Hello everyone,

I am new to the group but my wife and I plan to get acquainted with the group this summer. I have a aviation past (Fly Navy) & (Commercial) plus I did meet Chris my wife of 39 years(NWA) during one of the NWA strikes at the time I was in training with Alaska airlines.

I did have an idea to share with you for a rally,

I am sure I could get a group into Boeing to see the 787 and 747-8 plus we could visit the 787 gallery. the gallery is for airline customers so they can visit the site and order the systems and interior set ups that work for each airline the facility is filled with mock ups of all the new systems. We could also visit the Future of Flight Museum also in Everett, WA  http://www.futureofflight.org/ Both visits could be done in one day.

The other spot that would be a must is the Museum of flight in Seattle http://www.museumofflight.org/, this is really one of the best static aviation displays in the Nation.  


Regards, Jerry

Jerry,

Great idea for a rally.  We would attend if at all possible.

Garland

Thanks Garland,

Lets see if we get any other interest, I have some good contacts at Boeing and both Museums

That sounds like a good rally to us too.  Look into RV site locations in the area.

Larry & Carolyn

Hi Jerry; count us in as well! sounds very informative and fun.  Rick and Laura

Well it looks like we may have some interest in this after all!!

let me see what kind of parking we can find, I know in Seattle we have very little available but perhaps in the everett area we could find some places.

One addtional thought I had was up in the O Connor area (the 2nd largest tulip festival) perhaps we could include this in the rally t the spring time is great (maybe wet)

Jerry  

Depending on dates, etc., count us in.  O'Connor simply adds to the allure of this rally!

My experience is there are few good RV parks in the area.  The one in "downtown" Everett may be the best of questionable options, and likely not rally material.  There has to be someplace, but finding it will need to take effort;  and unless Boeing can host parking at one of its facilities, the campsite may have to be at some distance away.  

I know there's RV parking (not parks or resorts) near the cruise ships at the ports. They have huge parking lots. They might be open to a large crowd of coaches.

I wanted to pass along some of my research on parks here in Seattle, I was looking at parks that would provide us convenient commutes to both Everett and Seattle.

So far I have not had much luck of the 5 parks I have called so far only 1 has expressed any interest and this would be for dates in October 2011 or May  of 2011.

I think the October date would present problems as some folks will already be heading south for the winter. I am not sure how May works but for now I will use this rough time frame as a goal.
The weather would not be an issue for us as all of the tours for the most part are indoors. I was also hoping to include a golf game during the rally but May will of course have some potential for rain.

I have had some good feed back from many members and some great advise form both dick McQuillan and Mike Humble this has been very helpful, for now it looks like next spring and I am working with a 15 coach limit.


Regards, Jerry

The Fidalgo Bay RV Resort is a nice waterfront park in Anacortes.  It would be a 50 minute drive to Everett, but it is the only decent RV park I've found north of Seattle.  

Another choice might be to time it with the Arilington Air Show held every year in July.  Arlington is very close to Everett.  There is lots of dry camping there every year mixed with some fly in tent camping.  I haven't been for a few years, but they used to have a good selection of performances in the afternoon.  Also at the Arlington airport is a company where you build an airplane on a two week vacation.  They would probably allow a tour as well.  I think Paul Allen has a warbird museum at Paine Field too.

Hello Everyone,

I did stop in and visit with the KOA in Kent, they had a group of 15 spots next to a club house, the spots are all 50 long but have only 30 amp plugs.  This is not a big deal, as this is Seattle and I would give odds that no one will be running the AC.

This location would work very well, its a 20 min. drive to the Museum at Boeing field and a 40min ride to Everett.

We would have a 2 good golf courses close by and plenty of other attraction for anyone not into aviation.

Glass museum in Tacoma or Pike St. Market in Seattle.

If anyone would like to stay a few extra days you can also hop a sea plane that flies out of Lake Union and be in Victoria in 60 min.

Hey Bill the Alrington idea is great!  We could also do some skydiving at this airport or at Snohomish.

Jerry

There  is a nice campground with big spots  called pioneer trails campground just south of fidalgo bay, (Anacortes, WA) that you might want to take a look at.  True it would be 50 minutes or so to some of the things you are talking about seeing, but the area is beautiful. There is also a KOA in Burlington that would be a little closer to some of the sites and it is a nice campground.
http://pioneertrails.com/
http://www.koa.com/where/wa/47150/

Arden Smith

Hello Arden,

I know the Fidalgo bay resort this is a great spot but I think a little far out, I have so far found 2 spots that are interested in a group of 15 rigs, the KOA in Kent WA( an older site) that will offer us an of season rate and they have an indoor club house we can use, the other convenient spot is located just east of fall city called the Snoqualmie river RV park, they have an out door cabana for us the rate is a lot better.

