It is unfortunate the Napa Fly-In and the LOBO-Lancair Landing are on the same dates. The reason for the conflict is due to scheduling and location. We had the first LOBO-Lancair event in the middle of the country in Branson, Mo. The following year we moved it west to Sedona, AZ. So this year it was time to move east so those folks would have the benefit of a shorter distance.
The next problem was timing. Late September/early October have been the best choice for favorable weather windows in the locations we have chosen. And it gives us a year for Lisa and me to plan the next event. Lisa and the Lancair staff have to attend Reno as well as a number of our Lancair folks. Reno this year is September 13-15. The following weekend didn’t give Lisa enough time to get back to Redmond after packing up at Reno on Monday, the 16th. And she could not be in Greenville, SC no later than Wednesday morning with a full day of travel from coast to coast in time to ready things for the Ground School planned for Thursday, Oct. 3, prior to the Landing’s official start date. That is also the day our sponsors arrive and set up their exhibits. So that left out the 3rd weekend in September. The last weekend in September is the Southeast Aviation Expo in Greenville which would be a conflict for a number of our important sponsors. AOPA’s Summit is October 10-12, and we couldn’t conflict with that event. So that left only October 4-6 before it was too late in October for Lancairs in snow country.
Inasmuch as the two events are on opposite coasts of the United States, it should not be a problem for the vast majority of Lancair owners/builders. Next year we plan to talk with Sandy and Craig well in advance to avoid another conflict with their event. But opposite sides of the country should – again – not be a problem for the majority of us.
Thanks for asking,
Claudette Colwell
LOBO-Lancair Landing Co-Chair