Bensen Days 2004

[ToddP]

Dates for 2004. Last word is Wauchula, FL.

April 6 - Early Bird Day
April 7 - 11 Bensen Days

[GyroRon]

Be there
or
be square ;D

[ToddP]

As much as I'd love to. I'll probably stay home this year and just get some flight time in. I'm not sure when I'll be down again. Perhaps ROC but more likely Bensen Days 2005.

[Rotornut]

BD Days 2004 will be Held at the Wauchula Airport on April 6 thru 11, 2004. We had a Great Turn Out for New Years and hoping that was a sign of bigger and better Fly-Ins for this Year for all PRA Chapters. Ron and Shannon made it down with the Baby (not for long) it was great to visit with them. Good luck to you both on keeping up with him. If anyone has any questions about BD Days feel free to email us at Rotornut007@yahoo.com or call Richard at 239-633-0156 we will be glad to answer any of your questions or concerns. Fly-Safe, Richard, MJ :)

This post is for you RON! MJ :)

[GyroRon]

Thanks MJ for the post! ;) It was a lot of fun visiting all of you all. Shannon even enjoyed it :o

Looking forwards to being back down for a full week of beating air into submission this spring. Go ahead and reserve me a camping spot with power!!!!

[bogman]

Hello there Ron! You don't know if that big red-headed telephone repairman from up your way is going to be at Bensen Days this year do you?

[barnstorm2]

Can someone tell me:

1. Is Tampa the best place to fly into

2. Where I should look for a motel.

3. Who is going to rent me a gyro to fly since I can't bring mine.. ???

[GyroRon]

Miles Mason , Are you talking about Maxie Wildes? If so I haven't confirmed it, but I expect he will be there. I would be very surprised if he didn't go.


Tim , Tampa or Orlando would be the closest major airports. The best place to stay...... The best place is in a tent on the field. There is showers, bathrooms, food and entertainment on the field so why miss half of the fly in 10 miles from the airport in some dumpy motel? Todd Powell flew in last year and rented a truck and stayed in a motel, He learned that he missed out on a lot so for Rotors Over Carolina he flew in rented a car and stayed on the field in a tent. If you don't snore too bad - like Todd does - and your not a generally stinky person, your welcome to camp with me. I have a huge tent big enough for a family and I am going just by myself.

If you got to get a motel, there was only one in town that wasn't too dumpy and for some reason I forget the name of it. At any rate why don't you come down with the gyro??? You will find lot's of CFI's and BFI's to give you a ride but no one there rents gyros!

[bogman]

Yes Ron, thats who I'm referring to. I was just wondering if Maxie (or Steve M) is going to be there to offer some training time.

[barnstorm2]

Ron,

Thanks for the info!

I think I will take you up on the tent share. I will hunt down a walmart and pickup a sleeping blanket.

I can't take off enough time to trailer my gyro down and even if I could I don't think my poor little truck could make it in the condition it is in.

[Doug Riley]

The Days Inn just north of Sebring is fairly nice. It's a good 20 miles away, however. Staying on the field is more fun.

[GyroRon]

okay so when are you planning to fly down? I will be there from the 3rd or 4th till the 11th. will be packed up to leave on the 10th except for the tent so I can hit the highway early Sunday morning.

Miles, Yes I am sure that at least one of them - I would bet money that both will be there - will be set up and offering rides and training.


and to all those of you wanting training, This is a perfect time to do it. Steve and Maxie and several other CFI's typically get there on the 3rd or 4th and set up to offer training for the whole week. By Friday and Saturday the CFIs are too busy giving intro rides to do much training, but if you come early and stay all day you can get 2+ hours a day of instruction, in and while not flying can talk and listen and see all the other gyro stuff going on and learn learn learn. I did this myself a few years ago and got enough training in during Bensen Days to be signed off to solo the following weekend. Make sure to attend and have our fun in the sun, Wauchula style!

