Live in California and like backcountry flying? Looking for somewhere to fly to practice your mountain flying skills, camp out, and enjoy the camaraderie of other like-minded pilots? Then please read on… I’ve been working with the owner of an incredibly beautiful piece of land in the southern Sierra Nevada’s to build an airstrip on his private land for our recreational use. Now, I’m looking for a committed group of guys to help contribute to the development of the strip in return for a lifetime of use and enjoyment of what will be possibly thee premier backcountry mountain strip of lower half of the range.

WHO: I’d like to put together a group of approximately 10 partners to do this with. Two of them will be myself and the local airport manager, so I need 8 more guys. Some of you may have no material skills to bring to the table and some of you may have a lot -both are welcome! We could definitely use some guys who know about building/grading/culverts, etc to get the strip constructed. And if any of you know about irrigation/landscaping, there’s enough springs on the property to really grass this thing in and make it even nicer! There may be some additional need for some carpentry skills if we decide to build a small campground/outhouse/etc…

WHAT: Grade/developer an approximately 2700’+ airstrip. Slight grade, still allowing for an approach from either direction but favoring landing uphill and taking off downhill. Fun but not-overly-difficult approach around some surrounding hilltops. INCREDIBLE granite peak vistas surrounding the area. Fly-in access and camping will be allowed adjacent to the strip for your plane and pax. Additional planes will be allowed at the discretionary permission of the airstrip owner or the airstrip manager (the manager will very likely be one of us 10 guys).

WHERE: High in the southern Sierra Nevada’s, north of the Kern Valley airport (L05) about a 15 minute flight (exact location given to those interested in committing to the project). 5000+’ MSL. Within a short hiking distance of some natural rock waterslides, some amazing waterfalls, and the majestic Kern River!

WHEN: Looking to have our first official meeting by the end of September. We’ll meet in the morning at Kern Valley airport where we’ll discuss the project, then do a mid-morning fly-over, eat killer good burgers at the airport for lunch, and that afternoon drive up to and walk the property. Whether or not we can start strip construction before the winter snows hit will be determined by the outcome of that meeting.

HOW: Looking to get each of the 10 guys to contribute likely about $1000 a piece (exact amount determined at the 1st meeting after land evaluation). With that, we’ll be able to raise enough funds to purchase bulldozer fuel (we might already have someone willing to donate their dozer time), some culverts needed, etc. This agreement will likely be ratified through a simple Joint Venture agreement expressing our contributing participation in the project and the fly-in use benefits gained from that participation.

WHY: BECAUSE IT’S FUN! The landowner is not a pilot but is a great all-American guy and veteran and sees the benefit of having alternate access in and out of the property (especially in light of all the fires lately!) and additionally likes having good people around -the kind of people backcountry aviators generally are! For us, we get to fly our friends and family in and out of one of the most beautiful mountain valleys in Southern California, hone our backcountry flying skills, and enjoy the comradery of like-minded aviators! In the future, I’d like to look at hosting our own Southern California backcountry fly-in and camp-out there too!

If this sounds interesting to you, please don’t hesitate to email me at [email protected]. Thanks!

That sounds fun!! I'm excited to see how this goes. I can't contribute cause I have no time/$$ and live in WA. Kevin might like this!

Great idea and find, I sent you an email.

Interested, Pm sent.

Another interested party. E-mail sent.

Hawk

Are you referring to the old Sacatar airport?

No, this is raw ground.... Where was the old Sacatar airport?

Rwy37 wrote:No, this is raw ground.... Where was the old Sacatar airport?

Sacatar Meadows is still on the sectional, 91CL, it's 26 miles northeast of Kern Valley.

Sounds like a great idea!
E-mail sent.

MCH