Plane Conversations

Last weekend I was in Chicago as a guest of Apex Brasil  to attend the Peak Anti Freeze and Motor Oil Indy 300 Race. This was the first Indy race I have attended and I hope not the last. Tony Elrod, with ETA Logistics , drove us from the airport to the hotel and promised that I would be hooked on racing after the first event. I have to admit he was right.  

Melanie (my better half) and I arrived in Chicago Friday afternoon in time to get to the hotel downtown and attend a dinner hosted by Apex Brazil at Texas de Brazil Steakhouse Churrascaria. I have been to an authentic Churrascaria in Sao Jose Dos Campos while visiting the Embraer factory. Texas de Brazil has them beat on décor and sizzle but I would give them a tie on the food quality and flavor of the beef.

Apex Brasil (The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency) was created by the government of Brazil to promote companies in Brazil to the international market. To promote Brazilian companies here in the US they have become a major sponsor of the Indy Racing Series. They do an excellent job with connecting their businesses through the face to face networking of events like these races.

As a part of their race sponsorship, Apex Brasil is supplying pure ethanol fuel to power the race cars. Brazil is a world leader in the development and production of bio fuels. The major producers of ethanol in Brazil are now working on an aviation fuel to power commercial aircraft. 

Our business connection to Brazil is through Embraer Executive Jets as an operator of two Phenom 100 light jets. We have also delivered 11 aircraft from Brazil to new owners in Europe and the US as a provider of delivery and mentor services.    

Saturday we went to the race track early afternoon for a tour of the pit and garages where the teams were making last minute preparations and going through inspections prior to the race. It is fascinating to see what goes on behind the scenes of a major race. Just prior to the race we were able to walk by the cars, out on to the track and watch up close as the drivers were introduced.

I was glued to the seat the entire race, and listened through headphones connected to a scanner to the conversations between drivers and the spotters. What a great way to get into a race by hearing the teams talk as it is happening real time.

Sunday we had the day off and took the Chicago Architectural Foundation  boat tour on the river. The tour lasts 90 minutes and is packed with information about the buildings that make up the skyline in Chicago. Chicago was the first city to have skyscrapers, and is rich with architectural heritage. I would highly recommend this tour as a way to learn about Chicago.

On the way back to the airport, Tony recommended going through the drive through at Portillo’s for an Italian Sausage Sandwich on a French Bread roll with grilled Sweet Peppers and Mozzarella. What a treat and a fun way to end our stay in Chicago.

Thanks Tony for getting us to and from the airport with great conversations and thanks to Apex Brasil for a great weekend.

All American

Traveling in Brazil I hear clients refer to themselves as American and to the United States of America as “America”.  Many US residents disregard the concept that there is a North, South, Latin and Central America.  They think of themselves as uniquely “American.”  The idea is forgivable but there are other Americas and we are all Americans.

Pizza is Everywhere

In the United States, pizza varies widely across regions. Traditional Philadelphia pizza is a thin crust pie covered with tomato sauce and mozzarella topped by pepperoni. I prefer King of Pizza in South Jersey and Mac and Manco  on the boardwalk in Ocean City. In Chicago, it’s hard to ignore the ubiquitous UNO although I prefer Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria which also has a large following, but hasn’t been homogenized into hundreds of strip shopping centers. In Sao Jose, pizza has been elevated to a higher plateau and is quite recognizable to travelers seeking familiar comfort food.
Several local spots stand out, not only for their unique pizza offerings but also for their service and hospitality.  Among the best is Golden Grill and Pizza which offers a fixed price pizza menu which includes appetizer pizzas as well as dessert pies. I prefer the open air of the bar where locals keep bottles of their favorite refreshments in distinctive wall lockers. Another is Troina Pizza Gourmet where the waiters insist on serving you every slice including their signature pizza with mussels and white asparagus. 

Where’s the Beef?

Brazil is famous for it churrascarias. The all around best in Sao Jose is Villa d’Aldeia. A welcoming piano player greets you in this somewhat décor-lacking expanse of a restaurant. However, don’t judge the present by the box. Here, the salad bar alone is worth the price of admission, and principle offerings aren’t limited to beef, although they do the beef exceptionally well.  This must-try experience doesn’t disappoint. A word of caution, turn the service disc to não, obrigado and save some room for the scrumptious sobremesas and the papaya crème topped with blackberry brandy.

Another must try is Villa Velha.  Family operated on the same corner for forty years, this local favorite has an updated menu, which should be ignored, in favor of their traditional dish, Pintado, the Brazilian fresh water Tiger Fish. Pintado is a truly Brazilian fish served churrascaria-style by an attentive staff that all seem to have been with the restaurant since inception. The US Navy, recognizing the unique pintado, has named two submarines after the fish, the latest being the USS Pintado (SSN-672) which saw extensive operations during three decades of the 70s, 80s, and 90s.

