Charley's damage..... The Lakeland airport is west of worst damage.

Clips from newspaper articles
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http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.d...KING/408140439

First light Saturday confirmed in jaw-dropping detail what Polk County
residents and rescue crews already suspected: Hurricane Charley left a
15-mile wide swath of often severe damage, stretching roughly from
Bartow to Frostproof and north through Haines City and the Four
Corners area.

Lake Wales appeared to endure the worst of the storm, which buffeted
parts of the county with 100 mph winds and killed at least two people,
according to police and public safety officials.
..........
The Lake Wales Municipal Airport was virtually "obliterated" by the
storm winds, sheriff's officials reported.

........
The Lakeland area was largely spared the worst of the storm, though
falling trees did cause damage to homes and vehicles. Several large
oaks fell in the area around Lake Hollingsworth.
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Orlando Sentinal

Charley also flipped about 40 of the private planes parked at Orlando
Executive Airport, so damage estimates are likely to be in the
millions.

A large, vintage DC3 also lifted off from its moorings in the high
winds Friday night and plowed through two sets of metal airport
hangers filled with planes.

Kim Showalter, who with her husband, Bob, owns Showalter Flying
Service at the airport, said damage at the field was the worst since
the flying service started in 1945.

....
The Lake Wales Airport, famous for its skydiving facility, was
destroyed with most of its aluminum hangars blown across the site.


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Palm Beach Post......

The Lake Wales Municipal Airport, southwest of the town, took one of
Charley's strongest punches in Polk County. All of the small airport's
hangars were badly damaged and will have to be destroyed and rebuilt.

The largest hangar, which belongs to the Florida Skydiving Center, had
its roof collapse. The group made seven jumps Friday before the storm
approached, then put the skydivers put their lone plane inside the
hangar. A gust of wind later pushed the plane several yards forward,
just before a ceiling beam fell to the floor, right where the plane
had been parked.

"The entire skydiving community will help us rebuild," said aircraft
mechanic and Lake Wales resident Tim Meyer.

Mark Gibson, who builds self-powered ultralight planes at the
airport, lost his main hangar as well. After surveying the damage,
which included several of the small aircraft that had been tossed
about by the strong winds before landing upsidedown or on their noses,
Gibson quardened off his hangar with a homemade sign: "No
Tresspassing, Insured by Smith and Wesson."

Betsy