Airport N61 is COLTS NECK, NEW JERSEY (grass runway).
104 times
from 1986 August 26 to 1988 December 11.
My first flight was with
Frank at
Colts Neck
and I learned to fly there.
Before it became a golf course and housing development,
Colts Neck was an "unimproved" grass strip (800m, 2500').
We used runways 25L and 25R (that stand for "lumpy" and "rough").
There was a special bumpity-bump-bump sound
of a Colts Neck takeoff or landing.
It was a wonderful place to learn to fly.
Airport BLM is ALLAIRE, MONMOUTH, NEW JERSEY.
169 times
from 1987 February 14 to 1991 May 26.
Monmouth County Airport, also called Allaire,
was the big airport near Colts Neck,
the place where we bought our fuel.
The long runway (2100m, 7000') was more than ample
for general aviation jets
and student pilots landing with too much airspeed.
Coming from a grass runway,
the hard surface was more difficult at first.
Allaire is a busy place and a political place--the owner,
Mr. Brown, wanted things done his way and that way
could vary from day to day.
I remember one student-pilot trip from Colts Neck
with Frank to get gasoline for our Cessna 150 trainer.
We couldn't raise anybody on the radio, maybe they were all dead.
Then we heard, "Lear jet Echo Charlie on final,"
and the dead awoke:
"Can we get you fuel? A taxi? A hotel room? Anything else?"
This was discrimination on the basis of poverty
and there's nothing in the U.S. Constitution
forbidding that.
Airport ABE is ALLENTOWN-BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.
Three times
from 1987 March 14 to 1988 August 30.
This was our standard first cross country flight
from the New Jersey shore.
It was far enough to be a navigation challenge for a student pilot
and it required us to talk on the radio to
approach, tower, and ground control.
Airport N40 is SKY MANOR, NEW JERSEY.
Six times
from 1987 March 22 to 1997 March 22.
A small airport in the middle of the state
in a really pretty area.
When we had an airplane with no working radio,
Frank took me here on my second cross country.
Airport N88 is DOYLESTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.
Four times
from 1987 March 22 to 1989 December 24.
Not too far north of Philadelphia,
Frank introduced me to this airport on my no-radio cross country.
It may amaze pilots with sophisticated instrument panels
that you can fly and navigate
by compass and looking out the window.
Just don't try it inside a cloud,
especially going a direction other than south.
Airport 47N is KUPPER, NEW JERSEY.
Five times
from 1987 March 29 to 1989 July 12.
Now called Central Jersey Regional,
this airport was in an industrial area
and often had difficult crosswinds.
Airport RDG is READING, PENNSYLVANIA.
Twice
on 1987 March 29 and 1989 August 22.
At the eastern edge of Pennsylvania's Appalachian Mountains,
this airport has friendly controllers.
I went to this airport on a student-cross-country flight
on a day with "marginal" visibility.
Frank wants his students to learn how to find their way
when conditions are less than perfect.
Airport AVP is WILKES BARRE-SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA.
Five times
from 1987 April 10 to 1989 May 21.
My long student cross country was a bit unusual
as it gave me a chance to have lunch with my cousin
who was a student at Cornell.
I stopped here on the way.
Airport ITH is ITHACA, NEW YORK STATE.
Once
on 1987 April 10.
On my long student-pilot cross country,
I met my cousin
Dave,
a college student at Cornell at the time,
for lunch.
The journey was two hours each way in a Cessna 152
over some beautiful countryside
including the finger lakes.
Airport N47 is POTTSTOWN MUNICIPAL, PENNSYLVANIA.
Once
on 1987 May 6.
My last student-pilot cross country was an eight-airport tour
of the Delaware Valley and southeastern Pennsylvania.
This airport is near a large nuclear plant with big cooling towers.
Airport N31 is KUTTSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.
Twice
on 1987 May 6 and 1996 November 29.
This small strip is just west of Allentown.
There is a diner adjacent to the airport
and the runway has a hump in the middle
making it all-too-easy to become airborne permaturely on takeoff.
Airport N87 is ROBBINSVILLE, NEW JERSEY.
Four times
from 1987 May 6 to 1988 January 16.