There are many more varieties of food in Sao Jose dos Campos and just as many restaurants serving them. I encourage you all to “branch out” and send me your favorites.  Look for updates on www.jetquik.com

As I write this I am returning from a two day trip to the Caribbean.

Our company works with small airlines leasing aircraft, providing maintenance support services, parts support and training. We do much of our business outside of the US.  

I had the opportunity to catch a ride on one of our leased aircraft going to Tortola, BVI to swap out for another aircraft coming back to Tennessee for scheduled maintenance.

The aircraft we flew down and back were Jetstream 32 – 19 passenger turboprops, one type in a group of regional airline aircraft that will continue to work for small airlines around the world for years to come.  

BVI Airways  started a few months ago providing point to point service between Tortola  and St. Maarten and Antigua. They also do charter flights to the other islands. The airline was started by three US pilots who have worked in the regional airline and air charter industry for most of their aviation careers. They saw an opportunity to fill an unmet demand for travel between Islands and took the leap of faith to start a small airline far from home. If you are going to start an airline it may as well be in a nice place like Tortola.

BVI Airways has an excellent business plan that allows them to be flexible with their routes as travel needs change with seasonality and times of the year when the islands have special events like carnival and homecomings.

After a short 14 hour visit to Tortola we flew up to San Juan PR and met with a startup airline, Lebar Air, that will be providing both scheduled and on demand charter service out of San Juan to the Dominican Republic and other islands within a 250 mile radius of San Juan. They share a similar business plan as BVI Airways but serve a different niche market of travelers.  

As I think about these two operations and other operators we have gotten to know in the Caribbean, including operators in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, I see a group of small airlines that are meeting demand for point to point intra-island and inter- island travel which the major airlines and their commuter feeders don’t meet.These airlines are a cross between a scheduled airline and on demand charter operator with a nimble flexibility the big airlines cannot match. When you ride on these small airlines, the feel is much more like a charter flight where the pilots are talking to you and helping you with your luggage before you board. Islanders are used to this type of service and take small aircraft flights as a routine way of life.   

 From the perspective of the operators we work with, the economic outlook for Puerto Rico and the British Virgin Islands is good. Like the US, they have waded through the recession, but the allure of the islands continues to spur development of new hotels and resorts and all the support businesses that go with it. With new resort development and tourism growth come jobs and economic growth for the entire region. As more travelers come to the Caribbean from Europe, North America and South America the demand for inter-island air travel will grow.

These small airlines that meet the market demand are poised to prosper as they provide a very critical transportation component to the regions economic development.

I am a little jealous of these operators because they have a captive audience of travelers. You can’t just get in your car and drive from Tortola to Antigua like you could from Nashville to Atlanta.

The only complaint about the trip south was the lack of time to enjoy the white beaches and blue water. I think I could easily get used to the speed of island living.

Chris Davis is an aviation insurance specialist and Manager of the Light Aircraft Division at CS&A Aviation Insurance. He is passionate about aviation and active in the Experimental Aircraft Association where he currently serves as the Secretary / Treasurer as well as the Newsletter Editor for Chapter 863. He is also active in the Warbirds of America as well as holding the rank of Colonel in the Commemorative Air Force.  His lifelong passion for aviation and various experiences give him an advantage in an industry where aviation safety and risk management are the focus.

We love to hear stories from other aviation enthusiasts and professionals, so here is a blog Chris wrote from the blogsite www.clearontop.com.  

Planes, Training and $100 Pancakes by Chris Davis.

BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEEP! The alarm sounds so much louder at 05:30 on a Saturday morning than it does during the week, but what a sweet sound it makes. Today is the 3rd Saturday of the month and that means pancakes for breakfast. I ease out of bed, get dressed, kiss my wife goodbye and head to my sons room. Jacob is only 2 ½ , but he loves pancakes almost as much as he loves to fly…combine the 2 elements and it will wake him up faster than a double shot of espresso.

  The sun begins to rise over the hills as we arrive at the airport to drag our steed from it’s hangar. We begin our walk around and the chilly morning air sends a little shiver through my body. Prop; check…Tires; check…Leading Edge; check…Fuel; clean and free of water…Control surfaces; free and correct. My dutiful co-pilot follows my every move, double checking each item on the pre-flight walk around. He faithfully asks the inevitable question at every item we check. Daddy, why? With all items satisfactory we enter the aircraft and strap in. Master switch: ON…Mixture: FULL…Boost pump: ON…as I lean my head out the window to check for prop clearance my co-pilot beats me to the punch “Keer Pop” he yells, with a grin so big his headset falls down around his chin. As the Maule breaks the morning silence, we turn on the avionics and enter 3M5 into the GPS. “Let’s go to Moontown and get some pancakes daddy!” I wiggle the rudder a bit to lock in the tailwheel and we begin our journey.

