6Y3 - North Fox Island: tell me everything!

AndyMac

AndyMac

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Andy
Hey everyone! I'm a student pilot (PPL nearly complete), and can't stop thinking about 6Y3. It has taken on the focus of my vision for the next step in my aviation journey (unique adventures with my kids). I did some searching and found a few pictures and videos, but no threads dedicated to the topic, so I thought I'd start one.

What do you know about 6Y3? What have you done there? Can you post some pictures? What are the woods like, and/or the campsites? Are there any beaches worth seeing? Trails? Is it a suitable place to introduce one's self to unpaved fields (I hear it's VERY well maintained)?

Thanks!
 

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AndyMac said:
Hey everyone! I'm a student pilot (PPL nearly complete), and can't stop thinking about 6Y3. It has taken on the focus of my vision for the next step in my aviation journey (unique adventures with my kids). I did some searching and found a few pictures and videos, but no threads dedicated to the topic, so I thought I'd start one.

What do you know about 6Y3? What have you done there? Can you post some pictures? What are the woods like, and/or the campsites? Are there any beaches worth seeing? Trails? Is it a suitable place to introduce one's self to unpaved fields (I hear it's VERY well maintained)?

Thanks!
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My dad got it reopened a few years ago after a lot of negotiation with the DNR.
Camp, hike, Oliver and Martina donated some kayaks. There's no campsites. You camp by your plane. There's a fire pit/firewood/picnic tables at the west end.

It can get dicey when it's windy, but I landed there in a direct crosswind 20G45 in a Comanche with not much issue.

Call the airport manager (my dad) and ask whatever questions you want.

http://www.airnav.com/airport/6Y3

Here's some pictures from when I camped a few nights in October.

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Beautiful place, very remote. Call Edfred's dad, Brad, before heading there to be sure it has been mowed (I made the mistake of not calling once, and with the long grass, I had to make three runs before I pushed the grass down enough to be able to get out of there). Brad's number is in the facility directory.

No cell service on the airfield, but if you have verizon, you can hike to the top of the dunes on the south side of the island (an hour+ hike) and make phone calls from there. I've done it more than once so its not a fluke. The 8th / 3rd to last picture posted above is the spot for phone calls. Standing on the picnic table there gives you full bars.

I've also found if I put my Stratus on top of the mailbox at the end of the runway (which is pretty much the spot the photographer was standing in picture 1 above), I can get an ADSB signal for weather.

Look for traffic / use CTAF too. There was a crash there (last year I think) between two aircraft taking off / landing. It may be remote, but it is frequently used.
 
That crash was a few years ago, and could have easily been avoided if it weren't for a hot dogging pilot.
 
It's a great, long airstrip maintained by the RAF. I've seen Seneca's and Apache's in there several times before. There's usually 3-5 planes there at any given time and it seems to be getting more popular as word gets out. There's a firepit which is a nice place to chat, cook your food and chat with the other pilots. Try to carry out more trash than you carry in, but it's a very well maintained and looked after location. You really don't need a skywagon to make it in here.

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Also if it's been raining, that side of the field where Austin's 180 is parked gets SOGGY.
 
Wow guys - this is fantastic. Thank you for the great information.

I don't see any 150's. POH says it should be more than a little possible - does experience say otherwise?
 
AndyMac said:
Wow guys - this is fantastic. Thank you for the great information.

I don't see any 150's. POH says it should be more than a little possible - does experience say otherwise?
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A 150 came in while I was there... I offered to take their trash because well, space was limited for them :)

FWIW I'm paranoid about flying over water so I climb to 11,500 before crossing over from WI to give me adequate glide distance.
 
AndyMac said:
Probably weight more than space, though if they had camping gear then I suppose space would have been at a premium too!
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Since you wouldn't be going in there full gross by the time you got there from Sparta, I wouldn't see it as an issue if the field is dry.
 
EdFred said:
Since you wouldn't be going in there full gross by the time you got there from Sparta, I wouldn't see it as an issue if the field is dry.
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I see N17098's reputation precedes me hehe. Honestly, I don't know if WMFA's rental agreement supports grass fields, but if it does I look forward to it. We'll see if I get there before joining the mohawk club. Place your bets!
 
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@AndyMac

My ol 140 with a c85 was trilled to be out there, no issues. So if she can handle it a big ol 0-200 can ;)

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Mohawks a nice club! I’m part of the Hawk club - our hangars are back to back...

swing over to 6d6 any Saturday or Sunday breakfast in the big hangar 8am.
 
While up there hit 5d5 Woosley Memorial (cool story- google it) fly over the shipwrecks just south of S Manitu, Boyne city for cheap gas and Pellston has a kick butt restaurant on field...
 
This looks so awesome, it's definitely going on my aviation bucket list. So far my only island destination has been Put-in-bay which I found a bit disappointing.

In my reading it says there are no trails, yet the photos look like a trail is pictured - is there any sort of trail on the island?
 
samiamPA said:
In my reading it says there are no trails, yet the photos look like a trail is pictured - is there any sort of trail on the island?
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There is one formal trail that goes to where the mowers are kept. There are a couple informal trails that go to different parts of the beach. It's pretty untouched, except for the giant grass strip cutting through the middle.
 
rwellner98 said:
There is one formal trail that goes to where the mowers are kept. There are a couple informal trails that go to different parts of the beach. It's pretty untouched, except for the giant grass strip cutting through the middle.
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No buildings at all? I thought I heard there were buildings but it just have been south fox island i was reading about.


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AndyMac said:
No buildings at all? I thought I heard there were buildings but it just have been south fox island i was reading about.
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South fox has a paved strip and several buildings.

North Fox has the remains of the felonious children's camp, but that's it.
 
rwellner98 said:
South fox has a paved strip and several buildings.

North Fox has the remains of the felonious children's camp, but that's it.
Click to expand...

This matches what I’d thought.


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