Skydive Laconia?

[Pineedles]

Moultonborough airport is a ghosttown. Not the model for a sucessfull parachuting business! Everytime I drive past there, there are no planes taking off, nor is there any cars parked to await rides to see views of scenic NH.

[VitaBene]

Originally Posted by Pineedles

Moultonborough airport is a ghosttown. Not the model for a sucessfull parachuting business! Everytime I drive past there, there are no planes taking off, nor is there any cars parked to await rides to see views of scenic NH.

I understand Tom's choice of location and business plan. I was just offering an area alternative.

I guess I was looking at skydiving being the destination, not a drive-by activity. One of the popular (I think) places is in Pepperell MA, but people drive many miles to jump there.

[Pineedles]

VB,

I tried to send you a PM but your MB is full. Tom knows what market he needs to be in. You and I are on the same page though, we both want him to succeed.

[VitaBene]

Originally Posted by Pineedles

VB,

I tried to send you a PM but your MB is full. Tom knows what market he needs to be in. You and I are on the same page though, we both want him to succeed.

Sorry, cleaned it out! yep, I hate seeing people going through the grinder when they try to do something a little outside the box.

[Gatto Nero]

A crew of at least 10 of us are driving to Maine on Monday to jump at Skydive New England. It's my birthday present to my 18 year old daughter and my entire family will be jumping. We did the same thing for my son's 18th two years ago and there were almost 20 of us. The people at Skydive NE were great but it's too bad we have to drive all the way there instead of staying in our own back yard.

Keep at it Tom. We'll be eager to jump with you when all this is has been resolved.

[TheNoonans]

With the recent rise of social media online it has become easier to track the popularity of certain activities and sports based on the "hits" that they receive when posted online.

I invite you all to view a clip uploaded 4 months ago by a friend of mine in Melbourne, Australia. 1.7 million views on vimeo and 200,000 views on youtube, in just under 4 months.



This type of interest could be leading people to the Laconia Municipal Airport. They would be patronizing your stores while they were there.

As the economy continues to spiral downward and the end of your tourist season approaches, I ask the business owners of the area to consider this:

Are you happy with your current level of tourism patronage, or would you prefer additional customers and an extended tourist season?

Blue skies to all and to all a good flight,
Tom

[fatlazyless]

Are you happy with your current level of tourism patronage, or would you prefer additional customers and an extended tourist season?

Tom[/QUOTE]

Laconia could be a lot tougher place to persuade than is reasonable to comprehend.

Just consider that in the last 40-years, going from 1970 to 2011, the population of Laconia has declined a little going from something like 17,500 to 17,000.

Laconia usually has an unemployment rate that is a point or two higher than the rest of central NH, except for Franklin, which is about the same.

There's been about four drug related Laconia deaths in the past 12-months.

Laconia is probably the national #1 bad example for how urban renewal can be very bad for the local economy. Just go take a visit to the Laconia downtown area, and look around at the narrow little entrance road that blocks away the entry to the downtown area.
...................

Do yourself a favor, and forget about Laconia, and just head 17-air miles north up to Rt 93-Exit 26, and the Plymouth Municipal Airport which has a very friendly, green grass runway that is perfect for skydivers, plus a big horizon of beautiful mountain views.

You sound like a very good guy so maybe you want to stop beating your head against that Laconia wall and just go north a little bit, up to Plymouth, and you will be happy that you did!

www.chutesup.com/aboutus.htm for an up-in-the-air, flying around, look-see at the Plymouth Airport, and click onto "Maxy's Plane Takes Off / Lands at Plymouth Airport" for an up-close look at Plymouth Airport, and just picture your skydive class landing on that grassy runway.......hey.....talk about a soft and scenic landing spot!!

Plymouth is home to the huge Plymouth State University, which is hugely expensive to attend. It and UNH down in southern NH are something like the most expensive state colleges in the whole country, so the students and visiting PSU parents must have some big money and could be a good new customer demographic to a Plymouth Airport skydive business. www.airnav.com/airport/1P1

[TheNoonans]

Just a quick update:

The FOIA information is on it's way to us in Florida. We requested all of the documentation used in both the FSDO and ADO erroneous reporting processes for both flawed and invalid air space analysis reports issued by the ADO.

