Great Fly-in Locations ???

A place to relax and discuss flying topics.

Moderators: GAHorn, Karl Towle, Bruce Fenstermacher

User avatar
Joe Moilanen
Posts: 598
Joined: Sun Dec 28, 2003 5:45 am

Post by Joe Moilanen »

I'm tentitively thinking about going to Moose Creek over the Fourth of July weekend, if not there, some other place over there. Anybody else that's going to be in that country, let me know.

Joe Moilanen
4518C
Dave Clark
Posts: 894
Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2002 6:25 pm

Post by Dave Clark »

Well not NE Arizona but central AZ is Payson. There is a campground on the field with a million dollar view. Also a resaurant and fbo. Town has some neat shops. A month or so ago I went up to the hangar to find a gaggle of Ercoupes, maybe twenty, on a club camp out. 5,000', 6000' paved strip.
Dave
N92CP ("Clark's Plane")
1953 C-180
AR Dave
Posts: 1070
Joined: Tue Sep 23, 2003 3:06 pm

Post by AR Dave »

Haven’t gotten to a date planning stage yet, Harold. I'm just trying to locate potential locations at this point. If one were to pull out a United States Map and lay a quarter on each of the 5 areas that I listed, you will find that they are spaced strategically so that everyone, at least in the US, could fly to the one nearest them and do this every year. The 170 Club would be multi-marketed. This is part of the survey and trending that I am interested in.

No one has said anything about this in the 170 Club, other than a few that we’ve talked too.

For example? East to West

The Blue Ridge 170 (W Virginia)
The Petit Jean 170 (Arkansas)
The San Juan 170 (Arizona)
The Johnson Creek 170 (Idaho)
The Black Hills 170 (Dakota's)
Harold Holiman
Posts: 579
Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2002 1:54 pm

Post by Harold Holiman »

AR Dave started the discussion on locations for regional fly ins. I suggested Rainelle, WV as a possable location as the 180/185 Club normally has a fly in there each year. This year, however, they do not have one scheduled. I contacted the 180/185 member who normally sets Rainelle FlyIn up last night and he says he does not have one planned for this year but is thinking of possibly having one Labor Day weekend. My question for Dave and everybody is, if the 180/185 bunch is agreeable, they have first option on Rainelle, would the 170 Club be interested in possibly having a joint fly in there with the 180/185 Club? I have not mentioned this to anybody in the 180/185 Club and this is just an idea for discussion.

Harold
N92CP
Mbr C170Assn
Mbr C180/185 Club
N170CT
Posts: 167
Joined: Tue Jul 09, 2002 6:00 pm

Post by N170CT »

For western U.S./Arizona....has anyone considered Sedona(SEZ)??? Beautiful little town with nice airport nearby on top of a hill, lots of restaurants and some fairly high class resorts if you are so inclined. Scenery is breathtaking. Don't know about camping.

Also in Nevada/Arizona, for those who enjoy "inexpensive gambling", if there is such a thing :roll: , Laughlin/Bullhead City(IFP) has a fantastic modern airport directly across the Colorado River from a whole bunch of casinos. Pretty much as Las Vegas was in the late fifties.

Another interesting place for fishing is Navajo Dam (1V0) in New Mexico which is very austere and has no facilities at all.

However, I REALLY ENJOY this subject/thread :D . GREAT Suggestions. Adding all the places described by others to my list of future trips and eagerly looking forward to reading more comments/additions from our knowledgeable members.
Chuck
R COLLINS
Posts: 113
Joined: Mon Nov 04, 2002 9:23 pm

Post by R COLLINS »

Has anyone been to Lake Murray State Park in Oklahoma? It has an airstrip adjacent to the park(1F1). The website makes it out to be really nice. Not sure if I could get in and out at gross weight like at Petit Jean. 8O

http://oklahomaparks.com/detail.asp?id=1%2B5U%2B6446


Randal
51 Cessna 170A N1263D
User avatar
170C
Posts: 3182
Joined: Tue May 06, 2003 11:59 am

Places to stay

Post by 170C »

Lake Murray also has a golf course next to the runway for those so inclined. They have both cabins and a lodge as well as a marina.

Lake Texhoma State Park likewise has a golf course by the airstrip and a lodge.

Cedar Mills @ Lake Texhoma has a nice marina, rest & duplex accomodations. Housing is next to the grass runway--very nice runway.
OLE POKEY
170C
Director:
2012-2018
User avatar
N1478D
Posts: 1045
Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2002 5:32 pm

Post by N1478D »

Those are all real nice! Remember the walk being some distance at Lake Murray to the lodge.
Joe
51 C170A
Grand Prairie, TX
AR Dave
Posts: 1070
Joined: Tue Sep 23, 2003 3:06 pm

Post by AR Dave »

So I was just flying over to 44'24.7 N, 116'35.6 W, (Johnson Creek, Idaho) on Google Earth, Sattlelite. This is 1391.30 miles from my runway in Russellville, Ark. The line between the two points takes me right above Denver. If a person were to fly that line about next September 14th, 2006 it looks like flying 60 miles north of Denver, and then west along I-80, to 84 and then NW along 184, might be the best way through the mountians.
http://yellowpine.net/index.html
http://www.wapitimeadowranch.com/
Last edited by AR Dave on Fri Nov 04, 2005 7:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
cessna170bdriver
Posts: 4063
Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2002 5:13 pm

Post by cessna170bdriver »

