I am bringing my new plane up in a few weeks and was wondering where the best places to base the plane are. I have only flown out in the bush mostly and IFR out of PANC but have done little VFR flying around ANC and I am unfamiliar with the different GA airports, tiedown prices, fuel prices, VFR procedures, MX availablity, etc. I live in midtown Anchorage so I am equal distance to Lake Hood Strip and Merrill. Any suggestions or advice would be much appreciated

Well there are other options such as Birchwood etc. but as to the difference between Merrill and Lake Hood...Merrill is owned and operated by the Muni of Anchorage where Lake Hood is a state airport, therefore the management and fee structure is different though similar.

As a data point: tail-in tiedown spot without electrical, quarterly, at Merrill is $165. At Lake Hood, $150.

Though I've never based at either I fly into both occasionally and don't really prefer one or the other, depends on my destination in town. Both have gravel strips if you have big tires. At Merrill you have to deal with a lot of students in the pattern. At Lake Hood there is all the seaplane traffic in the summer. Both have decent maintenance options but Lake Hood has more choices. Fuel is going to be within a couple of cents of each other, make sure you join the Alaska Airmen and get your self-serve fuel discount from ACE!

I just bought a plane and I tie down at Lake Hood, but it wasn't an easy decision. I am very low time (65 hours total) so Lake Hood gravel strip is kind of an awkward approach (Tudor Overpass to 31 just didn't feel right at first for me), but it came down to a couple factors.

Merrill Field is a lot more formal, a lot less homey feeling to me. I live in South-Midtown and I am actually closer to Merrill but getting there I always have to consider where to park when I take off. I also have to consider that there are approximately 3 million other guys parked in front, in back, along my left and right sides. I guess that could be a good thing, but it can also be a pain in the butt if the guy next to you hasn't seen his plane in 2 decades and the tie downs give out during a wind storm. The other side of that is that there isn't a lot of wind-deterrence tie downs it seems to me. And there are so many cocktail planes it disgusts me.

Over at Lake Hood on the other hand, there is constant activity at every inch of the place. In the summer there are float drivers and in the winter there are ski drivers. There are always airport police there hanging out and checking out the place. My tie down that I didn't even have to wait for or go out of my way to get is less than 200 feet from a very reputable shop. I have wind-blockage, electric, and a car parking space for 65 a month. If I ever want my neighbors to look over my plane if I am gone, they all fly very regularly. I can taxi right up to the runway without having to call tower because most of these guys are pro. There are like 14 restaurants within walking distance. Heidi Reuss is there if I ever need a good story or so remote operations training. Best of all, tie down to runway is like 2 minutes.

I took my wife, who is a student at Merrill and almost ready to solo, on a fun flight last night and she agrees that Lake Hood is just a lot more comfortable place to be after considering all the hassle at Merrill.

BTW - I love Birchwood, but I can't justify the cost of driving out there 3 times a week to fly.

There are like 14 restaurants within walking distance

Thread creep, but - Are these actually around the field as I sometimes spend time in ANC and the only one I've found is at the Millennium Hotel so wonder where the others are.

I park at Lake Hood and the decision is based on personal preference and convenience. I live in Midtown and Merrill would be closer but two factors drove me to chose Lake Hood. First, I have 5 friends who also park at Hood so I always have someone checking on my plane and I do the same for them. Second, it just fits me better. As mentioned above, Lake Hood taxiways are uncontrolled and, depending on where you park, it can be a very short taxi from tiedown to the runway. There can be a lot of traffic in the summer and you will really notice it as you approach Point Mackenzie inbound with 4 float planes and two other wheel planes. But, since you said much of your flying has been in "the bush" I suspect you will feel more at home at Lake Hood. It is a quick hop to Merrill when needed. Birchwood is a nice airport, but just too damn far unless you live in Chugiak or Eagle River.

Hmm...14 restaurants within walking distance...must be talking about Spenard.

Chris

907Pilot wrote:I just bought a plane and I tie down at Lake Hood, but it wasn't an easy decision. I am very low time (65 hours total) so Lake Hood gravel strip is kind of an awkward approach (Tudor Overpass to 31 just didn't feel right at first for me), but it came down to a couple factors.

. The other side of that is that there isn't a lot of wind-deterrence tie downs it seems to me. And there are so many cocktail planes it disgusts me.
BTW - I love Birchwood, but I can't justify the cost of driving out there 3 times a week to fly.

Ok, I give up............ What is a cocktail plane

Ben.

... its a plane that guys buy so when they are at cocktail parties they have something to talk about. Drive by Merrill and look at how many of those nose wheel planes sit with their tail on the ground all winter.

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tom

My Tcrate is still based at Merrill - a friend said she'd keep an eye on her and sweep her off, but I'm afraid she probably looks like a cocktail plane. This is an improvement from last winter, when she looked like a wingless derelict project...

I base at Merrill for a very simple reason: the plane was there when I bought her, and My IA is there, guiding me through the multiple years of restoration. It's a whole lot easier to run to his hangar and ask for advice when he's on the same airport. Not so applicable for you, I hope!

If I hadn't married out of state, I'd likely have moved her to Birchwood - it's usually a lot quieter, a little less expensive, and generally the friendly sort of place where you wave to people as they walk by, or stop and chat. It is more of a drive, though, and nowhere right nearby to eat.

Restaurants around Lake Hood - just go further north on Spenard, and you'll get to a Quizno's, a Village Inn for any time of night, Gwennies - which is what Denny's would be if it had Alaskana and great food - and some others I don't remember because I never stopped there. south on Spenard, it's too far to walk to get to the other restaurants, but there's sushi and some other stuff in that direction.

I just think that Lake Hood is a much better place to park than Merrill when I consider the tie down and its proximity to rough neighborhoods and its accessibility. Maybe I am way off base, but Merrill just seems like a total pain in the ass for everything except the actual flying in and out of. I would say to tie down out of each for a month if you can (maybe its a quarter is the minimum?) and see which one you like the most.

I decided to park it at Merrill. It was easier to get a plug in spot and the airport office was very helpful. Anybody know any good A&Ps at Merrill?

fracguy wrote:I decided to park it at Merrill. It was easier to get a plug in spot and the airport office was very helpful. Anybody know any good A&Ps at Merrill?

Ward's Aero, across from Transient Charlie and the airport office. Do a lot of Cessna stuff. They keep pretty busy, but Ward or Ron might be able to help you out if it's something small. Always had great work performed there. Ward's extended baggage mod is in my plane, among other things.

Not much of a sign on the street side. Go to Spernak's parking area, go through the open-air door where they stage cargo, and try the blue door on your right. If you don't see someone, holler or try on the apron outside.

I will confess. I have a tricycle gear Beech and a few of the shops at Merrill don't want to touch it unless it is a Cub. Does anyone know of any reputable shops at Merrill that would work on it? Just need a little mag work, check on high oil pressure, and a rotating beacon electrical issue (not the bulb).

Go talk to Mike Fullerton, chief pilot at Spernak's. He's my old roommate from Kotz and can steer you to the A&P's there at Merrill.

Gump

Dot_AK wrote:My Tcrate is still based at Merrill - a friend said she'd keep an eye on her and sweep her off, but I'm afraid she probably looks like a cocktail plane. This is an improvement from last winter, when she looked like a wingless derelict project...

I hope you're taking pictures as you progress. It's fun to see a wonderful old bird go from ramp rat to beautiful flier or, at least, flying again.