I just took a call from Ra Puriri (435-817-6555) from Utah. He’s interested in knowing if there are any airparks with condo-style amenities. Rather than building a home on a lot, Ra is interested in buying a condo unit in a larger complex. Further, his airplane would be housed on the field but not necessarily at his location. If you have, or know of, this configuration, feel free to contact Ra directly, but I’d appreciate your posting your comment on the website and/or emailing me directly as well.

Lake Norman magazine posted a great story and photo essay on Lake Norman Airpark (North Carolina) and one its residents, Edgar Tello. Great read. Do share.

General Aviation News blogger Jamie Beckett (Politics for Pilots) points out we still have some work to do as he relates sitting through a recent webinar. The moderator, near the end of the session, makes it known that he feels airports and residential development are incompatible. Not so. Stay tuned.

Nice story in the Charlotte Observer about Lake Norman Airpark (full access subscription required).

Bob Breeden, owner of Alaska Airpark, relates an amazing story of adventure (in Alaska) and loss (his Super Cub) in a story posted on the the Alaska Dispatch website. Enjoy.

Fred Olson emailed over the weekend, “In March of 2010, my wife and I bought one of the new homes in Pegasus Airpark that was owned by Mesa Bank. Beautiful place! We also managed to get one of the new hangars, while they lasted. There isn’t a nicer place in the valley to call home! Whether you drive in the gate, or land on the runway, you just feel lucky!”

Congratulations Fred. Happy to hear you all are enjoying it!

The man in the photo is Dave Sclair. To me… he’s Dad! Well, Dad passed away on Tuesday night, July 26. Mom and I were with him, reading stories from Dad’s work-in-progress book, “A somewhat lighthearted look at the life and times of Mary Lou & Dave”. We laughed, cried and remembered. If such an event can be peaceful, this was.

We talked Dad into checking himself into the hospital on February 27. We feared a stroke as the right side of his face wore a slight droop. Doctors told us the visual symptom was the result of brain tumors, not a stroke. A whirlwind five months later, Dad took his last breath.

For the tremendous support from friends near and far, thank you. There is so much more to say, but that will have to wait for another day.

Godspeed Dad. I love you!

“The Sky’s the Limit” is a story about residential airparks posted to the Wall Street Journal website (in the Real Estate section). The story shines a light mostly on the higher end of the airpark spectrum. Overall, author Iyna Bort Caruso did a nice job. Be sure to read, and share the story.

Sadly, Dave Sclair will not be hosting his annual Residential Airpark forum at AirVenture Oshkosh this year.  Dave was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in mid-March.  Since the diagnosis, a round of radiation and chemotherapy have failed to produce positive results. Today, Dave is enrolled in Hospice as his condition has deteriorated significantly.

Dave has invested more than 25 years into building the various components of Living With Your Plane.  It is safe to say that the fly-in lifestyle that many of us enjoy has been largely influenced by his years of hard work and dedication to the cause.  Our goal is to perpetuate his work and continue to promote the lifestyle that so many of us have come to enjoy, because that is what Dave wants us to do.

As a result of Dave’s condition, we have asked Mike Ciochetti of Heaven’s Landing to host the Thursday, July 28 forum (Pavilion 01 – Pacific Coast Avionics). Mike has humbly accepted. For that… THANK YOU MIKE!

Here is where we will be mixing things up a bit.  This year the annual Living With Your Plane forum will focus on fun and interesting airpark experiences, beautiful airpark photos, and the people that make them such a great place to live. Airpark living is a great LIFESTYLE and it is time for us to play that up.

If you have a great story and/or photos that you would like to share, drop us an email (Ben Sclair and Mike Ciochetti).  We’ll make sure to do our best and spread the word about the positive experiences within the Airpark Lifestyle.

For the years of wonderful support, Dad asked me to say … THANK YOU!

If you’d like to send Dave a note, please send it to my email or via mail to Dave Sclair, Living With Your Plane, P.O. Box 39099, Lakewood, WA 98496.

WCVB TV in Boston has an ongoing segment on “Unusual Houses”. Segment One spotlights music-mogul John Garabedian’s fly-in house at Falmouth Airpark. A beautiful home to be sure. Enjoy.