Indicator of how good the economy is - the EAA Air Show.

[FloridaPat]

A couple of years ago this use to be a 10 day show. Once it starts, the pattern for the planes go over my house, so I always know when it air show time. This year it's 7 days and started today here in Lakeland. This has been the second largest air show in the country. Not sure if that's still good. I saw just a few airplanes today - maybe 10. Last year when I went there were very few people left the last day. So it looks like things are getting worse for airplane folks - but then the price of gas probably isn't helping things either. The show has been 3 years in getting worse. I hope to go again this year as see how many people and companies show up.

[Skink]

1. Do they still run this...... "Opa.......Opa locka".

:headbang:

[FloridaPat]

2. Drane Field in Lakeland.

[uberotto]

3. My Dad flies down for the show every year...

He gets there early, and stays until it's over. He drove over last night for a visit and mentioned that the show seemed to be starting late this year. He got there Saturday, but the show didn't officially start until Tuesday. Usually there is a pretty good crowd of Pilots who get in early, but this year the group was noticeably smaller. He mentioned that there were even fewer this year than last year and last years crowd was smaller than normal. He said the difference is really noticeable in the number of people driving down in their RVs.

He's hoping to find some really good deals on airplane parts to cover the cost of flying down. His airplane is a small single engine and he claims that it gets around 20 mpg. But with airplane fuel costing over $3 a gallon, the cost of flying 1400 miles round trip is significant.

[FloridaPat]

6. I've seen a few airplanes today, but haven't heard many. This is

unreal. Looks like gas prices got to the show. Sure can't be the economy. Wonder what that is going to do the to rest of Florida's economy this summer.

[dcfirefighter]

4. One day, i'd love to go

I'm not a pilot, no financial incentive to become one, and no financial means to undertake such an expensive hobby.

That being said, It's high on my list of things that i'd like to do. I like the Experimental (homebuilt) aircraft, as shown at the EAA.

As for fuel prices, even aircraft are modernizing: http://www.centurion-engines.com/ it runs on pump diesel, and is more efficient than the High-test avgas engines currently used.

I wonder how long before someone runs one on biodiesel.

[FloridaPat]

5. If you get a choice between the Lakeland show and Oshkosh, go to

Oshkosh. The difference between the two is like the difference between NYC and Lakeland.