when pigs fly - 2012 season

[gotyacovered]

we went over our schedule last week and have hotel/house rented for the Bama, Kentucky and LSU games...for sure going to those. those will probably be the only games i spend the night...I will probably go to the Rutgers, Ole Miss(LR - wont fly) or Tulsa game(s) depending on my Kansas hunting trip and duck season. but will not spend the night to those.

i am about 80% sure i am going to the auburn game also, we will know this week.

what about you guys?

[go hogues]

Where do you live? Any chance you'd be up for a passenger?

[gotyacovered]

Where do you live? Any chance you'd be up for a passenger?

Hope... i probably will have a plane full most, if not all, of the time. i only have 4 seats and have a wife and two kids. they probably wouldn't take to well to getting bumped

[bvillepig]

we went over our schedule last week and have hotel/house rented for the Bama, Kentucky and LSU games...for sure going to those. those will probably be the only games i spend the night...I will probably go to the Rutgers, Ole Miss(LR - wont fly) or Tulsa game(s) depending on my Kansas hunting trip and duck season. but will not spend the night to those.

i am about 80% sure i am going to the auburn game also, we will know this week.

what about you guys?

I have been to an Auburn away game. It is a blast. Like a mini Oshkosh. Check before you go as I think I had to get a slot time but that was in 2006 so I could be wrong.
I will also check because some of us might be going to that one.Won't know for awhile.

[hawgopolis]

is there a forum for Motorcycle Riders to gather and discuss a planned ride for games?

Thanks much!

[gotyacovered]

is there a forum for Motorcycle Riders to gather and discuss a planned ride for games?

Thanks much!

I bet there can be... Talk to the right people.

Hope you get more bikers going to the game than we have pilots

[gotyacovered]

I have been to an Auburn away game. It is a blast. Like a mini Oshkosh. Check before you go as I think I had to get a slot time but that was in 2006 so I could be wrong.
I will also check because some of us might be going to that one.Won't know for awhile.

i will check. given that i have ZERO experience with slot times and going into enemy territory!

[bvillepig]

i will check. given that i have ZERO experience with slot times and going into enemy territory!

Ha
I had zero when I went it in 2006. It is a great experience, nerve racking the first time,  but a lot of fun. I remember when I landed they escorted us little guys down to the end and parked me on the grass. There were airplanes everywhere. I commented about how many and the guy said " Yea we got a few planes in but nothing like LSU. There are four times as many"

They run buses to pick you up so no worry if you don't have a ride. The Auburn fans treated us very well and I left with a great appreciation for them. 

Here is the site that they post the slot times for events.  We probably won't know until a couple of weeks ahead.  Any questions let me know.
https://www.fly.faa.gov/estmp/index.html

[bvillepig]

i will check. given that i have ZERO experience with slot times and going into enemy territory!

gotya The slots might only apply to IFR arrivals and not VFR.

If you ever get a chance to do the Tennessee away game do it. You land on an island right across from the stadium and they shuttle you in stretch limos.  I believe it was $5 a person.  Even the Tomahawks, 150s anybody . No offense to anybody. If it has a wing or Rotor everyone is the same.

I hate orange though. Sorry

[gotyacovered]

anyone gonna hold their breath on the wx to fly up this weekend? we are going to go to Hot Springs and have one more weekend on the lake before the chaos of the season starts.

looks like the auburn trip is on...  i am already excited.

[gotyacovered]

anyone flying in this weekend? i am going tomorrow afternoon, playing in a golf tourney Friday... looking forward to it. the 24-36 hour prognostic charts dont look that great... but, long time away and nothing serious in the works...

[GusMcRae]

Oooooh, y'all have Bama this week! 
Are you sure this is the best game to attend after last week?

I remember our 2008 season opener against Arkie State.   
I feel for ya.
Although I won't be betting against the piggies on 9-29.

[gotyacovered]

Oooooh, y'all have Bama this week! 
Are you sure this is the best game to attend after last week?

