Questions pondered at 6500 feet

Jay Honeck wrote:
1. Airports were originally huge grass fields that allowed arrivals and
departures in any direction, on any heading. Are there any airports left
that provide 360 degrees of access?

I picked up a friend at Grosse Ile (ONZ) the other day. It's at the
southern end of an island (obviously?) where the Detroit River empties
into Lake Erie. Oh, here's a link:

http://www.grosseileairport.com/

That big circle in the middle is a PAVED 3000ft circular landing area.
It's also obvious that this airport was also a seaplane port.

No, it's no longer usable, but it's a cool bit of local history that
you can look at when you're in the pattern.

That big circle in the middle is a PAVED 3000ft circular landing area.
It's also obvious that this airport was also a seaplane port.

Wow -- they PAVED all that? That's amazing.

I'd never heard of such a thing -- thanks, Brien!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Brien - I think the big circle on Grosse Ile airport was for blimp
landing. Grosse Ile was a Navy reserve seaplane base in the '20's, but
changed to a Naval Air Station during WWII, protecting the tank plants
in Detroit. To facilitate its mission, it had a blimp hangar.

It was kind of cool when I was a kid, because the Goodyear blimp used
to land there and was hangared there while in the area to cover events
in Detroit like the Hudson's Department Store Thanksgiving Parade or
the Garwood Trophy hydroplane race. The blimp hangar was eventually
torn down. Here's a photo: http://nasgi.org/n17.htm.

The seaplane hangar burned down when I was a kid ('68 I think.) The
base closed in '69 and became a municipal airport.

Wiz


Brien K. Meehan wrote:
Jay Honeck wrote:
1. Airports were originally huge grass fields that allowed arrivals and
departures in any direction, on any heading. Are there any airports left
that provide 360 degrees of access?

I picked up a friend at Grosse Ile (ONZ) the other day. It's at the
southern end of an island (obviously?) where the Detroit River empties
into Lake Erie. Oh, here's a link:

http://www.grosseileairport.com/

That big circle in the middle is a PAVED 3000ft circular landing area.
It's also obvious that this airport was also a seaplane port.

No, it's no longer usable, but it's a cool bit of local history that
you can look at when you're in the pattern.

Yes, the circular area was used for blimp operations after the straight
runways were built and the circle was closed to airplane traffic.

Jay:

Have you been to the restaurants at Madison or Lone Rock? The food is
arguably better than Janesville. (Still a lot of greasy fried stuff)

JN

"Viperdoc" wrote in message
...
Jay:

Have you been to the restaurants at Madison or Lone Rock? The food is
arguably better than Janesville. (Still a lot of greasy fried stuff)

JN

Also Watertown, Reedsburg, Palmyria, Prairie du Chien, Lake Lawn, Grand
Geneva, American club at Sheboygan, Baraboo and several others.

("Dave Stadt" wrote)
Also Watertown, Reedsburg, Palmyria, Prairie du Chien, Lake Lawn, Grand
Geneva, American club at Sheboygan, Baraboo and several others.


At Prairie du Chien, Jay radioed the FBO to have the Casino (buffet) van
pick us up. Is there another restaurant near the airport?

Nice smooth air, beautiful day, a train below us, river frozen over, State
Park on the bluffs - all very scenic. Very, very, very scenic was one
pilot's estimation of the the area's beauty. g


Montblack

"Montblack" wrote in message
...
("Dave Stadt" wrote)
Also Watertown, Reedsburg, Palmyria, Prairie du Chien, Lake Lawn, Grand
Geneva, American club at Sheboygan, Baraboo and several others.


At Prairie du Chien, Jay radioed the FBO to have the Casino (buffet) van
pick us up. Is there another restaurant near the airport?

Nice smooth air, beautiful day, a train below us, river frozen over, State
Park on the bluffs - all very scenic. Very, very, very scenic was one
pilot's estimation of the the area's beauty. g


Montblack

Yes, a good old Wisconsin family restaurant just north of the airport. It
isn't much of a walk but the guy in the FBO loaned us his Caddy last time we
were there. You also get your picture taken and stuck on the wall.

At Prairie du Chien, Jay radioed the FBO to have the Casino (buffet) van
pick us up. Is there another restaurant near the airport?

Sure. "The Angus" restaurant is a fine steak house located right
across the street from the airport. There is also a Chinese restaurant
within walking distance, and a decent "breakfast-all-day" place down
the road a piece.

Next time you visit, maybe we'll be able to do the Angus for dinner.
(Once it starts staying light until 8 PM-ish, that flight is a lot more
doable for us.) They don't open till supper time.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Have you been to the restaurants at Madison or Lone Rock? The food is
arguably better than Janesville. (Still a lot of greasy fried stuff)

Sure! We go to Lone Rock at least once a month.

I haven't been to Madison in over ten years. The restaurant was pretty lame
when I was there, last -- I take it they've improved?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"