Our trip to breakfast usually takes about an hour and (thanks to my co-pilot) is filled with many steep turns, stalls, and floaters…the floaters are Jacobs favorite since he gets to be weightless for a few seconds. Often times we will join up with a few buddies for our breakfast journey and we use the trip to brush up on our formation flying maneuvers. All too quickly we make it to Moontown and enter the increasingly busy pattern to land. After demonstrating the proper soft field landing techniques to Jacob we taxi off the active runway and proceed to park. Breakfast seems to hit just the right spot as we sit around the picnic table and play “name that plane”. I talk shop with other pilots as Jacob finishes his second round of pancakes and then we proceed to walk down the growing flight line for some more hands on education.

Hidden amidst the tailwheels, trikes, amphibs and warbirds are a multitude of questions just waiting to be answered. Daddy, what kind of airplane is that? Why? What is the little wheel on the back for? Why? What makes it fly? Why? Why does it have two wings instead of one? I answer the questions one by one, often repeating the same question multiple times. Upon reaching the end of the current flight line we sit in the shade of an old Stearmans wings and watch the new arrivals as they land. How appropriate that we rest beneath an old trainer as I teach a future pilot.

The phone rings…a call from my wife signals that our kitchen pass will soon expire. The time has come for the men of the house to return home, the ladies have made plans for our afternoon. On the return flight my co-pilot reaches his duty limit…eyes closed and leaning against the window, his headset slowly begins to slide down. It is a quiet trip back to the hangar. This has been a fun trip and a very educational one for both of us…only 4 more weeks until we get to do it again.

Often times I hear light aircraft pilots complain about their insurance company requiring completion of an annual Flight Review or X number of dual hours prior to solo in a new aircraft. Just like my son, I have to ask why? Why are pilots complaining about having an excuse to fly? Many of the pilots who complain about the training requirements are the same ones that I will see at a pancake breakfast or local fly in. If I was a CFI and Jacob was older, he could receive his flight review endorsement each time we head out for pancakes provided we follow a few simple guidelines.

FAR 61.56 states: a flight review consists of a minimum of 1 hour of flight training and 1 hour of ground training. The review must include: (1) A review of the current general operating and flight rules of Part 91; and (2) A review of those maneuvers and procedures that, at the discretion of the person giving the review, are necessary for the pilot to demonstrate the safe exercise of the privileges of the pilot certificate.

Get a little creative. Find a local CFI and offer to pay his way to a fly-in breakfast in exchange for a flight review. Combine free breakfast with free flight time and most any pilot will jump at the chance.   If a fly-in is not your thing, consider getting some tailwheel training or some formal formation training. Both of these areas will greatly improve your situational awareness as well as hone your flying skills. You will learn to anticipate and lead the aircraft to where you want it to go instead of directing its actions as you ride along. Tailwheel training will improve your precision on landings as well as focus your attention during ground handling. Formation training will teach you to plan ahead and to fly very smooth and precise as well as teach you how to pay close attention to detail.

No matter what form of training you choose, it is only as good as the effort that you put into it. Why continue to dread the flight reviews and proficiency checks only to forget what you learned before your next flight? Make the training something to look forward to…plan your next flight review around an upcoming event and enjoy the training. I guarantee you will get much more out of it and you will find yourself looking for more excuses to train.

Every time I take Jacob flying he is learning and asking why. In some ways he is my best little instructor. He reminds me that I should always be asking “why?” as I too am still learning to fly.

Clear skies and tailwinds!

We wing toward the Turks and Caicos for a brief respite from the flight to California. The Phenom 100 is such a great flying machine that my new owner/pilot wants to keep going, but he has promised his wife a little time-out on the way home. He mockingly suggests that he put her birthday on the tail number so that she would let him have the new Phenom.  He confesses that to keep his two other airplanes, a Beechcraft Premier I and a Cirrus, he incorporated his wife’s birthday into the N number.

Our flight level 400 optic of the multi-hued water of the Caribbean is soon replaced by a much closer connection to the sea.  Greater Ambergris Cay appears ahead through the lazy afternoon clouds which dot the horizon. The tiny islands of the Turks and Caicos fill the southeastern area of the Caicos Bank with Greater (or Big) Ambergris Cay (at four miles long) as one of the larger of the Ambergris Cays. The entire island is a neatly organized community being constructed by DPS Development, the same folks who built the hugely successful Greenbrier Sporting Club in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.  We are absolutely awed by the airport facility they have completed.  At 5,790 feet, MBAC is the longest private airport in the Caribbean.  This illuminated strip with firefighting and state of the art construction is long and smooth, welcoming us from lofty perch over the sparkling Caribbean.

We taxi up to the door of the reception building where we are welcomed with  tropical island drinks made with Bambarra Rum, The Spirit of Turks and Caicos.  Quickly we learn that our complete enjoyment is the staff’s unrelenting goal.  With no cars, and consequently no paved roads, on the island, we are each assigned our own golf cart to whiz around the community and we delight in the freedom of our new personal transportation.  We all agree to freshen up and meet at Calico Jack’s for dinner.

