Alton Ice Airport

This'nThat · 01-04-2010, 08:33 PM

Great article, ITD. It really describes the experience

Argie's Wife · 01-04-2010, 10:32 PM

A million thank yous for posting that clip! And many more thank yous to the crew that keeps the airport going. I love taking the kids to the Bay in the winter to watch the planes, helicopters, snowmobiles, etc. - there's nothing else like it.

One year, one of the helicopter pilots was so tickled with my oldest boy's reaction to his helicopter (the kid was only 3 at the time - the kid lives, eats, and breathes airplanes, jets, helicopters, etc., still) that he lifted him up to look inside and answered his questions about his machine. It was a special time - my son still remembers it several years later.

This is one of the many great things about Alton - but probably #1 on my list.

chipj29 · 01-05-2010, 08:55 AM

Great article!
Last year, there was an event when several planes flew in on the same day. Does anyone know if that is happening again this year? I would love to bring my son to see that, as he is a pilot just waiting to be old enough to fly.

Seeker · 01-05-2010, 12:39 PM

Nice video.
I read the article but didn't watch the video before.
Seeker, AOPA 384698

upthesaukee · 01-05-2010, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chipj29

Great article!
Last year, there was an event when several planes flew in on the same day. Does anyone know if that is happening again this year? I would love to bring my son to see that, as he is a pilot just waiting to be old enough to fly.

The fly-in has traditionally been on Presidents day weekend, on the Sunday, which also coincides with Alton's Winter Carnival, which by Parks and Rec's calendar is on the 14th of Feb.

samosetguy · 01-05-2010, 10:55 PM

Cool story. Thanks for posting.

dbahn · 01-06-2010, 11:22 AM

As one of the pilots (yellow Piper Cub in the avatar) who flew in several times last year and the year before, I can tell you that there's a lot of excitement among a group of us about the possibility of returning this year. On one of our aviation forums it seems someone posts a screenshot of the ice from the webcam almost daily, waiting to see when the process of clearing the surface actually begins. Friends from around the country watch the process with great envy, and we think someone is even coming from Kansas this year just to be part of it.

We all had a ball at the Winter Carnival last year. Many, many, many thanks to Paul and all of the other guys who put in all the effort to keep it alive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by upthesaukee

The fly-in has traditionally been on Presidents day weekend, on the Sunday, which also coincides with Alton's Winter Carnival, which by Parks and Rec's calendar is on the 14th of Feb.

BTW, if the airport is open and it looks a few days in advance that there will be a weather day like you had for the Carnival last year, I suspect that the internet network of interested pilots will create an impromptu fly-in that will involve "more planes than usual".

Iceguy · 01-07-2010, 09:49 AM

Hi everyone,
Glad to hear you are ready for the runway. It won't be long now, as we have been checking the ice daily. We have a little over 12" of ice. We just hope it gets colder and stays colder, as this will be good for the ice. We are hoping to plow this Friday, and set signs, windsock flag and runway markers. So that we can have State Inspection. Nice to hear you all enjoyed the article from the AOPA magazine.
See you on the Ice!
Paul

robmac · 01-07-2010, 10:11 AM

Thanks for the update Paul, look forward to it as always.

dbahn · 01-07-2010, 10:40 AM

Paul, let me know when you want a test landing.

RLW · 01-07-2010, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbahn

Paul, let me know when you want a test landing.

Great picture. Thanks for posting same.

Collybus · 01-08-2010, 09:55 AM

As noted by dbahn, there are many people monitoring the iceport's progress from afar!

Can't wait to fly in again this year.

RLW · 01-08-2010, 12:30 PM

The picture of them out doing there thing getting started for the runway is from the Spencer Hughes web cam taken this AM.

dbahn · 01-08-2010, 12:44 PM

Thanks. Ironically, I had just posted a similar picture on our pilot's board, taken maybe a little earlier this morning before the snow started.

Great to see the action!

Slickcraft · 01-08-2010, 01:59 PM

Yes we saw the two plow trucks out on the ice about 10:30 this morning.

As I recall, last year the fly boys offered the plow boys scenic plane rides as thanks for their efforts. Hopefully they will be so thanked again this year.

dbahn · 01-08-2010, 02:24 PM

That shouldn't be a problem. Last year I think they were too busy with the carnival to take us up on it.

wadden · 01-08-2010, 04:27 PM

How thick is the ice out there? I thought it wasn't safe for such large vehicles yet.

NHgirl · 01-08-2010, 06:04 PM

There is over a foot of ice most parts of the lake (Meredith and Alton).

