What is your favorite GA airport you flew in an out of?

FloridaPilot

FloridaPilot

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I will go first

So far one of my favorites is KSPG because it's by the water and in the middle of Downtown Saint Pete everything is in walking distance and you can also rent a car through Hertz onsite. "
"The Hangar" is a restaurant right on the airport. The food is not the best but if you walk down 1st Avenue the options are much better.

As far as Scenery is concerned I like Marathon Airport (KMTH) Parking prices are not too bad and you can fly alongside the coast. The water is pretty clear and you can see sharks swimming alongside people in the water :eek: Not many options onsite for restaurants. My favorite park in Florida is Bahia Honda State park and if you are into the beach its generally less congested than Key west it's about a 10-15 min drive west on route 1.

Places I would like to visit.

Sedona Arizona (KSEZ) I hear so much about it and I have seen quite a few photos which look pretty amazing!
 
Any, since it usually means I got to where I planned to go:D

Cheers
 
Probably Gatlinburg- Pigeon Forge (GKT). The scenery surrounding the airport is quite the sight.
 
Sedona is very cool. Beautiful scenery. Lots of people out here like Catalina KAVX because of the uniqueness, beauty, and burgers. There are plenty of cool airports along the coast. One of my favorites is Oceano, L52. Small paved strip, right on the beach. You can camp on the property (or at least you could 10 years ago, not sure now). Good eats across the street. And there's a stable next door to rent horses to ride on the beach and dunes - because significant other.

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I think one of my favorites has to be KSSI, St Simons Island, Georgia. The scenery around the coast is beautiful to me. KSSI has two runways so even if it is windy you can usually line up fairly straight into the wind for take-offs and landings. It is non-towered, is an easy in and out and has a nice friendly FBO. They have several courtesy cars available for exploring the island and going to a resturant. They also have many good resturants to choose from. My favorite is "Barbara Jeans". They have good crab cakes there and a variety of awesome fresh breads. If I go by myself I put my bicycle in the plane and spend the day cycling around the island. It is a very bike friendly island.
 

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Many many, too many to pick just one. Did some instructing when I was TDY as a controller in RI, a lot of cool airports usually with restaurants in that area. Enjoyed Block Island, Newport flying along their famous Cliff walk, out to Martha's Vineyard. Cool grass strip, Katama within walking distance to the beach. Airports in WV and VA with surrounding mountains, west TX, Midwest with the sections laid out so perfectly, the South. Flew once to LAX from SLC and the scenery of the southwest was beautiful, southern Utah mostly I think. Plenty more.
 
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Recently, KPBF in Pine Bluff, AR. Great little southern soul food restaurant on the field. The runway is in immaculate condition too.
 
Good question...
I asked my girlfriend (who always flies with me), and she answered so quickly it surprised me, "French Lick!" I then asked her why, and then she stammered out, "Um...it is new...and...it has a...shower...and...um...a limo picked us up at the airport to take us to the casino." Ok.
For me, Clermont County...so I can spend money at Sportys!
 
That's a hard question. I think for scenery I really like Nehalem Bay State (3S7) you can walk to the beach from the tie-downs. Ranger Creek (21W), which is nestled in the Cascades, is also a favorite. It has benches and firepits on airport for camping.

As for best airport based on $100 hamburger. I'd have to say Rocky Mountain Metro (BJC) wins, even though I trained out of there, so never truly did a $100 hamburger trip to BJC, I love the Blue Sky Bistro. A close second would be Granby Airport (GNB), we took a crew car into town and had a super good breakfast at Java Lava Cafe.
 
Check out KSSQ (Shell Lake WI). Immaculate runway and ramp(s), parking for short walk into town w 4 local restaurants, E-Z park and recreational access, courtesy car, winter power cord, but no fuel. Guess I'm biased because we have a summer home there.........
 
DesertNomad said:
Recently, KPBF in Pine Bluff, AR. Great little southern soul food restaurant on the field. The runway is in immaculate condition too.
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My recommendation, just don't go OFF the field when you visit there. Pine Bluff typically wins the grand prize in the annual ranking of "most dangerous small cities in the US."
 
timwinters said:
My recommendation, just don't go OFF the field when you visit there. Pine Bluff typically wins the grand prize in the annual ranking of "most dangerous small cities in the US."
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Really? I've stopped there twice but never left the airport. Good to know, but the restaurant is wonderful... always a line out the door.
 
as a local floridian i still cant believe i haven't flown into SPG, i may have to take my plane over there sometime soon just to check it out

Sceneray wise I always enjoyed flying into either Cedar Key (CDK) or Merrit Island (COI).

But my true favorite to fly into is in Portland, Maine, while doing the Harbor Visual approach. My absolute favorite approach into any airport I've ever been to. I've only flown into that with my airline job, but would love to do it in a GA plane....technically it is a GA airport too!!!
 