The thatched hut of Calico Jack’s tropical bar, on the leeward side Ambergris Cay, is the perfect spot to watch the Caribbean sunset.  Calico Jack’s has an open air, covered dining area adjoining the climate controlled dining room. Although with nearly always perfect weather, it’s hard to imagine wanting to eat inside. With only 22 guests in residence, we are guaranteed a table at any time during the evening, (twenty homes have been completed with more under construction).  Walking to our table I’m greeted by Peter Pollock, the “P” in DPS Development.  Peter is an affable New Yorker who once worked as the General Manager of the Boston Celtics.  With an eye for appreciation, Peter has always picked real estate winners. No where is this more evident than at The Turks and Caicos Sporting Club.  After dinner, it is off to bed with thoughts of tomorrow’s bone fishing on the flats.

The sun peeks brightly into the single-room cabana where I awaken to the sound of the surf which lulled me to sleep. I enjoy my morning coffee in solitude from a deck that is eight feet above the azure Caribbean below. Designed to impart relaxation, island style, my 400 square foot cabana, is unique, not so much for what it provides, but more for what is missing.  Here there is no telephone, no internet, no television and no roof over the bathroom; yet, I have travertine marble floors and Ferette sheets. The bamboo furnishings evoke strong memories of my time spent in the Philippines when I flew  A-7 Corsairs from the deck of the USS Midway. I’m sure they hold up in the tropical humidity, but I much prefer the teak furniture on the sun drenched deck.

We are off to Calico Jack’s again in our golf carts.  I doubt any of our carts can exceed the posted 14 mph speed limit, but after some horse trading among the available carts, my pilot friend has found one that will out-run mine and he seems completely delighted. Again I think of my time living in Japan where the Western Pacific WESTPAC junior officers all had motorcycles, and horsepower couldn’t replace skillful driving on the narrow roads. I am treated to island pancakes with coconut syrup while my friends began their morning with a variety of equally appetizing breakfasts.

Famous for the waxy secretion, ambergris, from the North Atlantic Humpback whales that migrate through the islands in the winter, the island is also home to a wide variety of marine life.  Among the land dwelling creatures of Greater Ambergris are the rock iguana. The island teems with these foot-long reptiles who scurry between the areas of vegetation and who sun themselves on nearly every road and outcropping. My owner/pilot friend and I opted out of the manicure/pedicure event that his wife and mother enjoyed, instead we explored the island with Ceci Richard who showed us the original estate of Horatio Stubbs, who acquired the island from John Lightbourne, who purchased the island from the government of the Bahamas in 1811.  Horatio Stubbs planted sisal and reportedly organized a waypoint for livestock destined for the islands. The remnants of limestone and coral rock paddocks can still be found on the southern end of the island. The last private owner of the island, Henry Mensen has teamed with DPS Development to create a private sanctuary which will ultimately be comprised of 425 homes and a members only club.

It’s summertime!  Time to vacation.  Time to peel off the warm clothes and get out and about. 

So for me, I start by looking at the “Empty Legs” list our company (Corporate Flight Management) puts out every month to see what interesting places are available to fly to.  You can buy a seat, two seats or up to 30 seats depending on the airplane (a Jetstream J41 to a Lear 35), and at a great price which is competitive to the airline prices (just more comfortable and no having to go through the pain of airport security).  Just walk onto the ramp and get into your private jet. 

One that comes up often is Nashville to Atlanta, and Atlanta to Nashville.  I’ve been to Atlanta for a netball tournament, but haven’t had the opportunity to really get out and about and explore the area.  

So I do what all people do, and Google.  www.altanta.net  has a list of 50 Things to Do in Atlanta.  So here’s the list of some choice activities on my list.   Now, just book an empty leg flight and head on down to ATL.   

Atlanta Braves and Turner Field
The Atlanta Braves regular season takes place April – September at Turner Field. The Braves Museum and Hall of Fame, also at Turner Field, features more than 600 Braves artifacts and photographs that trace the team’s history from its beginnings in Boston (1871-1952) to Milwaukee (1953-65) to Atlanta (1966-present). Both the Braves Museum and Turner Field are open year-round. 

Atlanta Botanical Garden
This peaceful oasis includes 30 acres of gardens, an urban forest, wildflower trails, the Dorothy Chapman Fuqua Conservatory and a 10,000 square-foot Fuqua Orchid Center. A charming bridge links the main gardens to the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Children’s Garden. The Garden also offers year-round special events, exhibits and workshops. 

Atlanta History Center
This Buckhead attraction features 32 acres of gardens, wildlife trails and woodland areas. The complex includes the 1840s Tullie Smith Farm, a fully restored 1928 Swan House mansion and Swan Coach House restaurant. The museum features exhibitions on subjects such as the Civil War, African-American heritage and Southern folk art. The Atlanta History Center includes a wing dedicated to the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games. 

