South Dakota Flying

[SammyG]

There is a possibility that I may accept a job offer, which would entail relocating to Huron, South Dakota. Since I want to finish my ratings while I work, I am wondering, can anyone tell me what the weather is like in South Dakota, for the most part? I will be working on Commercial and CFI ratings, so I am wondering if there is a lot of VFR weather in this state, or is it more often IFR?

I'm from Florida, so I'm used to having an abundance of VFR weather year round. Can anyone tell me what it's like in South Dakota, weather-wise?

Thank you.

 

[labbats]

In the winter it gets tough to pull yourself out of bed and into an airplane, but once you're off the ground and the heater is up it's a blast. You can see forever. Just be careful when you fly after a snowstorm. All landmarks are different, enough so that even locals can get lost. Use major roads to orient yourself, because lakes, rivers, and even train tracks get lost in the white.

Have fun

 

[sqwkvfr]

There is a possibility that I may accept a job offer, which would entail relocating to Huron, South Dakota. Since I want to finish my ratings while I work, I am wondering, can anyone tell me what the weather is like in South Dakota, for the most part? I will be working on Commercial and CFI ratings, so I am wondering if there is a lot of VFR weather in this state, or is it more often IFR?

I'm from Florida, so I'm used to having an abundance of VFR weather year round. Can anyone tell me what it's like in South Dakota, weather-wise?

Thank you.

Dude, I'm gonna offer you some free, friendly advice from a South Dakota native.

Job offer in Huron? RUN....Don't walk, RUN away from that job offer.

Huron SUCKS. If you're from Florida, I'll bet a THOUSAND BUCKS that you'll be back there within 2 years. I grew up about 40 miles from Huron...and if I had to pick the worst town in SD in which to live, I'd choose Huron.

If you want more info, I'll be happy to expound.

 

[zonker]

If it's a good job, take it. Unfortunately, there's only one interesting city in South Dakota, and that's Sioux Falls. I got my PPL there...My folks live there.

But South Dakota is a good place to fly. There are a bunch of really good pilots you can learn from. As far as the weather? I'm sure it's brutal this time of year. I wussed out and went to Florida for the rest of my ratings.

If you think it's a good company with good maintenance, then there's no reason to turn it down.

 

[sqwkvfr]

there's only one interesting city in South Dakota, and that's Sioux Falls.

It seems as though most people who have that opinion are from Sioux Falls. It's unfortunate that so many think that. There are all kinds of neat towns in SD...Brookings is neat, even Watertown can be cool....Rapid City, Spearfish, Yankton, Madison or any of the small towns in SE SD....but not Huron. I can't emphasize enough how bad it would be to live in Huron. Ever since that packing plant closed down, people have been leaving and they've been desperate to get that town's economy going ever since....not only that, but you are truly in the middle of nowhere.....

The state fair is held in Huron every year and the attendance has been steadily declining for years because of the declining emphasis on agriculture and because of it's location....Huron.

If you think it's a good company with good maintenance, then there's no reason to turn it down.

Unless, of course, it's not a flying job....and since he doesn't have his COMM, I'm guessing that it's not.

Just out of curiosity sammy, what type of company is the job with? It's not a railroad company by chance, is it?

Whatever you do, DON'T take the job until you've had the chance to visit the town.

 

[zonker]

It seems as though most people who have that opinion are from Sioux Falls. It's unfortunate that so many think that. There are all kinds of neat towns in SD...Brookings is neat, even Watertown can be cool....Rapid City, Spearfish, Yankton, Madison or any of the small towns in SE SD....but not Huron. I can't emphasize enough how bad it would be to live in Huron. Ever since that packing plant closed down, people have been leaving and they've been desperate to get that town's economy going ever since....not only that, but you are truly in the middle of nowhere.....

The state fair is held in Huron every year and the attendance has been steadily declining for years because of the declining emphasis on agriculture and because of it's location....Huron.

Unless, of course, it's not a flying job....and since he doesn't have his COMM, I'm guessing that it's not.

Just out of curiosity sammy, what type of company is the job with? It's not a railroad company by chance, is it?

Whatever you do, DON'T take the job until you've had the chance to visit the town.

Yea, dude.

I can relate. But as far as being a young guy in South Dakota? I'd rather be in Sioux Falls. Or maybe a college town like Brookings or Vermillion.

I'm sure there are others.

But my point is that I wouldn't turn down a flying job in SD if it was solid. I love SD.

 

[sqwkvfr]

I love SD.

Hey, that makes two of us.....just not Huron.

I'd really hate for this guy to end up there and think that all of SD is like that.

 

[THE Flying Ace]

Where are some of you all from in SD? I lived in Huron when I was little, but grew up in Milbank. Flying a Citation now out of FCM.

 

[sqwkvfr]

I grew up near Howard, graduated HS in Madison, attended both USD and SDSU, worked in Watertown for 5 years and now live in PHX.

Milbank is another decent town....there is no more aesthetically pleasing area in eastern South Dakota than the Milbank/Roberts county/Coteau des Prairies/Big Stone/Lake Traverse/ area.

I've also dinged a prop or two chasing after the elusive Walleye on Big Stone.

You know that airport hanger that says "Riggin Airport?" My brother suggested that we sneak in there some night and paint and "F" in front of "Riggin."

 

[NuGuy]

It seems as though most people who have that opinion are from Sioux Falls. It's unfortunate that so many think that. There are all kinds of neat towns in SD...Brookings is neat, even Watertown can be cool....Rapid City, Spearfish, Yankton, Madison or any of the small towns in SE SD....but not Huron. I can't emphasize enough how bad it would be to live in Huron. Ever since that packing plant closed down, people have been leaving and they've been desperate to get that town's economy going ever since....not only that, but you are truly in the middle of nowhere.....

Man, Dakota Pork closed down...bummer for the locals. When I lived there, that was the place's reason for being.

I grew up in the SE US as well, and liked SoDak in general, but Huron itself left a bit to be desired, and that was in it's glory days.

I went to the movie house (theater is too grand a term to decribe this place) there one night to catch a flick. I didn't get to see it since "they didn't want to run the movie for just one person". Since I often flew the movies in from MSP, I already knew what they were showing before the marquee went up. Killed some of the fun there...

I agree with ya Squawk...most places in SoDak can be cool....Aberdeen, Brookings and Madison were some of my favs...the women in BKX were real cuties.... OTOH, sometimes we flew the "talent" into MHE for the local "Sophisticated Genetlemen's Entertainment" palace... I'll leave that to your imagination...

Nu