Closest airfield to NYC to fly gliders or to keep a SLMG

[albs]

I live in Europe and will be relocating to New York City next spring. Which would be the closest airfield where I could keep a SLMG (doesn't necessarily need to be a glider club) or the closets airfield where gliders are operated (which and/or tow)? Any that you'd recommend in particular?
thank you

[[email protected]]

On Saturday, December 6, 2014 3:08:20 AM UTC-5, albs wrote:
> I live in Europe and will be relocating to New York City next spring. Which would be the closest airfield where I could keep a SLMG (doesn't necessarily need to be a glider club) or the closets airfield where gliders are operated (which and/or tow)? Any that you'd recommend in particular?
> thank you

Blairstown NJ, Middletown NY, or Wurtsboro NY are the 3 most convenient that have glider operations.
Go to the SSA web site and look at Where to Fly
UH

[Jim - 77]

On Saturday, December 6, 2014 3:08:20 AM UTC-5, albs wrote:
> I live in Europe and will be relocating to New York City next spring. Which would be the closest airfield where I could keep a SLMG (doesn't necessarily need to be a glider club) or the closets airfield where gliders are operated (which and/or tow)? Any that you'd recommend in particular?
> thank you

I would add to UH's list, Ridge Soaring near State College, PA. Three guys from Long Island Soaring have been driving over there for years.

Jim

[[email protected]]

On Saturday, December 6, 2014 3:08:20 AM UTC-5, albs wrote:
> I live in Europe and will be relocating to New York City next spring. Which would be the closest airfield where I could keep a SLMG (doesn't necessarily need to be a glider club) or the closets airfield where gliders are operated (which and/or tow)? Any that you'd recommend in particular?
> thank you

Greetings,

With respect to deciding the best place for you to fly, what are you looking for in your flying experience and can you pinpoint somewhat more precisely where in NYC you will be located. It is quite a big place!

1) There are several general aviation airport that are probably within 45 minutes where may be able to hangar a sailplane. Depending on the wingspan and how your motor glider disassembles to a smaller fit, it may be possible to find an airport closer than the glider operations.

2) Blairstown- We are about 1:15-1:30 from Brooklyn/Manhattan. The biggest advantage is that we are at the practical Northeast terminus of the ridge system.

http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/gliding/flightinfo.html?dsId=2300438
http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/gliding/flightinfo.html?dsId=3523882

It is quite an interesting and dynamic place to fly with a lot of cross country opportunity and arguably better suited for "bigger" flights than the other nearby clubs. We also have a club on the field. The operator (Yards Creek Soaring) is on a 4 day a week schedule (Friday-Monday), though through appointment it may be possible to fly other days.

The disadvantage is that tows are not cheap ($55-65 a pop) and neither are the tiedowns or hangar space.

3) Wurtsboro- About 1:30-1:45 from the city, depending where you are. Wonderful place to fly and probably the easiest place to "stay up" out of the three soaring sites. They also have a 20 mile section of ridge. Their forte is that they often get wave conditions coming in over the Catskill Mountains not far to the NE of the airport. Flights up to 18,000ft are quite possible. They have a great informal club environment, with a set of cabins nearby that can be rented and there is hangar space (to my knowledge) for a large spanned motor-glider. Lastly, it is probably the most consistently operating location. You can pretty much get a tow any day of the week.

Disadvantages- It is the farthest soaring site out of the three assessed and the tow price is ~$55.

4) Middletown- If you're based in Manhattan, this is probably the closest soaring site out of the three. I'd say 1:05-1:15. It is a friendly club run operation. They have a solid bloc of five enthusiastic cross country pilots that are rapidly advancing in soaring. They're a fun and motivating bunch to be around. Their tow prices are half of the other places.

Disadvantages- Usually operate solely on weekends.

Best Regards,
Daniel

[Dan Marotta]

<snip> will be relocating to New York City <snip>

My condolences.