The Atlanta Opera and the Atlanta Ballet
The Atlanta Opera offers four main stage productions each season, in addition to other programs, such as Pre-Opera Lectures and student matinees to further enhance the experience of opera. Atlanta Ballet, founded in 1929, is the oldest professional dance company in America, the largest self-supported arts organization in Georgia and is the official Ballet Company of Georgia. The company’s performances combine contemporary and traditional with classic ballets and new choreography. Both companies recently moved to the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. 

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) is a Grammy Award winning, internationally-renowned ensemble now in its 62nd season. Currently flourishing under the creative partnership of Music Director Robert Spano and Principal Guest Conductor Donald Runnicles, the ASO has garnered 23 Grammy Awards. 

Atlantic Station
Atlantic Station offers a city within a city feeling to all its visitors with a walkable streetscape-style setting with brick paved streets and a Central Park. Great boutiques, sidewalk cafes, hip restaurants reign at Atlanta’s new Main Street. Atlantic Station has a Regal Cinemas 16, lots of festivals, concerts and TWELVE® Hotel. Free shuttles are available from the Arts Center MARTA Station. 

Buckhead Nights
Dining in Buckhead has always topped the list for visitors to this luxurious community. Now, you can experience the Ultimate Dining package, thanks to the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group and Buckhead’s top hotels. 

Buckhead’s Legendary Shopping Experience
Expect more Buckhead luxury than ever with the addition of the new 35,000 square foot Neiman Marcus wing at Lenox Square. Legendary shopping in Buckhead takes on new meaning with specialty retailers Calvin Klein, LUSH, Shabby Chic and Zara coming on the scene, exclusive to the Atlanta market only at Lenox. Additional retail anchors include Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s, complemented by designer boutiques Hermes, Cartier, David Yurman, Late Spade, Montblanc, St. John and Salvatore Ferragamo. 

Center for Puppetry Arts
Center for Puppetry Arts is the largest organization in North America dedicated to the art of puppetry. The center offers performances from the Family Series and New Directions for adults. An interactive museum, Puppets: The Power of Wonder, is the largest puppetry museum in the United States. 

Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Chastain Park Amphitheatre each spring and summer plays host to some of the finest, best known musicians in the world. The Classic Chastain series features musicians and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra performing at Chastain Park Amphitheatre while guests dine by moonlight. 

Chattahoochee River Fun
Sixteen recreation areas along a 48-mile stretch of the Chattahoochee River have been designed to conserve the river and provide outdoor entertainment for the whole family. Contact the Chattahoochee National Park Service to plan your outdoor fun, or Chattahoochee Outfitters, a premier raft, canoe, kayak and pedal boat outfitter. The Chattahoochee Nature Center in Roswell offers educational environmental programs, canoe trips and other activities. 

The Fox Theatre
This opulent historic landmark presents shows by Broadway in Atlanta and Theater of the Stars, as well as a Summer Movie series. And, one of the nation’s premier professional ballet companies, the Atlanta Ballet, performs its holiday season favorite “The Nutcracker.” 

The Georgia Aquarium
Dive into a one-of-a-kind aquatic experience at the world’s largest aquarium, the Georgia Aquarium! Get up close with gentle whale sharks, toothy sand tiger sharks, graceful beluga whales, playful sea otters and aquatic animals from around the globe. With the largest collection of aquatic animals, you are sure to see things you’ve never seen before! 

Golf in Atlanta
Atlanta has 71 public courses, 14 semi-private and 48 private courses that encompass everything from in-town spots such as Bobby Jones Golf Course to championship links at Stone Mountain Park and Lake Lanier Islands Resort. 

High Museum of Art
The High Museum of Art is the leading art museum in the southeast. Expect a broad, diverse selection of art comprising 19th/20th century American works, European paintings, decorative arts, African, African-American art, photography, and modern and contemporary art. The High is currently involved in a three-year partnership that brings treasures from the Musee du Louvre to the city. 

Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta
Located on Centennial Olympic Park, Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta features hands-on, colorful exhibits and activities where children can discover, imagine and explore as they learn how things work in their world. Whether it’s building a sandcastle, painting on the walls, or exploring the latest exhibit, children will discover why it’s the smart place to play. 

Inside CNN Atlanta
Journey into the heart of CNN Worldwide and get an up-close look at global news in the making. Inside CNN is a 55-minute guided walking tour with exclusive, behind the- scenes views of Atlanta’s CNN studios and an exciting glimpse of news and broadcasting in action from the world headquarters of CNN. 

Jimmy Carter Library and Museum
The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum is an opportunity to learn about the life and work of the 39th president. Walk into an exact replica of the Oval Office, see exquisite state gifts and special exhibits, and trace President Carter’s life from his 6th grade report card to the actual Nobel Peace Prize awarded to him in 2002. 

The Laughing Skull Lounge
The Laughing Skull Lounge is the smallest full-time comedy club in the world with only 74 seats, but it still brings the biggest comedy acts to town. This unique combination is why The Laughing Skull Lounge has been voted best comedy club in Atlanta by several local media and as one of the best comedy clubs in the world by Delta Sky magazine. Conveniently located in the back of The Vortex Midtown two blocks from MARTA’s 10th street/Midtown stop. 

