Allentown, PA (3 mi)
NY Sectional
Elevation: 394

Lehigh Valley has interesting IFR approaches. The Sheraton, right across from the airport, has delicious dinners and a Sunday brunch. Before you leave the field for the restaurant, check for the proper procedure to get back through the electric gate to your airplane. (10/89)

Bally, PA (1 mi)
NY Sectional
Elevation: 500

Butter Valley is located right in the middle of a golf course, so watch for golfers, balls, and carts. The restaurant serves reasonable food along with outstanding lemonade. It’s somewhat difficult to find, but if you look for the two lakes to the South that help locate it. (gv/ked/dd/md 9/94)

Bethel, PA (2 mi)
New York Sectional
Elevation: 582

Combine this with a stop at Farmer’s Pride just down the way. (10/89)

Bloomsburg, PA (0 mi)
New York Sectional
Elevation: 481

Bloomsburg is on the river (check out the flood marker on the access road to the airport). The Magee spread is no more—it’s been replaced by a humdrum burger place. Town is an easy walk. (psp 9/94)

Centre Hall, PA (4 mi)
Detroit Sectional
Elevation: 1260

This hard-to-find airport lies between two ridges. The only problem is ... which two ridges? Penn’s Cave, one of the only all-water caves in the east, is only about ½ mile away. You can take a boat ride through the cave to the lake on the other side. It is always cool inside, so be prepared. The snack bar is nothing special; picnic facilities are also available. (10/89)

Collegeville, PA (2 mi)
New York Sectional
Elevation: 277

It’s a cute little airport but it has quirks. First, the displaced threshold is not marked clearly (but the Facility Directory noted that it’s not marked). Once you’re on the ground, it’s a fun airport. The manager (who’s been there for 17 years) is very friendly, let’s you snoop round all the old planes. There’s a pilot’s lounge upstairs with a fireplace! Seems to be busier on the ground than in the air. Manager said he welcomes students solo, too. (6/84)

Easton, PA (3 mi)
New York Sectional
Elevation: 399

Besides the good avionics shop, the Bradens run a fine airport with full service. If you have to wait for your plane to be serviced, try walking south from the airport about a mile to the Forks Drive Inn for good food. (10/89)

Fredericksburg, PA (0 mi)
New York Sectional
Elevation: 495

Combine Farmer’s Pride with a trip to Grimes just up the way. (10/89)

Gettysburg Airport And Travel Center (W05)
[formerly Doersom]

Gettysburg, PA (2 mi)
Washington Sectional
Elevation: 590

The town of Gettysburg is only about a taxi ride away, or the airport owner will take you in and pick you up for a small fee. Tours of the historic district and museums are interesting. Tour bus people will pick you up for free. There are good Pennsylvania Dutch restaurants in town, and several Period restaurants (but bring your flashlight: the lights weren’t too good in those days!). (gv/ked/dd/md 9/94)

Hazleton, PA (2 mi)
New York Sectional
Elevation: 1603

Ernie’s Steakhouse is advertised on the bench outside the FBO. He serves great meals in a skillet (steak and eggs, steak and steak, etc.). To get to it, youll need to walk out the entrance to the road perpendicular to runway 28, then turn right. You’ll pass a giant cow’s head at the nearby diary that can be seen from the air, left base to 28, thus verifying that you are at the right field. Watch for parachutes dropping from the sky most weekends, directly onto the field. (gv/ked/dd/md 9/94)

Honesdale, PA (3 mi)
NY Sectional
Elevation: 1357

Cherry Ridge has a snack bar that is open on weekends and serves the best pies in the Northeast. (save a piece for the AVP controllers!) It also has the longest VOR approach imaginable. The narrow field of yesteryear is gone; the runway has been re-paved and is now 50 feet wide. (10/89)

Kutztown, PA (1 mi)
New York Sectional
Elevation: 512

Landing north brings you over the quarry and cornfield on short final, then you see the threshold as the runway drops away down the hill (and then up again). The east/west grass runway is well-kept. There is a diner on the north edge of the field (taxi right out front). If you have time, walk down to the east threshold of the grass runway—turn left on the road for a few hundred yards, then right on the path through the thicket to a large flea market field. The market is normally contained in the large, low buildings surrounded by parking lots to the southeast of the field. (Survey the area from above before you land.) The market has good PA Dutch food (meats, fruits, deli items, and sticky buns!) There is an antique flea market on Saturdays in the same location. We’ve picked up some real finds here—just remember you have to fit everything in the airplane to get home. (10/89)

Lancaster, PA (4 mi)
NY Sectional
Elevation: 403

Lancaster has interesting IFR approaches and simultaneous use of both runways. Nearby Lititz (not within walking distance) has a well-known inn and restaurant, the General Sutter Inn. The restaurant may pick you up at the airport. There is also a very good cafe on the field. Lancaster is in the middle of the Amish country, so you might want to rent a car and tour the area. Be aware that little to nothing is open on Sundays. (GV/KED 9/94)

Update: We flew to Lancaster on 7/17/02, and ate at the on-field Italian restaurant. The food was great, and very inexpensive (about $5 per entree during lunch hours). In addition, there is an outstanding pilot shop on the field called Airways (just off taxiway Alpha on the approach end of runway 31). If you are looking for a new headset, handheld GPS or anything aviation related, you won't be disappointed! 
Area activities are plentiful, as you are in the heart of Amish country. Dutch Wonderland and Strasburg Railroad are a short drive, and Hershey Park is about a 40 minute drive as well (Reigle Airport (58N) is even closer to Hershey, but a much smaller airport). All in all, an excellent getaway for a day or weekend. (Clint Robson)