Right off the New Jersey Turnpike near Exit 7A and Interstate 195,
this airport was well marked with its own VOR on the field.
(VOR stands for VHF omni range,
an aviation navigational aid.)
Airport N34 is TURNER, PENNSYLVANIA.
Once
on 1987 May 6.
One of the many small strips in the countryside
north of Philadelphia.
Airport N10 is PERKIOMEN VALLEY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Once
on 1987 May 6.
Another of the many small strips in the countryside
north of Philadelphia.
Airport TTN is MERCER COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
Once
on 1987 May 6.
A controlled field (with a landing fee when I landed there)
just east of the Delaware River northeast of Philadelphia.
Airport AWM is WEST MEMPHIS MUNICIPAL, ARKANSAS.
Once
on 1987 May 10.
A few weeks before my private-pilot checkride
I was in Memphis, Tennessee, for a friend's wedding.
I had some time and I hired an instructor
and rented an airplane from this airport.
It was reassuring to have another flight instructor
tell me my skills were up to snuff,
a new flight instructor who did not know me from . . . .
It felt like a big adventure to fly an airplane
in hilly country,
somewhere far away, somewhere unfamiliar.
Airport 39N is PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY.
14 times
from 1987 May 28 to 1996 November 23.
Princeton Airport is not all that close to Princeton University,
but I ran near it a few times on my longer runs
when I was a student there.
When I got my private-pilot license,
I took a few fly-and-run trips there, one with Andy.
The airport itself is on a busy highway, Route 206,
but there are some quieter roads a mile or two away.
This airport has an excellent airport shop
with headsets, gadgets, books, and pilot trinkets.
Airport 2N8 is MARLBORO, NEW JERSEY.
192 times
from 1987 June 5 to 1997 April 26.
I moved here when Allaire
had one of its many political battles and closed for a few days.
Rising terrain made eastbound take-offs on Runway 9 interesting
and the short runway (650m, 2100') kept its pilots sharp.
Marlboro had a nice restaurant and was a good running spot,
good enough that I would park my car here
on my way to work at Bell Laboratories at Holmdel
and go for a run.
Airport 3N6 is OLDBRIDGE, NEW JERSEY.
Twice
on 1987 June 5 and 1987 June 11.
A short hop from Marlboro,
this place was an airport, a drag strip, and a waterway
all in parallel.
I don't know of anybody landing on the wrong strip,
but it sure looked likely to happen.
Airport PAO is PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA.
Three times
from 1987 July 1 to 1987 July 4.
I went Out West for Tom's wedding
barely after getting my private-pilot license,
and I rented an airplane out of Palo Alto Airport
near Stanford.
Palo Alto's claim to fame is that it is
the shortest (maximum 800m 2500') runway
at a tower-controlled airport.
Folks don't usually rent airplanes without a checkride
and this one was a few hours of familiarization
with the Bay area and its prevailing wind sheer.
I took instruction with William Langeweische,
son of Wolfgang who wrote
Stick and Rudder.
It's kind of funny because when I rent an airplane
now that I have a little more experience,
and far better flying skills,
the checkride is just a landing or two.
Still, I learned an awful lot from this experience.
Airport LVK is LIVERMORE, CALIFORNIA.
Once
on 1987 July 1.
We did some landings here on my
Stanford Flying Club rental checkride.
Airport SQL is SAN CARLOS, CALIFORNIA.
Once
on 1987 July 3.
We did some landings here on my
Stanford Flying Club rental checkride.
Airport O69 is PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA.
Once
on 1987 July 4.
My friend Tom and I took off on a Fourth of July
aerial tour of California north of the Bay area.
Ever a fan of the "Peanuts" comic strip,
I had to land here.
Airport 1O2 is LAMPSON, CALIFORNIA.
Once
on 1987 July 4.
Clear Lake is a beautiful spot in
the California coastal mountains north of San Francisco.
Airport CCR is BUCHANON, CALIFORNIA.
Once
on 1987 July 4.
As Clear Lake did not have fuel on the holiday,
I decided to fill the tanks here in Concord.
Airport MMU is MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY.
Once
on 1987 July 15.
When my friend Sam changed jobs from
Bell Laboratories at Whippany to a position closer to home,
Sam got a ride to work that day
I flew here to meet him for his goodbye luncheon,
and I flew him home.
