Grass Runway search From MO to PA

[Bob Enos]

I'll be flying an antique tailwheel airplane from northern Missouri almost due east to southwest Pennsylvania next month and I'd like to refuel at all grass fields on the way. Anyone know of Turf runways at airports with fuel that might make an interesting stop? The trip will be over Bloomington IL, south of Peoria, over LaFayette, north of Muncie, north of Columbus and south of Pittsburgh but i will go out of my way to see great stuff. Thanks

[Bill Greenwood]

If you are an AOPA member as I hope all of us are as well as EAA, there is an airport guide available each year from them.
It shows all the larger public use airports in the state, and you can see what size each runway is and what is is made of. It may not list small private fields.
Our FBO like many others has one copy for public use, not to be taken off.

But Airguide sells their Flight Guide, at $35 for each area,( I have seen it discounted by half) and it shows almost all airports, even smaller ones, and shows which are grass runways.
And it use to be a small book, easy to carry in the front seat of most planes or in a map pocket of a flight suit, but now it is 81/2" by 5" so not much portable anymore.
Sadly what used to be 3 areas that cover the whole country is not 6 areas so in effect a 100% price increase for the same coverage.

Columbia, Lexington, Creve Coeur, etc. have grass, as does Greenville.

[OldGunbunny]

If you are an AOPA member as I hope all of us are as well as EAA, they send you an airport guide each year as part of the membership.

Well, no they don't. They ended that perk 10 or so years ago. You can purchase one from AOPA for about $20 ~ $25.

[Mike Switzer]

2K0 - Piatt County has cheap fuel. The runway is "non-standard" - there is a hill in the middle. As long as the winds allow it land on 36, touchdown where the grass is worn at the top of the hill. Take off on 18. (some of the locals complain if you make noise to the north & west of the airport) You might want to call ahead for fuel, the locals know the combination, but you won't. The airport manager lives just down the road.

[wacoc8]

6G4 - Wynkoop Field, Mount Vernon, OH just northeast of Columbus. Home of the National Waco Club Fly-in, which is June 27-30 this year. Beautiful grass strip, cheap gas, and the owner, Brian Wynkoop would love for you to stop and see him. One of the few airports left that is stuck in the 1950's.

[Bill Greenwood]

I receive my AOPA airport directory each year from AOPA and I don't order it or as far as I know, pay extra. It has been this way for me for as long as I remember.
I guess it is possible that the directory charge is part of my auto renewal, and I am not seeing it. Anyway, I use AOPA and that directory a lot and think it alone is worth most the the membership price.

[BTBFlyboy]

I'll be flying an antique tailwheel airplane from northern Missouri almost due east to southwest Pennsylvania next month and I'd like to refuel at all grass fields on the way. Anyone know of Turf runways at airports with fuel that might make an interesting stop? The trip will be over Bloomington IL, south of Peoria, over LaFayette, north of Muncie, north of Columbus and south of Pittsburgh but i will go out of my way to see great stuff. Thanks

Bob, The airplane wouldn't happen to be a green & cream Aeronca would it ???

[OldGunbunny]

I receive my AOPA airport directory each year from AOPA and I don't order it or as far as I know, pay extra. It has been this way for me for as long as I remember.
I guess it is possible that the directory charge is part of my auto renewal, and I am not seeing it. Anyway, I use AOPA and that directory a lot and think it alone is worth most the the membership price.

Direct from aopa.org -> trip. The directory costs $19.95 for AOPA members

[Bob Enos]

Yes it is a beautiful green and cream stick Chief... How'd you know? These are all great ideas! I'll need about 5 stops on the way and if I can pull off the timing, it looks like I'll get to see some Waco's on the way.

[Bill Greenwood]

"Old gun bunny" , well if you are correct, ( I don't order or join on the website, I used the phone ) then one can save the $45 by not joining AOPA in the first place, plus the $19.95 for the directory.
I joined them in 1980 shortly after I became a pilot so all the 33 years may run together in my memory which may not be as sharp for small details as it was.

And one will have a lot more money for other things like old guns.

So who is right about the AOPA directory? Well, in a way we both are. I phoned AOPA and they say they discontinued the directory being included in the price 2 years ago, not 10 years. I know I have a 2009-2010 on my shelf and one in my plane that may be a year newer.
However, I also buy the enhanced service legal plan,which I have needed to use once, and when I renewed my membership today I got the directory included without an extra charge for it. They are shipping next week for anyone who is interested.

[Bob Enos]

Any more suggestions? I thought about Middletown Ohio, isn't this the home of Aeronca?

[Glenn Gordon]

Attached is a PDF of grass runways with fuel service.

-Glenn

[OldGunbunny]

Thank you. That's a great addition to my flight bag.

