Double Eagle NM (AEG) Fly in 8-9 Oct 2005; Balloon Fiesta time

[Ron Lee]

Double Eagle RV Fly-in
8-9 October 2005

Where: Albuquerque NM Double Eagle II airport (KAEG);
http://www.airnav.com/airport/KAEG

Fly-in principles: No scheduled events. Nice area with a variety of
events to keep spouses happy. The main attraction is the Balloon
Fiesta that ends this weekend. Intended for a quick weekend getaway.


FBO: Bode Aero: http://www.flybode.com/deairport.htm

Airport restaurant: Prop Wash Café, 505-831-2359

Cost: None. No registration fee. Attendees are responsible for
hotel
and car reservations. The FBO suggested making car reservations
through tem.

Miscellaneous: Bring your own tiedown ropes/straps/etc. Please email
if you intend to come to ensure that ramp space
does
not become a problem. Non-RV aircraft welcome.

Aviation issues: Note that the Albuquerque airspace is not far from
AEG
(to the east). Mountains are nearby. Density altitude can be high
so
understand impact to flight (such as engine mixture leaning and higher

take-off and landing groundspeeds)

Hotels: Many in the Albuquerque area. Those listed below were
checked
27-28 June 2005. Strongly suggest making reservations as early as
possible.
Hotels listed below in three groups based upon distance from airport
(AEG)
and the balloon park. This is nowhere near a complete listing.
Another
source for making reservations is here:
http://www.nmtravel.com/bfres/ or
888-398-5537 (Press 2 for reservations). Most prices exclude taxes.
In
general I tried to price a single bed (usually king) and two adults

Group 1: Reasonably close to the balloon park on the north end of town
(I-25)

Comfort Inn, 5811 Signal Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113, (505)
822-1090, $125

Ramada Limited, 5601 Alameda Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113, (505)
858-3297, $139

Holiday Inn, 5401 Alameda Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113, (505)
797-2291, Full

Courtyard, 5151 Journal Center Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109, (505)
823-1919, $169

Albuquerque Pyramid Marriott, 5151 San Francisco Rd NE, Albuquerque,
NM 87109, (505) 821-3333, $189

Amberly Suite Hotel, 7620 N Pan American Fwy NE, Albuquerque, NM
87109, (505) 823-1300, $59 (Std), $79 (suite)

Howard Johnson Express Inn, 7630 N Pan American Fwy NE, Albuquerque,
NM 87109, (505) 828-1600, $115

Baymont Inns and Suites, 7439 S Pan American Fwy NE, Albuquerque, NM
87109, (505) 345-7500, $70

Hampton Inn, 5101 Ellison St NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109, (505)
344-1555, $134

Quality Suites, 5251 San Antonio Dr NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109, (505)
797-0850, Full

La Quinta Inn, 5241 San Antonio Dr NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109, (505)
821-9000, $139


Group 2: Rio Rancho area to NW of Balloon Park (6-7 miles)

Days Inn Rio Rancho, 4200 Crestview Dr SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124,
(505) 892-8800, $90

Ramada Limited, 4081 High Resort Blvd SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124, (505)
892-5998, $100 (limited rooms)

Super 8 Rio Rancho, 4100 Barbara Loop SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124, (505)
896-8888, $95

Best Western Inn, 1465 Rio Rancho Blvd SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124,
(505) 892-1700, Full

Hilton, 1771 Rio Rancho Blvd SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124, (505)
896-1111, $129

Marriott, 4100 Sara Rd SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124


Group 3: 12 miles from the airport (KAEG) (south of I-40 at Exit 153)
and
about 13 miles to the Balloon Park near I-25 exit 233 (north part of
Albuquerque)

La Quinta, 6101 Iliff Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87121, (505) 839-1744,
$140

Holiday Inn Express- West, 6100 Iliff Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87121,
(505) 836-8600, $120

Super 8, 6030 Iliff Rd NW’ Albuquerque, NM 87121, (505) 836-5560, $54

Days Inn – Albuquerque West, 6031 Iliff Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87121,
(505) 836-3297, $89-$99

Comfort Inn West, 5712 Iliff Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87105, (505)
836-0011, $115

Red Roof, 6015 Iliff Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87121, (505) 831-3400,
$70


Rental Cars: Bode Aero uses Enterprise, 505-922-1440, Midsize $43,
Standard $46, Full $49. Make a reservation to ensure car in there
when
you arrive. I have not yet checked other rental car agencies.


Things to do:

1) Balloon Fiesta: http://www.balloonfiesta.com/

Saturday night has a balloon glow and fireworks with a mass ascension
Sunday morning. Schedule at
http://www.balloonfiesta.com/scripts/index/list_events_total.php

2) Sante Fe is close to the north.
http://www.airnav.com/airport/KSAF
Sante Fe website at http://www.santafe.org/

3) Petroglyph National Monument: http://www.nps.gov/petr/

4) Hiking in Albuquerque:

http://www.localhikes.com/MSA/MSA_0200.asp

http://www.trails.com/advancedfind.asp?keyword=Albuquerque&state=NM&activities=&page=1

http://www.cabq.gov/openspace/lands.html

5) Sandia Peak Tram: http://www.sandiapeak.com/
Bike rentals to ride down the mountain.


6) Albuquerque Visitors Website: http://www.abqcvb.org/

Note: Balloon Fiesta is a trademark of the Albuquerque International
Balloon Fiesta, Inc

[Robert M. Gary]

If you don't have hotel reservations you may want to consider making
reservations for 2006 now.:)

-Robert, frequent ABQ visitor

[Robert M. Gary]

Ron,
I fly out to Albuquerque every summer from Northern California. I've
generally found the wx very nice that time. Even the evening TSs are
almost always very circumnavigatable with small changes in the plan (I
usually land around 8pm).
How is the wx during the balloon deal? Is there a lot of ice? Is the
IFR flyable in non-ice planes? Is it usually CAVU?

-Robert

[Robert M. Gary]

Sorry for all the responses. :) As a suggestion, I always fly into ABQ
because the cars are right there. If the rental car company forgets the
car (about 80% of the time) it only takes 10 minutes to get it. At
Double Eagle it could take over an hour to track down a car (usually
driven out from ABQ). Service at Cutter ranges from awesome to suck
a*%.

-Robert

[Ron Lee]

"Robert M. Gary" > wrote:
>How is the wx during the balloon deal? Is there a lot of ice? Is the
>IFR flyable in non-ice planes? Is it usually CAVU?

I live in Colorado Springs but the CAVU part is closer to the truth
that time of year.

Ron Lee