Airport MIV is MILLVILLE, NEW JERSEY.
Twice
on 1987 August 8 and 1988 January 17.
The home of our automated flight service station (AFSS),
the aviation weather people, it was at the southern tip of New Jersey.
Airport 72N is MANAHAWKIN, NEW JERSEY.
Five times
from 1987 August 16 to 1989 October 1.
This airport was enroute to the New Jersey shore,
the closest airport to Long Beach Island.
I remember it being a bare black strip in sandy soil
with nobody around.
Airport N12 is LAKEWOOD, NEW JERSEY.
12 times
from 1987 August 16 to 1994 December 10.
This airport is next to a circular dirt area
carved out of the local flora
for parachute jumpers.
I never saw any skydivers, but the big brown circle
made Lakewood easy to find.
Because of the parachute landing area,
the airport had a right pattern on one runway,
not terribly unusual but enough to confuse a lot of student pilots.
Airport 1B6 is HOPEDALE-DRAPER, MASSACHUSETTS.
Once
on 1987 August 23.
I rented one of my student trainers and landed here
to visit a high school buddy who taught at Wellsley.
Surrounded by trees, it was immediately visible from directly above
and not from anywhere else.
Airport PNE is NORTHEAST PHILADELPHA, PENNSYLVANIA.
14 times
from 1987 September 3 to 1996 November 29.
With a good restaurant on the airport and my mother living nearby,
this was a convenient airport to fly into.
Airport N67 is WINGS, PENNSYLVANIA.
Four times
from 1987 September 3 to 1990 October 21.
This airport is in Philadelphia's increasingly-fashionable
west suburbs, right next to the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
Airport LDJ is LINDEN, NEW JERSEY.
Once
on 1987 October 14.
Surrounded by giant oil tanks,
this airport is just a few miles south of Newark.
I wouldn't want to miss the runway here
or to lose engine power on takeoff.
Airport N51 is SOLBERG, NEW JERSEY (HARD/SOFT).
39 times
from 1987 October 14 to 1996 November 17.
This airport was a pretty place to fly,
near Round Lake reservoir.
It had the additional attraction of being the nearest place
where I could get 80 octane gasoline for my airplane.
Most aviation fuel these days is 100 low lead,
but even 100 LL has more lead than my engine was designed for,
so I have used 80 whenever I could find it.
Airport 1V5 is BOULDER, COLORADO.
Twice
on 1987 October 24 and 1988 October 26.
This airport was my introduction to Rocky Mountain flying.
Airport BJC is JEFFERSON COUNTY, COLORADO.
17 times
from 1987 October 24 to 1988 October 27.
I did most of my Colorado flying out of this airport
which we called "JeffCo."
When I found out I was going to be doing some work
in the Denver (Bell) Labs,
I called some area flying clubs and one of them had an instructor
who was willing to spend some time introducing a flatlander
to the mountains.
Airport RTN is RATON, NEW MEXICO.
Twice
on 1987 October 25 and 1988 January 5.
My first cross-country flight through the front range
of the Rockies was from
Jefferson County to here.
Airport N52 is SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY.
Once
on 1987 November 25.
An airport in the center of New Jersey,
northeast of
Princeton
and northwest of
Marlboro.
Airport 1N1 is BROOKHAVEN, NEW YORK STATE.
Once
on 1987 December 19.
Famous for its Physics laboratory,
this was a nice stopping point
on our way from
Allaire
to Block Island.
Airport ALS is ALAMOSA, COLORADO.
Once
on 1988 January 4.
When I flew a Mooney 20B from
Jefferson County
to the Grand Canyon,
I stopped here on the way west.
Airport GCN is GRAND CANYON, ARIZONA.
Eight times
from 1988 January 4 to 2008 March 15.
This airport is on the south rim.
I have flown over it without landing many times
from 2003 October 11 when I moved to Arizona.
Airport N81 is HAMMONDTON, NEW JERSEY.
Nine times
from 1988 January 17 to 1990 September 17.
When my airplane needed a top overhaul
(my first annual inspection, an expensive experience),
the work was done here and I made social visits
to the folks who did the work.
Airport N14 is FLYING W, NEW JERSEY.
