Airparks near Austin TX

[TIm Gilbert]

Everyone,
I'm interviewing for a job in Austin, TX and am looking for details
regarding airparks in the area. I've found a few on the internet but would
like more info, especially regarding commute times to the SW Austin area.

We currently live at an airpark (K48V) in the Denver area and love the live
style. It would be really hard to give it up!

Thanks,

Tim

[Steve Chalfin]

Tim:

I keep my airplane (but unfortuantely don't live) at Kestrel Airpark
(1T7). Kestrel is probably a little closer to San Antonio than Austin,
but it wouldn't be too long of a drive.

They have new hangars for rent, relatively cheap fuel, and a nice
bunch of tenants. Check it out on AirNav (I shot the aerial photo
myself).


> Everyone,
> I'm interviewing for a job in Austin, TX and am looking for details
> regarding airparks in the area.

[James M. Knox]

(Steve Chalfin) wrote in
om:

> Tim:
>
> I keep my airplane (but unfortuantely don't live) at Kestrel Airpark
> (1T7). Kestrel is probably a little closer to San Antonio than Austin,
> but it wouldn't be too long of a drive.

I flew in to Kestrel a few weeks ago. Interesting runway and taxiway...
<G>

As for Austin, the original was Lakeway. It's grown up so much now that
the folks there often talk of wanting to close the airport. {:<(

Breakaway Airpark is just north of the city and nicely maintained. I don't
know what all is still available, but I believe at least a few lots are.
Near it, but on the other side of I-35, is Cross Country Estates. A lot
newer, I know they have lots available. Both of these are turf runways
without instrument approaches (I don't know about night lighting).

I'm sure there are others, but they start getting further out of town.

jmk

[Orval Fairbairn]

In article >,
"James M. Knox" > wrote:

> (Steve Chalfin) wrote in
> om:
>
> > Tim:
> >
> > I keep my airplane (but unfortuantely don't live) at Kestrel Airpark
> > (1T7). Kestrel is probably a little closer to San Antonio than Austin,
> > but it wouldn't be too long of a drive.
>
> I flew in to Kestrel a few weeks ago. Interesting runway and taxiway...
> <G>
>
> As for Austin, the original was Lakeway. It's grown up so much now that
> the folks there often talk of wanting to close the airport. {:<(



Back about 1981, I looked at moving to Austin and visited Lakeway. All
the real estate people were interested in talking about was tennis and
couldn't tell me very much about the airport. IIRC, there are no hangar
homes there -- just hangars. It is a pretty location, however.

I would not choose Lakeway for MY community.



> Breakaway Airpark is just north of the city and nicely maintained. I don't
> know what all is still available, but I believe at least a few lots are.
> Near it, but on the other side of I-35, is Cross Country Estates. A lot
> newer, I know they have lots available. Both of these are turf runways
> without instrument approaches (I don't know about night lighting).

I visited Breakaway on the same trip -- they had put a lot of effort
into making a nice sod runway. It was a little remote, though.


> I'm sure there are others, but they start getting further out of town.
>
> jmk

[Steve Chalfin]

> I flew in to Kestrel a few weeks ago. Interesting runway and taxiway...
> <G>
> jmk

Like sex, it can be 'interesting' the first time, but with practice
gets to be fun. Aside from the significant upslope at the departure
end of 30, the prevailing winds usually guarantee a 8-10 Kt x-wind
takeoff or landing, and the runway is only 40' wide. So, concentrate
on your lineup.

Still, overall, a good home field.

Steve

[Marlene G]

Thanks for the comments. I'm curious as to what kind of commute I'd have to
the southwest corner of Austin?

Anyone heard of Capella Airpark?

Tim

"Steve Chalfin" > wrote in message
om...
> > I flew in to Kestrel a few weeks ago. Interesting runway and taxiway...
> > <G>
> > jmk
>
> Like sex, it can be 'interesting' the first time, but with practice
> gets to be fun. Aside from the significant upslope at the departure
> end of 30, the prevailing winds usually guarantee a 8-10 Kt x-wind
> takeoff or landing, and the runway is only 40' wide. So, concentrate
> on your lineup.
>
> Still, overall, a good home field.
>
> Steve

[James M. Knox]

(Steve Chalfin) wrote in
om:

>
> Like sex, it can be 'interesting' the first time, but with practice
> gets to be fun. Aside from the significant upslope at the departure
> end of 30,

Reminded me of a British aircraft carrier with their "ski jump" at the end.

