In Well Over 400 Hours Of Flight Time, ANN Sure Got Around This Year

Final Compilations by ANN Editor-In-Chief/Cheap-Fuel-Finder, Jim Campbell

It was a busy and wide-ranging year for ANN. Since taking the plunge and buying a Cirrus G3 Turbo in the wee hours of 2008 (literally on New Year's Eve), and we've been spending a LOT of time on/over the road and with some 300 hours in our aircraft and nearly 200 more in a few others (including a long/great trip in a Columbia/Cessna 400) and quite a few hours in a really sweet Turbo-Aztec (with all the ice-fighting goodies... one of the most rugged workhorses in the M/E world). In so doing, we've been to a number of airports, FBO and maintenance facilities in the course of the year... many of which truly distinguished themselves... and a few that truly did not. That being the case, we wanted to recognize some of the better experiences we had this year in the hope that the word will get out that these are aviation businesses worth frequenting and have demonstrated their ability to earn our business... and a return visit when the opportunity arises.

On a fall trip to the West Coast, N377SR got to see the best and worst of a number of Southern tier FBOs... among those that truly stood out include:

KICT: Yingling Aviation, Wichita Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas

N377SR made a number of trips to KICT this year... including our very first, "oh-mi-gosh, we're down to minimums" approach with the newly installed Avidyne Release 9 cockpit in surprisingly pervasive fog this past fall. I won't say it was REALLY foggy but the fact that the ducks were walking by as I landed might give you some indication of how interesting it was getting... and into a setting sun, no less.

After pulling a bone-headed move turning the wrong way off the runway at Mid-Continent, KICT Ground very politely put up with my cranial-rectal inversion and guided me over to Yingling Aviation... where I heard the FBO was supposed to be very friendly to GA... and the rumors are true. While there is a lot of high-end and even military traffic at Yingling, I was met by a very professional line crew, pointed to the very cost-effective self-service pumps with no hint of malice toward those of us trying to save a few bucks and billed a REASONABLE fee for overnight use of the ramp. They tied down "Puff" very carefully when I was finished gassing her up and had her out on the ramp promptly as I headed out each time.

The facility is very well-appointed, local transport to neighboring hotels and back is accomplished quickly and politely, the staff is friendly and the planning room was well equipped. We'll be back at Yingling soon...

Aero-Verdict: Great Service, Great Value, Highly Recommended.

FMI: www.yinglingaviation.com