Past Trips

Overnight GyroTrip – Fly by Night Cattle Company – Fri-Sat – Jan 7-8, 2022

January 6, 2022 — January 14, 2022

TRIP CANCELED – WEATHER TOO COLD FOR OPEN COCKPIT FLYING. We’ll reschedule for Spring.

FLY BY NIGHT CATTLE COMPANY is a family operated steakhouse on a ranch just outside of Cleburne, Texas – KCPT and is a fun GyroTrip destination. We’ll depart T74 in Taylor at 3:00 PM on FRIDAY – JAN 7 for the hour and half flight to Cleburne.

We’ll make dinner reservations for 6:30 PM and plan to stay overnight at The Liberty Hotel in Cleburne before heading home on Saturday morning.  Hope you can join us.

 

Fly Along With Us

 

 

Come & Take It Festival – Gonzales, Texas

October 2, 2021 — October 6, 2021

The day began with a delicious hangar breakfast of coffee and muffins before preflight and take-off.

Three Gyroplanes including six pilots and passengers took part in the 60 mile flight from Taylor to Gonzales, Texas.

We had a great time at the Come & Take it Festival before flying to Austin for a flight over Zilker Park and

the annual Austin City Limits ACL Music Festival where tens of thousands of music fans celebrated the weekend.

As we went our separate ways to our home airports, everyone agreed that this was a GyroTrip to remember.

Enjoy The Journey

 

 

A Day in Pictures – Perini Ranch Steakhouse – Saturday – September 18, 2021

September 18, 2021 — December 31, 2021

Fredonia Hotel – Nacogdoches, Texas – Fri-Sat – Aug 27-28, 2021

August 27, 2021 — August 28, 2021

The Fredonia Hotel is as close as you’ll get to 1955 without McFly’s Delorean.

The hotel restoration is pretty impressive, including two restaurants, a full service bar, and live weekend jazz.

The jazz duo, Maryah & Martyn, glide through jazz standards with style, from Ella to Sinatra.

Hope you can join us for this overnight trip to Nacogdoches on Friday – Aug. 27.

Please email us by Aug 1, 2021 if you plan to go.

rdabbs@gyrotrips.com

 

 

 

 

Anthonie’s Market Grill – Sat June 19, 2021

June 17, 2021 — June 23, 2021

Far away from the traffic in the city, Anthonie’s is a relaxed, rustic restaurant located in the community of Simonton, Texas. It’s about a 20 minute drive from Houston Executive Airport KTME. We’ll plan to depart T74 – Taylor at 11:00 AM – SAT – JUNE 19 to arrive at the restaurant around 1:30 for lunch.  

fly along with us

Breakfast at Guenther House – San Antonio

March 6, 2021 — March 12, 2021

Located on the grounds of the old Pioneer Flour Company, The Guenther House is a San Antonio landmark. Just a few steps from the Riverwalk, guests are treated to a full breakfast menu of homemade waffles, biscuits, and traditional breakfast items, Seating is available indoors or outdoors on the garden patio. We’ll plan to depart T74-Taylor  at 7:30 AM on SAT – MAR 6 for the flight to Stinson Airport – KSSF.  

fly along with us

Gilhooley’s Oyster Bar – San Leon CHANGED to Gate 12 – College Station

April 10, 2021 — April 15, 2021

NOTICE!  DESTINATION HAS BEEN CHANGED

We did not have enough pilot responses to justify the Gilhooley’s GyroTrip.

The destination has been changed to GATE 12 Restaurant and Bar in College Station.

We will depart T74 – Taylor at 11:00 AM on Saturday – April 10 for the 1 hour flight to KCLL in College Station.

 

 

Dinner at Leona General Store – Leona TX

May 8, 2021 — May 14, 2021

Leona General Store looks like a scene out of a 1950’s small town movie. On the outside, it still has the look of a mom & pop grocery. On the inside, they’re serving up mesquite grilled ribeyes to hungry patrons from as far away as Houston and Dallas. The nearest airport is Madisonville – 51R.  We’ll plan to depart T74 – Taylor at 3:00 PM on SAT – MAY 8 for the 80 mile flight. 

fly along with us

Gyros on the Bayou – CANCELED due to weather

June 5, 2021 — June 18, 2021

We’ll depart T74-Taylor at 7:30 AM – Saturday – June 5 with a breakfast stop at The Black Walnut Cafe in Conroe. Later that afternoon, we’ll visit The Grapevine Cafe in Donaldsonville, LA for dinner and live entertainment. We’ll overnight in nearby Gonzales, LA. Sunday morning, we’ll head to Russell’s Lakefront Grill for breakfast. Then it’s wheels up for the flight back to Texas. Should be a fun weekend of Food, Friends, and Flying.

Let us know if you plan to join us. Click the ITINERARY graphic for details.

fly along with us

Dayton’s Birthday Breakfast at Black Walnut Cafe – Conroe TX- KCXO – Sat. July 10, 2021

July 10, 2021 — July 10, 2021

The new venue for Dayton’s Birthday Breakfast is BLACK WALNUT CAFE located on the second level of Galaxy FBO at KCXO Conroe, TX.

7:30 AM – Pilot’s briefing – Hangar E6 T74-Taylor

8:00 AM – dpt T74 for KCXO Conroe.

9:45 – Estimated arrival at KCXO.

Looking forward to a good turnout.

Hope you can make it!

.

Perini Ranch Steakhouse – Abilene, Texas – Sat- Sept. 18, 2021

September 9, 2021 — September 15, 2021

This trip has been updated – see below.

JOIN US for  this GyroTrip to Perini Ranch, the #3 Steakhouse in Texas located  in Buffalo Gap near Abilene.  Owner Tom Perini is said to be one of the 24 reasons people love TEXAS.

