There are still visibility markers up on the power lines along Crystal Falls Parkway aligned with the south approach of this former grass strip in 2024!
If you're gonna get a "hundred dollar burger", hard to beat Gate 12 Bar and Grill, which has unobstructed window seating for planespotters. Last time I was here (before COVID), the waitstaff showed me their photos of an L-39 that popped through here -- USAF and USN military trainers (T-6, T-38, T-44, T-45) are a very common sight here and much easier to see and photograph than in Austin.
I flew in here in about 1994 doing a CAP border recce. I have to say it was the scariest thing I'd ever been a part of in civil aviation. The PIC "Dave" had been there multiple times before. The brush along the sides of the runway was so high that a low wing plane would not have been able to land there. They said it was 30 feet wide,but it was more like 10-15 feet wide. We landed to the NW, uphill. After landing we taxied back and shut down. The treat about this place was that the owner had a one table "restaurant" at the bottom. He came out and fixed us lunch.The owner apparently used to work as a geologist right across the border.
The takeoff was rather interesting. It took almost full power to taxi up to the top of the hill. We prepped for a SE departure, Short Field flaps (C-172/180hp) held the brakes, full power. The upper portion of the runway (RY11 I think) was flat, with what seemed like a precipitous drop off after about 500'. The C172 basically just flew off the edge and kept flying. A sharp left to stay inside US airspace and we were off!
I never went back, but I will also never forget it. All the rest of the airports we landed at that trip were easy in comparison.
Im sorry to see it closed, now with 4000 more hours than I had then (150 hours then) I'd definitely try it again.The food was pretty good too.
The FAA and AirNav coordinates placed this incorrectly well to the north, but a chance spot of N7802K (private Cessna 180J Skywagon) observed taking off from there on 17 Feb 2023 finally solved this mystery
This dirt airstrip serves ETG Ranch (aka Eldorado Training Grounds), a military and law enforcement training facility on the former YFZ (Yearning for Zion) Ranch owned and operated by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS) polygamist sect. This is newer aviation facility that did not exist during the YFZ era.
I was able to access this field via ground transportation during a previous visit to Bastrop in 2017-2019; it's a pretty rudimentary and obviously private grass strip, little more than a mowed patch of grass beaten down by plane tires. But it's definitely there.
Lots of signage warning pedestrians and motorists going into the adjacent parking garage of the "Helicopter Landing Zone". Rotor wash here must be all sorts of fun.
Landed here tonight just to see what this airport was all about. Name probably comes in part from the golf course just to the north of the field. Smoothest runway ever.
9X1 is the best kept secret! A great place to learn and practice at. Jay Yeagar at Right Stuff Flight School is an amazing instructor. The taxiways are a little beaten up but the runway is decent.
Dropped in on a Sunday afternoon and basically had the field to ourselves. Nice FBO, friendly people, took the courtesy car into town for a burger at Willys Burger... a pretty darn good burger and only about a 9 minute drive from the field. Fuel prices were reasonable.
Texas, United States
Wikipedia
Latest comments about airports in Texas, United States
Open 1976-2014
🔗 Wed, 03 Jul 2024
— @animebirder at Kittie Hill Airport, United States
It is very weird to make DoorDash deliveries in a samey, bland neighborhood that used to be a thriving grass airfield.
Long gone but ...
🔗 Wed, 03 Jul 2024
— @animebirder at Pegasus Place Airstrip, United States
There are still visibility markers up on the power lines along Crystal Falls Parkway aligned with the south approach of this former grass strip in 2024!
Aggieland's Best
🔗 Wed, 03 Jul 2024
— @animebirder at Easterwood Field, United States
If you're gonna get a "hundred dollar burger", hard to beat Gate 12 Bar and Grill, which has unobstructed window seating for planespotters. Last time I was here (before COVID), the waitstaff showed me their photos of an L-39 that popped through here -- USAF and USN military trainers (T-6, T-38, T-44, T-45) are a very common sight here and much easier to see and photograph than in Austin.