Six times
from 1988 January 17 to 1990 January 14.
This was the best $100 hamburger in New Jersey,
a restaurant actually worth making a trip on its own merits.
I took my mother here on her first trip in my airplane.
Airport LVX is LEADVILLE, COLORADO.
Three times
from 1988 February 7 to 1988 March 6.
The highest airport in North America
(3000m, 10000', 700mb)
they give a certificate for landing here.
Ten thousand feet is high enough that
the air is thin enough
that the airspeed gauge and the visual appearance of speed
are noticeably different on final approach.
At Leadville (700 millibars) the airplane's true airspeed
is about 15 percent faster than at sea level (1000mb)
for the same indicated airspeed.
It is important for a pilot to follow the airspeed gauge
rather than visual clues
as it indicates the amount of air flowing over the wings.
Airport GUC is GUNNISON, COLORADO.
Once
on 1988 February 13.
If I remember correctly,
then the rectangular pattern of the westbound runway
has a mountain in the middle
so a pilot can't see the runway from the downwind leg.
Airport TEX is TELLURIDE, COLORADO.
Six times
from 1988 February 13 to 2005 November 25.
"Welcome to the ski capital of the world,"
says the gentlemen greeting me on the radio.
Famous for its abundant white powder
(and its ski-friendly snow),
this is the most spectacular airport I have visited.
I think Telluride (2800m, 9100', 725mb)
is the second highest airport in North America
on a 9000' mesa over 6000' valleys amid 14000' mountains.
Airport 7V1 is BUENA VISTA, COLORADO.
Once
on 1988 February 13.
An airport in the same large valley as
Leadville and Salida
near Mount Harvard,
Mount Yale, and
Mount Princeton.
Airport 2V2 is LONGMONT, COLORADO.
Twice
on 1988 February 14 and 1988 May 27.
A nice, quiet, uncontrolled airport
not too far from JeffCo,
a good place to practice landings.
Airport GNB is GRANBY, COLORADO.
Once
on 1988 March 6.
I think this (2500m, 8200', 750mb)
is the third highest airport in North America,
just over the front range from
Boulder.
Airport EGE is EAGLE, COLORADO.
Once
on 1988 March 6.
We got the red-carpet treatment when
I landed here with a JeffCo-based student pilot.
The lineman came out with chocks in one hand
and a square meter of red carpet that he placed
under the wingstep of our rented Comanche.
Airport CAG is CRAIG, COLORADO.
Once
on 1988 March 9.
Another lovely mountain airport in Colorado.
Airport Q31 is MINERAL COUNTY MEMORIAL, COLORADO.
Once
on 1988 March 9.
This was a seriously unattended airport.
Not only was there nobody in an office,
I did not see a telephone
or anyplace likely to be inhabited within an easy walk.
Airport ASE is ASPEN, COLORADO.
Three times
from 1988 March 9 to 1988 June 1.
Another place famous for white powder (and snow),
this place is nestled in a high-altitude deep valley.
They only allow landings to the south and takeoffs to the north
because of the high terrain to the south.
We had a stiff tailwind on a hot day and it took our
Cessna 182 every bit of the runway (2100m, 7000')
to get airborne.
Airport RIF is GARFIELD, RIFLE, COLORADO.
Once
on 1988 March 9.
Yet another spectacular mountain airport.
Airport 26N is OCEAN CITY, NEW JERSEY.
Six times
from 1988 April 17 to 1996 May 19.
This is a Jersey-shore airport a few hundred meters
from the beach, a pleasant run along the boardwalk,
about 8 Km, 5 miles, out and back.
Airport N68 is CHAMBERSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.
Once
on 1988 April 23.
I took a friend here for a family wedding
and I had to scurry home before the festivities
to beat some weather moving in from the west.
Airport 0W3 is HARFORD COUNTY AIRPORT, MARYLAND.
Twice
on 1988 May 1 and 1989 April 23.
A little airport not too far from Baltimore.
Airport N92 is SUMMIT AIRPARK, DELAWARE.
Once
on 1988 May 1.
An airport along a canal.
A friend of mine was experimenting with
uncoordinated turns from the right seat,
making turns one way while banking the other way.