Langhorne, PA (2 mi)
New York Sectional
Elevation

Langhorne is the home of Big Bird, the Cookie Monster and Bert and Ernie, aka, Sesame Place (ked/gv/psg 9/94)

Update: Shown as Closed on the November 30th, 2000 New York Sectional Chart

Mount Joy/Marietta, PA (3 mi)
New York Sectional
Elevation: 458

Once you get here, you’ll want to walk into Maytown (about a mile away) and have breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner at the Three Center Square Inn (717-653-4338). If you get weathered in, don’t worry. The inn (which dates from 1780) has Victorian rooms with canopy beds, lion claw tubs, and ghosts in the chimney. (10/89)

Perkasie, PA (1 mi)
New York Sectional
Elevation: 568

Pennridge is a prim airport with lots of money evident in the area, but not much but a soda for food. The pilot’s lounge upstairs is luxurious and you’ll surely find someone to chat with. (10/89)

Philadelphia, PA (10 mi)
NY Sectional
Elevation: 121

North Philly has a 94^th Squadron restaurant, which is decorated in the WWI motif (215-671-9400). For those who can’t seem to let go, there are headsets at the tables which can be used to listen to the tower during dinner. They serve champagne brunch on Sundays for all but pilots. (10/89)

Philadelphia, PA (3 mi)
New York Sectional
Elevation: 302

Busy little field with $5 landing fee (unless you buy gas), no food, and not much to do. The lights stay on all night and so does the landing fee. (psp 9/94)

Reading, PA (3 mi)
New York Sectional
Elevation: 344

Reading is a large field. There is a good restaurant in the terminal that is open around 4 pm on weekends, but is open for lunch, too, on weekdays. When the restaurant is closed, you can try the lunch counter (also serves the same food). Reading has some of the cheapest gas around. (10/89)

Slatington, PA (1 mi)
New York Sectional
Elevation: 380

Very interesting airport with gusty northwest winds! The airport has seen better days, but the aircraft parts business on the field may have just what you’re looking for. No food was evident once the bowling alley was closed, but when it’s open, you can eat there. (10/89)

Smoketown, PA (0 mi)
New York Sectional
Elevation: 370

Smoketown airport lies about 5 miles east of the town of Lancaster, and has nearby a very nice restaurant to go for lunch, including fabulous desserts. To reach the restaurant, leave the airport to the south of the FBO and walk to the highway. Turn right (west) at the highway. The restaurant is in a small shopping center on the westbound side of the road, about ¼ mile down the road. It is closed on Sundays, as is most of the area. Smoketown is located in the Pennsylvania Dutch country and there is plenty to see and do, but avoid Sundays. (gv/ked 9/94)

Sterling, PA (1 mi)
NY Sectional
Elevation: 1729

Spring Hill was a public airport with a lounge and services. Services may now be reduced, but the lake is still just off the runway. During the winter months there may be no snow removal, so watch it! (10/89)

Tunkhannock, PA (1 mi)
NY Sectional
Elevation: 639

Skyhaven has a snack bar that serves good breakfasts and homemade soups in winter. You can walk to town along the river. Check out the award-winning Stinson in the hangar. Although the field is turf, it is very well maintained throughout the winter. Just watch for the mountains that pop up through the traffic pattern. (10/89)

Wellsboro, PA (4 mi)
Detroit Sectional
Elevation: 1899

You can fly "the Grand Canyon of the east", then land at the airport. Once you are on the ground, it is probably too far to walk to the canyon. There isn’t much at the airport, but a flight to and from is beautiful. (10/89)

West Chester, PA
Washington Sectional
Elevation: 466

The recently opened American Helicopter Museum & Education Center (AHMEC) is located on the north side of Brandywine Airport (N99) in West Chester, PA., located approximately 25 miles west of Philadelphia. The museum has many exhibits, including historic rotorcraft. Because it is an education center, as well as a museum, you will find docents on the floor. These folks love to chat and can answer any question that you may have about rotorcraft. The AHMEC is well worth a visit, even for we fixed-wingers! We visited in July '97. At that time, adult admission was $5.00. The museum hours were Wed.-Sat. 10:00a-5:00p, and Sun. Noon-5:00p. (610) 436-9600. Check their website for possible changes in museum hours or charges, or special events. (kd/gv 7/97)

York, PA (7 mi)
Washington Sectional
Elevation: 480

Not much to see here, but the flight over PA farm country is beautiful. There is no food at the airport, but you can walk to a local diner about a mile to the east of the field. Smell that country air! (10/89)

Update: There now is a very nice on-field restaurant ( Orvilles's) at York airport (125 nm from MMU.) For the motorcycle (particularly Harley Davidson) buff, the Harley Davidson Final Assembly Plant and Museum are 10 miles away. The FBO does offer  a courtesy car. Plant and Museum tours are available. We were told that President Clinton visited in November 1999.
Plant tours: monday-friday, 9:30a, 10:30a, 12:30p, 1:30p.
Plant tours are closed June 1 to August 1.
Museum tours: saturdays, 10a, 11a, 1p, and 2p. (ml/gv 3/20/00)

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