Airports; Teachers & students
By webeishere
@webeishere (36313)
United States
July 6, 2007 12:55pm CST
Well today I was bored to death so I once again went driving around hoping to come up wiyth sometyhing to do today as far as myLotting. Well I had forgotten about one place I go to often to relax and have fun watching the everyday activities of teachers and students. I love very close to Anoka County Airport in Blaine Minnesota U.S.A. This is a very small airport. It's all private planes and jets. A few flight schools and also an Air Museum of many old planes etc from history and the military. Maybe I'll do a discussion on that at another time. Nowdays most airports are so tihghtly gaurder due to 9-11. But the smaller County Airports have very lax security. I can get right up to the edges of the tarmack here. Maybe 100 feet from the runways. I can feel the wind shifting as each plane flys by eityher landing, taking off, or just taxiing down the runways. I sit on the grass near the runways watching the teachers/students doing what's known as touch and go's. That's when a student is flying the plane and takes off, makes a circle of the airport then touches down on the runway just to take off again immediately. This is a form of teaching the future pilots the feel of taking off and landing. I go here about once a month during warm weather as a stress reliever also. It's so calming just watching these little planes and jets taking off and landing so gracefully. Well some of the students aren't really graceful. But it's soothing to my mind, body, and soul to sit and watch these planes for a couple hours. So do you live nerar any smaller airports? Are there any near you that are very lax in security? Do you ever go to an Airport for relaxation? Do you ever visit the largert airportds to watch the JUmbo Jets take off and land? Thanks all.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
5 people like this
13 responses
@GardenGerty (166725)
• United States
6 Jul 07
Hey, what a thought, we do have a small airport in town. I do not think anything takes off that regularly though. I could go to a couple of nearby small towns and look at the planes. There is a wonderful steak house at the Hutchinson, Kansas Airport. Called, ironically enough, The Airport Steakhouse. Great place to eat. At night they cook at a show grill, and it is all surrounded with polished copper and is gorgeous. We can watch the business commuters from there. I will look forward to some more discussions like this.I can understand how it is relaxing and stress free.
5 people like this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
6 Jul 07
The smaller airports usually have flight schools.
Call up the airp[ort and ask if they do. Then if
they do ask what days are the best to come view
the students flying. They'll let you know usually.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
2 people like this
@Fishmomma (11622)
• United States
6 Jul 07
We have a small airport in town. I use to watch the airplanes land and take off, which is fun for an afternoon. Many of my neighbors have airplanes and I would prefer to get in the airplane and sight see. Sorry don't have any interest in going to LAX, as its a nightmare to visit and have been avoiding flying out from there.
@brendalee (6082)
• United States
7 Jul 07
There is a small airport near me but I have never thought of going down there to watch the planes. I never really had much of an interest in planes. But after you explained it, it does sound rather interesting and relaxing.
3 people like this
@brendalee (6082)
• United States
7 Jul 07
Now laying in the grass looking at the clouds is something I can relate too. I like to see if I can find any interesting shapes.
3 people like this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
7 Jul 07
It's very calming especially if you can sit close and omn the grass etc. I lay down watching the clouds while there's no planes on the runways also. Anything but sitting home. HAHAHAHA!!
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB!!~
2 people like this
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
6 Jul 07
I used to do that in my old hometown. My oldest two boys were young then and they enjoyed going to the airport very much. Now we live in a small city that doesn't have an airport (well, it has a little landing strip place for people who live here that have private planes...there are about 3-4 people). The 'airport' is atop a mountain and there is very little room...certainly no room for spectators. The drive to the 'airport' is treacherous at best. I haven't been to watch planes land in a long, long time. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!
3 people like this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
7 Jul 07
Bummer. Here's a shot of one Cesna Jet that took
off later in the day. It's a georgeous jet. So small.
2 people like this
@someonesmom (5761)
• Canada
6 Jul 07
Actually, we do have a small airport here too, and I'm not even sure how much air traffic there is, on a regular basis. A first cousin of mine used to fly small planes, and I remember how much he loved the freedom etc. He's deceased now (lived to a good age), and no, he didn't pass away while flying, just to clarify. You've also brought back yet 'another' memory for me, Grandpa Bob, as we used to go for a drive to our big Toronto airport, when I was a kid, and watch the planes take-off and land.:)
3 people like this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
6 Jul 07
You can call thrm and they will let you know usually about
the flights coming and going on busy days. Try it. Glad I
once again brought up some old childhood memories for you.
Take care and have a great day/evening.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
2 people like this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
7 Jul 07
Well here's an even cheaper way. This one is just taking off.
I got very very near the runway and got chased off quickly.
Not before I got this shot.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB!!~
2 people like this
@someonesmom (5761)
• Canada
6 Jul 07
Maybe that's exactly what I need, Grandpa Bob, and the price is right too.:) Thanks.
2 people like this
@pismeof (855)
• United States
6 Jul 07
Hey GRANDPA, Rather than just Hang out at the airport,Why don't you go over to one of the flight schools and sign up for an introductory flight .
