Here at GlassPilot.com we are blessed to call so many great folks our friends, customers and supporters. Our friends Joey Richie and Matt Webb of Newport News VA just return from a great coast-to-coast flying adventure in their Diamond DA40 XLS with its G1000 panel and fuel sipping performance. This story is a fabulous example of the capabilities of our new modern aircraft. I think you’ll see clearly from their descriptions and photos the value the technology brings to making a trip like this possible. Thanks for the inspiration guys… I’m ready to launch for Catalina!

The Great Western Adventure

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My partner in our DA40, Matt Webb and I just returned from a fantastic spur of the moment adventure from the East Coast (Newport News/Williamsburg) out to the West Coast in a four day trip. Matt had business in Texas and Phoenix and was looking for a good excuse to fly the Diamond out west. He asked me knowing that I can’t refuse any semi-reasonable excuse to go flying and that I could back him up with IMC situations that might arise. We synched our schedules, checked the weather for the thousandth time, then set off on Wednesday 5/26/10 knowing that we could still have two days of the Memorial Day weekend with the families if we could make it back Read the rest of this entry »

Event: Wings & Steam Fly-In
Dates: November 6, 7, 8, 2009

Flying Destination:
The Pik-N-Pig Restaurant, Carthage, NC

Airport: Gilliam-McConnell Airfield – 5NC3 coordinates: N35-20-366 W079-26-204   SDZ (VOR) 111.8 10.6 miles 049 Radial

Activities: Enjoy a BBQ lunch or dinner while you watch airplanes and then make your way to the Train and Tractor Show.  I heard there is a 5 mile Flea Market Too!

Comments: This unique place is simply something you must experience. They are hosting the Wings & Steam Fly-In Nov 6-8 2009.  This once a year extravaganza of vintage motorized equipment is so extensive and unique it is hard describe. You will be amazed by all that is on display. There are steam engine train rides and much of the equipment will be running providing demonstrations. Kids, young and old, love to see and hear trains and tractors so this event will entertain the entire family. Plan to stay longer than you might suspect you will!

Click to see the news video of this unique destination

See our Previous Post for all the details about the Pik N Pig and Flying into the 5NC3.

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Here at Glass Pilot we enjoy bringing you fun destinations for you to enjoy flying to in your modern aircraft. This one tops them all. BahamasHabitat.org is a Christian mission organization that organizes pilots to fly their aircraft to the Bahamas for what they call their Fly-In & Help Out Events. The next event is scheduled for November 2009.

I participate in these and they are truly a fantastic experience. I encourage all of you to put your aircraft to good use and join in. Check out all the details at www.bahamashabitat.org.

GP

Flying Destination: The Pik-N-Pig Restaurant, Carthage, NC
Airport: Gilliam-McConnell Airfield – 5NC3 coordinates: N35-20-366 W079-26-204
SDZ (VOR) 111.8 10.6 miles 049 Radial
Activities: Enjoy a BBQ lunch or dinner while you watch airplanes
Comments: This unique place is simply something you must experience

If Pigs could fly they’d likely head out for that fabled $100 hamburger. But pilots in the south revere southern style pork BBQ so what could be better than flying in for a classic BBQ meal? Not much!

You are in luck. You are invited to fly to and land at a private strip for a great barbeque meal in central North Carolina. If you don’t believe me, and want to make sure you have permission to land, simply call the number you find on Airnav.com for Gilliam-McConnell Airfield and you’ll hear Roland Gilliam on the answering machine say, “If you are calling for permission to land, you got it. Come on!”

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Flying Destination: Smithsonian Air & Space Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
Airports: KHEF - Manassas, VA, KJYO – Leesburg, VA, KIAD – Dulles International
Activities: Simply the most amazing Aviation Museum
Comments: A must see destination for all aviators with fun for the whole family.

Many pilots are familiar with the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum at the main Smithsonian museum on the Washington DC mall. However, I find that many pilots are not yet aware of or have not been to the massive new expansion to this amazing museum that was added.

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Flying Destination: Virginia Creeper Trail
Airport: KVJI - Virginia Highlands, Abingdon, VA
Activities: 17-34 mile down hill bike trail ride
Comments: Fun easy trip for the whole family or romantic weekend for a couple

GlassPilot.com brings you great information on glass panel modern aircraft but its time to jump in one of these birds and fly off to some fun places! Our hope is that we’ll inspire you to take off to fun places in your aircraft. Not the usual $100 hamburger stops but fun outings that will build memories of a life time.

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