I remember our 2008 season opener against Arkie State.   
I feel for ya.
Although I won't be betting against the piggies on 9-29.

man... we always rent a house for the games, and do so well in advance of the season.. i will be going to Bama, Kentucky and LSU for sure... the others will be just as i can...

i was surprised to see that the line was only -20... hmmmmm

i would not be completely surprised if they give them a game for a few quarters (as long as Tyler Wilson plays) before they impose their will. Hogs or anyone else, you wouldn't be wise to bet against Bama.

[gotyacovered]

Hate days like this... Bumping departure time up an hour...

[gotyacovered]

well.... that was interesting.

i got up there Thursday with no problems. here is the setup... last week i called wings avionics b/c my DME knob is not working properly and he told me to call him before i come to KFYV and he would order the part, but he didnt want to order it then in the event. i didnt make it up there... so i call them and he says he is very busy and may not be able to get to it, but to let him know when i get there... fast forward to Sunday... the best ceiling i can get all day is 2900-3900 enroute... with the lowest MSA on the first half of the leg being 2900, the forecast for today and the fact my inlaws were there... i just left her at wings to get the DME fixed. that was a long ride home, especially the Benton to Malvern section... the construction got us. flying is a lot more fun. 

i tried to talk my wife into riding home with her parents and i would just work from Fayetteville until the wx cleared, didnt work. 

[GusMcRae]

What is the airport identifier to fly into for Auburn home game?  Possible deal in the works for Auburn vs TAMU.

[gotyacovered]

alpha uniform oscar

[GusMcRae]

alpha uniform oscar

Oh wow!  5 hours 40 min,,, and that would be with no stops.  That's a bit far in a 182.  Scratch that.  Maybe in a few years I'll have something to make the rounds to all of the away games across the SEC in a little more style and a whole lot less time. 

[gotyacovered]

Oh wow!  5 hours 40 min,,, and that would be with no stops.  That's a bit far in a 182.  Scratch that.  Maybe in a few years I'll have something to make the rounds to all of the away games across the SEC in a little more style and a whole lot less time. 

leave on thursday, stop by here (M18) and we can go together...

its ~3hrs from here if my memory serves me correctly. i am probably going to back out on my trip too, that is going to be right around my instrument flight training and i may not be able to afford a pleasure trip!!!!

[gotyacovered]

...aaaaaaand i just realized you were going to the tam not the hogs game

[GusMcRae]

...aaaaaaand i just realized you were going to the tam not the hogs game

Ha!  Not that your trip would'nt be fun,,, but no, I'm not going to make it to the Hogs/Auburn game.  I'm going to be lucky if I can even make it to an Aggie game this year since the 9-29 weekend didn't work out. 

[GusMcRae]

I know it's been a tough season to be a hog fan, but just to give y'all a little hope against my alma mater, if any team can snatch defeat right out of the hands of victory, it would be the Ags. 
I hope we can stay on a roll, but I'm not just spilling over with confidence until we play all 4 quarters of a game against someone other than cupcake Sunbelt conference/5A HS team.   
Wish I could have followed through with my plans and made it to Aggieland this weekend to witness in person, but I'll be trying to tune it in on an AM radio station from the ranch.

[bvillepig]

Gus good luck to ya. We are certainly a train wreck right now.

Reminds me of what Lou Holtz used to say. There is a light at the end of the tunnel but it might be an oncoming train. In this case it is ! It 's the Aggies. Take care

[gotyacovered]

I know it's been a tough season to be a hog fan, but just to give y'all a little hope against my alma mater, if any team can snatch defeat right out of the hands of victory, it would be the Ags. 
I hope we can stay on a roll, but I'm not just spilling over with confidence until we play all 4 quarters of a game against someone other than cupcake Sunbelt conference/5A HS team.   
Wish I could have followed through with my plans and made it to Aggieland this weekend to witness in person, but I'll be trying to tune it in on an AM radio station from the ranch.