DFW
🔗 Sat, 06 Jan 2024
— @DH at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, United States
I read all the moaning , it's a pity JFK didn't land here instead of "Love Field"
HUGE AIRPORT
🔗 Tue, 21 Nov 2023
— @rstan at Corpus Christi International Airport, United States
Refueled here before going to Mexico
Excellent FBO
Good fuel prices
Very Nice FBO
🔗 Tue, 21 Nov 2023
— @rstan at East Texas Regional Airport, United States
I would use this airport for a stopover again
Future Chennault Field
🔗 Thu, 16 Nov 2023
— @animebirder at Cut and Shoot Airport, United States
This is the original 1970s crop dusting airport whose footprint would later be reused as the basis for 2020s Chennault Field.
Active air force base...
🔗 Fri, 27 Oct 2023
— @animebirder at Goodfellow Air Force Base, United States
... but inactive aviation facilities.
Repurposed duplicate heading
🔗 Fri, 27 Oct 2023
— @animebirder at Blackwell PZ, United States
Repurposed duplicate to cover a different aviation facility in central Texas.
Heath canyon
🔗 Wed, 25 Oct 2023
— @TomcatDoc at Heath Canyon Airport, United States
I flew in here in about 1994 doing a CAP border recce. I have to say it was the scariest thing I'd ever been a part of in civil aviation. The PIC "Dave" had been there multiple times before. The brush along the sides of the runway was so high that a low wing plane would not have been able to land there. They said it was 30 feet wide,but it was more like 10-15 feet wide. We landed to the NW, uphill. After landing we taxied back and shut down. The treat about this place was that the owner had a one table "restaurant" at the bottom. He came out and fixed us lunch.The owner apparently used to work as a geologist right across the border.
The takeoff was rather interesting. It took almost full power to taxi up to the top of the hill. We prepped for a SE departure, Short Field flaps (C-172/180hp) held the brakes, full power. The upper portion of the runway (RY11 I think) was flat, with what seemed like a precipitous drop off after about 500'. The C172 basically just flew off the edge and kept flying. A sharp left to stay inside US airspace and we were off!
I never went back, but I will also never forget it. All the rest of the airports we landed at that trip were easy in comparison.
Im sorry to see it closed, now with 4000 more hours than I had then (150 hours then) I'd definitely try it again.The food was pretty good too.
Terrible
🔗 Sun, 06 Aug 2023
— Anonymous Flyer at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, United States
DFW is terrible, every time I go my bags either get lost or stuck at the airport. My flights always get delayed at least 2 hours 0/10
Mystery solved
🔗 Thu, 29 Jun 2023
— @animebirder at Del Valle Airport, United States
The FAA and AirNav coordinates placed this incorrectly well to the north, but a chance spot of N7802K (private Cessna 180J Skywagon) observed taking off from there on 17 Feb 2023 finally solved this mystery
Duplicate
🔗 Thu, 29 Jun 2023
— @animebirder at Blackwell PZ, United States
Turns out this is the actual location of TA55 Del Valle, whose FAA coordinates were way too far north.
Not a typo
🔗 Fri, 10 Mar 2023
— @animebirder at Rememberance Airport, United States
While autocorrect and my own instincts tell me this should be "Remembrance", this is indeed the spelling used in AirNav, AOPA, and all other sources.
Provisional name for unnamed airstrip
🔗 Fri, 17 Feb 2023
— @animebirder at Blackwell PZ, United States
N7802K (private Cessna 180J Skywagon) was observed taking off from this previously unlisted and unnamed airstrip on 17 Feb 2023.
Former YFZ Ranch (FLDS)
🔗 Thu, 19 Jan 2023
— @animebirder at ETG Ranch Airport, United States
This dirt airstrip serves ETG Ranch (aka Eldorado Training Grounds), a military and law enforcement training facility on the former YFZ (Yearning for Zion) Ranch owned and operated by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS) polygamist sect. This is newer aviation facility that did not exist during the YFZ era.
