Virginia Airports

[jrwilson]

I’ll be moving to Virginia in a couple years and am hoping to get an idea of some good airports to base my Mooney.  I was thinking the Petersburg or Chester area but really I’d just like to be within 2 hours driving of Williamsburg, but not right in Williamsburg  (daughter will be going to college there, and she probably won’t want us right there…) so I’m pretty open to any ideas.  Hopefully I can get a hangar before I move.   Any ideas?

Edited Sunday at 03:58 AM by jrwilson

[Hank]

Is nothing available at KJGG, Williamsburg? Norfolk isn't too far away, either.

It may be beneficial to fly in and talk to people at the airport, that's how I found a shared spot at my last two bases. Actually, I've owned my Mooney since 2007, and except for 2 years, I've always shared a hangar with at least one other plane. Box hangars are nice!

[jrwilson]

9 minutes ago, Hank said:

Is nothing available at KJGG, Williamsburg? Norfolk isn't too far away, either.

It may be beneficial to fly in and talk to people at the airport, that's how I found a shared spot at my last two bases. Actually, I've owned my Mooney since 2007, and except for 2 years, I've always shared a hangar with at least one other plane. Box hangars are nice!

Sorry, edited my post.  Williamsburg itself will probably be too close to the school, she will want some distance I’m sure :)

[AJ88V]

You may want to start by looking for hangars! 

2 hours drive gives you a pretty huge radius.  Heck, even my home field (and soon to be new hometown) of Culpeper is a two hour drive.  KCJR is by far the best airport I've ever been at - super strong aviation community and just  a lovely airport. But, not sure you want or need to be that far away.

Going directly north of Richmond is NOT a good idea.  Distance would meet your criteria, but route I95 north of Richmond is a total mess given time of day.  While there are some super neighborhoods in Richmond proper (serious classic charm), the town itself is kind of rough in many areas, but there is a lot to do there, restaurants, the University, etc.  Also cutting edge medical with the VCU medical school.

Williamsburg is actually pretty far east (nice area, BTW).  Coastal VA can get very crowded, but can also be quite affordable depending upon where you're coming from.  So look direct south along the coast or southwest.  Petersburg is a lovely town and has that strong Southern identity (in a good way), plus easy access to all the good things Richmond has to offer.

You could also easily go to North Carolina with a 2 hour driving radius.  Many great towns, also cheap cost of living, and the further south you go, the warmer it will generally be in winter.  Summers will be about the same, hot and muggy and the temps in NC don't typically look worse that Richmond/Norfolk/Williamsburg or DC for that matter.

If aviation is meant to be a big part of your life, recommend you draw a 2 hour drive circle and then start making a flying tour to see what the fields are like.  Make finding a hangar and driving distance to the airport a major priority, as I suspect you'll be visiting the airport way more often than driving to see your daughter.  Look online to learn what really happens at those airports.  Honestly, that's why I'm moving to Culpeper.  Look at the hangar waitlist and cost.  Figure out what other things you want (restaurants, museums, medical, social societies, etc.).  A lot of options, but you're looking in great areas for retirement.

Hope this helps.

[jrwilson]

54 minutes ago, AJ88V said:

You may want to start by looking for hangars! 

2 hours drive gives you a pretty huge radius.  Heck, even my home field (and soon to be new hometown) of Culpeper is a two hour drive.  KCJR is by far the best airport I've ever been at - super strong aviation community and just  a lovely airport. But, not sure you want or need to be that far away.

Going directly north of Richmond is NOT a good idea.  Distance would meet your criteria, but route I95 north of Richmond is a total mess given time of day.  While there are some super neighborhoods in Richmond proper (serious classic charm), the town itself is kind of rough in many areas, but there is a lot to do there, restaurants, the University, etc.  Also cutting edge medical with the VCU medical school.

Williamsburg is actually pretty far east (nice area, BTW).  Coastal VA can get very crowded, but can also be quite affordable depending upon where you're coming from.  So look direct south along the coast or southwest.  Petersburg is a lovely town and has that strong Southern identity (in a good way), plus easy access to all the good things Richmond has to offer.