I tend to favor the KOA just for location some of the thing that I would like to include in the rally for those that don't like airplanes include a visit to the Pike Market,Seattle's Underground Tour,or perhaps the Glass museum located in Tacoma.

I think the main idea would be touring Boeing Everett, including a very private visit to the 787 Gallery(normally only open to Airline customers) also in Everett the History of flight Museum, and of course the Museum of flight at Boeing Fld in Seattle.

I have never attended nor have I ever put together a rally before, so far I have been collecting data only. I am not confident that I really have the ability to put this rally together.

Jerry


  

So, where are we with the rallye? I like the Boeing Everett idea since I am former Boeing. I've made two visits to the KOA in Kent and am not real keen on it. Fidalgo would be a good choice. There is also a park in Oak Harbor, via Decption Pass misses the ferries.
We will be leaving Bellingham in late September and will return in May. If I can be of help, please let me know.
I will be managing the Bellingham RV Park again next summer. If there is an interest in being that far north, we would be glad to be the host park.
Ron

HI Ron,

I appreciate your offer, but I think we need to be closer in to Seattle we will also be doing the Museum of Flight at Boeing Fld.
I have been working with Dick and now with Mike on this project we hope to have this in the Beaver Tales during the next print. Right now it looks like May 2011 but we are not firm yet. I will be meeting Mike at the KOA in Kent after the wooden boat rally.


FYI I also hope to have us on a tour of the new 787 Gallery ( not open to public) this is an airline customer order point, it's very cool!!!
Jerry

Hi, Jerry. Thanks for the quick response. I know what you mean about Boeing tours. They can be really great. I took some of my staff on a tour of 777 #1 before any of the interior was added. Very interesting and memorable as well.
Again, even though I will be in the Palm Springs area from December to mid May, please don't hesitate to call on me. I will be glad to provide and remote help.
Ron
2006 Beaver Monterey Laguna
C9

Thanks Ron

I will be at Happy Valley the month of Jan.  If you'r in the area let me know.

Jerry

Ron and Jerry...If you two are going to be in the southern California area in January why not join our Beaver group as part of the Western Area Rally at Riverside County Fairgrounds.  We'll be doing security there and if you don't want to move your coach from the lot you're on just register for the Passport entry and you can drive your car to the location.  We have several that help us out that way: one at 1000 Trails, one at ORA, and one at Indian Waters resort.  I have not been to a rally to meet Ron and would gladly like to have you there.  Friends of Beavers are also welcome to join the group.  If you read the BT the Indio flyer remember that we also have a lobster boil and some good fellowship.
Mandy

Mandy, thanks for the invitation. I should be settled in by the time the Riverside event starts and will make it a point to see you there.
Ron

For the Beavers that have express interest in an Aviation Rally in Seattle, this is an update the "Jet City Experience" Rally is set for May 11th - May 15th.

We’ve have a large amount of interest from our member about the possibility of  having a Aviation History rally dealing with the 2 foremost aviation museums in the USA. The rally will be highlighted by visits to the Boeing Future of Flight Museum including a tour of the Everett Plant. The Museum of Flight is the largest privately operating Aviation museum in the USA, don’t miss this trip.
FYI we now have 3 new aircraft at the Museum of Flight in Seattle.  One of these bird’s is my all time favorite, the 1049 Super Connie, plus a new B-17 and a new B-29 yes both of these WWII birds have just been totally refurbished at the Boeing plant 2. Both of these planes came off the assembly line at Boeing’s plant 2 during the war years and they are now the last 2 Boeing planes to roll out of the Plant 2 doors, what history these birds bring with them.

I am also hoping that we may have one of the space shuttles by May; the museum is working very hard to get one of these to enhance the space portion of the museum I am hopeful that we will have the opportunity to board a shuttle.

The Jet City Experience will offer some great optional activities. I will have an informational sheet available to help everyone with the Optional Activities next month, plus you should see our rally listing in the next BT listing.
This will be my first trip as a Rally Master so I have solicited the help of a veteran Mike and Donna Humble they have agreed to be on board as Co-Rally Masters.

"It's a lot easier to taxi with the gear down" (I speak from Experience)

Jerry