Bensen Days future

[Heron]

All right. . .no hard feelings ok? Just trying to help . . .
Can we have a place on this forum for the major Fly-ins?
Can we have bensendays.com and if yes can I start it?
Can we interlace Bensen Days and Sun-N-fun, bringing our fly-in closer to Lakeland ( that little place by Ernies look good) and have our giros participate in the fly-by even for a couple of times?
We could have two weekends of Bensen Days (fri to sun) and rotate the crews so everyone can have fun and the attendance could enjoy both shows?
We drove 15 miles everyday to go to a not the best motel, we could fly to our little patch, what do you say?
Having a good camping place with units for rent should attract the partygoers from the bigger show.We paid 58 per night and it was cheap, the average was 80
Lets get the ideas rolling so next year we have a big show.
Heron

[et3dotcom]

When and where is Benson Days 2005?

[Rotornut]

Heron, Sun and Fun is NO PLACE FOR GYRO PILOTS TO FLY! You go fly at Sun and Fun and then tell me your Tale. Not friendly skys up there for gyros. Very Tight Pattern and no room for error. As for participating in the Fly-By you have lots of loops to jump thru to get there. Yes Ken Brock did Larry Neal but as you seen only one gyro flew for the crowd by doing fly-bys. As for getting closer to Sun/Fun we tried Fantasy of Flight and they turned us Down! As for Ernies field of dreams not enough room for all of us, and then there is the insurance part. And believe me when I say it plays a BIG part in hosting a Fly-In.

The city of Wauchula works with us. They will have the New Hotel Best Western done by the end of March so they say. That is a Big plus. We have the Elks lodge for the Banquet, Solomons Castle Thursday nite, and they vend Ice Cream at the airport for us. We asked for input on hosting BD Days the same week as Sun/Fun and the response was to host it the week before. So here we are.

By the way if you have any free time to help out at BD Days feel free to ask Richard or Myself what you can help with. Lots to do and never enough help. Between helping with regestration and taking out the garbage I am always over whelmed at BD Days.

Thanks for you input Heron. MJ :)

[Rotornut]

Daryl, Bensen Days April 5 thru 10, 2005 Wauchula Florida Municipal Airport.
Hope to see you there. MJ :)

[Rotornut]

As for Bensen Days Future it is with Sunstate. In 1994 Bud O'Neal told me Sunstate host BD Days for the Flying, Fun, and Family. And Sunstate is All About Family. MJ :)

[GyroRon]

I say we hold Bensen Days in December on Christmas Eve and we move it to Sanibel Island off the West Coast of Florida where really nice hotels are. Most people don't mind paying 300$ a night for a nice room and the 8$ tolls to get there are nothing. Holding it on Christmas eve would allow us to really make it a family event, and would give all of our familys a excuse to go to Florida in the middle of Winter.

I also think you should only allow gyros to fly that have at least 3/4 tread still left on the tires.

[MikeBoyette]

I say we get people who have great ideas to pony up and join the club. PRA and Sunstate. MJ I'll be mailing my check this week, I keep forgeting.

[Chuck Roberg]

MJ, I tried looking up the Best Western on their web site. But they don't have one listed for Wauchula yet.

Any other options close by?

[et3dotcom]

i did not see BD announced on the PRA website - is it out of date or am i blind?

[GyroRon]

PRA site is not up to speed!

Mike I am bull$hitting! I have ideas but it seems the mass majority would rather cater to ourselves and not try to make our event cater to potential new members. For my own personal needs or wants, I like Bensen Days EXACTLY as it is. Just wish it was either the same week as SUN n FUN, or a few weeks later or earlier so I could attend both. I just can't take off for two weeks during that time of the year - lawns are growing by then I got to go to work!!!

[Steve McGowan]

I for one would like to see Wauchulla FULL. It'd be nice to hold BD somewhere else closer to everyone but "HEY"... where else can you see alamagators, deer, turkey, Ron Awad and all the other wild life in it's natural habitat. :D

Maybe we could have it in Phoenix or even better at El Mirage.. I wouldn't have too far to go then...

Just a thought..and tryin to be a smart a--

me&BOOters

[et3dotcom]

See you all at BD

[Dean_Dolph]

MJ, I tried looking up the Best Western on their web site. But they don't have one listed for Wauchula yet.

Any other options close by?Chuck, they aren't taken reservations until 3/9/05.

[PW_Plack]

Ron, why even pay the toll? Trailer to the coast, and fly to the island!

You'd see the two-stroke guys making the most careful pre-flights of their lives!

[MikeBoyette]

Ron,
As far as I know youare a paying member, which means my comment want not aimed at you. I hate free loaders.

[et3dotcom]

Mike,

Please define freeloader, and who are you calling freeloaders? Why not charge non-members a nominal fee to atend benson days? this would improve membership.

[ToddP]

In my humble opinion. Bensen days is a fantastic fly-in put together by an incredibly dedicated group of people. I've only attended Bensen Days once but I expect there will be more visits in the future.

Heron, to answer your question in regards to an events area. There is an events category and calendar which I hope everyone will use to post their events. However I have no intention of adding additional websites such as Bensendays.com . That would be up to the MEMBERS of Sunstate who have poured their hearts and wallets into that fly-in.

[Heron]

It is, but I am always looking for perfection, not been perfect you know?
and my background on huge events tells me that can be done and just needs tuning up to a different frequency.
Wauchula is just fine and my idea is to aproach the events some more, there are other ways.
Family thing is very fine, but other people could and should benefit of a bigger event especially in the news midia.
The more I talk the less people listen, but I can shut and just enjoy what is in my plate and it is a lot.
Thanks
Heron (not a free loader)

[GyroRon]

Ron,
As far as I know youare a paying member, which means my comment want not aimed at you. I hate free loaders.


I know what your talking about Mike. But I haven't renewed my Sunstate dues in a few years. But I sure don't miss any fly ins at Wauchula!!!!

[RockyMeLad]

Uh, guys....
I'm just a new-bee and not a member of any club yet. I was planning on going to BD, but it sounds like I'll be a freeloader and maybe not welcome.
Rocky

[GyroRon]

Okay guys.... I believe Mike is referring to Heron only. Heron is full of ideas for the Sunstate rotor club, for the PRA, and who knows what else. He has nearly a thousand posts and most of them are ideas and hints and advise. But.... I am not sure Heron is a paid member of either club/ org.

It is tiring to some to constantly have someone sit on the fence and tell you how to run a club or organization without becoming a member of that club like the rest are. I think Mike is just flustered over this. He and many others work hard to help the club and most importantly they pay the dues to become and stay members of that club. It is insulting to alot of people to hear all this advise from someone not willing to pony up the 25 or 35 dollar dues fee.

BUT..... Please remember, Bensen Days is a gyroplane/rotorcraft fly in open to the public. Not only do you not need to be a member of Sunstate rotorclub to attend, you also need not be a PRA member or even own or fly a gyroplane.

I hope no one takes this freeloader comment the wrong way. It goes much deeper than you guys are reading into it.

[MikeBoyette]

Ron,
You get my exactly what I was saying. I should have used some other term other than free loader. I just get tired of Heron's pipe dreams. If you think gyros are so great pony up the 35 bucks and contrbute to the well being of the club. If not Sunstate join some club. As for all other Please come down enjoy Bensen Day's I am sorry for any confusion.