I want to give a huge thank you to all the ZSE guys who put this together this year.  I just finished, had a blast.  I did one quite a few years back, and the Poker Run still has yet to be bested as my favorite VATSIM event.

Great job by all the controllers, THANK YOU again.

Kris & company,
Today we'll be departing KCPS St Louis Downtown and heading to KCIR Cairo (always wanted to stop there just because I know it's pronounced cay-ro, surely the locals would appreciate that?).

While there is a faint chance we could push on tonight (Monday) to MEM, I am disinclined to think that will happen due to a lack of daylight.

So, Tuesday looks to be the day we'll head from KCIR to KMEM (M01 is probably the most realistic destination, but we'll head in to KMEM to provide some action).  And then Weds we'll head out again to Vicksburg or maybe KJAN.  After that it's on down to BTR or NEW.  All weather permitting of course (tuesday may be a no-go due to a front).

My goal is to get online between 1830 and 1845 eastern (2230-2245z) to take advantage of the daylight remaining (about two hours each day).  So, Tuesday we will probably arrive in Memphis around 2000 eastern/0000z.  When we leave again I know it's 1730 local time so not everyone is home from work/school, so no worries.

Only two of us have been making the flights so far, so I can't promise a big line of a/c coming in.  Tell all your friends though, I'd love some more company.  I've been using a combination of wikipedia and http://www.johnweeks.com/river_mississippi/ for sightseeing info and historical facts, some really neat stuff to read about.

Tom, sorry we missed you.  I was out of town until Sunday after I posted that so I didnt see your reply or I would have put the brakes on until today to start.

Nevertheless, yesterday's flight was fantastic.  Had atc, traffic diversions, and some gorgeous scenery.  We started at an elevation of 1444 feet, and are already down more than half to about 690, as we prepare to breach Minnesota's southern border.

The next leg is from La Crosse to Moline.  A little over an hour at 140 knots, but if you really follow the river, it's probably an hour and a half or so.

http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=klse-kpdc-ksf...=140&SU=kts

Currently the weather out in that neck of the woods is poor and/or convective, though it should lighten up by this afternoon.  Consequently, I propose a 1830EDT/2230Z start, which would have us landing during dusk (and well in advance of the start of the NCAA championship game).

Let me know if that works or doesnt as we can delay this leg a day if need be.

Throwing this out there to see if there's any interest- I'm planning on doing the "Great Mississippi River Tour" in my little Mooney.  Should be roughly 1300-1400 miles of flying, and about ten to fifteen hours of flight time.

The goal is to go VFR from the very headwaters of the Mighty Mississipp' down to the Gulf.  The first leg will begin at KPKD Park Rapids, where Lake Itasca is just a few minutes north, and marks the official start of the River.  From there up over Bemidji, down over Grand Rapids (MN), Brainerd, Little Falls, St Cloud, through the Class Bravo at KMSP, and then along the widening stream the rest of the way.

Tentative stops are all right along the shores, but include La Crosse, Moline, Saint Louis (barbeque and blues), Cairo, Tunica (gambling!), and the Big Easy (general debauchery).

Goal is to finish in the next three weeks, as my schedule gets busy again at that point, and I'll have less daylight available for VFR.  In any case, if anyone would like to join reply or email me b o a s t l e r [ a t ] g m a i l [ d o t ] c o m (no spaces, obviously) and let's take a trip.

EDIT: I am in NY, so I was planning on the flights being in the early evening EDT, though I have some flexibility, and some availability on weekends.

This looks very promising, and there are people at UPSVAC who are chomping at the bit to get it installed.

Is there final word as to whether this stuff all works?