Relocating to Tacoma

anjinsan

anjinsan

Filing Flight Plan
Joined
Jan 6, 2007
Messages
3
Display Name
Display name:
anjinsan
I am relocating to the Tacoma WA area and am interested in any flying clubs or good FBOs in the area. Appreciate any input. Thanks,
Lou
 
anjinsan said:
I am relocating to the Tacoma WA area and am interested in any flying clubs or good FBOs in the area. Appreciate any input. Thanks,
Lou
Click to expand...
Check out the Pacific Northwest Flying forum.

Depending on where you're going to be living, your closest airport will be either Tacoma Narrows (controlled field), Pierce Co. Airport in Puyallup, or Auburn Airport in Auburn. I fly out of the latter, there's a long-standing flying club operating from the field with several airplanes....

Ron Wanttaja
 
I live in Olympia and fly out of OLM. Center O Flying Club. We have two C-172s, a C-182 and a PA-28R-200. Membership is capped at 50 and we're usually full. I've been a member for about 8 years and can only think of one time I couldn't get an airplane when I wanted to go flying. Haven't always gotten the plane I originally had in mind, but got to fly.

OLM has a contract tower with generally friendly and competent controllers, an ILS on rwy 17 and some of the worst fog in the area. If any airport in the south sound is going to be fogged in, it will be OLM. Otherwise, a great place to fly out of.

I've been to TIW a couple of times for T&Gs, but haven't stopped there. Haven't been into Pierce Co, but I took my private checkride out of Auburn (S50) back in 2001.

I will second Ron's suggestion for Pacific Northwest Flyers as a place to hang out. Every bit as friendly as POA, just pretty much limited to people in the PNW (US and Canada). A little more local subjects due to that.

What brings you to Tacoma? Can't be the aroma. :no: I work in DuPont, which is between Tacoma and Olympia, right next to Ft. Lewis. Welcome to the great Pacific Northwe(s)t. And the wet season is just starting up. Should have good VFR weather in about 9 months or so. :D
 
I got my PPL at Tacoma Narrows (TIW). Beautiful scenery, "carrier deck" landing if you're landing to the north. Flying among the islands--breathtaking.
 
The airport is long, wide and easy. So easy my instructor took me there to solo. It's just fun to look at if landing north.
 
Last edited:
TangoWhiskey said:
The bluff is only on the south side, not on both ends. Drops off about 300 feet to the water, if I recall.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=...93,-122.570686&spn=0.040825,0.076904&t=p&z=14

That "Hwy 16" bridge you see off to the east is the Tacoma Narrows bridge--it's predecessor was made famous as Galloping Gertie.
Click to expand...
I have been there and across that bridge as well. I am still confused how a drop off affect landings though. You would still have the same length of runway, if it was a bluff that dropped down to the runway instead of the water then I would get it. I guess I am just having a tough time with mental picture.
 
Ghery said:
I live in Olympia and fly out of OLM. Center O Flying Club. We have two C-172s, a C-182 and a PA-28R-200. Membership is capped at 50 and we're usually full. I've been a member for about 8 years and can only think of one time I couldn't get an airplane when I wanted to go flying. Haven't always gotten the plane I originally had in mind, but got to fly.

OLM has a contract tower with generally friendly and competent controllers, an ILS on rwy 17 and some of the worst fog in the area. If any airport in the south sound is going to be fogged in, it will be OLM. Otherwise, a great place to fly out of.

I've been to TIW a couple of times for T&Gs, but haven't stopped there. Haven't been into Pierce Co, but I took my private checkride out of Auburn (S50) back in 2001.

I will second Ron's suggestion for Pacific Northwest Flyers as a place to hang out. Every bit as friendly as POA, just pretty much limited to people in the PNW (US and Canada). A little more local subjects due to that.

What brings you to Tacoma? Can't be the aroma. :no: I work in DuPont, which is between Tacoma and Olympia, right next to Ft. Lewis. Welcome to the great Pacific Northwe(s)t. And the wet season is just starting up. Should have good VFR weather in about 9 months or so. :D
Click to expand...

Believe it or not...a job at Ft Lewis. I will be a civilian dentist working for the Army starting Nov 3 or so. Yeah, a lo-o-o-ng way from Fla. I know, but the PNW has always held a fascination and this was the perfect opportunity to make this move. I look forward to living there (I did spend 3 years in London, UK back in the early 70s) so I am familiar with the concept of eternal (9 months) clouds and rain :redface:. Already logged into PNW Flyers, thanks to Ron and you. Hope to meet someday.
Lou
 
smigaldi said:
I have been there and across that bridge as well. I am still confused how a drop off affect landings though. You would still have the same length of runway, if it was a bluff that dropped down to the runway instead of the water then I would get it. I guess I am just having a tough time with mental picture.
Click to expand...
The description used was "carrier landing" which is generally used to imply a very short runway. In this case, the other "weird" factor of carrier landings comes into play...the runway being elevated in relation to the surrounding terrain (at least when approaching from the south).

This produces strange effects related to your peripheral vision. When you're nominally on "short final" you might still be three hundred feet off the water. Then you cross the bluff and the ground is suddenly right below....for a moment, you've got an apparent rate of descent around 5,000 fpm.

The other factor is wind. The bluff will produce turbulence in any case, but the winds at this location get so strong they tore a (poorly designed) bridge apart.

Ron Wanttaja
 
wanttaja said:
The description used was "carrier landing" which is generally used to imply a very short runway. In this case, the other "weird" factor of carrier landings comes into play...the runway being elevated in relation to the surrounding terrain (at least when approaching from the south).
Click to expand...
Ahhhh Now I get it.

lightbulb-emoticon.gif


My mind was focusing on the 'too short' aspect and that is what was confusing me. When people started mentioning the bluff I was still trying to equate that with making the landing distance shorter.

Thanks Ron! :cheerswine:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top