You could also easily go to North Carolina with a 2 hour driving radius.  Many great towns, also cheap cost of living, and the further south you go, the warmer it will generally be in winter.  Summers will be about the same, hot and muggy and the temps in NC don't typically look worse that Richmond/Norfolk/Williamsburg or DC for that matter.

If aviation is meant to be a big part of your life, recommend you draw a 2 hour drive circle and then start making a flying tour to see what the fields are like.  Make finding a hangar and driving distance to the airport a major priority, as I suspect you'll be visiting the airport way more often than driving to see your daughter.  Look online to learn what really happens at those airports.  Honestly, that's why I'm moving to Culpeper.  Look at the hangar waitlist and cost.  Figure out what other things you want (restaurants, museums, medical, social societies, etc.).  A lot of options, but you're looking in great areas for retirement.

Hope this helps.

That does help, thank you!  That’s the type of info I’m looking for since I’m in California I really don’t know anything about the specifics of each area in Va.  I had no idea Richmond was rough.  I’ll take a look at culpeper.

[Fritz1]

I am based in KFCI, about 15 miles southwest of Richmond, 5500 ft, ILS, about 1h drive from Williamsburg, wait for T-hangar is about 1 year, Petersburg KPTB is a little closer to Williamsburg, then there is Hampton Roads executive, Franklin, lots of choices. My house and also my office are about 15 min from airport, feels about right. I have lived here for 30 years, reasonably familiar with the area, PM me if you want to talk

[AJ88V]

On 2/2/2025 at 9:25 AM, jrwilson said:

That does help, thank you!  That’s the type of info I’m looking for since I’m in California I really don’t know anything about the specifics of each area in Va.  I had no idea Richmond was rough.  I’ll take a look at culpeper.

Didn't mean to denigrate Richmond.  It's the state Capital and has California-spec highway overpasses that are much more needed in northern Virginia (near DC), but they put them in Richmond because, ummm, it's the state Capital (LOL!!!).   There are spectacular neighborhoods in Richmond, some even cut into hillsides with great views.  Many of the houses are really cool turn-of-the-century (which century?) stuff that you just can't find anywhere else.  Prices really aren't that high, but property taxes may be steeper.  Coming from Sacramento environs, you're gonna think everything is cheap here!

Virginia open secret - the liquor is still sold in state VA ABC stores (this was one of the moonshine capitals of the world).  Selection is pretty good, but if you want something rare (say Pappy Van Winkle), you will only find it in Richmond, not up here in NoVa where the Yankees live ("rich men north of Richmond").

Hit me up if you do decide to come out here for a tour.

[Pinecone]

16 hours ago, AJ88V said:

Virginia open secret - the liquor is still sold in state VA ABC stores (this was one of the moonshine capitals of the world).  Selection is pretty good, but if you want something rare (say Pappy Van Winkle), you will only find it in Richmond, not up here in NoVa where the Yankees live ("rich men north of Richmond").

Because if you want nice stuff in NoVA, you go across a bridge to DC or MD and buy it there.  Better selection and cheaper.

MoCo in MD has county liquor stores, that have some nice offerings at a good price.  But there are also independent liquor stores.

[AJ88V]

1 hour ago, Pinecone said:

Because if you want nice stuff in NoVA, you go across a bridge to DC or MD and buy it there.  Better selection and cheaper.

MoCo in MD has county liquor stores, that have some nice offerings at a good price.  But there are also independent liquor stores.

Warning - major topic drift....  Big fan of State Line Liquors in Elkton, MD, terrific store.  And the 'mothership' for Total Wine is in Claymont, DE., near Wilmington.   I believe it's Total Wine store no. 2.  No sales tax in Delaware and the store is the size of a Home Depot. Yowza!

But, the Virginia ABC stores are pretty good.  Yes, sometimes to choices are more limited, but generally the selection is pretty excellent and the prices are pretty competitive, often better.  No idea why the State of Virginia is still in the 'liquor business' so long after the Prohibition, but the stores are actually pretty good.

@Pinecone, would welcome suggestions for a store in your area.  Have family up that way, and always have fun shopping for new things.

[Hank]

Bama has both. State ABC stores sell only liquor; beer and wine in grocery stores, Walmart, etc.; beer at gas stations. Also independent liquor stores, but I haven't done price comparisons since moving back in '14.