Freeper Owned Airstrips

01/04/02 | Dead Dog

[Dead Dog]

Any other Freeper Pilots out there have experience establishing an airstrip on their own property? This has to be one of the greatest expressions of freedom and independence in out times. It also runs against the grain of busybody county officials nation wide.

Please share your experiences or or comments here.

[Dead Dog]

I figured this deserved it's own thread, since there seems to be a large number of Pilots on FR. Do you guys know of a FR pilot's "bump" list?

[abner]

Used to have one. The ex got it in the divorce.

[Dead Dog]

That just ain't right.

[Rokke]

Thought this might interest you.

[abner]

I don't fly, so it wasn't a big deal.

You don't need an airstrip though for this:

Just a big yard... Coming soon to a town/city near you!

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I have a landing spot in my backyard that will be used by my Chuf 't Commander when he leads the colonization wave from the planet TPaz. To the puny humans I say, Resistance is futile.
All Your Airstrip Are Belong to Us.

[isthisnickcool]

That just ain't right.

Yea, but sometimes it's worth it:)

[Regulator]

Without going to the hassle of doing it on your own property, you could buy into more and more airparks across the country. The biggest ad section in Trade-a-Plane these days seems to be the Real Estate section.

After the great success of Cameron Park, I would say that most of these places are a sound investment. Also, since all your neighbors are just like you, there is a built in opposition to the busy bodys who want to sue everyone anytime an airplane flys over, and are always trying to close airports.

[abner]

Yea, but sometimes it's worth it:)

I have to agree.

[blackdog]

I lease the grain growing(broken ground)to a grain farmer, and I manage the alfalfa crops, and pasture rotations. During the winter months, the sheep consume 3,600 lbs of hay per week. Fencing seems to be the component taking most capital and labor to establish/maintain. One fast moving herd of deer can turn a high tensile electric fence into a real mess. I invested in invisible dog fencing and allow the livestock dogs free run at night. It seems to have cut down on the deer's desire to visit our pastures. I just turn certain radio zones on/off based on where the sheep are and the dogs have to stay away from chasing the sheep without our commands.

So far, the only other freeperport owner I know of is Black Bart. He and his wife live in Arizona. Lot's of freeper pilots though. For fly-in reasons, a good freeper pilot list would be a good idea. I am always looking for a good reason to take the kids a few hundred miles for a breakfast or lunch.

[blackdog]

I do eventually plan on turning our place into an airpark. For anyone considering it on their own....The grass cutting, rolling, fertilizing, seeding, lighting, and various other maintenance is a full time job for six months out of the year. I tried running the sheep on the runway, hoping they would help, but it was a very stupid idea.

To the ex-wife sufferer, that do suck!

[Dead Dog]

That's a good idea. I have no idea how to start a list. I haven't found a help page on it yet either.

A Freep-In, Flying-Freep, or whatever folks want to call it would be a good idea. There seems to always be pancake breakfasts put on by local EAA or state pilot orgs.

[Raymond Hendrix]

There is an airstrip in our county being built now on private land. If it is like everything else in this rural county of Tennessee then there will be very little hassel. I might use it if I decide to fly again. I used to do it for a living but I have not piloted and airplane for the past 10 years. This is off topic but I am curious as to what the effects have been on general avaition since 9/11. Are there new restrictions such as mandatory VFR flight plans?

[stubernx98]

I have been invloved in three. One had ten home owners on a 2000 grass strip. I flew a 310 out of it.

The second was a development that 8 of us bought, that had grandfathered airstrip of 3,000 feet in a farm zoned area. then along came the Land Management Act, which restricted use. We went through the whole planning commission thing with approval to be acted on by the County Council. Then our fine neighbors, one who raisied dogs said it would be too noisy. Another said she(50 years and butt ugly) liked to sunbathe in the nude and was always running for the bushes (I say stay out the Bushes) when a plane flew over. Another near by farmer said his cows would stop giving milk. He only had steers it came out in the hearing. I did sound testing, and you couldn't hear the planes over the yapping dogs and freeway noise. Oh yeah, someone got up with a $15 tape recorder and said listen to this plane droning overhead. Well, with all the logic on their side we did not get the zone change, so we made it into a dirt bike track - think big time noise.

Third one, has about 100 home owners - we are in a class action suit with the owner of the airport(we all have easements.

Now if you need info on how to incorporate, and draw up covenants etc. I can help.

[abner]

To the ex-wife sufferer, that do suck!

Actually, I would be the ex-husband sufferer.. But, sometimes it is just better to start over.

[billorites]

A co-worker of mine lives on this combined Golf Course/Airstrip in NH.

[mamelukesabre]

I would suggest getting a T-bird, with a tail dragger landing gear setup and oversized tires. Then you don't have to deal with anyones complaints. Unless you want to actually fly long distance of course.

[M Kehoe]

Used to have one. The ex got it in the divorce.

Bummer bump.

5.56mm

[Dead Dog]

I haven't flown since, but I think there are just a few more areas of prohibited airspace now.

Now mandatory VFR (ala Europe) flight planes yet.