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Airport viewing area?

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Started 2 years ago by BreakfastwithNick
Latest reply from JAL

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BreakfastwithNick
Clintonville
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I was back in my hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan recently, and while there we made a stop at the viewing area outside the Gerald R. Ford Internat'l Airport. It's a great area, one I've been going to since I was a kid: big parking lot, picnic tables, great views of the entire airport. My dad always took us there just to watch the planes, but there are a lot of people on their lunch breaks just hanging out, too.

Does the Columbus airport have anything like that? I know there's 94th Aerosquadron, but is there anything that's less of a restaurant and more of an open viewing area?

Posted 2 years ago #
vestanpance
Harrison West/at work OSU
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not sure about Columbus, but next week the OSU airport will be hopping with all the people/golfers coming in for the tournament. They have a tower open to the public that you can go up and watch.

http://www.osuairport.org/

Posted 2 years ago #
hugh59
Aboard the ultimate power in Olde Towne East
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There used to be a viewing area on top of the old terminal building before they remodeled it. I can't even remember when they did the remodel job...in the 70s or 80s. Many airports used to have viewing areas; but they did away with them as they were remodeled.

I remember being taken by my parents to the Columbus Airport to watch planes take off and land. It was great fun. But that was before the age of cable TV, gameboys, and computer games. I have fond memories of watching biplanes take off...just kidding.

Posted 2 years ago #
cyclist II
Short North & Peach District
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Yes, off Hamilton Rd. just north of E. 5th Ave. I think this is it: <iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=868+Park+St,+Columbus,+Franklin,+Ohio+43215&ll=39.991013,-82.869283&spn=0.001009,0.001725&t=k&z=19&output=embed"></iframe>
<small>View Larger Map</small>

Posted 2 years ago #
tourist19
Merion Village
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The area off Hamilton is probably the most official. Also, there is a lot off Sawyer Rd next to the post office behind the hotels right there. And there is a new cell phone waiting lot, which doesn't have the best view but isn't bad if they're landing east. The golf course on Hamilton is actually a really nice place to watch planes too. Basically drive around the airport (Stelzer to 5th to Hamilton to Sawyer) and see what strikes your fancy :-)

Posted 2 years ago #
hungrywoolf
Victorian Village
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tourist19 wrote >>
Basically drive around the airport (Stelzer to 5th to Hamilton to Sawyer) and see what strikes your fancy :-)

There are 3 or 4 taco trucks near the airport including a Colombian taco truck called 8th taste on 5th Avenue by the airport that has really good empanadas. Just incase you get hungry watching planes and you forget to pack a picnic.

Posted 2 years ago #
jarsloth
west side
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BreakfastwithNick wrote >>
I was back in my hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan recently, and while there we made a stop at the viewing area outside the Gerald R. Ford Internat'l Airport. It's a great area, one I've been going to since I was a kid: big parking lot, picnic tables, great views of the entire airport. My dad always took us there just to watch the planes, but there are a lot of people on their lunch breaks just hanging out, too.
Does the Columbus airport have anything like that? I know there's 94th Aerosquadron, but is there anything that's less of a restaurant and more of an open viewing area?

Hey Nick, this thread reminds me of when I was in high school; we lived on the army base right next to Elmandorf AFB. The back road to our high school took us right by the runway where the F15s were; if you timed it right, you could make it to the end of the runway and sit in the grass as the F15s took off over your head. (Probably one reason my hearings going bad.) OK, sorry to derail, but it brought back fond memories...

Posted 2 years ago #
BreakfastwithNick
Clintonville
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hungrywoolf wrote >>
There are 3 or 4 taco trucks near the airport including a Colombian taco truck called 8th taste on 5th Avenue by the airport that has really good empanadas. Just incase you get hungry watching planes and you forget to pack a picnic.

Thanks for the heads up, Bethia! I was thinking of taking Will to watch some planes today, and maybe some empanadas would be a good snack.

Posted 1 year ago #
Oak
Schumacher Place/German Village area
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The viewing area of Hamilton is overall probably the best. Don't park outside the fence on Stelzer or the surrounding area - the port authority police don't like that. Just make sure that you're out of the viewing areas before dark or the port authority police will come and shoo you away. If you don't mind spending a couple of bucks, the top of the parking garage is great for watching planes. You can bounce back and forth between the two runways to get view of planes you want to see.