> the prevailing winds usually guarantee a 8-10 Kt x-wind
> takeoff or landing, and the runway is only 40' wide.

Actually, the narrow runway didn't bother me. I fly into places a lot
narrower.

It was the taxiway that was more concern. There are shrubs/trees on one
side, and the burm up to the runway on the other, and it "felt" like it
wasn't much more room than my wingspan between them.

Fun...

jmk

[nobody]

Tim,

Breakaway Airpark is a sod field with lights. There are lots available both
on
the runway and in other locations in the development. This is only about 3
miles
from my house and I really would like to move there. However, the runway
lots
are very expensive, at least too expensive for me. The one acre runway lots
are $180K to $190K depending on the lot. Total investment would be $400K
and up. With the property tax rate, the annual taxes will be high. I'd
estimate the
property taxes at around $12K per year. This in far NW Austin, actually now
in the
city limits of Cedar Park. Depending on where you need to get to in south /
southwest
Austin to work, it will be a 45 minute to 1:30 drive during rush hours.
Good access
off Parmer Lane, but there is a lot of development in the area and to the
north and
Parmer is the way south. It can be a bottle neck in the morning.

Cross Country Estates is east of IH-35 just southeast of Georgetown. Out in
the
country at this point. Lots are much more reasonable. I was offered a 5
acre lot
there for less than half the asking price at Breakaway Park. Trouble is,
there were
few trees, it was a long drive from Austin, and my wife didn't like the
looks of
the community. The drive to south Austin could be another 30 minutes on top
of the drive from Breakaway park, the main route being IH-35 so you have to
deal with that traffic. Another bottle neck during rush hour. The runway
is sod
and there are no lights.

Capella Airpark is relatively new and I believe is located at the old Bird's
Nest
airport. This airport was in bad shape the last time I was out there, which
was several
years ago. Run down buildings and "grass-fault" runway. There was a long
dirt access
road that went down beside / through a corn field. It gave me the
impression I was
driving out in a farm. There were a few GA planes and a good number of
ultralights
there when I visited. The Capella folks purchased the place and I don't
know what
improvements have been made. This is off 290 east of Austin. It is a
little remote to
get to, but this should change in the next several years when the new Texas
130 highway
to bypass IH-35 north/south traffic around Austin is built. TX130 is
supposed to go right
by this property and should make access quite good. The airport is in very
close to the central
Texas CWK VOR and is not too far from AUS. Drive time to south Austin would
be
30 to 45 minutes.

There is also Spicewood (88R) which is a nice, paved but unlighted airport.
There hangar lots are
that are privately owned and you can buy a lot outright and build a hangar
on it. There are a couple
of three houses on the airport, but nice development all around. You could
live close by if not in
the same building as your airplane. This airport is off Highway 71
southwest of Austin. Drive
drive from Spicewood to the populate areas of SW Austin is about 30 minutes.
Traffice is usually
light out on 71. It is also in the Texas Hill country which is nicer than
the flat lands east of Austin.

Another one to check out is Rusty Allen Lago Vista Muni, 5R3. This is a
muni airport, but the property
around the runway is privately owned. Most lots have hangars only, but
there are a coupld of hangars
that have living spaces in them also. There are also houses in the same
area. Again, you could have
a house very close by if not on the airport lot. Hangar lots run around
$70K to $80K large enough
for a 3 to 5 plane hangar. This is located out FM1431 and would be an hour
to 1.5 hour drive to SW
Austin.

Good Luck,

"TIm Gilbert" > wrote in message
...
> Everyone,
> I'm interviewing for a job in Austin, TX and am looking for details
> regarding airparks in the area. I've found a few on the internet but
would
> like more info, especially regarding commute times to the SW Austin area.
>
> We currently live at an airpark (K48V) in the Denver area and love the
live
> style. It would be really hard to give it up!
>
> Thanks,
>
> Tim
>
>
>

[TIm Gilbert]

Thanks for the comments. However, from what I can find it seems that
Capella was going to be east of Bird's nest quite a ways. I guess since
Capella kitplanes folded the airpark disappeared as well?