It will take us some time to go through the hundreds of pages of documents, but when we are done, we will upload the documents on an informational website that we are setting up, so that you, the local public affected by this unjust process the most, can view the information.

As for the FAA's current level of activity in righting this erroneous reporting process, suffice to say, we are very pleased with how high the level of involvement has recently arrived at.

Blue skies to all and to all a good flight,

Tom

[riverat]

http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll...S_01/708239928

[topwater]

fatlazyless...I had to laugh at your evaluation of Laconia. It was spot on !!
Living here all of my 55 years, well as of Thur when I join the senior citizen dept, You have explained Laconia perfect. One thing you didn't mention was the different ethic cultures that Laconia has now. With the population of laconia shrinking slightly(which I agree with), and the growth in different cultures growing RAPIDLY, can only make me think that when the kids of Laconia move on to higher eduacation they stay away from Laconia and not move back. Hence=slightly declining.
I moved out of Laconia 24 years ago and would NEVER move back. Its been a downwards spiral in Laconia since Urban-Renewal back in late 60's early 70's. Remember the old Woolworths in downtown?

[fatlazyless]

Originally Posted by topwater

fatlazyless... Remember the old Woolworths in downtown?

Well....Laconia may be a little bit down, but it is definitely is not out, and here's at least five very good reasons why one would want to make a special visit to Laconia's Main St downtown area!

www.laconiaantiquecenter.com in the huge retail space formerly occupied by Woolworth's & Bloom's

www.laconialibrary.org ...subscriber to the $630/year periodical: The Value Line Investment Survey

http://mccycleandsport.com ...a high quality bicycle store

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Just-S...38811859470067 .. Just Stuff consignments

http://www.earthheartfarm.com/earth-heart-yoga.html ...loose weight & build core strength!

Family Dollar-Laconia-Main St.....needs no introduction

[trfour]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

Are you happy with your current level of tourism patronage, or would you prefer additional customers and an extended tourist season?

Tom

Laconia could be a lot tougher place to persuade than is reasonable to comprehend.

Just consider that in the last 40-years, going from 1970 to 2011, the population of Laconia has declined a little going from something like 17,500 to 17,000.

Laconia usually has an unemployment rate that is a point or two higher than the rest of central NH, except for Franklin, which is about the same.

There's been about four drug related Laconia deaths in the past 12-months.

Laconia is probably the national #1 bad example for how urban renewal can be very bad for the local economy. Just go take a visit to the Laconia downtown area, and look around at the narrow little entrance road that blocks away the entry to the downtown area.
...................

Do yourself a favor, and forget about Laconia, and just head 17-air miles north up to Rt 93-Exit 26, and the Plymouth Municipal Airport which has a very friendly, green grass runway that is perfect for skydivers, plus a big horizon of beautiful mountain views.

You sound like a very good guy so maybe you want to stop beating your head against that Laconia wall and just go north a little bit, up to Plymouth, and you will be happy that you did!

www.chutesup.com/aboutus.htm for an up-in-the-air, flying around, look-see at the Plymouth Airport, and click onto "Maxy's Plane Takes Off / Lands at Plymouth Airport" for an up-close look at Plymouth Airport, and just picture your skydive class landing on that grassy runway.......hey.....talk about a soft and scenic landing spot!!

Plymouth is home to the huge Plymouth State University, which is hugely expensive to attend. It and UNH down in southern NH are something like the most expensive state colleges in the whole country, so the students and visiting PSU parents must have some big money and could be a good new customer demographic to a Plymouth Airport skydive business. www.airnav.com/airport/1P1[/QUOTE]


fatlazyless, won'dered an award at this years Forum Fest for $8.00 and some change. A hole in one, as pictured here; http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...hp?photo=17964


FLL knows how to take a thread ( Off Topic In A Heartbeat ), and also taking a black eye on the tennis courts, for not paying attention, and or...


Thanks to TheNoonans, most of us are very much looking forward to SkyDive Laconia!!!!
Love, Terry

[fatlazyless]

fatlazyless, won'dered an award at this years Forum Fest for $8.00 and some change. A hole in one, as pictured here; http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...hp?photo=17964


FLL knows how to take a thread ( Off Topic In A Heartbeat ), and also taking a black eye on the tennis courts, for not paying attention, and or...


Thanks to TheNoonans, most of us are very much looking forward to SkyDive Laconia!!!!
Love, Terry

..................

