Outdoor Appeal: 10 (note: a 10 rating is usually given to a place that is primarily a natural setting. But
Van Sant Airport is an outdoor gem that is worth a 10)
Setting: The park and airport sit on top of a ridge in Upper
Bucks County. To the north is a view of another ridge. To the south and east the land falls away to the valley of the Delaware River. There are commanding views in all directions without the normal two dimensional sense you get from an airport on flat land. The runway is grass and planes typically take off towards the river, so it looks as though they are flying off the top of the ridge. It's a gorgeous setting.
Facilities: Civilized. The airport has restrooms, picnic tables and chairs in shaded areas and a very small area to sit inside the airport.
Review: It's sunny, in the mid 70's, a few puffy clouds in the sky and you're kicking back to watching th
e mirical of flight for a few hours. It's hard to beat Van Sant Airport on a sunny weekend. It's one of my favorite passive activities in Bucks County. We've been a few times and it's always been a treat. So what makes Van Sant Airport so different from other aiports? As I described above, the setting is phenomenal. Watching planes fly off the side of a mountain is just more exciting than taking flight from a flat stretch of land. Also, I mentioned the miracle of flight? Well the planes you see at Van Sant aren't your normal CESNA's and the like. It's a sports aviation airport, which I've gathered to mean that the planes are a bit unique and it truly is a miracle to see how some of these planes get off the ground and how they land. You'll see restored and vintage planes from the early part of the 20th century a la the Bloody Red Barron, gliders, ultra-lites, stunt planes and others that I can't identify. Many of them are brightly colored with bull's eyes and stars. Some look as though they couldn't possibly fly. We once saw an ultra-lite that had no sheet metal or fiberglass covering the body of the plane. It was just a series of trian
gulated pipes welded together, wings and a propeller - kind of like something the Wright brothers might have built. It was astonishing to see the thing land. Van Sant also attracts a large biker crowd which can be a show all in itself. By mid-day Harleys line up along the runway and it makes the whole place feel more festive. Plus, as pictured to the right, you can get a very close up view of the planes. There are picnic tables and chairs in the shade and sometimes on the weekends there is a grill going. It's a beautiful setting and a great atmosphere. Any given weekend day in the warmer months can make you feel like you are seeing a truly unique spectacle.
Recommendations: Bringing some picnic supplies is highly recommended. Although lots of planes go in and out of the airport, there are times when most of the planes are flying and the air-traffic slows down. Consider stocking up at the Kimberton Whole Foods in Ottsville. If you're coming from 611 it's on the way. There is plenty of shade to escape the sun but sunblock, a hat and sunglasses will go a long way. Staring at the sky for hours does funny things to your eyes and face. Happy trails.
Setting: The park and airport sit on top of a ridge in Upper Bucks County. To the north is a view of another ridge. To the south and east the land falls away to the valley of the Delaware River. There are commanding views in all directions without the normal two dimensional sense you get from an airport on flat land. The runway is grass and planes typically take off towards the river, so it looks as though they are flying off the top of the ridge. It's a gorgeous setting.
e mirical of flight for a few hours. It's hard to beat Van Sant Airport on a sunny weekend. It's one of my favorite passive activities in Bucks County. We've been a few times and it's always been a treat. So what makes Van Sant Airport so different from other aiports? As I described above, the setting is phenomenal. Watching planes fly off the side of a mountain is just more exciting than taking flight from a flat stretch of land. Also, I mentioned the miracle of flight? Well the planes you see at Van Sant aren't your normal CESNA's and the like. It's a sports aviation airport, which I've gathered to mean that the planes are a bit unique and it truly is a miracle to see how some of these planes get off the ground and how they land. You'll see restored and vintage planes from the early part of the 20th century a la the Bloody Red Barron, gliders, ultra-lites, stunt planes and others that I can't identify. Many of them are brightly colored with bull's eyes and stars. Some look as though they couldn't possibly fly. We once saw an ultra-lite that had no sheet metal or fiberglass covering the body of the plane. It was just a series of trian
gulated pipes welded together, wings and a propeller - kind of like something the Wright brothers might have built. It was astonishing to see the thing land. Van Sant also attracts a large biker crowd which can be a show all in itself. By mid-day Harleys line up along the runway and it makes the whole place feel more festive. Plus, as pictured to the right, you can get a very close up view of the planes. There are picnic tables and chairs in the shade and sometimes on the weekends there is a grill going. It's a beautiful setting and a great atmosphere. Any given weekend day in the warmer months can make you feel like you are seeing a truly unique spectacle.
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