Do you like to watch airplanes? Do you want to make Southern California a destination, but want to avoid busy airspace? Want a great hamburger with a view? Come to Cable Airport.Cable, in Upland, California, is the largest privately owned public-access airport in the United States. Dewey and Maude Cable began its construction in 1945. At the time, the area was rocky, rural, scrub land. It is still rocky, but no longer rural.
Runway 6/24 is lighted and 3864 feet in length. It parallels the nearby the San Gabriel Mountains, with headwind landings about 90% of the time. Nice!Arrival from the north through Cajon Pass and along the San Gabriels keeps you out of Ontario International Airport’s Class C airspace. It’s still a good idea to talk to ATC because it gets really busy along this route.
Cable Airport is uncontrolled and averages 252 operations daily, 80% from the 97 aircraft home based here. There are two IFR approaches: VOR-A and RNAV (GPS) RWY 06. Coastal fog can reach this far inland and smoggy afternoons can make navigation challenging.
The Cables were well known for their hospitality. Foothill Flying Club continues the tradition. Rent a plane, take lessons (ground or flight), purchase pilot supplies or get information about the area. They are always ready to help. If you arrive on a weekend, you'll hear our friend David manning the Unicom. He also teaches ground school classes in the evenings.Cable is a full-service airport. Foothill Aircraft offers parts, FAA certified service, and airplane sales. When we were there, two Piper Arrows were in the sales lot. They were nice, but of course we like our 997 better.
Also on the field are: the Av8r General Store with snacks, clothing, and pilot supplies; very reasonable gas prices at the fuel island or via truck (check the website for current prices); and E.A.A., 99s, and Civil Air Patrol chapters. If you plan to stay, try the Doubletree Hotel in Claremont on Historic Route 66 (Foothill Blvd). A Yellow Cab costs about $15. The Old Schoolhouse is next door with restaurants and shops. Got a hankerin’ for lots (and I mean lots) of good Italian food? Buca di Beppo Restaurant is out front.
Maniac-Mikes restaurant is on-field. It’s open 7-3 daily with indoor and outdoor seating. Forget the $200 hamburger. Get Mike’s Big Burger and fries for only $7.25. This place is a favourite with locals and pilots alike. There's plenty of airplane parking out front, and car parking next to the terminal building. It's so good to see such an active general aviation airport these days.And, there's an annual Air Show each January. Check their website for upcoming dates. So, come to Cable Airport for some fun in the California sun and lots of airplanes, too. -- Margy
Sounds like a great place to visit - now if I just had an airplane. :-)
ReplyDeleteThe great thing about Cable Airport is that it is still open to the public. You can walk up to the airplanes to take a closer look. It's great to see families with kids taking advantage of this rare opportunity in this day and age of high security. The reason they can do it is because there are no airline operations. Most of the people who come to the restaurant just want to watch planes take off and land. - Margy
DeleteLots of going up and going down over the years.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a nice place. I love the red plane.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful location for the airport.
ReplyDeleteI've been to so many small airports...they draw my hubby in like a magnet! :-) Being a pilot, he just can't help it. This one looks like a good one!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know there were privately owned airports around. My dad was (is) a pilot, I'll have to ask him if he knows of this place. Thanks for stopping by my blog! :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like an attractive thing to do
ReplyDeleteA great place to visit!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know there even were private airports! (Though as I started to comment, I asked Bill if he knew and he looked at me like of course he did ..and he couldn't believe I didn't )). What a good place for a small plane to fly into ....
ReplyDeleteYou've sold me. I want to fly there, and I don't know how to fly. Once upon a time I did want to learn to pilot a small plane. Ok, there's still a little bit of me that does. :-)
ReplyDeleteThe View from the Top of the Ladder
Looks like a nice place to visit on a sunny day, take lots of photos and relax with a beer and one of Mike's burgers.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a nice place to visit on a sunny day, take lots of photos and relax with a beer and one of Mike's burgers.
ReplyDeleteLooks a fab place - and right now, I'm enjoying looking at those blue skies :)
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