8:00 AM – HANGAR BKFAST – T74 Hangar E6

8:30 AM – Pilot’s Briefing

9:00 AM – dpt T74 for KABI – Abilene

1:00 – LUNCH – Perini Ranch Steakhouse – Buffalo Gap Texas – See MENU on DETAILS page

4:00 – dpt KABI

Hope you can join us – Thanks for following.

 

 

 

A Day in Pictures – Alamo Springs Cafe – Sat – Nov. 6, 2021

November 5, 2021 — March 31, 2022

 

 

 

Dixie-Delta GyroTrip – Taylor Texas to New Orelans

October 9, 2020 — October 11, 2020

Hurricane DELTA on the way to Louisiana-Miss-Florida this weekend.

The dates are FRI – OCT 9-SUN – OCT 11. Click TRIP DETAILS button to see tentative schedule and waypoints (just above the MAIN BANNER).  Hampton Inn & Suites Convention Center New Orleans is our offical hotel. We do not have rooms blocked off, so each pilot should make their own reservations. We’ll depart T74-Taylor at  7:00 AM – Fri – Oct. 9.  Email rdabbs@gyrotrips.com or let Dayton know if you’re planning to join us.

 

Boerne Stage Airfield – Kris & Ray’s Excellent Adventure

November 7, 2020 — November 18, 2020

Ray Hancock and Kris Kelly are hosting a GyroTrip at Boerne Stage Airfield 5C1 in the Texas Hill Country on Saturday – Nov. 7. Kris will lead a 9:30 morning flight from Boerne Stage over the lakes and canyons with a return to Boerne Stage for a Hangar BBQ lunch around noon.  For anyone wanting to fly as a group from T74 Taylor, we’re planning to depart T74  at 7:30 AM. Thanks to Kris and Ray for hosting this event. This should be fun!

PLEASE EMAIL rdabbs@gyrotrips.com IF YOU PLAN TO MAKE THIS TRIP.  RAY & KRIS NEED TO KNOW HOW MUCH FOOD TO PREPARE FOR LUNCH.

GYROS & BBQ

August 7, 2020 — August 21, 2020

The rescheduled GYROS & BBQ trip is all set for SAT – AUG 08.  We’ll be filming a video “trailer” as part of a pitch to THE EXPLORERS CLUB and THE DISCOVERY CHANNEL. We’ll gather at T74 in Taylor at 7:30 AM, then fly to Llano, Enchanted Rock, The Canyons, Lake Travis, and Downtown Austin.It should be a fun day. I’ll post any changes here,  on the gyrotrips.com site. Restaurant operating at 50% capacity – bring mask. See you Saturday!

Annual Gyroplane Fly-In – Dublin, Texas 9P0

March 7, 2020 — March 18, 2020

Dublin St. Patrick’s Day Fly-In canceled due to weather.

Annual Gyroplane Fly in – Dublin, Texas 9F0

Saturday – March 14, 2020

Mark Your Calendars

We’ll meet at 8:00 AM in Temple, Texas – KTPL where we’ll join up with Mike and Cyndi Baker before flying to Dublin. The annual fly-in includes a gyro flyover downtown and the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Dublin, along with food and activities.. Let me know if you’re planning to go and I’ll add you to the group. rdabbs@gyrotrips.com

COOPERS BBQ

July 6, 2019 — July 14, 2019

An impromptu GyroTrip to Coopers BBQ in Llano, Texas. Four Gyros and about a dozen people joined in this excursion to the Texas Hill County. Some flew, some drove, and all had a good time with family and friends. What a great Day.  ENJOY THE JOURNEY!

NEW ORLEANS – FOOD TRIP (Dec 27, 2018)

December 27, 2018 — December 29, 2018

Are you ready for some GUMBO?  The forecast looks OK for an overnight trip to New Orleans on Thursday -Dec. 27, returning on Friday Dec. 28. Reply if you want to join us. Thanks for following! ENJOY THE JOURNEY

 

GyroTrips TV

August 18, 2018 — September 30, 2019

GYROTRIPS.COM to include GYROTRIPS TV

A lot of activity is going on behind the scenes for GyroTrips TV. When we launch on Oct. 25, 2019, our two main shows will be THE GYRO HANGAR with Dayton Dabbs and MEET THE PILOTS with Robert Dabbs. This is just the beginning for GyroTrips TV to what we hope will become a source of information and entertainment for the gyro community. 

Thanks for following. ENJOY THE JOURNEY!

AIR VENTURE 2018 – OSHKOSH, WI

July 20, 2018 — July 31, 2018

This is a last minute decision to fly to AIR VENTURE 2018 with Dayton and the crew. LUCA MAGNI and a couple of folks from the ITALY FACTORY will be there, so it should be fun. Don’t know how long we’ll stay or when we’ll return. Will have my spot tracker, so click TRACK THIS TRIP tab to fly along with us. Thanks for Following. ENJOY THE JOURNEY!

Family Vacation-GyroTrip – Broken Bow, OK (June 06, 2018)

June 6, 2018 — June 22, 2018

Dayton and his group flew over Broken Bow, OK  last year on their return flight from Oshkosh and described the scenery as the highlight of their trip. So, we’re planning a family gyrotrip on June 06 to see first hand, the natural beauty of this little lake in the hills of Central Oklahoma. Click on the ITINERARY graphic for details. Thanks for following! ENJOY THE JOURNEY

Breakfast at The Black Walnut Cafe – KCXO – Conroe Sat – June 23, 2018

June 23, 2018 — June 28, 2018

AFTER THE TRIP

It was quite a sight, seeing eight gyros lined up in front of The Black Walnut Cafe at North Houston Regional Airport in Conroe.  The group included three Magni M 16’s, two Magni M24’s, an Autogyro Calidus, an American Ranger, and an Autogyro Cavalon. It was a good time with friends, family, and fellow gyro pilots. Thanks for following. ENJOY THE JOURNEY!

