Airport with the best variety of planes

[flywithastick]

Houston's Ellington Field (EFD) has to be one of the best in the country for variety. I've seen dozens of rare mil and civilian planes there. When I first moved to the area flying with the EFD Aero Club in the late 80's, I can remember being in the pattern with F-16's, 14's and NASA T-38's, all at once. glad we had alt separation in the pattern... because I was sure enjoying watching them make the pattern more than watching my own business.

I've had to hold short for a TR-1 (NASA U-2) landing. seen the space shuttle/747 landing, taking off & parked there several times. have seen the G-7 (back when GHW Bush was pres) heads of state planes. Putin was in town last year in his Tupolev or whatever that thing was he flies around in.

Squadron of ANG F-16's, Coast Guard and Apaches based there. Lots of NASA activity (WB-57's, T-38's, Guppy, vomit comit, G-III, etc) based there and visiting. UPS heavies in & out daily.

Many regular visitors like F-14's, 15's, 16's, 18's, Harriers, C-5's, 141's, 17's, KC-10's, Air Force 1 and all kinds of mil trainers.

Several years back a privately owned Hawker Hunter & F-104 were based there.

Some interesting privately owned stuff based there now like F-4, F-80, B-25, S-2, B-17 (at HOU for o'haul right now), Stearmans, L-39, MiG-17's, 21's, GA spam cans *and* plenty of experimentals!

Any other field get this kind of variety? Wright-Patterson maybe?

 

[dsee8driver]

Hmmmm...

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of stopping by Diego Garcia on our way to Bahrain. There were quite a few interesting shadows around. Couldn't tell you what they were but our handler said they were very stealthy!

 

[English]

For true variety, my type of airport is Long Beach Airport in California. The Metlife, Goodyear, Sanyo, Fuji, Russell Stover, Hilfiger and other blimps/airships regularly are in the pattern, along with a Bushmaster Trimotor, miscellaneous airlinersn and corporate jets, little bugsmashers and helicopters. Plus C17s and C130s, 'cause Boeing is right on the field...

 

[350DRIVER]

I would often fly a V-35 out of HOU and go over to EFD just to be in the pattern to take in all the sights. On any given day and at any given time you were pretty much promised to see quite a few "unique" aircraft there. It was always a complete joy to work the pattern over there. (ahhh... the memories-lol )

TEB is also one of my favorites due to the many different types of corporate equipment that fly in there day in and day out. - And where else can you see Barbara Walters and Jerry Jones on the same day

JFK is another for the obvious reasons.
GLS was also a pretty "scenic" destination.
and one could not forget LAS


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[Typhoon1244]

Airport with the best variety of planes

Well, it sure as heck isn't D.F.W. "Oh look...a hundred and twenty-seven MD-80's..."

 

[Whirlwind]

Airport with the best variety of planes

Well, it sure as heck isn't D.F.W. "Oh look...a hundred and twenty-seven MD-80's..."

LOL! No kidding, but they do also have 757s and 737s from time to time, what a selection!!!

Do you fly out of Dallas?

WhirlWind

 

[crash-proof]

FLL used to be great, many a years ago. I remember vividly about 20 years ago watching as all the old iron would take off: DC-3s, Convairs, Albatros, etc. The variety of GA at the airport was HUGE!
Now, we're lucky to see even a 727. It's all Airbus, 737s, 757s, and MD-80's.

blah

 

[Typhoon1244]

Do you fly out of Dallas?

As a matter of fact, yes.

Fun fact: before the Delta "beach blanket" paint job came along, it was easy for ground to differentiate between DCI regional jets. Now you often hear, "Ameri-ken Sixteen-twenty-one, give way to the, uh...er...the, uh, Delta Regional Jet."

(Anybody DFW folks out there know if the local controller who says "Ameri-ken" is a man or a woman? I can't make up my mind.)

 

[EagleRJ]

(Anybody DFW folks out there know if the local controller who says "Ameri-ken" is a man or a woman? I can't make up my mind.)

I think it's a guy, but I'm not sure enough to throw a "sir" their way!

DFW has a few personalities for sure. I like "Dandy Day", who usually works westbound departures. He's always in a good mood!

 

[na265]

I fly a Sabre out of EFD. You never know what you will see or who they are. When the Saudia Crown Prince was here there were 2 747-400's, 737's, MD-11's, some Challengers and some GIV's. I have seen more F16/15/18's etc on the ramp then you could count. Pretty cool place to airplane watch.

 

[flyndesk]

?

I guess it depends on what you like. The museum out in Chino, CA is pretty good (though I felt old to see an F-14 in the junker pile). And you never know what you will see out in Mojave, CA. But what about all the brand new corporate stuff you can catch on the FBO ramp in LAS?

And I think I had a stroke laughing about DFW! My vote for the "Ameri-ken" controller would be FEMALE. Maybe we should start a poll!!!

 

[flywithastick]

Re: ?

felt old to see an F-14 in the junker pile.

I saw a pic here a little while back of a bunch of F-16's mothballed in the desert. I can still remember the first couple of red, white and blue F-16's flying at Carswell. guess I'm getting old too.

 

[Birdstrike]

TUL offers a wide mix of military hardware parked wingtip to wingtip at the contract refueler FBO, especially later on after the RONs arrive.