Cheers!
In the course of recent correspondence, the following evolved from my
relating the landing fees here which tend to kill small aircraft travel
and glorify the snatching of filthy lucre from unwary honest folk:
"On infinite ratios of take-offs to landings:
I explored your line of thought at Edinburgh here (where they are
getting too big for their GA). Unfortunately they have a solution - on
arrival at the gate with your trailer they ask "and who is your handling
agent ?" . These cost around 65 per visit, as I found to my cost when
diverting to Glasgow recently, an airport with similar pretensions (-((
. nil desperandum ill... etc"
You may recognize the complainant but not from me.....
The great thing about the U.S. is that there is a large number of
"mum-and-pop" airfields where your arrival is noted with friendliness
and assistance. The notable standard is that if you buy fuel, and intend
to either eat in town or stay overnight locally, the airport 'jalopy' is
yours. This is unspoken appreciation of your spending money in the area,
and using local facilities.
The 'jalopy' can vary from a Cadillac three accidents in length and one
battleship in width, to a Ford two-door with the radiatorm emplem
missing. It is normal for the visitting driver to see when the tank is
getting low, and to fill it as a gesture of goodwill to the next
visitor, and a thank-you for the loan.
Not a bad trade, eh? Usually clear of the BIG zone, the local notel is
clean, simple and not too far from either the famous eatery in the
district, or a simple dinner counter. And the price is also attractive.
Having crisscrossed about thirty-five states in a Stearman, and savoured
the life, I can heartily recommend it. Another diversion is to buzz the
main street, and head for the field. By the time you're in the downwind,
there's a dustcloud of bicycles and flivvers leaving the town for the
field. It's not long before the plane is surrounded with little boys
(and girls) asking asll sorts of technical questions beyond the author's
ken. In fifteen minutes the first of a halfdozen kids are airborne for
a quick circuit, and your name is legoin in town. Get stuck in bad
weather for a day, and the moon is yours.
That's another reason why I'm building my Europa.......
Happy landings!
Ferg #A064
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