Fly Out Destinations
Fun day trips
We are looking forward to more fun day trips in 2025!
Contact Barry Halsted
In 2025, we are tentatively planning trips each month to a variety of great destinations.
April 2025 Flyout to Arlington
Friday April 4 provided us with green grass, blue skies, warm temperatures and light winds. What a nice day for a flyout! Apparently, others agreed; eleven airplanes carrying 18 adventurous soles met in front of Ellie’s restaurant at the Arlington Airport for lunch.
Our scheduled arrival was to be 11:30, allowing time for photographs before traipsing over to the restaurant for lunch. Amazingly, all were on time! Those arriving included John Ward in his Pipistrel Sinus, Ken and Skip Brown in their RV-9A, Scott Alair with Sid Vandiver in Scott’s Lancair Legacy, Richard Howell in his Sling, Carl and Deanna Hicks in their Cessna 180, Jay Pearlman in his J-3 replica, Jeff Smith in his RV-8A, Rick and Donna Stoffel in their RV-4, Bill and Dot Shepherd in their Swift, Bud Davies and Scott Brooksby in Bud’s Cessna 152, and of course Tracy and myself in our Piper PA-11.
Where was our fearless chapter president? Ray Ballantyne normally attends our flyouts even if it means missing a highly anticipated golf game, but this time his ride was in Oregon having new avionics installed. More costly than lunch!
It’s always a challenge for the restaurants we visit on our flyouts to seat people in a large group near each other. Most do a great job, as did Ellie’s this day. Seating took three tables which were adjacent, allowing visible communication for all and audible communication among most. Windows provided views of airplanes taking off and landing, what more could we ask for? Service was excellent – hats off for Ellie’s!
Our flyouts allow get together time in a relaxed atmosphere not found in our other chapter activities. Seating arrangements result in new friendships and conversations include all kinds of subjects. Every time I attend one of these, I learn something new about the people that have come. I noticed as Tracy and I taxied for departure that several conversations were still ongoing on the ramp.
The flight home for Tracy and me was smooth with wonderful views of mountains, water and islands, and we enjoyed the memories we shared and stories we heard. I’m sure the others that gathered at Ellie’s today had a similar experience.
Barry
Forks Flyout November 2024
November’s flyout was to the nifty little airport in Forks, Washington. Although winds early in the week had been responsible for hardly any flying in the Northern Olympic area, Thursday saw light winds accompanied by clear skies…and, nine airplanes on a flyout!
The airplanes this day left from Rakes Glen and Sequim Valley Airports in Sequim and William R Fairchild Airport in Port Angeles. Most flew east along the north side of the hills to Sappho and then turned south to Forks. This route gives a very pretty view of those hills and the Olympic Mountains as well as the south end of Canada’s Vancouver Island across the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The air was exceptionally smooth.
Lunch was at the Blakeslee Bar and Grill, and as usual the food and service were excellent! Once again they seated all flyout guests at one table. Members included Scott Alair (Lancair Legacy), Ken Brown (RV-9A), Brendan Carmody (RV-12), Bill Benedict with guest (RV-14), Ray Ballantyne with Barry Halsted (PA-11)), Tom Roorda (RV-6), Mark Long with Drew Zacharias (Pipistrel Sinus), Dave Miller (Super Legend Cub) and Aidan Lara with Andy Sallee (C-172). All these folks arrived within minutes of each other except for Aidan and Andy who left Sequim Valley Airport a bit late having to wait for an airplane ahead of them at the fuel pump.
The airplanes departed Forks for their return flights about 2:00. Andy and Aidan planned to stop at Quillayute. Barry and Dave flew in formation along the route outbound at about 90 mph in the Cubs; Scott Alair blew past them at a leisurely 220 mph… All in all everyone had a lot of fun flying and great conversation on this November flyout day.
Barry
Brendan Carmody
Dave Miller
Ken Brown
Ray Ballantyne (left) and Barry Halsted
Bill Benedict (left) and guest
Mark Long (left) and Drew Zacharias