Udon Thani (Thailand) Fly In, January 2014
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- Kai
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Udon Thani (Thailand) Fly In, January 2014
"Udon Thani becomes Thailand's Oshkosh once a year and attracts pilots from all over Asia", so the information of my Thai flying club president ".... and the Minister of Justice, organizer and patron of the event, Gen. Prachaa, requests your attendance, Kai!".
OK, nobody would dare now to say no to such an invitation and I got my DA40 up into the air heading to this Northeastern city near the Lao border. Take-off was in hazy conditions from our VFR airport in near Chiangmai. Fortunately, once climbing over 7000 ft we were over the haze and after a beautiful 2 hr flight we landed in Udon Thani, :
Maybe 6 or 7 other DA40s and 3 DA42s flew in, all with Thielert 1.7. The brave pilots were all student pilots who went on their first cross country flights: My plane was thoroughly inspected by the ground crew: Planes receive female attention. Pilots receive male attention and a warm welcome : These ones came in honor of the patrons of this great fly-in: Our hosts sat in their shaded lounge... .... while the pilots were placed in a small pavillion a bit further away from the action. Catering was excellent: With maybe 30 planes which attended in total and 10 private pilots participating, maybe this wasn't quite as big as Oshkosh. But the friendliness and gratitude of our hosts which even gave out free water and bananas to all pilots made up for it.
OK, nobody would dare now to say no to such an invitation and I got my DA40 up into the air heading to this Northeastern city near the Lao border. Take-off was in hazy conditions from our VFR airport in near Chiangmai. Fortunately, once climbing over 7000 ft we were over the haze and after a beautiful 2 hr flight we landed in Udon Thani, :
Maybe 6 or 7 other DA40s and 3 DA42s flew in, all with Thielert 1.7. The brave pilots were all student pilots who went on their first cross country flights: My plane was thoroughly inspected by the ground crew: Planes receive female attention. Pilots receive male attention and a warm welcome : These ones came in honor of the patrons of this great fly-in: Our hosts sat in their shaded lounge... .... while the pilots were placed in a small pavillion a bit further away from the action. Catering was excellent: With maybe 30 planes which attended in total and 10 private pilots participating, maybe this wasn't quite as big as Oshkosh. But the friendliness and gratitude of our hosts which even gave out free water and bananas to all pilots made up for it.
DA40F - N405FP/HS-KAI (sold)
- Rick
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Re: Udon Thani (Thailand) Fly In, January 2014
Sounds like a great time, Kai. My invitation from the General must have been lost in the mail...
I'm afraid if I ever receive that much attention upon landing at an airport, it will only be from CBP agents or the FAA!
I'm afraid if I ever receive that much attention upon landing at an airport, it will only be from CBP agents or the FAA!
Roanoke, VA (KROA)
- Kai
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Re: Udon Thani (Thailand) Fly In, January 2014
So bad you couldn't make it this year, Rick! But will make sure to get you an invitation for next year!Rick wrote:Sounds like a great time, Kai. My invitation from the General must have been lost in the mail...
I'm afraid if I ever receive that much attention upon landing at an airport, it will only be from CBP agents or the FAA!
Like in your world, the kind of attention we get is diverse and seldom appreciated: DCA (Thai FAA) to ramp check, girls to take pictures of themselves and post it on their FB, student pilots to ask if my plane has a Thielert 1.7 or 2.0, parents to sit their kids on the planes, kids to snatch a pitot tube cover for their key ring.
At another event, the so-called children's day, ramp check was performed by these guys:
For the entertainment of the kids, they can search or throw some smoke bombs under the plane or just arrest the pilot.
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- Rick
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Re: Udon Thani (Thailand) Fly In, January 2014
After some reconsideration, I have decided you don't need to invite me next year! Ha ha...
Roanoke, VA (KROA)
- Henrik
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Re: Udon Thani (Thailand) Fly In, January 2014
Cough, cough - what about that devilishly handsome DA40XL Lycosaur on the ramp?!Kai wrote:Maybe 6 or 7 other DA40s and 3 DA42s flew in, all with Thielert 1.7.
Damn - sorry I missed you this time around Kai!!
- Kai
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Re: Udon Thani (Thailand) Fly In, January 2014
.... you mean this friendly Gentleman and his impressive, shiny and sleek N-registered DA40XL from Sing?Henrik wrote:Cough, cough - what about that devilishly handsome DA40XL Lycosaur on the ramp?!Kai wrote:Maybe 6 or 7 other DA40s and 3 DA42s flew in, all with Thielert 1.7.
Damn - sorry I missed you this time around Kai!!
Geesh. True. What a nice guy and I am glad I met him although it would have been great if you could have joined, too. Btw, Ed was scheduled to come, too, but preferred to count Dugongs in Krabi. I can't blame him.
Also, we missed each other at Asian Aerospace Services in BKK. My DA40 is there and undergoing some extensive engine overhaul after a load of bad fuel. You must have been there some time before?
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- Henrik
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Re: Udon Thani (Thailand) Fly In, January 2014
That's my orange attired friend!
Now that's eerie. Mine is there for fuel contamination as well. They had to replace my LH engine high pressure fuel pump and clean the entire fuel system. Should be fine now, but I guess we really need to be on our toes w/fuel in Asia. (Jet A as well as av/mogas)
Actually the DA42 is at AAS right now & I'm picking it up tomorrow morning! Flying back to Singapore "via" Chiang Rai for the weekend.Kai wrote:Also, we missed each other at Asian Aerospace Services in BKK. My DA40 is there and undergoing some extensive engine overhaul after a load of bad fuel. You must have been there some time before?
Now that's eerie. Mine is there for fuel contamination as well. They had to replace my LH engine high pressure fuel pump and clean the entire fuel system. Should be fine now, but I guess we really need to be on our toes w/fuel in Asia. (Jet A as well as av/mogas)
- Kai
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Re: Udon Thani (Thailand) Fly In, January 2014
Henrik,
when you go there tomorrow, say Hello to HS-KAI, please. I really miss her an and hope she will be fine soon again. Fuel poisoning is really quite an issue in Asia.
I am in Germany and Spain these days, not sure yet when I am coming back. But let's catch up next time and hopefully before the rainy season.
when you go there tomorrow, say Hello to HS-KAI, please. I really miss her an and hope she will be fine soon again. Fuel poisoning is really quite an issue in Asia.
I am in Germany and Spain these days, not sure yet when I am coming back. But let's catch up next time and hopefully before the rainy season.
DA40F - N405FP/HS-KAI (sold)
- Henrik
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Re: Udon Thani (Thailand) Fly In, January 2014
Done! She looked good & they're taking nice care of her. They were just putting the wings back on when I left, so I think you're good.Kai wrote:when you go there tomorrow, say Hello to HS-KAI, please.
Drinks are on me!Kai wrote:But let's catch up next time and hopefully before the rainy season.
In fact, we should also try convincing Robin to fly up to Thailand & say hello. (say, weren't he looking at a DA42 as well? - good choice for an Oz-Asia trip)