Aviation articles by Garth Wallace

The smallest airport

I always thought 50 acres was about minimum size for a private landing strip. It would have to be a long, skinny 50 acres at that, with little more than bushes at the ends.
My cousin Peter called and said he bought a small house in the country with a grass strip. He was excited.
"Garth, I couldn’t believe my luck when I found this place!"
At the time, Peter was living on a paramedic’s salary, had a daughter in college and owned a Cessna 150. The country place was outside of Chicago.
"Did you win the lottery?" I asked.
"No, it didn’t cost that much. The house needs fixing up but the strip is perfect."
"Wow, I’m jealous."
"You’ve got to fly down and check it out."
"How big are we talking?"
"Seven acres."
"Peter, you can’t land and takeoff a Cessna 150 on seven acres!"
"Sure I can. The strip is 2,500 feet long and 100 feet wide. It’s clear at one end. The house is at the other."

I went to see the place. I drove.
It really was a suitable strip for Peter’s Cessna. He had been more than lucky with his purchase. The runway and house made up the entire property but a sod farm surrounded it on three sides. There were no obstacles near the strip except the house and its service wires at the road end.
So there you go. An airport and house on seven acres, with the right neighbours.