ETLB Squawk Forums — Archive

A few days before I am scheduled to relocate to the next airfield where my AirBike will be hangared, I took advantage of pleasant weather for a late afternoon/evening flight. Temperature was 85 degrees with a 4 mph wind about 20 degrees off the runway centerline; a combination that could not be resisted.

For 1.3 hours I flew the local area, took a few photos and did practice landings at three other grass fields. Six landings in all. The grassland photos show the same area that was burned over several weeks ago and I had posted a short story about that (I missed flying!). My, how the scenery changes when we have water! I landed at 8:30, just a few minutes before sunset.

One of the airfields I practiced landings at was the airport where I will be moving to. Two runways are available, one is 17/35 on asphalt, the other is 19/1 on turf. The photo shows how pristine the private airfield (K50) looks on approach from the north. I will be in one of the new hangars on the right.

I will be sharing space with two other planes, I am not sure of the arrangement inside the hangar, hope to find out this week when I move there. I know, some of you are drooling, yet there are others of you who have the ideal situation; your own hangar and landing strip.

This is definitely an upgrade for three reasons: 1) less than 10 miles from home, 2) long unobstructed grass runway and 3) an enclosed hangar. The photo of my AirBike on the ramp is likely the last one to be taken at this location.

Paul Fiebich

well ........ Paul ...it looks rather.....FLASH...and very nice..and on the downside....tire wear will increase..LOL


best wishes Arthur

Arthur, I plan to use the sod runway for my take offs and landings. It is about 20 degrees variation from the asphalt one. I am about due to "rotate" my tires; that is I rotate them about a vertical axis and keep them on the same rim. The tires wear somewhat off center due to the landing gear axles not being welded at the proper angle.

The grass runway didn't show up very well in the photo because it hadn't been recently mowed. Grass was about 8" tall; it provides adequate drags on landings to shorten them. Photo below shows all my hangar stuff loaded into my homemade trailer ready to be transported to the new hangar home. Workbench, tool cabinet, chair, signs, plywood cover, miscellaneous parts for my Tiger Moth, and other stuff.

Weather dependent, I hope to make the move with my AirBike within the next few days.

Paul Fiebich

Great photos, Paul.

Congrats on finding a new ops base for the air attack force: it looks a very tidy strip. My last airfield had both grass and asphalt, & although I much preferred to fly from grass, I found it both good practice & useful after heavy rain to have an asphalt strip as well.

Great that your base is so close to home, too. There are some advantages to flying from an airfield as opposed to your own strip at home. Cameraderie amongst pilots; help when needed, and a nice big hangar to fettle things in.

Hope you don't have any more moves for the forseeable.

Bruce

What a nice place Paul!
Congratulation on  the new hangar.
Besides the hangar rent, Is there any other fee you pay for operating from that airport?
Just being curious how things operate in your area.

I feel like I have died and gone to heaven.

This entire airpark (K50) environment is fantastic! One asphalt, and one sod runway, almost new hangar, shared rent, and only 4.5 miles from home. Things could not be better, hope it lasts. The hangar owner flies a 1961 Piper Comanche 250(?) and wants to replace it with a Sonex. He is also looking for another renter so there will be three of us in this space. Since I am in a back corner, I need to move his plane to get mine out but he has a powered towbar to make the job easier. The photos give you an idea of my new digs.

The taxiway passes in front of the hangar, taking it to the grass strip means I cross the asphalt then taxi about another 200 yards. Pretty convenient. There are even credit card 100LL and auto gas pumps on the field.

There are no additional tasks or fees Ricardo. I just have to keep the place clean, don't make a mess, and don't spill anything. I will need to store my gas and oil at home as none of us can store flammable liquids in the hangars. The FBO office is about 400 yards away, it is air conditioned, has a restroom, planning area, and a refrigerator.  I am going to like this place.

I still need to move in my tool cabinet and box trailer shown above. I gave the workbench to my son's kids who do small engine repair.

Paul Fiebich

Looks great, Paul, and you don't have to mow the taxiway or runway. How nice.