Local Flying Destination - Chesterfield, VA (FCI)

One of our favorite local flying destinations is Richmond Executive Airport (Chesterfield), identifier KFCI. In either the Champ or the Bellanca, it is an easy flight down there for Sunday breakfast. The flight down is typically pleasant, with views of downtown Richmond in the distance as you cross over the James River. Outside Richmond there are also some beautiful horse farms.

Richmond in the distance and the James River below

Huge horse farm outside Richmond

On Sundays, the restaurant on the field (King's Korner) has a country-style Sunday brunch. The food isn't bad, and there is a huge variety of it, but the best thing is parking on the ramp right outside the restaurant. You can watch your plane through the window as you eat.

Rudolph parked outside the restaurant

The crowd is typically a mix of people out for a Sunday brunch after church and pilots. Get there early (before about 11:30 or so) to avoid the huge lines when church gets out.

Back Home

A big milestone was bringing the Bellanca to my parents' place so they could see the new plane. We found a beautiful weekend in February to do this. This trip, which is normally 7-8 hours by car (if the traffic isn't too bad) or about 4.5 with Rudolph (including time to stop for fuel) was accomplished in one leg and under 2 hours with the Bellanca. Honestly, it didn't even feel like a real trip.

We took off on a beautiful morning and headed north.

The Pennsylvania countryside

River in central PA

A bit farther north, we found the snow!

It is definitely winter in New York

Wind turbines in the snow

We had wonderful weather for both the trip up and back. When we left, the weather was warming and the snow was melting.

Parked on the ramp with the melting snow

In under 2 hours, we were back at Warrenton cleaning the plane off! Visiting our families is certainly easier with the Bellanca!

Local Flying Destination - Hanover Municipal Airport (OFP)

Another local favorite hundred dollar hamburger destination is Hanover Municipal Airport (OFP) outside Richmond, VA. There is no restaurant on the field, but the Bass Pro Shop is "right across the street" as my friend put it. Unfortunately, that "street" is Interstate 95. Fortunately, the airport has a courtesy car that they will lend you to go "across the street" to Bass Pro's Islamorada Fish Company Restaurant. The food is pretty good, but it is about a 10 minute drive from the airport and the wait can be long. Especially with the large number of people who want to join the party once they hear where we are going.

The gaggle headed to Hanover County

It seems a bit mean to eat fish while you watch fish, but Bass Pro has lots of really neat aquariums

Rudolph with the group on the ramp during one trip

The Bellanca with the group on a different trip to Hanover