On 12/6/2014 1:08 AM, albs wrote:
> I live in Europe and will be relocating to New York City next spring. Which would be the closest airfield where I could keep a SLMG (doesn't necessarily need to be a glider club) or the closets airfield where gliders are operated (which and/or tow)? Any that you'd recommend in particular?
> thank you
>

--
---
Dan Marotta

[[email protected]]

On Saturday, December 6, 2014 12:29:32 PM UTC-5, Dan Marotta wrote:
> <snip> will be relocating to New York City <snip>
>
> My condolences.
>
> On 12/6/2014 1:08 AM, albs wrote:
> > I live in Europe and will be relocating to New York City next spring. Which would be the closest airfield where I could keep a SLMG (doesn't necessarily need to be a glider club) or the closets airfield where gliders are operated (which and/or tow)? Any that you'd recommend in particular?
> > thank you
> >
>
> --
> ---
> Dan Marotta

Hey Dan,

Kudos to Albuquerque soaring club for all those wonderful soaring flights y'all do over the summer. But you know what I find really interesting? If you look at all the OLC flights done in Blairstown since 2010, you will find that there are 25 flights over 1000 OLC points. On the other hand, there are only 5 for Moriarty. Not bad for the East and a soaring site from which you can clearly see NYC on a nice day.

Best,
Daniel

[Dan Marotta]

Hey Daniel,

I meant no disrespect for Blairstown soaring conditions. I have a
friend who flies there and am truly impressed with the flights he's had.
I was only referring to the prospect of living in the "City".

Cheers,
Dan

On 12/6/2014 11:51 AM, wrote:
> On Saturday, December 6, 2014 12:29:32 PM UTC-5, Dan Marotta wrote:
>> <snip> will be relocating to New York City <snip>
>>
>> My condolences.
>>
>> On 12/6/2014 1:08 AM, albs wrote:
>>> I live in Europe and will be relocating to New York City next spring. Which would be the closest airfield where I could keep a SLMG (doesn't necessarily need to be a glider club) or the closets airfield where gliders are operated (which and/or tow)? Any that you'd recommend in particular?
>>> thank you
>>>
>>
>> --
>> ---
>> Dan Marotta
>
> Hey Dan,
>
> Kudos to Albuquerque soaring club for all those wonderful soaring flights y'all do over the summer. But you know what I find really interesting? If you look at all the OLC flights done in Blairstown since 2010, you will find that there are 25 flights over 1000 OLC points. On the other hand, there are only 5 for Moriarty. Not bad for the East and a soaring site from which you can clearly see NYC on a nice day.
>
> Best,
> Daniel
>

--
---
Dan Marotta

[albs]