 

 

BEFORE THE TRIP

Black Walnut Cafe at KCXO Airport in Conroe is the perfect spot for a GyroTrip breakfast. We’ll depart T74 Taylor at 7:30 AM, arriving in Conroe shortly after 9:00.  Setting aside an hour or so for breakfast and to watch planes take off and land, we should be back in Taylor by 1:00 PM. KCXO is class DELTA with two runways (14/32 and 01/19).  We can park on the ramp at Galaxy FBO, just outside the restaurant. This should be a good trip. Thanks for following. ENJOY THE JOURNEY! -Bob

 

Palo Duro Canyon, TX (July 2018)

July 3, 2018 — July 11, 2018

Dayton will lead the way to the annual 4th of July Hangar Dance near Palo Duro Canyon. It’s about a 700 mile round trip from T74 Taylor.  Looking forward to good scenery and good time with flying friends. Contact Dayton if you want to join us.  Thanks for following. ENJOY THE JOURNEY! -Bob

 

UPDATE TUES – 07-03-18

I wasn’t feeling well on Monday, so Kathy and I were not able to make thePalo Duro trip. Here are a few pix as Dayton and the Bakers prepared to depart T74 – Taylor. 

NOTE: You won’t be able to track this trip since I normally have the spot tracker and we’re not flying. 

Taylor, TX – Natchez – New Orleans (JULY 2018)

July 16, 2018 — July 19, 2018

Natchez and New Orleans are still two favorite destinations.  Thanks for following. ENJOY THE JOURNEY! -Bob

Dixie Delta GyroTrip (OCT 8-11, 2020)

October 8, 2020 — October 11, 2020

ANNOUNCING – DIXIE DELTA GYROTRIP – OCT 2020, including Memphis-Jackson-New Orleans.  The forecast calls for good food, good company and lots of gyro flying through the heartland of the south. Email me at rdabbs@gyrotrips if you’re interested in joining us.

THURS – OCT. 08 

Dpt T74 Taylor – Lunch in Shreveport – Arv M01 Dewitt Spain-Memphis

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FRI – OCT 09

Dpt M01 Dewitt Spain-Memphis – Lunch in Jackson, MS – Arv KNEW New Orleans

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SAT – OCT 10

A Day in New Orleans 

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SUN – OCT 11

Dpt KNEW New Orleans to T74 – Taylor, Texas

Lunch at Little Big Cup Arnaudville, LA

 

details coming soon……

 

Taylor, TX – Alpine – Marfa – Presidio – Lajitas – San Antonio (OCT 2018)

October 5, 2018 — October 14, 2018

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!  This should be a fantastic trip – fall weather, west Texas mountains, and the scenic Rio Grande. We’ll depart T74 – TAYLOR on Friday morning – Oct. 5 and fly to KSOA – SONORA for lunch and fuel. Then, it’s over the West Texas mountains to KE38 – ALPINE.  Saturday, we’ll make a short flight to KMRF – MARFA,  then, fly south to KPRS – Presidio and on to 89TE – LAJITAS for overnight at the Lodge. The homeward flight on Sunday will take us along the Rio Grande, some of the most beautiful scenery in Texas, with a fuel stop at KDRT – DEL RIO and late lunch at KSSF – STINSON in SAN ANTONIO. This one’s coming up soon. Post a comment if you’re planning to join us.  Thanks for following. ENJOY THE JOURNEY! 

STATE FAIR OF TEXAS – OCT 2018

October 20, 2018 — October 26, 2018

 WHO WANTS TO GO TO THE FAIR?  We’ll depart T74–Taylor at 9:30 AM to arrive at KLNC–Lancaster around  11:30 AM. We’ll get lunch then spend a few hours at the fair before returning home about 7:30 PM.  This should be a fun way to spend a Fall Saturday afternoon. Hope you can join us. Thanks for following. ENJOY THE JOURNEY!

 

HOUSTON to FT WORTH (March 30, 2018)

March 30, 2018 — April 5, 2018

AFTER THE TRIP

You never know what’s in store when you head out on a GyroTrip.  Dayton and I departed T74 – Taylor at about 7:00 AM Friday morning and flew down to KTME – HOUSTON EXEC to pick up Chandler. Weather was a bit chilly, but almost perfect. We departed HOUSTON EXEC for a 45 minute flight to KCXO – NORTH HOUSTON REGIONAL where we had a fantastic breakfast at THE BLACK WALNUT CAFE, located on the top floor of the Airport FBO. From Conroe, we made our way to KFWS – FT WORTH SPINKS airport, arriving at about 2:30.  Our rental car was gassed up ready when we landed.  We made it to  UNCLE JULIOS between the lunch and dinner rush and were able to kick back and enjoy good food and good company. Downtown FT WORTH was not too crowded which made for an unhurried walk around SUNDANCE SQUARE,  ending with drinks at the REATA rooftop bar and a steak dinner in the downstairs restaurant. 

We were up early SATURDAY morning and drove to MONTGOMERY STREET CAFE to plan the day over sausage, eggs and pancakes. Strong south winds were forecast  so we opted out of flying to LLANO and flew to T74 – TAYLOR for lunch with the FAM at HIT THE SPOT CAFE in Hutto.

About 4 O’Clock, Dayton headed north to McGregor to meet Brittny, I flew back to Houston to drop off Chandler. On the solo flight back to Taylor, I thought about what a blessed experience it is to be able to fly gyros across the country, experiencing food, fun and life with family.

Yes, this one was as good as it gets!

Thanks for following!

ENJOY THE JOURNEY

 

 

 

BEFORE THE TRIP

We had a change of plan for our Gonzales, LA trip. Most of the restaurants in the New Orleans area are closed for Good Friday, including the one’s we wanted to visit. So, we decided to fly to Ft. Worth instead. We’ll fly down to KTME in Houston Friday morning, pick up Chandler, then fly to KCXO in Conroe for breakfast, then on to KFWS Ft. Worth. We’ll depart KFWS-Ft Worth around NOON on Saturday and make our way to Cooper’s BBQ in Llano. Weather looks good, so it should be a good trip.

Thanks for following!

