Private Airport/Airpark Homes in Phoenix

The dream of every private pilot is being able to walk out their front door and take to the skies. For a lucky few, that dream is a reality. There are a handful of residential communities in the greater Phoenix area with homes built on a private airstrip.

I am intrigued by these airpark neighborhoods where amateur pilots can park their personal aircraft in a hangar that is attached to their house. I find it very cool that you can choose to live in a neighborhood of people who share your same passion and lifestyle centered around aviation. 

Here is a quick rundown of the different communities I was able to find:

Sky Ranch at Carefree

 
Carefree, AZ 85377
16 homes
Home Values: $700k to $2.5 million
Designation: 18AZ 
Runway 6/24 (paved)

Hangar Haciendas Airpark

Laveen Village, AZ 85339
25 homes
Home Values: $400k to $800k

Designation AZ90
Runway 8/26 (paved)
 


Stellar Airpark

Chandler, AZ 85226
87 luxury homes
Home Values: $490k to $2.5 million and $1.5 to $8 million

Designation: P19
Runway 17/35 (paved) 

Pegasus Airpark

Queen Creek, AZ 85142
50 luxury homes
Home Values: $600k to $1.2 million

Designation: 5AZ3
Runway 8/26 (paved)

Thunder Ridge Airpark

Morristown, AZ 85342
9 homes
Home Values: $450k to $1.5 million
Designation: AZ28
Runway 17/35 (paved)

Sky Harbor to Demolish Terminal 2 by 2019

Earlier this year, I wrote about the Phoenix Sky Train Grand Opening. As I mentioned in the article, the Sky Train will be extended to Terminal 3 and in service by 2015. The Sky Train will not have a station built at Terminal 2, and here's why: it is scheduled to be closed in 2019.

The Sky Train is just one part of a massive plan to overhaul Sky Harbor Airport and modernize it for the 21st century. The Sky Harbor website has all the details about its Terminal Modernization Program.

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Phoenix Sky Train Celebrates Grand Opening

After four years of construction and $644 million dollars, the first phase of the Phoenix Sky Train opened to the public on Monday, April 8th, 2013. This is the first phase of this mass-transportation system that will modernize Sky Harbor Airport.

The first section of the Sky Train ferries passengers along a 1.7-mile track from the East Economy Parking area to Terminal 4. Future sections will connect to Terminal 3 and to the Rental Car Center when the project is complete in the year 2020.

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Historic Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Visits Deer Valley Airport

One of the most iconic American warplanes is the Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress." These aircraft were used extensively in World War II in Europe and the Pacific. Unfortunately, many of them were shot down or were dismantled for scrap after the war.

One of these planes, "Sentimental Journey," will be making a stop at Deer Valley Airport in North Phoenix from April 15-17th, 2013. This is your chance to see one of the few B-17s left in the world in flying condition!

The B-17 is part of the Wings of Freedom tour which is put on by the Collings Foundation. In addition to the Flying Fortress, a Boeing B-24 Liberator, P-51 Mustang, and a Messerschmitt Me 262 will also be on display.

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Luke Days Air Show Returns for 2011

Ladies and gentlemen: mark your calendars! That's right, Luke Days Air Show and Open House will be returning to Luke Air Force Base for 2011! This bi-annual event features a whole weekend of fun and events for residents of the greater Phoenix area.

The last Open House event was held in 2009, and it was also the first time I attended. This year's open house will be a special one because it is the 70th Anniversary of the 56th Fighter Wing.So what can you expect to see at the show? Here is a quick list of things to see and do:

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Santa Visits Deer Valley Airport

If you live in North Phoenix and want to take your little ones to visit Santa, you'll have the chance to do so at our very own Deer Valley Airport! Christmas in the desert has always been a little different here in Phoenix. Because there is no snow for a sleigh, Santa has to resort to other ways of getting around - like a helicopter!

This December, Santa will be flying in via chopper to visit with local residents. This is the fourth year in a row that Santa will be stopping by at KDVT before Christmas. You can meet him at the Deer Valley Airport Restaurant, which is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Visits will last for a few hours and begin at the times scheduled below:

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The Story of the Albatross

Every time I drive by Deer Valley Airport, I cannot help but look and see what's parked on the tarmac. There are the usual blue-tipped Cessnas and Pipers that belong to the Westwind flight school. If the door of the Atlantic Aviation hangar is open, you might catch a glimpse of a goregeous business or charter jet hiding inside. Heck, you might even see John Travolta's Boeing 707 if you are lucky! Most of the aircraft there are pretty normal though.

However, last year I spotted a very unusual plane parked at KDVT. It was impossible to ignore this gigantic aircraft which was parked in the far corner of the tarmac, as close as possible to the main road.

The aircraft had such an unusual appearance that I had to stop and take a picture of it. I had no idea what it was, but the high-mounted propeller engines and the wheel wells in the side of the fuselage were clear indications that this aircraft was designed for water landings. I wondered why an amphibious aircraft would be parked in North Phoenix, hundreds of miles from the ocean?

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John Travolta's Airplane Spotted at Deer Valley Airport

The neat thing about living right by the busiest general aviation airport in the country is that you never know who's going to drop in.

Just the other day I was driving past Deer Valley Airport when I noticed a large red tail sticking up into the sky. I pulled over to take a couple of pictures of the aircraft, a Boeing 707-138 wearing red and white Quantas livery.

An aircraft this large is certainly an unusual sight at Deer Valley, where Pipers and Cessnas are standard fare for most pilots. The aircraft's tail number, N707JT, is known by planespotters to be registered to actor and pilot John Travolta.

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Deer Valley Airport: A Closer Look

In recent years, North Scottsdale has built itself an image of success and wealth that is unmatched anywhere else in the Valley. It has retail shops, fine dining, jewelry stores, banks, and thousands of office buildings, all centered around the Scottsdale Airpark. Indeed, the Airpark is the landmark that defines the region and the source of much revenue for the neighboring businesses. Since the 1960s, Phoenix has quietly been building up its own version of the Scottsdale Airpark.

I'm talking about the Deer Valley Airport, of course. Better known to pilots by its call sign, KDVT is the busiest general aviation airport in the country. With over 1,200 aircraft calling it home and over 378,000 takeoffs and landings in 2007, Deer Valley Airport is much larger than the Scottsdale Airport in terms of size and traffic. Since it was acquired by the City of Phoenix in 1971, the Airport has experienced a period of growth and expansion that continues to this very day.

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