Any DVC Pilots?

[FLYNZ4]

This is totally off topic... but I was wondering if there are any other pilots out there, and if you ever fly yourself to WDW?

I fly a Cessna 206 (just for recreational purposes) out of Hillsboro Oregon (HIO). Last summer we circumnavigated the US, and spent 2 weeks at WDW. We landed in Kissimmee (ISM) and had a wonderful flight.

There is an airport on WDW property, but it is private, and I understand that WDW generally will not give permission to land. It runs along side the Epcot monorail mostly hidden by trees) and is not too far from VWL. If you look on my website, under the flying portion of my sabbatical... you can barely see the end of the runway. I have other pics that show it better, but they are not posted on my site. Here is a direct link to the page that has the photos: http://www.pappasfam.com/massachusetts.htm

I looked through my aerial photos of WDW today, hoping to see some of the construction at SSR... but no such luck. I have a VERY close-up of DD, but it was too tight of a shot to include SSR.

I do have some pics that have BCV, BWV, VWL resorts... but they are not real close-ups. I doubt that I will be flying from Oregon to Florida again anytime soon... but maybe I will rent a plane on a future trip and get some good aerial photos.

/Jim

 

[NoWorriesMate]

DH is an airline pilot and i am a former charter pilot/instructor (now SAHM). but as we are based on the otherside of the world neither of us have flown anywhere near WDW. would be a great way to get there though.




p.s.love the photos

 

[BostonDisneyKid]

I am not a pilot but those are some fantastic arial photo's. Just thought I'd say "thanks" for sharing those with us.

 

[JimC]

The airstrip was (many years ago) used for Disney execs and VIPs. I believe it is now a parking location for equipment and containers.

If I recall accurately, RCID still has the authority to construct an airport on property included in its 1967 authorizing legislatation. Not that I susepct they would try to exercise that right anymore. But it is a fine example of the political power they could wield back then.

Thanks for the great photos!

 

[TroyWDW]

Jim,

My wife and I are both private pilots. We haven't flown ourselves to WDW. Like you, we live quite far away, and the unpredictability of the weather makes it difficult (even with an instrument rating). Our schedule typically isn't that flexible.

Below are a couple of links you might be interested in. One of these trips we're going to take a day and check this out. Mission: Space is fun and all, but this is the real deal.

Great pictures and thanks for sharing. Let us know how your rental experience goes.

Troy

click here: Kissimmee Warbird Adventures

click here: Stallion P-51 Mustang


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[Lhargus]

Originally posted by FLYNZ4
This is totally off topic... but I was wondering if there are any other pilots out there, and if you ever fly yourself to WDW?/QUOTE]

I fly a corporate jet for a large corporation and fly to Orlando frequently on company business. I always try to stay at WDW if possible.

I haven't flown a light aircraft in years but my dw and I used to frequently fly to Kissimmee to stay at WDW ( pre DVC ).

I'm planning to buy an aircraft and will definitely use it to visit my DVC home.

 

[6bowmans]

I once flew an A-10 into MacDill AFB, snuck out to WDW for half a day, and then continued on our cross country - does that count? Unfortunately, I can't get the family into one. I have been saving up money for a plane, but it has been slow going - 4 kids, not to mention DVC, slows down the savings plan. Hopefully, I will one day be as fortunate as FLYNZ4 - great photos.

TroyWDW, I will never forget the P-51 ride I took 15 years ago - it is still my second favorite plane.

 

[Caskbill]

I still hold my license but haven't flown in a number of years and am not current.

Rating SEL + Instrument and endorsements High Performance and Complex. First plane was a Cessna 172, last was a Mooney 201.

Would fly to Florida from the midwest (Iowa), going to Ft Myers, Kissimmee, and on one occassion out to Freeport Bahamas.

Sold my interest in the plane when we moved from Iowa to Indiana in '85 and then rented planes locally after that. Being retired we now drive to Florida since time is not an issue and we usually stay about 6-weeks at a time.

Do miss the flying though.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I also fly a corporate jet for a living. I actually fly for a fractional ownership company, much like a timeshare for jets. Our main training facaility is actually the new Flight Safety at MCO.

I have flown into ISM several times, and have actually been vectored directly overhead WL/VWL (as well as the rest of WDW).

