Seminole Lake Gliderport for sale

Just saw this advert in Barnstormers.com

The nicest gliderport in the USA in my opinion. The swimming pool makes it so.

http://www.floridaairparkhomes.com/p...-for-sale.html

Rich Owen: Please reply if anything about the advert is not true.

On Tuesday, August 20, 2019 at 7:27:58 AM UTC-7, Burt Compton - Marfa Gliders, west Texas wrote:
Just saw this advert in Barnstormers.com

The nicest gliderport in the USA in my opinion. The swimming pool makes it so.

http://www.floridaairparkhomes.com/p...-for-sale.html

Rich Owen: Please reply if anything about the advert is not true.

As a business proposition, $3 million dollars would require an annual income of around 10% of that, or $300,000 per year. Is that remotely possible for a gliderport or do we need a Russian oligarch who needs his money laundered?

Mike

I have heard of some Eastern Europeans making investments in the US...YMMV.....(read some threads about some of them, thought at least one was that site, or another site in Florida...)....

Andreea, please buy it!

On Tuesday, August 20, 2019 at 1:02:54 PM UTC-7, Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot) wrote:
I have heard of some Eastern Europeans making investments in the US...YMMV.....(read some threads about some of them, thought at least one was that site, or another site in Florida...)....

It was indeed Seminole, but let's not dig up that Florida swamp again!

However, enquiring minds wonder who the current owners are?

Mike

Burt,

Thanks for the kind words about Seminole-Lake Gliderport. The owner is still trying to return to the US this upcoming year. He has the gliderport up for sale or an interested investor could buy a portion of it. There is zero debt and we have done extensive work on the Pawnees and the facilities. Two have recently overhauled engines with the third due in 2021 (a reserve for the overhaul is 100% funded now). Training is doing great but we want to acquire 2 new trainers. We were hoping to buy 2 new ASW-21B’s from Williams Soaring this year but it would have cut into our cash reserves too far. We are always looking for land to acquire adjacent to the gliderport for expansion opportunities. This is a business that was 50 years old last year. I don’t see us going away. Construction is about 30% complete for a turning lane into the gliderport and the turn to get on Highway 461 to Clermont. This will significantly improve the safety of our pilots and staff going to/from the field. Thanks goes to our elected representatives who recognized our concerns at this dangerous intersection. Hope to see you all at the Seniors March 13-20, 2020 for our 30th Anniversary edition.

Rich Owen
Vice President
Seminole Flying & Soaring

On Wednesday, August 21, 2019 at 10:05:25 AM UTC-7, Rich Owen wrote:
Burt,

Thanks for the kind words about Seminole-Lake Gliderport. The owner is still trying to return to the US this upcoming year. He has the gliderport up for sale or an interested investor could buy a portion of it. There is zero debt and we have done extensive work on the Pawnees and the facilities. Two have recently overhauled engines with the third due in 2021 (a reserve for the overhaul is 100% funded now). Training is doing great but we want to acquire 2 new trainers. We were hoping to buy 2 new ASW-21B’s from Williams Soaring this year but it would have cut into our cash reserves too far. We are always looking for land to acquire adjacent to the gliderport for expansion opportunities. This is a business that was 50 years old last year. I don’t see us going away. Construction is about 30% complete for a turning lane into the gliderport and the turn to get on Highway 461 to Clermont. This will significantly improve the safety of our pilots and staff going to/from the field. Thanks goes to our elected representatives who recognized our concerns at this dangerous intersection. Hope to see you all at the Seniors March 13-20, 2020 for our 30th Anniversary edition.

Rich Owen
Vice President
Seminole Flying & Soaring

Hi Rich,

By "owner" are you referring to Mihai Tanjala? Perhaps you can enlighten us to WHY he hasn't been able to return to the US.

Tom

Yes indeed, a pool is a very useful feature at a gliderport!

By all accounts, Seminole is a first-class operation with a fine bunch of folks running it. But as the ex-treasurer of one of the largest gliding clubs in the USA, I know how expensive it is to run an operation like that. Very few commercial glider operations are profitable and I wonder whether they can bring in the needed income of perhaps $1,000 a day to justify a $3 million facility.

I certainly hope so and wish them the best of luck. “Debt-free� is a great place to start!

Mike

https://kingofromania.com/2016/06/07...mihai-tanjala/

Yes 2G, Mihai Tanjala is still the owner.

Rich