Pilot Attendance at Meets this year
06-30-2008 | 09:23 AM
#1
Pilot Attendance at Meets this year
Pilot Attendance numbers are probably cyclic over the years, but are CDs seeing or hearing of any affect on attendance due to the spike in gas prices or other issues? The season is about halfway. It will be interesting to hear from the CDs in October too.
I've made some minor adjustments to my own travel plans, but I'm inclined to do more meets this year. Come november in the U.S. there is no telling how high taxes and other economic consequences could affect next year.
Just curious
Chris
I've made some minor adjustments to my own travel plans, but I'm inclined to do more meets this year. Come november in the U.S. there is no telling how high taxes and other economic consequences could affect next year.
Just curious
Chris
06-30-2008 | 11:53 AM
#3
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From: Rolla, MO
RE: Pilot Attendance at Meets this year
So far in District VI (Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana) we are a bit up in our numbers and we have 4 more events to go:
BlueGrass Jet Jam - 40 Pilots (up)
Gateway Jet Rally - 30 Pilots (up)
Winamac - 76 Pilots (up)
We still have: Kentucky Jets, Windy City Jets, Route 66 Jets and Spiderman Jet Rally
My thoughts are: We spent alot of money on our jet aircraft and $400-$1200 in fuel round trip wont effect as many guys as you may think but I may be wrong. We still have a ways to go.
-Patrick Frost
BlueGrass Jet Jam - 40 Pilots (up)
Gateway Jet Rally - 30 Pilots (up)
Winamac - 76 Pilots (up)
We still have: Kentucky Jets, Windy City Jets, Route 66 Jets and Spiderman Jet Rally
My thoughts are: We spent alot of money on our jet aircraft and $400-$1200 in fuel round trip wont effect as many guys as you may think but I may be wrong. We still have a ways to go.
-Patrick Frost
06-30-2008 | 12:06 PM
#4
RE: Pilot Attendance at Meets this year
It was going to cost me around $600 in gas to get to KY Jets this year. I would have gone except that it is on the Fouth of July weekend. BAD time for a rally IMO. I thought I could swing it anyway, but the traditional 4th of July weekend deal won over.
I hope they move it to another date next year.
Andy
I hope they move it to another date next year.
Andy
06-30-2008 | 10:24 PM
#6
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RE: Pilot Attendance at Meets this year
Well, I'm half way to Ky Jets as I type and its cost me $200 in gas and hotel so far - and I drive a 4-cylinder pulling a 5X8 trailer...I can't imaging what the guys with bigger rigs are paying! [X(]
For me, its all about the amount of flying I'll be able to get in vs. the cost to get there. I did Fentress because even though its only 2 days, its only a 2.5 hour drive for me. I'm doing Ky Jets because it should be 5 days of flying (knock on wood) for a 9 hour trip and Liberty should be 3 or 4 days for a 6 hour trip. Any farther for less flying won't happen. Florida Jets is totally out for us in '09. Almost no flying after a 14 hour drive and I saw all of the new stuff here on RCU long before I saw it a Florida Jets (or I can see it on RCU during/after)...
Bob
For me, its all about the amount of flying I'll be able to get in vs. the cost to get there. I did Fentress because even though its only 2 days, its only a 2.5 hour drive for me. I'm doing Ky Jets because it should be 5 days of flying (knock on wood) for a 9 hour trip and Liberty should be 3 or 4 days for a 6 hour trip. Any farther for less flying won't happen. Florida Jets is totally out for us in '09. Almost no flying after a 14 hour drive and I saw all of the new stuff here on RCU long before I saw it a Florida Jets (or I can see it on RCU during/after)...
Bob
07-01-2008 | 05:01 AM
#7
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RE: Pilot Attendance at Meets this year
My visits this year were limited to Fentress and Liberty Bell. I wanted to go to Big Apple but work and family got in the way again. I am usually limited to family and work issuses but the cost to go vs flying is the second driving factor. I went to Superman twice and FL jets twice; both times I drove a lot of hours, spent a lot of money, and flew very little due to various reasons but not because my plane wasn't ready to fly. Superman was great but a morning field and I'm not a flying in the morning person after driving 14 hours enjoyed it a lot Jerry did a great job . I would have gone there again. Fla jets was a disappointment both times with the bad weather and other things that were in and out of Frank's control; FL jets not my cup of tea I will never go again.
