Ken Brock Freedom Fly-In (KBFFI) 27-29 September 2024, El Mirage Dry Lake, California

[okikuma]

We're only two months away from the PRA Chapter One, Ken Brock Freedom Fly-In (KBFFI), 27-29 September 2024, El Mirage Dry Lake, California.

Hello from Chapter One!

We are hosting the 2024 KBFFI on the West side of Gyro Cove, and this can be easily accessed via a VERY nice gravel perimeter road. Alternately, you can enter the Lakebed from the BLM Entrance. The map showing where the Fly-In and a video showing the drive from the BLM facility to the side of the Lake where we will have the event is posted below. There is PLENTY of area to park a car, truck, RV and line up your gyros, well before making contact with the Lake Bed, which is clearly marked by the BLM.

See you there!


Gyro Cove West Side

Video Directions to Fly-In Location

http://www.kbffi.com/Flyer-Schedule/LakeBed-Location/Fly-In-Location-West-Side.mp4

Per the Map and video directions above, once you pass the BLM gate, you want to go onto Mountain View Road. You will come to a 4 way intersection, and turn left onto Colusa (set your trip counter to zero if you want to go by your odometer). The road will go straight for a bit and then bear right, turning into Lake Road. At around the 5 mile mark, you will have a closed gate directly on your right , and a gravel road that would lead you past a BLM out-house, and onto the Lake just North of Gyro Cove. Do not turn, but continue straight. You will continue until you get to a White building on your right and a dirt road to your left (about 6.8 miles). Make a left at that point and you will see where the Lake Bed begins past some posted markers. This is where we host the Fly-In.

Events

 

[okikuma]

Who will be attending KBFFI 2024?

Wayne

 

[PeterFromLA]

Looking forward to seeing everybody again...

 

[okikuma]

We're just about one month away.

Who will be attending KBFFI 2024? Please sound off!

Madam President, will you make the trip and join us again this year?

Wayne

 

[GyrOZprey]

We're just about one month away.

Who will be attending KBFFI 2024? Please sound off!

Madam President, will you make the trip and join us again this year?

Wayne

At this point, I think not this year - much as I love the drive west on I 40 .... I really felt back in April that the 3-4 day(each way) road trip to Florida for Bensen Days really knocked the stuffing out of me and I told my son that if I started to think about doing it again - to "whack-me up the back of the head with a 2x4" (AH yes - that Aussie expression of " VIOLENCE "that certain prior visitors here took exception to! !!!!)- to remind me how I felt coming home from FL this year! Heck I'm still not sure I'm over the easy 1.5 days drive back from Mentone yet - a week later!

When I start thinking about future BDays and KBFFI I REALLY want to keep attending --- OK I'll just fly commercial out to FL/CA and rent a camper van - but DANG ...I realize I cannot have my trusty -mobility wheels - my beloved E-trike - to get around the airport ...if I do the trip that way! (yeah - rent a mobility-scooter too!!)

Not only that but the Fly-Kansas Air Tour run by KDOT-aviation are doing something different this year - (totally sucky for the pilot-social camaraderie & our out of state participants )
This year they are trying a different format ..the AirTour mission is community out-reach to our KS rural airports and expose a lot of youth (ie school-kids) to general aviation & get to talk to pilots. So instead of 3-4 stops each day they are focusing on 2 stops -longer duration/day and hedging against bad weather messing up the usual 3-consecutive days tour by doing FOUR-FRIDAYS in September ...so we do 4 x Friday tours - 2 airport stops each day and a good long time at each place to interact with locals.

As fun as the 4-airports /day were - by time the slower aircraft had landed - we ran to bathroom, grabbed a refreshment/meal - had a quick visit with the locals touring the line-up and were off again to the next stop! I can see how THIS new idea - may serve the mission better and be more relaxing - but again I fear the pilot/aircraft participation may be diminished by the - one-day per week format! (The pilot -party & cool night-stop entertainment provided, hotel gathering of friends made on prior tours will definitely be missed.

For me , at my location - it is perfect as the flights pretty much are a radial out in 4 directions - each day about 4 flight hours. I'll get to visit a couple of new airports as well as a lot of old faithfuls!

I hope to get my newly retired from city-jobs TAGNA buddys(Tim & Kim Weiland) out to El mirage KBFFI - next year - so will shoot for a 2025 visit!

 

[Aerofoam]

I plan to go, Peter, please reserve some time for me!

 

[Mike Leimetter]

My wife and I will be there. I may bring my gyro for static display and ground runs/taxi but it’s not flyable yet. Hoping to get some experienced eyes on it for my health n welfare. Have people done that before?
Mike

 

[dabkb2]

The lake is looking great this year, so come on hang out and get some freedom.

 

[okikuma]

At this point, I think not this year - much as I love the drive west on I 40 .... I really felt back in April that the 3-4 day(each way) road trip to Florida for Bensen Days really knocked the stuffing out of me and I told my son that if I started to think about doing it again - to "whack-me up the back of the head with a 2x4" (AH yes - that Aussie expression of " VIOLENCE "that certain prior visitors here took exception to! !!!!)- to remind me how I felt coming home from FL this year! Heck I'm still not sure I'm over the easy 1.5 days drive back from Mentone yet - a week later!