I suggested that it might not be such a good idea
and we stopped here to buy some anti-airsickness pills for him.
Airport N44 is ROBERT J. MILLER, NEW JERSEY.
13 times
from 1988 May 8 to 1990 September 28.
This airport is far from just about anything,
closer to Toms River, New Jersey, than just about anything else.
It has an Instrument Landing System (ILS)
on its eastbound runway.
This is good for real instrument flying
since the wind usually comes from the east in bad weather.
It is not so good for practice instrument flying
since the wind usually comes from the west in good weather
and the practice landings end up the wrong way,
in the downwind direction.
Airport 48V is TRI-COUNTY, COLORADO.
Twice
on 1988 May 30 and 1988 June 1.
This was another quiet airport near JeffCo,
a good place to practice landings.
Airport 4N1 is GREENWOOD LAKE, NEW JERSEY.
Twice
on 1988 June 5 and 1996 November 17.
This is a pretty airport north of New York City.
Airport 4B2 is RIVERSIDE, NEW YORK STATE.
Three times
from 1988 July 2 to 1989 May 21.
When I visited my cousin in Utica
(the same cousin I saw in Cornell on my long student cross country)
we rented a Cessna 172 and flew from there to
Scroon Lake.
Airport 4B7 is SCHROON LAKE, NEW YORK STATE.
Once
on 1988 July 3.
My cousin and I flew here from
Riverside in Utica.
The final approach we took was down a steep enough hill
that we were skimming the treetops all the way down.
Airport LHV is LOCK HAVEN, PIPER MEMORIAL, PENNSYLVANIA.
Twice
on 1988 September 11 and 1989 August 27.
I went to two Piper fly-ins in my Cherokee.
They were supposed to be Piper Cub fly-ins,
but they let the newer Piper aircraft join them.
(I may even have seen a Cessna or two.)
The fellow who used to own my airplane bought a much-faster Arrow
and the two of us left for Lock Haven about the same time.
He filed IFR (an instrument flight plan using air traffic control)
and climbed fairly high (1800m, 6000', 800mb)
and faced a stiff headwind (70 km/hr, 40 knots)
while my friend and I stayed low in the valleys.
It took us fifteen minutes less time because we avoided the wind.
Airport 46N is SKY PARK, NEW YORK STATE.
Once
on 1988 October 9.
Close to Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome
where a friend and I went to see the airshow.
Airport LNS is LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA.
Twice
on 1988 October 14 and 1990 November 25.
The airport restaurant had food worthy of its location
in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country,
the Amish country.
This airport is the home of the
Sensenich
propeller company
where I replaced mine which looked like a dog had chewed it.
Airport 37PA is SMOKETOWN, PENNSYLVANIA (grass runway).
Twice
on 1988 October 14 and 1990 November 25.
A small grass strip near Lancaster,
there were a lot of interesting old airplanes here.
Airport CGS is COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND.
Four times
from 1988 October 16 to 1996 November 3.
Founded in 1909, they say this is
the oldest continuously-operating airport.
A friend and I flew here a few times to visit
Washington, D.C.
I came here once to see some friends from eastern Europe
who were visiting our nation's capital
and I took them up for a brief airplane ride.
Now this airport is buttoned up tight
for national security reasons.
Airport 3V6 is CRESTED BUTTE, COLORADO.
Once
on 1988 October 21.
In the heart of Colorado's Rocky Mountains,
this airport offers scenery to die for.
With a fairly short strip
amid some big hills,
it takes good stick-and-rudder skills
not to die for it.
Airport 2V1 is PAGOSA SPRINGS, COLORADO.
Once
on 1988 October 23.
A valley airport in the Rocky Mountains.
Airport CYS is CHEYENNE, WYOMING.
Once
on 1988 October 27.
This was my last flight from my Denver-Labs days
out of JeffCo
and it was too windy in the mountains,
so I flew north here and back south
where I could enjoy the view.
Airport 1N7 is BLAIRSTOWN, NEW JERSEY.
Five times
from 1988 December 4 to 1996 October 13.
Next to the Delaware Watergap
and nestled into the ridgeline,
this airport offers a decent $100 hamburger
along with the view.
Airport ISP is MACARTHUR, NEW YORK STATE.
