Under the wing

Airplanes open the door to true adventure. One of the most fun and still beginner-friendly ways to enjoy your new pilot certificate is airplane camping. Whether you’re cost conscious and don’t want to spend on a hotel, love camping, or just want to try something new, airplane camping is an easily accessible milestone that’ll help expand your planning and piloting skills.

You might think this is a backcountry-only thing: not so! You might be surprised to find airports with camping available on the field or nearby in places you wouldn’t necessarily expect. Both camping under the wing of your airplane or camping nearby the airport will be a rewarding experience. Ask around at the airport to find good airplane camping spots, check out the Recreational Aviation Foundation’s airfield guide (theraf.org), or reverse search a spot by starting with a campsite you want to go to and then finding a nearby airfield.

If you’re going to a rugged spot, you’ll need to bring all your own gear, food, and water. Bringing extra water is always a good idea, and this can end up being a bigger weight consideration than you might expect. As far as gear goes, no need to buy if you aren’t ready to commit yet. Many outdoorsy shops, including REI, offer gear rentals for reasonable prices. Don’t forget to bring cash with you since tiedown or camping fees are often charged in cash only.

One of the most classic cases of airplane camping is of course, attending fly-ins! Find a fly-in near you using AOPA’s event calendar, or schedule a trip to Sun ’n Fun in Lakeland, Florida, or EAA AirVenture in Wisconsin. If you go airplane camping at least once before these events, that practice run will help you figure out what gear you forgot and what gear you can forget. Whether you want to camp in the middle of nowhere or surrounded by new friends at an airshow, airplane camping is a rewarding adventure worth trying.

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