Tim

"nobody" > wrote in message
. com...
>
> Tim,
>
> Breakaway Airpark is a sod field with lights. There are lots available
both
> on
> the runway and in other locations in the development. This is only about
3
> miles
> from my house and I really would like to move there. However, the runway
> lots
> are very expensive, at least too expensive for me. The one acre runway
lots
> are $180K to $190K depending on the lot. Total investment would be $400K
> and up. With the property tax rate, the annual taxes will be high. I'd
> estimate the
> property taxes at around $12K per year. This in far NW Austin, actually
now
> in the
> city limits of Cedar Park. Depending on where you need to get to in south
/
> southwest
> Austin to work, it will be a 45 minute to 1:30 drive during rush hours.
> Good access
> off Parmer Lane, but there is a lot of development in the area and to the
> north and
> Parmer is the way south. It can be a bottle neck in the morning.
>
> Cross Country Estates is east of IH-35 just southeast of Georgetown. Out
in
> the
> country at this point. Lots are much more reasonable. I was offered a 5
> acre lot
> there for less than half the asking price at Breakaway Park. Trouble is,
> there were
> few trees, it was a long drive from Austin, and my wife didn't like the
> looks of
> the community. The drive to south Austin could be another 30 minutes on
top
> of the drive from Breakaway park, the main route being IH-35 so you have
to
> deal with that traffic. Another bottle neck during rush hour. The runway
> is sod
> and there are no lights.
>
> Capella Airpark is relatively new and I believe is located at the old
Bird's
> Nest
> airport. This airport was in bad shape the last time I was out there,
which
> was several
> years ago. Run down buildings and "grass-fault" runway. There was a long
> dirt access
> road that went down beside / through a corn field. It gave me the
> impression I was
> driving out in a farm. There were a few GA planes and a good number of
> ultralights
> there when I visited. The Capella folks purchased the place and I don't
> know what
> improvements have been made. This is off 290 east of Austin. It is a
> little remote to
> get to, but this should change in the next several years when the new
Texas
> 130 highway
> to bypass IH-35 north/south traffic around Austin is built. TX130 is
> supposed to go right
> by this property and should make access quite good. The airport is in
very
> close to the central
> Texas CWK VOR and is not too far from AUS. Drive time to south Austin
would
> be
> 30 to 45 minutes.
>
> There is also Spicewood (88R) which is a nice, paved but unlighted
airport.
> There hangar lots are
> that are privately owned and you can buy a lot outright and build a hangar
> on it. There are a couple
> of three houses on the airport, but nice development all around. You
could
> live close by if not in
> the same building as your airplane. This airport is off Highway 71
> southwest of Austin. Drive
> drive from Spicewood to the populate areas of SW Austin is about 30
minutes.
> Traffice is usually
> light out on 71. It is also in the Texas Hill country which is nicer than
> the flat lands east of Austin.
>
> Another one to check out is Rusty Allen Lago Vista Muni, 5R3. This is a
> muni airport, but the property
> around the runway is privately owned. Most lots have hangars only, but
> there are a coupld of hangars
> that have living spaces in them also. There are also houses in the same
> area. Again, you could have
> a house very close by if not on the airport lot. Hangar lots run around
> $70K to $80K large enough
> for a 3 to 5 plane hangar. This is located out FM1431 and would be an
hour
> to 1.5 hour drive to SW
> Austin.
>
> Good Luck,
>
> "TIm Gilbert" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Everyone,
> > I'm interviewing for a job in Austin, TX and am looking for details
> > regarding airparks in the area. I've found a few on the internet but
> would
> > like more info, especially regarding commute times to the SW Austin
area.
> >
> > We currently live at an airpark (K48V) in the Denver area and love the
> live
> > style. It would be really hard to give it up!
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Tim
> >
> >
> >
>
>

[Andy]

Hear, hear.

Lakeway is victimizing general avation pilots with a vicious scam,
reference twilight arrivals. They play games with determining the
latest allowable landing times, have their own police assess a $1,200
fine.

The court is rigged in Lakeway's favor, sad to say.
General aviation pilots should avoid Lakeway!

[zatatime]

On 9 Dec 2004 18:20:21 -0800, "Andy" > wrote:

>Hear, hear.
>
>Lakeway is victimizing general avation pilots with a vicious scam,
>reference twilight arrivals. They play games with determining the
>latest allowable landing times, have their own police assess a $1,200
>fine.
>
>The court is rigged in Lakeway's favor, sad to say.
>General aviation pilots should avoid Lakeway!