Little Five Points
It’s one of the coolest spots on the map. A bohemian hangout with a rich mix of art, theater, and shopping, it has been the epicenter of all things alternative for many years. 7 Stages Theatre, Horizon Theatre, Variety Playhouse, Star Community Bar (with a shrine to Elvis) and many pubs and nightlife places are available. 

Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site & Sweet Auburn District
The area of Sweet Auburn served as the thriving center of Black enterprise in Atlanta from the 1890s through the 1940s, and is the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. At the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, explore his birth home, visitor center, historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, and The King Center, where Dr. King’s Nobel Peace Prize is on exhibit. The crypt and gravesite of Dr. King and his wife, Coretta Scott King, are also located at The King Center. 

Medieval Times
Journey back to the 11th Century for feasting, fighting and fun. Medieval Times is an exciting, family friendly dinner theater featuring an authentic medieval tournament and feast, with jousting knights and horses. 

Millennium Gate
The Millennium Gate is a new, classically designed monument in Atlantic Station. Winner of the prestigious 2006 Palladio Award for design of a public space, Millennium Gate showcases world-class architecture, art and history in an intimate gallery setting and beautiful grounds. 

See Atlanta from Above
Air Atlanta Helicopters has several selections of Atlanta sites to tour from the sky. And, when you take a hot air balloon ride with Balloons Over Georgia you will see North Georgia in a whole new light. 

Shopping for Outlet Malls?
North Georgia Premium Outlets in Dawsonville is Georgia’s first and only premium outlet center. This center offers current-season merchandise from 140 stores. If you’re heading north on I-85, be sure to make a stop at one of the three outlet malls outside of Atlanta: Discover Mills and Tanger Outlet Center, with locations in Commerce and Locust Grove. 

Six Flags Over Georgia & Six Flags White Water
Six Flags Over Georgia is the Southeast’s largest regional theme park. You can visit the park from March to November to experience thrills on Goliath, ride Thomas the Tank Engine or cool-off in Skull Island, the world’s largest interactive theme park water play structure. Six Flags White Water offers thrilling water rides, slides and waterfalls including Tornado, the Ultimate Storm and Cliffhanger, one of the tallest freefalls in the world. 

Stone Mountain Park
Stone Mountain Park is home to the world’s largest piece of exposed granite rock and is the state’s most visited attraction. With more than 3,200 acres of natural beauty, the park offers families recreational activities, special events, lodging and camping. Plus, new in 2008 is Sky Hike, the largest family adventure course in the treetops. Also see the Skyride, Paddlewheel Riverboat, Antebellum Plantation & Farmyard, The Great Barn, Scenic Railroad, Ride the Ducks, Great Locomotive Adventure, Golf, museums and the 1870s town of Crossroads® which includes live shows, craft demonstrations, shopping and dining. 

Underground Atlanta
Six city blocks have been transformed into a spirited marketplace that offers historic guided tours, more than 100 specialty stores, Kenny’s Alley, the trendy hangout with exciting nightlife and restaurants, street-cart merchants and annual events. The Peach Drop, the largest New Year’s Eve celebration in the Southeast, St Patrick’s Day Festival, and Heritage Arts Festival are just a few of the special events that take place. 

Upscale Shopping
The latest fashions and today’s trends can be also found across Peachtree at another exquisite Simon property – Phipps Plaza. Phipps spells luxury with stores like Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Tiffany & Co., Jimmy Choo and more. If you like art and antiques, don’t forget Miami Circle known around the world for its museum quality antiques, estate jewelry, rare book galleries, and show rooms of unique lighting. The Bennett Street District in south Buckhead, also boasts some of the best antiques and art in Atlanta. Last but not least, The Galleries of Peachtree Hills houses 24 distinctive antique and art galleries in a five-building complex designed in classical French style. 

Yellow River Game Ranch and Kangaroo Conservation Center
Visit the 24-acre Yellow River Game Ranch set on a naturally wooded preserve along the banks of the Yellow River. It features more than 600 native Georgia animals, such as deer, buffalo, bears and the famous weather predicting groundhog, General Beauregard Lee. The Kangaroo Conservation Center is America’s Aussie Adventure, home to the largest population of kangaroos outside of Australia. 

Zoo Atlanta
Located in historic Grant Park, Zoo Atlanta features more than 200 species of animals from the African plains and Asian forests. See Bornean Sumatran orangutans, Asian small clawed otters and Sumatran tigers, plus a pair of Giant Pandas and a new panda cub. The Ford African Rain Forest houses one of the largest captive gorilla populations in North America with a total of 24 gorillas.

It’s almost absurd to think that is a possibility these days.  Just think about it…. you’ve been longing for your annual vacation which you’ve planned with your partner, friends or family for a long time.  You’ve spent hours researching the most desirable location, you’ve packed your best vacation clothes, you’ve booked a wonderful hotel on Expedia, you’ve planned your activities, you’ve practiced your golf swing, and you’re thinking about your first margarita.  Now you just have to get there. 