That's basically what your getting

[GusMcRae]

I'm throwing my hat in the door here. 
Not going to rub any salt in the wounds with cocky comments or anything like that.
It's hard for me to believe BP's absence on the sidelines makes as much difference as it has.  I don't get it, but it's really not for me to get. 
I'm saving my opinion of the Ags until after we go through the gauntlet 3 game road stretch with Auburn, Alabama, and Miss St.  If we come out of there with 2 wins I'll be very pleased. 
I know the frustration y'all must be feeling.   

[gotyacovered]

I'm throwing my hat in the door here. 
Not going to rub any salt in the wounds with cocky comments or anything like that.
It's hard for me to believe BP's absence on the sidelines makes as much difference as it has.  I don't get it, but it's really not for me to get. 
I'm saving my opinion of the Ags until after we go through the gauntlet 3 game road stretch with Auburn, Alabama, and Miss St.  If we come out of there with 2 wins I'll be very pleased. 
I know the frustration y'all must be feeling.   

its bad.

its amazing, good or bad, how much one man can impact a program. and that goes for sports, business and your personal life. the fact we only score 10 pts on you guys is pitiful. the numbers speak for themselves. neither team in college station Saturday is ready for real SEC football. you guys are many steps ahead, no doubt, Manziel is going to be a beast. he needs to learn to slide, he gets hurt i would imagine your season might be an entirely different story. the ole miss game is going to be interesting.

if i were you i would let us have it... for the last three years most here did, heck... that is part of the fun.

hope we can get a coach and put a squad together so you have a reason to fly up next year.

[gotyacovered]

BTW... i am flying up with the fam for the Kentucky game... anyone else going?




***crickets***

[GusMcRae]

***crickets***

LMAO

[gotyacovered]

LMAO

apparently i am the only true fan in ARkansas, not only am i still will to go to the game, i am willing to fly... or maybe i just like to fly... dunno

[GusMcRae]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WO8miZNzyIQ

You just need a few guys on your team that will put out this type of effort for 4 quarters. 
I wish we could convince the coaches to let him play both ways.

Fights off a blocker, runs the guy down, forces the fumble while tackling him, stays on his feet like a freakin cat, and goes and tackles the 2nd guy that gets the fumble. 
If he stays healthy for 4 years it will be a miracle. 

[gotyacovered]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WO8miZNzyIQ

You just need a few guys on your team that will put out this type of effort for 4 quarters. 
I wish we could convince the coaches to let him play both ways.

Fights off a blocker, runs the guy down, forces the fumble while tackling him, stays on his feet like a freakin cat, and goes and tackles the 2nd guy that gets the fumble. 
If he stays healthy for 4 years it will be a miracle. 

i didnt notice that live... thats the same type of attitude that is going to get him hurt also... the commentators were talking about yoour guys #2... apparently he has a helluva arm, any truth to that?

i am still mad at your aggies... that back door cover ruined my 3 week stretch in my pick em with my buddies... that would have been 6-0 over the last 3 weeks.

[GusMcRae]

i didnt notice that live... thats the same type of attitude that is going to get him hurt also... the commentators were talking about yoour guys #2... apparently he has a helluva arm, any truth to that?

Appears to have a decent gun.  He scares me the way he carries a ball, but he sure seems to have vision and a knack for avoiding pressure. He will start to run and then the corner will come up and he throws it to the guy the corner abandoned.  We need a better D.  Good thing they spotted us 27 pts. 

[gotyacovered]

Appears to have a decent gun.  He scares me the way he carries a ball, but he sure seems to have vision and a knack for avoiding pressure. He will start to run and then the corner will come up and he throws it to the guy the corner abandoned.  We need a better D.  Good thing they spotted us 27 pts. 

what is his name? dont think they said it one time in that conversation.

[GusMcRae]

what is his name? dont think they said it one time in that conversation.

Johnny Manziel.
He was dubbed with the nickname "Johnny Football" supposedly from the old men at the coffee shop in Kerrville, Texas when he was playing in HS. 

