FLORIDA: Mark
your calendars now, grab a cheap airfare reservation and plan to join us
in (hopefully) sunny Florida for the 2nd Annual SHA April Skyout.
This year's gathering will take place April 3-8, 2002 at the Wallaby
Ranch in Davenport, Florida, just 18 miles southwest of Orlando. Last year,
a dozen or so SHAers were able to break away and enjoy each other's company
while enjoying flying activities as well as the many other attractions
that this part of Florida has to offer in the springtime. The nature of
the event is really more of an opportunity to design a mini-vacation around
the flight park but have no set schedule of events or speakers. This allows
the attendees to get whatever they would like out of their vacation.
Some may fly a lot while others may just drop by for a day or two and participate
in the homebuilding and flying discussions that fly from hammock to hammock
under the cypress trees at the Ranch. You may give a tandem instructional
hang gliding ride a try or just enjoy watching the flying. Perhaps
you would like to bring your wife and/or family and include a couple of
days at Disney World in the deal. How about the beach? Cape Canaveral and
the Space Center are only an hour away. Golf courses are everywhere.
The possibilities are endless.
The Wallaby Ranch (http://www.wallaby.com) is a hang gliding flight park on the famous "Florida Ridge." Being near the center of the state, this area frequently experiences convergence lift which sets up running north-south down the middle of the state. This makes for very close thermal spacing and excellent cross country flying. This year, some of the pilots bringing gliders may wish to attempt badge flights and as more ultralight sailplanes become available, the Skyout may include informal competition tasks designed by the pilots. Seminole Gliders is only 14 miles west of the Ranch. and offers sailplane rides. instruction, and rentals. Quest Air Flight Park is 22 miles northwest. It too is predominantly a hang gliding park but has ultralight activity as well. This area is just full of interesting and very creative flight activities. As an added attraction. the Skyout has been scheduled to overlap the first weekend of Sun-n-Fun, the EAA's flying and spring celebration of flight at Lakeland Regional Airport. about 30 miles southwest of' the Ranch. This event runs April 7-13 and includes many displays. demonstrations and vendors.
I
will be bringing my Magic Dragon
ultralight sailplane and hope to do a fair amount of flying. It tows beautifully
behind the ultralight hang glider tugs at the Ranch. We will be staying
at the Super 8 Maingate South about three miles away. They offer a special
Wallaby Ranch discount and are the best people in the business. We
just booked round trip airfares for two (this year the divine Ms. Kimberly,
is coming along) from New Hampshire for only $138 per person! You can't
afford to stay home! Grab your family and come on down.
That's April 3-8. Skyout at the Ranch. Call or e-mail me for
additional information:
Steve Arndt ... hanglyderTAKEOUT@mediaone.net
603-228-8612
Vice President Arndt, "I'm happy to report
that I have started a new homebuilding project and am really excited about
being at the business of tinkering with soaring craft. It is just
a fine thing to have an emerging glider in the basement again."