Posted 1 year ago #
BreakfastwithNick
Clintonville
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cyclist II wrote >>
Yes, off Hamilton Rd. just north of E. 5th Ave. I think this is it: <iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=868+Park+St,+Columbus,+Franklin,+Ohio+43215&ll=39.991013,-82.869283&spn=0.001009,0.001725&t=k&z=19&output=embed"></iframe><small>View Larger Map</small>

We just got back from checking out the viewing area that Cyclist II suggested. I expected to find an overgrown parking lot, which it kind of is, but with some signage to make it official. It offers some great views of the airport - we hung out long enough to see a couple planes take off, and it was really cool. I would to love to see the area cleaned up a little bit, maybe put out some picnic tables, turn it into more of a destination like the one in Grand Rapids (http://www.grr.org/Viewin.php). Can we apply for any local/state/federal grants to do it?

Posted 1 year ago #
BreakfastwithNick
Clintonville
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I also found this site, which has a map and some suggested places from which you can watch planes:

http://www.designsfortheweb.com/cmh/frame.html

Posted 1 year ago #
BreakfastwithNick
Clintonville
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We tried stopping by the airport viewing area yesterday, only to find that it's closed, the parking lot torn up, and the official "Observation Area" signage is gone. There's a sign on Hamilton about runway expansion, and I'm assuming this is part of it, but I'm still sad to see the area closed. My 3-year-old son and I were pretty disappointed; this has become one of our favorite things to do together.

Anyone know if the construction plans include reinstating the the observation area, or is it gone for good? If so, sad.

Posted 9 months ago #
hugh59
Aboard the ultimate power in Olde Towne East
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Once upon a time, back before they built the current Columbus International Airport terminal, there was a stairway that took you up to a walkway on top of the terminal. You could watch the planes taxi, takeoff, and land. I don't remember if there were tables and chairs up there. I remember going there several times with my family.

Posted 9 months ago #
lifeliberty
Here
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this is available http://www.94thaero.com/

Posted 9 months ago #
th0m
Beechwold
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nick are you talking about here?
http://maps.google.com/?ll=39.990346,-82.868857&spn=0.000002,0.00284&z=19&vpsrc=6&layer=c&cbll=39.990346,-82.868857&panoid=SZ4XLtSMQvdqScDEl59dSA&cbp=12,299.79,,0,2.29

there's also the original tower that's back on fifth... amazing, stunning office space that was a little musty the last time i was in there, but their lot might have some kind of a view? i'm sure trying to figure this sort of thing out though on one's own is probably not the smartest idea, and i may just call the airport

Posted 9 months ago #
BreakfastwithNick
Clintonville
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@th0m Yes, that's the lot. East side of the airport, off Hamilton Road, just north of Fifth. That was the official lot. I can call the airport to see if they suggest other areas and to get a timeline of the construction. But that lot was nice and close to the runaway, especially if planes were landing from the east.

Posted 9 months ago #
tourist19
Merion Village
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Hmmm, I'll ask around at work and see if anyone knows. For now I would park in the parking lot for the golf course off Hamilton Rd. All the planes landing on 28R fly right overhead.

Posted 9 months ago #
JAL
Downtown Columbus
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BreakfastwithNick said:
We tried stopping by the airport viewing area yesterday, only to find that it's closed, the parking lot torn up, and the official "Observation Area" signage is gone. There's a sign on Hamilton about runway expansion, and I'm assuming this is part of it, but I'm still sad to see the area closed. My 3-year-old son and I were pretty disappointed; this has become one of our favorite things to do together.

Anyone know if the construction plans include reinstating the the observation area, or is it gone for good? If so, sad.

The observation area at the end of the runway off Hamilton Rd is closed due to the construction of the new runway. The airport is moving runway 28L & 10R -700 feet to the south, this will enable them to land two aircraft side by side in low visibility. The current two rumways are too close together (by 700 feet) to allow them to do this now per Federal Aviation regulations. Removing the old lot was part of the project- I believe the golf course will also be closing for a year while the airport while they realign the approach lighting system to the new runway as they proceed with this project.

Posted 9 months ago #