[Bob Enos]

Thanks Glenn, That's exactly what I was looking for!

[Jim Hann]

I'd call ahead, the list looks like it is a couple years old.

[EDGEFLY]

Bob,
Check These out: 62PA, 07N, 08N, P15 and N38. They are all 2200' or more and all have fuel except 62PA but your only mins from it. The strip in Wellsboro is at pilots risk but parallels the main hardtop surface and has been in use this year. It is virtually on the rim of the PA Grand Canyon. At N38, I can assist with ground transport if you give me lead time.

I would avoid the AOPA sources because it has been my experience that they are not interested if your not flying something big ($$$$). Have a safe flight and report your experience for the benefit of the rest of us.

[VanDervort]

40i, 6g4, 2d1

[OldGunbunny]

So who is right about the AOPA directory?

You're right, Bill - looks like we both were. I was unhappy when they offered to sell me one for $19.95 but said I could join the wine club for free. Not exactly what I expected from AOPA.

[rawheels]

I'd call ahead, the list looks like it is a couple years old.

Good suggestion. Call when planning, and then again before you head out. I've used this packet a couple of times to plan long flights, and on the way to Oshkosh last year I arrived at one of the fields (3KK) to find out that they had run out of fuel a few days before and had no plans to refill any time soon.

This document used to be available on the front page of the Vintage Aircraft Assoc website. I can't find it anymore. Are people just keeping a hard copy, or is it in a member's only section now?

[Diana]

8I3 was one of the friendliest grass strips I stopped at on my grass strip tour.
AAA is also near your route, and has asphalt and turf.

[Diana]

Another airport in IL near your route with turf and asphalt is MQB.

[Bob Enos]

8I3 was one of the friendliest grass strips I stopped at on my grass strip tour.
AAA is also near your route, and has asphalt and turf.


Diana, tell us more about the grass strip tour?

[Diana]

Diana, tell us more about the grass strip tour?

One summer day while mowing our runways on the old John Deere, I decided to fly around the country (east of the Rockies), exploring grass strips. Grass airfields offer the kind of like-minded people and a lifestyle that I can identify with/enjoy the most. Posting on various aviation forums, like this one, was a way to tap the knowledge of fellow aviators. Finding grass strips that also had fuel was the biggest challenge.

On my first solo grass strip tour I spent a month flying around, sometimes staying with folks on their farms, once stayed at a little cabin, once slept in a barn. EAA invited me to give a forum presentation about my tour, which I did in 2008. Competing with the Raptor was a challenge. :D

Since then I have gone on shorter grass strip trips, and plan to do more this fall. I would be glad to share the links to other forums where I received helpful input from other pilots.

Bob, where are you located in Missouri?

[jethikinggypsy]

These might help in your search:
http://aaca.pilotgetaways.com/amair/map-search.php
http://www.shortfield.com/
www.adventurepilot.com (http://www.adventurepilot.com)

[Rick Rademacher]

Land at Grimes Field (I74) Urbana, Ohio and use our 3,000 X 100 ft. north/south grass runway just west of 20/02. For some strange reason, it isn't listed on most charts except the Ohio Airport listing book. We have the Airport Café on the field plus the http://champaignaviationmuseum.org/ and http://aviationheritagearea.org/location/historic-grimes-field/grimes-flying-lab-foundation/. And, Waco field in Troy is a short hop to see and visit! Everything is closed on Mondays and early on Sunday.

[Bob Enos]

These are all great suggestions, some of these are close enough to home for a nice cross country trip. looking forward to some camping expeditions as well, which I wasn't even aware of prior to this posting. (thanks Jethiker) Looks like an unsettled NorthEast for the next week so I doubt I will try the trip early next week but instead possibly over the 4th. What a great way to spend the Holiday! Still looking for turf strips at airports with paved runways, seems that these are the hardest to find because the paved runway gets all the glory. Thanks again for all the replies and keep the suggestions coming.

[Rick Rademacher]

Your are invited to stop at Grimes Field (I74) on the 4th of July to eat for you FREE Urbana Rotary Club(I sell the tickets) barbecue chicken starting after 4 P.M. and then watch the fireworks all at the airport.

[Bob Enos]

Thanks Rick, We may take you up on that if it works out. I do have I74 on my stop list but not sure which day. Possibly driving out on the 4th and flying back through on the 6th or so... It's all still up in the air.

[Joe LaMantia]

Well Rick beat me to the punch! I74 is a must stop on your way out of Indiana, even if you've had lunch save room for pie and coffee! Waco Field is also kool and if your heading south a bit check out Stewart Field (40I) in Waynesville the best taildragger school in Ohio...Cubs, Champs, a Citabria, and a Stearman, just a bit SE of Dayton!

Joe
:cool: