Make Me Jealous Of Your Airport

[kimberlyanne546]

Posted this on another pilot website, but I loved the responses:

This post was inspired by a pilot who emailed me on another pilot forum, asking me about my "views" in California in a private offline message.

(I had mentioned in Sausalito I could see the ocean, and mountains, and yachts from my office window and we are literally on the water, sometimes I have to wear boots to "swim" to work if the tides are high)

Made me realize I can put some fun back into my flying . . . by starting a post like this one.....

Everyone on here probably has one reason or another they enjoy the place they call home / airport / practice area / local scenic area.

Make me jealous of where you fly!

Here are just a few pictures of what you might see if you flew where I fly (some taken by me on the ground, others via Google Maps since that is what I see when I fly).

Enjoy - then please, show me yours since I showed you mine.


Kimberly




Here is my general "practice area" - just so I can make you jealous before you make me jealous of yours:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kimberl...57626451875925

Here is my local non-towered airport. You may think "California" and think "crowded" - well think again. You can count sheep on final in a sheep field! But of course it is only blocks from a major town (downtown Petaluma). Kind of the best of all worlds I guess: country, city, ocean, mountain, valley, etc:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kimberl...57626451875925

When doing manuevers, I have 3 mountains as "reference points" or start / roll out. Here is one:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kimberl...57626451875925

And here is another, as seen from the ground:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kimberl...57626451875925

Sausalito:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kimberl...57626451875925

My office window / view from my office:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kimberl...57626451875925

 

[EdFred]

www.sidnaw.org/6Y9/

The airport was closed by the state of Michigan in 2004. We brought it back from the dead in 2006.

 

[dennyleeb]

Posted this on another pilot website, but I loved the responses:

This post was inspired by a pilot who emailed me on another pilot forum, asking me about my "views" in California in a private offline message.

(I had mentioned in Sausalito I could see the ocean, and mountains, and yachts from my office window and we are literally on the water, sometimes I have to wear boots to "swim" to work if the tides are high)

Made me realize I can put some fun back into my flying . . . by starting a post like this one.....

Everyone on here probably has one reason or another they enjoy the place they call home / airport / practice area / local scenic area.

Make me jealous of where you fly!

Here are just a few pictures of what you might see if you flew where I fly (some taken by me on the ground, others via Google Maps since that is what I see when I fly).

Enjoy - then please, show me yours since I showed you mine.


Kimberly




Here is my general "practice area" - just so I can make you jealous before you make me jealous of yours:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kimberl...57626451875925

Here is my local non-towered airport. You may think "California" and think "crowded" - well think again. You can count sheep on final in a sheep field! But of course it is only blocks from a major town (downtown Petaluma). Kind of the best of all worlds I guess: country, city, ocean, mountain, valley, etc:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kimberl...57626451875925

When doing manuevers, I have 3 mountains as "reference points" or start / roll out. Here is one:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kimberl...57626451875925

And here is another, as seen from the ground:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kimberl...57626451875925

Sausalito:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kimberl...57626451875925

My office window / view from my office:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kimberl...57626451875925

All that without 1 picture from your plane. Seriously

 

[Bob Noel]

I can't make you jealous of KBED.

It's draw for me is that it's 6 miles from my house. I have the airplane in a heated hangar with the self service fuel just outside the door. And "my" two mechanics can work on my airplane in this heated hangar.

 

[TMetzinger]

<sarcasm>
At JYO we have some of the best security in the country! All our pilots are specially trained to fly within the Washington DC Special Flight Rules Area! We also have to master the intricacies of using the Leesburg Manuevering Area. This is SO hard that we rarely have a week go by without somebody violating the rules and earning a certificate suspension.
Thanks to all the folks at the USSS, TSA, and other Forces of Darkness who keep the money-stealing, wiener-pic-twittering, revenue-wasting, issue-posturing, trough-slurping members of the federal government safe from our potential terrorists with our deadly airplanes.
</sarcasm>

Seriously, JYO's a nice airport, but not jealousy-inducing.

 

[kimberlyanne546]

All that without 1 picture from your plane. Seriously

Sorry, that was written WAY before I solo'd. When I solo'd I did not take a picture (pattern work) but did take a video that I am almost done editing and will post to You Tube.