Yes, a very good photo of me taken by Don the Webmaster at the latest August, 2011, Center Harbor, Winnipesaukee.com Forum Fest! Not too bad.....still have all my teeth here....at age 59......soon to be 60.......yikes!....


Tom Noonan comes across as a guy who loves both the sport and the business of sky-diving, and hopefully he will be able to get started in the lakes region, either at Laconia, or 17-miles away in Plymouth. Either spot will be a very welcome addition to the area by me, and fair winds and blue skies to him and his NH sky-diver start-up business!!! Rrriiippp-cccooorrrddd!!!.....rock & roll!!!

[TheNoonans]

Tom Noonan comes across as a guy who loves both the sport and the business of sky-diving

Thank you Less. I've been involved in every aspect of our sport for the last 12 years. Everything from testing prototype parachute designs to even driving aerial all terrain vehicles out of the back of a Casa at 14,000ft AGL. Skydiving is my life seven days a week, fifty two weeks a year.

I'm just trying to share this amazing world from my perspective, above the earth......outside the plane. Not a perspective that many people get to experience.

Blue skies to all and to all a good flight,

Tom

[Steveo]

Do ya think they talked at all about Skydive Laconia....I highly doubt it!!!



http://www.citizen.com/news/laconia_...a4bcf6878.html

[fatlazyless]

Ray Burton is a good listener, that's for sure, he likes to get out and chit-chat with people in his huge district which covers the whole northern half of the state. He drives around in a big old 1970's, bright yellow Oldsmobile convertible, to attend various local community events and he is the longest serving Governor's Councillor of all five, by far and away, holding his position since sometime in the 1970's. Just like the way that old Oldsmobile holds the road, Ray Burton holds onto his political seat!!!

http://www.nh.gov/council/district1/

Will go look for a good photo of Ray driving his "Ray-Mobile"; it's a 1970's land yacht, a huge old gas guzzler. Wonder if it's got an Olds 455 Rocket V8 under the hood? Off the top of my head, it's probably a 1975 Olds Delta 88 Royale Convertible in bright yellow!


Most likely, Ray would be right there to go for a sky-diver jump........seriously........he likes to get out and meet the people in his district! Apparently, looking at his website, both Plymouth and Laconia are in Ray's district.

[TheNoonans]

As we approach the holiday weekend, I thought I would just post a quick update.

As I mentioned before, the FAA at a federal level in Washington, D.C. have taken an active interest in investigating the flawed process that led to the two erroneous reports issued by the ADO, and are now actively investigating from the top down. It seems accountability within the FAA is just around the corner.

Ironic that I got ignored by the local FSDO for 87 days after sending him three emails, yet at the FAA's highest supervisory levels, I am responded to via email within 24 hours.

I'm happy to report that the FAA in Washington has taken the shortcomings of this process very seriously, and are actively pursuing a just and fair conclusion to this process.

Enjoy the holiday weekend! Mine will be spent "hanging around" helicopters all weekend......

Blue skies to all and to all a good flight,
Tom

[AC2717]

just plane (plain) AWESOME!!!

[Pineedles]

Originally Posted by Gatto Nero

A crew of at least 10 of us are driving to Maine on Monday to jump at Skydive New England. It's my birthday present to my 18 year old daughter and my entire family will be jumping. We did the same thing for my son's 18th two years ago and there were almost 20 of us. The people at Skydive NE were great but it's too bad we have to drive all the way there instead of staying in our own back yard.

Keep at it Tom. We'll be eager to jump with you when all this is has been resolved.

And of course you won't be spending money in Maine on the following:

Gas
Food
Tolls
Lodging
Trinkets
The Jump itself

Is there anyone in Laconia or NH listening? NH people leaving the state to BUY stuff out of state because of some really stupid people in a position of power.

[Resident 2B]

Originally Posted by Pineedles

And of course you won't be spending money in Maine on the following:

Gas
Food
Tolls
Lodging
Trinkets
The Jump itself

Is there anyone in Laconia or NH listening? NH people leaving the state to BUY stuff out of state because of some really stupid people in a position of power.

Sadly, they think they do not need to listen. All they need to do is increase the property taxes on owners that are not allowed to vote due to residency requirements. That is the easy way out and it is killing this great area.

R2B