checking to see if I had violated some unspoken rule by showing up last year. :redface:

I'm not a big crowd person either...but I think that's one of the nice things about Gaston's...we don't have to all do something together all of the time. I spent some quality time with just a few of the people while also getting to meet a lot of others. And there were others, like you, for example, I didn't even meet. (Although Diana told me while we were there that you were a really great guy...)

Fortunately, Gaston's isn't big enough to turn into a Reklaw kind of event where hundreds of airplanes fly in.
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I flew over to Reklaw with the intent of seeing what all went on and spending the afternoon. I'm a fairly regular OSH attendee, and not normally goosey about having lots of airplanes around. I'll admit it was busy beyond my comfort level so I just flew to some other small airports and contented myself by visiting with the local folk.
 
wabower said:
I flew over to Reklaw with the intent of seeing what all went on and spending the afternoon. I'm a fairly regular OSH attendee, and not normally goosey about having lots of airplanes around. I'll admit it was busy beyond my comfort level so I just flew to some other small airports and contented myself by visiting with the local folk.
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One of the good things about how the Gaston's fly-in goes is that traffic flow works pretty well because: (1) many attendees are familiar with the field and best-practices for ops there; (2) a pretty good set of procedures has been developed, and is published; and (3) our "air boss," Steve See, does an outstanding job of watching over the airspace and, perhaps more importantly, establishing the expectation of safe and orderly operations.

See: Good video showing the arrival and landing (as practiced during busy times): http://www.pilotsofamerica.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21953

See also: http://www.gastonsflyin.com/flying_in.php

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4763E said:
Well, yes. I guess that would depend WHICH fire...:rolleyes:
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All you ladies leave smoldering flames wherever you go! :D
 
jesse said:
Well, not to worry, Gastons can only get so big. The space is limited and each year we're running out of cabins earlier and earlier. We're more or less at peak capacity as it is.
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This is a very good point. Jesse, you are often wise beyond your years. :)

jesse said:
Personally--I really have no opinion on this matter..although I'll certainly help stir the pot if necessary :)
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Looks like that won't be necessary now, but thanks. ;)

Dave, I too enjoy small fly-ins and have been part of two of them in the last five days. One was a fly-in here at the farm, and one was at Miami County (K81) for BBQ on Wednesday. Tom and I really had a good time. I made a video of Marty B's (a moderator on the red board and member here and the purple board) first aerobatic ride (co-starring Kim and Phil) and have lots of pictures from both fly-ins. The video and pictures were posted on the red board and the purple board, but not here for a few reasons, one of which is that this place doesn't seem as warm and friendly anymore.

If you recall, we had a fly-in at Gaston's in October, which Bruce and Sue attended and we were joined by several other friends. Sorry Wayne couldn't make it as planned. Tom and I enjoyed that one too.

At this point, I don't care what you guys call it, personally I'm calling it My Last Gaston's fly-in.
 
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Diana said:
At this point, I don't care what you guys call it, personally I'm calling it My Last Gaston's fly-in.
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Whoa, what's up with that? :nonod:
Without you there Gaston's would be like shoes without feet, toes without nail polish, flying without parachutes, etc. In other words, just not right.
 
Jeez.

We used to want to rock and roll all nite.

Now we just want to sleep off the afternoon. Not even a cute waitress can distract us from that. Gettin' old - it ain't all it's cracked up to be.:D
 
[.



. Heck, they even allow lawyers to attend:D.:nono:


Hey now knock that off. That's why they bury lawyers 10 feet deep. Because deep down they are not that bad! :D

Bob
 
Its official. I'm out. I have a conflict that weekend, and this year its not like the previous where I'm out, then in, then out, I'm actually out out this year.

Take pictures :(
 
I am out as well, I made my big fly out to AZ. this year to visit my son and Grandson. I really miss not going and seeing some old friends and meeting some new ones. It is just too far and expensive for me to make it. I hope you all have a great time, and maybe I will be able to make another later. Bob
 
Bob and Nick, we'll miss you!
 
Did either of you guys have a room reserved????
 
No, I had never planned on going this year as I had the trip to AZ. to see my son. Bob
 
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