On Saturday, December 6, 2014 3:59:16 PM UTC, wrote:
> On Saturday, December 6, 2014 3:08:20 AM UTC-5, albs wrote:
> > I live in Europe and will be relocating to New York City next spring. Which would be the closest airfield where I could keep a SLMG (doesn't necessarily need to be a glider club) or the closets airfield where gliders are operated (which and/or tow)? Any that you'd recommend in particular?
> > thank you
>
> Greetings,
>
> With respect to deciding the best place for you to fly, what are you looking for in your flying experience and can you pinpoint somewhat more precisely where in NYC you will be located. It is quite a big place!
>
> 1) There are several general aviation airport that are probably within 45 minutes where may be able to hangar a sailplane. Depending on the wingspan and how your motor glider disassembles to a smaller fit, it may be possible to find an airport closer than the glider operations.
>
> 2) Blairstown- We are about 1:15-1:30 from Brooklyn/Manhattan. The biggest advantage is that we are at the practical Northeast terminus of the ridge system.
>
> http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/gliding/flightinfo.html?dsId=2300438
> http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/gliding/flightinfo.html?dsId=3523882
>
> It is quite an interesting and dynamic place to fly with a lot of cross country opportunity and arguably better suited for "bigger" flights than the other nearby clubs. We also have a club on the field. The operator (Yards Creek Soaring) is on a 4 day a week schedule (Friday-Monday), though through appointment it may be possible to fly other days.
>
> The disadvantage is that tows are not cheap ($55-65 a pop) and neither are the tiedowns or hangar space.
>
> 3) Wurtsboro- About 1:30-1:45 from the city, depending where you are. Wonderful place to fly and probably the easiest place to "stay up" out of the three soaring sites. They also have a 20 mile section of ridge. Their forte is that they often get wave conditions coming in over the Catskill Mountains not far to the NE of the airport. Flights up to 18,000ft are quite possible. They have a great informal club environment, with a set of cabins nearby that can be rented and there is hangar space (to my knowledge) for a large spanned motor-glider. Lastly, it is probably the most consistently operating location. You can pretty much get a tow any day of the week.
>
> Disadvantages- It is the farthest soaring site out of the three assessed and the tow price is ~$55.
>
> 4) Middletown- If you're based in Manhattan, this is probably the closest soaring site out of the three. I'd say 1:05-1:15. It is a friendly club run operation. They have a solid bloc of five enthusiastic cross country pilots that are rapidly advancing in soaring. They're a fun and motivating bunch to be around. Their tow prices are half of the other places.
>
> Disadvantages- Usually operate solely on weekends.
>
> Best Regards,
> Daniel


Daniel thank you very much. I've got 230hrs on gliders and a Silver badge and about 250hrs on my PPL. Soaring is really what I'd like to focus on (badges, x-country, OLC + other competitions, etc).
I will live in Manhattan. Will definitely visit the three airports you mentioned.
An alternative could be I keep a SLMG at Lincoln Park (N07) which is an uncontrolled, not busy airport, 40 mins drive from Manhattan. Would not need a tug and can always fly to Blairstown (30Nm) or to Wurtsboro for example (40Nm) to meet and fly with other glider pilots.

Best regards,
Alberto

[[email protected]]

Hi there - there are a few members of Valley Soaring and some others )that get together once in a while for a beer in NYC (usually midtown) you can always join us any time ;) - we also often car pool up to the airport.

you can text me @ 917.225.2916 and I can keep you in the loop.

Bill Hanson
WH

[albs]

On Friday, December 12, 2014 1:26:07 PM UTC, wrote:
> Hi there - there are a few members of Valley Soaring and some others )that get together once in a while for a beer in NYC (usually midtown) you can always join us any time ;) - we also often car pool up to the airport.
>
> you can text me @ 917.225.2916 and I can keep you in the loop.
>
> Bill Hanson
> WH

Hi Bill, thanks definitely - will get in touch again once we move which will happen end of Mar / beg of Apr.
Kind regards,
Alberto Recchi

[Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot)]

On Saturday, December 6, 2014 3:08:20 AM UTC-5, albs wrote:
> I live in Europe and will be relocating to New York City next spring. Which would be the closest airfield where I could keep a SLMG (doesn't necessarily need to be a glider club) or the closets airfield where gliders are operated (which and/or tow)? Any that you'd recommend in particular?
> thank you

For soaring, the sites listed are your best bets. I believe there are still sites out on Long Island, but travel to them can be "interesting" in the summer due to traffic volumne.
As to where to keep your SLMG, keep in mind closer airports are within the "Mode "C" veil" from the 3 NYC area major airports. It will really require some additional radio/transponder equipment to deal with that even if the airport (like Lincoln Park, NJ) is "uncontrolled".

I know Middletown/Valley Soaring (where I've flown for 30+ years) has a bus from NYC to not far from the airport. Not sure what, if any, real "mass transit" options the other airports have.
We also have a number of Long Island/NYC area members that get together and car-pool to the airport.

Yes, you should visit each and see what you like. Valley Soaring is sorta modeled off the European "club type" airport. It is a mixed use airport (as most are) where we have glider operations, power traffic, ultralights, balloons, etc.