Correct me if I'm wrong here, but if it isn't in the A/FD isn't it a
non-issue? Not that it helps you fight the ticket, but how is one to
know the hours if they aren't published somewhere?

z

[Michael 182]

"Andy" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Hear, hear.
>
> Lakeway is victimizing general avation pilots with a vicious scam,
> reference twilight arrivals. They play games with determining the
> latest allowable landing times, have their own police assess a $1,200
> fine.
>
> The court is rigged in Lakeway's favor, sad to say.
> General aviation pilots should avoid Lakeway!

Given that Lakeway is largely a locals airport, I'm not sure that they would
care if GA pilots avoid them. There is no FBO counting on business from
transients.

Obviously they take the sunset to sunrise rule very seriously. Instead of
avoiding the airport, why not just avoid the times they give out tickets?

In any case, if you are going to Austin, AUS is simple to get in and out of,
has an ILS on every runway, and has a great FBO (Trajen). Fuel is a little
expensive, but no worse than most Class C airports. Controllers are
friendly as well.

Michael




>

[Russ]

I landed 15 minutes before sunset and got a $1200 ticket. The court
system is like Judge Roy Beans kangaroo court. I would completely stay
away or at least carry the official sunset time(which I had) and land
at the airport 1 hour before sunset. It would be great if GA pilots
wrote the City of Lakeway and declare the airport community persona non
grata to GA traffic. It should effect the property values at least
around the airport. I had witnesses but none of the lawyers will
attack the Lakeway Court system because of their reputation.

[ssbn608]

It should effect the property values at least around the airport.

Well, I know that this horrendous fine is one reason why I didn't buy in Lakeway. We are moving back to Texas, and we were really interested in a house at Lakeway (which DID have an attached hangar/garage, by the way). When I found out about the "runway closed at sundown" rule, in conjunction with the huge fine, we went looking elsewhere. I would be frequently making trips where I would arrive about 10pm, so Lakeway just wouldn't work for me. I was told that when they are arriving late, people just divert to AUS, and take a taxi home (expensive, I would think, but less than the fine).

We found airporthomes.com to be useful, as they have a map of airparks in the Austin area ( http://www.airporthomes.com/ap-tx.htm ). We ended up buying in Kestrel Airpark, and hope to build soon. It did take quite a long time to drive from Southwest Austin (where my cousin's house is) through the 3:30-4:00 pm traffic out of Austin to get down to New Braunfels, and then over to Kestrel Airpark, well over an hour. It was, like, an hour just to get to Buda. Traffic in Austin is ...BLECH nowadays. Not like when I was a kid 35 years ago.

We also looked at Horseshoe Bay, which is about 47 miles west of southwest Austin, but it's about an hour and a quarter commute.

[Orval Fairbairn]

In article >,
ssbn608 > wrote:

> Russ Wrote:
> > It should effect the property values at least around the airport.
>
> Well, I know that this horrendous fine is one reason why I didn't buy
> in Lakeway. We are moving back to Texas, and we were really interested
> in a house at Lakeway (which DID have an attached hangar/garage, by the
> way). When I found out about the "runway closed at sundown" rule, in
> conjunction with the huge fine, we went looking elsewhere. I would be
> frequently making trips where I would arrive about 10pm, so Lakeway
> just wouldn't work for me. I was told that when they are arriving
> late, people just divert to AUS, and take a taxi home (expensive, I
> would think, but less than the fine).
>

It was like that 20-some years ago, when wwe were looking at relocating
to Austin. We visited Lakeway and, essentially, got the cold shoulder
when we inquired about the airport and hangar homes there. All they
appeared to be interested in was tennis, in which we had no interest.




> We found airporthomes.com to be useful, as they have a map of airparks
> in the Austin area ( http://www.airporthomes.com/ap-tx.htm ). We ended
> up buying in Kestrel Airpark, and hope to build soon. It did take quite
> a long time to drive from Southwest Austin (where my cousin's house is)
> through the 3:30-4:00 pm traffic out of Austin to get down to New
> Braunfels, and then over to Kestrel Airpark, well over an hour. It
> was, like, an hour just to get to Buda. Traffic in Austin is ...BLECH
> nowadays. Not like when I was a kid 35 years ago.
>
> We also looked at Horseshoe Bay, which is about 47 miles west of
> southwest Austin, but it's about an hour and a quarter commute.