When I start thinking about future BDays and KBFFI I REALLY want to keep attending --- OK I'll just fly commercial out to FL/CA and rent a camper van - but DANG ...I realize I cannot have my trusty -mobility wheels - my beloved E-trike - to get around the airport ...if I do the trip that way! (yeah - rent a mobility-scooter too!!)

Not only that but the Fly-Kansas Air Tour run by KDOT-aviation are doing something different this year - (totally sucky for the pilot-social camaraderie & our out of state participants )
This year they are trying a different format ..the AirTour mission is community out-reach to our KS rural airports and expose a lot of youth (ie school-kids) to general aviation & get to talk to pilots. So instead of 3-4 stops each day they are focusing on 2 stops -longer duration/day and hedging against bad weather messing up the usual 3-consecutive days tour by doing FOUR-FRIDAYS in September ...so we do 4 x Friday tours - 2 airport stops each day and a good long time at each place to interact with locals.

As fun as the 4-airports /day were - by time the slower aircraft had landed - we ran to bathroom, grabbed a refreshment/meal - had a quick visit with the locals touring the line-up and were off again to the next stop! I can see how THIS new idea - may serve the mission better and be more relaxing - but again I fear the pilot/aircraft participation may be diminished by the - one-day per week format! (The pilot -party & cool night-stop entertainment provided, hotel gathering of friends made on prior tours will definitely be missed.

For me , at my location - it is perfect as the flights pretty much are a radial out in 4 directions - each day about 4 flight hours. I'll get to visit a couple of new airports as well as a lot of old faithfuls!

I hope to get my newly retired from city-jobs TAGNA buddys(Tim & Kim Weiland) out to El mirage KBFFI - next year - so will shoot for a 2025 visit!

Understood Chris. Our brains tell us we're still 19 - 20 years old, however our bodies argue and defy that chronological fantasy more and more every year.

You will be missed. However we'll party harty in 25!

Wayne

 

[tadgyro]

KBFFI Fly-In September 27-29
Welcome

 

[Gyro Technic]

We had a BLAST last year!
I highly recommend anyone who is thinking of attending...Just do it!
A very unique experience having unlimited runways in any direction.
Unfortunately, at almost 1800 miles from Minnesota, it is hard to justify doing it every year..
I will do my best to be there in '25
Have fun!
Denis

 

[tadgyro]

We had a BLAST last year!
I highly recommend anyone who is thinking of attending...Just do it!
A very unique experience having unlimited runways in any direction.
Unfortunately, at almost 1800 miles from Minnesota, it is hard to justify doing it every year..
I will do my best to be there in '25
Have fun!
Denis

Thank you, Denis, for attending last year, I was very sick and missed your visit, and we will miss you this year.
Teddy

 

[Abid]

Hopefully this year they will be 2 AR-1s there if Peter Kalev can get his student signed off

 

[PeterFromLA]

Hopefully this year they will be 2 AR-1s there ...

We already had two AR-1s here for the last two years... maybe we can have 3 now...

 

[AviomaniaTexas]

I decided to accept a Social Studies teaching position at a Christian school in Athens, Texas that will prevent us from coming this year.

 

[MikeBoyette]

I decided to accept a Social Studies teaching position at a Christian school in Athens, Texas that will prevent us from coming this year.

Dang Tom how many times you going to work toward retirement my friend? I have coworkers who retired we wished them well and within a month they are back as contractors. It’s hard to stop working when you have done it your whole life. I could do it but most can’t.

 

[okikuma]

I decided to accept a Social Studies teaching position at a Christian school in Athens, Texas that will prevent us from coming this year.

One of the best teachers I ever had in school was a retired Army Colonel (O-6). A combat veteran of WW2, Korea and early Vietnam. His Social Studies, Government, History and Geography lectures were fantastic. He was very truthful and factual in the classroom without any political overtones. He didn’t tell any war stories but he definitely taught with knowledge, experience and authority. He definitely had a Command Presence in the classroom that was never challenged by an unruly student. He was firm and absolutely fair in and outside the classroom.

Wayne

 

[AviomaniaTexas]

Dang Tom how many times you going to work toward retirement my friend? I have coworkers who retired we wished them well and within a month they are back as contractors. It’s hard to stop working when you have done it your whole life. I could do it but most can’t.

To be honest, I enjoy teaching and coaching. Before my kit arrived, I was a little bored and decided to go to a couple of interviews. The job I accepted is not as time consuming as being in a public school.

 

[okikuma]

We will miss you Tom. Nevertheless, teaching young minds how to be good citizens and positive participants in our Nation is always a noble calling. I hope and pray that your students remain attentative and thirst for knowledge that you can provide in a fun, meaningful and impactful manner that they will cherish for the rest of their lives.

Wayne

 

[AviomaniaTexas]

We will miss you Tom. Nevertheless, teaching young minds how to be good citizens and positive participants in our Nation is always a noble calling. I hope and pray that your students remain attentative and thirst for knowledge that you can provide in a fun, meaningful and impactful manner that they will cherish for the rest of their lives.

Wayne

Thanks Wayne! I may teach again next year, however, I will take time off to make the trip for this event.