Alton Ice Airport

upthesaukee · 01-05-2010, 03:41 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, 09:55 PM

Cool story. Thanks for posting.

dbahn · 01-06-2010, 10:22 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, 08:49 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, 09:11 AM

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

dbahn · 01-07-2010, 09:40 AM

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

RLW · 01-07-2010, 03:03 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, 08:55 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, 11:30 AM

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, 11:44 AM

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, 12:59 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, 01:24 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, 03:27 PM

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

NHgirl · 01-08-2010, 05:04 PM

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

RLW · 01-08-2010, 06:04 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.

riverat · 01-08-2010, 06:24 PM

Hi I am Riverat and I have the bobhouse just left of the runway in the picture above, been there the last few years. Watched Paul and his crew work on the runway from 7:30am until 4:30pm today and they did an excellent job, the layout is a little different than previous years and Paul believes it is going to be much better navigating in and out than before. The parking area is huge, plenty of room for lots of planes so come on down! I believe he is openning it tomorrow.
Again as always, stop in for a cup of hot chocolate or coffee or tea.

NoBozo · 01-08-2010, 07:29 PM

A fully fueled Cessna 172 (All Metal Aircraft) weighs about 1700 pounds. ... 240 pounds of that is fuel. A Piper J-3 as in the picture weighs ..(All Fabric) ..what..? Havn't looked it up but my guess would be around 850 pounds.

A late model 4x4 Toyota Tacoma Pickup weighs about 4000 pounds. I'm guessing a snowmobile weighs about 450 pounds....add the rider. Just throwing out some numbers for reference........for those that are interested in details.

NB

PS: I would really like to hear from the J-3 Pilot as to the all up weight of the J-3.

dbahn · 01-09-2010, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoBozo

PS: I would really like to hear from the J-3 Pilot as to the all up weight of the J-3.

Since the Cub is currently classified in the Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) category its maximum takeoff gross weight has to be under 1320 pounds. That is my Cub in the photos, and I don't even know the exact empty weights and gross weights without checking the manual, but your estimate is very close.

Keep in mind that the trucks distribute the weight onto 4 wheels, while most of the aircraft weight is on 2 of the three wheels, but even several inches of clear ice can easily support most airplanes. The FAA requires a considerable margin of safety to approve Alton Bay as an "ice airport", partly due to differences in the quality of ice and partly just because they are the FAA.

When the runway is officially open, it will be published in a NOTAM ("notice to airmen"). I haven't checked those yet, but I imagine one will be appearing soon.

EDIT: According to the NOTAM the airport is open, with a call to confirm.

Quote:

01/101 - AD OPEN ICE RUNWAY 2600 LONG BY 90 WIDE WITH
PARALLEL TXY ON EAST SIDE CTC FBO 603-875-3498 FOR CURRENT FIELD
CONDITONS. 08 JAN 23:37 2010 UNTIL UFN. CREATED: 08 JAN 23:27 2010

WAY TO GO, GUYS! Thanks.

Iceguy · 01-08-2010, 07:49 PM

Hi Riverat,glad to see you out there today.And thankyou for the vote of confidence. The way we plowed today is as close as we could get to the d.o.t. map.So we are open. dbahn, we are ready for your test run!!! But we had some lite snow after we plowed about 1". I'm looking forward to seeing you and all the pilots and ice fisherman. talk to you soon Paul!

upthesaukee · 01-08-2010, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iceguy

Hi Riverat,glad to see you out there today.And thankyou for the vote of confidence. The way we plowed today is as close as we could get to the d.o.t. map.So we are open. dbahn, we are ready for your test run!!! But we had some lite snow after we plowed about 1". I'm looking forward to seeing you and all the pilots and ice fisherman. talk to you soon Paul!

Paul, thanks for all you and your partners do for the bay, the town, and the guests who join us here. Nice to see the runway plowed, and glad that we start to see our aviation friends start to arrive. Unfortunately, tomorrow's forecast is for pretty high winds, not the greatest thing for landing on ice.

Dave

01-07-2010, 08:49 AM	#4
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, 11:30 AM	#9
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, 03:27 PM	#13
wadden Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 77 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.

01-08-2010, 05:04 PM	#14
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).

01-08-2010, 06:24 PM	#16
riverat Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Alton, NH Posts: 722 Thanks: 337 Thanked 280 Times in 123 Posts	Hi I am Riverat and I have the bobhouse just left of the runway in the picture above, been there the last few years. Watched Paul and his crew work on the runway from 7:30am until 4:30pm today and they did an excellent job, the layout is a little different than previous years and Paul believes it is going to be much better navigating in and out than before. The parking area is huge, plenty of room for lots of planes so come on down! I believe he is openning it tomorrow. Again as always, stop in for a cup of hot chocolate or coffee or tea. __________________ Waking up in the morning is the greatest, everything after that is a bonus

01-05-2010, 09:55 PM	#2
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, 09:11 AM	#5
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, 09:40 AM	#6
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, 08:55 AM	#8
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, 11:44 AM	#10
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, 12:59 PM	#11
Slickcraft Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Welch Island and The Taylor Community Posts: 3,296 Thanks: 1,222 Thanked 2,080 Times in 952 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, 01:24 PM	#12
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, 07:29 PM	#17
NoBozo Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Portsmouth. RI Posts: 2,231 Thanks: 400 Thanked 460 Times in 308 Posts	Plane Weight A fully fueled Cessna 172 (All Metal Aircraft) weighs about 1700 pounds. ... 240 pounds of that is fuel. A Piper J-3 as in the picture weighs ..(All Fabric) ..what..? Havn't looked it up but my guess would be around 850 pounds. A late model 4x4 Toyota Tacoma Pickup weighs about 4000 pounds. I'm guessing a snowmobile weighs about 450 pounds....add the rider. Just throwing out some numbers for reference........for those that are interested in details. NB PS: I would really like to hear from the J-3 Pilot as to the all up weight of the J-3.

01-08-2010, 07:49 PM	#19
Iceguy Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Alton Bay, NH Posts: 28 Thanks: 1 Thanked 19 Times in 4 Posts	Alton Bay b18 runway Hi Riverat,glad to see you out there today.And thankyou for the vote of confidence. The way we plowed today is as close as we could get to the d.o.t. map.So we are open. dbahn, we are ready for your test run!!! But we had some lite snow after we plowed about 1". I'm looking forward to seeing you and all the pilots and ice fisherman. talk to you soon Paul!