Camping on Field

Was going through the AOPA Airport Directory and noticed this is a
selection criteria. It sounds like a cool thing to do. I'm thinking
you just fly in, pitch the tent and chill. Has anyone in the group ever
done this? Apart from calling ahead to check with the airport
management, are there any other suggestions?

Apart from calling ahead to check with the airport
management, are there any other suggestions?
************************************************** ****************


MMMmm, yup... Air mattress, warm willing companion, good wine, and
charcoal... What more could you ask for...

Actually, there are any number of smaller airports that allow camping
under the wing... For instance, the Frankenmuth Airport (Michigan) is a
grass strip that has a camping area with a picnic table and a charcoal
grill, at the ready... Now today, there is a major winter storm going
on and the snow is blowing against my window as I type this, so camping
may be a bit cool, but if you have a J3 Cub on skis, and good camping
gear, go for it!

Denny

Another tip:
If the airport has a rotating beacon, you will want to set up your tent so
that it is in the "shade" of something else, like a hangar, airplane or
tree, between you and the beacon. Even so you will still have pulsating
light in your tent all night long, which might bother you.

"homer simpson" wrote in message
...
Was going through the AOPA Airport Directory and noticed this is a
selection criteria. It sounds like a cool thing to do. I'm thinking you
just fly in, pitch the tent and chill. Has anyone in the group ever done
this? Apart from calling ahead to check with the airport management, are
there any other suggestions?

If the airport has a rotating beacon, you will want to set up your tent so
that it is in the "shade" of something else, like a hangar, airplane or
tree, between you and the beacon. Even so you will still have pulsating
light in your tent all night long, which might bother you.

Two things are required for enjoyable airplane camping:

1. Eyeshade/mask. (For aforementioned light pollution.)
2. Ear plugs. (For the inevitable sound pollution.)

Beyond those two things, everything else is optional.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Denny" wrote in message oups.com...
Apart from calling ahead to check with the airport
management, are there any other suggestions?
************************************************** ****************


MMMmm, yup... Air mattress, warm willing companion, good wine, and
charcoal... What more could you ask for...

Actually, there are any number of smaller airports that allow camping
under the wing... For instance, the Frankenmuth Airport (Michigan) is a
grass strip that has a camping area with a picnic table and a charcoal
grill, at the ready... Now today, there is a major winter storm going
on and the snow is blowing against my window as I type this, so camping
may be a bit cool, but if you have a J3 Cub on skis, and good camping
gear, go for it!

Denny



4n0, same things. We even have a car to borrow if need be....

"homer simpson" wrote in message
...
Was going through the AOPA Airport Directory and noticed this is a
selection criteria. It sounds like a cool thing to do. I'm thinking
you just fly in, pitch the tent and chill. Has anyone in the group ever
done this? Apart from calling ahead to check with the airport
management, are there any other suggestions?

Some airfields are better than others. I don't see the attraction of camping
at a typical municipal airport (I don't see the attraction of camping in
your RV in a Wal-Mart parking lot, either), but someplace such as Columbia,
CA or back country airstrips could be a lot of fun. Having actually camped
at Columbia, I can say that we had a great time.

C J Campbell wrote:

Some airfields are better than others. I don't see the attraction of
camping
at a typical municipal airport (I don't see the attraction of camping
in
your RV in a Wal-Mart parking lot, either), but someplace such as
Columbia,
CA or back country airstrips could be a lot of fun. Having actually
camped
at Columbia, I can say that we had a great time.

WYS--West Yellowstone, Montana has a beautiful on-airport campground.
Located in the trees, so no rotating beacon problem. Courtesy bicycles
for riding into town, and hot showers powered by a propane tank.
Magnificent hiking nearby too. Charge for camping was around $5 as I
recall. One of the av-rags, maybe Pilot Getaways, did a brief writup on
it a few years ago.

Jim Rosinski

Just do not try to camp at an airport with aircarrier service.
You will not be allowed as it is considered a security risk.

Some airfields are better than others. .... someplace such as Columbia,
CA or back country airstrips could be a lot of fun.

Try Fairbanks, Alaska. Great camping. Tell Ground Control you want
to taxi to the campground; get cleared to the northeast corner of the
field, where you taxi right into a campground. Tie down your plane,
pitch your tent, and enjoy. There's a good-sized shelter with a paved
floor, several sawbuck tables, a large wood stove, a supply of
firewood, and even some old newspaper for tenderfeet who don't know
how to start a fire. Faucet with fresh running water (though a bit
discolored); privy a few yards away.

There's also a shower room in the tower building, although it's about
half a mile from the campground.

Of course, 747s fly in and out all night, but night lasts only a
couple of hours (in summer), so it doesn't matter much.

vince norris

Just do not try to camp at an airport with aircarrier service.
You will not be allowed as it is considered a security risk.

Oops! I didn't know that. Haven't been to Fairbanks since 9/11. So
camping there may no longer be permitted.

vince norris