AR Dave wrote:So I was just flying over to 44'24.7 N, 116'35.6 W, (Johnson Creek, Idaho) on Google Earth, Sattlelite. This is 1391.30 miles from my runway in Russellville, Ark. The line between the two points takes me right above Denver. If a person were to fly that line about next September 14th, 2006 it looks like flying 60 miles north of Denver, and then west along I-80, to 84 and then NW along 184, might be the best way through the mountians.
http://yellowpine.net/index.html
http://www.wapitimeadowranch.com/
OK Dave,

I'll bite. What is special about Sept. 14? My calendar says that is a Thursay. You planning a fly-in up there 'bout then? Just so's you'll know, I believe the summer attendants leave after labor day, so it's likely the showers will either be cold or non-existent by then. Of course we could hike a couple miles up the ridge to the west and use the old cast iron tub fed by the hot spring. 8)

I was last there labor day '03, so Blueldr can probably give you more current info.

Miles
Miles

“I envy no man that knows more than myself, but pity them that know less.”
— Thomas Browne
AR Dave
Posts: 1070
Joined: Tue Sep 23, 2003 3:06 pm

Post by AR Dave »

Nothing special, except I'm NOT working the week of September 15 & 16th, and that date must've popped into my head.. That country sure looks beautiful from the pictures I've seen. Miles, since you brought it up, I would think that a Johnson Creek fly-in would would draw members and potential members, from Owatonna, MN to Techachapi, CA. There would need to be volunteers, I'd reckon?

I heard that the care takers (Gene & Cody) stay at Johnson Creek until the last weekend of September. And also that Waipiti Meadows Ranch is a nice lodge/cabins resort, with airstrip, setting nearby. In Sept the other flying clubs are done with Johnson Crk and the fire season has about ended. This is just what I heard! Just to verify, I've emailed a local 170 rep, to see if he'd heard anything like that. :wink:
User avatar
cessna170bdriver
Posts: 4063
Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2002 5:13 pm

Post by cessna170bdriver »

AR Dave wrote:Nothing special, except I'm NOT working the week of September 15 & 16th, and that date must've popped into my head.. That country sure looks beautiful from the pictures I've seen. Miles, since you brought it up, I would think that a Johnson Creek fly-in would would draw members and potential members, from Owatonna, MN to Techachapi, CA. There would need to be volunteers, I'd reckon?

I heard that the care takers (Gene & Cody) stay at Johnson Creek until the last weekend of September. And also that Waipiti Meadows Ranch is a nice lodge/cabins resort, with airstrip, setting nearby. In Sept the other flying clubs are done with Johnson Crk and the fire season has about ended. This is just what I heard! Just to verify, I've emailed a local 170 rep, to see if he'd heard anything like that. :wink:
When I went there Labor Day weekend '03, I'm pretty sure the caretakers were bugging out early that following week. There were probably less than a dozen airplanes on the field so tiedown and camping space was plentiful. There were also vehicles available for the 3-mile ride into town for about $7 per round trip, as I remember it. Ken, the local 170 rep, or Blueldr probably should write up something on arrival procedures, as it can be a bit tricky for the first time flatlander.

I don't know of any indoor lodging in the area, maybe Ken or Blueldr can suggest something. A non-camper might commute from McCall, but they'd have to leave well before dark. Nothing with a name like Waipiti Meadows shows up on airnav.com. Smiley Creek has a lodge, but it's over 65nm away and its elevation is over 7100 ft.

Blueldr, chime in here!

Miles
Miles

“I envy no man that knows more than myself, but pity them that know less.”
— Thomas Browne
User avatar
jrenwick
Posts: 2045
Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2004 8:34 pm

Post by jrenwick »

AR Dave wrote:... Miles, since you brought it up, I would think that a Johnson Creek fly-in would would draw members and potential members, from Owatonna, MN to Techachapi, CA. There would need to be volunteers, I'd reckon?
Why not make it part of the trip to or from Kelowna in July?

John
John Renwick
Minneapolis, MN
Former owner, '55 C-170B, N4401B
'42 J-3 Cub, N62088
'50 Swift GC-1B, N2431B, Oshkosh 2009 Outstanding Swift Award, 2016 Best Continuously Maintained Swift
User avatar
cessna170bdriver
Posts: 4063
Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2002 5:13 pm

Post by cessna170bdriver »

jrenwick wrote:
AR Dave wrote:... Miles, since you brought it up, I would think that a Johnson Creek fly-in would would draw members and potential members, from Owatonna, MN to Techachapi, CA. There would need to be volunteers, I'd reckon?
Why not make it part of the trip to or from Kelowna in July?

John
I've thought of doing just that. Kelowna is a bit outside my limits for a one-day flight from Tehachapi in the 170. Johnson Creek would be a great RON if I start out up the east side of the Sierras. We'd have to check and see whether or not any big flyins are going to be in Johnson Creek that week that might limit tiedown and camping space.

Is McCall in non-stop range of Kelowna in a 170?

Miles
Miles

“I envy no man that knows more than myself, but pity them that know less.”
— Thomas Browne
AR Dave
Posts: 1070
Joined: Tue Sep 23, 2003 3:06 pm

Post by AR Dave »

I'd like to see a Johnson Creek Fly-in on the scale of Petit Jean, Fri - Sun, with 40+, 170's, flying in from all over the west, taking pictures for the 2007 Calendar.
Last edited by AR Dave on Mon Nov 07, 2005 8:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Post Reply