Once
on 1989 February 11.
This is Long Island's airline terminal.
I visited a friend living near there.
Airport MPO is POCONO MOUNTAIN, PENNSYLVANIA.
Once
on 1989 March 19.
I stopped here on my way to a friend's wedding in
Scranton
when the weather was bad.
From the south side of the Deleware Watergap,
I could see New York City,
Philadelphia, and Atlantic City.
On the north side, less than a minute later,
it was a mile visibibility (or less!) in snow.
I landed here to wait for better weather.
Airport 1W2 is BAY BRIDGE, MARYLAND.
Once
on 1989 April 23.
A small airport right on the edge of Chesapeake Bay.
Airport W29 is BALTIMORE AIRPORT, MARYLAND.
Once
on 1989 April 23.
A small airport near Baltimore.
Airport NY21 is FREEHOLD, NEW YORK STATE.
Once
on 1989 May 21.
A small airport where I stopped to wait for a cold front to pass
on my way to
Riverside
to visit my cousin in Utica.
Airport YNG is YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.
Twice
on 1989 June 8 and 1989 June 11.
I stopped here on my way to my cousin's wedding in
Chicago.
Airport CGX is MEIGS, ILLINOIS.
Twice
on 1989 June 8 and 1989 June 11.
When a cousin got married near Evanston, Illinois,
I couldn't resist a chance to fly into this classic airport.
I felt I already knew my way around
as this is the first airport in the
early flight simulators for personal computers.
In true Chicago politics fashion,
when they couldn't close this airport legally,
the mayor had crews destroy it in the middle of the night.
Airport SEG is PENN VALLEY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Once
on 1989 July 9.
Selinsgrove is just about the exact center of Pennsylvania.
Airport N38 is GRAND CANYON STATE, PENNSYLVANIA.
Three times
from 1989 July 9 to 1996 June 16.
What a wonderful view!
This airport sits at the north end of the
Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania,
a more intimate experience than Arizona's like-named formation.
It is near New York State,
north of the town of Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania.
Airport N74 is PENNS CAVE, PENNSYLVANIA.
Four times
from 1989 July 9 to 1996 October 13.
Penns Cave is a local attraction
with regular boat tours and an airport nearby.
On one occasion, I brought a runner friend with me,
we saw the cave and ran eight miles on the local two-lane highway.
Airport CXY is CAPITAL CITY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Once
on 1989 July 15.
I took my mother here on her second trip in my airplane
to visit my cousin who lives in Camp Hill.
Airport N37 is MONTICELLO, NEW YORK STATE.
Twice
on 1989 July 23 and 1996 May 25.
A pretty airport in the Catskills.
Airport N17 is CROSSKEYS, NEW JERSEY.
Four times
from 1989 August 18 to 1990 September 17.
Crosskeys was the other airport in New Jersey
where I could get 80 octane gasoline for my airplane.
Airport CRG is CRAIG, FLORIDA.
Twice
on 1989 September 15 and 1989 September 16.
I was going to fly to Jacksonville, Florida,
for a friend's wedding.
The weather was not cooperative
and I ended up on the Interstate 95 highway
instead of the Victor 1 airway.
When I got there, I rented a Cessna 150 here
and flew with one of the other wedding guests.
Airport X47 is FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA.
Once
on 1989 September 16.
I landed here on my mini-tour of northeast Florida.
Airport SGJ is ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA.
Once
on 1989 September 16.
I'm told St. Augustine
is the oldest town or settlement or something
in North America.
Airport 57A is RUTHERFORD COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA.
Once
on 1989 September 18.
On my way back from Florida to New Jersey,
I stopped to visit a friend in western North Carolina.
I rented an airplane here to see some of the Smoky Mountains.
Airport 9A9 is MARION, NORTH CAROLINA (grass runway).
Once
on 1989 September 18.
As the Smokies lived up to their name, too hazy to fly,
we ended up landing here on my flight from
Rutherfordton.
Airport N07 is LINCOLN PARK, NEW JERSEY.
Nine times
from 1989 November 12 to 1996 November 16.
One of the best $100 hamburgers in the New York Bight
and its surrounding territory,
this airport is nestled in hills of central New Jersey.
