Livng at an Airport
My home Along the Kipiti Coast
Having spent time at a number of aviation FBOs, I knew the level of drabness that is inherent in aviation facilities. It’s some sort of law of aviation, one that I hope the Soaring Club of Houston is brave enough to break. Although it is monochromatic, the club house is not a bad place to spend time. It has the usual pictures of our loved ones- the gliders, and an assortment of stickers from other glider operations. The floor to ceiling windows and sliding glass door face the row of trailers, and further back up an incline, the runways are partially visible. Behind all of this looms the mountainous Kipiti Island. One can’t see the beach, but it is less than a mile away.
The clubhouse consists of a large open room with many chairs and an office area with a computer and internet service. Then there is a kitchen and bar. The beer and other offerings are stored in a locked room. After flying the bar is opened and usually a few people stay to have a beer or two. There are men’s and women’s restrooms but the only shower is in the Small house the summer instructor uses. Water is from a rain collection system and is heated on an as-needed basis. That means water has to be hauled in for drinking.
The club has not modernized because the airport is planning to turn over this section to home developers. Yes, it’s the same sad story; airports bow to the pressures of commercial interests. So far the club doesn’t know what it will do when that happens. They have another landing strip on the other side of the mountain range to the east of the current location. I traveled over there to collect the other new DG 1000 the club bought. There are several gliderports on this dry flat farmland, and its looks like a much better location for cross country. The disadvantage of this location is the club will lose the easy money of giving rides to those who vacation at the beach.
As a pilot who loves to go cross country, the current location is a very bad choice. There is ridge lift and even wave off the small island west of us. However, it takes long wings to get across the very rugged mountains. No roads and no inhabitants exist on the steep mountains. Along the range, the lift can be good, but even a small change in the angle of the lift can end the day. Strong winds are always a possibility. As I write, the average wind speed is 28 kts. (which is why I am writing and not launching gliders.)There are no large fields. Most padocks are either filled with sheep or deer. Venison is a popular export item. (I was afraid I’d have to eat a lot of lamb. No need to worry. A leg of lamb is about $45.
Since this is an active, multiuse airport, there is always something to see.There is helicopter training going on all day. Although I usually find helicopter operations interesting, the fact that they continually intrude on the grass runway we use is rather disturbing. They like to lurk just above the ground and hover close to our hangers or the red checkers painted operational caravan. Then, when one least expects it, they move onto the runway and zoom off.
I was first introduced to the Caravan that is my home when I flew there via Google Earth. I was well prepared for the petite size of housing a caravan represents. My little home is brown inside with shades that have rotted out. The shades don’t go up or down. Rather they curl up at the spots where they have torn in long irregular rips. Privacy is not part of the scheme of things, but I always am awake early with the sun. There is a sink but no water. I purchased a lamp so I can have the convenience of electric illumination. I also purchased a clock radio. Another step closer to 5 star standards. It never is too hot to sleep at night, and only occasionally has it been so cold that I needed my ski hat. Last night the winds from the cyclone reached 50Kts here – 130kts was reported in other areas. The trailer shock, but remained stationary. So far so good.
