East Texas Flying

Jshutt64

Jshutt64

Well-Known Member
This Thanksgiving I'm cruising out to my hometown of Longview, Texas, to visit my family. I'm looking to do some flying out there, as they haven't seen me since I've gotten my license and it would be cool to take some people up.

Any suggestions of good FBO's in the area or any sights that I have to see when I make a flight? :)
 
Jshutt64 said:
This Thanksgiving I'm cruising out to my hometown of Longview, Texas, to visit my family. I'm looking to do some flying out there, as they haven't seen me since I've gotten my license and it would be cool to take some people up.

Any suggestions of good FBO's in the area or any sights that I have to see when I make a flight? :)
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no sights in east texas immediately come to mind, but you should take them over to shreveport to gamble. cool city.. and maybe a 30 minute flight max
 
Along the way, Sedona AZ is cool, but fuels a bit spendy. Also flying the I-70 corridor from Las Cruces to Alamogordo and checking out White Sands National Park from the air, you'll have a few mountains to deal with so plan accordingly.

Andrews TX has a good FBO, usually the cheapest gas in the area.

Not much to see in Texas from the air, wind generators in Big Springs, can't get much more exciting than that:rotfl:
 
Jshutt64 said:
This Thanksgiving I'm cruising out to my hometown of Longview, Texas, to visit my family. I'm looking to do some flying out there, as they haven't seen me since I've gotten my license and it would be cool to take some people up.

Any suggestions of good FBO's in the area or any sights that I have to see when I make a flight? :)
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Roger, Roger worked there for a while, if he doesn't chime in shoot him a PM. I am sure he can help you out.
 
There are lots of things to see here in East Texas but it's not Alaska by any measure.

Number one on my list is always the sunsets. They can be truly gorgeous on the cool clear nights. The Red River is fun to fly along and is something worth seeing. One of the strangest and "only in Texas" sights to see are the ponds. I'm not speaking of every pond but nearly every metro area seems to have a few ponds carved exactly like the state of Texas. If you're lucky enough it can be like a good game of Punch Buggy finding them.

Climb up to about 12000 and fly over KJDD and you'll see a huge farm with tree lines carved out to shape the state outline also.

You won't see that in Alabama!!
 
SHV is a good trip (so I'm told). Even if gambling's not your thing, I think there is a riverwalk type deal and you can get a decent buffet cheap at the casinos. Another good option is the hundred-dollar-hamburger at KLFK. That works out to about a 1.6 round trip from KGGG in a 172. Sunsets are great

As far as rentals, there's not a lot at GGG. LU will make you jump though 75 million hoops to rent from them if you're not in the program. I could put you in touch with someone who would know about any other rentals at GGG. You could also try Gladewater or Marshall.
 
Check out Ellington Field if you are in the Houston area, or maybe John Wayne Hooks if you don't want to go that far south. EFD has an awesome FBO, lots of cool airplanes to look at (including some NASA heavy metal), and a sweet firebird T-top loaner car :laff:

Hooks normally has some good cheap (or free) BBQ and burgers, and lots of locals to shoot the sh** with. They normally have a lot of nice corporate jets in and out of there, and IIRC there is a water landing strip parallel to the long runway....kinda cool.
 
I went to school with Roger, Roger, and I would just recommend getting as far away from Longview and East Texas as possible.
 
Roger said:
SHV is a good trip (so I'm told). Even if gambling's not your thing, I think there is a riverwalk type deal and you can get a decent buffet cheap at the casinos. Another good option is the hundred-dollar-hamburger at KLFK. That works out to about a 1.6 round trip from KGGG in a 172. Sunsets are great

As far as rentals, there's not a lot at GGG. LU will make you jump though 75 million hoops to rent from them if you're not in the program. I could put you in touch with someone who would know about any other rentals at GGG. You could also try Gladewater or Marshall.
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I was looking at GGG but I couldn't fine anything except LeTourneau, and I figured that they'd be a pain to deal with like you said.

There seems to be an FBO at Gladewater (Eagle Flight Training) that offers Piper Warrior's for rent, I guess I'll check that out. Since I'm actually staying in White Oak, 07F is about the same distance as GGG.

Thanks for your help and input everyone! :D
 
If you want to fly into LA, I broke down once in Natchitoches, LA (KIER) and while waiting for a new manifold to arrive visited the place. It has a lot of history and the lady that gave me a ride to the hotel wouldn't let me leave until I had seen the historic downtown and told me all about how it was founded, etc etc.
 
Being originally from Marshall, TX...the only thing I could recommend is the pottery factory outside of Marshall. It's also been 15 years since I've been there...look for good BBQ at Neeley's Brown Pig though...hope it's still around.
 
jml2992 said:
Being originally from Marshall, TX...the only thing I could recommend is the pottery factory outside of Marshall. It's also been 15 years since I've been there...look for good BBQ at Neeley's Brown Pig though...hope it's still around.
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EAT AT BODACIOUS!!!

But if you're from Longview, you already know that.
 
Jshutt64 said:
Oh of course!

Nothing quite like Bodacious BBQ and that squeeze butter that you get at Mexican restaurants to put in your salsa. :laff:
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PapaCito's on the loop in Longview has the best chips and Picante salsa. They dump Chili powder on their chips when fresh outta the fryer and Daaaang that's good!
 
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