Welcome to the land of NASCAR. The fine condition of some of those
airports, if not their very existance is due in part to NASCAR and their
race teams. Concord Regional and Lexington being examples. Where are you
going?

I would submit that agriculture provides more landable areas in the east
than the open spaces of the west. A lot of that open space outside of the
dry lakes seems to be filled with cactus, creosote bushes and other hard
things.

Glider flying in the Minden NV area involves a lot of smooth looking terrain
(from 6 -10k up) that is completely unlandable. And the roads typically
wouldn't take 50ft glider wings (damn reflectors) though a Cessna might be
just fine.

In the east and midwest, agriculture makes most areas landable most of the
time. As long as they are growing pine trees.

Another difference may be in the typical altitudes flown, especially VFR.
The weather is closer to the ground in the East so altitudes may be lower
offering less glide distance.

Of course "survival landings" due to engine failure versus "landouts" in
gliders have different criteria for landability.

"mindenpilot" wrote in message
...
I live out West, where there are hundreds of miles of empty space in every
direction. When flight planning, I often say, "I can ditch in that dry
lake
bed, or that field, or if I have to, on that road."

In a couple of weeks, I'm travelling to North Carolina to visit my brother
for the holidays. I'm planning on renting a plane at his local airport
and
taking him for a flight. To prepare, I got the Charlotte sectional.

When I opened it up, I couldn't believe it! The thing is literally dotted
with airports. They're everywhere!

Seems to me, I'd much rather be on the east coast when I have an engine
failure, instead of out here where you're lucky to find that dry lake bed
(instead of a mountain).

Anyone ever notice this before?

Adam
N7966L
Beech Super III