ENJOY THE JOURNEY

 

LUNCH TRIP – Taylor, TX to San Antonio (SAT – JAN 20, 2018)

January 20, 2018 — January 31, 2018

BEFORE THE TRIP

Let’s give it another shot.  The LUNCH TRIP to JOSEPHINE STREET CAFE in San Antonio is rescheduled for SATURDAY – JAN 20  Departing T74 – Taylor at 12:30 PM, returning that evening.  Join us if you can.  Thanks for following! ENJOY THE JOURNEY

 

AFTER THE TRIP

After a short delay departing T74 – Taylor, we were wheels up at 1:10 PM.  Weather was chilly and bordering on IFR and we fought a strong headwind all the way, but no one was in a hurry. When we landed at Stinson Airport at 3:00 PM, Imperial Aviation FBO loaned us the “crew car” for the short drive to Josephine Street Cafe.  By the time we got there, everyone was hungry and ready to eat. As always,  Josephine’s has something for everyone – chopt steak, ribeyes, bacon wrapped filet, Hawaiian chicken and gulf shrimp, all served in a Texas Friendly setting. After an hour or so of eating and visiting, we headed back to the airport, fueled up the gyros, and were in the air at 5:40 for a quick fly-by the Tower of The Americas in downtown San Antonio, then on to a fly-over downtown Austin, and finally touching down at 6:50 at T74-Taylor.  We were sorry Ray and Chandler couldn’t join us. We’ll hold a spot for them next time. It was a fantastic day. Thanks for following. ENJOY THE JOURNEY. 

HARD 8 BBQ – Stephenville, TX (Nov 18, 2017)

November 18, 2017 — November 30, 2017

Mike Baker suggested this trip to Hard 8 BBQ in Stephenville. Looks like a good destination for a 1- Day Trip. Click on the ITINERARY SUITCASE for details. Thanks for following! ENJOY THE JOURNEY

COOPERS BBQ – LLANO, TX (Sept. 5, 2017)

September 5, 2017 — September 14, 2017

SUMMARY – AFTER THE TRIP

What a great way to start September – good weather, good food, and good folks. Four gyros made the trip to Cooper’s BBQ in Llano today. Ray Hancock, Ed LeBlanc, Dayton Dabbs, John Craparo and KathyD and I  landed in Llano around 11:30 and took the airport van to town for a fun get-together at Coopers. Kathy took a quick pic of us before we saddled up and headed home. Dayton lead the way with an Indy-Style flight through the Canyons south of Llano that included 90 turns with the canyon walls about 100 feet above our rotors.  As George Strait says “Texas is the place I’d dearly love to be”. ENJOY THE JOURNEY!

 

 

BEFORE THE TRIP

FALL is almost here and that’s time for a trip to COOPERS in LLANO. Some say it’s the best BBQ in Texas. We’ll leave T74 – TAYLOR at 9:30 Tuesday morning for the one hour flight to Llano. Let us know if you want to join us. Looking forward to it. ENJOY THE JOURNEY!

 

Lake Hamilton – Hot Springs, AR (Aug 9, 2017)

August 9, 2017 — August 18, 2017

AFTER THE TRIP

This trip was a good blend of flying, boating, and seeing the sites. We landed at Hot Springs Municipal Airport  about 7:30 Wednesday evening after dodging storms all day. Lookout Point Lodge was an exceptional place to stay, right on Lake Hamilton. We took to the lake on Thursday morning for Kathy to recapture her youth on the skis – lots of fun. We had to skip breakfast at the lodge Friday morning in order to outrun the storms that were moving in from the west.  We took off with about a 30 minute window before the storms hit Hot Springs. The weather improved as we flew southwest toward Texas. After a quick fuel stop in Winnsboro TX, we flew non-stop to T74 – Taylor where we touched down at 3:15 PM. Saltgrass Steakhouse in Round Rock was a welcome sight as our final stop on this fantastic trip.

Thanks for following!

ENJOY THE JOURNEY

BEFORE THE TRIP

It’s about 700 miles round-trip from TAYLOR, TX (T74) to HOT SPRINGS, AR (KHOT).  We’ll fly up on Wednesday and stay at Lookout Point B&B, located on Lake Hamilton. On Thursday, we’ll  rent a pontoon and cruise the lake, then fly home on Friday. Click the ITINERARY graphic to see departure times and fuel stops.

Thanks for following!    ENJOY THE JOURNEY

Taylor, TX to New Orleans (Oct 13, 2017)

October 13, 2017 — October 27, 2017

AFTER THE TRIP

From the beginning, GyroTrips was created to bring people together who share a common interest in flying gyros and having fun. The ten people who took part in the New Orleans trip brought that dream to life. We enjoyed good weather, fantastic food and the sights and sounds of the Crescent City.  I think everyone returned  home with good memories that will last a long time. 

 

BEFORE THE TRIP

Great!  A total of FIVE GYROS are confirmed for the New Orleans trip on FRI – OCT. 13 through SUN. – OCT. 15. Should be good flying, good food, and good company. Click on the ITINERARY SUITCASE graphic for details.

Thanks for following! ENJOY THE JOURNEY

Taylor, TX to Taste of Texas – Houston Exec (June 25, 2017)

June 25, 2017 — June 29, 2017

SUMMARY – AFTER THE TRIP

For a while, it looked like we would have to cancel the trip due to weather. At our original departure time of 1:00 PM, showers and thunderstorms still hovered over Taylor and along our route.  But, we got a break about 2:30 and were able to fly around the storms for a pleasant two hour flight down to Houston.  The folks at KTME were very accommodating in parking our gyros under their covered canopy and providing transportation to the restaurant. Taste of Texas is a comfortable place for friends to gather, and the food and service are top notch. It was great to see Chandler and Kelly.  When we departed KTME at 7:00 PM, the weather had started to brew again. We had to divert to the north toward College Station to avoid two significant storms, but, with the help of a tailwind, our ground speed was about 100 mph and we slipped through and found clear skies all the way back to Taylor T74. Thanks to KathyD, Mike and Cyndi, Bobo and Jeanette, and Chandler and Kelly for making this a fantastic GyroTrip. Thanks for following – ENJOY THE JOURNEY!

