WWhunter wrote:deckofficer,
Sorry, didn't mean to sound like an uninvited guest, I should have been more specific. I only meant to say I would be in the area and do a 'meet and greet' and look over the area, no over nighting. I will be driving between Holoman AFB and Sierra Visata, AZ visiting kids.

.

It is fine either way. I just assumed that since I'm an airpark resident now, I need to have available accommodations for the wayward pilot needing a stopover or weather hold.

Now that I know from where to where, even by car and including the airpark's 1 hour round trip deviation from Columbus, NM and I-10, it is only 6 hours drive.

WWhunter wrote:motosix,
I will get some pics/info on the places I stop at for future refernce. I really have no idea where I want to spend winters but anyplace it doesn't snow continually, and have double digit below zero temps for days on end will be an improvement.

I would appreciate that and I will do the same!

Colorado is wonderful but I am pretty taken with the southwest deserts during the winter months.

I won't know till next winter, but the nearby mountains are 7000', so if you miss snow in the SW desert, at least you will see it in the distance.

Some have asked that I keep this thread going with what it is like living in these inexpensive air parks in southern NM. Well, the most important would be flyable weather. When I was here in February, it was "Chamber of Commerce" weather, blue skies, no wind and warm (65~75) days. Now in late April, of the last 7 days, 2 were too windy to fly, but the forecast is for winds for the next 5 days. My short term guess is during Spring it might be a 50/50 ratio of flyable days. I'll let folks know if it works out that way, better or worse.

Now for common life in the Border Lands. I still smoke (bad, I know), so it was time to check out the duty free store on the US side of the border.....




Not quite as simple as you would think. You purchase your goods and pay for them and if it is a bunch of heavy bottled spirits, this guy in the golf cart will transport your goods the 200' to the border, you then walk across the border with your packages and return via the returning to US sidewalk and customs.




They check your picture ID and remind you that in the near future you will need either a passport book or card, but they don't know when. Here is where it loses some appeal, I knew ahead of time from other travel that I can only bring 200 cigarettes (one carton) into the US duty free. What I didn't know was you can only do this once a month and they keep records. For those that don't smoke, a carton bought in the US is $40 for some generic brand, but at this duty free it was $8. Should I bring another $8 carton in before 30 days I'll have to pay at customs $11 in taxes. Still 1/2 price, but paying $11 in taxes on a $8 purchase is a bit odd.

Had some thunderstorms pass through today but almost no rain hit the ground at the airpark.

Wind update.

Been here 12 days now, 4 were too windy to fly. Forecast is 4 more windy days. That appears to confirm the local pilot's assessment that during the windy season (April and May) 1/2 of those days will be too windy to fly. Explains part of the low cost of these airpark homes and hangars. I still feel it was a good deal at the price I paid, but understand a little better why pilots on a budget haven't flocked to these 3 airparks. But since it is the Southwest, I'll be making up flying days during Summer, Fall, and Winter, accepting being blown out for 1/2 of Spring.

"On the Cheap" update.

For those following this thread that also want to retire in an airpark on the cheap, well unlike the wind, all is positive on that front. A fiber-optic cable was run along Hwy 11 right past the 3 airparks and as such high speed Internet is available. This allowed me to not need Direct TV, which from my former bills was a $156.00 a month expense for the programs that I now get over the Internet and sent by wi-fi to my TV which has the Amazon Fire Stick Box with HDMI connection to the TV. The big HDTV in the living room is hooked up to an over-the-air antenna, picking up 29 stations and all the local network affiliates.

With an insulted home inside an insulated hangar, haven't needed heating or cooling, so calculated an electric bill of $30 a month. Property taxes at $268 per year. Cell phone $60 per month, Internet service and phone line $50 per month. It is a good feeling knowing that even though I short changed myself for my retirement by caring for dad (which was worth all the time), I have found a place that fits my budget. And guess what, I don't miss work. Monday I had a 160 mile R/T drive to the passport office to get my passport card instead of the regular book I had for work. I had so many pages added to my old passport, it was like a paperback book. Since this passport office was in the post office of Hatch, NM, they don't see passports like mine with all the stamps and added pages. That was a reminder to me that I no longer need to hustle for all those connecting flights to get to my ship, and that part of my work I will not miss. It is also relaxing not having to drive in any traffic. Two lane, smooth deserted highways from Columbus to Hatch, the only town driven through was Deming. I get to set my cruise control for 60 mph and even at that pokey speed, no traffic behind me. At that speed, my 8000 lb 4X4 diesel Ford Excursion does get decent mileage for its size, around 22 mpg on $1.93 a gallon diesel.

That's it for this chapter of "Air Park Living on the Cheap", hope all enjoyed.

Just wanted to drop a comment to say I'm enjoying reading your posts.

I've enjoyed all of your posts Bob. Keep us in the loop

Tadpole wrote:Just wanted to drop a comment to say I'm enjoying reading your posts.

Thank you for the comment. As a new member to the forum I'm a bit apprehensive about posting too much. Since I get so much valuable information from other members, the few that have said they want to follow the "Air Park Living on the Cheap" concept, I'll update as to weather and cost of living. Who knows, maybe others might join us in these 3 airparks.

Topics to come, optometrists, dentists, and prescription drugs across the border in Mexico.

SixTwoLeemer wrote:I've enjoyed all of your posts Bob. Keep us in the loop

SixTwoLeemer, you bet I will.

Still on the search for an a/c that fits the mission of cheap and STOL.

Rans S6

Savannah

Allegro

CH-701.......

...,,are on the short list of high wing tricycle gear. High wing because the plane will share space with some classic cars in the hangar and my taxiway to the strip is only 25' wide with desert chaparral on the sides but height below a high wing. Nose dragger because I'm low hour in a gusty area.

