I think it is great that you live near a small airport and instead of being unhappy about it, you encourage your sons’ interest in general aviation. Boys and girls who become interested in aviation tend to set goals for themselves, stay out of trouble and develop their imaginations.
Unfortunately, most airports are not as accessible to the public as they once were. My wife and I live on an airpark (a small airport with a 116 homes built around it) with our Skypup ultralight airplane, 1969 Piper Cherokee, and several hang gliders. After 911 we were all grounded for months despite the fact that no credible threats to national security have ever been attributed to small general aviation aircraft. Afterwards the government required access to the public be restricted and security measures be put in place. Most of this is nonsense at least from a national security point of view. It makes me sad because we really love general aviation and like to share our interest with others. I am glad to see that there are plenty of fellow aviation enthusiast Freepers.
You said a mouthful....911 ruined everything as far as I'm concerned....aviation will never be the same...even general aviation. The California desert municipal airport I own taxiway property on is fenced and gated....gone are the days when you can walk out on an airport with your son or daughter and look at airplanes....very sad....
I enjoy seeing the different makes that fly out of the airport and right over our home.
“I am glad to see that there are plenty of fellow aviation enthusiast Freepers.”
Well, let’s see. Libertarians/conservatives, guns, planes, individual responsibility and all of the independence that goes with such a philosophy. Yup, that all fits together at FR.
You’re in the right place. :-)
I have a friend that is building an airplane and I hope to go for a ride once he has finished. He is a computer programmer and has a young family so I imagine his project will take a while to get off the ground.