Question for Boise/Nampa/Caldwell folks

OkieFlyer

OkieFlyer

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Andrew L.
Hey there. If there are any of y'all familiar with the Caldwell, ID airport, I was wondering if there are any aircraft for rent on the field. I'll be visiting some family in Star, ID in a couple of weeks, and I'd like to rent a plane just to do a little buzzing around and sightseeing. I have tried to contact the airport manager several times, but he has yet to answer. I'd appreciate any help. A phone number for somebody who will rent would be awesome. Thanks,
 
For some reason, Caldwell seems to have the most dysfunctional group of businesses based on an airport. They just built a nice new terminal building, (named after Gary Hubler) and haven't even managed to get any of the businesses relocated to the terminal building.

I will highly suggest you contact AvCenter at the Nampa airport. Their rates are very reasonable and they have a Tomahawk, 172, and 182, so, depending on what you want, they likely have you covered.


I would imagine they would want the typical trip around the practice area and a few landings for the Tomahawk and 172. The 182 would likely take a bit of a cruise thru your logbook looking for time in type.

Good people, and easy to work with. 208-466-5432

Nampa is just a bit easier of an airport, in my mind. No skydivers to worry about, no helicopter training to worry about, and, you always have the opportunity to be "second for landing, following the flight of T-6's"....
 
Thanks for the info. I'll check out Nampa. A 172 would be just fine and is what I'm used to flying.

I'm assuming you're familiar with flying in the Boise area. Are there any really neat places I should fly to. I'm not a mountain flyer, so I'll probably stay out of the big rocks, especially in a 172.
 
The best flying all has to do with the "big rocks". So, keep me posted just before you come up, and maybe I can break away for a bit of a tour of places like Garden Valley.

If you want to go somewhere, sun Valley, McCall, and Jackpot are all 1.3 hour flights away. Different reasons to go to each of them, but good destinations.

Less exotic, but easy to go to are Murphy, Homedale, and Parma. 0.4 hour flights to empty paved runways where you can walk to a soda and candy bar across the street.
 
Get a hold of Bob Bement and fly to Vale OR S49. Have lunch in town and check out the murals on the buildings. I think there were about 22 of them. Bob can make you want to be a mountain pilot with his tales!
 
Don't get me wrong folks, I would love to fly the mountains. Problem is, I'm an Oklahoma flatlander and just have no experience up there. My inent is to go up with my brother and his kiddos and just buzz around doing a little sight seeing. I'm sure it wouldn't take much to provide them a fun time.

However, Mr. Cuervo, if you would be willing to take me into the mountains, I would graciously accept, and pay for the privilege. So far, I have not had the opportunity to experience mountain flying.

I know that I will be in Star on July 19-22 at least, and maybe other days as well. We'll be doing some travelling around while were up there, but we should be just hanging out on the days I mentioned.


Barb, thanks for the info. Is Bob Bement the guy who has done some vids on Idaho backcountry flying? The name sounds familiar for some reason.
 
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I talked to AvCenter in Nampa, and their rates are quite good indeed. 'Preciate the info.
 
So after doing some looking around at some of the airport options in the area, I was thinking it might be neat to fly up to Cascade. It looks like a pretty area, semi mountainous, but with a long paved runway in a flat valley.

My concerns:
We'll be in a 172, not exactly powerful.

We'll be pretty heavily loaded even with just two aboard. We're big boys at 290lb each.

It's summer and DA can be an issue. We'll be flying in the morning though. Field elev. is about 4700'.

Should I go?

I appreciate any input. Hope I don't sound stupid. Just not used to higher elevations. DA and terrain just aren't a concern down here on the plains.
 
McCall is more fun. 10 minutes farther north. You can walk to Pancake House for breakfast or SiBueno for lunch.
 
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