June 9-10, 2011 - Wilmington, NC

A friend of mine from work, J-Mac, and I decided to fly down to Wilmington, North Carolina and visit our ex-boss, Bruce D.  who is living the good life down there.  Weather looked great for the entire weekend.   I flew over to Easton, had some good Huevos Rancheros at their on-field restaurant, picked up J-Mac and we enjoyed a pleasant flight down to Wilmington.  Less than two hours.  Love that RV. 

Instead of landing at Wilmington International, we landed a a privately-owned, public grass strip called Holly Ridge/Topsail Island Airport (N21).   This part of North Carolina is pretty much one big forest.  Topsail Island Airport is a grass area cut out of the trees. 

 
This grass airstrip was nicer than most.  Long and wide:  3600 feet by 88 ft.  It was extremely well marked with yellow cones along the edges.  Hard and smooth. 
 
It was considerate of Bruce to make a sign so that we could find him in the crowd. 
 
As you can see, the airport was quite crowded!
 
There was only one plane tied down at the airport -- with grass growing around the landing gear.   There was a box with a slot in it for airplane parking: $5/day.  I stuffed a ten in the slot and we headed for the beach. 
 
Fifteen minutes later we are overlooking the Atlantic Ocean drinking a cool beverage.  This is at Topsail Island, north of Wilmington. 
 
Yeah, life is tough. 
 
Looking North from the fishing pier down the beach.  The restaurant/bar we were at is to the left of the American flag. 
 
Looking south. 
 
Looking east. 
 
After a couple of hours at Topsail Beach, we headed over to Wilmington and checked out Riverwalk, along the Cape Fear River.  There are lots of nice restaurants and bars. 
 
Across the River is the U.S.S. North Carolina (BB-53), a battleship that fought throughout the Pacific in World War II. 
 
I instantly recognized Yard Patrol craft from the U.S. Naval Academy.   Midshipmen drove them down here as part of their summer cruise training. 
 
Bruce's wife Michelle, who we met for the first time, wanted to go for a ride in the RV.    I asked her if she wanted the scenic ride or the thrill ride.  No hesitation.  Thrill ride! 
 
So Sunday morning we all headed out to the airport. 
 
Ready to go flying. 
 
I included the Scenic flight anyways.  This is the north end of Figure Eight Island.  I'm guessing this is where the rich and famous reside because there are some seriously nice houses down there. 
 
The south end of Figure Eight Island.  I am told that the founding CEO of the company that I work for owns the last house on the left.  Not bad. 
 
Michelle enjoying the flight. 
 
 
I'm sure Bruce was happy to have his wife safely on the grass runway. 
 
J-Mac and I thanked Bruce & Michelle for their warm hospitality, loaded up the plane and headed north.    J-Mac had a little too much fun the night before, so we climbed high to 8000 feet where it was nice and cool and he felt better. 
 
We stopped for gas at Warren Field Airport (KOCW), in Washington, NC at the western end of the Pamlico River.   I picked Warren Field because their gas price was the cheapest around:  $5.75.  I can't believe that $5.75 is the low.   Warren Field was a fairly nice airport, fairly good sized as you can see, and the weather was good, but we landed, gassed up, and left without seeing any other aerial activity.   It's no wonder with gas at $5.75/gallon.  The high cost is taking its toll on aviation.  
 
Only two of the three runways are for airplanes.  The third is closed, but while we were there was being used for slalom, drag racing by sports cars.   Looked like fun. 
 

Up at 8000 feet, we cruised through the narrow gap between the Washington DC Air Defense Zone -- the official name of Special Flight Rules Airspace does not correctly describe it in my humble opinion -- to the northwest and the Patuxtent River restricted airspace to the southeast.    The GPS moving map makes it easy.   

Patuxent River Naval Air Station can be seen in the middle of the picture. 

 

 
Chesapeake Ranch (MD50) way down below, which is a little private airport community strip on the north side of the Patuxent River.  I knew it was there but have never seen it before from the air.  But this high it was clearly visible. 
 
 
I dropped J-Mac off at Easton and then headed home.  On the way I passed boat races just south of the Kent Narrows bridge. 
 
Back at home.  Another successful RV trip in the bag.   I was really impressed with Wilmington.  Nice area.   And its always fun to visit old friends.   
 
 
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