BEFORE THE TRIP

Hopefully, the weather will cooperate better than it did last time we tried this trip.. Plan to take-off from T74 Taylor at 1:00 Sunday afternoon for the flight down to KTME (Houston Exec) and an early dinner at 4:00 at Taste of Texas. We should get back to Taylor close to sundown at 8:00. Thanks for following. ENJOY THE JOURNEY!

Taylor, TX to Apache Pass, TX (June 17, 2017)

June 17, 2017 — June 21, 2017

About a twenty minute gyro flight to the east of Taylor, there’s a stretch of land known as APACHE PASS, officially located in DOWNTOWN, TX. It’s one of the more unique venues in Central Texas and includes a private landing strip, a steakhouse, where you choose to have your steak grilled over pecan, mesquite, or oak.  And, there’s the San Gabriel River that runs across the back side of the property, complete with a swinging bridge and all kinds of sights you won’t see anywhere else.  Mike Baker put this trip together – several gyros should be flying. Looking forward to take-off at 5:00 Saturday. Thanks for following. ENJOY THE JOURNEY

Taylor, TX to Natchez and New Orleans (June 09, 2017)

June 7, 2017 — June 14, 2017

 

Recapping this trip:  That’s lots of flying in two days – about 900 miles. Weather was perfect, company was, too. Flew over the middle of Lake Pontchartrain in route to Lakefront Airport in New Orleans. Messina’s Runway Cafe was closed for the weekend due to a big Hollywood movie being filmed on site.  Had one of the best breakfasts in town at Russell’s Marina Grill on Shoreline Drive, next to the lake.  Landed back at T74 just before sundown.  The trip was fun. Spending time with Chandler – Priceless! Thanks for following. ENJOY THE JOURNEY

Taylor, TX to College Station, TX (Jan 2017)

January 1, 2017 — January 20, 2017

On Saturday, John asked if we’d like to take a Sunday GyroTrip to kick off the New Year. Dayton suggested a little restaurant that he remembered from his college days in College Station called Cafe Eccell.  It was a fun one-hour flight across the farms and fields of Central Texas to Aggieland.  Thanks, John, for the invite.

Taylor, TX to Ft Worth Zoo (Mar. 03, 2018)

March 3, 2018 — March 8, 2018

AFTER THE TRIP

Clouds gave way to clear skies at about 9:00 AM Saturday. The flight to Ft. Worth was perfect, about 50 degrees with a tailwind from the southeast. Car was waiting when we landed at Ft. Worth Spinks and we were at the Zoo by 11:30. We wrapped up the zoo visit about 1:30 and were at Uncle Julios for lunch by 2:00. They serve a plate-full of food with chips, salsa, lobster, beef and chicken fajitas leaving plenty to take home. We departed Spinks around 4:00 PM with clear skies and about a 10kt southeast headwind. Once we passed Waco, the weather began to deteriorate and, by the time we were 20 miles from Taylor, it was pretty challenging.  The runway lights at T74 were a welcome sight. Like any GyroTrip, you deal with the doom, the gloom and the glory. At the end of the day, the gyro is in the hangar, we’re safe, and look forward to the next wheels-up. Thanks for following. ENJOY THE JOURNEY!

BEFORE THE TRIP

Ft Worth Zoo is rated number 5 in the country. This should be a fun day-trip with a little flying, the zoo , and Tex-Mex at Uncle Julios.  Kathy and I will be the only gyro on this trip –  flying N747KW. Thanks for following! ENJOY THE JOURNEY

Taylor, TX to Lajitas, TX (Dec. 2016)

December 27, 2016 — January 25, 2017

 

Who flew:

Mike and Cyndi Baker – Gyro N848CG

Robert and Dayton Dabbs – Gyro N747KW

Texas is one of the most diverse, beautiful landscapes to see from a gyroplane. We took off from the flatland of Taylor (T74)  about 9:45 Tuesday morning and flew west and watched the terrain slowly rise as we approached the Texas Hill Country. After a fuel and lunch stop in Junction (KJCT) and a friendly ride to town by Mr. Bill, a wonderful 91 year old  WWII veteran, we continued west another 130 miles to a remote West Texas fuel stop in Terrell County (K6R6). There,  airport manager, CD Curry explained that the the huge runways, which looked like an abandoned scene from a Stephen King movie, were built in the 1930’s as a fuel and crew stop for giant Pan American Clippers that flew passengers from San Antonio to Los Angeles.  On our final leg, we climbed to about six thousand feet to clear the mountain range leading in to Lajitas (89TE) where airport manager Robert Farrell was waiting with an overnight hangar for our gyros and transportation to the Resort.   From the patio at the resort restaurant, we watched day fade away into night behind the mountains.  It had been a long, tiring, fun trip. We turned in for the night.

After breakfast Wednesday morning, the resort provided transportation back to the airport. After pre-flighting the gyros and loading our gear, we were in the air again for what would be the most spectacular part of our trip. Pilot, Mike Beavers, who knows the area well, volunteered to fly escort in his red Grumman to see the sites along the border. After takeoff, we flew southeast through canyons and cliffs of the Rio Grande, which separates the US and Mexico. The scenery cannot be described with words. It’s literally overwhelming.  

With another fuel stop 156 miles to the northeast in OZONA (KOZA), we then flew 131 miles east to Llano (KAQO) where airport manager (Runway Roy) provided transportation to our lunch stop at COOPERS BBQ – delicious as always. Our final leg from Llano to our home airport of Taylor (T74) was pleasant and smooth as we touched down about half an hour before sundown. As we rolled the gyros back into the hangars, it was unanimous – this was one of the best GyroTrips ever, where EVERYTHING came together as planned. Thanks for following! ENJOY THE JOURNEY. 

