Hope you will enjoy a short aviation story. Photos are embedded. 
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Around Delaware in an Afternoon
Friday, Oct 20, 2000
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It seems like forever ago that the beautiful October weather beckoned me to the sky for my last significant trip of
the fall flying season. My flying friend and I headed off to visit the state of Delaware. There are only 10 public use
airports in the state and it seemed an interesting challenge to visit them all in an afternoon.
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<h2>Wilmington</h2>
<img src="http://n99.com/gallery/Story/wilmington.jpg" border="0" alt="WILMINGTON" height="180" width="240" align="right" />
Our first stop is Wilmington. The new tower is almost complete. No time to stop, though, so a quick stop and go
and we're off.
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<h2>Summit</h2>
<img src="http://n99.com/gallery/Story/summit.jpg" border="0" alt="Summit" height="180" width="240" align="right" />
We headed south past the beautiful cable-stay bridge and then west to Summit. "Traffic, Skyhawk is 3 east,
inbound". Another greaser landing and we were on the tarmac admiring a Beech B-18. This is our lunch stop, so
we borrowed a courtesy car and headed into town. After a modest lunch and some small talk with the locals, we
were ready to continue our journey.
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<h2>Chandelle Estates</h2>
<img src="http://n99.com/gallery/Story/chandelle.jpg" border="0" alt="CHANDELLE Estates" height="180" width="240" align="right" />
Chandelle Estates is nestled near the north edge of Dover's Class-D airspace. We crossed Smyrna VOR at
pattern altitude (700'), just two miles north of the airport. It's 2500', but the trees at both ends make it interesting.
The STOP sign at the end of the runway reminds me to come up on the brakes. We're picking and choosing our
stopping points and this is not one of them. A taxi back on the adjacent grass and we're ready to go, headed
back northwest to Delaware Airpark.
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<h2>Delaware Airpark</h2>
There’s not much exciting happening at Delaware Airpark. The runway is in bad shape, and the winds do
interesting things over the trees. The last 800 feet or so is in disrepair. Word has it that the State has bought the
airport and they're planning on resurfacing. Departing runway 27, we're headed south.
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<h2>Chorman</h2>
We decide to fly over a couple of the grass airstrips to get a peek at some of our later destinations. These are
short grass strips, so we want to burn some fuel before we try them. Our next destination is Chorman, recently
private but now open to the public. It's mainly used for cropdusting operations, as evidenced by the 3 ag birds in
the hanger. There’s not much activity here. We’re getting some odd looks from the locals, now. I give a friendly
wave out the window to keep them wondering long enough to make a quick getaway. We're heading south again.
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<h2>Laurel</h2>
<img src="http://n99.com/gallery/Story/laurel.jpg" border="0" alt="Laurel" height="180" width="240" align="right" />
We saved our first real stop for a classic grass strip at Laurel, near the Maryland border. The FBO operator and
wife greeted us kindly upon landing. He's getting ready to take a student up. We spent 45 minutes or so lingering
around the little terminal building and meandering through the adjacent soybean field. Reluctantly, we depart for
the trip back north.
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<h2>Sussex County</h2>
The first real traffic of the trip is at Sussex County at Georgetown. The sun is getting low in the sky, so we're just
a touch and go on the long runway. We've burned a good bit of fuel and are ready to hit the shortest strips of the
trip. Heading 330, our destination is Henderson.
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<h2>Henderson</h2>
<img src="http://n99.com/gallery/Story/henderson.jpg" border="0" alt="Henderson" height="180" width="240" align="right" />
An earlier overflight gave us a good view of Henderson, a beautiful little 2000' grass strip. Those trees at the
approach to 33 are close and look tall, so I decided earlier that I'd use 15 for landing and 33 for departure, winds
permitting. I had called the proprietor earlier in the day to get the condition of the grass and to be sure that
transients were welcome. It looks quiet around here…a couple little hangers, but no planes or people in sight. It's
late afternoon, and the passengers are getting homesick. Off we go. Two more stops.
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<h2>Jenkins Airpark</h2>
<img src="http://n99.com/gallery/Story/jenkins.jpg" border="0" alt="Jenkins" height="180" width="240" align="right" />
The most challenging stop is Jenkins Airpark. This old grass strip is home to an aircraft graveyard; the local FBO
sells used a/c parts. The cross-runway is closed, so our only choice is the 2800' north-south runway. Seems
plenty long, but trees on both ends keep it very interesting. The owner does not like people snooping around the
parts yard, so we just taxi around a bit and check out the planes on the line. A taxi back and we're off to our final
stop.
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<h2>Smyrna</h2>
<img src="http://n99.com/gallery/Story/smyrna.jpg" border="0" alt="Smyrna" height="180" width="240" align="right" />
What a beautifully well-kept strip at Smyrna! Cut out of the middle of a soybean field, the grass is in immaculate
shape. We landed just before sunset and taxied back. There’s no one around but us explorers. Departing away
from the setting sun, we left the little state of Delaware behind. Mission accomplished.
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