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This website is dedicated to those aviators eager to enhance the safety of flight, improve their skill levels, and who are moving up through their ratings. Robert J. Miller, CFII |
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Favorite Fly-In Destinations |
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Listed below are recommended airport destinations having restaurants either on the field within a few minutes walk. Each destination was contributed by a member of our local aviation listserv. Please feel free to contact the contributor for more information via the email address listed at the end of each description. Note: Distances and bearings listed for each airport are from KBUF. Please email your favorite airport destinations to rjma@rjma.com for inclusion in this list. Remember . . . include only those airports with on-field or nearby restaurants. Simply include the name of the airport and a brief description. We will look up the identifiers and will compute the distances and bearings. To learn more each airport listed below, click on HERE and enter 3 letter airport identifier. For instrument approach plates for each airport listed below, HERE and enter ICAO airport identifier. |
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New
York
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East
Hampton, Long Island (ETO) - 321 miles/121 degrees:
Want to frolic on the beach with the rich and
famous, this is the place to go. Located near the eastern tip of
Long Island, the East Hampton Airport is a 10 minute cab ride from either
a beautiful public beach or the quaint little village that serves this
very affluent summer retreat for the Hollywood set. Billy Joel and
Harrison Ford, among others, have summer residences there. Bring
along life jackets as NY Approach descends you down to 3,000 feet for the
15 mile crossing of Long Island Sound that separates Long Island
from the mainland. Contributor: Bob Miller rjma@rjma.com
Dart Field (D79) near the western edge of Lake Chautauqua. This makes a nice Sunday lunch flight. Again the FBO serves very inexpensive food with picnic tables outside the door. On Sundays the locals have a flea market on the field. There are also two active soaring schools operating out of the FBO so you can watch sail planes taking off and landing as you eat. Also the cross runway is usually busy with RC powered planes and sail planes. There is also an aviation museum at the FBO which is fun to tour. And walking around the hangers is fun as there are lots off vintage planes maintained at the field. Though the grass runway is short I have easily gotten my 210 in and out of the field. Be careful as there is lots of non radio equipped planes flying in the area. Contributor: Gordy Kent smile@adelphia.net Penn Yan (PEO) Set your course to Penn Yan Airport (KPEO), land and park at the west end of Runway 28 (near the Penn Yan Engine shop hangars), walk west toward the lake, then follow the road down the hill just one-half mile towards town. You'll come upon Sarrasin's On the Lake Restaurant on the left [click HERE to visit their website]. The food is great, the view from the dining deck is spectacular, especially at sunset. You can also take a dinner or moonlight cruise down the lake if you like. They even have a sandy beach in a public park setting next to the restaurant. Bring the kids and spread a blanket (or leave the kids at home and spread the blanket!) Guys, listen to me on this one . . . if you want to have that other person in your life to become fond of flying, you have to transport them to worthwhile destinations. This is one! Contributor: Bob Miller rjma@rjma.com |
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Massachusetts
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Katana
Airport (1B2) on Martha's Vineyard - 373 miles/112 degrees: This airport has three runways
but they are all grass! It is a perfect summertime getaway from buffalo.
It can be easily done in one day in a 172 or warrior. There is a lovely
outdoor cafe right at the FBO. Then after eating you can taxi your plane
to a tie down area at the opposite end of the field. The beach is just across a little brook.
You can spend the day at the beach and while you are lying on the sand
see your airplane tied down just a few steps away. As to staying here
over night , I would not recommend it. The nearest town is a cab ride
away and the lodging and food is ridiculously expensive. But it is a
perfect day beach trip. Contributor: Gordy Kent smile@adelphia.net
Nantucket Island (ACK) - 400 miles/112 degrees: You can beat the ambiance of this romantic island just off shore of Cape Cod. A quick taxi takes you into town where you can rent motor bikes or peddle to some of the most picturesque villages and seascapes in the world. A great weekend getaway site. You can make it a one day adventure in a fast single. Contributor: Bob Miller rjma@rjma.com |
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New
Jersey
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Teterboro
Airport (TEB) - 243 miles/130 degrees:
Just 30 minutes from mid-town Manhattan, this
is the airport of choice for New York City. Atlantic Aviation is the
best of the five FBOs for general aviation. Call ahead while enroute
and Atlantic Aviation will have a taxi or limo standing by to run you into
the City. Taxi is about $65 each way. Limo is about $90.