RLW · 01-08-2010, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wadden

How thick is the ice out there? I thought it wasn't safe for such large vehicles yet.

Review thread #11 and you will see how thick. The runway was plowed today and the parking area also. The parking area looks a lot better than last year with more and straight area for parking.

01-05-2010, 08:55 AM	#3
chipj29 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bow Posts: 1,874 Thanks: 521 Thanked 308 Times in 162 Posts	Great article! Last year, there was an event when several planes flew in on the same day. Does anyone know if that is happening again this year? I would love to bring my son to see that, as he is a pilot just waiting to be old enough to fly. __________________ Getting ready for winter!

01-07-2010, 09:49 AM	#8
Iceguy Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Alton Bay, NH Posts: 28 Thanks: 1 Thanked 19 Times in 4 Posts	Alton Bay B18 Ice Runway Hi everyone, Glad to hear you are ready for the runway. It won't be long now, as we have been checking the ice daily. We have a little over 12" of ice. We just hope it gets colder and stays colder, as this will be good for the ice. We are hoping to plow this Friday, and set signs, windsock flag and runway markers. So that we can have State Inspection. Nice to hear you all enjoyed the article from the AOPA magazine. See you on the Ice! Paul

01-08-2010, 12:30 PM	#13
RLW Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Alton Bay on the mountain by a lake Posts: 2,023 Thanks: 563 Thanked 444 Times in 311 Posts	Alton airport The picture of them out doing there thing getting started for the runway is from the Spencer Hughes web cam taken this AM. Attached Images __________________ There is nothing better than living on Alton Mountain & our grand kids visits.

01-08-2010, 01:59 PM	#15
Slickcraft Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Welch Island and The Taylor Community Posts: 3,329 Thanks: 1,239 Thanked 2,118 Times in 968 Posts	Plow trucks Yes we saw the two plow trucks out on the ice about 10:30 this morning. As I recall, last year the fly boys offered the plow boys scenic plane rides as thanks for their efforts. Hopefully they will be so thanked again this year.

01-08-2010, 04:27 PM	#17
wadden Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 79 Thanks: 19 Thanked 14 Times in 7 Posts	Ice airport How thick is the ice out there? I thought it wasn't safe for such large vehicles yet.

01-04-2010, 08:33 PM	#1
This'nThat Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 534 Thanks: 19 Thanked 134 Times in 61 Posts	Great article, ITD. It really describes the experience

01-04-2010, 10:32 PM	#2
Argie's Wife Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Alton Posts: 1,908 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 533 Thanked 579 Times in 260 Posts	A million thank yous for posting that clip! And many more thank yous to the crew that keeps the airport going. I love taking the kids to the Bay in the winter to watch the planes, helicopters, snowmobiles, etc. - there's nothing else like it. One year, one of the helicopter pilots was so tickled with my oldest boy's reaction to his helicopter (the kid was only 3 at the time - the kid lives, eats, and breathes airplanes, jets, helicopters, etc., still) that he lifted him up to look inside and answered his questions about his machine. It was a special time - my son still remembers it several years later. This is one of the many great things about Alton - but probably #1 on my list.

01-05-2010, 12:39 PM	#4
Seeker Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Effingham Posts: 408 Thanks: 37 Thanked 19 Times in 15 Posts	Nice video. I read the article but didn't watch the video before. Seeker, AOPA 384698

01-05-2010, 10:55 PM	#6
samosetguy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 61 Thanks: 42 Thanked 35 Times in 14 Posts	Cool story. Thanks for posting.

01-07-2010, 10:11 AM	#9
robmac Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Nashua,Meredith Posts: 951 Thanks: 213 Thanked 106 Times in 81 Posts	Thanks for the update Paul, look forward to it as always.

01-07-2010, 10:40 AM	#10
dbahn Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Mendon, Vermont Posts: 39 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Paul, let me know when you want a test landing.

01-08-2010, 09:55 AM	#12
Collybus Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	As noted by dbahn, there are many people monitoring the iceport's progress from afar! Can't wait to fly in again this year.

01-08-2010, 12:44 PM	#14
dbahn Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Mendon, Vermont Posts: 39 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Thanks. Ironically, I had just posted a similar picture on our pilot's board, taken maybe a little earlier this morning before the snow started. Great to see the action!

01-08-2010, 02:24 PM	#16
dbahn Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Mendon, Vermont Posts: 39 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	That shouldn't be a problem. Last year I think they were too busy with the carnival to take us up on it.

01-08-2010, 06:04 PM	#18
NHgirl Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 93 Thanks: 7 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Ice conditions There is over a foot of ice most parts of the lake (Meredith and Alton).