AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 106
FLY-OUTS
BY JULIE SUMMERS WALKER
It’s 1942 and the joint is swinging
Hangar Hotel
N
o, that’s not Audie Murphy in the corner of the bar, nor is that Betty Grable sitting next to him. This is the Hangar Hotel of Fredericksburg, Texas, where it might be 2011—but it sure feels like 1942. Owner Dick Estenson built this 50-room hotel in 2003 and based its construction on old military World War II hangars. With its rounded roof, wooden walls, and location smack on the tarmac at Gillespie County Airport, the Hangar Hotel sure looks like the perfect place for traveling pilots. Since you can taxi right up to the doors, it pretty much is. Inside, it gets better. With its South Pacific theme, hotel staff in period costume, bomber-jacket leather-covered chairs in the “Officer’s Club,” and wool army blankets on the beds (don’t worry, the sheets are fine Egyptian cotton), this is a “total immersion” hotel. You
won’t remember what year it is until you go back outside. Estenson is a private pilot—that’s his 1946 Navion that he restored sitting out front under the pin-up art billboard. He is a former NASA engineer who loves flying and loves remembering the golden age of flight. He has built this hotel for pilots and aviation enthusiasts and it is kid-free; you must be over 18 and respect the artifacts and memorabilia throughout the hotel.
The adjacent Airport Diner was designed after old railcar diners in the Northeast. The floors of the diner are terrazzo, the countertops are black granite, and there is original art by Lance Von Prum. Here you can enjoy chocolate malts, a Bomber Burger, and hand-battered onion rings. April 6 through 8, the Collings Foundation Wings of Freedom Tour will visit Gillespie County Airport. Flight experiences aboard the B–17, B–24, B–25, and P–51 will be available. World War II veterans get into the ground tours at no charge. • Hangar Hotel, 155 Airport Road, Fredericksburg, Texas 78624; 830-997-9990; www.hangarhotel.com
Getting there
Gillespie County Airport (T82) • Runway 14/32—5,001 feet by 75 feet, paved • Three miles southwest of the city • The National Museum of the Pacific War is located in Fredericksburg • Open 24 hours; fuel available 830-990-5764 (see AOPA Airports)
Based on the wooden hangar at Brook Air Force Base in San Antonio, the rounded-roof design is reminiscent of other WWII hangars in the United States. With its teak lounge chairs, the second-floor “Observation Deck” is a great place to watch somebody else’s takeoffs and landings.
AOPA PILOT •
106 • APRIL 2011
http://www.hangarhotel.com
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011
Contents
Contents
President’s Position
President’s Position
Hangar Talk
Hangar Talk
AOPA Media
AOPA Media
AOPA Action
AOPA Action
Letters
Letters
Waypoints
Waypoints
Proficient Pilot
Proficient Pilot
Safety Pilot
Safety Pilot
License to Learn
License to Learn
Pilot Counsel
Pilot Counsel
Fly Well
Fly Well
Pilot Briefing
Pilot Briefing
Rally GA: Giving Women Wings
Rally GA: Giving Women Wings
Epic Flights: Flying Yellowstone and ‘The Grand’
Epic Flights: Flying Yellowstone and ‘The Grand’
Fulfilling its Promise
Fulfilling its Promise
A Half-Century Training Legacy
A Half-Century Training Legacy
Challenges: Fling-Winging It
Challenges: Fling-Winging It
Crossover Classic Sweepstakes: Flying Behind Glass, at Last
Crossover Classic Sweepstakes: Flying Behind Glass, at Last
First Look: You Too Can Be on YouTube
First Look: You Too Can Be on YouTube
High Anxiety
High Anxiety
Technique: Unconventional Wisdom
Technique: Unconventional Wisdom
Pilot Products: Odds and Ends
Pilot Products: Odds and Ends
Never Again
Never Again
Fly Outs
Fly Outs
Fly By Wire
Fly By Wire
Pilots
Pilots
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Cover2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - President’s Position
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 5
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Hangar Talk
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 7
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 8
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 9
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - AOPA Media
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 11
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - AOPA Action
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 13
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 14
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 15
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 16
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 17
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 18
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 19
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 20
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 21
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Letters
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 23
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 24
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 25
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Waypoints
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 27
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Proficient Pilot
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 29
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Safety Pilot
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 31
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - License to Learn
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 33
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Pilot Counsel
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 35
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Fly Well
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 37
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Pilot Briefing
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 39
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 40
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 41
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 42
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 43
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 44
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 45
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 46
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Rally GA: Giving Women Wings
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 48
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 49
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Epic Flights: Flying Yellowstone and ‘The Grand’
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 51
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 52
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 53
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 54
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 55
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 56
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 57
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 58
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 59
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Fulfilling its Promise
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 61
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 62
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 63
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 64
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 65
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 66
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - A Half-Century Training Legacy
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 68
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 69
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 70
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 71
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 72
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 73
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 74
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Challenges: Fling-Winging It
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 76
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 77
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 78
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 79
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 80
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 81
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 82
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Crossover Classic Sweepstakes: Flying Behind Glass, at Last
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 84
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 85
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 86
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - First Look: You Too Can Be on YouTube
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 88
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 89
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 90
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - High Anxiety
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 92
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 93
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 94
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Technique: Unconventional Wisdom
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 96
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - IAOPA1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - IAOPA2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 97
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 98
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Pilot Products: Odds and Ends
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 100
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 101
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Never Again
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 103
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 104
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 105
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Fly Outs
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Fly By Wire
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 108
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 109
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 110
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 111
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Pilots
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Cover3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Cover4
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