Maybe when I solo to the practice area or further I wll have a chance to take photos but I'll have to bring my digital camera!

Kimberly

 

[kimberlyanne546]

www.sidnaw.org/6Y9/

The airport was closed by the state of Michigan in 2004. We brought it back from the dead in 2006.

What a nice grass strip airport. If I "make it through training" (lots don't) and get my PPL, I want to get a tail dragger endorsement after, so hopefully I will get to see my first grass runway at that point. Up until now, I have only landed on pavement.

Kimberly

 

[gkainz]

What a nice grass strip airport. If I "make it through training" (lots don't) and get my PPL, I want to get a tail dragger endorsement after, so hopefully I will get to see my first grass runway at that point. Up until now, I have only landed on pavement.

Kimberly

Wrong attitude missy!!!! WHEN you make it thru training!

 

[EdFred]

What a nice grass strip airport. If I "make it through training" (lots don't) and get my PPL, I want to get a tail dragger endorsement after, so hopefully I will get to see my first grass runway at that point. Up until now, I have only landed on pavement.

Kimberly

Once you land on grass, you will not want to go back to pavement, even flying a trike.

 

[TMetzinger]

What a nice grass strip airport. If I "make it through training" (lots don't) and get my PPL, I want to get a tail dragger endorsement after, so hopefully I will get to see my first grass runway at that point. Up until now, I have only landed on pavement.

Kimberly

And if you find yourself running low on anything besides money (gumption, patience, motivation), come ask us for help. Actually, you can ask for help for money too, but most of us don't have enough for our own flying habit, let alone someone else's.

We're sure good at support, though.

 

[Everskyward]

Here is my local non-towered airport. You may think "California" and think "crowded" - well think again. You can count sheep on final in a sheep field! But of course it is only blocks from a major town (downtown Petaluma). Kind of the best of all worlds I guess: country, city, ocean, mountain, valley, etc:

I learned to fly at Oakland airport but I definitely don't think I could make you jealous of that.

I'll have to say that the Bay Area is one of the most beautiful areas in the country to fly around, though. Once you get your private you can take your friends on Bay Area tours. Many of my friends and family enjoyed that.

Right now I am based at Denver Centennial. It's a fairly busy reliever airport which feels very familiar to me because I have been flying out of it for 22 years (two jobs of 11 years each).

 

[azure]

I wish I could make you jealous of my airport but it doesn't have a lot going for it in terms of scenery... just a runway and some hangars in the middle of urban sprawl. No place to put down either in case of engine failure. You live in a beautiful part of the country. Then again, so do I, I just have to fly a little ways to see the prettier parts...

 

[BiffJ]

What a nice grass strip airport. If I "make it through training" (lots don't) and get my PPL, I want to get a tail dragger endorsement after, so hopefully I will get to see my first grass runway at that point. Up until now, I have only landed on pavement.

Kimberly

At the other end of the bay is Reid Hillview (RHV) where you will find some taildraggers and instructors to help you transition WHEN you finish up. It used to be the home of Amelia Reid Aviation where I got my license in '89. Good airport in a pretty good area for training. We flew Taylorcraft L-2's for primary and F19's for the rest of our training. She also had some Citabria's, a J-3 Cub and a Luscombe. I'm not sure what all is left there since Amelia died in 2001 but the new company is called Aerodynamic Aviation and is in the same hanger. Here is a web address: http://www.aerodynamicaviation.com/index.php

You have Mission Peak, Mount Diablo and some others I can't recall the names of for reference too.


Frank

 

[kimberlyanne546]

And if you find yourself running low on anything besides money (gumption, patience, motivation), come ask us for help. Actually, you can ask for help for money too, but most of us don't have enough for our own flying habit, let alone someone else's.

We're sure good at support, though.

Thanks, I was a little hesistant at first (started by posting my frustrations on another pilot forum). Then I saw that the more I wrote about my lessons and my (gasp) mistakes the more people wrote "oh you too!" and we all felt better that this was the normal learning process. It is hard not to strive to be perfect from day one and to get used to a CFI correcting your every mistake takes a while... it is very humbling.