 

 

 

Babe’s Chicken Dinner House- Roanoke, TX (Feb. 2017)

February 4, 2017 — February 10, 2017

The weather was cold and visibility was poor, but the trip was a lot of fun. Mike and Cyndi flew the club gyro. Dayton flew solo in 317KD and Kathy and I flew 747KW. Babe’s Chicken Dinner House in Roanoke was good (maybe not 300+ miles good), but the trip was worth it for the company. It was good to see Rob and Kristi who drove over from Denton to join us for lunch.  Thanks for following. ENJOY THE JOURNEY!

Blue Bonnet Bkfast – Marble Falls (Apr. 2017)

April 8, 2017 — April 21, 2017

Bikers, families, and GyroTrips are all welcome at the Bluebonnet. We’ll dpt T74 Taylor at 8:00 AM for the flight to Burnet.  Mike and Cyndi offered to pick us up at the airport for the short drive to THE BLUEBONNET in Marble Falls.  Departing Burnet, we’ll fly over downtown Austin then head back to Taylor.  Thanks for following. ENJOY THE JOURNEY!

Lunch at Josephine Street Cafe – San Antonio

December 14, 2016 — December 30, 2016

Winter flying in an open gyroplane can be challenging.  But, the fun far outweighed the cold on this trip.  We flew just under the 2500 ft ceiling and navigated the 1 mile corridor that separates San Antonio Intl and Randolph AFB airspace to Stinson airport. CFS and Chopt steak at Josephine’s was like dinner at grandma’s. And, flying with Dayton is like having an insurance policy in the back seat. If you’re unsure of what to do – he’s right there with the answer. What a Day! This is what gyro flying is all about.  Thanks for following.  ENJOY THE JOURNEY!

Taylor, TX to Galveston (March 14, 2018)

March 14, 2018 — March 23, 2018

AFTER THE TRIP

We departed Taylor shortly after 1:00 PM Wednesday for the 160 mile flight down to Galveston.  Cyndi and Mike Baker, along with Kathy and I made up the flight of two Magni M16 Gyroplanes.   The three hour flight, at 1500 feet, took us over farms, fields, and an occasional small town until we reached the the beach about 15 miles west of Galveston at 4:00 PM.  The controllers at Galveston tower were helpful in guiding us in for landing on runway 14.  And, a special thanks to Mike Shahan with The City of Galveston  for providing hangar space that we greatly appreciated.

Thursday morning was filled with lots of sunshine for our foursome to enjoy the day by the pool at the San Luis. Dinner at BLVD SEAFOOD and STEAK was a highlight. If you visit Galveston, it’s worth a spot on your list of places to eat.

Friday morning weather looked a little dicey, so we took off around 8:45, about an hour earlier than originally planned, to avoid low clouds and rain.  By the time we touched down at T74 Taylor at 11:45, the sun was shining, making for a perfect ending to a perfect GyroTrip. 

Thanks for following!

ENJOY THE JOURNEY

 

 

 

 

BEFORE THE TRIP

The pool at the San Luis in Galveston should make for a good Spring Break 2018. Thanks for following! ENJOY THE JOURNEY

Taylor, TX to San Antonio (Thanksgiving Weekend 2016)

November 26, 2016 — November 30, 2016

That was a great trip, all in less than 24 hours. At the last minute, Dayton had some mechanical problems, so, only Kathy and I made the flight. Weather was good – chilly, but not cold. San Antonio was all lit up and not too crowded. If you go to San Antonio and want a nice hotel that’s comfortable and close to downtown, try the Best Western at Sunset Station. It’s located in a quiet, restored brick building, and is walking distance to everything at about half the price of the Riverwalk chains.

From now on, Stinson will be our airport of choice when flying in to San Antonio .  The terminal has been refurbished and they have Enterprise rental cars on site. Staff is friendly at the FBO and in the tower. It’s just much less stressful flying a gyro in to Stinson than the bigger airports.

 

BAHAMAS (June 2019)

June 20, 2019 — July 31, 2019

BAHAMAS IS ON

THIS 9 DAY TRIP to the BAHAMAS will take us east to Mobile and  St. Augustine FL, then south to Ft. Pierce FL and across to the BAHAMAS to our destination of CAPE SANTA MARIA BEACH RESORT, located on LONG ISLAND, about halfway down the island chain. Right now, we’re asking anyone who might want to join us to send an email to rdabbs@gyrotrips.com so we can get a handle on how many people and gyros might be going. Click the ITINERARY graphic to see dates and waypoints. It should be fun! Thanks for following!  ENJOY THE JOURNEY

 

 

 

Taylor, TX to Thibodaux and New Orleans (Oct 2016)

October 8, 2016 — October 20, 2016

What a trip! The flight down to Thibodaux took us over swamp and marshland of south Louisiana. Fremin’s Restaurant in Thibodaux was every bit as good as we had hoped. Our cab driver “Bobby” had moved to Thibodaux from Chicago’s south side and had some colorful stories of his days on the road in the carnival business.  Shortly after take off from Thibodaux on Sunday morning, we could see the skyline of New Orleans, about fifty miles away. It was a special treat to see the Superdome and French Quarter from a thousand feet above the ground. Thanks to everyone at Lakefront Airport and Flightline First FBO who made our trip a lot of fun. After a nighttime ride on the Natchez Riverboat, it was time to head back to Texas. We made it just in time for lunch at the Southern Flyer Diner in Brenham before our final leg to hometown Taylor, Texas.  

Thanks for following.

ENJOY THE JOURNEY

Taylor, TX to Rockport to San Antonio (Oct. 2016)

October 22, 2016 — November 1, 2016

We departed T74 in Taylor about 11:00 AM Saturday, spent the night in Rockport, then flew to San Antonio on Sunday before heading home.   Thanks for following! ENJOY THE JOURNEY

Taylor TX to Oshkosh WI (July 2016)

July 24, 2016 — July 31, 2016

The annual trek to the EAA AIR VENTURE in Oshkosh WI is here. Click the TRACK THIS TRIP to track the MAGNI GYROS in flight.

