hotrod150 wrote:My buddy Jeff moved to the airpark at Independence last year & has been getting up to Lenhardt's some (most?) fridays. He flies a 150-horse taildragger Yankee and will be buying a second airplane (Pacer) for short-field work. If you bump into him there, introduce yourself-- he's a good guy, & very airplane savvy. Actually, there's nothing he doesn't know about airplanes (just ask him!!)

I will look for Jeff. It will be 2 weeks till I get home from Palm Desert/Phoenix

Good day

Indy is another great place to hang out, great EAA chapter 292 operates there (i'm a member but don't attend as often as I'd like). Great set of people and brains to learn from, plus great food on the field and affordable gas on the south end (newer tanks = cleaner/safer gas to me).

Independence has one of the best airport cafes ever. Ranks right up there with Flo's from Chino. Mulino has an excellent one also. Lots of options in the Williamette valley.

Additional Suggestions Kenny? Those are the two easiest access.... what else is there that's easy access? Cottage Grove, Pacific City, Eugene (until Flightcraft's new ownership decided to treat us lowly bush planes as rif-raf, they run out with their hand outscretched for cash now when you stop to kick your tires). Anyway Kenny what other good onfield options are in reach of valley pilots like us that I've missed? ~Brendan

The Chinese restaurant at the south end of Albany is good. I've heard there is one on the north end that is walking distance. Also, one that is walking distance on the west end of Hood River. I haven't been to those two. You can get airport cars at McMinnville, Lebanon, Newport and Scappoose to go into town. There is fast food walking distance from the Cottage Grove airport.

Lots of options.

Yea there is a parking area and mangate at the north end of the field - i don't know anyone that has the code, so block it upen , last time I went out it wasn't labeled with a code but the food is great on the north end too. Across the road at Cottage Grove is the resort place don't remember the name, they have real nice dinners with early bird specials.....

I'm would love to see more on field places - kinda like to see my plane ( and everyone elses ) from my seat

I'll see you up at 7S9 one of these days Kenny..... we've crossed paths but never got the chance to chat... ~Brendan

Looking forward to seeing you there.

Just a reminder for everyone:
The calm wind runway at Lenhardt's 7S9 is 02. Take-off and land to the North East. If the wind warrants it then use 20. A minimum half-mile final and departure before turns. Avoid overflying the school on the south end. (And any houses. The half-mile final takes care of that.) Simply stated, fly neighborly, no hot-dogging. It's an awesome place. Let's all work to keep it that way. Thanks.

Also note to others: PPC's and Trikes are pretty common at Lenhardts.... what are the ultralight guys doing up there these days? are they doing anything standard like 500ft patterns , or are they doing right traffic or who knows see and avoid? Thanks Kenny, -Brendan

crazedpilot wrote:Also note to others: PPC's and Trikes are pretty common at Lenhardts.... what are the ultralight guys doing up there these days? are they doing anything standard like 500ft patterns , or are they doing right traffic or who knows see and avoid? Thanks Kenny, -Brendan

Are there still Part 103 pilots there? I've gotten the impression most are converting to Sport Pilot and operating like Part 61 trained airmen. I've always found it stupid to define different patterns for ultralight aircraft, especially when the distinction is only ~200lb difference between a trike and a Kitfox.

There is Zane - I agree it's a smarter choice to go SP if you only want to fly small aircraft, but there's still under 254lb true-to-form ultralight PPC training operations there from time to time at Lenhardt and single place trikes in and out of there as well ; also 'Becks' about 1-2 miles to the southeast is almost exclusively ultralight and some sport pilot ops. BUT, most of the PPC guys are down by the time i'm awake anyway

200lb spread... well that depends on the trike or Kitfox I'd guess. Kitfox 5 thru 7 weight in at 800lbs empty now with a 912ULS as it's a newer big body design. About patterns on ultralights I totally agree with the exception of being in the pattern with a PPC whos cruise is 25, max speed 26, and flare is 24. I've seen a little of everything in the pattern at Lenhardts so I was curious if Kenny knew if there was any standard operations from those guys at all that would be helpful to us....

Everything that I have seen there is licensed. Also, the trikes and powered parachute folks that fly out of there are GREAT about being on the radio and announcing their positions/intentions. They fly their pattern on the opposite side from everyone else but it works because of their excellent communication.

Of the true part103 guys I've talked to out there they were all doing the opposite side but I wasn't sure if it was 'requested' or what. Thanks Kenny!

Brendan..and others:
Not quite in the Willamette valley but Bend (KBDN) has a nice resturant on field just above the FBO. Good excuse to sight-see over the mountians when the weather co-operates and usually doesn't take much longer to get to than mulino or Cottage grove.
Resturant changed hands back around thanksgiving 2011, and the menu is more traditional now than it was. Great little setting overlooking the tarmac, taxiways and runway, very similar to the flight-deck setting at Salem. Food was good, prices were fair, place was clean and the people were friendly. Nice little deck outside (second level) once the weather gets better. I dropped in and had lunch there 1.10.12 and plan on going back as weather permits. They are a couple miles out of town from Bend and most likely don't get much drop in automoble traffic and thus relying on us aviation people for their business. Give em a chance and make them a destination.
Also on field is a new/old FBO should a situation arise and you need some help. Gibson Air Service, second building south of the resturant. Shameless plug for the nephew who happens to work/CFII there, sorry.

doug

Thanks Doug... what other on field restaurants did we forget.... ohh Tillamook.... i think the Dalles closed their cafe permanently unfortuantely, it was good. Any on-fields on the Washington side?

The reason my buddy is buying a second airplane is that there's a little grass strip about every 10 miles in the Willamette Valley and he wants to get aquainted with them all. His yankee is great for sporty flying but isn't a short field airplane -- it takes off great but needs a bit more runway for landing than a lot of these strips offer. After he gets to know all the cool places to fly to down that way, I'm gonna come down (this summer probably) & do some exploring around.

This Friday looks really good. I hope to see some of you there.

Cheers...Rob

OregonMaule wrote:This Friday looks really good. I hope to see some of you there.

Cheers...Rob

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 49. Calm wind. Me and the Z man will be there.

Cheers

I'm in, you guys want to get an early start and hit a few local grass strips before donuts?

Terry wrote:I'm in, you guys want to get an early start and hit a few local grass strips before donuts?

I won't have time I have to take my daughter to school. By the time I get to the airport it will be 9 and I got to gas up. I could hit some after. I have to be back at Troutdale at 1PM.

Cheers

We could do some after if you want, a few around here maybe you haven't been to yet.
Morgan's, at Ballston is a possibility if it's in good shape? Sheridan is fun but wet, George is a good one, and houstons old strip is a good one, and maybe reds.