Guy Prevost
Well Known Member
I'm gauging interest here:
A couple of years ago I did a trip report (http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?t=142640) about an open house that was held at Spaceport America on White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. Since that time I've had a trickle of requests for information, most recently from Vlad The Intrepid.
I haven't seen any other fly-ins advertised by the Spaceport, even though I periodically check their website. I finally broke down and picked up the phone. There are currently no events planned, but they are willing to host us for a private event. Spaceport's costs are fixed for events like this since they have to staff for it. Assuming 50 aircraft with two occupants each, the cost to us would be ~$160/plane. That's $100 for the plane and $30/person for the private tour that I assume we would all want. Aircraft costs go down with participation--basically it's ~$5k for 1-120 aircraft. Spaceport can have a food truck arrive or cater a meal for us (extra $$).
Given all of that, what's the interest? A couple of hours at the 'port is plenty. An obvious time would be during or just after the Albuquerque Balloon fiesta in October. It's a nice time of year. Hotels and restaurants in ABQ are maxed for that event though. Winter could be okay too. Spring is often Windy, and summer is HOT. I don't know if the RV LOE fly in still happens. We could bring it back to the Land of Enchantment (hope I'm not stepping on toes here) and combine the events. I don't think I have the time to put an LOE like event together--that would fall to someone else. Our local EAA chapter hosts the original (not RV specific) LOE in August. We could maybe align with that event next year. http://eaa179.org/land-of-enchantment-fly-in/
I'm not sure I have time to arrange something earlier than November for this year. I'll let the round table discussion begin at this point. I would like feedback on whether you would like to attend at the given price point, what time of year, ideas for making it more than two hours in the desert, etc.
Here's a link to the SpacePort's website: https://spaceportamerica.com/
A couple of years ago I did a trip report (http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?t=142640) about an open house that was held at Spaceport America on White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. Since that time I've had a trickle of requests for information, most recently from Vlad The Intrepid.
I haven't seen any other fly-ins advertised by the Spaceport, even though I periodically check their website. I finally broke down and picked up the phone. There are currently no events planned, but they are willing to host us for a private event. Spaceport's costs are fixed for events like this since they have to staff for it. Assuming 50 aircraft with two occupants each, the cost to us would be ~$160/plane. That's $100 for the plane and $30/person for the private tour that I assume we would all want. Aircraft costs go down with participation--basically it's ~$5k for 1-120 aircraft. Spaceport can have a food truck arrive or cater a meal for us (extra $$).
Given all of that, what's the interest? A couple of hours at the 'port is plenty. An obvious time would be during or just after the Albuquerque Balloon fiesta in October. It's a nice time of year. Hotels and restaurants in ABQ are maxed for that event though. Winter could be okay too. Spring is often Windy, and summer is HOT. I don't know if the RV LOE fly in still happens. We could bring it back to the Land of Enchantment (hope I'm not stepping on toes here) and combine the events. I don't think I have the time to put an LOE like event together--that would fall to someone else. Our local EAA chapter hosts the original (not RV specific) LOE in August. We could maybe align with that event next year. http://eaa179.org/land-of-enchantment-fly-in/
I'm not sure I have time to arrange something earlier than November for this year. I'll let the round table discussion begin at this point. I would like feedback on whether you would like to attend at the given price point, what time of year, ideas for making it more than two hours in the desert, etc.
Here's a link to the SpacePort's website: https://spaceportamerica.com/