| Page Views: 151 Last Visit to Fort Collins: July, 2008 | Flying into Fort Collins-Loveland Airport by Tugboatguy - last update: Mar 11, 2009 |
How We Inadventently Wound Up in Fort Collins. | On Base Leg for Landing Runway 15, FNL |
We were flying to Oshkosh, Wisconsin from Southern California to attend EAA AirVenture 2008. At Cheyenne, Wyoming we refueled and couldn't find satisfactory overnight quarters because it was the week of Frontier Days and the town was full for the rodeo. Furthermore, a wall of black storms with hail was in our onward eastern flight path so we took off from Cheyenne's airport CYS and diverted about 48 miles southerly to Fort Collins-Loveland Airport FNL As we just had refueled, we required no aircraft services on landing. The Fort Collins JetCenter FBO, however, provided us a gratis loaner automobile and a recommendation for the night. And so, that is how we wound up at the delightful Hilton Garden Inn in Fort Collins, Colorado. Sometimes, serendipity happens! |
| Our Vacation Aircraft Ride. |
|  | Our Aircraft Ride On the Trip. I have been asked about the aircraft we flew on our long trip in July and August of 2008. So here is a photo of N2111Q, a straight tail extended-cabin Beech Bonanza. The aircraft is fully equipped for instrument flight with upgraded avionics-two glass panels showing a moving map with our position and track across the continent by Global Positioning System (GPS) with speed over ground and another panel showing all flight instruments and engine instruments. A fuel totalizer shows how much fuel we are using and how much remains. The aircraft has wingtip tanks for extra fuel. The Bonanza's original IO-520 285 horsepower engine has been replaced with an IO-550 300 horsepower engine. The normal six seat aircraft had the two back seats removed as we were the baggage haulers for several tandem warbird trainers who also made the long flight from California. Hence, we carried their tents and sleeping bags as they camped out at our main destination of EAA AirVenture 2008 at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The aircraft is shown at our first fuel stop at Grand Junction, Colorado with the Rocky Mountains in the background. Colorado is our most mountainous state with 50 peaks over 10,000 feet. Please click on the small photo to enlarge it. |
> Add to your Custom Travel Guide [What's This?]
| Pros: | "Wonderful Western Hospitality and Service" | | Cons: | "Nothing! Everyone was Wonderful!" | | In A Nutshell: | "A Good Pace to Overnight on a Long Flight." |
Tugboatguy's Fort Collins Travel Tips
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Tips: 1 - Photos: 4 | | | | Nightlife | Off The Beaten Path | | | | Tourist Traps | Warnings Or Dangers | | | | Transportation | Local Customs | | | | Packing Lists | Shopping | | | | Sports Travel | General Tips |
 Comments for Tugboatguy about Fort Collins | | | | |
cnango Sun Nov 2, 2008 01:48 UTC
Nice picture from the plane. It was lucky you found the Hilton Garden on your sidetrip to Fort Collins | Maria250 Tue Sep 30, 2008 20:13 UTC
Most beautiful overture on Hilton Garden Inn!! Awesome landscape shot & awesome accommodation tip!! Thank you! |
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