So just how hard is it to fly in and out of Gastons? I hear a lot of stories but most people love it. I've watched the youtube videos and i have some experience flying off narrow and short runways. Am i crazy to go on in to Gastons?
Not at all... But it does help to know what you're doing.
The big thing when landing: Do NOT fly over the two big trees near the threshold on final, unless you want to fish your airplane out of the pool at the other end of the runway.
Keep an eye out for all the power lines. It's not a bad idea to find them all on Google Maps or Google Earth beforehand. The ones that are probably the most dangerous (and have killed people) are the ones that are parallel-ish to the runway and go from the ridge just south of Gaston's across the river to the east. Essentially on base if you were to fly the pattern above the valleys... So don't do that. Fly your downwind above the ridge, extend it enough to make a base-to-final turn to follow the pasture on a dogleg final.
Taking off, go straight out. If you're not going to clear the ridge, offset slightly to the right and keep going through the gap in the ridge. Turning to follow the valley on the way out is what puts you in the power lines.
And, unlike the idiot in the Cardinal on YouTube, know the proper short/soft technique for your airplane, and the difference between Vx and Vy. You probably don't need a Vx climb, but you shouldn't be in a cruise climb either. Vy is the way to go until you're above the ridges.
I know of a guy who did it in a King Air C90.... so a Cessna 150 should do this just fine.
Dan Gryder put a DC-3 in between those trees, so my Mooney will fit between them just fine, even if I have to remind myself of that fact every time I go. A 150 will do just fine too. It'll just be a lot different than you're used to, seeing them so close.
