Top 5 Airports to Fly a Fighter Jet Into
Where to take your fighter jet on a romantic getaway
You’ve probably seen “Top 5” lists for rides at Disney World, restaurants in NYC, or names of guys that’ll break your furniture when they’re drunk (Kyle) but when did you last research the best airports to visit in a jet-powered fighter plane?
Exactly. Never.
So what would be the least useful advice article ever for the majority of the population?
In no particular order, my top 5 airports to fly a Navy jet into (so far):
KHII, Lake Havasu City
A beautiful small airport located on Lake Havasu in Arizona, there’s always a mix of small civilian prop planes, private jets, and plenty of random military aircraft passing through. It’s a single, 8,000-foot, non-towered runway which is always fun as the majority of our non-tactical flying is IFR and strict course rules. They also serve up incredible breakfast burritos and give away lots of apparel and merchandise.
KAUS, Austin-Bergstrom International
A pretty well-known airport, Austin is a key stopover point on a cross-country or simply as a weather divert. A great rule to live by in military aviation is only plan routes through cities in which you want to spend the night in case you get canceled. Austin is definitely in that category since it’s full of good food, beer, and music. You’ll be praying for some bad weather to roll in especially if you’re heading back to Kingsville.
KCLL, College Station
If you’ve flown much at all in Southeast Texas then you’re probably intimately familiar with this airfield. Probably one of my favorites for quick out-and-ins for instrument currency, College Station is run like a machine. Quick taxiing and a ground crew that’ll get you topped off ASAP followed by a military-only pilot lounge with refreshments, it’s a clear recipe for success. Also for like $2 cash, they’ll give you a $20 voucher to the hangar restaurant. Not sure how the economics work there but I never asked questions.
KIWA, Mesa Gateway
With three parallel runways, it’s a fun little game of Russian roulette if you’re lined up to land on the correct one. Luckily I’ve never had to fly an approach to land but breaking out at 200 feet and determining which of the three I was staring down would be… interesting. But I will say, when the weather is clear it’s a beautiful approach filled with golf courses and sometimes snow-covered mountains. Barrio Brewing located just feet from the runway makes it an easy Top Fiver.
KNTU, NAS Oceana
Yeah, whatever—not exactly an airport you “fly into” but if you’re landing here there’s a decent chance it’s your home base which means you live in one of the best locations the Navy has to offer. Virginia Beach is home to NAS Oceana and can be an incredible airport to land at. Especially if you’re coming from the south, flying low over the Outer Banks will give you a great view of Kitty Hawk and the location where the Wright brothers first took flight over a hundred years ago.
What’s your favorite airport? If you’re a passenger on a Spirit flight you’d probably say “Anything, just land the plane and don’t charge me extra for doing it safely!”
Okay, Dad joke accomplished. Buh-bye!