AIRPORT CAFES – Brenham and Llano, TX

June 22, 2016 — June 24, 2016

Three new MAGNI GYROPLANES received their FAA airworthiness certificates at LONE STAR MAGNI GYRO, INC in Taylor, TX on Tuesday – June 21.  We flew out to the Airport Cafe in BRENHAM, TX and  to Cooper’s BBQ in LLANO, TX to celebrate.

Taylor, TX to Fredericksburg, TX (breakfast at The Sunset Grill)

June 16, 2016 — June 17, 2016

Breakfast in Fredericksburg is always a fun trip.  We’ll fly over Lake Travis and the Texas Hill Country to Gillespie County Airport T82 in Fredericksburg, then  take a BIG COUNTRY CAB downtown to Sunset Grill .

Thanks for following!

ENJOY THE JOURNEY

Georgetown, TX – Red Poppy Festival

April 23, 2016 — April 26, 2016

Weather was good for an afternoon flight over the Courthouse Square in Georgetown, TX for the annual Red Poppy Festival. Dayton flew backseat and made the radio calls to Georgetown Tower.  After a quick flight down Interstate 35, we turned east and headed back to T74 – Taylor, about a 45 minute flight total.  Kathy and I drove there earlier today to walk around.  It was a whole lot cooler and a lot less crowded from the air. It was a good day with good company.

Taylor, TX to San Francisco

April 15, 2016 — April 21, 2016

Dayton and Paul  departed T74 (Taylor, TX) this  morning at about 10:00 0′ clock to deliver Gyro 747RD to it’s new owners in San Francisco.

Click TRACK THIS TRIP button to follow their flight. Thanks for following. ENJOY THE JOURNEY

Taylor, TX to Albany, TX (Feb 20)

February 20, 2016 — February 23, 2016

Texas Monthly named the Fort Griffin General Merchandise Restaurant as the BEST COUNTRY STEAKHOUSE IN TEXAS.  It’s about a 400 mile round trip from Taylor to Albany. We’ll take off from Taylor at 1:00 PM to get to Albany around 4:30. We’ll overnight in Albany and head home on Sunday morning.  Thanks for following. ENJOY THE JOURNEY

Taylor, TX to Alamo Springs Grocery & Cafe

February 13, 2016 — February 15, 2016

Alamo Springs Grocery and Cafe is located about 15 miles from Fredericksburg.  We’ll fly to Gillespie County Airport T82 and  take a BIG COUNTRY CAB to Alamo Springs.  Burgers, Shrimp, and  homemade desserts top the menu.

Thanks for following!

ENJOY THE JOURNEY

Taylor, TX to Alpine, TX (March 2016)

March 24, 2016 — March 30, 2016

West Texas is always a good change of scenery. Stay at The Holland Hotel; eat at Reata Restaurant; drink at Century Bar & Grill; fly the west Texas mountains (maybe not in that order)

Taylor, Texas to Cameron, Texas (lunch at the 50’s Cafe)

January 12, 2016 — January 14, 2016

Taylor, TX to San Antonio (Little Rhein Steak House)

January 8, 2016 — January 11, 2016

It’s gonna be a chilly flight! Dayton and I plan to depart T74 Taylor at 4:00 PM.

Taylor, TX to Blue Ridge, GA (June 2016)

June 3, 2016 — June 11, 2016

Our destination airport is (1A3) in Copperhill, TN,  just north of the Georgia state line. We’ll be staying at the WATERFALL LODGE near Mineral Bluff, GA, just off Appalachian Hwy 76. The total trip will be about 1500 miles. Thanks for following. ENJOY THE JOURNEY

Taylor, TX to Kerrville, TX

December 19, 2015 — December 20, 2015

Dayton needs to fly to Kerrville to demo the Magni for potential clients. I volunteered  N747KW for the flight, since his gyro is getting close to time for a rotorhead overhaul.  It will be a bit cold for the morning trip out, but should warm up for the afternoon return. Kerrville is less than 100 miles from Taylor, so it should be a fun flight.  Thanks for following.

Taylor, TX to Victoria, TX (KVCT)

December 29, 2015 — December 30, 2015

POSTPONED

TOO COLD!  WILL NEED TO DO THIS TRIP  ON A WARMER DAY.

It’s been a long time since I visited Victoria, TX. The Pump House restaurant, located in a former  Water Pumping Station along the river,  should be a good destination for food and flying.

Taylor, TX to Hattiesburg and Natchez, MS (July 2016)

July 5, 2016 — July 31, 2016

Natchez, MS is one of our favorite places to fly. It’s not too far (about 300 miles) and we can make it there in about five hours. The folks at the airport are friendly and accommodating. And, overall, it’s just a good place to enjoy good food and a relaxed life on the river. Kathy and I will spend a couple of days in Hattiesburg, then fly to Natchez for the weekend. Thanks for following!

Taylor, TX to Thibodaux, LA (July 2016)

July 21, 2016 — July 30, 2016

Fremin’s restaurant in Thibodaux looks like a place where Hemingway might have hung his hat. The building has been there since the 1800’s. And, on Thursday – July 21, a comedian named MUTZIE is doing a show there.  Like so many GyroTrips,  getting there is half the fun.

Thanks for following.

ENJOY THE JOURNEY

Lunch at Brenham Airport Cafe

November 14, 2015 — November 16, 2015

Note to Pilots: Dpt T74 Taylor at Noon.

Lunch at the Brenham Airport Cafe is always good – burgers, shakes, CFS, and fresh vegetables. It’s a short flight (about 60 miles) so we can easily make it round trip without refueling.  Weather is forecast to be sunny so it should be fun.  Thanks for following!