[GyroRon]

Yes there is power on the field for 12$ a night. Like I said we got food, showers and bathhouses on the field. There is no reason to spend more to go in town to a motel. you miss out on the early morning wake up flights by Dave Prater, the late night Steve McGowan flights where we watch the glowing exhaust of his Mazda engine zoom across the sky and you miss the after hours beer drinking and tall tales told under the big Oak tree by the fire.

If you go into town and get a room, you are truely missing out on what makes these fly ins special. you might as well order a Dan Lesile video and save your self the trip!~

[PW_Plack]

Hey, Ron...

I roomed with Todd at BD 2003, and he didn't snore when he slept indoors! Although, in all fairness, I might have drowned him out with my own log-sawing...

I can't be there this year, but if I come again I'll definitely sleep on the field. The bugs there are smaller, and have less attitude, than the ones at the motel.

[GyroRon]

No Todd wasn't too bad at ROC, he did snore a little too much one night, but I am sure that I am 10 times worse when I am sleeping. No Todd is more than welcome to go camping with me anytime. I like him alot and enjoy his company.

I am kinda sorta thinking of flying out to camp at El Mirage this fall for their big fly in. I have never been to that area of the country and also from what I hear this may be the last year for El mirage....

[Rotornut]

Yes Steve McGowan is going to be Attending BD Days 2004. I cant see Maxie missing it either. Look forward to seeing everyone in April. MJ :)

[GyroRon]

Steve you say you got bitten hard by the gyro bug and bought a kit the next week. BUT that was the next week after a fly in that took place a few years ago????? Come on brother, Get your butt in the air! You ain't going to get any younger!

[ToddP]

I've been away for a few days and need to catch up on some of these discussions.

For anyone that hasn't been, I would definately recommend going to both Bensen Days and ROC. I had a great time at both events last year and made alot of what I'm sure will be life long friends. I won't make it to Bensen Days this year, but definately plan on attending again in the future.

As Ron said before, camping is the way to go. At Bensen Days I stayed at the Colonial Arms. It was clean...but that was about it. You will have a much better time camping out at the field.

For ROC I made arrangements to Camp with Ron. I was able to take along everything I need except a tent...and probably could have brought that too. I flew into Columbia and rented car. On my way down to Aiken I stopped and bought a styrofoam cooler, beer, pop and snacks for the week. If you know Ron Awad at all, you know that he lives on fast food, so we made at least one trip a day into town to McDonalds, Hardys or someplace else. Most of the time for dinner everyone gets together and goes into town.

I'm sure that BD will be a great fly-in once again and can't wait to hear the stories and see some pictures from this years fly-in.

[Rotornut]

Todd, We will Miss you this year. Hope you can make it next year. So busy planning and setting up things hard to get anything else done. Had a great fly-in this weekend again 8 gyros, 1 ultralight, 2 fixed wings, and lots of porch talk. Russell grilled up some corn and potatoes for us all it was great. I ate 6 of the corn and about a dozen of the potatoes. Life cant get much better. Signed up two new mebers, bringing Sunstate up to 82 members total. Now if I can convince them to volunteer their time for the Big BD fly-in I will be doing good. lol To let all know the home phone is down so if you have any questions about BD Days call Richard (Catfish) on his mobil which is 239-633-0156. Thanks MJ :)

[Screw]

Holy Mad Cow!!!

Bensen Days is south of Tampa! Can't we have GyroRon day closer to Atlanta?

Geez

John-

[GyroRon]

John quit your bitchin, make some plans and be there. I bet if you try real hard you will be soloed to fly your gyro by then. If not then it will be the perfect time to finish up with Steve.

If your not at Bensen Days then your missing out on the gyro time of your life. I wouldn't miss it even if my wife was giving birth - hey that is almost what happened last year! -

John if you hit the highway by 7am, you will be at the Airport in Wauchula before dark if you don't stop to pee at every rest stop along the way.

