337 fly in NH Sept 17-19, 2021?

Timcote1960 · #1 12-27-20, 10:04 PM

All,

Dreaming of flying plans for 2021? My wife is such a good sport, she loves a good party and is offering to help me organize a 337 Fly-in.

KLCI sits in the New Hampshire hamlet of Laconia NH. On the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee and at the foothills of the White Mountains, has great fall foliage. KLCI previously hosted a fly-in for about 40 Grumman owners and say they could handle the likes of us. There is space at the airport for some 337 mechanical seminars (if someone want to take the lead on that, I'd love to hear it).

I'm thinking Sept 17-19, 2021. I have a lake house on Lake Winni in the town of Moultonboro. My wife Dina has agreed we could cram up to a dozen Skythrasher-lovers into it for a weekend. The drive from KLCI to the lakehouse is about 35min, or I could shuttle you in my 206 on amphibs in about 10min.

New England isn't exactly centrally located, but it sure is beautiful. Is there sufficient interest to make this happen? I'd consider even 3 Skymasters a success.

What say?

Tim

GAdams · #2 12-28-20, 06:35 AM

I'm in Maine at that time of year with my Skymaster, I'll put it on my calendar. Sounds like fun.

hharney · #3 12-28-20, 10:47 AM

Sounds awesome. Great time of year to do this in the area. Hoping the pandemic will be far enough down the road to allow folks to be comfortable with the gathering. Could be a really good event. Thanks for volunteering to put this on.

Are there accommodations around the area to offer place to stay while there?

cessnadriver · #4 12-28-20, 11:28 AM

Timcote1960. Sound good to me and my wife. She has family at Bar Harbor, Maine. New Hampshire can't be that far. Making it a long weekend trip. We're from Franklin, Pa. and am always looking for places to go together. Checking the map, I see we fly within about 20 NM north of KLCI along the flight to KBHB!

Timcote1960 · #5 12-28-20, 06:35 PM

Alright, the wife is psyched!

There are many places for accommodations in Laconia NH which, being a lakeside community at the foot of the White Mountains, is replete with facillities for tourists.

A great place for a fly-in dinner will be Hart's Turkey Farm, a massive resturaunt that has been in biz for maybe 80 years there. Yes, they grow their own turkeys.

There is some fantastic hiking near there in the foothills of the Whites. I myself have adopted a trail to clear for other hikers, but if there are no blow-downs to cut up you will find Mt Chochorua, perhaps the most photographed mountain in America, waiting for you there.

I will appreciate any help with the program---I'm a relative newbie to Skymasters (hell, flying in general), and am by no means an expert at structuring the technical (ie most interesting) part of the event. There is so much collective talent here I'm sure it will fall into place if people step up.

I can commit to at least a monthly update on plans for the fly-in. As an epidemiologist physician I do think we can predict a fully vaccinated population by September 2021. And I know we are all itching to get into rich social interaction. Let's work towards this.

Tim Cote
N629GC, P337G

patrolpilot · #6 12-29-20, 07:42 AM

Good ways for me (KVCT), but I will watch to see what happens. I could visit my daughter at KISP as well.

Learjetter · #7 12-29-20, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrolpilot

Good ways for me (KVCT), but I will watch to see what happens. I could visit my daughter at KISP as well.

It's a long haul for us as well from OKC, but we've got family near KDXR, so maybe combine a visit with them before the fly-in.

Snake · #8 12-29-20, 10:38 AM

I look forward to supporting. If able will bring a M337B. In meantime if you are looking for support, please let me know. I am in ME. Off and on to the forum. Been flying the Skymaster primarily for work since 2004. A little over 5800 hrs and 8+ versions. Help with logistics? Please drop me an email. v/r snake

GAdams · #9 12-29-20, 04:48 PM

Cessna Driver, Keep in mind I live on Mt Desert all summer so be sure to say hello when you are in Bar Harbor. That applies to anyone who visits BHB. The lobsters are abundant, chap and good tasting.

Snake · #10 12-29-20, 05:01 PM

Outside of SFM. If any of you need support, I am often around. Hope to visit you up north on the "island". My wife was stationed there in CG during the early 80s.

cartrm · #11 12-30-20, 09:09 PM

Only an hour and a half for me from the Ottawa area. If the border is open by then, I’m in.

Skymasterdriver · #12 01-03-21, 03:14 PM

My wife and I try to take a couple of weeks around September 14 being it’s our anniversary date and have been wanting to see the fall colors back in your neck of the woods. If 53504 has its clear bill of health by then we would love to have a destination spot. We probably would visit then venture onto wallkill Ny. Let’s see what this year brings.

Timcote1960 · #13 01-04-21, 07:40 PM

Ok, it's officially a plan! The wife is psyched to make up hats or t-shirts or both! Preferences? Good places to stay, good places to eat, maybe climb a little peak overlooking the lake, a tech talk or two and a mess of 337s on a single ramp. The guys at the FBO are likewises psyched---why wouldn't they be---and they hosted 40 Grunman's a few years back to they're ready (though we are a weirder lot....).

By September 17-19, 2021 I say we should have COVID wrestled to the ground, or my credentials as an epidemiologist physician are worthless (do get the damn vaccine as soon as you can).

Tim

Timcote1960 · #14 01-27-21, 08:11 PM

Up here in NH this week at the lake house and have checked in with Lee Avery who runs SkyBright FBO at KLCI. He is excited to host us for the Sept 17-19 2021 Skymaster Fly in.

Making myself a little list of organizing tasks you can expect me to follow up on:

Next month I will share some lodging options. The dates are selected specifically to hit peak leaf-peeping season.

Will make some reservations at the famous Harts Turkey Farm banquet house.

There are meeting rooms if we can get some technical sessions going.

My wife is organizing lists of spas, shops, etc for those not aircraft obsessed. Likewise, I’m happy to lead a troop up The lofty local peaks.

Mark your calendars. Dave W is at my home airport KVKX (actually, he OWNS my home airport) and he at least is joining the journey. (Why not there? It’s in the DC FRZ). So if it’s 2 skymasters or 20, we are definitely doing this!!!!

Tim

Timcote1960 · #15 04-11-21, 09:44 PM

Well, the vaccinations are happening and I just wanted to ping the group as about 10 folk had said they'd try to make it up to KLCI for a fly-in. A few links of note:

1. The area is dominated by lake Winnepasaukee, the largest lake in NH. One event we simply must do is take the Mt Washington dinner cruise. I've never done it myself and want to rectify that; it's supposed to be a great event:

https://cruisenh.com/

2. The lake is surrounded by low mountains, actually the foothills of the White Mountains. Which means that those of us who haven't been as mindful of personal W/B will still be able to climb a summit for some fantastic views. One of the best set of trails from which to do this is at a nearby castle, Castle in the Clouds, see link below:

https://www.castleintheclouds.org/

This isn't far from my own lakehouse where we can plan on having a BBQ.

3. Lee Avery at Skybright owns the FBO at KLCI. He is arranging for some conference space for us so we can have a technical session on our little machines. Skybright has been a wonderful partner in putting this together.

https://skybright.com/

4. I will leave it to each of you to find your own lodging; there are lots of resorts in the Laconia area but there is also lots of pent-up COVID cabin fever, so I'd advise doing this soon.

Enough for now,

Tim Cote MD
N639GC