@ deckofficer

Likewise. I also am very much enjoying this thread and your many posts.
Keep posting.

Just a lurker from always windy WY saying that I have also enjoyed you posts. I'm in the same boat; old fart getting back into flying and a warm weather escape would be nice. Maybe I'll wander down one of these days and see what is available. Enjoy that retirement, I'm sure enjoying mine.

WYflyer wrote:Just a lurker from always windy WY saying that I have also enjoyed you posts. I'm in the same boat; old fart getting back into flying and a warm weather escape would be nice. Maybe I'll wander down one of these days and see what is available. Enjoy that retirement, I'm sure enjoying mine.

You my friend and others in the same boat is why I post. The weatherman was wrong today, predicted wind gusts to 35 mph, morning windsocks limp, afternoon breezy at best, maybe 15 mph gusts, early evening no wind like in the morning.

So out of 13 days, only 4 too windy to fly. If this is the windy season, I can live with that ratio.

You have a lot of very nice mountains to explore deckofficer. The Ciricahuas just across the state line in Arizona and the Peloncillos in the SW corner of new Mexico. If you were blindfolded and taken up into the Chiriahuas you would swear you had to be in Montana or Idaho.

Also lot of old west history in your neighborhood.
The US Army chased Pancho Villa into Old Mexico with airplanes in 1916. I think that's where they learned about density altitude.

The "punitive expedition" lead by General Blackjack Pershing was the first conflict where American aircraft were used in combat.

read the story here: https://www.flitelite.com/index.php?mai ... page&id=27

tcj wrote:You have a lot of very nice mountains to explore deckofficer. The Ciricahuas just across the state line in Arizona and the Peloncillos in the SW corner of new Mexico. If you were blindfolded and taken up into the Chiriahuas you would swear you had to be in Montana or Idaho.

Also lot of old west history in your neighborhood.
The US Army chased Pancho Villa into Old Mexico with airplanes in 1916. I think that's where they learned about density altitude.

The "punitive expedition" lead by General Blackjack Pershing was the first conflict where American aircraft were used in combat.

read the story here: https://www.flitelite.com/index.php?mai ... page&id=27

A good write up for my new area that I hadn't read, thanks for the link. I was aware of this area's aviation history and feel lucky to call the cradle of military aviation my retirement home. Of the 3 airparks within the same section of land, the airpark that I'm in definitely gives a nod to the history with its name 1st Aero Squadron Airpark.

As to the old Jenny a/c, a replica has been built and is our wind indicator.

Wind update, not as strong as forecast, flyable for better pilots than me these last two days. The big difference is direction, for the first time cross winds on our 3 runways that run east/west.

Meeting the neighbors......

My guess is about 3/4 of the residences are 2nd homes, but as time goes by I'm meeting the permanent folks at the southern 2 airparks, 1st Aero Squadron and Windsock Estates. Mugs who lives with her husband Mirs on the lot that borders my lot on the north side stopped by to visit. Still a pilot at 85, but only started flying 17 years ago when she met Mirs, who has an extensive flying history that includes helicopters. She has offered to introduce me to the owners of the Pink Store, an optometrist, and dentist in Palomas, Mexico, our border town. If I got the story right, Yvonne who is a US citizen met via Mugs, her Mexican National husband Sergio and 25 years ago they started The Pink Store. This store is the focal point of Palomas, and the pharmacies, dentist and optometrist are in the court yard. The only reason I haven't ventured into Palomas and the Pink Store is on my first crossing to satisfy the requirements of purchasing from the duty free store on the US side (you purchase your items, walk 200' to the border, then return via US Customs), agents reminded me that in the near future my driver's license won't be enough to prove US citizenship. Last Monday I applied for my Passport card and turned in my expired passport book.

A write up on the Pink Store. http://www.elpasoinc.com/lifestyle/loca ... b2370.html

The common denominators of the permanent residents I've met so far....

Love of flying and frugal, two things that aren't generally associated with each other.

Not liking city life. Columbus and Palomas suits the residents fine, when they need more it is Amazon dot com or the 29 mile drive to Deming, about the largest town they will tolerate. Needless to say Las Cruces and El Paso are the big cities to be avoided. Our over the air local TV comes from these two places, and that seems to be the only connection the residents will embrace. Also 92 miles to Las Cruces and 80 miles to El Paso, Texas is a mild deterrent.

I'm also enjoying this thread. Maybe there is a way I can get on an airpark after all. Thanks for all the details. NV, ID, WA, OR is where I'm looking.

Cathy

acroflyrgirl wrote:I'm also enjoying this thread. Maybe there is a way I can get on an airpark after all. Thanks for all the details. NV, ID, WA, OR is where I'm looking.

Cathy

Cathy,

I believe my neighbor Mary just joined this forum. She could shed more light on our airparks here in Columbus, New Mexico than I can, only being here for 5 weeks so far. I enjoy the high desert type of isolation, but may not be for everyone. The night sky is punctuated with more stars that are visible due to no local light pollution. In the eastern distance you can see the glow of El Paso at 75 miles distant.

Two days ago was the first rain/hail storm since I've been here. Lasted less than an hour, but left some puddles in the desert.

How is the heat down there so far?

motosix wrote:How is the heat down there so far?

From April 15 to present, hottest temp has been 92. Locals tell me our heat is much less than Phoenix or Tucson, we are 3000' higher.

This is a website I've used to research some of this stuff in the past. My wife and I are moving our "5-10 year plan" up to a "2-5 year plan" and we're in the middle of a heated debate about Aero/Ranch-Property or just Ranch Property Near an Airport... I know a lot of us have been through that discussion!

http://www.aviationacres.com/

At any rate, I've found a lot of cool places on the site all over the country, and it's geared towards pilots