[Heron]

Save a day by driving part of the night and just another 35 bucks for a motel. Be there next morning
Leave the long drives for the crazy brazilians!
Ron:
I went to San Diego, Indianola and San Antonio all in one week, talk about long drive.
I must confess though I am a drug dealer, we have this little lab here were we brew our main drug.
Let me tell you a little about the process:
WE gatter different chemical elements and shape them in various forms, after some alchemy and lots of wizzardry we are able to transform alumminum in adrenaline. ;D
I am gettin more addicts everyday . . .heheheheheh!
Heron

[Heron]

oh c'mon its only 500 miles (remember the song?)
easy drive
get there!
Heron

[bobbortz]

Hi..... I'm new to the forum.

I'm planning to get to BD Tuesday morning the 6th. I'm heading down from Jacksonville Monday night in my motor home so I can get close and be there in the A.M.

I don't currently have any gyro flight time except an intro flight 2 years ago at Sun-N-Fun but was bit real bad. The purpose of this trip is to check out various 2 place machines and get my wife to try it out. I showed her a video of one and her only problem is she said that maybe we needed to buy two machines because she might not be happy just being a passenger!

I read in the posts that a lot of folks get instruction at BD. I'd be interested in that if anyone can forward be names of CFIs attending. I currentyl own a C182 which I'm probably selling soon (just don't fly it enough anymore to justify it) and thats why I'm wanting something for recreational flying now.

Anyway, any thoughts or words of wisdom anyone can provide is greatly appreciated!

[Phil_Ruffin]

Steve McGowan will be there, he is a CFI and sure there will be a couple of others.

[Rotornut]

Rusty Nance will be there, Ernie Boyette and the Dominators will be there. Rick Marshall with his Magni. Bob Martian with his Marchetti, Terry Eiland, AAI, Maxie Wildes BFI Air Command will be there. Not sure on other CFI's yet.

Yesterday Rick and Davie Seace along with 18 other club members of Sunstate went up to Wauchula and layed out the power and Mowed the grass trimmed the trees, put up the signs. We are Ready for BD Days! Really nice weather yesterday 78 high 62 low. Going to be a great Fly-In.

Thank You to all the Sunstate Members who showed their support and came out to help in Wauchula Yesterday.

Looking forward to seeing the Family again. MJ :)

[r.coplen]

Bob,

I know Jim Mayfield is planning to be there with the new SparrowHawk. I know he will be giving instructional flights and I have to believe you and your wife will love the SparrowHawk.

Randy Coplen

[GyroRon]

The two seaters out number the single seaters at Bensen Days. You will be able to ride in just about everything.

[Heron]

To all going I wish a wonderfull Fly-in!
To the Sunstate personnel, good going... you are the best!
. . .and yes, Jim Mayfield will be there, I visited with him last week, he is a class act person, a really nice guy!
We are going to miss this one, but those going to Sun-N-Fun could be presented to the Golden Butterfly and the MOnarch both with the G-Force Landing Gear!So far we have green light for that event.
M.J. . . . don't work too hard!
see you
Heron

[Russell]

bobbortz I have a great in the back seat video from Rusty's old aircommand you can show the wife at Bensen Days. I think she will really like it.
Russ

[bobbortz]

8) 8)Thanks Russ..... looking forward to it! I have a feeling the "for sale" sign is going up on the 182 when I get back.

Hows this for a practice "for sale" ad?

FOR SALE..... Nearly perfect 1976 Cessna 182 (Texas Skyways upgrade) w/280hp, 3 blade prop, Garmin 430 Color moving map GPS IFR certified with Nav/Com, WX500 storm scope plays thru GPS display, HSI, 4 place stereo intercom, engine 380 hrs since factory reman, aprox 2300 hrs tt, always hangered, only 2 owners, new annual April 04..... and more.

Hurry.... first $140K gets this unique specimen before I change my mind. Owner un-able to justify to wife for business anymore.

[Russell]

Hey Bob I never did meet you did I???
I did get to show the video to Tim, I hope you liked it Tim :confused: It was way after midnight when we were watching the video.
Russ

[barnstorm2]

Great Video! Very impressive flyin!