07-01-2008 | 07:24 AM
#9
RE: Pilot Attendance at Meets this year
Patrick's numbers are encouraging. From what some guys are saying the meet location and number of days available for flying makes a difference in our decisions to go.
I decided to limit my trips to 6 hours one way. But I'm lucky. In the midwest that still leaves a bunch of meets to choose from.
With the amount of traffic on the highways, I get the feeling $4.09 average gas is still not too much for people yet.
Chris
I decided to limit my trips to 6 hours one way. But I'm lucky. In the midwest that still leaves a bunch of meets to choose from.
With the amount of traffic on the highways, I get the feeling $4.09 average gas is still not too much for people yet.
Chris
07-01-2008 | 07:25 AM
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From: Oxford, MS
RE: Pilot Attendance at Meets this year
ORIGINAL: rhklenke
Well, I'm half way to Ky Jets as I type and its cost me $200 in gas and hotel so far - and I drive a 4-cylinder pulling a 5X8 trailer...I can't imaging what the guys with bigger rigs are paying! [X(]
For me, its all about the amount of flying I'll be able to get in vs. the cost to get there. I did Fentress because even though its only 2 days, its only a 2.5 hour drive for me. I'm doing Ky Jets because it should be 5 days of flying (knock on wood) for a 9 hour trip and Liberty should be 3 or 4 days for a 6 hour trip. Any farther for less flying won't happen. Florida Jets is totally out for us in '09. Almost no flying after a 14 hour drive and I saw all of the new stuff here on RCU long before I saw it a Florida Jets (or I can see it on RCU during/after)...
Bob
Well, I'm half way to Ky Jets as I type and its cost me $200 in gas and hotel so far - and I drive a 4-cylinder pulling a 5X8 trailer...I can't imaging what the guys with bigger rigs are paying! [X(]
For me, its all about the amount of flying I'll be able to get in vs. the cost to get there. I did Fentress because even though its only 2 days, its only a 2.5 hour drive for me. I'm doing Ky Jets because it should be 5 days of flying (knock on wood) for a 9 hour trip and Liberty should be 3 or 4 days for a 6 hour trip. Any farther for less flying won't happen. Florida Jets is totally out for us in '09. Almost no flying after a 14 hour drive and I saw all of the new stuff here on RCU long before I saw it a Florida Jets (or I can see it on RCU during/after)...
Bob
DR
07-01-2008 | 10:22 AM
#11
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RE: Pilot Attendance at Meets this year
The one 'good' thing that I have noticed .... (if there is a good thing about outragously high gas prices) ... is that smaller airports seem much more willing to allow RC events at their airport. Operations at small airports are way down due to the economy and high gas prices. I have been investigating the possibility of organizing an additional jet event in my local area .... and the response seems to be more positive than it has been in the past (I think some airport managers have realized that they can get more revenue from an RC event ... as compared with selling AVGAS and giving scenic rides).
So .... now just may be the perfect time to talk to that local airport manager ...... and perhaps organize a mini event. Bob
So .... now just may be the perfect time to talk to that local airport manager ...... and perhaps organize a mini event. Bob
07-01-2008 | 11:25 AM
#12
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RE: Pilot Attendance at Meets this year
As far as my attendance at jet meets goes, there's previously been two types : (1) events that I drive to and take stuff with me to fly ; (2) events that I fly out to just to hang out with some of my jet buddies.
For events that I would previously have driven to, I'll still go (may carpool sometimes). For events that I used to fly to, I'm now much less likely to go. That's NOT because of fuel prices though, but because I am now less willing to fly domestically given the incredibly stupid new baggage policies from various airlines.
For events that I would previously have driven to, I'll still go (may carpool sometimes). For events that I used to fly to, I'm now much less likely to go. That's NOT because of fuel prices though, but because I am now less willing to fly domestically given the incredibly stupid new baggage policies from various airlines.