[[email protected]]

On Saturday, December 6, 2014 3:08:20 AM UTC-5, albs wrote:
> I live in Europe and will be relocating to New York City next spring. Which would be the closest airfield where I could keep a SLMG (doesn't necessarily need to be a glider club) or the closets airfield where gliders are operated (which and/or tow)? Any that you'd recommend in particular?
> thank you

I live in downtown Manhattan, grew up in the area, have lived in NYC all my adult life, and have landed at nearly every airport in NJ.

One thing you have to ask yourself is do you want fly out a glider community? or is any airport OK?

If you want a glider community, then you have already heard from the people in this group.

If you're happy with a "airplane airport," then you're right, Lincoln Park is a good non-towered airport, but it is still a fair trip from Manhattan.

Another alternative is (and I can hear the groans now) Linden airport. Its a fairly quiet airport, has a low volume, and is mostly used by commercial heli ops in NJ. The challenge is that it sits underneath an 800ft shelf of Newark's Class B, and 3 miles south of the surface area. Since you have a PPL, the radios and navigation should be no problem for you. Its a very quick trip to Linden from downtown Manhattan, and there are hangars and tiedowns.

The travel times mentioned to Blairsdown, Wurstburo, or Middletown are accurate, but they are best case only on if the timing is right. You could make it all the way from Blairstown to the Holland Tunnel in 45 minutes, and then wait 30-45 minutes at the tunnel toll. I know this because my in-laws live right near there.

Good luck with your move, and feel free to contact me if you want to chat privately about being a NYC-based pilot.

http://skyvector.com/?ll=40.584749907033896,-74.0972311051955&chart=119&zoom=3

[[email protected]]

On Tuesday, December 23, 2014 9:14:02 AM UTC-5, Bob Pasker wrote:
> On Saturday, December 6, 2014 3:08:20 AM UTC-5, albs wrote:
> > I live in Europe and will be relocating to New York City next spring. Which would be the closest airfield where I could keep a SLMG (doesn't necessarily need to be a glider club) or the closets airfield where gliders are operated (which and/or tow)? Any that you'd recommend in particular?
> > thank you
>
> I live in downtown Manhattan, grew up in the area, have lived in NYC all my adult life, and have landed at nearly every airport in NJ.
>
> One thing you have to ask yourself is do you want fly out a glider community? or is any airport OK?
>
> If you want a glider community, then you have already heard from the people in this group.
>
> If you're happy with a "airplane airport," then you're right, Lincoln Park is a good non-towered airport, but it is still a fair trip from Manhattan..
>
> Another alternative is (and I can hear the groans now) Linden airport. Its a fairly quiet airport, has a low volume, and is mostly used by commercial heli ops in NJ. The challenge is that it sits underneath an 800ft shelf of Newark's Class B, and 3 miles south of the surface area. Since you have a PPL, the radios and navigation should be no problem for you. Its a very quick trip to Linden from downtown Manhattan, and there are hangars and tiedowns.
>
> The travel times mentioned to Blairsdown, Wurstburo, or Middletown are accurate, but they are best case only on if the timing is right. You could make it all the way from Blairstown to the Holland Tunnel in 45 minutes, and then wait 30-45 minutes at the tunnel toll. I know this because my in-laws live right near there.
>
> Good luck with your move, and feel free to contact me if you want to chat privately about being a NYC-based pilot.
>
> http://skyvector.com/?ll=40.584749907033896,-74.0972311051955&chart=119&zoom=3

I live 5 minutes from Lincoln Park airport and do not consider it suitable for any but the most powerful of self launch sailplanes. This is due to size as well as the airport environment. There are no options if something does not go right.
As to flying out of Linden, I would presume that the thought is to fly a touring motor glider out of there. Flying a true self launch sailplane would seem to make very little sense, given the constraints on exiting and entering the airspace. Flying a soaring type final glide into there would be folly.
FWIW
UH

