2003 260se-230se-Wren Fly-In

[kwmoore]

...will be at McCall Idaho (MYL), Thursday-Saturday 28-30 August (or what the heck, stay all the way through Labor Day if you want!).

McCall is a gateway to Idaho backcountry flying and is favorably located for scenic flights in the Idaho, Washington, & Montana (Glacier-Yellowstone-Grand Teton) areas, and even southern Canada. Rental bikes or cars are available for access to the town of McCall, nearby Payette Lake, and numerous hiking, fishing, golf, rafting, and other outdoor recreational opportunities. Or, just hang out on the field to ogle the group's airplanes, talk flying, and enjoy laughter with friends. We may arrange a fly-out breakfast or lunch at one of the less challenging backcountry strips such as Sulphur Creek.

There is lodging (Super 8 Lodge) and dining within walking distance, as well as somewhat farther away in town. Numerous other lodging options can be found in a AAA Travel Guide or the McCall chamber of commerce website:

http://www.mccall-idchamber.org

Or, you can arrange for some world-class instruction in mountain and canyon flying. McCall Mountain Canyon Flying is right there on the field. Their group instruction seminars are in June & July, but individual/customized instruction can be arranged:

http://www.mountaincanyonflying.com

If there is enough interest I will inquire about a mini-seminar & instruction for a group.

The FBO on the field is McCall Aviation. There is an article about McCall in the Summer 2000 issue of Pilot Getaways magazine.

See you there! Please e-mail me or send a private message through this forum with your number attending and aircraft tail number, and indicate whether you might be interested in some mountain/canyon flying instruction. To do this, just click on "kwmoore" on the 260se discussion forum page then select e-mail or private message under "contact kwmoore."

[kwmoore]

Bringing this to the top as a reminder. Even 4+ months out, we have 6 people/planes who have indicated they will come.

So far only 2 have expressed interest in my looking into group instruction in mountain & canyon flying.

The last two fly-ins have been great fun for those who came--don't miss out on this one!

Kevin,

I don't recall if I mentioned it, but I'm interested in the mountain flying class.

Mike

Jo and I are definitely looking forward to flying our airplanes up to the fly in. We have a request in with the "weather gods" for blue skies and maybe a just a little tail wind (I didn't want to push it too much).

See you there.

[kwmoore]

If you want round trip tailwinds, be sure to disconnect the air hose from the airbox. It worked very well for me.

I don't think we need to get there quite that quick.

Kevin, count me in I don't know how many people, but I'll be there. If there is a mountain flying class I would be interested.

Glen

Kevin,

Have you made arrangements or deals with one of the motels or lodge? How far from the airport to town?

Oops, guess I should have re-read your opening statement before I asked.

Mike

[kwmoore]

At past fly-ins it was clear that individuals had their own preferences, so I'm leaving it up to each attendee to make their own arrangements. Note that Super 8 will give a 10% discount if you get one of their "VIP" cards--no cost to do this I believe.

I plan on stopping by McCall in late June on another trip and will inquire about a good location for a group dinner Friday evening, as well as group mountain flying instruction. So far we have 3 pilots interested in the latter.

I've made reservations at the Super 8 in McCall and will be flying-in on Aug. 26th to attend classes with the McCall Mountain Seminars on the 27th, 28, 29 and possibly the 30th. I'll be leaving Sunday morning after church.

At this point Mountain Seminars still has room available on those dates but the classes are filling up fast. If you're interested call or email Lori now.

Mike

[kwmoore]

My unofficial sources tell me that Tom Castleberry is in McCall attending the Mountain/Canyon Flying course. He might also case out lodging options for us, particularly regarding potential alternatives to Super 8. I'm hoping he'll post a report on both when he returns.

I will look into a fly-out lunch for the group on Saturday August 30, to a destination within 1-1.5 hr flight time and with a PAVED runway. My current preferred candidate is Driggs ID, about 220 miles. They have a good restaurant on the field, a small air museum, and the opportunity to overfly Yellowstone & Grand Teton parks before or after lunch. Next would be Kalispell MT, also about 220 miles, near Glacier National Park. Finally somewhat closer would be Sandpoint ID (~205 miles) and Coeur d'Alene (175 miles). Sandpoint is on a beautiful lake but lacks an airport restaurant; places to eat would be accessible by courtesy car or a bit of a walk.

