2010 Benton Harbor Convention rap up

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

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My wife Teresa and I just arrived home after departing Benton Harbor this morning at 7:25 with Steve Grimsley and family following us in his plane between rain cells passing by. We both flew about 15 or 20 minutes south to about the end of a cell to our east and he headed towards Texas and I to Pennsylvania.

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Several folks followed us by I'd guess fifteen or twenty minutes, also bound for the southern states and the chatter quickly turned to their airspeed and head winds. About that time I'd turned on course east and started a climb to 3500 and was pleased to see that I had a 40 mph tail wind showing about 138mph over the ground as I climbed which of course I was sure to announce over the radio. But it got better. At 5500 ft for about the next 1.5 hours I had a 50 mph tail wind. After stopping for fuel and breakfast we climbed back to 55 and then 7500 ft were we enjoyed a 60mph tail wind.

Check this out Ron Massicot. Notice the airspeed indicator on about 106 and the GPS ground speed on the top left corner at 166 mph. Notice also we have 101 miles to go and a 36 minute eta. Very COOOOLLL.

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Here we are turning final for UKT (Quakertown, PA) with about 1:35 on the clock. I started it about 15 minutes late.

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4.7 hours total, only 2 hours from Salem Airport, Ohio to home clear across PA. It actually took us about 7.4 hours total to get there following much the same route.

Once again we had a great time at convention. Lee Scherwitz, the Benton Harbor airport manager and driving force behind our convention coming to Benton Harbor was fantastic. Wish we could transplant him to every airport we might hold a convention.

Glenn and Mary Ann Dee who were the official hosts also did a fantastic job schooling Lee in things we TIC170A convention attendees have come to expect, and just generally making sure everything was just right. And that meant lots of long hours for all involved. Thank you Lee, Glen, Mary Ann and all the folks who volunteered and made this such a nice time.

[mike roe]

Very nice Bruce. Thanks for the great pics.

[bsdunek]

Glad so many got out this morning. Wasn't the best. We waited until 2:30 for a window to OZW. Worked out well. Last 40 miles or so was under a 1,200 ft ceiling, but visibility was good. The Yankee Air Force B-17 greeted us at OZW when we landed. Convention was great, people were great, and thanks to all that made Carolyn and me feel welcome.

[c170b53]

Had to wait for a clearing West, left at about 15:45 from KBEH around bottom of lake then below and through OHR class B to KARR then picked my way until I decided to land at Sterling Rock falls. Crossing into the downwind I got a beautiful view of about 30 DC-3's doing a pre OSK showing. After the weather improved I went on and ended up in KDBQ where the field is littered with Texans and a few P51's. Most of the area shows the effects of the recent rainfalls. Looks like everyone is backed up trying to get into the big show. As neither my plane or tent is fitted with floats I've decided to head home.
Had a great time thanks to all and special thanks to the hosts and Lee S. Can't wait for next year.

[ron74887]

Glenn and Mary Ann and Lee S. thanks for a great time and it's always great to see old friends and meet many new ones as we did this year! Had a bunch of beautiful first timers 170 winnings awards, which is what we like to see. This just means that the association is doing it's job. This year probably had more competetion for awards than in many years. There were some outstandingly beautiful planes this year.

Bruce, yes I see that 166 and we were heading out at 70's 80's for quite a while and I finially got to 105 knots around Memphis. You know we'd love to repay you for that terrific tail wind but not next year cause we'll be heading the same direction but one day I hope to return the FAVOR!! Ron

[c170b53]

Got home today safe and sound. Had a TAIL wind going West averaging 110 Knots GS at 6500 ft until just before Butte. After that point the wind shifted and was out of the north until the west side of the trench shifting to a light westerly. Flew through a plume of smoke from a forest fire in a pass just south of KMSO. At the time I was getting low on fuel but I'll avoid it in the future if possible. I wasn't expecting the ash to adhere to the windscreen and the entire leading edge. Arrived and Landed at KMSO with a density Alt of 9500 ft and performed my usual carrier landing.
Had fun and I'd like some more, so here's hoping I'll see the gang next time. Thanks everybody.

[flyguy]

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Flew through a plume of smoke from a forest fire in a pass just south of KMSO. At the time I was getting low on fuel but I'll avoid it in the future if possible. I wasn't expecting the ash to adhere to the windscreen and the entire leading edge.

Hey Jim, Glad you made it home safely . . . Here is a photo of the Montana fire you encountered. Taken from "space" it shows just how large that thing is.

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

Gar did you take that on departure or reentry?

[cessna170bdriver]

Got home today safe and sound. Had a TAIL wind going West averaging 110 Knots GS at 6500 ft until just before Butte.

NO FAIR, NO FAIR! The best we did was break even until the last 10 minutes before arriving home. Wyoming is a VERY wide state at 85 knots.