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Virginia Tech Airport: Difference between revisions
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Virginia Tech Airport began as an unnamed flying field in a farmer's pasture in 1913. In 1929, members of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute's engineering program surveyed and found the plot was large enough to accommodate a two-runway airfield. In July of that year, the Virginia Highway Department began work on the airfield, which was then called VPI Airport. By year's end, the construction came to an end, yielding an airport | Virginia Tech Airport began as an unnamed flying field in a farmer's pasture in 1913. In 1929, members of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute's engineering program surveyed and found the plot was large enough to accommodate a two-runway airfield. In July of that year, the Virginia Highway Department began work on the airfield, which was then called VPI Airport. By year's end, the construction came to an end, yielding an airport that could accommodate the larger aircraft of the time. The airport officially opened in 1931 as Virginia Tech Airport, with the hangar built in 1940. | ||
The field hosted the University's flight training program until 2004, when the flight school was disbanded prior to the airport being sold to the county. Despite the loss of the flight school, the airport is still the home of the Hokie Flying Club and several aircraft. The hangar has been replaced by a new terminal, but still serves as a shelter for several of the based aircraft, of which two are owned and operated by the University. | The field hosted the University's flight training program until 2004, when the flight school was disbanded prior to the airport being sold to the county. Despite the loss of the flight school, the airport is still the home of the Hokie Flying Club and several aircraft. The hangar has been replaced by a new terminal, but still serves as a shelter for several of the based aircraft, of which two are owned and operated by the University. | ||
The airfield has two runways: 12/30 and 06 | The airfield has two runways: 12/30 and 06/24 (Closed) | ||
The closest Commercial airport to Virginia Tech Airport is [[Roanoke Regional Airport | The closest Commercial airport to Virginia Tech Airport is [[Roanoke Regional Airport (ROA/KROA)]]. | ||
==Official Spotting Locations== | ==Official Spotting Locations== | ||
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===West Airport=== | ===West Airport=== | ||
There is a walking trail that runs from the | There is a walking trail that runs from the northwest end to the southeast end of the airport. There is a point on the trail that is only a few hundred feet from the threshold of runway 12. Depending on the type of traffic and the winds, you can get spectacular shots here. Since general aviation aircraft seldom use the entire runway, departures over this spot aren't spectacular, unless you have a good zoom. On game days, however, the airport attracts several jets that require a good amount of runway, which could yield amazing departure shots. Arrival shots are great from this spot, as it is on a small hill looking over the runway. | ||
To get to this spot, I | To get to this spot, I recommend parking in the airport lot and walking. Weekday and gameday parking in the nearby lots is heavily regulated by the campus parking services. | ||
===Southwest Airport=== | ===Southwest Airport=== | ||
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There are several locations on the Southeast side of the airport that could work for spotting. For shots of static aircraft, you may want to try walking over to the hangar. There is a fence there that will be in the way, however. If you walk past the hangar, there is a small grassy area from which you could get some nice shots of arrivals to runway 30. Depending on your location on the grassy plot, you may be dealing with the perimeter fence again. | There are several locations on the Southeast side of the airport that could work for spotting. For shots of static aircraft, you may want to try walking over to the hangar. There is a fence there that will be in the way, however. If you walk past the hangar, there is a small grassy area from which you could get some nice shots of arrivals to runway 30. Depending on your location on the grassy plot, you may be dealing with the perimeter fence again. | ||
For parking, see the comment in West Airport. You might get away with pulling off onto the grass on the Southeast side, if you are only staying for a few minutes, but I wouldn't | For parking, see the comment in West Airport. You might get away with pulling off onto the grass on the Southeast side, if you are only staying for a few minutes, but I wouldn't recommend walking out of eye-shot of your car. If you are nearby and the police drive by, they'll probably just tell you to move your car. If you're not there, they might leave a ticket. Your best bet is the airport parking lot. | ||
==Locations to Avoid== | ==Locations to Avoid== | ||
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===Based Traffic and Aircraft=== | ===Based Traffic and Aircraft=== | ||
*'''Virginia Tech Air Transportation Services''': Operates a Citation II and a Citation Ultra on an irregular schedule to various destinations. If you are looking for shots of these aircraft, you can find the | *'''Virginia Tech Air Transportation Services''': Operates a Citation II and a Citation Ultra on an irregular schedule to various destinations. If you are looking for shots of these aircraft, you can find the flight plans along with departure and arrival times on [http://flightaware.com FlightAware]. | ||
*'''Shelton Aviation''': The only official flight instruction operation on the field. Operates a Cessna 152. | *'''Shelton Aviation''': The only official flight instruction operation on the field. Operates a Cessna 152. | ||
*'''Hokie Flying Club''': Operates a Cessna 150 and a Piper Cherokee. | *'''Hokie Flying Club''': Operates a Cessna 150 and a Piper Cherokee. | ||