 

[flyingcheesehead]

Hmmm.

My airport has three big concrete runways ranging in length from 5800' to 9000', all 150' wide, a 24/7 FBO that pulls the planes in and out of the hangar for us, three ILS approaches to get us home in crappy weather, and some of the best air traffic controllers in the world IMO.

We also have not only a wing of F-16's based next door to us on the South ramp, we get lots of transient military traffic that parks on the GA ramp that we can go ogle. (T-6A's, T-38's, F/A-18's, Harriers, KC-135, I even got to go in the cockpit of a C-130 on skis once:

But the scenery doesn't compare, as it's not exactly vertically developed at all... But I guess it does kinda look nice:

It's in the upper left corner above, there... Here's the opposite view, looking at the city from over the airport:

But hey, just 'cuz my airport isn't necessarily as visually striking as some doesn't mean much - After all, that's why we fly airplanes, right? So we can go places like this:

And this:

That last one's not too far away from you, Kimberly - 73nm north of Petaluma! It's called Gravelly Valley (1Q5). Had to chase elk off the runway before landing. Beautiful.

 

[EdFred]

LMAO....another Johnson Creek Kent Shook post. What's the tally at now?

 

[kimberlyanne546]

Gravelley Valley, what a cute name. I will have a long list of airports I want to visit after I get my PPL that's for sure....

I will have planned out and completed at least 9 (already done 5 as of two days ago and we have one next week then my solo XC's) or more XC's by then so it should be no sweat.... thanks!

Kimberly

 

[flyingcheesehead]

LMAO....another Johnson Creek Kent Shook post. What's the tally at now?

Uhhhhh... Eleventeen...

Hey, that's one of my favorite flying pictures, and it was an awesome experience. It's the lock screen on my iPad, too...

Gravelley Valley, what a cute name.

An apt name, too - though some of the rocks on the runway were a bit larger than I'd call "gravel."

I will have planned out and completed at least 9 (already done 5 as of two days ago and we have one next week then my solo XC's) or more XC's by then so it should be no sweat.... thanks!

Excellent! The "sweat" part of Gravelly Valley isn't getting there, it's the landing, ground ops, and takeoff. The wind was from behind me when that pic was taken, so we landed on the end of the runway you're seeing. That hill is RIGHT at the end of the runway, so you have to use short-field technique to get down. And, of course, watch for wildlife on or near the runway! Oh, and there's a park road that crosses the runway about 2/3 of the way down, so you need to check for cars too. It was deserted when I was there, but it was fairly late in the day on a Sunday.

On a day with relatively calm winds, I would land to the north and take off to the south. You pretty much have to take off to the south regardless of wind due to that terrain on the north end. But, after the runway there's a lake so no issues with anything in your way on the initial climb. We followed the river that goes down to the Indian Valley Reservoir, and cleared the surrounding terrain near the guard tower at 4840 feet to the southwest of the river about 2/3 of the way down.

So, still might be worth taking an experienced CFI the first time... But what a neat place! I'm sure you have lots of others out there. Have fun exploring.

 

[saracelica]

Not to hijack this question - but after both of my solo xc's I had to fill out the NASA form. As long as you don't have to do that, you're better then me. Of course we have this stuff called snow and I landed on a closed runway due to the snow (it was clear by the time I go there but the notam was still on about it. Alas...I won't admit my other one.

 

[kimberlyanne546]

I haven't done my solo XC yet but hope to within a few weeks. I would be nervous but by then we will have done 6 or more XCs..... however I know it can be a challenge. I will probably solo to a XC we have already done before which helps.


Kimberly

 

[wsuffa]

<sarcasm>
At JYO we have some of the best security in the country! All our pilots are specially trained to fly within the Washington DC Special Flight Rules Area! We also have to master the intricacies of using the Leesburg Manuevering Area. This is SO hard that we rarely have a week go by without somebody violating the rules and earning a certificate suspension.
Thanks to all the folks at the USSS, TSA, and other Forces of Darkness who keep the money-stealing, wiener-pic-twittering, revenue-wasting, issue-posturing, trough-slurping members of the federal government safe from our potential terrorists with our deadly airplanes.
</sarcasm>

Seriously, JYO's a nice airport, but not jealousy-inducing.

