Seminole Lake Gliderport Future?

[mhx...@gmail.com]

Hi,

I am interested in getting a glider rating at Seminole Lake. I drove up last week to see the place and fell in love. When searching on the internet, I came across post on here saying that the owner bought the place with stolen money and is now getting deported back to Europe. The article said he was facing life in prison! Wow!

I'm told that this is (or maybe was) the place to get a rating, but I'm hesitant to spend several thousands of dollars if the place is on the verge of collapse.

I also searched on google for "fugitive assets frozen" and it appears since this was such a high profile case that this airports assets will be frozen before too long and sold off to repay the money to whom the owner stole from.

I read on this forum from the management that they have a plan, but if they don't state the exact details of the plan to it doesn't sound like they actually have a plan.

Can anyone recommend another gliderport in Florida? Or is it worth driving up to Chilhowee Tennessee?

Thanks

[Steve Koerner]

You should realize that when there is a change of ownership, businesses rarely stop operating. As long as it's a successful going concern, it will very likely continue as such. That's especially so considering the significant investment on the property. It is a pretty place for soaring.

[son_of_flubber]

> Can anyone recommend another gliderport in Florida? Or is it worth driving up to Chilhowee Tennessee?

http://www.eaglesport.org/ combination power and glider club

http://www.ssa.org/WhereToFlyMap.asp

Florida is flat. Chilhowee is in the mountains. Getting the add-on rating in FL will be easier. If/when you train in the mountains, you will learn additional skills. I suggest learning the basics of aerotow and landing in FL close to home, and then immediately (while you still have 'beginner's mind') start visiting Chilhowee to learn about Appalachian Mountain Style soaring. Get the basics out of the way in FL this Spring, then go to Chilhowee over the summer and enjoy the cooler mountain weather.

Once you get comfortable in a glider, go to Chilhowee to get a taste of Appalachian Mountain Soaring and expand your skill set.

[Mike Schumann]

If you pay anything upfront, use a US Credit Card (NOT a Debit Card, Cash, or Check). That way you will be protected by your credit card issuer if there is a hiccup and they go bankrupt. It's good to be concerned, as even if the business continues to operate, creditors, including gift certificate owners and people with outstanding deposits aren't necessarily protected.

[Dave Springford]

As Wilbur Wright said, don't believe everything you read on the internet.

But here are some facts as I know them:

1. The owner is not facing life in prison.
2. Arrangements have been made to secure the continued operation of the gliderport.
3. The fact that "the plan" is not posted to the internet does not mean there is not a plan.
4. The management is busy getting ready for the Seniors contest that starts in a few days and probably don't have time to write something every time someone cries wolf.

If you spend several thousand dollars getting your rating, then what difference does it make after you have completed your rating as to the disposition of the site?

[Paul Agnew]

The issue would be timing. He doesn't want to be half-way through the rating and have the operation close doors on him.

A fellow JetBlue pilot recommended Citrus Soaring - Franklin Burbank - in Mt. Dora/Eustis. (Between Leesburg, FL and Sanford, FL at the Mid-Florida Airpark.) When I trained there last July, they had just moved back to Mid-Florida that week after being over at Pierson for something like 20 years. They have a 2-33 and a 1-26, and I was able to complete my Comm-Glider add-on very easily.

Franklin and his dad, Bob, are both Designated Examiners. Scheduling rides is never a problem. (They also do checkrides for Seminole Lake.)

http://www.citrussoaringclub.com

https://www.facebook.com/Citrus-Soaring-LLC-442899575746304/

Franklin Burbank 352-223-2883

They have my highest recommendation.

Cheers!
Paul Agnew
Palm Beach Gardens, FL

[still...@gmail.com]

Good evening, my name is Rich Owen and I am the Vice-President of Seminole Flying and Soaring the parent company of Seminole-Lake Gliderport. We were frankly surprised of the rumors regarding the demise of this vibrant company. To give you an example, next week we are holding the largest one class soaring contest in the United States. We have hosted this contest for the last 26 years. We had 93 pilots apply for 60 available slots. There are 34 RV's staying in our RV park. Our waiting list is larger then many contest held in the United States. On the heels of this race we always hold a cross country or racing camp to offer advanced flight training.
We offer flight training 6 days a week with instructors adveraging over 20 years of experience in soaring. With accommodations available on the airfield obtaining your license at Seminloe Lake is efficient and very cost effective. The availability of the many attractions in the Orlando area will fill your family's time while you are flying.
I hope this has answered some of your questions and assauged your doubts. Please fill free to email me at stil...@aol.com
Sincerely,
Rich

[agca...@gmail.com]

I can highly recomend Citrus Soaring. Franklin is attentive, knowledgable and a great instructor. If you want personalized instruction without all the hassles of 20 other gliders trying to get in the air, then citrus is the place to go. They are just north of seminole and have the same wonderfull soaring conditions.

[Papa3]

I recently sent one of my student pilots to Seminole while he was escaping from the cold up North. He came back positively overflowing with praise for the operation and people. I know several of the key folks, and they are a class act all around. While nothing in aviation is a sure thing, I can't imagine getting wrapped around the axle over taking lessons from Seminole.

Erik Mann
CFI-G from chilly NJ

[Bob Pasker]

Why would anyone want to do business with a place that is owned by the indicted former head of the secret police of Romania, who is under arrest on an INTERPOL warrant?

--bob

"Former PDSR MP Mihai Tanjala, sentenced to five years in prison for corruption in Romania, under international arrest warrant, is to be extradited to Romania from the Cayman Islands, where he was arrested in October, local media reported."

[agca...@gmail.com]

Pilots being asked to leave? Staff coming and going? What all has been going on down your way other than the remote problems of the owner that have nothing really to do with the day to day op of the field?

[Retting]

Hey, which one of you nuckleheads real name is Susan?
Like none of you cheated on your taxes.
What happened, happened. What is, will be. And what's coming, nothing can stop.
In the mean time, go dig up your mother and cuss her out for creating a pissant of a child.

R

[soaral...@gmail.com]

Well that escalated quickly

[JS]

I have not flown at Seminole since it was run by Knut and Ingrid, who were extremely hospitable. The first visit, Seminole was in Oveido.
Regardless of the legal issues brought up, hopefully these recent posts by an angry individual do not reflect the current attitude at Seminole. They appear to support that someone could have been treated poorly.
Seminole is an icon of our community, it would be bad to see it go away.
Jim

[MNLou]

If anyone really wants to see or hear how Seminole operates, come on down and watch the Seniors Contest now in process.

The contest crew and the Seminole folks are putting on a hell of a show.

Lou