From Marlboro,
I used to fly up the Hudson River corridor
to see New York City up close,
land and eat here,
and fly home through the scenic mountains.
(Well, we called them "mountains" in New Jersey.)
Airport N63 is SUSSEX, NEW JERSEY.
Twice
on 1989 November 19 and 1990 September 17.
A nice, quiet airport northeast of Princeton
in the middle of the state.
Airport N05 is HACKETTSTOWN, NEW JERSEY.
Twice
on 1989 November 19 and 1990 November 11.
A small airport with a short landing strip
in the northwest part of the state.
Airport 1N4 is WOODBINE, NEW JERSEY.
Once
on 1990 February 11.
An airport in the flat marshes south of Philadelphia.
Airport WWD is CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY.
Once
on 1990 February 11.
This is the south end of the Jersey shore.
Airport 9N1 is VANSANT, PENNSYLVANIA (grass runway).
Once
on 1990 February 18.
A busy, fun grass strip north of Philadelphia,
home of many old airplanes and gliders.
Airport N85 is ALEXANDRIA, NEW JERSEY.
Once
on 1990 February 18.
A small airport in northwest New Jersey.
Airport W32 is HYDE FIELD, MARYLAND.
Once
on 1990 March 4.
An airport near Baltimore.
Airport N27 is TOWANDA, PENNSYLVANIA.
Once
on 1990 April 22.
A small airport in the northeast part of the state.
Airport N30 is CHERRY RIDGE, PENNSYLVANIA.
Four times
from 1990 April 22 to 1996 December 22.
A beautiful airport northeast of Scranton
with a terrific view and terrible food.
I never had a problem,
but a friend of mine got sick after eating the greasy food.
Airport IPT is WILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA.
Twice
on 1990 April 22 and 1991 May 26.
If memory serves me correctly,
my Lycoming engine was made here
in the middle of the state.
Airport BID is BLOCK ISLAND, RHODE ISLAND.
Three times
from 1990 August 12 to 1996 July 28.
I'm pretty sure I landed here more than thrice.
Maybe I forgot to log some of my flights here.
Block Island, officially known as New Shoreham,
is an island about 10 Km, 6 miles, long
about 20 Km, 12 miles, east of Montauk, Long Island.
It is a pretty place with a nice airport (no fuel available),
a nice place to visit,
to eat, to bicycle, or to run.
Airport MDT is MIDDLETOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.
Three times
from 1990 August 31 to 1990 September 2.
When my cousin got married in Camp Hill,
I flew my sister to the wedding and we landed here.
Airport AIY is BADER FIELD, NEW JERSEY.
Once
on 1990 September 17.
The airport closest to Atlantic City's casinos,
I came here to have work done on my airplane radios.
Airport N66 is ONEONTA, NEW YORK STATE.
Once
on 1990 October 7.
Amid the fall foliage,
this airport is not too far from the Finger Lakes.
Airport 76N is TUNKHANNOCK, PENNSYLVANIA.
Four times
from 1990 November 4 to 1996 December 22.
One of my favorites,
this is nestled in the Susquehanna River valley
northwest of Scranton.
I have stopped here on the way to the
Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania
and on my way from
Lake Elmo, Minnesota,
to Republic on Long Island.
One time a running-pilot friend of mine joined me here
and, as we were working our way up,
wondered aloud whether we would encounter a lot of hills.
Looking 500m, 1600', up to the top,
together we said, "just one."
Airport W05 is GETTYSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.
Once
on 1990 November 25.
My running-pilot friend and I came out here.
We encounted a stiff headwind coming west to get here
and this was my first $100 fillup in my airplane.
Our run was windy as well
and we saw quite a few civil-war relics from the roadway.
Airport 3N5 is NEWTON, NEW JERSEY.
Twice
on 1991 January 1 and 1996 November 23.
I came up here to run in the hills of north New Jersey.
This area is very pretty, but the airport area
was bounded by some annoyingly-busy highways.
Airport 12N is AEROFLEX-ANDOVER, NEW JERSEY.
Twice
on 1991 January 1 and 1996 November 23.
Another airport in west-central New Jersey.
Airport HYA is HYANNIS, MASSACHUSETTS.
Once
on 1991 February 3.
