Westminster airport - lots of traffic 20-Dec-2023

[jc1240]

I counted at least 5 planes lined up to land at the airport around 11:30 - 11:40.

Any special even this weekend? Or just lots of students?

 

[mpollan1]

Well there is Christmas. Other than that I know of no event.

 

[Schipperke]

I'd fly there for Dairy Queen..

 

[jc1240]

I'd fly there for Dairy Queen..

You say "Dairy Queen" but I hear "Hoffmans."

 

[swinokur]

Or the Cow

 

[Wiseguy59]

Dream Flight School had over 11 flights scheduled on the 20th, that's more than likely what was going on.

 

[kennyd]

Hoffman's for the win, always!

I've also seen Blackhawk helicopters the last two days, not sure what's going on.

I live very close the back side of the airport.

 

[ezracer]

Just bringing in a few more illegals. Nothing to see here folks. Move along now.

 

[jc1240]

Dream Flight School had over 11 flights scheduled on the 20th, that's more than likely what was going on.

Thanks.

 

[Checksbob]

"at least 5 planes lined up"

That's actually kinda sad. Before flying got so darned expensive I'd join the pattern for touch & goes or lunch and it'd be common to have close to a dozen.

We lock kids out now rather than letting them walk the ramps, prices of purchase/tie-downs/gas/etc are insane, and GA is dying.

 

[Schipperke]

"at least 5 planes lined up"

That's actually kinda sad. Before flying got so darned expensive I'd join the pattern for touch & goes or lunch and it'd be common to have close to a dozen.

We lock kids out now rather than letting them walk the ramps, prices of purchase/tie-downs/gas/etc are insane, and GA is dying.

In the late 70's Gibson Aviation in Gaithersburg had over twenty 152's / 150's for rent and they'd be booked. Walking the ramp, I got rides offered (and taken) in a Mooney at DMW , and a R22 at GAI

 

[Worsley]

You say "Dairy Queen" but I hear "Hoffmans."

love, love, love Hoffmans.

 

[Kagetsu]

*Reminiscing* In my day. The pattern at FDK was 5 NM out with 152's all doing about 65k. With gear up the Arrow is at 90. I had to pass two before pushing back in for base and resetting for landing.. I started with a 150 commuter for 22/hr, dry.

 

[Atrox88]

Or the Cow

Yup! My favorite.

 

[dgapilot]

When I was in high schooI (back in the late 60s and early 70s) I worked line service at KCDW in NJ. Our flight school had at least 10 150s, 3 172s, a couple 182s a 177RG and a 310. I think there were at least 5 full time flight instructors and a couple part timers as well. On a good date it wasn’t unusual to have 10 - 12 airplanes in the pattern. I recall most any good Saturday or Sunday pumping over 2000 gallons of avgas and almost as much Jet A. Gone are the days of big flight schools. FAA and TSA has chased all the people away from airports with fences and locked gates. Almost every airport had rows of airplanes tied outside, sold fuel and had a maintenance shop. Today it can sometimes be problematic to find fuel. If I wasn’t an A&P/IA I doubt I could find a shop I’d trust my airplane to. The transportation industry is going to hit a brick wall in the not to distant future with pilot and mechanic shortages!


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[Sirex]

I counted at least 5 planes lined up to land at the airport around 11:30 - 11:40.

Any special even this weekend? Or just lots of students?

What kind of planes, prop, F-35s, etc.? President Poopy Pants is up at Camp David, and I was hearing jets fly over today and yesterday. Maybe the planes were there because air traffic was limited. Maybe they were there for Skytech to service them. Maybe for our fine dining like Bullocks, Rock Salt or Hoffmans?

 

[jc1240]

What kind of planes, prop, F-35s, etc.? President Poopy Pants is up at Camp David, and I was hearing jets fly over today and yesterday. Maybe the planes were there because air traffic was limited. Maybe they were there for Skytech to service them. Maybe for our fine dining like Bullocks, Rock Salt or Hoffmans?

Single engine private planes. Can’t remember if there was a twin engine. They were in the approach pattern for Westminster.

 

[Checksbob]

What kind of planes, prop, F-35s, etc.? President Poopy Pants is up at Camp David, and I was hearing jets fly over today and yesterday. Maybe the planes were there because air traffic was limited. Maybe they were there for Skytech to service them. Maybe for our fine dining like Bullocks, Rock Salt or Hoffmans?

Frederick and Westminster are far enough from the restricted airspace to not be affected, as long as people leaving the patterns don't head the wrong way.

 

[dgapilot]

Frederick and Westminster are far enough from the restricted airspace to not be affected, as long as people leaving the patterns don't head the wrong way.

I fly out of Mid Atlantic Soaring, it is a real pain anytime someone is at Camp David, even with our secret decoder rings!


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[Checksbob]

I fly out of Mid Atlantic Soaring, it is a real pain anytime someone is at Camp David, even with our secret decoder rings!


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I like to stop in there when on the motorcycle to take a break and just watch folks take off and land. If I were to start flying again, that's where I'll probably go to get away from the FDK traffic and DC airspace. Kinda kills me, as I'm 3 miles from Davis and used to keep my planes there.