TexAgs, I think, has added another F to it, for the F-bomb, Johnny eFfing Football, there are t-shirts floating around that just say JFF.
Another nickname he's picked up is "Vanilla Vick".

This was only his 6th ever college game.  He's a red-shirt freshman.

He's now getting a little ESPN love as they're saying he's now in the Heisman mix. 

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/aggies/

I realize that his first SEC record was against the Hogs, but he broke that SEC record in the La Tech game, and I realize that La Tech is not an SEC defense...  But still, it's pretty darn impressive, and he is a hoot to watch.

[gotyacovered]

Johnny Manziel.
He was dubbed with the nickname "Johnny Football" supposedly from the old men at the coffee shop in Kerrville, Texas when he was playing in HS. 

TexAgs, I think, has added another F to it, for the F-bomb, Johnny eFfing Football, there are t-shirts floating around that just say JFF.
Another nickname he's picked up is "Vanilla Vick".

This was only his 6th ever college game.  He's a red-shirt freshman.

He's now getting a little ESPN love as they're saying he's now in the Heisman mix. 

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/aggies/

I realize that his first SEC record was against the Hogs, but he broke that SEC record in the La Tech game, and I realize that La Tech is not an SEC defense...  But still, it's pretty darn impressive, and he is a hoot to watch.

no. no. no.

i am aware of his awesomeness... when i said "#2", i meant the backup qb. apparently he is a stud, just doesnt have the legs that Manziel has. the commentators refereed to him at least twice during the game Saturday.

[GusMcRae]

no. no. no.

i am aware of his awesomeness... when i said "#2", i meant the backup qb. apparently he is a stud, just doesnt have the legs that Manziel has. the commentators refereed to him at least twice during the game Saturday.

Ohhhhh,,, my bad.  I see what i did there. 

His name is Jameill Showers, #3 on his jersey   .  He's a bigger kid, looks more like  a pro style qb, he's a sophomore.  Sherman used him in the wildcat formation a fair amount last year in the red-zone, and most of the time Showers kept the ball and went right up the middle.  They've done that just a few times with him this year. 

He got a good bit of playing time in the SMU, So Car St, and Ark game this year, as well as our #3 qb (#16 on his jersey, another soph.) Matt Joekell, whose brother is one of our best lineman (Luke). 

Both seem to be Jr College material compared to JFF.  Showers made some pretty critical mistakes under pressure in those games he got to play quite a bit.  They both made some good plays too, but I do believe we'd be 3-3 if JFF wasn't the starter.

[twk]

Looking at going to Starkville on November 3 for A&M vs. MSU. Which airport would be better? GTR has a control tower, but if there were a shuttle or something from STF, that would make a difference. Looks like it is the same FBO operator at both locations, but that GTR is attended 24/7 while STF is not--I would assume that hours would be extended on gamedays at STF, but perhaps not.

[gotyacovered]

Looking at going to Starkville on November 3 for A&M vs. MSU. Which airport would be better? GTR has a control tower, but if there were a shuttle or something from STF, that would make a difference. Looks like it is the same FBO operator at both locations, but that GTR is attended 24/7 while STF is not--I would assume that hours would be extended on gamedays at STF, but perhaps not.

disclaimer: i have never been to either. i have only called looking for an away game for myself... that was when i was hoping that would be a big game for us!!!

"RAS (at KSTF - same guys owns both FBO's) gets crazy on big game days..." thats what i was told. the owner is only going to let so many jets land at Starkville and he is going to send everyone else to GTR - i never was clear if that meant no piston singles or if its first come firs serve... they have budget and enterprise at GTR and will PROBABLY have a shuttle from STF to the game.

looks like (on paper) that you need to get to GTR early or plan STF (20 min drive to starkville - no traffic). if you are anything like me you will be jockeying for position at STF. i like proximity over most everything else, especially of you are going in and out same day/night.

maybe someone that has so real world experience will chime in. either way make sure and let us know how it worked out!