Report from personal visit
🔗 Tue, 08 Nov 2022
— @animebirder at Utley Field, United States
I was able to access this field via ground transportation during a previous visit to Bastrop in 2017-2019; it's a pretty rudimentary and obviously private grass strip, little more than a mowed patch of grass beaten down by plane tires. But it's definitely there.
Closed 2022
🔗 Tue, 01 Nov 2022
— @animebirder at The Carter Memorial Airport, United States
This airport closed very recently. Wonder if they've gotten the skydiving King Air out of there since I last visited in February.
re: Sad that this is now slated to be closed soon!
🔗 Tue, 01 Nov 2022
— @animebirder at Grawunder Field, United States
Reply to @shumphries: Seems like a tough time for Texas country airports. I saw this happen to Luling Carter Field last year.
LSA Fly-Ins
🔗 Mon, 17 Oct 2022
— @animebirder at Dublin Municipal Airport, United States
Attended the small light sport aircraft fly-in here in March 2022, their website lists this as twice a year, so keep your eyes peeled!
Great airpark!
🔗 Sun, 28 Aug 2022
— @shumphries at Fair Weather Field, United States
Flew in today for an open house for a couple of the properties on the field. Nice place!
re: Please fix
🔗 Fri, 19 Aug 2022
— @david at Trap Travelstead Field, United States
Reply to @emes: Done
Please fix
🔗 Fri, 19 Aug 2022
— @emes at Trap Travelstead Field, United States
@david could you please edit
AOE
🔗 Fri, 06 May 2022
— @rstan at South Texas International at Edinburg Airport, United States
It is an AOE but you need to obtain an Overflight Permission to use it as an AOE
Took us about 20 minutes to clear custom
Very friendly
Runway Cafe
🔗 Tue, 29 Mar 2022
— @animebirder at Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport, United States
I've never seen an airport diner that served pad thai before. Or mariscos. On the same menu as your classic burgers and steaks, and all excellent!
Misplaced all along.
🔗 Mon, 13 Dec 2021
— @animebirder at Seidel Ranch Airport, United States
The FAA had this misplaced the whole time.
Sad that this is now slated to be closed soon!
🔗 Fri, 19 Nov 2021
— @shumphries at Grawunder Field, United States
Sad that this is now slated to be closed! I visited 11-19-21 so I could have it in my logbook before it's gone...
Currently known as Moonbow...
🔗 Thu, 30 Sep 2021
— @TexasTailwheel at Moonbow Field, United States
http://www.moonbowllc.net/
Closed
🔗 Wed, 29 Sep 2021
— @animebirder at Heath Canyon Airport, United States
Airnav and FAA now list this as CLOSED INDEFINITELY so there we go.
Army National Guard Helicopter LZ
🔗 Sun, 27 Jun 2021
— @animebirder at Walter E Long Metropolitan Park Emergency Helicopter Landing Zone, United States
Used for landings in support of frequent Texas ANG helicopter operations at this lake.
Corrected.
🔗 Thu, 24 Jun 2021
— @animebirder at Ryan Aerodrome, United States
It only took a decade ... but yeah, we're all good here now.
Update
🔗 Sat, 15 May 2021
— @animebirder at Hempstead Gliderport, United States
Signed as closed and for sale. Gliderport field is overgrown and now dotted with bushes. Checked in-person 15 May 2021.
Repurposing duplicate
🔗 Tue, 11 May 2021
— @animebirder at Cogdell Memorial Hospital Heliport, United States
Reusing Snyder Airport duplicate to cover nearby hospital heliport.
Great AIrport
🔗 Wed, 05 May 2021
— @rstan at Baytown Airport, United States
Quick fuel turnaround
Great Ranch!
🔗 Sat, 17 Apr 2021
— @wolfgangx at Ox Ranch Airport, United States
Highly recommend, permission required to land but definitely a great place to visit! Go on a safari and shoot a flamethrower!
