MAU MAU wrote:Stol -

In looking at the area of your strip, from a satellite view anyway, there appears to be no trees.

If this is true, I would personally want at least 20 acres to have some privacy.

Do you have a constant west wind?

There are no trees on the property.. All sagebrush has been removed too, leaving only lush pasture grass, streams and a wide open view... For privacy, planting trees is an option, or a day or so with a D-6 one can create a nice berm too... The wind is present but does not howl like it does down on I-80.. 90% of the time is blows right down the runway 25...

STOL's place is pretty cool and would be a nice spot to have a fly-in cabin. Not that I've ever landed there...

Would say nothing bad about having your own place with a runway.

That said however, I live in an airpark and love it. Really wonderful sense of community. It is never difficult to get someone to go flying. If I have a mechanic issue, there is always someone to pitch in and give advice (usually pretty good advice). There are always interesting projects and rebuilds going on.

The sense of community is the best I have ever seen and I really enjoy it. Good neighbors who know each other and look out for each other.

Plus, I don't have to be the sole caretaker of the airport and have others to help out.

There are always downsides: covenants, homeowner's dues, etc. But for me, the positives outweigh the negatives. I just don't have time to take care of an 80 acre place. This is a great substitute.

My two cents. Either way, you will love it. Good luck.

Larry

I am on a quest in the next few years of seeing the best of what airpark living is.. I have only been to about 5 of these places... Texas..pecan plantation, no airark here but Possum Kingdom lake, Oklahoma, monkey Island.. florida, spruce creek, massey air ranch.. . Missouri.. 2 private airparks on Table Rock.... Georgia .. Mallards landing... Heavens Landing, North Carolina...Lake Norman.. there are tons of choices, mine kinda focus around water.. Monkey island and pecan plantion are my favorites along with Possum kingdom.

I'm not much for rules so an airpark is not my ideal situation.

I know 2 guys who live on 2 different grass air strips. Politics and different opinions has become moderate problems for both.

I know another guy who lives in an airpark and he loves it. So I guess it is a crap shoot.

It is a lot more of a hassle to have your own. I have enough land but shoulder surgery last summer and building the beach house next to the Pacific City airport this summer has kept me from finishing it. Now I may be buying 22 acres across the road from my home place in Gresham. If that deal goes I will leave my hangar at the Troutdale airport and keep the Maule at home.

Cheers

OregonMaule wrote:I'm not much for rules

I hadn't noticed

Just buy the house w/ airstrip in MN which is for sale on here. Coming from DC it should be a straight trade for home values.

I've lived on one air park and rented a hanger on the other. One good experience and one fair. Politics is always an issue but rarely to the point that it interferes. You just gotta do your homework and use your intuition about your potential new neighbors.

The first experience was a group of good "builder" and project type guys from all somewhat different backgrounds. Engineers, small business owners, doctors, retired airline guys. Really helpfull and some of them (almost 40 years older than me) still consider me family.

The next one pretty much sucked. The hoa was hopelessly in disarray and the place was running wild. Couple that with a few contintal pilots wives forming an "I hate prop planes" club.

If you can find the first then go get it. Short of that, build. That's not hard either. With a flat piece if land aligned to the wind just a matter of working out a deal with a local farmer to have his kid come over build "driveway or a "lane". All that's needed can be borrowed or rented.

we disked the rough stuff. fEL for filling in low spots and knocking down the high. Harrow/drag t smooth It out. Seed it a water. That said, a few hours with a bulldozer driven by someone who knows how Is a faster option.

Bill

Mike and I have been living at Mid Valley Airpark (E98 south of Los Lunas, New Mexico) since 1987. We love living at our Airpark and having our airplanes right out the door in our hangar! One of the other BCP members also lives here and I am pretty sure he loves it too.

We have some non-pilot neighbors, but they are pretty positive about the Airpark and supportive of airplanes. Of course we want more pilot neighbors and if you want to move to New Mexico, Mid Valley is a really great place to move - weather is good much of the year.

You can send me a Private Message if you are interested - there are some vacant lots and I think maybe there might be a house or two for sale.

Jan