I have seen the strip on WDW property, and rumor has it that it was built to bring Walt's old airplane (G-1?) into Disney/MGM Studios.

I have not flown for recreation in over 10 years, so I have never flown myself to WDW for vacation.

Fly safe!

MG

 

[DBBN]

Private SEL (single engine land) among other FAA certificates for me. All my flying has been for pleasure in New England. Although I haven't flown for some time there is no question a Cessna Skylane (C182) would suit us perfectly after we're retired. We'll see.

Maistre Gracey...You are correct the Gulfstream was in fact a G1 (G159 Grumman). The callsign used was N234MM. Of course the MM is short of Mickey Mouse. This is the aircraft you see parked when taking the backstage tour. I recall seeing this airplane at my home airport in the early 80's...I have no idea what it was doing at PWM.

Jim...Nice pics.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Originally posted by DBBN
...among other FAA certificates for me.

Well, that leaves A&P or ATC. Back in the early 90's I was based in PWM. I flew for the old Precision Airlines before they went the way of the dinosaur.

MG

 

[Jazzman]

Almost 10 years ago while we were staying at Fort Wilderness I did the Fighter Pilots USA thing in Kissimmee. You fly 1v1 in Marchetti SF260's using laser 'guns'. It's pretty expensive (I actually won the hop in a contest, but I think it was about $900 then). What a ball!

-Pete

 

[Peterd]

Gracey, ever fly into HPN? I was wondering whatever happened to Precision and the Dorniers.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Originally posted by Peterd
Gracey, ever fly into HPN? I was wondering whatever happened to Precision and the Dorniers.

Oh my, yes.... I am based at HPN now.

I heard through rumor that many of the Dorniers went to the Middle East and Africa several years ago. That could be bad info, though.
When Precision went belly-up, many of the airplanes had parts and engines stripped from them.

MG

 

[FLYNZ4]

Originally posted by Maistre Gracey
I also fly a corporate jet for a living. I actually fly for a fractional ownership company, much like a timeshare for jets. Our main training facaility is actually the new Flight Safety at MCO.

I have flown into ISM several times, and have actually been vectored directly overhead WL/VWL (as well as the rest of WDW).

I have seen the strip on WDW property, and rumor has it that it was built to bring Walt's old airplane (G-1?) into Disney/MGM Studios.

I have not flown for recreation in over 10 years, so I have never flown myself to WDW for vacation.

Fly safe!

MG

MG,

Do you mind saying which fractional ownership company you work for?

When we were departing ISM, I was given a NW heading to fly until I will picked up on radar... then was told "resume own navigation" which were the words that i wanted to hear. I climbed, and leveled at 3500' and confirmed my altitude with MCO approach as I did not want the F15s escorting me out of the TFR area around WDW 3000' and below.

Maybe I will make a web page of my WDW aerial photos later and add it to my website. I will post back here if I decide to do that.

BTW, my N number is N206JD... for "Jim and Debbie's 206). You can take a look here: http://www.pappasfam.com/n206jd.htm

/Jim

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by TroyWDW
My wife and I are both private pilots.

.............

 

[Caskbill]

Originally posted by DBBN
Maistre Gracey...You are correct the Gulfstream was in fact a G1 (G159 Grumman). The callsign used was N234MM. Of course the MM is short of Mickey Mouse. This is the aircraft you see parked when taking the backstage tour. I recall seeing this airplane at my home airport in the early 80's...I have no idea what it was doing at PWM.

Jim...Nice pics.

Now that Residential Street at MGM has been completely torn down, and construction of the new stunt show is well along, the backstage trams are now taking a different route (probably temporary) but are not currently going past Walt's old plane.

As explained the MM stood for Mickey Mouse, and of course the N stands for a U.S. registered aircraft, but I though also the numbers 234 meant something. Does anybody remember if there was any significance to that?

 

[Zurg]

I had a private ticket and a Gruman Tiger before kids.

I still flying.

I hit the lottery and I am getting some flying toys.

 

[JimC]

Here is a link for some history on the plane. I have no idea if the 234 had any significance. Sounds like a Dave Smith question.

http://www.jimhillmedia.com/legacy/index.htm?../articles/guest/korkis.08272003.1.htm~contentFrame