Thorp Air Command - T18.net

The Spring fly-in is only 5 weeks away and it is time I started nailing down some of the details.

If you have not attended one of our previous events here; "the Valley" is 61AR and on your K.C. sectional near Mountain Home, AR. The Marion County Airport (KFLP) is just south of us. In fact when you are on right downwind to land on our runway 10 you are also on a wide left base for runway 22 at KFLP. That is one reason our pattern is flown at 1100'---it keeps you well below any traffic that may be going into KFLP. Our runway 10-28 is 2800' x 25' and the elevation is 450'.

Our pattern entry is from the north and one should overfly the center of the runway, observe the wind socks/tee and turn left to enter left downwind for runway 28 or turn right to enter right downwind for runway 10. The steep bluff on the north side of the valley predicates all patterns on the south side of the White River.

If landing on rwy 10, a grove of trees will obscure the touchdown zone while you are on base leg. Don't sweat it, just follow the valley floor as it curves around and it'll line you right up with the runway. It is common for first timers to end up too high and have to go around on their first attempt to land on runway 10.

We have several neighbors offering spare bedrooms to our T-18 bunch and I suspect we can accommodate most of you in their homes right here.

If you have your heart set on going to a motel, I think I'd recommend going all the way into Mountain Home. There is a motel in Gassville, but it is owned by diaper heads.

There are several nice motels in Mountain Home. Some of them are:

The River Rock Inn (870-425-5101) at 1350 hwy 62W
Ramada Inn (870-4259191) at 1127 hwy 62E
Super 8 (870-424-5600) at 865 hwy 62E
Executive Inn (870-425-2300) at 869 hwy 62E
Holiday Inn Express (870-425-6200) at 1005 Coley Drive
Hampton Inn (870-425-0344) at 995 Coley Drive

I would appreciate emails from each of you telling me which day you expect to arrive, if you are by yourself or a couple and if you want to stay with one of the local neighbors. That will sure simplify planning.

I think we'll have a burger burn or fish fry on Friday evening, a pancake breakfast Saturday morning, and a low country boil on Saturday evening.

Gary Green
ggreen533@centurytel.net

_________________
Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

2 weeks folks!

_________________
Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

Any Olney guys going down for just the day on Saturday? Do you need right seat ballast?

Hi Lee/Gary,

I sent this email to Gary on May 2nd but I have not heard anything back.

"Hi Gary,

I will arrive on Friday (unless the weather favors a Thursday after work flight), by myself, and I would love to stay with one of the local neighbors.

I have not been to "The Valley" before and appreciate the instructions. I am looking forward to it, and I can help with any setup needed on Friday."

_________________
Matt Smith
Des Moines, IA
55RC

Great Matt! Glad you're joining us, will forward this to GG.

_________________
Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

David and Karen are planning to go down Friday morning, sorry no room. Even the baggage compartment will be full of cookies. Derek would like to go but is busy farming right now, not sure it is going to work out for him. Not sure of Scott's plans, you might check if he is up for a day trip. I hope something works out for you because it will be a fun weekend with a lot of flying

Hey guys! One more week until the Spring Fly-In!!!

So far we have the following committed ...

John Evens
Dave & Karen Reed
Lee Walton
Wendell Green
Ron & Jane Hayes
Scott & Lee Ann Hinton
Les & Margie Conwell
Richard Bentley
Matt Smith
Fred Lawshe

I'm not going to name any names but there are some of our usual "regulars" not on that list. Can we count on anyone else?

I can name at least 4 guys form here in TX that have not been heard from.

_________________
Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

Lee,

Cliff Goldstein is also planning on coming with Ed Ludtke's old T-18. We'll fly down together.

_________________
John Evens
Arvada, Colorado
T-18 N71JE (sold)
Kitfox 7 SS N27JE

Outstanding! Thanks John!

_________________
Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

As a couple of regulars, the Florida bunch will not be attending. Les and Marge are on the list to attend in their red Porche.
Bob just had a new ball joint installed in his left knee and Deb has school graduation functions. We will be at the airport crying in our beer knowing we will miss a great time at the Valley. It is one of our favorite places to attend. See you all in Oshkosh.

I planned to fly to Charlotte, NC tomorrow morning for business and then continue to Gary's on Friday for the fly-in. Unfortunately, the weather forecast (IFR with CB's) will keep the plane in the hangar while I am forced to drive. That means when a wake up Friday morning I'll be more than 6 hours from my plane. So once again, no fly-in for me.

Sorry I can't make it.

So ... it's ok for us to fly 6 hours in our planes to NC but you cant handle it in yours gong the other way ... not cool!!!!

No worries Scott just giving you a hard time!

_________________
Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

No, no...I would happily fly 6 hours, but my PLANE is going to be 6 hours away. Not even a pilot as skilled as you can fly without a plane...

Ahhh that makes sence! No worries regardless Scott! Just make sure you make Oshkosh !

_________________
Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

OK, guys. How about an update from the valley.

_________________
Bob Highley
N711SH
SN 835
KLAL