Preferences or alternative suggestions cheerfully entertained.

The following are my findings on the accomodations, transportation, aircraft maintenance, and instruction available at McCall.

ACCOMODATIONS - There are three viable candidates, in my opinion. They are:

Super 8 - 1/2 block from the airport and the one used by Mountain/Canyon Flying for the ground training. Very convenient to the airport and Pioneer Aviation but not so convienient to restaurants and downtown McCall. Views are primarily of the dumpsters, parking lot, and mini storage. Your basic clean room that you don't want to stay in but with nice folks running it. You want to stay here if you are attending the Mountain/Canyon Flying Course.

Rates were $65 + 10% tax for the group. I think they are a little higer for individuals.

http://www.mccall-idchamber.org

Holiday Inn Express - Brand new, very attractive and down the street towards town (1 mile) and about a 7 minute walk to the FBO as opposed to about 4 minutes from the Super 8. It is also across the street from the best place for breakfast and lunch in town, the Pancake House, and a 5 minute walk to the best restaurant in town, the Mill.

Rates are $89 Std King to $129 for a suite plus the usual vigorish of 10% for the federales.

They told me they would provide a group rate if we chose to do so. This would be my choice as the best compromise.

http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/ex/1/en/ha/dmlid

Hotel McCall - Downtown and on the lake. It is an old restored hotel with some new rentable condominiums added. Great lobby and sitting areas, downtown, close to the beach and about a mile from the airport.

Rates range from about $110 for the restored rooms to $125 for the condos.

I really liked the ambience and this would be a great choice if you have wheels.

http://www.mccall-idchamber.org

TRANSPORTATION:

If you only want to fly and hang at the airport, you don't need a car if you stay at the Super 8 or Holiday Inn. I rented a bike for the week I was there and it was adequate but a car is by far a better choice. There is only one rental place in town for the auto and they charge by the calendar day so it has some wrinkles. I believe it is called Collins and I will rent for sure this trip. A few cars ought to do the trick.

There is also an informal taxi service that will pick you up and deliver you anywhere in McCall for a tip...recommended $5. It is called PROMPT...I didn't keep the phone number. They are not a practical choice for the a.m. since they don't start until 10 am.

Also have a bus-jitney service that runs every hour through McCall and is only useful if you want the entire town tour everytime.

Let Kevin, or me know, what you think...for me it's the Holiday Inn Express or Hotel McCall.

AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE - If you have a plane, it will break and require attention sooner or later! DEW Aircraft, co-located with McCall Mountain Flying, is an excellent shop. Doug is the owner and is very responsive and fair.

MOUNTAIN FLYING - I will post my experience with the McCall Mountain/Canyon Flying course later. However, if anyone is interested in instruction, some planning is required. Mike Sullivan has pretty well booked up Lori MacNichol, founder of Mountain/Canyon Flying, for that week so we would have to use alternate instructors. Since I knew we would be there, I have informally buttoned down one of the better instructors for that time if we can get enuf folks interested. You can only do 2 flites a day, all in the a.m., since you don't go to the Back Country in the afternoon due to DA, wind, etc. Flites are usually scheduled for 6 and 9 am and last 2 1/2 to 3 hours. No wheel pants so you have to arrange for DEW to tak'em on and off.

More in the coming post.

Let me know....












http://www.mountaincanyonflying.com and http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/ex/1/en/ha/dmlid for the Hoiday Inn Express.[list]

Kevin & Tom ~

Many thanks, Tom ... good recon, there.

Although I too would appreciate Hotel McCall's ambiance, I will be staying at the Holiday Inn Express.

If we all do so, we clearly should negotiate a group rate.

By the way, if town is only a mile away, is it easily walkable (ie., sidewalks)?

Pete

Town is easily walkable (side of the road)...about 15 minutes. Not much in town except for the lake, a coffee house, the usual knick-kanck sales, and Romanos Italian restaurant with a lake view. Main attraction is the lake, dock and beach.

If more than 4 or 5 choose the Holiday Inn, I can probably negotiate the rate.....Tom

Main attraction is the lake, dock and beach.

With mountains in the background ...

Music to my ears!