You can also walk about 1/2 mile to the Jersey Transit bus stop and take
an air conditioned bus (actually a motor coach) into mid town for less
than $4.00 each way. The bus runs every 20 minutes. The bus is
the fastest way into the City during rush hour because it can ride along
the HOV (high occupancy vehicle) lanes. Don't worry . . . the bus is
very safe! Flying W (N14) in South Jersey - 253 miles/145 degrees: About an hour and one half away, this airport makes a nice weekend getaway. There is a white table cloth restaurant right at the FBO that serves delicious food and is very popular with the locals. There is also a very active bar. There is a pretty motel right on the airport. Also right on the field is a pool club with the pool in the shape of an airplane. On Friday and Saturday nights the airport brings in either DJs or live bands for dancing under the stars poolside. This is quite a popular place on the weekends. And to top that there is also horseback riding available on the airport property. The FBO building is new and beautiful . This is the quintessential general aviation airport. Extremely close at only one mile distance is another airport called South Jersey Regional that has a wonderful aviation museum with many military aircraft in static displays. These two airports share the same space for landing patterns so be sure to know the proper direction of the pattern at the airports. Contributor: Gordy Kent smile@adelphia.net Ocean City Municipal (26N) - 290 miles/149 degrees: This quaint seaside airport is minutes from the Jersey shore with white sandy beaches and boardwalk with hundreds of boutique shops and fast foods. A lot like Atlantic City without the casinos.. It features a popular family restaurant restaurant in its older but serviceable terminal facility. This is a favorite family vacation spot of local physician/pilot Mark Weissman and his family. Contributor: Bob Miller rjma@rjma.com. |
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Ohio
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Burke
Lakefront (BKL) in Downtown Cleveland - 157 miles/249 degrees:. A truly memorable flying
day is spent flying into this airport. The flight is a very easy (about
an hour) beautiful one straight along the coast of lake Erie (V14). It
is always fun to land along the water. At the FBO is a small museum
dedicated to women aviators. Just off the airport property is a
wonderful white table cloth seafood restaurant that is on a docked barge
with gorgeous lake views. After eating go next door and tour a WW II
German submarine. Also within walking distance, take a tour of a retired
lake freighter. and between the sub and the freighter is the Rock &
Roll Hall of Fame. Also within walking distance is the Indians and
Browns stadiums. There is just too much to do in one day! If you
want to stay in the city for the weekend there are hotels also within
walking distance right across the street from the airport. This airport
is also one of the airports constantly being challenged for survival so
your visiting it and having your landing count in their stats will help
the airport's survival. Contributor: Gordy Kent smile@adelphia.net
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Pennsylvania
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Latrobe
- Arnold Palmer Regional (LBE) -163 miles/202 degrees:
Located about 50 miles due east of Pittsburgh, this handsome airport has
one of the very best airport restaurants anywhere in the nation! A
popular dining spot for the local community, the restaurant offers
fabulous brunches, lunches, and suppers . . . all within a few hundred
feet of the ramp. Click
here for airport information Contributor: Bob Miller rjma@rjma.com
DuBois/Jefferson County Airport (DUJ) - 106 miles/195 degrees: The Flight Deck Restaurant (814-328-5281), located in the terminal building, is in World War II Army Airfield motif, with interesting pictures and military aircraft artifacts. Watch the planes land as you dine in this quaint airport cafe. Excellent airport with long runway and ILS approach. http://www.dujairport.com/ Contributed by Bob Miller rjma@rjma.com Erie - Tom Ridge Airport (ERI) - 82 miles/242 degrees: A popular cross-country flight for student pilots because of location along the Lake Erie shore, the Erie Airport Erie Airport has a comfortable restaurant called The Landing Zone inside its main terminal. It is about a 10 minute walk from North Coast Aviation. Borrow a crew car to take the family to Erie's new indoor Splash Lagoon Splash Lagoon about 20 minutes drive from the airport. This is the best water park this side of Disneyworld. Contributed by Bob Miller rjma@rjma.com Franklin - Venango
Regional Airport (FKL) - 108 miles/220 degrees:
Less than an hour from the Buffalo area, as
the crow flies. The airport is surrounded by picturesque rolling hills and
is a full service all weather facility. It has a full ILS,VOR and GPS
approaches as well as excellent approach and runway lighting systems.
USAir flies in and out twice a day. If you leave your fuel order with line
service at the FBO on your way to the restaurant you will be ready to go
and receive a discount on the price of the fuel when you finish your meal. Contributed by Lee Rousselle lee@rousselle.com |
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Rhode
Island
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Block
Island (BID) - 337 miles/117 degrees: Though a little outside your definitions is another
wonderful day trip that can be made to Block Island off the coast of
Rhode Island. Bicycles can be rented at the FBO or any cab trip is only
$5. The island is filled with wonderful beaches and surfside little
lunch places. About an hour and one half in each direction in a 140 -
180 hp plane and you will have spent the day beaching it on an island in
the ocean courtesy of your having a pilots license! Contributor: Gordy
Kent smile@adelphia.net |
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Vermont
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Rutland (RUT) - 256 miles/091 degrees: A favorite destination for ski enthusiasts. Nestled in a valley several miles south of the City of Rutland, the airport is less than 30 minutes by rental car from the Killington Ski Area. Pay attention to the published departure procedures because of high surrounding terrain. A friendly FBO staff will assist you with parking, tie-down, fuel, and directions to the ski area. http://www.vermontairports.com/rutland.html. Contributed by Bob Miller rjma@rjma.com |