Most schools will take you up for about half price, Roughly thirty five bucks.You'll get to sit in the pilot's seat and the instructor will then take off from the field .Once the airport is cleared and the plane is straight and level the instructor hands the conrols over to you and directs you to the practice area where you have the opportunity to get a feel for the ailerons and rudder pedals .
If you haven't soiled your shorts by this time you will be directed back to the landing area where the instructor will then take the controls and land the plane,taxi and park it.
I'd highly recommend taking this opportunity to everyone .I find flying a plane to be an almost religious experience .There is nothing on earth more liberating then hopping into the little old Cessna and going for a little flight to nowhere .
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
7 Jul 07
i ACTUALLY GOT TO FLY A 1032 cUB bIPLANE A FEW YEARS AGO DURING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF FLIGHT HERE AT aNOKA cOUNTY aIRPORT. i HAD TO WEAR THE GOGGLES AND THE LEATHER CAP ALSO. sITTING RIGHT BEHIND THE ENGINE WITH THE OIL AND SMOKE BLOWING RIGHT IN MY FACE. i SURE LOOKED SILLY AS HELL AFTER TAKINGH OFF MY GOGGLES. hAHAHAHA1
1 person likes this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
12 Jul 07
No I never go to Airports but I find it relaxing just walking through the Field with my Dog when there is no one else about at all again it is so peaceful just to walk through the Field (if you don't trip on Holes because you where watching a Butterfly instead of where you where going lol)
@meljessxena (2315)
• Australia
7 Jul 07
hey, sitting there reading that i had really nice thoughts i actually drifted as i was there watching them as well.
i dont live near an airport but i think the ones that arent that fair away have fairly good security because of bombing etc. but i have onlybeen to an airport a couple of years ago and it seemed pretty good watching the big planes come in and take off.
3 people like this
@TerryZ (22076)
• United States
6 Jul 07
Hey there my friend. I can honestly say I dont go to airports for relaxtion.LOL But if that helps you thats all good. My brother in law is a pilot and now he is teaching his son my nephew to fly too. My nephew already loves it and he is only 17. They have no fear at all. They say its safer then walking down the street.Hahahah I dont know about that one.LOL
3 people like this
@rhinoboy (2129)
•
9 Jul 07
Airport security is a bit of a touchy subject here in the UK right now!!
I live close to a medium sized international airport, a few years ago their cestaurant / lounge area was open to the public and that had a glass wall and an outdoor viewing area where you could watch most planes around the terminal and one of the runways. I can't say I'm really a fan though.
I was once stuck in Heathrow (I think the UK's largest and busiest airport) for about 8 hours between flights and one place we were had a view of the take-off runway. I was quite impressed at the organisation involed while we watched 747's take off with only about 90 seconds between them.
1 person likes this
@aidonia (4209)
• Greece
6 Jul 07
I live in a big town,Athens the capital of Greece and I have here only big airport.Until 5 years ago was near but after they decided take it little out from the center of the town.
I never sit and relax at the airports because I know if I go there I gonna fell depress.I love airplanes and the felling of landing or taking off.When the most people in the airplane they worry or afraid I just enjoy like a child in the playground.I use at lest 4 time at the year airplane but again when I'm at the airport watching the planes the only thing I wish is being inside to anyone.
Even if I see a plane flying at the sky I just fell depress because I'm not in.Funny right?You fell relax I fell depress...
@misheleen73 (6037)
• United States
7 Jul 07
We actually have a small aiport in town here. It is small aircrafts only, and has no real security to speak of. They do airshows from time to time that we just pull down the road and sit on the side to watch. One time they actually "buzzed" our car. They get out and wing walk, etc. It is amazing. Only crop planes, and personal crafts go in and out of there. The owner & founder just recently passed, so we're hoping his children keep it going.
2 people like this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
7 Jul 07
I didn't know there was a story in the paper about some of the planes here when I went to the airport. But they have an old B15 bomber. The pic is of the bomber that was in the news. I did get this shot before it took off. Lots of fun sitting around watching the flights all day long at times.
2 people like this
@misheleen73 (6037)
• United States
8 Jul 07
My kids liked looking at the pic of the plane.. thanks for sharing
@shemah (840)
• Malaysia
6 Jul 07
Hey there grandpa bob! Hope you had a great 4th of July!
Well, to begin with, I used to work at an International Airport.. that's where I met my hubby.. And although where I work I couldn't really have the time to check out the planes, I still feel that the airport is the best place to witness other people's interactions with one another. Seeing a student fly abroad for the first time in their life, a retired couple going on vacation and being sent off by their children and grandchildren, fathers meeting up with their family after a long business trip, etc. It does bring a happy feeling and calming effect on me that the stress of the job doesn't seem so bad after all.
As for my husband, he's a flight controller and he's really happy with the job. He's been in love with airplanes since he was a boy and to do the job he's doing now, is just a dream come true. We used to watch the 747's take off and land.. and share that "loud" moment in "silence". :)
Now that i'm no longer with the airline company, my husband will call from work and hearing the plane engines in the background works just as well for me..
Have a nice day!!