[bvillepig]

Looking at going to Starkville on November 3 for A&M vs. MSU. Which airport would be better? GTR has a control tower, but if there were a shuttle or something from STF, that would make a difference. Looks like it is the same FBO operator at both locations, but that GTR is attended 24/7 while STF is not--I would assume that hours would be extended on gamedays at STF, but perhaps not.

I have been into Starkville several times on game day.  We went down for the Tennessee game a couple weeks ago. I have also flown in to GtR. The folks at GTR told me last year to go to Starkville . They close down early at GTR and did not want us there after dark on game day. Starkville kept people at the FBO till after 1:00 am a couple of weeks ago.  Fuel was available self serve and full serve.  They parked us singles down the ramp in a row no problem. They put the jets and the turbo props in a row near the FBO. The line crew was very accommodating and friendly. That game was on ESPN late and did not finish till just before midnight.
I have found the opposite with GTR it was abandoned after dark.  Things could have changed this year I would not take chance.  There is no shuttle from either field so you have to get tax or rental
I hope you enjoy

[twk]

Update: Let me preface this by noting I'm not the pilot (it's my cousin), but I've flown enough with him that I sort of know the ropes. My pilot was pretty insistent that we fly into the towered airport at GTR. After talking to the FBO, I think things may have changed a little bit from the prior poster's experience as they do now have a shuttle from STF. Now, as first time visitors to Starkville who want to see a little bit of the town, the shuttle option is not quite an unqualified positive (although from reports, after we see how little there is to Starkville, may not have a problem next time convincing the group that a shuttle straight to and from the game is the way to go).  At any rate, while the FBO folks seemed a little inclined to send the traffic to Starkville, I don't think they are expecting an overwhelming number of aircraft (said I was only the 5th person to inquire so far), so it doesn't sound like traffic is going to be a huge problem. Also, the fact that the game will be either at 11 or 2:30 means it will be within normal operating hours at either facility. So, it seems that we're going to GTR. I'll report back to let you know how it  went. Look forward to seeing more of the SEC by general aviation--really want to get my own plane someday, but that's not on the short term horizon.

[gotyacovered]

Update: Let me preface this by noting I'm not the pilot (it's my cousin), but I've flown enough with him that I sort of know the ropes. My pilot was pretty insistent that we fly into the towered airport at GTR. After talking to the FBO, I think things may have changed a little bit from the prior poster's experience as they do now have a shuttle from STF. Now, as first time visitors to Starkville who want to see a little bit of the town, the shuttle option is not quite an unqualified positive (although from reports, after we see how little there is to Starkville, may not have a problem next time convincing the group that a shuttle straight to and from the game is the way to go).  At any rate, while the FBO folks seemed a little inclined to send the traffic to Starkville, I don't think they are expecting an overwhelming number of aircraft (said I was only the 5th person to inquire so far), so it doesn't sound like traffic is going to be a huge problem. Also, the fact that the game will be either at 11 or 2:30 means it will be within normal operating hours at either facility. So, it seems that we're going to GTR. I'll report back to let you know how it  went. Look forward to seeing more of the SEC by general aviation--really want to get my own plane someday, but that's not on the short term horizon.

thanks for the report, look forward to hearing about it.

in my limited experience proximity is going to get the lean, but i see why you guys are going to GTR... wanted to point out, as i am not sure i made it clear in my initial post, but the FBO's at both GTR and STF are owned by the same individual... the FBO name is RAS...

[gotyacovered]

i have been offered two tickets to the bama/lsu game... it is terrible timing for me as it is my sons last football game, but very tempting.

who has flown into Baton Rouge?

[bvillepig]

I did ask one of the line guys two weeks ago if they had a shuttle and he said no. However it was a young boy.  One of my buddies in our hanger flys there all the time and he had told me there was a shuttle.  I will try to get more info Starkville was very easy even with no tower

I might also be going to the ar mistake game   

[twk]

OK, here's my report on our trip to Starkville via GTR:

I mentioned that we chose GTR over Starkville based upon the insistence of my pilot. However, that almost backfired on us when the idiot controller at GTR got too busy talking to some other pilot to give us clearance as we were approaching the runway--and by approaching, I mean we got clearance about a half second before we would had to have made the decision to go around. However, that little glitch aside, everything went smoothly. We weren't the only ones that flew into GTR, although it did seem to be mostly jets and twin engine aircraft that landed there as opposed to STF.

