Chester (3B9)
Chester, CT (3 mi)
New York Sectional
Elevation: 416
Very nice FBO (munchies on weekends). They will get you a taxi into Chester,
or, better yet, into Essex. Visit the Griswold Inn for a dinner or lunch (a bit expensive)
with plenty of ambiance. You can ride the Essex Steam Train up along the Connecticut River
to Deep River and then take the Steamboat ride to the Goodspeed Opera House (see Goodspeed
Airport), passing Gillette Castle on the way. In Essex itself, besides the restaurant,
there are many shops and a small mariners museum. A good town to wander in on a
summer’s day. (gv/ked 9/94)
Danbury Municipal (DXR)
Danbury, CT (3 mi)
New York Sectional
Elevation: 458
Danbury has interesting IFR approaches as well
as an interesting VFR approach to runway 35 (long final is tucked between two mountains).
Be careful, the tower cannot see you when you are on base-to-final for 35, or when you are
on left downwind for 26 because of those mountains! Chuck’s Steakhouse is about a
mile from the airport and worth the walking trip across several major roads (I
wouldn’t recommend the walk with children). There are two FBO’s on the field.
The one at the 26 end is small but friendly. A restaurant next door has changed hands
several times; all of the owners have provided good food, but I don’t know its
current state. The FBO on the 34-19 corner is much bigger and has more pilot services but
no food. Rumor has it that there’s also a Chinese restaurant nearby. The Danbury Mall
is on final for 17, so if you need a quick present, walk on over. Remember that Carmel VOR
(CMK) is now in DXR’s airspace. (gv/ked 9/96)
Goodspeed Airport (42B)
East Haddam, CT (1 mi)
NY Sectional
Elevation: 9
The Goodspeed Airport is right along the Connecticut River,
about 10 miles from Long Island Sound. There is a drawbridge immediately on takeoff to the
Northwest, followed by power lines. The Goodspeed Opera House is right off the end of the
field and the Gilston House restaurant is right next door. The restaurant gets mixed
reviews. Cruises to Long Island leave from the boat dock across the river. Also, the
Gillette Castle, not within walking distance, is nearby and houses the Sherlock Holmes
Society. (9/96)
Bradley International Airport (BDL)
Windsor Locks, CT (3 mi)
New York Sectional
Elevation: 174
Bradley has the New England Air Museum on the field (with
both housed displays and hands-on climb-in displays outside, but it is quite a walk around
the airport (203-623-3305). Park at Corporate Air and have them give you a lift to the
museum. There is no food within walking distance, so you might want to combine this trip
with a stop in Danbury or Hartford for lunch. (ked 9/96)
[ AZ | CO | CT
| DC | DE | GA | MA | MD | ME ]
[ NC | NH | NJ | NM | NY | PA | RI | UT | VA | VT
]
[ Return ]