What is your favorite small airport?

[DMenscha]

Originally Posted by Dean Trails

Thanks for all the great info. I especially liked the abandoned airfield site. I had idea there were so many. It might even be possible to buy your own air strip?

There's a property that may be for sale around here eventually. The owner had a Cessna 170 that he flew in and out of the "airstrip". It has one end about 60' taller than the other end and may be about 800 feet long. To take off he taxied at high speed to the top end and then turned around and went hell bent for election down the hill! Landings were kind of a no go around proposition as it requires planting the gear on the ground and hoping the uphill part stopped you in time

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

I like the strip near Pismo Beach. Kind of fun to buz the beach on my way back to Oxnard. Santa Paula is fun also. Cool place to see some cool planes. Camarillo is still a nice place to visit. Started flying there when I was 12 years old. The Confederate Airforce has a nice place there. (Although they are called by another name, I still call it what it is.)

The Sport License is nice but you are limited on the speed of the aircraft, the extent of the avionics, and the time you can be in the air. Besides I have been a Private pilot (Instrament Rating) for way too long. I don't mind flying at night, and a Sport Pilot doesn't have that option. I do see it as a good way to enter the world of aviation and many of the Sport Aircraft are priced right if you are looking for a new aircraft.

For me I need to get between Oxnard and Glendale Arizona and for me I prefer my Mooney for the speed. It is an older plane but it gets the job done. My first ride was in a Mooney and after that it was all over for me. I remember my first flight in a Cessna. I was 14 and when I looked out the window it looked kind of funny having the landing gear outside the aircraft.

[happ]

I like the Burbank airport & also Ontario & Palm Springs airports. Flying into Monterey is really beautiful. These are all good airports.

[Exitus Acta Probat]

162 -- glass cockpit -- bah.

[Dean Trails]

Originally Posted by Exitus Acta Probat

162 -- glass cockpit -- bah.

I take it you are a Piper Cub fan? Give me "real" instruments!!!

[mesaverde]

I love the Santa Barbara airport. Probably because I've lived in the area most of the last twenty years, but pre-9/11, you could get there 15 minutes before your flight and hop on. Now, you need about 40 minutes, but still - parking is no problem and the view is beautiful on take off. The restaurant upstairs is great for a quick bite too.

I also like the Burbank airport. Parking is a bit more work, but still easy to get in and out of and still a small airport and easy to navigate and not too crowded. Good connections out of both airports too.