Maybe moving the plane

GMascelli

GMascelli

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GaryM
Mary and I have given some thought to a possible move to New Garden Airport N57. The place seems to be busy with summer camps, BBQ's, EAA events and I'm only 15th on the list for a hangar!

Anyone spend time at N57? We are going to take a ride up Friday and poke around the place, get a feel for what's going on.

I really love the multiple runways at ILG and all the Approaches available but the place is just dead when it comes to any other pilots around the ramp or anything social. Outdoor tie down is the same price so no cost increase or savings, not really any farther from the shop I fly to and the drive is pretty much equal in miles, maybe 5 minutes more in time.

I guess just thinking out loud......
 
I grew up there and used to ride my bike to the New Garden to watch planes and gliders fly and took my first lesson there. Still land at New Garden when I visit my Mom. Nice place, interesting planes and people, active EAA chapter. The instrument approach is not the greatest, but Coatsville is not far away, nor is ILG.

Good GA airport with lots of hanger flying going on.
 
Always liked the place, friendly people, a fair amount of GA activity, don't know anything about the shop on the field. Is a step down as far as runway capacities. They do have a nice fly-in/breakfast/airshow once or twice a year. If the commute isn't bad, why not? You are right about the social aspect, having an active group of fellow pilots is a big plus.

Gary
 
PROs:

1) You may get a hangar.
2)Its not the vast Andromeda Strain wasteland that ILG is with no one to talk to

CONs:

1) Its not Wings:D
2)Runway is not in the best shape ( In my opinon worse than what UKT was before the repaving
3)Long back taxi to use Rwy 6
4) Its not Wings:rofl:

HOWEVER if you move there and get a hangar and fire up the grill Tamson and I will be there Ok so maybe it will be just me but I'll be there
 
We stopped and saw Joe Denest while we were in DC last, he's a great guy, get to know him and say hi for us.

He is the Ranger guru and restores the Fairchild PT series.


some of his beautiful aircraft
 

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We are going to New garden Friday since I'm off work. We'll take a look around, ask a bunch of questions and see where it all ends up.

Mark,
I can live with the single VOR approach. Once I finally get my IR check ride finished If wx is forecast to be that bad we can always leave a car at ILG as a back up or call family for a ride home.

Adam,
<sigh>....no, it's not wings. There is a good bit of runway/taxiway work going on so I'll check on that. A real plus is there will be humans around the airport other than Mary and I.

Gary,
It's so much more fun with other pilots around. Mary and I really enjoy the social aspect of flying, we have met so many nice folks and we always have fun.

Tom,
If I bump into Joe I will most definitely pass along a hello.
 
Gary,

I used to be based at New Garden when I had my Cherokee. I was working in Newark, DE at the time so it kind of made sense for me. I bought the plane from some guys based there so just left it in the same tiedown spot. I relocated to Pottstown Muni when my company moved me to the Conshy office and then bought the Tiger and got a hangar there. I'd recommend my airport to you but its too far of a haul from Wilmington.

Long story short, I liked New Garden and what others have said is true. Its got an active glider club and they will give you rides if you ask. I will warn you that the winds can get squirrely at New Garden. Nothing to avoid, but just be aware. Lex Dupont sold the airport to the Twp a few years ago and they have plans to repave the runway and do some other improvements. I know this because I ran into a guy at N47 over the weekend that is based at N57 whom I knew when I was based there. Lex sold much of his antique collection, but I think he still has a few interesting planes there. I will echo Tom D. in checking out Joe Denest's PT-19's etc. He is the resident Fairchild guru and you will occassionally see these old planes flying.

I'll never forget the day Mrs. Dupont (Lex's wife) drove up in their chauffered Rolls Royce with her little Italian Greyhound. I was walking across the ramp to my plane and that little dog just ran up to me so I made a bit of a fuss over it. Mrs. Dupont was delighted. I've seen Lex fly everything from one of those flying bathtubs to his F4F Grumman Wildcat. It used to be a cool place. I hope it still is.
 
Tom-D said:
Their Grandfather was the first owner of my Fairchild.
Click to expand...

Wow. That is going back a few years. Lots of aviation history in the Philly area, especially in helicopter and autogyro development.
 
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