Taylor, TX to San Antonio (Mama’s Cafe)

October 31, 2015 — November 3, 2015

Forecast calls for mostly clear and about 80 degrees on Saturday, so it should be a good day to fly down to San Antonio for lunch at Mama’s Cafe. Mama’s is only a mile or so from San Antonio Intl Airport, so it will be worth paying the landing fee for the convenience of being close to the cafe.  Right now, looks like Kathy, Dayton and maybe even Rob and John are onboard. Planning to dpt Taylor at 11:00 A.M. – We’ll see how it comes together.

Taylor, TX to Gaston’s – Mountain Home, AR (August 2016)

August 3, 2016 — August 17, 2016

The Mountain Home area of north Arkansas is one of the most scenic gyro trips in the country. It was so much fun last summer, that we decided to do it again.  Thanks for following. ENJOY THE JOURNEY

Taylor, TX to Apalachicola, Cedar Key, St Augustine, FL (June 2017)

June 1, 2017 — June 16, 2017

Apalachicola is a quiet community about 60 miles east of Panama City.  Downtown has lots of historic buildings that house shops and restaurants.We’ll be staying at THE CONSULATE SUITES, located  in the old  Grady Mercantile  building  that once housed the French Consulate, along the Apalachicola River.   It should be a good time. Thanks for following. ENJOY THE JOURNEY

Come and Take it!

October 3, 2015 — October 3, 2015

Kathy and I are planning to fly down to Gonzales to the annual Come and Take it Festival today. We’ll try to get a couple of PIX from the air of the crowd and vendors in the downtown courthouse square.  It’s a great day for flying. We plan to leave around 11:00 AM. ENJOY THE JOURNEY!

Craparo-Dabbs World Record

October 3, 2015 — October 15, 2015

Hey, guys!  Dayton & John here.  We appreciate all your support for our trip.  We are really looking forward to keeping y’all up to date with each part of our adventure.  Drop us a line, and we will do our best to get back with you as soon as we can.  Thanks a bunch!

Fredericksburg Breakfast Flight

September 27, 2015 — September 27, 2015

Gyros over Texas! We left Taylor this morning at 8:00 for a flight to the Fredericksburg’s AIRPORT CAFE, located at Gillespie County Airport. John Craparo and his brother Frank flew John’s Red  MAGNI M16. Chandler and Kelly flew Dayton’s yellow M16 and Dayton and I flew my silver M16. The weather was good. The flight was smooth and time with friends and family – priceless! Here are a couple of pix from the trip. ENJOY THE JOURNEY!

Coopers BBQ and Texas Hill Country

September 19, 2015 — September 19, 2015

This will be the first time in about 18 years that we have seen our good friends, Larry and Jackie, from Mississippi. We’re looking forward to a full day of flying the Texas Hill Country with stops in Llano, Fredericksburg and Austin.  More details to come.

 

Taylor TX to Alpine TX (West Texas)

October 10, 2015 — October 12, 2015

We’re flying to the MAVERICK INN in Alpine Texas. The Maverick is called “A Roadhouse for Wanderers”.  As always, the date and who’s going are subject to change. It’s about 700 miles (round trip), so it should be two days of great flying across West Texas.

Planning to take off from Taylor at 09:00 Saturday morning. Chandler has confirmed that he’s in, so we’ll be flying my M16 together.

Thanks for following

ENJOY THE JOURNEY!

 

 

 

 

Oshkosh WI to Taylor TX

July 22, 2015 — July 26, 2015

Scott and Sean are scheduled to dpt AIR VENTURE 2015 in Oshkosh WI on Saturday – July 25 to fly Dayton’s Magni M16 N747RD back to Taylor TX. Click the SPOT TRACKER to follow along.

Taylor TX to Oshkosh WI

July 18, 2015 — July 22, 2015

Dayton and John took off from T74 Taylor TX this morning at 6:10 for a 1000+ mile trip to AIR VENTURE 2015 in Oshkosh Wisconsin. It’s always sort of a mystery when John and Dayton are flying, where their destination will be each day, so click the TRACK TRIP button and follow along. Safe Flying!

ENJOY THE JOURNEY

ROBERT DABBS

Magni M16 Gyroplane N747KW

Taylor TX to Fredericksburg TX

July 14, 2015 — July 14, 2015

Taylor TX to Jackson and Natchez MS

July 1, 2015 — July 3, 2015

Going solo on this one, visiting family and friends. Looking forward to a steak at Crechales in Jackson.

Wisconsin to East Coast

June 21, 2015 — June 24, 2015

Dayton will be ferrying a Magni M24 from Wisconsin to the East Coast starting Sunday afternoon, June 21. I’m not sure of his itinerary, but he has the Spot Tracker if you’d like to follow his trip.

Taylor TX to Mountain Home AR to Memphis TN to Natchez MS

August 13, 2015 — August 17, 2015

This trip combines the MOUNTAIN HOME and MEMPHIS trips that we missed earlier in the summer due to schedule conflicts.  This should be a great trip to wind up the summer.

ENJOY THE JOURNEY

ROBERT DABBS

MAGNI M16 -N747KW

Taylor, TX to Galveston, TX (Day Tripper)

June 9, 2015 — June 9, 2015

Looking forward to seafood at the Harbor. Will post PIX Tuesday night.

ENJOY THE JOURNEY

ROBERT DABBS

MAGNI M16 Gyroplane N747KW

 

Taylor, TX to Grey Moss Inn – Helotes, TX

June 6, 2015 — June 6, 2015

To celebrate the end of another successful year in the preschool portrait business, we’ll be flying three Magni Gyroplanes down to Boerne Stage Airport, just west of San Antonio, for dinner with friends and family at the Grey Moss Inn.  Hopefully, the weather will be good and we can post some late afternoon pictures of the Texas Hill Country.

ENJOY THE JOURNEY

ROBERT DABBS

MAGNI M16 Gyroplane N747KW

 

 

Taylor, TX to Sport Flyers (Houston)

June 4, 2015 — June 4, 2015