Tampa hamfest Dec 6-7

[NN5I]

Any of you folks going to the Tampa hamfest on Friday and Saturday, Dec 6 and 7? I expect to be there Friday but not Saturday 'cuz I've got other plans for Pearl Harbor Day.

Also, in a couple months, there's the Orlando Hamcation, weekend of Feb 7 if my informaion is correct. That one is always very large and very good; I think it's better than Dayton.

[Radio]

How close are these to their respective airports? I can fly for free. Might as well take advantage.

[NN5I]

Not very close.

The Tampa hamfest is actually in Plant City, midway between Tampa and Lakeland, almost exactly between those two airports. I've flown over it many times when going from Albert Whitted airport in St Pete (where I kept my airplane) to Lakeland Linder for a hamburger. There were many small airplanes at Whitted, and often on Saturday we'll all go somewhere -- Lakeland, or Ft Pierce, or Ft Myers, somewhere -- as a flight of as many as twenty puddle-jumpers. The Whitted controllers called us the Squirrel Squadron, and the name stuck. I still have my Squirrel Squadron badge and hat. For full membership in the Squirrel Squadron, you had to fly a taildragger.

The Orlando Hamcation is all the way across Orlando from either Orlando International, which is way south of town, or Orlando Executive, which is on the east side of town. The fairgrounds are on the west side. Orlando Executive, by the way, is where Amateur Electronic Supply has its Orlando store.

Come anyway.

[wa8yxm]

Can't make Tampa on those dates, But I do plan on being in Savanna on the 7th at this time (Daughter gets her Master's then)

[NN5I]

Can't make Tampa on those dates, But I do plan on being in Savanna on the 7th at this time (Daughter gets her Master's then)

You have your priorities straight. Congrats to the daughter, and kudos to you.