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Just returned from S&F. Beautiful weather Tues. so got to meet Sonex gang and watch the first airshow performance of the Jet! Great show and quite a crowd pleaser. People seated near me couldn't believe it is a kit!

It was great to put faces on the some of the people I've been speaking with this past year. I hope you sell a bunch of kits and look forward to seeing you next year (maybe in Xenos #59)

Bob from VA.

Did you meet Bob Mika, aka "Planeolbob"? I talked to him Wednesday and he had just landed. Said he had a tailwind the whole way! He will pay the penalty coming home!

I just got a text from Bob Mika at SnF with a very neat photo. It's too small to post here, and I'm sure Bob wants to show it first. You will like it!

I didn't know Sonexes had reproductive organs! Does the Mini-Me have to ride in a booster seat? ;-)

I thought it was a huge Part-25 Sonex prototype behind Bob's.

Trip recap...

-I left Wednesday afternoon for the three hour flight from Atlanta. The plan was to leave early enough to land pre-airshow but I worked late the night before and did not feel like being tired all the day the first day. I was monitoring 123.45 on the way down and heard a couple of Pitts drivers in formation. I asked where they were headed and we all met in Cross City, FL for some fuel. They made for a nice escort (along with a Cherokee, too) to Zephyrhills to stage for an arrival post-airshow.

The airspace was to re-open at 5PM after the airshow and the Pitts guys were eager to get in. They planned for a 5:15 departure which would have put them on the arrival at about 5:40. I warned them that they would likely have to hold as the departures usually take up an hour. They launched anyway and I waited until about 6:15. As I approached the power plant to begin the arrival, I heard the Pitts' finally get cleared in. They probably did circles for 30 minutes but hey, I tried. I scooted right in behind a Cub that was going 80 knots at 1600 feet when he was supposed to be doing 100 knots at 1200 feet. Typical at Lakeland. Yahoo's don't read the NOTAM. Then, on downwind, he kept flying downwind despite multiple calls from the tower. They finally turned me inside of him. Later in the Homebuilders area, I heard I guy talking on a cellphone about how he had to "follow a Sonex that was barely moving". Sonex this and Sonex that. I asked if he looked far enough ahead to see what I was following. Of course he did not. He's now aware that he had incomplete understanding of the event.

The only other Sonex I saw (in 1.75 days at the show) was Bob Mika's Katie and the Sonex Sport Trainer. Where are the Florida Sonex people?(!) Even the jet was at Plant City for a photo shoot and maintenance so I never saw that. Over in the vendor area I came across a neat helicopter flight simulator with TV screens and full instrumentation and controls. Some guy was hogging it forever and when I asked if I could give it a try, he said "are you a helicopter pilot because we only let them fly it". I was a bit shocked as usually these guys want everyone to give it a try for fun including his competitors in the next building. I asked "what's the worst thing that could happen, it's a simulator?". He just looked straight ahead and kept on flying never saying a word. As he landed he rolled it on it's side and crashed it. Great salesman.

I saw many old friends and took note of some avionics, parts, and engines for the Pitts and managed to see as much as possible before getting back home for some work stuff (and beat some bad weather forecasts). I had headwinds all the way home and about 80% of the trip, really. That's a little better than my Christmas trip to KS that was 100% headwinds. I'm trying to stay positive about that statistic but having a hard time.

On the way out I always dread the long taxi out because the Jabiru heats up quick on the ground. The two mile taxi had my CHT's getting near the yellow even with no delays and soon I was #1 for takeoff on 9R. The tower told me to hold short as there was an "aircraft accident". The airport was shut down at that moment. A Glasair Tri-Gear somehow pranged the nosegear but there were fortunately no injuries. I had a nice chat with the controllers on the runway, mostly about my Waiex, for about 15 minutes before the Glasair was cleared. From there it was sunny skies, cheap fuel and free food at FBO's all the way home.

I did not take many pics and the one's that I did pretty much mirror that of the Sonex company pics and I'm sure Bob will have a nice album.

Glad you made it there and back safely Kip! Sounds like a mostly good show overall!

I'd love to fly down there sometime but I hear so many horror stories about the arrival I'm scared to try it. Maybe someday....

Glad the Waiex is doing well. Any other adventures this year besides OSH?

The arrival really is not too bad, Mike. I'm just comparing it to OSH where everyone seems to take it a bit more seriously. I've heard a Bonanza call Lakeland tower 10 miles out requesting landing clearance. Can you imagine that at OSH? :lol:

My only other adventures before OSH is to get my new rudder cables in... :shock:

I'm sorry I missed it. I had every intention of heading that way but I was re-installing my wings Saturday. #600 should be ready to go mid May. Headed to OSH to get some T-flight training on the 13th and intend to have 889AP in the skies within a day or two of returning home.