by claudette colwell

We’re proud to announce LOBO has accepted Continental Motors’ graciously extended invitation to host the 2016 LOBO/Lancair Landing at their facility on H L Sonny Callahan Airport (KCQF) in Fairhope, AL. Mark your calendars for 29 Sep - 2 Oct and plan to be there for the Lancair event of the year!

Note:  Bring your own tie-downs.

Event Overview

As special guests of Continental Motors, not only will we benefit from their expertise, but we’ll experience the wonderful southern hospitality of America’s 8th favorite beach town. Our host hotel is the Hampton Inn, located alongside antique shops, boutiques and restaurants in historic downtown Fairhope. Enjoy a free hot breakfast, free Wi-Fi,  and fitness center – and the very friendly special rate of $89.00 -$109 depending on your room selection. We have blocked nearly every room in this fully modern Hilton family hotel. Please make your reservations early by calling the Hampton Inn at 251-928-0956 and ask for the LLL rate.  NOTE!  ROOMS MUST BE RESERVED PRIOR TO AUGUST 18 -- our block will be released at that time.  Plan to arrive no later than Wednesday Sept. 28 if you want to attend a day dedicated to maintenance and safe flying.

NOTE: Please click here to read the latest update on the Landing.

Thursday

LOBO’s continuing analysis of Lancair safety has identified an upward trend in accidents due to poor maintenance, so this year's Thursday training will focus on maintaining the airworthiness of your experimental Lancair aircraft. You’ll need to arrive at Sonny Callahan by 8:00 AM to take full advantage of the day-long (through at least 4:30p) series of briefings and hands-on demonstrations. NOTE:  We have moved the morning session to the Fairhope Public Library at 501 Fairhope Avenue as there are a number of important power point presentations.  The Continental hangar was not suitable for these due to ambient light and sound control.  Coffee and donuts will be available at 8:00 AM at the Library, and the presentations will begin at 8:30.  We’ll start with a review of recent Lancair-specific maintenance-related accidents and incidents with a focus on root causes and an analysis of pilot responses to aircraft malfunctions. We’ll then go over the “required” and the “recommended” maintenance procedures for your experimental aircraft, and discuss why you might want to incorporate both in your personal maintenance program.  Lunch will be served at the Library.  At various times in the afternoon each Lancair specific type group will move to the Airport. Continental Motors has offered to provide enough space to open up one of each Lancair model in a controlled environment—something we were not able to do last year in Colorado. This will allow us to break into groups—led by highly experienced owners and/or other recognized experts—for model-specific reviews and hands-on demonstrations of inspection items and common deficiencies. We’ll demonstrate the use of LOBO’s new engine maintenance and tune-up kits, which are available  to members  for your use during initial build and annual condition inspections.  You'll  be on your own for dinner where you might consider inviting one or more of the presenters to continue the day's discussions.  See Bob Pastusek's LOBO NewsFlash for specific details on the presenters and schedule of Maintenance Day. Don’t miss this opportunity for personal interaction with some of the most knowledgeable people in the Lancair community and learn how to properly maintain your Lancair for safe flight. Click here for more detailed information about the Maintenance Clinic.

Friday

Friday’s schedule will include a trip to Continental’s manufacturing facility in Mobile, where technicians build the engines so many of us fly behind. Judy Pastusek wants to encourage the ladies to accompany their spouses on this field trip to see for themselves the meticulously precise process of constructing an aircraft engine. We’ll be divided into two groups for transportation by bus to/from Mobile for the tour. Due to safety and security concerns there will be no last minute sign-ups for this, so plan in advance at least 2 days to attend.  We must turn in the attendees' names to Continental. If you have already been on a tour of the Mobile plant why not instead enjoy a day of one-on-one interaction with our special exhibitors and a schedule of forums in the Civic Center, which is a leisurely four-minute stroll from the Hampton Inn? A highlight for the turbine pilots will be an hour-long forum with Pratt and Whitney. Those taking the morning tour to Mobile will rendezvous with the main group for lunch at the Civic Center, and the second group will go to Mobile in the afternoon.

NOTE: Sonny H L Callahan airport  is approximately five miles from the hotel, so consider arranging for a rental car. Maybe you can coordinate sharing a rental with some of your Lancair friends!

Friday night, Continental is hosting a cocktail party at the airport, complete with sumptuous hors d’oeuvres. This will be a very special evening of fellowship, held against the backdrop of a bevy of beautiful Lancairs.

Saturday

Plan to be back at the Civic Center on Saturday for another day of informational exhibits and forums. In addition to our primary schedule, our ladies’ hostess extraordinaire Judy Pastusek is planning a full schedule of special activities for those less than enamored with the smell of Avgas and Jet-A. How about painting your own canvas or ceramic while snacking and sipping wine on Thursday afternoon? Friday, after the morning tour at Continental, we've planned a lunch at the nearby Grand Hotel and time for afternoon spa appointments. Saturday morning is a Delta boat tour with lunch on the Causeway and an afternoon of enjoying the shopping, antiquing and artwork of downtown Fairhope, including a stop at the Fairhope Pier. Many of you know how delightful Judy’s detailed planning is; don’t miss the opportunity to make new or renew friendships with the Lancair Ladies!

Lieutenant General (Ret) Duane "Drano" Thiessen

 

Saturday night will end the Landing with a banquet at the Nix Center, and is shaping up to be another great finish to our annual Landing. The Nix Center is less than a half-mile from the Hampton Inn. We will have a couple of mini vans for those who don’t wish to walk; and, as always, you can rent a car when you register for the Landing at friendly rates. Our guest speaker this year is Lieutenant General (Ret) Duane "Drano" Thiessen. General Thiessen retired from the United States Marine Corps in 2012 after serving honorably for 38 years. Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1974, General Thiessen flew the AV-8A and AV-8B Harrier during operational assignments around the world, eventually assuming command of Marine Attack Training Squadron 203 at Cherry Point, NC in 1991. Those assignments prepared him for a variety of Command and senior staff positions, including Commander, Marine Air Group 13 and 1st Marine Air Wing. On his final tour he served as Commanding General, US Marine Corps Forces Pacific.

Sunday

Sunday we’re planning an optional tour of the nearby Naval Aviation Museum at Pensacola. There will be a sign-up at registration for this. Please remember that we need advance reservations for all events; we must make commitments well in advance for every part of the Landing. When you register (open very soon!) please take the time to supply all requested information. A detailed schedule will be available very soon. Your all-volunteer, six-member Board is working hard to finish all the details for this special 2016 LOBO/Lancair Landing.

About Fairhope

Fairhope is in a beautiful area on Mobile Bay. The Hampton Inn, our lodging headquarters, is sited downtown, close to a small shopping and dining area in the heart of this quintessential example of southern charm and hospitality.  Fairhope is ranked eighth on the list of America’s best beach towns, and fifteenth on our country’s 20 most romantic towns by Travel and Leisure.  Mix in fresh-from-the-Gulf seafood, add Lancair planes and pilots and their spouses (some of whom are spouses AND pilots) and top with Continental’s knowledge and hospitality, and you get a can’t-miss recipe for Lancair-style adventure!

Cost & Registration

>>CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW<<

Refund Information

Cancellations prior to 14 September 2016 will be subject to a $40.00 cancellation fee. We will not be able to refund deposits for cancellations after 14 September due to food and facilities commitments.

For questions or comments contact Claudette via email at c.colwell [at] lancairowners.com.