A friend and I came here to Cape Cod
for some clam chowder.
There were pictures of Kennedy family members
hanging in the restaurant.
Airport 69N is SLADINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA.
Once
on 1991 February 24.
A small airport I don't remember very well.
My runner-pilot friend flew here and I flew home.
Airport HAN is HANSCOM FIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.
Once
on 1991 March 9.
A friend of mine was in Boston for a while
and I visited him here.
Airport HLG is WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA.
Once
on 1991 May 26.
On my way from New Jersey to Minnesota
our first stop was here.
Airport DAY is DAYTON, OHIO.
Twice
on 1991 May 26 and 1991 May 27.
On my way from New Jersey to Minnesota
with a runner friend
I stopped in Dayton for the night,
a chance to see my cousin who was living there.
While all three of us went for a run in the rain
while we waited for the weather to improve,
we did not run from the airport itself.
Airport MSN is MADISON, WISCONSIN.
Once
on 1991 May 27.
We stopped here for fuel on my trip
from New Jersey to Minnesota.
Airport MSP is MINNEAPOLIS-SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA.
Once
on 1991 May 27.
Actually, I only landed here once for real
and the other five landings were in the Boeing 727 simulator.
I parked my car here and took an airline flight to New Jersey.
I dropped my friend here with my car keys
and he drove while I flew out to
Lake Elmo on a toasty afternoon.
I spent about fifteen minutes waiting on the hot tarmac
behind a long line of DC-9s.
(Actually, the guys in the tower had mercy
and tried to get me out sooner but I wasn't ready for takeoff yet.)
Airport 21D is LAKE ELMO, MINNESOTA.
117 times
from 1991 April 28 to 1996 March 27.
I kept my airplane here for nearly five years,
a well-kept airport with two perpendicular runways.
They had 80 octane fuel in those days,
very nice for my engine.
Airport OEO is OSCEOLA, WISCONSIN (HARD/SOFT).
17 times
from 1991 June 23 to 1995 September 7.
Very close to Lake Elmo,
this airport also was a nice running spot.
Airport 54Y is RUSH CITY, MINNESOTA.
Four times
from 1991 June 23 to 1994 July 10.
Following the St. Croix river north of Stillwater
is a lovely flight and this is a nice stopping place.
Airport GTG is GRANTSBURG, WISCONSIN.
Three times
from 1991 June 23 to 1995 February 25.
A small airport in Wisconsin.
Airport CBG is CAMBRIDGE, MINNESOTA.
10 times
from 1991 August 11 to 1995 June 10.
I had a friend living up here
and I got my airplane painted here
by Jimbo's Flying Colors.
The scheduling was lousy, four months later than promised,
but the work was excellent.
A decade later, my airplane still looks wonderful.
Airport BRD is BRAINERD, MINNESOTA.
Four times
from 1991 August 11 to 1994 December 25.
A good friend of mine has family here,
so we flew up here a few times.
Northern Minnesota is cold in the winter.
Airport 19D is MORA, MINNESOTA.
Four times
from 1991 August 11 to 1995 October 1.
A friend of mine was staying with in-laws here and I visited them,
and I ran the flat prairie road from here.
Airport RGK is RED WING, MINNESOTA.
17 times
from 1991 September 1 to 1995 September 23.
One of my favorite running places,
this airport was actually on the Wisconsin side
of the Mississippi River.
The road I ran went about a mile north until it reached the hills
and wandered through rolling hills.
There was a dirt road that formed a nice loop of five or six miles.
One fine autumn morning I did a 34 Km, 21 mile run
and noticed a lot of guys wearing orange jackets in pickup trucks.
It was the first day of deer-hunting season
and you gotta be careful of those deer.
They're clever, they dress up in running clothes
and run down the highway
so you have to shoot them fast before they fool you.
While I didn't get shot, I heard a lot of gunfire that morning.
Airport RNH is NEW RICHMOND, WISCONSIN.
Twice
on 1991 September 1 and 1992 December 26.
A small-town airport with the high school mascot on the water tower.
Airport ANE is ANOKA, MINNESOTA.
Twice
on 1991 September 15 and 1995 April 29.
A very nice, large airport at the north end of the twin cities.