(no subject)
🔗 Sun, 20 Dec 2020
— @animebirder at Leming Heliport, United States
Recently paved and painted as of 20 Dec 2020. No perimeter fence, directly adjacent to FM 1470 to the south, private residences to the north.
well that's a tight fit
🔗 Thu, 17 Dec 2020
— @animebirder at Seton Medical Center H-4 Heliport, United States
Lots of signage warning pedestrians and motorists going into the adjacent parking garage of the "Helicopter Landing Zone". Rotor wash here must be all sorts of fun.
Utley Field Located.
🔗 Thu, 08 Oct 2020
— @animebirder at Utley Field, United States
I've moved the GPS coordinates to the location of this private strip.
re: NDB HRD 524 to be dcommissioned
🔗 Wed, 19 Aug 2020
— @david at Hawthorne Field, United States
Reply to @KPC6NDB: removed -- thanks.
Great spot!
🔗 Sun, 16 Aug 2020
— @shumphries at North Houston Airport, United States
Landed here for the first time today, despite having flown around Houston for 20 years. Cozy spot. Nice drop-in over the trees onto 17. Will return!
Smoothest asphalt around!
🔗 Thu, 23 Jul 2020
— @shumphries at Shank N Bank Airport, United States
Landed here tonight just to see what this airport was all about. Name probably comes in part from the golf course just to the north of the field. Smoothest runway ever.
Closed
🔗 Wed, 17 Jun 2020
— @animebirder at Seidel Ranch Airport, United States
Listed owner deceased 2000, no sign of aviation activity here in the last 20 years.
Great airport - Fantastic Service
🔗 Mon, 15 Jun 2020
— @rstan at Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport, United States
I had to stay unexpectedly here waiting out thunderstorms
Great people
Very helpful and CHEAP fuel
Loved this place!
🔗 Sat, 13 Jun 2020
— @shumphries at Cibolo Creek Ranch Airport, United States
Lover the air strip and the accomodations. Took a photo there that's the home page of my web site, www.humphriesaviation.com
Sad to see it go!
🔗 Sat, 13 Jun 2020
— @shumphries at Luck Field, United States
This was one of the first cross-countries I made after earning my license in 1992. Looks like it closed shortly thereafter. You can read about it here: http://airfields-freeman.com/TX/Airfields_TX_FtWorth_SW.htm#luck
NDB HRD 524 to be dcommissioned
🔗 Wed, 05 Feb 2020
— @KPC6NDB at Hawthorne Field, United States
TEXAS NFDD 025 - 173 02/06/2020
KOUNTZE SILSBEE
HARDIN COUNTY NDB
IDENT HRD
LAT 30-20-10.767 N
LONG 094-15-37.287 W
NAVAID STATUS DECOMMISSIONED MODIFIED
RMK DECOMMISSIONED EFFECTIVE 26 MAR 2020. NOTE
Best kept secret
🔗 Sat, 22 Dec 2018
— Anonymous Flyer at North Houston Airport, United States
9X1 is the best kept secret! A great place to learn and practice at. Jay Yeagar at Right Stuff Flight School is an amazing instructor. The taxiways are a little beaten up but the runway is decent.
Nice spot to drop in
🔗 Sun, 16 Dec 2018
— @TXRuss at Beaumont Municipal Airport, United States
Dropped in on a Sunday afternoon and basically had the field to ourselves. Nice FBO, friendly people, took the courtesy car into town for a burger at Willys Burger... a pretty darn good burger and only about a 9 minute drive from the field. Fuel prices were reasonable.
Name Change
🔗 Tue, 12 Jun 2018
— Anonymous Flyer at Maurice Dauwe Farm Airport, United States
Wrong name, should be : Alderman Farm Airport
History
🔗 Fri, 01 Jun 2018
— @Bill35 at Victory Field, United States
https://web.archive.org/web/20151224204056/https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/qcv01
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