What Tim said. Only add a tower and a second runway and you have HEF. Oh, and a few black helicopters (and at least one black mil-version of the mixmaster, too).

However.....

Within reasonable flying distance, and occasional trips for me, are KFFA - or for overnight KMQI. Those airports - and Billy Mitchell and Ocracoke are all jealousy inducing. I'll take KHSE and W95 over most of the other airports around. Bring your suntan lotion & plenty of cool drinks!

 

[EdFred]

I haven't done my solo XC yet but hope to within a few weeks. I would be nervous but by then we will have done 6 or more XCs..... however I know it can be a challenge. I will probably solo to a XC we have already done before which helps.


Kimberly

6 XCs before your first? That seems like a bit of overkill if that is what your CFI is planning on. I think I did a total of 5. One at night with my CFI, one during the day with my CFI, and 3 solo.

 

[DavidWhite]

I did 3 before my first solo XC. Well, two that I actually planned, and one to go get lunch.

 

[Pilawt]

Some other photos:

See also: http://www.aopa.org/members/files/pilot/2005/field0509.html

 

[Gary F]

I am based at Sawyer in Upper Michigan. We have one of the longest runways in the country for such a rural airport. It is 12,366'x150' (300' if you count the 75' paved shoulders on each side). It is only 55 miles east of 6Y9. Unfortunately, winter lasts about 5 months up here but we have beautiful summers.

 

[timwinters]

I'm not based there but some friends (Danny and Janet Miller) own it and it's one of my favorite places to visit. MS82, Shadetree Airport in Southern Mississippi.

It's one of those places that everyone wishes they were based at. It's probably my favorite field though Gaston's and Moontown are definitely close runners-up

Here's a few shots from the last time I was there in April for a party/fly-in weekend:

Their mantra:

One of Danny's toys

Another of Danny's toys

Check out the tail number

Danny's "real plane"

The airport's "outdoor amphitheatre".

The airport's apartment that always open for visitors (Diana stayed there last year when she was on her grass strip tour)

Janet's toy.

A pretty little spit shined 170 that came in:

Another shot of Danny's Cub. They built this a few years ago from a WagAero kit. Danny says that dealing with WA is one of those "never again" things:

A few Stearmans, Danny's and two others. One with a Beech 17 cowl.

An RV12 based on the field that was just "completed" and made its maiden flight on Tuesday. Van's told them that this one was #100 to fly when they called it in.

A couple of Navions that flew in for the event:

A few other photogenic birds that either flew in or are based at Shadetree:

Like any wise man, Danny doesn't limit his toys to things that fly. Here's a few of his ground bound toys.

The airport firetruck:

The airport "crash truck":

A hit-and-miss that ran all day on Saturday to keep the kids (and some adults) entertained:

A few daytime shots of the airfield itself:

The picnic/cook-out/gathering/party/theatre area:

Janet's hangar (well it was until Danny bought the Stearman):

The apartment hangar front & back:

There's also a huge community hangar up front (about 100x100) Danny's office and hangar (it houses the Bo and Cub) and numerous smaller individual hangars on the field. Fuel is still by the honor system; fill up, put your money or check in the slot.

Lastly here are some of the vehicles that came to Saturday's event. There were also a lot of 50's and 60's muscle cars around but I prefer the older stuff myself:

And to save the best for last...my favorite:

It was a fantastic 4 days on the gulf. I just love this place...and more importantly, the people.

 

[Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe]

I am based at Sawyer in Upper Michigan. We have one of the longest runways in the country for such a rural airport. It is 12,366'x150' (300' if you count the 75' paved shoulders on each side). It is only 55 miles east of 6Y9. Unfortunately, winter lasts about 5 months up here but we have beautiful summers.

Oh.... I thought, like, it was short but really WIDE runway.

As a kid, I used to lay out in the yard at camp* and watch the buffs rumble overhead on their way in and out of K.I.Sawyer AFB

Anyhow, probably won't make anyone jealous, but here is ONZ. A popular spot for blimps when they are in town. And a former Naval Air Station - another place I used to hang out as a kid when we lived about a block away - the house was in the wooded area in the lower right corner of the picture.