[Bob Pasker]

agreed. I should have been more specific

On Tuesday, December 23, 2014 4:13:53 PM UTC-5, wrote:
> On Tuesday, December 23, 2014 9:14:02 AM UTC-5, Bob Pasker wrote:
> > On Saturday, December 6, 2014 3:08:20 AM UTC-5, albs wrote:
> > > I live in Europe and will be relocating to New York City next spring. Which would be the closest airfield where I could keep a SLMG (doesn't necessarily need to be a glider club) or the closets airfield where gliders are operated (which and/or tow)? Any that you'd recommend in particular?
> > > thank you
> >
> > I live in downtown Manhattan, grew up in the area, have lived in NYC all my adult life, and have landed at nearly every airport in NJ.
> >
> > One thing you have to ask yourself is do you want fly out a glider community? or is any airport OK?
> >
> > If you want a glider community, then you have already heard from the people in this group.
> >
> > If you're happy with a "airplane airport," then you're right, Lincoln Park is a good non-towered airport, but it is still a fair trip from Manhattan.
> >
> > Another alternative is (and I can hear the groans now) Linden airport. Its a fairly quiet airport, has a low volume, and is mostly used by commercial heli ops in NJ. The challenge is that it sits underneath an 800ft shelf of Newark's Class B, and 3 miles south of the surface area. Since you have a PPL, the radios and navigation should be no problem for you. Its a very quick trip to Linden from downtown Manhattan, and there are hangars and tiedowns.
> >
> > The travel times mentioned to Blairsdown, Wurstburo, or Middletown are accurate, but they are best case only on if the timing is right. You could make it all the way from Blairstown to the Holland Tunnel in 45 minutes, and then wait 30-45 minutes at the tunnel toll. I know this because my in-laws live right near there.
> >
> > Good luck with your move, and feel free to contact me if you want to chat privately about being a NYC-based pilot.
> >
> > http://skyvector.com/?ll=40.584749907033896,-74.0972311051955&chart=119&zoom=3
>
> I live 5 minutes from Lincoln Park airport and do not consider it suitable for any but the most powerful of self launch sailplanes. This is due to size as well as the airport environment. There are no options if something does not go right.
> As to flying out of Linden, I would presume that the thought is to fly a touring motor glider out of there. Flying a true self launch sailplane would seem to make very little sense, given the constraints on exiting and entering the airspace. Flying a soaring type final glide into there would be folly.
> FWIW
> UH

[MNLou]

@Bob - Welcome to the tribe! One thing I would strongly suggest is working through your B,C, Bronze, and Silver badges. The requirements for each badge get you increasingly prepared for cross country flight.

Lou

[[email protected]]

On Saturday, December 6, 2014 3:08:20 AM UTC-5, albs wrote:
> I live in Europe and will be relocating to New York City next spring. Which would be the closest airfield where I could keep a SLMG (doesn't necessarily need to be a glider club) or the closets airfield where gliders are operated (which and/or tow)? Any that you'd recommend in particular?
> thank you

What type of glider are you planning on operating?
UH

[[email protected]]

Hi Alberto,
Where did you end up flying from at the end ?
Dan

On Saturday, December 6, 2014 at 3:08:20 AM UTC-5, albs wrote:
> I live in Europe and will be relocating to New York City next spring. Which would be the closest airfield where I could keep a SLMG (doesn't necessarily need to be a glider club) or the closets airfield where gliders are operated (which and/or tow)? Any that you'd recommend in particular?
> thank you

[albs]

Haven't decided yet - went a couple times to Blairstown and I liked it very much so will probably we there, but the drive from where I live is a bit long (1.5h). If you have a slmg you could potentially try Somerset which is 1h from Manhattan. I fly power from Lincoln park (40 mins from Manhattan) - impossible there with a slmg. Best - alberto