Flying Site hunting...help

[denete]

Hi. I'm interested in knowing what you have found helpful in finding a flying site. Either for yourself or your club. My club is in the process of trying to secure a new site. We are starting from scratch, looking at every open field that we can find and talking with landowners in the hope of getting something that wont break the bank. What works?

I really need feedback on what has worked for you. Contracts? Leasing land? Government land? Benefactors? Lottery? Bingo? Reservation land? Help!

- David

[KevinW]

If you are starting a club, does any of the members farm? One of the guys who is a member of our club lets us use one of his hay fields for a marginal price.

[hlguy]

Wow, I'm in three clubs and this past year two of them lost our lease... we were in a panic, everybody searching every lead... news paper want adds... one failed and moved to another town about 12 miles away... the other one moved 12 miles in the other directions but lucked out by finding a farmer with 20 acres in a 20 year land bank. we worked a deal with him for 5 acres cut and the rest with over flight rights. but I'm still looking for something closer (also) toying with the idea of 2 hour commute to a club that has high sailplane interest... not but two or three Glider Guiders that I know of and they don't live close by.

kdb

[culiv]

Check out the phone book for turf (sod) farms. Club I flew w/ in Alb, NM flew off one. Owners were very glad to have us there as our presence on weekends and evenings discouraged theft and vandalism.