* "Camp" is U.P. for a place somewhere out of town - not tents and stuff like that.

 

[wsuffa]

Oh.... I thought, like, it was short but really WIDE runway.

As a kid, I used to lay out in the yard at camp* and watch the buffs rumble overhead on their way in and out of K.I.Sawyer AFB

Anyhow, probably won't make anyone jealous, but here is ONZ. A popular spot for blimps when they are in town. And a former Naval Air Station - another place I used to hang out as a kid when we lived about a block away - the house was in the wooded area in the lower right corner of the picture.

Last time I was at ONZ was 15 years ago. Love those old military airfields.

 

[bbchien]

Our little airport is not pretty. However it has:
Bustling Flight training ongoing- two providers (C150, PA28-181, Champ), (glass panel C172), and a third doing multi transition.
A DPE in residence.
A wonderful A&P/ IA
A C421 on charter
a C414 on part 134 and a half (sigh).
An AME in residence

One of my difficutl medical airmen from Greenville SC came up here with a very professional lady CFI for the day (Cindy), lost the alternator, got it replaced, and returned the next AM having recruited a new CFI graduate from our place to go down there!

Stuff is 'appening up here....

 

[Tom-D]

My homeport for many years

 

[skidoo]

First pic is about 100ft above local field at take-off.
Second is what happens if one leaves the plane outside.
Third is up close to nearby mountains.

 

[Graueradler]

This should have been two threads. "Make Me Jealous Of Your Airport" and "Make Me Jealous Of Your Airport's Location"

KRUE - Double Arkansas Airport of the Year - FAA & Arkansas Airport Operators Assoc. - Location isn't so bad either. Arkansas River Valley sandwiched between the Ozark Mtns. and the Ouachitas

 

[eMKay]

lol, ok.

Jealous? Bet you never landed on a lake that wasn't liquid anymore! (I haven't yet either, but the club does it)

 

[pmanton]

On the left side of the runway, we're the third house up from the bottom of the picture.
2AZ1
www.indianhillsairpark.com

 

[Clark1961]

My airport, FTG, is mini-me to DEN. How many other places can make a similar claim?

 

[Dan Thomas]

My airport, CEN3, is an uncontrolled field. 3000' x 75' paved, lighted, even an NDB! Wow. I live two and a half miles away and ride my bike to work at the airport on nice days. Sometimes I go early and fly my airplane before work. The road runs through grainfields and we often see fat deer eating the farmers' crops right alongside the road, and they come into our yard sometimes, too. Two moose near the road last fall. My hangar cost me very little and the lease is $200 per year. Taxes are $175/year. Avgas here is among the cheapest in Canada (which is still too high).

Jealous yet? Take this as an antidote: Winter is long and dark and we get nasty blizzards and the temps can be -40C° (-40°F) for days on end. Nobody rides their bikes to work on such days, but a few of the tougher guys will do it unless it's below -25°C or the snow's too deep.

Dan

 

[Everskyward]

As a follow-up to my post on my home airport, Denver Centennial, it now has a newly painted compass rose courtesy of the Colorado Ninety-Nines. The B-17 also visited today. We even had a fly-by of a couple F-16s. There were many airplanes and people out and about even though it was a little breezy.

 

[Ghery]

Come up and fly in our corner of the world.

The first picture is Mt. Rainier, from KOLM.

The second picture is Mt. Rainier, while flying by on my way back from KYKM.

Also on that flight, looking south to Mt. Adams (and Mt. Hood in the distance).

When the sun is out, no place prettier to fly.

 

[alaskaflyer]

Jealous? Bet you never landed on a lake that wasn't liquid anymore! (I haven't yet either, but the club does it)

Betcha I have

 

[alaskaflyer]

My airport is nothing special. 3000 feet of gravel give or take. Plugins for the winter. Enough winter maintenance so that both wheels or skis can be used except right after a storm. ASOS reporting which is nice. Free for noncommercial folks to base there. You can look at it anytime you want.

But the real estate around it is to die for.