Sun 'N Fun 2010 - Transit To

Bruce and I got up early, headed to the airport, loaded up the RV, and were in the air by 7AM.  We flew down the Eastern Shore, bopped back across Bay near Patuxent River, flew over Jamestown, and landed at one of my favorite airports:  Suffolk, Virginia. 

There, unfortunately, the plan started unraveling a little bit.  First of all, the airfield restaurant was closed!  I should have called ahead of time, as it is not unusual for airfield restaurants to be closed on Monday. 

Halfway down to Suffolk I was aware from the Dynon that my alternator wasn't working.  On the ground, we popped the top cowl and right away saw that the alternator belt had broken.   I knew why it happened -- long story.  This immediate issue was what to do.  Fortunately, Suffolk has a maintenance operation:  Decker Aviation.  Steve Decker dropped what he was doing and helped us out.  The three of us took the prop off, put on a new, shorter belt -- shorter so the alternator spinner wouldn't hit the cowl, and put the prop back on. A couple of hours later, we were at the fuel pump ready to go.

The RV-6 ahead of us is from Long Island, NY and is also headed to Sun /N Fun.  It was twelve years in the building.

  
While we were at Suffolk, a Fighter Factory Spitfire flew in.  A TBM Avenger taxiied by and took off as well. 
  
The Decker Aviation maintenance hangar. 
  
After Suffolk we had to make some time, so we took off, climbed to 8500 and set course for Waycross, Georgia.  I had landed there many years ago when flying a Corben Baby Ace from Miami to Baltimore.  I had a good experience back then, and when I saw that Waycross was giving free BBQ to Sun 'N Fun transiters, well that was it.  We made excellent time, over 200 mph at altitude.  The Waycross airport regulars were very friendly and the BBQ was excellent!
  
Everyone likes the Invasion stripes.
  
Waycross is located on the north edge of the big Okefenokee Swamp.  In the Baby Ace, I had gone around the swamp, but with the RVs speed, we zoomed right over it.  We got sprinkled on a little during the transit.
  
I was looking for alligators but didn't see any.
  
Soon we were past the swamp and over Florida farmland.
  
The Road to Sun 'N Fun.
  
I'm not sure what this is. 
  
An immaculate horse farm?
  
The sun came out again but the winds started picking up.
  
Scenic Florida
  
More scenic Florida
  

The landing at Lakeland was fairly uneventful.  I had studied the Notam arrival procedures thoroughly, and had the little abbreviated Notam booklet -- sent by mail -- with me.  I arrived at the powerplant on the northeast corner of Lake Parker and headed west.  There were two planes ahead of me.  The three of us followed I-4, then turned south, then turned west for a downwind on Runway 9L.  The wind was blowing pretty good but it was right down the runway and not a problem.  

After being passed through about ten ground handlers, we were finally at the homebuilt camping area. 

  
 
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