| There are many airport communities in the United | | | | airplane? |
| States. I have heard that Florida, Texas and California | | | | Are you kidding? Of course we do. |
| have the most of them. However I've heard of these | | | | Are Hangar Homes Ugly? |
| places in most every state. I live at one myself and | | | | They can be. But they can also be beautiful. My own |
| usually am met with wide-eyes surprise when I | | | | home, if you were driving by the front, would not even |
| mention the fact. Most people have similar questions | | | | be recognizable as a hangar home. The entry to the |
| so I though I'd answer a few of them: | | | | hangar is in the rear. From the front it looks like a |
| What are Airport Communities? | | | | regular home. The way I designed it architecturally |
| These are neighborhoods which share one or more | | | | softened the hangar portion of the home and you |
| runways which are either connected to a small airport | | | | honestly can't tell it is one. Drive around to the back |
| or are contained complete within the neighborhood | | | | and you'll see the large hangar door. |
| itself. These runways are often owned and maintained | | | | Are Airport Communities Tower Controlled? |
| by the community. | | | | Very few are. In our community we have two grass |
| What are hangar homes? | | | | strips. Each pilot announces when he or she is getting |
| Hangar homes are regular homes like you see | | | | ready to use the runway. It is a smooth running and |
| anywhere in the United States with the exception that | | | | safe operation. |
| they have an airplane hangar either connected to or | | | | What kind of people live at Airport Communities? |
| separately located on the property. | | | | As diverse as any other with the exception that they |
| Are hangar homes different than other, regular | | | | all have a common interest - aviation. I have found that |
| homes? | | | | these are among the tightest and closest communities |
| Nope. Hangar homes can range from small apartment | | | | of friends one will ever have. |
| type homes to large and beautiful mansions. Most are | | | | How big are the homes and how big are the hangars? |
| your regular everyday home. Mine has two bedrooms | | | | They range from 800 feet right on up. The hangars |
| and a large study - a courtyard, a 2 car garage and a | | | | can be a little more than a garage to large structures |
| 2000 sqft hangar, attached. I've seen homes with | | | | that can house many airplanes. |
| many thousands of square feet and others with only | | | | Are the hangars attached to the home? |
| 900 to 1100 square feet. | | | | It's about half and half. Mine is attached. Some folks like |
| Are there special Codes to follow on Hangar Homes? | | | | to be able to work in their hangars and want to make |
| Not really. The hangars are usually built to the same | | | | sure that no smells get into the house. However I have |
| standards as a large garage. In many areas if the | | | | friends who do mechanic work in their hangars, which |
| hangar is greater than 2000 sqft then special | | | | are attached to the house - no problem. It is really a |
| commercial type code kick in. Many folks elect to keep | | | | matter of personal preference. |
| their hangars at 2000 or less for that reason. | | | | Are airplanes always expensive to own and to fly? |
| How do they handle the runways and taxiing the | | | | They can be - but not always. Jet airplanes are rare in |
| airplane to the runways. | | | | airport communities. John Travolta is a well known |
| Most communities either have the houses right up | | | | exception - but most folks have small airplanes. Mine |
| against the runway or they are on regular streets. | | | | costs about the same as a SUV to run - about 14 |
| When they want to drive (taxi) their airplane out to the | | | | miles to the gallon. But I am going much, much fast and |
| runway they use the same streets that the cars do. | | | | have no stop lights? |
| Do cars and airplanes ever get into conflicts? | | | | John Travolta lives in a hangar home. Do you know |
| No. Everyone one gives the airplanes right of way. If | | | | him? |
| you are driving down the street in your care and see | | | | You're right. He does. He actually lives a few miles |
| an airplane coming, you just drive into a neighbors | | | | from me. You can likely find pictures of his home on |
| driveway or off the street and let the airplane go by. | | | | the internet. I wouldn't say I know him, but I have met |
| They are almost always your friend and there is lots | | | | him. Seems like a very nice fellow. Sure loves |
| of waving. | | | | airplanes. |
| Is it noisy at Airport Communities? | | | | You will find that airport living is amazingly affordable. If |
| Usually not. However there may be times when it is | | | | you are a pilot and have ever dreamed of having your |
| noisy. Sometimes one of the folks will invite guests to | | | | little airplane within a few feet of where you sleep and |
| fly into the neighborhood and you might see hundreds | | | | eat, you really need to look into one of these places. |
| come in and part up and down the runway. These are | | | | They are all over the place - you can find ads in the |
| special days and we always look forward to them. I | | | | magazines and on the internet. It is a lifestyle like no |
| recommend double glazed glass in the windows. We | | | | other - and you make friends like no other place I |
| rarely hear anything. | | | | know. |
| Do you store things in the hangar besides your | | | | |