Seems like I just got here and I haven't been granted a single summer. This morning my wife and I received instructions that we'll move to the DC area by the 1st of September. Prior to that I'll have to Attend a course for 10 weeks in VA . Damn Army didn't allow me a single summer on this tour to Alaska.

Anyone have the scoop on airports, hangars, general area around Belvoir? Guess I won't be needing the 8.50s that I'm learning to fly now. Damn

Brett

Of course you will. When you come back.

Troy, king salmon is on my short list for fly-through destinations this spring. Missed you in Kansas City a couple years ago. Hope I don't miss you again.

Brett

Just let me know. Would be fun to connect.

Ft Belvoir is deep in the heart of the SFRA surrounding the DC area. Getting in and out of the SFRA is a minor inconvenience. The best place to base your plane depends on where you'll actually live. If you're in Virginia, I'd suggest Stafford (KRMN) or Shannon (KEZF). I used to be partners in a 182 at Stafford and it is a nice airport, but there's lots of pavement there. Hangars will be a big problem in close. If you keep your 8.5s, there is a small, private grass strip right on the edge of the SFRA. VG-57 is owned by a fellow I met while back there and he has a special squawk code that let's him fly in and out without filing an SFRA flight plan. He had some ratty wooden hangars that he was thinking of fixing up, but he hadn't gotten around to it when I was still there. Send me a PM and I'll give you his contact information. He owns a J3 and a Beach Staggerwing (he keeps the Staggerwing at Culpepper, KCJR).

Hangars at the airports near DC will run you $450 - $550 per month, if you can find one. There is a 3-5 year wait list at most of them, but sub-let options pop up from time to time. Some of the airports have condo hangars and those are your best chance for a sublet. I hangared all the way out in West Virginia at Cedar Meadows airpark. It isn't on the charts, but one of the home owners there has a massive hangar I rented space in for my Maule. That was only $200/month. I don't know what the owner of VG-57 will charge if he has the ratty wooden hangars fixed up.

Dang!

I'll be down in AL by then. But maybe we can meet up somewhere in the middle for a camping weekend after y'all get settled.

Sucks about having to leave AK, but I'm sure we'll all get back up there again

UH-60andC-180 wrote:Seems like I just got here and I haven't been granted a single summer. This morning my wife and I received instructions that we'll move to the DC area by the 1st of September. Prior to that I'll have to Attend a course for 10 weeks in VA . Damn Army didn't allow me a single summer on this tour to Alaska.

Anyone have the scoop on airports, hangars, general area around Belvoir? Guess I won't be needing the 8.50s that I'm learning to fly now. Damn

Brett

Man, that sucks! I have a buddy that keeps his Nanchang CJ-6 at Warrenton (KHWY), just SW of DC near the edge of the SFRA (pronounced, "siffra"). There is an FAA online training course you can do in about 30 minutes that qualifies you to fly in the SFRA, it's really easy and you can go back and review it whenever you need to. You get a little certificate at the end.

I can check with him if you think that wouldn't be too far from you.

Based on your screen name, I doubt the SFRA and FRZ will be that much of a hassle for you. Like Flyhound says, where you go will really depend on where you live.

Don't underestimate the DC traffic. And by that, I mean by car. Stafford might look great, and it's just a short drive down 95, right? Not if you want to head out there after work from anywhere North. Make an honest assessment on how often and when (day of the week/time of day) you'll fly and that will help drive you to your new home...maybe traffic won't be an issue for you.

Take a look at Potomac, it's inside the FRZ, but pretty easy to get to (both by land and air), though I don't know if he has any hangars available...there's always plenty of room to park on the grass.

Flyhound wrote:
Ft Belvoir is deep in the heart of the SFRA surrounding the DC area. Getting in and out of the SFRA is a minor inconvenience. The best place to base your plane depends on where you'll actually live. If you're in Virginia, I'd suggest Stafford (KRMN) or Shannon (KEZF).

Amen to that Flyhound ! I live just barely outdide the SFRA perimeter, and Northern VA is horrible for flying and road travel. One thing about KRMN is the traffic out of Belvoir ( located roughly in Alexandria VA) onto Route 1 to get to Fredericksburg, VA. It is a mangle of solid metal. Whether you drive via Interstate 95 South or Rte 1 South either way you end up in a traffic mangle, unless it is say 2 AM.

One thing you might honestly consider is Frederick, Maryland (FDK) It is outside the SFRA, accessible via a series of toll roads ( Washington Beltway Express Toll Lanes to Dulles Toll Road to Dulles Greenway Toll Road and then north to Frederick, MD. In Northen, VA area travel time and traffic congestion are often more importangt factors than the actual distances. A friend has a PA28 there and in one of their “less deluxe” hangars he pays I think about 250-300 ? AOPA central office is right there at the field if that helps. Here is the SFRA:



As Flyhound said:

If you keep your 8.5s, there is a small, private grass strip right on the edge of the SFRA. VG-57 is owned by a fellow I met while back there and he has a special squawk code that let's him fly in and out without filing an SFRA flight plan.

If you can score on a hangar access on a private airfield say in nearby Loudoun, Fauquire or Prince William County, that might be the ticket.

Here are some pics of the joys which await you around Belvoir.






Compare that to the live traffic webcam for the Seward Highway here :

http://www.borealisbroadband.net/vid-searsmall1.htm

Good luck with your move, and bring a batch of that Copper River Salmon with you

Try reaching out to Bob Breeden, he flys out of the private Warrenton 7vg0 he would probably know who to talk to in that area. If you decide to go as far north as FDK I know some small grass strips in that area that might have room.

Be sure to check out the Fayetteville, WV Fly-in on the first weekend of October before to lose those 8.50's. It replaces the Ohio Bush Planes shin-dig. Lot of flying into fun little grass strips, followed by a week long trip ("scenic route") to the Wentworth Aerodrome (WAD) Fly-in the following weekend in NH. ...not exactly northern VA, but a 180 can cover the ground with ease and will get you in contact with the community out here that considers 8.50's small. I hope to make it this year from NH. Info will be found on Supercub.org.

Kestrel,

Thank you for the heads up. I'll look it up over there. We'd certainly like to meet some folks in that part of the country.

Brett

All,

Thank you very much for the replies. That got me started down the road of discovery. I'm on the waitlist at Potomac and Washington Executive. Sounds like Potomac is going to work out. We certainly won't know until this summer, but expect to live on Belvoir based on the turnover. This is fine as my wife will most likely work on post also. That leaves me an evening drive into Alexandria for kids hockey practices and the [hopefully] against the grain evening or weekend drive to the airplane.

I took the training for the SFRA and FRZ. Passed with the minimum score, same as my pilot's license. Boom! All that's left is the fingerprints and request through the FSDO.

Also secured an old Hangar at Hampton Roads Executive outside Norfolk while I attend a course there from late June to late August. The plan is to relocate the plan to a beautiful and much less populated camping spot each weekend from there.

Looking forward to connecting with some of you Northeasterners. Also busy planning the return route to the states. Haven't decided yet if we'll go the highway or stay North and Northeast of that to see some different sites.

More to follow as the time gets closer. At least I won't be in so much of a hurry this time. Might even be able to finish the trip report and take some photos.

Brett

My brother Kevin is a test pilot there and keeps my dad's PA28 in the area during the winter. He has been there a few years and should know where a good spot to keep your plane near by. Let me know if you want his number.

Jake