Airports are not simply places for aircraft to alight.  They are gateways to and from the sky and welcoming homes at the ends of long journeys.  They have also become an endangered species, besieged by housing developments, self-serving politicians, and an uncomprehending public.  As airports close, access to the sky disappears with them.  

Pictured are some of my favorite airports - some have been "home" and others have been favorite destinations, sites of invaluable lessons, or simply critical waypoints on a journey.

October 12, 2003:  Jackson County - Reynolds Airport (JXN), Michigan.  This photograph was taken from the Decathlon while on approach to landing on runway 32 at Jackson.  There was a huge three egg omelet in my immediate future from the restaurant on the field.

September 18, 2004:  Lansing Capital City Airport (LAN), Michigan.  Sure, I've never actually landed at Lansing, nor have I really ever wanted or need to.  Positioned in the middle of Michigan, I used to pass over Lansing when flying from South Haven or Kalamazoo to visit family on the east side.  This photo shows a portion (ok...most of) of the airport that was taken looking north at 5500 feet.  The airport has an interesting, not-quite symmetrical design.

May 29, 2003:  South Haven Regional Airport (0D1 / LWA), Michigan.  This picture was taken from the back seat of the Decathlon while on downwind for runway 32, the grass strip generally favored by the wind at South Haven.

October 12, 2003:  South Haven Regional Airport (0D1 / LWA), Michigan.  Another view of the South Haven airport, this time from the northeast.  From this perspective, the shoreline of Lake Michigan is visible.  Also evident are maroon-colored berry fields and the steam plume from Pallisades Nuclear Plant, both in the upper right hand corner of the frame.

November 14, 2004:  South Haven Regional Airport (0D1 / LWA), Michigan.  The South Haven airport, photographed after extension and repaving of runway 4 / 22, the main taxiway and the ramp.

January 29, 2003:  Three Rivers Dr. Haines Municipal Airport (HAI), Michigan.  It was a bitter cold day and the runway had just barely been cleared of snow when Kent and I arrived at the airport for some practice in Two Seven Uniform.  This shot out the back as Kent turned into a crosswind for runway 27 is one of my earliest favorite pictures.  It was one of the few times that I ever saw the Cessna 150 climb at 1000 feet per minute while carrying two people and full fuel.

September 11, 2004:  Three Rivers Dr. Haines Municipal Airport (HAI), Michigan.  I trained for my private pilot certificate at Three Rivers.  Though I never hangared my airplane here, Three Rivers will always be "home" in an aeronautical sense and every return to its familiar runways brings memories of my transition from terrified student to certificated pilot.

December 10, 2002:  Three Rivers Dr. Haines Municipal Airport (HAI), Michigan.  Winter at Three Rivers airport.  Kent was turning Two Seven Uniform on to a base leg for runway 23 when I shot this photograph out the back window.

November 6, 2004:  Muskegon County Airport (MKG), Michigan.  Like Kalamazoo, Muskegon is another rare TRSA hold-over from the days before the current alphabet-soup airspace classifications.  As a student, I did a solo cross-country flight to MKG.

June 24, 2005: Lakeland Linder Airport (LAL), Florida.  The annual location for Sun 'N' Fun.  This photo was taken from Warrior 481 as we flew over Lakeland on our way to Fort Myers.  Photo by Kristy.

August 21, 2005: Kalamazoo-Battle Creek International Airport (AZO), Michigan.  Kalamazoo was a great place to perfect - ok, improve - my radio work once I bought Warrior 481.  On weekends when I gave tours at the Air Zoo, I used to fly in just for the practice.  

March 6, 2006:  Le Roy Airport (5G0), New York.  My new home base at the Le Roy airport is a tranquil place.  I took this photo while standing in front of my hangar after flying.  The line of red lights are the runway end marker lights for runway 28.  I had the airport to myself and had just made a greaser of a landing shortly after the sun slipped below the tree tops.  It was all very peaceful.