Archive for the ‘Airport Spotlight’ Category

(UPDATE 5/15/2010) During the days leading up to this trip I had been working on my planned flight to London Ontario Canada for the Diamond Aircraft Factory tour with the Republic Flyers. I had even canceled this flight at one point so I could stay an additional day in Toronto.  Unfortunately due to a strong low to our north witch was bringing with it 40+ knot headwinds, low IFR conditions and embedded thunderstorms I had to scrap that flight (see flight to Canada not to be for more information).

The night before, a cold front came through which cleared the air of the thunderstorms but also brought with it stronger surface winds. As the flight neared it became obvious that I would have to contend with some wicked winds at least during our return trip, so the day before I called Ed and asked his comfort level with flying with his niece on a windy day. He assured me that she was a veteran flyer and bumps have never been an issue. I also knew that my son responds well to bumpy air (he falls asleep) hopefully he breaks this little habit before becoming a pilot himself.

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By Veronica Slaght
FOR THE STAR-LEDGER
Readington Township has spent more than $3 million since 2001 to gain control of about 700 acres of land surrounding and including Solberg Airport, documents show. The town wants to preserve the land as open space. But with little to show for the expense, some residents are saying: Enough. ”It’s out of control,” resident Bill Lewis said of the spending and ongoing court battle. Township administrator Vita Mekovetz said the $3 million went toward negotiations with the Solbergs, a bond ordinance, condemnation proceedings, an airport hazard zone ordinance and litigation. ”We’re generally very conservative with money,” said Mayor Julia Allen. “But we’re fighters, too.” Allen said the township is taking the land to preserve open space and to halt the sprawl that threatens to spread west on Route 22, just a couple miles north of the airport.

Solberg Airport is owned by the Solberg family and is just west of the Somerset County line in Hunterdon County. Read the rest of this entry »

My flying club 150th aero flying club had our annual picnic at Andover Aeroflex airport 12N on Saturday 6/12/2009. The weather was bad over most of the state so flying our planes up to the airport was out of the question, but I did get the chance to take some shots of the Piper Cubs making their trips around the pattern using my new Cannon HF s10. If you live in the area and would like to check them out follow this link to the Andover Flight Academy. Read the rest of this entry »

Steve Klaver/The Star-LedgerPaul Styger, owner of a Sussex Airport, in a 2002 photo.

NEWARK — The owner of a small airport in Sussex County pleaded guilty in federal court today to embezzling more than $375,000 from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Paul G. Styger, 87, who has owned Sussex Airport since 1953, told U.S. District Judge Jose Linares that he pocketed money intended for upgrading the runway, airfield and other facilities.

Under the terms of his guilty plea, Styger faces up to two years in prison based on federal sentencing Read the rest of this entry »

This trip has been postponed due to forecasted weather conditions for Sunday the 17th. Updates to follow. I am still looking for passengers.

For about the past year or so my pilot mentor Lou has been asking me when we could team up and fly to Kentmorr Air park 3w3. I plan on flying our Cessna 172sp, Lou and his wife Patty will fly in their cherished Cessna 170B. I just completed the SFRA training course on the faa safety website (required when flying within 60 NM of the DCA VORTAC).

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