FTCA Flying Site: Holmes County RC Airpark

[FlyingMonkey]

Welcome!

If you've found your way here from the sign at the flying site, please feel free to introduce yourself.


(Not likely at the moment since there is no sign yet.)

If you're here by way of the internet, well, you can introduce yourself too!

The location is on Long Round Bay Road in Bonifay FL.

https://goo.gl/maps/BYCQdkFgjbrsrLDr7


The Holmes County RC Airpark was approved by the Holmes County Board of Commissioners in November of 2021. We're currently working to get the field opened to the public. The runway needs grading, and the road needs to be reestablished. Hopefully both of those items will be taken care of this weekend.

This post will be edited to reflect the current field situation. With luck, updates will start soon.

***UPDATE!!!***

Field will unofficially open on Friday December 24th, 2021.

Come on out and get a Christmas Eve Day flight or two in.

 

[JasonK]

Can you explain the markings?
Address?
First get together to fly?

 

[FlyingMonkey]

Red is my idea of the parking at the gate for non pilots and road in to the pit area as well as parking at pit area.

Blue is pit area, but that will be smaller.

Green is runway.


Hopefully soon. Road grader is coming out tomorrow to cut the runway.

https://goo.gl/maps/BYCQdkFgjbrsrLDr7

 

[earthsciteach]

Is the "FRIA" regulation in affect? You know, the one that says only community-based organizations can apply for a FRIA.

 

[JasonK]

Is the "FRIA" regulation in affect? You know, the one that says only community-based organizations can apply for a FRIA.

couldn't be... unless something changed resently, the FAA is still working out how they are going to approve CBOs, and that has to come before they could do FRIAs. IIRC FRIAs also come on line at the same time as as Remote ID which is 2? years out as of today (it was to be 3 years from approval, but approval took so long they cut it to 2.5 years some time this year when it got approved).

 

[CappyAmeric]

Is the "FRIA" regulation in affect? You know, the one that says only community-based organizations can apply for a FRIA.

I don’t think so. In the last FT podcast, Josh mentioned that he expects the FAA to drop something between Christmas and New Years - whether that is CBO and/or FRIA process, he did not say.

 

[Flightspeed]

Will it have electricity? Any form of shade? Shade is mvp when working on a frustrating problem in florida😂

 

[FlyingMonkey]

Is the "FRIA" regulation in affect? You know, the one that says only community-based organizations can apply for a FRIA.

They haven't even recognized any CBOs yet.

 

[FlyingMonkey]

Will it have electricity? Any form of shade? Shade is mvp when working on a frustrating problem in florida😂

You can bring a generator.

I'm working on shade. I'm hoping to add a solar panel and some batteries for charging.

 

[Musdang]

Welcome!

If you've found your way here from the sign at the flying site, please feel free to introduce yourself.


(Not likely at the moment since there is no sign yet.)

If you're here by way of the internet, well, you can introduce yourself too!

The location is on Long Round Bay Road in Bonifay FL.

https://goo.gl/maps/BYCQdkFgjbrsrLDr7


The Holmes County RC Airpark was approved by the Holmes County Board of Commissioners in November of 2021. We're currently working to get the field opened to the public. The runway needs grading, and the road needs to be reestablished. Hopefully both of those items will be taken care of this weekend.

This post will be edited to reflect the current field situation. With luck, updates will start soon.

View attachment 213235

Cool!

 

[Flightspeed]

You can bring a generator.

I'm working on shade. I'm hoping to add a solar panel and some batteries for charging.

Have you considered putting up a little pavilion like at Edgewater? Wouldn’t even need to be cemented

 

[FlyingMonkey]

Have you considered putting up a little pavilion like at Edgewater? Wouldn’t even need to be cemented

Yes.

If you want to provide the materials, I'll get started on it right away...

 

[Flightspeed]

Yes.

If you want to provide the materials, I'll get started on it right away...

I’ll help you build it😂 that’s more down my line, we do pole barns too😆

 

[FlyingMonkey]

Perfect!

So, right now, we need to get the entrance figured out. As it is, the gate is a bear to work with, it swings out and tries to hit your car if you park too close. I want to move the gate further in, and open up a parking area for non FTCA members.

This area needs to be fenced in. I've seen too many clubs that don't secure their field, and are constantly dealing with people coming in at night and driving on the runway, doing donuts and other destructive activities.

I'll have to get permission to do this, but I am sure I can work something out with the county.

We'll need to build up some tables too. I'd like to put up a small fence to designate the runway side parking from the pit area. We'll need to get some sort of pilot stations added too.

I'm working on signage at the moment. And waiting to hear from the county what they plan to do with regulating use hours. Most parks are technically sunrise to sunset. But of course we'd want to have after hours access for night flying.

The good news is I'm heading there soon to work with the road grader operator for cutting the runway.

 

[Flying Monkey fab]

This makes me happy. I very much look forward to flying with you there!

 

[FlyingMonkey]

Bad news is, they did not grade the runway yesterday. Good news is, they'll be doing it on Monday.

I'll be heading back over today to move the stakes for the grader. I made the original runway too large. Since they'll be removing the grass and leaving just dirt, I'll need to put down some grass seed to prevent erosion. As I mentioned to someone else, at this point it's all coming out of my pocket, so I have to work within my budget.

 

[FlyingMonkey]

Put together a FB group for the field.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/196859945978426/about

One of my complaints about "traditional" fields is that they can be intimidating for people who want to learn more about flying there, but don't know anyone associated with the field. My thought is to have this forum, and a Facebook group where they can introduce themselves, ask questions, and get information in a more comfortable format.

Links to this thread and the Facebook page will be on the sign at the field so it's easier for people to find and get the information they need.

 

[PsyBorg]

Bad news is, they did not grade the runway yesterday. Good news is, they'll be doing it on Monday.

I'll be heading back over today to move the stakes for the grader. I made the original runway too large. Since they'll be removing the grass and leaving just dirt, I'll need to put down some grass seed to prevent erosion. As I mentioned to someone else, at this point it's all coming out of my pocket, so I have to work within my budget.

Look into Zoysia grass mate. It is like what they use on putting greens. It stays short, needs VERY little care and propagates well. Its also used on the sides of hiways in some states to prevent erosion and cut maintenance costs.

Something like the Zoysia Zeon blend I think would be perfect for a run way. Dig down about a foot below the runway area put in about 4 inches of clay for water retention, bring back to grade with fine topsoil and plant that Zoysia. Best runway EVER. Then all you do is hit it with a reel mower every other flying session and you will have the perfect runway.

 

[Flightspeed]

You supplying the reel mower😂

 

[Musdang]

Will there be crocs?