Yeah, a location like this offers lots of opportunities for diversified income over and above the flitetest.com storefront. Honestly, the fact that FT has stuck around - let alone grown! - in the time since it started is a testament to the business acumen and foresight of everyone involved.
The true issue I see with this is that the FT community is spread out. Plenty of folks won't have the opportunity to visit and take advantage of the site. FT as a mail-driven business now can be supported by the global community, but Edgewater will have to take dollars at the door to stay afloat. An eight and a half hour drive lies between me and Minerva, OH, counting pit stops. And unlike a lot of destination locations, this one is less likely to see distant visitors arriving via the local airport, since the whole point of the place is to either bring your own planes to fly or build and fly planes on site that will go home with you, and those foamies really want to be hauled by car.
The true issue I see with this is that the FT community is spread out. Plenty of folks won't have the opportunity to visit and take advantage of the site. FT as a mail-driven business now can be supported by the global community, but Edgewater will have to take dollars at the door to stay afloat. An eight and a half hour drive lies between me and Minerva, OH, counting pit stops. And unlike a lot of destination locations, this one is less likely to see distant visitors arriving via the local airport, since the whole point of the place is to either bring your own planes to fly or build and fly planes on site that will go home with you, and those foamies really want to be hauled by car.