But you know your vacation isn’t going to start until you actually arrive at your destination.  You know you have to go through the battle of travelling on the airlines with the road warrior, the mother and wriggly child, or the stranger who saw your socks when you removed your shoes at the longer-than-long secuity line.  You know that you won’t truly be able to relax and be in vacation-mode until you actually step out of the bustling airport.  But is there an alternative? 

I can tell you that there is.  Before I started working in general aviation, I never even thought it a possibility that I could fly on a private jet or turbo-prop airplane.  It seemed way beyond my reach…they’re just for rockstars flying to resorts right?  Wrong.  CFM has just started operating a 30 seat Jestream 41 which would be perfect for a group of people to get together and fly to a beach destination like Destin for the weekend, maybe hunting in Arkansas, or shopping in New York?  These airplanes are economical, time saving, comfortable and you get to skip the big airline terminal experience entirely. 

So how does your vacation start at the airport?  This is how, and I know because I’ve done it:

You arrive at the airport 15 minutes before your wheels up departure time.

You grab yourself a coffee and hand your luggage to the crew (you can see your bags being handled and put gently onto the airplane).

You step out onto the ramp and take your seat in a comfortable aircraft with smiling crew and passengers who are as excited as you are to be heading to their destination. After all, the passengers are your friends or family.

You land at your destination and walk through a lovely lobby of an FBO to your waiting transportation, and head on to your resort to enjoy your one vacation a year! 

So, now you just have to find some friends to travel with right?  How many friends do you have on facebook?  And how many friends do your friends have?

Glamping at "Tent City", Paws Up, Montana.

Working in the private jet business, I know all too well that maximizing time is one very important factor for the business traveler today.  Well, what about the leisure traveler?  If you had a choice to start your vacation from the moment you stepped onto a beautifully appointed private aircraft, or rather endure a very long and irksome commercial flight where the vacation doesn’t actually start until you are finally able to walk through the airport exit, wouldn’t you choose the former?  Well, how about an outdoor experience where all of the frustrating elements are removed and you are able to maximize your leisure time by doing the fun activities you head out into the open yonder for? 

 Now I love the idea of sitting around a campfire and getting out amongst nature, but cringe when faced with the thought of struggling with tent poles, sleeping on a lumpy ground and bugs.  “Glamping” (glamorous camping) has taken camping to another level, one that involves your very own butler! Waking up in the morning on 300-count cotton sheets to the sound of water rushing over the rocks of the legendary Blackfoot River, and actually knowing where my toothbrush is, makes for a great start to the day.  No longer having to scurry around looking for firewood to start the morning breakfast or sleep in a musty smelling sleeping bag.  This new style of camping will allow you to enjoy every moment of your outdoor adventure, without the frustrating elements which bring you down from your fresh-air-high.  We live in an era where we are always looking for ways to maximize our time.  We can do this by flying private instead of commercial, we can text 5 people in seconds, and we can have our campsite butler do the dirty work!  

 Glamping sites are popping up everywhere, and at Paws Up in Montana none of the creature comforts of home are missed.  Your 270-square-foot, beautifully-appointed tent comes complete with king-sized bed, electricity, spacious deck, nearby private master bathroom (with heated floor), twice-daily housekeeping service and butler-prepared gourmet meals.  I mean really, who wants to collect firewood and cook canned food at the end of a long day of horse riding or golf?  It allows you to sit, wine in hand on your very own deck and take in the fresh air, the spectacular view and delight in the fact that you are glamping, not camping.     

With glamping’s focus on comfort and convenience, it is easy to spend most of your time doing what you really want to do when you camp, and that is experience the outdoors. For me, you’d have a hard time getting me off of the saddle of a horse, but you might find your favorite place to be on a mountain bike, behind the wheel of an ATV, or breaking in a new pair of hiking boots.  Every day brings new beauty and adventure and since the warm summer days in Montana seem to never get dark, you will fill your adventure vacation with hundreds of moments you’ll never forget – from the very moment you step onto your private aircraft.

Glamping is for those only wanting to sleep under “5 stars”.

I can’t remember what it was like the first time I flew, but I was fortunate enough to get a taste of that incredible feeling when I watched three very special girls take their first flight ever. 

Alexis (8), Sidney (9) and Skylar (10) come from a East Tennessee, an area hard hit by the recession.  But from the beaming smiles on their faces, you wouldn’t know it.  The three little girls from Huntingdon were excited to be spending their first vacation with their Great Uncle Mike, and he wanted the girls to experience many firsts; firsts which may kids their ages from more affluent areas of the country have experienced by now.  Mike took the girls to the mall for the first time, made a pizza from scratch, and went boating, all of which they had never done.  But he had the brilliant idea that a first flight in an airplane would help him clinch the title of The Greatest Great-Uncle Ever!  If the girls’ expressions were anything to go by, he was on to something.

