Backcountry Pilot • Experiences with tent camping at GA airports?

Experiences with tent camping at GA airports?

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Re: Experiences with tent camping at GA airports?

I wonder if shortfielder data base could handle camping info at GA airport.

Better idea. Go to ourairports.com and leave a comment with subject "camping" for the airports that you know are good for it. I just did that for Montague (1O5). Check it out. http://ourairports.com/airports/K1O5/#l ... rport=K1O5

Tim

PS. Is there a rule against promoting somebody else's web site. If there is maybe a special dispensation from the grand lizard.

Tim
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Re: Experiences with tent camping at GA airports?

Aside from pitching a tent.....

If one were to just sleep inside the plane, would that generally avoid issues,especially with law enforcement officers, etc. ?? Just wondering what folks have experienced by sleeping inside their aircraft. I suppose in cold weather the windows would frost up.

Interesting thread here, especially for folks who are debating say building a Bearhawk 4 place or a tandem Bearhawk Patrol. I have never considered the potential "sleepability factor " for an aircraft. :D
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Re: Experiences with tent camping at GA airports?

Denali wrote:Aside from pitching a tent.....

If one were to just sleep inside the plane, would that generally avoid issues,especially with law enforcement officers, etc. ?? Just wondering what folks have experienced by sleeping inside their aircraft. I suppose in cold weather the windows would frost up.

Interesting thread here, especially for folks who are debating say building a Bearhawk 4 place or a tandem Bearhawk Patrol. I have never considered the potential "sleepability factor " for an aircraft. :D


Yeah... try that in a C-172.
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Re: Experiences with tent camping at GA airports?

If the rear bench seat is removed, for flying, in a 172... Just pop the two front seats and leave them outside. I tested it in my hangar and it seemed to be enough room to sleep.

Side note; I used to fly to Molokai with an 8 foot surfboard in my Aztec.
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Re: Experiences with tent camping at GA airports?

I've never had anyone tell my I couldn't camp at an airport. The degree to which I have been welcomed to do so varies wildly however.
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Re: Experiences with tent camping at GA airports?

flyingzebra wrote:AOPA used to have an entry for each airport in their airport directory for if that airport allowed camping. Haven't looked in a few years though.
Where to?


I think their data still occasionally mention if camping is allowed. My experience, however, is that often you see it says it's allowed but when you call they say "no".

It would be nice to have a data base of camping friendly airports.
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Re: Experiences with tent camping at GA airports?

Well... since ye asked... ye shall receive. And... I just remembered this site exists. I was a member of American Air Campers before they were sold to the Pilot Getaways folks.

http://aaca.pilotgetaways.com/amair/map-search.php
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Re: Experiences with tent camping at GA airports?

My 172 works great for sleeping for my wife and I. I have the back seats removed and it takes about 10 minutes to remove the front seats and put them under the plane, flip down the foamy and ready to go and sleep with our heads towards the firewall. At certain times the windows can get fogged up on the inside.
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Re: Experiences with tent camping at GA airports?

Denali wrote:Aside from pitching a tent.....

If one were to just sleep inside the plane, would that generally avoid issues,especially with law enforcement officers, etc. ?? Just wondering what folks have experienced by sleeping inside their aircraft. I suppose in cold weather the windows would frost up.

Interesting thread here, especially for folks who are debating say building a Bearhawk 4 place or a tandem Bearhawk Patrol. I have never considered the potential "sleepability factor " for an aircraft. :D


I slept in my super cub, on the way to sun n fun. It doesn't have a removable cross bar. Kind of a pain but doable. One other thing is I now carry a sleeping bag. Even though it was 70 during the day, it got cold at night. Now I keep my tent in the plane too if I go on any sort of trip.
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Re: Experiences with tent camping at GA airports?

Smaller airports for sure, my old 56 172 always had the rear seat out. Then quickly removing the right front seat,putting it under plane, I could lay down with head to rear. But, my 180 is angled the wrong way, head would be too low. My Super Champ has to be a light weight cot under wing, or small free standing tent so no need to drive any stakes into asphalt if no grass near by.. But, keep weight in it or tie off to plane or wind will take it. No showers,......Baby Wipes are Gold.........
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Re: Experiences with tent camping at GA airports?

I think we should make the difference between camping and overnighting.
Having to spend the night due to weather, darkness or fatigue is quite different from setting up for three or four days while visiting the area. and no LEO is going to send you back in the air in adverse conditions.
Never been even questioned in Canada US Mexico and South America over the years. As a matter of fact when travelling with the camper we often pull into the local airport if there is no campsite or Walmart in sight.
At Pincher Creek CZPC last year while travelling on my Dual Sport bike the A&P put me up in his camping trailer on the field instead of setting up my tent.
I also had numerous offers to use hangars and occasionally taken to a pilot's home for diner and accommodation.

On the other side of the coin, my strip is always open to transiting pilots and we have been entertained by some great pilot talk.
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Re: Experiences with tent camping at GA airports?

Beamer pilot wrote:I think we should make the difference between camping and overnighting.
Having to spend the night due to weather, darkness or fatigue is quite different from setting up for three or four days while visiting the area. and no LEO is going to send you back in the air in adverse conditions.
Never been even questioned in Canada US Mexico and South America over the years. As a matter of fact when travelling with the camper we often pull into the local airport if there is no campsite or Walmart in sight.
At Pincher Creek CZPC last year while travelling on my Dual Sport bike the A&P put me up in his camping trailer on the field instead of setting up my tent.
I also had numerous offers to use hangars and occasionally taken to a pilot's home for diner and accommodation.

On the other side of the coin, my strip is always open to transiting pilots and we have been entertained by some great pilot talk.


Sent you a PM Beamer
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Re: Experiences with tent camping at GA airports?

PM back to you A1
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Re: Experiences with tent camping at GA airports?

I checked the PilotGetaways map. Nice resource - will bookmark this one! I noticed it does not include Huntington, Utah (69V) which has excellent camping facilities and is really GA friendly.

Airnav.com is another great resource.
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