Three-Day Trip Includes Plenty Of Leisure Time... And Leisure Flying

Now, HERE'S a way to kick off spring. Lockwood Aircraft has announced its first Exotic Destination Fly-Out, to the Bahamas, planned for early March 2008.

According to Air-Cam Director of Sales and Marketing George Weber, the company has gathered 14 Air-Cam owners, "who will fly en masse across the Atlantic from Florida's St. Lucie Int'l Airport (FPR) airport to the Marsh Harbour Airport (MYAM) in the Bahamas."

The three-day fly-out will depart the mainland on Friday, March 7, 2008 and return on Sunday. All arrangements have been made with Bahamian authorities to receive this fleet of one-of-a-kind open cockpit twin-engine aircraft.

"The Air-Cam entourage will be met by Bahamas Ministry of Tourism staffer Keith Gomez, who promises to make the international entry a pleasure," Weber said. On the arrival evening, the Ministry of Tourism will even host a reception for the aviators and their copilots at the host hotel, Abaco Beach Resort.

Plenty of leisure time is planned for the resort fly-out. On Saturday, Air-Cam owners will be island hopping among the Abaco Cays via Air-Cam. "Few other aircraft can offer such touring at low altitudes with generous safety margins," said Phil Lockwood, president of Lockwood Aircraft. He noted the National Geographic Society originally commissioned the design and construction of Air-Cam for even more challenging flights over the dense rain forests of Namibia in the Congo.

Lockwood personnel note the Air-Cam is a very capable aircraft for a trip across the ocean. During the flight, at altitudes below 5,000 feet the fleet will fly beyond sight of land... a disquieting experience for some. Fortunately, the twin-engine Air-Cam handles easily and climbs well on just one engine, and exhibits very little asymmetric thrust challenges.

"Air-Cam can easily take off on a single engine, a feat most conventional twins never attempt," stated Weber.

Lockwood Aircraft is the designer, developer, and producer of the Air-Cam, and of several single-engine Drifter ultralight models.

FMI: www.aircam.com, www.lockwoodaircraft.com/videos.htm