Our rental car was ready, with the contract filled out.  We arrived at 9:30, and were on our way after a quick restroom break. Since we were arriving relatively close to kickoff (with the 15 minute drive, we hit Starkville proper around 10:00 a.m.), we opted to park downtown and ride the shuttle to the stadium, rather than park and walk a long ways from the edge of campus. Coming in on old highway 82, we got in the right lane and flew past all the traffic stacking up in the left lane trying to get on campus. Ended up parking on Lampkin Street across from the Starkville Daily News, one of the two stops for the downtown shuttle. We had to wait about 20 minutes for the 3rd bus to come by before we got on, right around 10:30. We got to the bus stop one half block from the stadium at about 10:50, and made it to our seats in time for kickoff at 11:02.

The uncompetitive nature of the game cleared the crowd out early, so we only had about a 10 minute wait for the shuttle bus after the game. We got off at the stop near the courthouse in hopes of eating at a bar across the street, but that proved to be too popular a place, with an hour wait, so we went to Venice Pizza a half block down Main Street. Only a 10 minute wait for a good meal in a pleasant atmosphere. We were in our car heading back for GTR just after 4:30. I dropped the other 3 in our party at the FBO and we to the nearby Texaco station to top off the rental car our pilot filed his flight plan and checked out the weather. We had a broken line of storms forming in advance of a front, but luckily for us, the line never completely solidified, and there was a good sized gap right along our planned route. We had to fight a bit of a headwind on the way back, and had a good view of lighting from the storms, but it was a smoot trip overall.

Hope that information proves helpful.

[gotyacovered]

OK, here's my report on our trip to Starkville via GTR:

I mentioned that we chose GTR over Starkville based upon the insistence of my pilot. However, that almost backfired on us when the idiot controller at GTR got too busy talking to some other pilot to give us clearance as we were approaching the runway--and by approaching, I mean we got clearance about a half second before we would had to have made the decision to go around. However, that little glitch aside, everything went smoothly. We weren't the only ones that flew into GTR, although it did seem to be mostly jets and twin engine aircraft that landed there as opposed to STF.

Our rental car was ready, with the contract filled out.  We arrived at 9:30, and were on our way after a quick restroom break. Since we were arriving relatively close to kickoff (with the 15 minute drive, we hit Starkville proper around 10:00 a.m.), we opted to park downtown and ride the shuttle to the stadium, rather than park and walk a long ways from the edge of campus. Coming in on old highway 82, we got in the right lane and flew past all the traffic stacking up in the left lane trying to get on campus. Ended up parking on Lampkin Street across from the Starkville Daily News, one of the two stops for the downtown shuttle. We had to wait about 20 minutes for the 3rd bus to come by before we got on, right around 10:30. We got to the bus stop one half block from the stadium at about 10:50, and made it to our seats in time for kickoff at 11:02.

The uncompetitive nature of the game cleared the crowd out early, so we only had about a 10 minute wait for the shuttle bus after the game. We got off at the stop near the courthouse in hopes of eating at a bar across the street, but that proved to be too popular a place, with an hour wait, so we went to Venice Pizza a half block down Main Street. Only a 10 minute wait for a good meal in a pleasant atmosphere. We were in our car heading back for GTR just after 4:30. I dropped the other 3 in our party at the FBO and we to the nearby Texaco station to top off the rental car our pilot filed his flight plan and checked out the weather. We had a broken line of storms forming in advance of a front, but luckily for us, the line never completely solidified, and there was a good sized gap right along our planned route. We had to fight a bit of a headwind on the way back, and had a good view of lighting from the storms, but it was a smoot trip overall.

Hope that information proves helpful.

it will, thanks a ton for posting. sounds like a great trip.