| Aircraft Hangar Homes Are Unique. There May Be More Around Than Your Realize. |
| Articles - Lifestyle |
There are many airport communities in the United States. I have heard that Florida, Texas and California have the most of them. However I've heard of these places in most every state. I live at one myself and usually am met with wide-eye'd surprise when I mention the fact. Most people have similar questions so I though I'd answer a few of them here:
 What are Airport Communities? These are communities where the individuals have come together to live in homes with hangar and with access to a runway or more than one runway. Their runways are usually owned by the community and they maintain and use these runways for their own use. What is a hangar homes? They are just like any home you have every seen. They come in all shapes and sizes and styles. The one thing they have, however, is a hangar - either separate on the property or attached. Are hangar homes different than other, regular homes? Not at all - except that they have or are associated with a hangar. Most are your regular, everyday home. I have one which has two bedrooms and a large den. We have a lanai, a courtyard, a 2 car garage and, of course, a 2000 sqft hangar, attached. I've seen large homes and small homes that have hangars. Do these homes follow the same Building Codes as the other ones? As far the the homes go, they the codes are same. They are the same as any other type of home. The hangars too are usually built by the same codes as most though some areas, depending upon the size of the hangar, might require tougher codes. In my area, Florida, greater than 2000 square feet will require a few commercial code requirements. How to the airplanes get to the runways? Most communities either have the houses right up against the runway or they are on regular streets. When they want to drive (taxi) their airplane out to the runway they use the same streets that the cars do. Is there a right of way issue with the cars and airplanes? Everyone one gives the airplanes right of way. If you are driving down the street in your care and see an airplane coming, you just drive into a neighbor's driveway or off the street and let the airplane go by. They are almost always your friend and there is lots of waving. Is noise a factor if you live in one of these communities? Rarely is noise a problem. But like anything, there are exceptions. We have fly-ins sometimes where many airplanes will fly in for lunch or a meetings. Also, homes today are pretty tight and noise from outside does not easily get through. But, for sure, airplane pilots usually love the sound of airplanes. When my wife and I do hear them we always delight and wonder who it is flying in or out. Do you use your hangar to store other things? Of course we do. We are human aren't we? Stuff accumulates. Like everyone else we always have to be careful not to let it get out of hand. Are these hangar home eyesores? They can be. But they can also be beautiful. My own home, if you were driving by the front, would not even be recognizable as a hangar home. The entry to the hangar is in the rear. From the front it looks like a regular home. The way I designed it architecturally softened the hangar portion of the home and you honestly can't tell it is one. Drive around to the back and you'll see the large hangar door. Are Airport Communities Tower Controlled? I have never seen one that had a tower. I there are any, they are very rare. Most airports in the United States are uncontrolled. There is a standard way that pilots use these airports with very high safety. Airport communities are usually not officially controlled by a tower. What types of folks live at these communities? As diverse as any other with the exception that they all have a common interest - aviation. I have found that these are among the tightest and closest communities of friends one will ever have. How big are the homes and how big are the hangars? They range from 800 feet right on up. The hangars can be a little more than a garage to large structures that can house many airplanes. Are airplanes always expensive to own and to fly? Airplanes come in all shapes and sizes. They can be small and large - just about anything. Mine is about the cost of an SUV to run. But it is much faster and there are never any stop lights or traffic. As many know, John Travolta, owns an airport home and has jets. But this is not common. His runway is very long and wide and uniquely set up for jets. In our airport a jet taking off would look like the time travel car in "Back to the Future" and leave a trail of fire in the grass. Doesn't John Travolta live in an Airport Community. Have you met him? You're right. He does. He actually lives a few miles from me. You can likely find pictures of his home on the internet. Yes, I have met him. Seemed to be a very personable guy. Sure loves aviation. He wondered how long our runways are here at my neighborhood. I had to think for a second - I had never really thought about it. Difference between flying big airplanes and small ones. I've found that most pilots have heard of these places. Many have likely thought it pretty expensive. But you will find, if you research it, that it can be an amazingly affordable lifestyle. It is really a matter of researching what is out there and learning a bit about the types of homes you can buy or build. Once you have decided to do this, you will likely find many resources of help and advise. It is, indeed, a lifestyle like no other. You'll make friends like never before. DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as information only and is not to be taken as financial advice. Ken Risley, airplane hangar homes,specializes in the designing and engineering of hangar homes throughout the Unites States. Check out his Dream Home Design, today! |