Lake Havasu City (KHII)

Pilawt

Final Approach
Gone West
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Pilawt
Decided I better pay a visit to Lake Havasu City before it gets too hot, and boy does it get hot at Havasu.



I love it when old airplanes are restored in their original paint schemes, especially if a lot of polished aluminum is involved. This one, a 1961 C-150A. Meanwhile, in the background, someone leaves in a Funk.



Kind of a cool scene at the FBO with this old Travel Air and the period vehicles behind it.



I was not amused, however, when the FBO’s fuel truck driver reported to the guy at the desk that he had pumped 147 gallons of fuel into my airplane. He was serious, and repeated that figure when questioned. The desk guy shrugged and started filling out the invoice accordingly. A discussion quickly ensued about decimal points and how when used properly they can be our friends. The fuel capacity of a Cessna 172 was also a topic of the conversation. I paid for my 14.7 gallons and got out of there.

At left in the photo above is “Hangar 24”. You don’t often see a brewpub at an airport, but there it is. It’s a popular hangout for the locals, but pilots just have to behave themselves. Food is terrific, and a big burger is only seven bucks 11am - 3 pm Monday through Thursday. Only downside is they don’t open until 11 am; and in the toasty season one would want to get in and out of Havasu as early as possible in the morning. There’s no other restaurant at the airport, other than a McD’s a few blocks down the street.

 
No picture of London Bridge?

Edit: I know that it is in the first picture slightly to the left and above the compass but if I didn't know where it was....
 
Last edited:
No picture of London Bridge?

Edit: I know that it is in the first picture slightly to the left and above the compass but if I didn't know where it was....

This one will have to do for this trip. Some remnants of the runways of the old "Site Six" airport can still be seen. That was the old Lake Havasu City airport where land developer and chainsaw magnate Robert McCulloch brought in thousands of prospects in his Lockheed Constellations and Electras.

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My first visit to Lake Havasu City was in 1968, before the bridge arrived. In the photo below, the wooden crossarms on the right marked where the bridge was to be constructed, and the channel cut under it, to turn the peninsula into an artificial island. On the left, under the flags, is the ceremonial first stone of the bridge. It's changed a little bit.

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I wish I could hit the like button twice Jeff. I never knew the McCulloch story, the first stone was a bonus.
 
I flew to Havasu a few months ago. Beautiful from the air!! Hangar 24 has some of the best airport food anywhere.

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Nice...flown there quite a few times. Fun place to go.
 
Looks like I missed the excitement by exactly 24 hours:

"An F-16C assigned to the 56th Fighter Wing diverted and attempted to land at Lake Havasu City Municipal Airport, Lake Havasu City, Ariz. at approximately 10:35 a.m. today [Tuesday 4/24/2018] during a routine training flight.

During landing the aircraft departed the prepared surface and the pilot ejected from the aircraft. The pilot is in good condition and is being transported to Havasu Regional Medical Center.

First responders are on site and there is no immediate danger to the public."

F-16.jpg
 
hmmmm I'd think 8,000 feet would be enough for a F16? Almost enough I guess.
 
Ive only been there once but thought it was a pretty cool little spot in the road. (Cool being used figuratively!)
 
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