Recommendation for place to over night southern Ksnsas to Colorado?

[TTaylor]

Looks like I may be headed west in the next two days. Planning on flying about 600 miles first day. That should put me in south central Ksnsas to southeast Colorado. Any recommendation on a good FBO and city to stop in?

Thanks,

Tim

[schule]

Tim

You might try Hutchinson, KS. Depending upon your time of arrival and desire there is a descent space themed museum called Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center which has several displays worth seeing. Looks like the only FBO is Wells Aircraft, no PIREP but midwestern folks are typically friendly unless you happen to strike them as arrogant at which point all bets are off.

You could go slightly south or north and watch a good basketball game. Or stop through Dodge City and get a picture at Boot Hill prior to playing against the house odds at the small Casino if you enjoy gambling.

-Mark

[aerobat95]

I would second KHUT. I flew into there specifically for the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center. The folks at the FBO were really nice and had a car available. Not sure of hotels and such but the airport has the Airport Steak House and it was pretty good. KICT is always a pretty safe bet too. Go to Yingling Aviation.....Signature has all sorts of fees from what I hear. Tons of hotels, bars, and places to eat as well.

[N9201A]

I suggest Colby Kansas (KCBK). Mark @ 785.443.4000 is extremely friendly, there is an airport car and the main drag intersecting I-70 is 5 minutes away, so there is a Starbucks, cheap hotels, and plenty of decent local eats (including a Chinese buffet and expected steakhouse) for that area of the country. Good luck!

[stevesm20b]

I just made my simi annual trip across the country from Genese Co NY (KGVQ) to Apple Valley Calif (KAPV). My first fuel stop was in Kankakee IL (KIKK). Very friendly place. Let me use a courtesy car to drive into town to get something to eat. I stopped in Hutchinson KS. Wells aviation was very friendly and helpful. They had a rental car and hotel arrangements made by the time I unloaded my bags and walked in the terminal. My third stop was in Double Eagle airport in NM (KAEG). Also a friendly place. Nice small restaurant above the terminal. Had to make a stop in Prescott AZ (KPRC) and spend the night because of bad weather. They had a heated hangar available and droped me off at a hotel and picked me up the next day. All the places I stopped were very friendly, helpfull and had reasonable prices for fuel. I would recommend any of these places to anyone traveling to any of these areas.

[aaronk25]

I've gotten fuel to k88 it was the cheapest on my route from mn to dallas tx. $5.16 reported now. Not sure about lodging though, was only a gas stop.

Aaron

[TTaylor]

Thanks for the suggestions. I ended up in Liberal Kansas, not by total choice but where I was when the sun was going down. First day in a new plane so I was not ready to fly at night yet. About 120 nm out of Liberal I calculated I could get there about 10 minutes after sunset. It was the only town of any size in front of me and about the last one until Colorado. Was glad I stayed south as Sunday morning the IFR line was only about 100 miles north.

Worked out very well in the long run. The FBO, Lyddon Aero Service, was great. Got me a hotel with a shuttle service. In the morning I found I was down two quarts of oil and had oil dripping from the cowl. With the next leg over the heart of the Rockies I was hesitant to just put oil in. I asked if they could get a mechanic on a Sunday morning and he was there before the plane was even in the maintenance hanger. He found a loose crankcase bolt and cleaned the engine in less than 90 minutes. I was on my way by 10:30.

Great place to stop,

Tim

[Smiles201]

One of the best air museums is at Liberal, complete with an early mooney designed Culver V.