Hmmm, how about airstrip? The backcountry strips have been the most fun.

Airports are pretty generic. Some really nice folks at some but still it’s a few thousand feet of pavement with clear approaches.
 
I have a few favorites... in Michigan, Ray Community (57D) and Clare Muni (48D) are among the friendliest little airports I've ever landed at. I always loved the sight of the Grand Hotel on downwind for 26 landing at KMCD.

I have a soft spot for island airports in the middle of the Great Lakes, so I also have to mention Beaver Island (KSJX) in Lake Michigan, and Put-in Bay (3W2) and Kelleys Island (89D) in Lake Erie, though they're actually in Ohio.

In New England, it's Parlin Field (2B3) at Newport, NH hands down, both for friendliness and scenery, though I also enjoyed Block Island, RI (KBID), and for scenery Bethel, ME (0B1) and Twin Mountain, NH (8B2) are worth a mention.

I wish I could mention Alton Bay, NH but I missed landing there AGAIN this year... sigh. :(
 
Oh That's easy, my hometown airfield TJIG
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You know it's a good one when your obstacle clearance NOTAMS involve yacht masts and cruise ships as your close in obstacles LOL :D

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Almost 500 year history on left base 09.

Notable mentions that I've also flown to: TJBQ (former Ramey AFB) as well, though not as close to the water once you land. Also to the now closed Patillas (X64). I will say, the one I haven't had the opportunity to explore and is very much on my bucket list trip is Culebra (TJCP). Amazing approach and landscape, right over famous Flamenco Beach. Here's a time-compressed YT of someone doing the exact trip from TJIG and back. Def our #1 day trip back home once we get the twin. I gotta start working less and going home more :(....
 
Catalina CA KAVX
Fun to fly to with loads of history to look at. Great restaurant. If your lucky you may see one of the Buffalo wandering around.
 
Just too many to choose. Like most of the airports in Florida on both coasts.
 
Milford Sound, South Island, New Zealand

Follow the fjord to the end. One way in. One way out. Check some of the UTube videos.
 
MickYoumans said:
I think one of my favorites has to be KSSI, St Simons Island, Georgia. The scenery around the coast is beautiful to me. KSSI has two runways so even if it is windy you can usually line up fairly straight into the wind for take-offs and landings. It is non-towered, is an easy in and out and has a nice friendly FBO. They have several courtesy cars available for exploring the island and going to a resturant. They also have many good resturants to choose from. My favorite is "Barbara Jeans". They have good crab cakes there and a variety of awesome fresh breads. If I go by myself I put my bicycle in the plane and spend the day cycling around the island. It is a very bike friendly island.
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SSI is ok, and walking distance to my sisters house. But their gas price is way over the top.
 
I haven't flown into enough for an opinion. I've flown into Sedona and it was nice. I flew into Flagstaff too. It was nice. Flagstaff had the best FBO I've ever been to with fresh cookies, water tea or coffee and real cloth drying towels in the bathroom. Aransas County (KRKP) in Texas was probably my favorite since one of my best friends is the airport manager there.
 
MickYoumans said:
I think one of my favorites has to be KSSI, St Simons Island, Georgia. The scenery around the coast is beautiful to me. KSSI has two runways so even if it is windy you can usually line up fairly straight into the wind for take-offs and landings. It is non-towered, is an easy in and out and has a nice friendly FBO. They have several courtesy cars available for exploring the island and going to a resturant. They also have many good resturants to choose from. My favorite is "Barbara Jeans". They have good crab cakes there and a variety of awesome fresh breads. If I go by myself I put my bicycle in the plane and spend the day cycling around the island. It is a very bike friendly island.
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@Lance F I flew in and out of KSSI last year doing my long commercial xcntry in his Mooney. Nice airport. We were offered a courtesy car, but we walked to Southern Soul BBQ just a short ways down the street. They also offered us bottled water and didn't charge a thing for the stopover. Super nice people!
 
eman1200 said:
Redneck video bad, Catalina video goood!
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lol. I lived in Charlotte from '03 to '14 before I moved back to Atlanta. I few out of JQF, EQY, and Wilgrove too. I actually flew the Arrow that was there at the time at the flight school...I can't remember the school or instructor's name, but this was back in '06 or so. Last time I flew as a matter of fact until last year. I see also Robert Reynolds instructs there now. I went up with him once out of EQY in a 182 a friend of his owned long before he started instructing at Wilgrove.
 
Cedar Key (CDK) in FL, nice little spot on the keys.

Lincoln Park (N07) in NJ, just had a cool little airport vibe, really cool bar and BBQ with outdoors seating.

Juneau (JNU) for "the pond"

Harvey Field (S43) nice little airfield in WA, very much sums up GA with a food place for a steak and a skydive too.
 
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