To Cherry Ridge I go

Soaring amidst the clouds at altitudes of thousands of feet is a mere dream to most of us. Yes, we take commercial flights at least a few times during our lives. But the art of flying a plane seems like something that is left to a few professionals truly skilled in this profession.

Driving recently along the back roads that connect Hawley with Honesdale, I stumbled upon a small airport that is not only home to local residents lucky enough to have their own aircrafts, but a flight school as well. The Cherry Ride Airport also allows people and families to take scenic rides to tour the Lake Wallenpaupack region as well as view their own homes from the sky.

A variety of small aircrafts are on view at the airport. Most of the planes in the first “parking lot” are owned and piloted by residents of the tri-county area. Their wing shapes vary as well as their passenger loads. Some of the small, private planes are brightly colored or striped, while some are the basic white that we associate with flight.

To fly a plane by yourself you must have a pilot’s license. The license is not easily obtained. Forty hours of airtime are needed to gain this license, but once you have it, it is good forever. The forty hours of airtime include 20 hours with an instructor, ten hours solo and then ten hours of either solo or instructor flight. Flight instructor Ryan Sheehan, only 25, lets me know that realistically, 60 hours of flight are needed to make sure that you are capable of maneuvering the small planes. Biannual maintenance tests with a flight instructor allow you to keep flying for the rest of your life.

The small size of the planes limits the number of passengers that can fly at one time. Some passengers have a harder time dealing with the turbulence that is more evident in the smaller planes.

A hangar attached to the flight school gives me an idea of the number of small planes the airport houses. Some planes are equipped for water landings, while others are famous for their ease of maneuverability due to their size and wing structure. One particular cockpit built for only a single-pilot plane has a hula girl attached to the dashboard.

The Cherry Ridge Airport’s runway is also a sight to be seen. The runway is approximately 2,400 feet in paved length. It is bordered by some of the most beautiful landscape around. The rolling hills and bright green color of both the grass and the trees are spectacular. The sun is strong and bright because there can be no shade on the runway. Hundreds of open acres can be seen from its expanse.

When a small plane takes off on the runway, the speed is quite a bit slower than for commercial and larger counterparts. The wind velocity does not need to be as strong to lift the weight of the plane. The distance between the ground and the plane increases only gradually.

The airport comes complete with landing lights so that people can fly in and out of the airport during the night.

Another draw to flight at the Cherry Airport is the small café that sits to the right side of the runway. Open only for breakfast and lunch, the café has an amazing view of the open runway field. Large picture windows allow you to see the show of some of the more experienced pilots while enjoying a hearty meal.

The airport is well worth the trip for anyone interested in aviation or the sight of small planes buzzing around before them. And, if all the aerial excitement overwhelms you, take a load off and enjoy a nice lunch with a view worth a million bucks.

For more information call 570/253-2454 or visit tml-aircraft.com.