National Aeronca Association Bulletin Board

Now we're looking in Mercer for a piece of land and will simply have a "nicely trimmed pasture" and a barn with a large door.

nkh

Good plan, but meet your neighbors. You never know when you will need a cup of sugar, a portable generator, or help with a water pump.

Well the idea in my brain has always to just quietly do it. A flat four Continental doesn't wind all that different than a tractor anyway from a distance So, Nathan, if I hear you right that's the way to go? Just do it and go to confessional later if someone gripes?

Funny thing. When I talked about this to a real estate agent here in Versailles, she mentioned "there's a lot of fkat land in Mercer County..."

For what its worth, I've already entered waruness of areas with strong P&Z's, and look for areas of low population density into my calcukus. The one here in Woodford is tough, so I'm not even considering that notion (although I have observed an airplane at night take off from one of the big stud farms on the highway to Frankfort).

Now if I could afford to quit working, I could probably buy the little municipal airport where my granddad kept his 172 years ago. It's semi-abandoned, the state has disavowed any maintenance or responsibility for it, but it is owned by the city, who are the only folks that can close it, despite what recently erected signs by the state say....

We have been flying from our private grass strip on our property for years. Its great to have all this privacy. Its absolutely worth it.

Mike

I have my strip inside a state forest and even though my entire property is surrounded by state owned land I still have people bitching about me flying low. Mostly it is just people jealous and thinking anyone with a plane is a 'rich person'. Doesn't matter where a person lives there will be these people. They are the ones that have nothing better to do than complain about anyone doing anything they can't do or are to lazt to get off their ass and attempt to do.
My flying low was my landing!!! The sheriff that showed up said he had to follow up on any complaint and knew I wasn't doing anything wrong. Sure can have an effect on making a guy have a bad day though.
Time to move to the boonies of Alaska where 'most' people appreciate GA.
Rant over,
Keith

Possible complaints was one of the reasons I put our private airport back on the map. Previously because there was no activity and someone didn't send in the paperwork the FAA considered it as abandoned for several years. Meanwhile a housing developement popped up in the downwind for 27 so when a bunch of us reactivated the flying club we also reactivated the airport "just in case". Now we have a very active club with several new hangars and a good sized group that fly in almost every Saturday morning, etc. for coffee and loafing.

Although I will say the community (pop. 1000) is very supportive of the airport so maybe it will never be a problem.

Mike Berg

Dennis,

I grew up on a privately owned airstrip in KY (Shannon - 17KY). Small town (pop. 450), small county (pop. 16,000), and still had five private turf runways within 8 miles of us. Being able to walk out and fly when you want is great, but my best memory growing up there is when friends would fly over. I remember one of dad's friends flying over in a green Waco. Someday, I'll have my own private strip here in NC.

If you want to visit a couple of private strips in KY, mom still lives at the farm and the runway is still maintained. Visitors are welcome. David Lowe has a runway about a mile away also. He is an IA w/ his shop based there. If you're flying in, the CCT VOR is just about where you would turn downwind to base for landing on 35. 2000' turf, obstacles on the south end. http://www.airnav.com/airport/17KY

I say find a spot where your closest neighbor is quite a distance away.
Then just do it.
By the time someone else moves in closer, and complains, you get to say "I was here first".

Hello Dennis:
I am out of Texas, In 1989 I bought a little 1 achre plot on a grass strip, along with 30 or so other owners. We all own to the center of the airfield which is an honest 1800 ft length and 200 ft wide. some of the properity has changed hands, divorces, deaths, drugs, money you name it and it's happended, Like another aviator said, you really need to know your neighbors. If I would do it again, I wouldn't. Your on the right track getting your own place, Most of the Vets do get it,and some owners stab fellow aviators in the back, and really for no reason, I even cut the airfield, for a very reasonable price, own my own equipment, I don't expect any gratitude, for it, I do it because of the non flying public that watch us every day. They see that airfield cut, and the John Deere doing it, and it looks really nice when it's done. That makes a statement, to that eyeing public, and that's a good thing. I feel that's where your trouble will come from, with your own strip. We have 2 FAA employees that drive down the east side of our Facility every day, twice a day I know this and I also know they report what they see. Good or bad. Not much a fellow can do about that, I guess that is the way it is. I hate my surroundings, I can't afford to change it, so I live in a little hell before I get there, Might be a good thing!!! Good luck A fellow Aviator Sunny

Sunny does make a good point. One other comment I've heard from those who live on airparks is once you decide to sell it's necessary to find someone who likes your property and wants to live on an airpark (sort of a limited market). On the other hand, it's got to be great to 'live with your passion' (the plane, not the other one ).

Mike

Yes, I've looked at airparks, but they seem to have rather substantial residences on them, well out of my price range- and then there can be subdivision covenants- however with real estate the way it is right now, I could easily swing a small farm with a small house and decent outbuildings.

With the depressed market there are some airpark properties for sale really dirt cheap. Here on Indian Hills Airpark in AZ. www.indianhillsairpark.com
there is a 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 50X50 hangar with enclosed swimming pool on the market for 230K with no takers.

We bought our place on the runway 3 years ago for 180K and paid too much.

Cheers:

Paul
N1431A
N83803
2AZ1