I met the girls at the FBO, and they were quiet and shy at first, but I’m sure that was because of the nerves. I took them out onto the ramp and showed them some of our larger turbo-prop Jetstreams.  Their eyes grew wide with each cool new thing I showed them; the large propellers, the plush interior of the airplane, and the cockpit with a million knobs and buttons.  I could hear the trepidation in their voices as they asked me questions, and then see the excitement in their faces and as we inched closer to the little Diamond DA40, which would be their plane for the next hour.

After some photos of Great Uncle Mike and the girls beside the airplane, Paul Lamb (the Owner of Wings of Eagles), and Chris  Carnett (the flight instructor who was taking the girls on the flight) met with the girls and made sure that they were buckled in nicely, and had their headsets on correctly. 

Then, Chris closed the canopy, fired up the engine, and then off they went!    

Excitement and nerves are an uncomfortable feeling for some.  But others just love it.  I guess that’s why there are adrenalin junkies out there, and then those who wish to only do the things they are comfortable with.  I was really proud of Alexis, Sidney and Skylar.  They stepped out of their comfort zone.  They tried something new.  They got to fly! 

If there is one thing I hope they took away from this experience, it is a sense of accomplishment and fearlessness.  I hope they continue to find the inspiration to keep exploring new things throughout their life.  

Kudos to Great Uncle Mike!

The letters below were written by the girls after the flight:

Saturday dawned as another glorious day in Chicago.  We left our beautiful, comfortable room at the Hampton Inn Majestic with the initial idea of taking a tour with Chicago Trolley.  Over breakfast, we ditched that idea and, instead, took the subway to Roosevelt Street then walked to the Field Museum.

Here’s the thing about The Field Museum - you could easily spend three or four days there from open to close.  The danger is that your head might explode from all of the input.  The museum, guarded by a metal brontosaurus skeleton sculpture, offers a beautiful view of Lake Michigan from it’s front steps.  Our ticket packages featured a 3-D movie and entrance to the Mammoths and Mastodons: Titans of the Ice Age exhibit in addition to general admission.  The Ice Age exhibit runs through September 6, 2010.  If you have any interest at all into that age, I would strongly suggest you make it to this exhibit which features Baby Lyuba, the mummified baby mammoth found in the Siberian permafrost.  As a way to put human existence into geological perspective, looking at that Ice Age baby is nearly as overwhelming as standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon.

The museum features lots of kid-friendly exhibits with great information for adults, as well.  If you’re watching your food budget, the cafe on the 1st floor can be a little pricey, but there are vending machines and even a McDonalds on the ground floor.  Facilities on the 1st floor are a little difficult to locate, as well; however, there are plenty more on the 2nd floor and on the ground floor.

We decided to eat our lunch outside the museum, buying Chicago-style hot dogs from a hot dog stand.  The service wasn’t the friendliest I’ve ever encountered but the dogs were great!  For $6 we got a loaded hot dog, chips and a drink.  With those in hand, we found a nice patch of soft Spring grass and set ourselves to people watching.  And there were plenty of people to watch.  The Field Museum sits on a campus with the Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium.   We saw several groups touring that area via Segway or on bicycle.  Both of those looked like great options and ones we’ll explore on our next trip.

Sunday morning found us at the Art Institute of Chicago Museum.  Now, there’s another place you can easily spend a couple of days.  With modern works by Georgia O’Keefe, Frederic Remington, John Sargent, and Edward Hopper sitting near ancient Chinese, Indian and Etruscan art, it’s an amazing collection that requires more than a few hours to truly appreciate.  The Matisse exhibit, which will be on display until June 20, 2010, is what drew us to the museum.  Matisse is not a personal favorite, but the exhibit and its audio tour helped me to better understand his work and to see how it fits into art history.  It’s another event not to be missed.

Later, we hopped on the El to go to the Adler Planetarium.  If you decide to visit that facility on a Sunday, make sure you give yourself time to get through the exhibits before the 4:30 closing time.  We got there late; so, all we had time to see the Sky Theater show.  I was disappointed not to have time to tour all of the exhibits, but was even more disappointed to hear that we missed Commander Jim Lovell’s visit to the facility by one day.

Dinner that evening for three very weary Tennesseans was at The Village, which claims to be Chicago’s oldest Italian restaurant.  I don’t know about the oldest, but I know that the food was out of this world!  The frutta di mare linguine was the best I’ve ever had, on either side of the Atlantic.

Finally, it was time to retrieve our bags from the hotel, where the porters were kind enough to store them for us, pick up a Giordano’s pizza for our crew and head back to Atlantic’s elegant facilities at the Midway airport.  Our trip was such a great adventure for me, my dad and my son.  And, just to be clear, we received no compensation or special consideration from any of the hotels, restaurants, tours, facilities or museums mentioned in today’s blog or in the one from last Sunday.  I called it like I saw it, and, as they say, a good time was had by all.