It was my first visit down south and first S-n-F experience. I was volunteering with sheet metal workshop. To say it was great or cool means to say too little. It was absolutely BRILLIANT and RIVETING experience! I am missing that place already.
I Jetted my way to Tampa. Working and living in New York City I got used to 24/7 fast-paced life. I was expected some crowds walking Tampa streets after I have read all those tourist guides. No way. The downtown was EMPTY on a beautiful weekend evening. I didn't catch neither my planned street car ride nor a show. Wait, there was a disco concert across the river at the University. Some groups of young people were spotted there may be a hundred souls or so. It made me feel better.
Stayed at the University Inn overnight. Next morning I got a call from fellow RVator relaying a message from a local RVator. Offer to pick me up and transport to the grounds was gladly accepted. A ChevelleBoy showed up 11 am sharp in his turbo-souped jet-A powered truck. Man this truck is a tank! And painted like Uncle Sam's Suburban! So we trucked our way to Lakeland and stopped by registration window. Gent working tirelessly volunteers' registration told me that first year volunteers do not have right to camp. What?! One phone call and two minutes later I was on the grounds with all my credentials handed to me. Conclusion - if you volunteer, contact your shop chairman first, the registration guys may have no clue who you are.
Huge tent was erected with help from Fort Lauderdale RVators. They occupy that corner for years and years. Very convenient location.
The workshop experience was undescribable (if there is such a word). Lots and lots of interested people. Almost all of them had general understanding of metal work and steady hand with a gun. I had a pleasure to demonstrate some building techniques to people who already bought their tail kits. Though we had limited assortment of donated tools, everyone who wanted some practive, got it. Some builders came next day and partially completed Vans practice kit. The whole box of the parts was donated to workshops by Vans couple years ago. There are still some leftovers for next year. Come and check it out. I had a pleasure to show how to rivet to first RV-9 bulder in Dominican Republic.
Thanks Waldo for that opportunity! Couple of capable gentlemen flying heavies expressed their satistaction when we went straight to mistakes like dimpling a (lightening) hole in rudder skin then tried to fix it in wrong way. Making smileys and slipping the gun or bucking bar on purpose were accepted with special thanks. Very, very positive learning experience for me. There were husband and wife doing some riveting as a team and did well. Lucky guy that husband do not remember his name.They have A7 tail at home.
We had a sizeable group of volunteers in the shop and once in a while the chairman let me go for couple of hours to visit vendors, walk the line etc.
"Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble. Eye of Newt, wing of bat."
I made hundreds of pictures but after looking at albums made by other people and photopros I shrank my collection to two dozen.
Planes rolled and looped, climbed and spinned, smoked and then performed everything again and again next day and day after next. My kit lenses could not capture all this airshow topsyturvy in full bloom. But some pictures on the grounds were kind of interesting. These giant eyeball vents and non-Vetterman exhaust.
I had my first RV ride out of South Lakeland Airport. Professional actor Eddy Fernandez owner of beautiful RV-9A called his buddy Jim Streit (also RV-9A) to grab me after workshop and go flying. Special thanks to you Jim! Man what a machine this guy has! Catto 3-blader, carbed 320, exactly the same setup as mine. Operating from the grass with proper technique - no issues. He demonstrated everything the plane can do and strongly advised get good transition training before first flight. I was a bit uncomfortable with non-towered environment, looks like airplanes were everywhere in the vicinity. And nobody is talking to an authority (tower) to request or confirm something. But the good thing is you do not need to wait in line after 16 planes (Republic Airport of Long Island) run up and take off with dozen more landing in between. Unforgettable ride. Thank you Eddy.
Be continued...
I Jetted my way to Tampa. Working and living in New York City I got used to 24/7 fast-paced life. I was expected some crowds walking Tampa streets after I have read all those tourist guides. No way. The downtown was EMPTY on a beautiful weekend evening. I didn't catch neither my planned street car ride nor a show. Wait, there was a disco concert across the river at the University. Some groups of young people were spotted there may be a hundred souls or so. It made me feel better.
Stayed at the University Inn overnight. Next morning I got a call from fellow RVator relaying a message from a local RVator. Offer to pick me up and transport to the grounds was gladly accepted. A ChevelleBoy showed up 11 am sharp in his turbo-souped jet-A powered truck. Man this truck is a tank! And painted like Uncle Sam's Suburban! So we trucked our way to Lakeland and stopped by registration window. Gent working tirelessly volunteers' registration told me that first year volunteers do not have right to camp. What?! One phone call and two minutes later I was on the grounds with all my credentials handed to me. Conclusion - if you volunteer, contact your shop chairman first, the registration guys may have no clue who you are.
Huge tent was erected with help from Fort Lauderdale RVators. They occupy that corner for years and years. Very convenient location.
The workshop experience was undescribable (if there is such a word). Lots and lots of interested people. Almost all of them had general understanding of metal work and steady hand with a gun. I had a pleasure to demonstrate some building techniques to people who already bought their tail kits. Though we had limited assortment of donated tools, everyone who wanted some practive, got it. Some builders came next day and partially completed Vans practice kit. The whole box of the parts was donated to workshops by Vans couple years ago. There are still some leftovers for next year. Come and check it out. I had a pleasure to show how to rivet to first RV-9 bulder in Dominican Republic.
Thanks Waldo for that opportunity! Couple of capable gentlemen flying heavies expressed their satistaction when we went straight to mistakes like dimpling a (lightening) hole in rudder skin then tried to fix it in wrong way. Making smileys and slipping the gun or bucking bar on purpose were accepted with special thanks. Very, very positive learning experience for me. There were husband and wife doing some riveting as a team and did well. Lucky guy that husband do not remember his name.They have A7 tail at home.
We had a sizeable group of volunteers in the shop and once in a while the chairman let me go for couple of hours to visit vendors, walk the line etc.
"Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble. Eye of Newt, wing of bat."
I made hundreds of pictures but after looking at albums made by other people and photopros I shrank my collection to two dozen.
Planes rolled and looped, climbed and spinned, smoked and then performed everything again and again next day and day after next. My kit lenses could not capture all this airshow topsyturvy in full bloom. But some pictures on the grounds were kind of interesting. These giant eyeball vents and non-Vetterman exhaust.
I had my first RV ride out of South Lakeland Airport. Professional actor Eddy Fernandez owner of beautiful RV-9A called his buddy Jim Streit (also RV-9A) to grab me after workshop and go flying. Special thanks to you Jim! Man what a machine this guy has! Catto 3-blader, carbed 320, exactly the same setup as mine. Operating from the grass with proper technique - no issues. He demonstrated everything the plane can do and strongly advised get good transition training before first flight. I was a bit uncomfortable with non-towered environment, looks like airplanes were everywhere in the vicinity. And nobody is talking to an authority (tower) to request or confirm something. But the good thing is you do not need to wait in line after 16 planes (Republic Airport of Long Island) run up and take off with dozen more landing in between. Unforgettable ride. Thank you Eddy.
Be continued...
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