Thoughts and Opinions on Ford Island

Wildchild · **Posted:** Sat Jan 12, 2013 4:00 pm

Ok, so this may be old news, put they are planning on covering the former airfeild with Sun Panels.

Do you think this is a good idea, considering the location?

If this doesn't go through, what are the chances of it re-opening it as a civialian airfeild, with an acess road surrounding the runway?

The Inspector · **Posted:** Sat Jan 12, 2013 4:19 pm

They might as well, communities have gotten very good at keeping closed military fields from becoming civil fields, MCAS El Toro is a prime example L.A and Southern Orange Co. could use another commercial airport as LAX, BUR, Wayne are all getting pretty crowded but, no-they want yet another park.

Wildchild · **Posted:** Sat Jan 12, 2013 4:25 pm

The Inspector wrote:

They might as well, communities have gotten very good at keeping closed military fields from becoming civil fields, MCAS El Toro is a prime example L.A and Southern Orange Co. could use another commercial airport as LAX, BUR, Wayne are all getting pretty crowded but, no-they want yet another park.

But they were not involved in a History changing battle.

I don't understand why they dont change those bases into motorsports parks... Drag racing, Circut racing, RC plane and car racing/driving/flying... But no. A useless park.

Kyleb · **Posted:** Sat Jan 12, 2013 5:54 pm

The issue comes back to the fact that every scrap of land in the world is/was critically important or historic to someone at some time, and how much of that world do we want to demark as "Historic site, do not mess with."?

I don't have the answer.

The Inspector · **Posted:** Sat Jan 12, 2013 6:14 pm

Wildchild wrote:

The Inspector wrote:

They might as well, communities have gotten very good at keeping closed military fields from becoming civil fields, MCAS El Toro is a prime example L.A and Southern Orange Co. could use another commercial airport as LAX, BUR, Wayne are all getting pretty crowded but, no-they want yet another park.

But they were not involved in a History changing battle.

I don't understand why they dont change those bases into motorsports parks... Drag racing, Circut racing, RC plane and car racing/driving/flying... But no. A useless park.

"Because they're 'too noisy'" is the usual answer you get from the NIMBYS. There's a pitched battle and lawsuits flying around here over the FAA saying they see no problems with using a big and active airport as a commercial airport (KPAE) but not the neighbors. A guy locally wanted to build a Moto Track out about two blocks past the sticks East of Everett but someone thought he might be able to hear a dirt bike and about shoved out a head gasket and got it stopped.
I can see using the sun to make electricity in Hawai'i where, like in Alaska everything brought to the Island comes 'by the pound' including oil to spin generation turbines.

Wildchild · **Posted:** Sat Jan 12, 2013 6:53 pm

Yes, except, on Ford Island??

Not to mention, there's no neighbors on Ford Island..

The Inspector · **Posted:** Sat Jan 12, 2013 7:54 pm

Wildchild wrote:

Yes, except, on Ford Island??

Not to mention, there's no neighbors on Ford Island..

It sits in a bowl surrounded by Honolulu and a lot of big money that doesn't want to hear airplane noise-

andyman64 · **Posted:** Sun Jan 13, 2013 12:28 pm

you meen to tell me they don,t take advantage of the geothermic activitey in the area to make electricity there like iceland? what a waste of natural resources!!!

Flying Pencil · **Joined:** Sun May 04, 2008 11:31 am **Posts:** 161

The Inspector wrote:

Wildchild wrote:

Yes, except, on Ford Island??

Not to mention, there's no neighbors on Ford Island..

It sits in a bowl surrounded by Honolulu and a lot of big money that doesn't want to hear airplane noise-

No, no noise issue. Ford island is too far from residential, and it's 3500ft, too small for jet.

The proximity to KHNL / Hickam I think is major issue.

IMHO, Hawaii has dismal support of GA.

Flying Pencil · **Joined:** Sun May 04, 2008 11:31 am **Posts:** 161

Wildchild wrote:

Ok, so this may be old news, put they are planning on covering the former airfeild with Sun Panels.

Do you think this is a good idea, considering the location?

If this doesn't go through, what are the chances of it re-opening it as a civialian airfeild, with an acess road surrounding the runway?

As in photo voltaic solar panels?

Some of it is OK, but the entire island, so much for history. :evil:

Wildchild · **Posted:** Sun Jan 13, 2013 7:58 pm

Flying Pencil wrote:

Wildchild wrote:

Ok, so this may be old news, put they are planning on covering the former airfeild with Sun Panels.

Do you think this is a good idea, considering the location?

If this doesn't go through, what are the chances of it re-opening it as a civialian airfeild, with an acess road surrounding the runway?

As in photo voltaic solar panels?

Some of it is OK, but the entire island, so much for history. :evil:

Yes. They are planning on covering the whole runway and an adjicent runway.

When I ment civialian runway, I ment Cessna's, Warbirds, Helicopters, ect. No Jumbo Jets

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11319

Why not put in a shopping mall or an Uber-golf course? Those generate the most revenue. Or you could build a golf course on top of the mall! All the politicians really want is money to spend after all. A small token plaque describing the battle should be plenty.

Wildchild · **Posted:** Mon Jan 14, 2013 3:55 pm

bdk wrote:

Why not put in a shopping mall or an Uber-golf course? Those generate the most revenue. Or you could build a golf course on top of the mall! All the politicians really want is money to spend after all. A small token plaque describing the battle should be plenty.

wendovertom · **Posted:** Mon Jan 14, 2013 4:24 pm

Just so I am not way out on this - we are talking about Ford Island at Pearl Harbor right?

I cannot see them ever doing a GA airport there - it is in the middle of Pearl Harbor - still an active Navy base. When I was there a year ago they were towing in some giant floating radar platform for repair from somewhere in the middle of the Pacific. We had to get a special request in and an escort to cross the island and go see the USS Utah memorial. I cannot ever see the Navy supporting a public airport in the middle of thier base.

The USS Missouri and Pacific Aviation Museum are there and you need to purchase a ticket and then take a bus to get there - you cannot just drive over the bridge without a resident pass or current military ID (as I am told). The Pacific Aviation museum is doing a great job (IMHO) and they are saving the original control tower from falling over - I hope to go back and get to go inside someday! The whole island was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1964 as well.

Solar panels? hummm. . . . I know that the cost of power generation is a huge issue in Hawaii - seems like every third TV ad was a PSA to remind people to shut off lights and electrical devices if they are not using them. Seems like almost 90% of the electricity is generated via fossil fuel fired power plants. I agree with some of the field being used but the whole thing seems a bit too much.

My .02

Tom P.

Wildchild · **Posted:** Mon Jan 14, 2013 5:58 pm

Yes, the Ford Island in Pearl Harbor.

I don't see why not though... Plenty of hangars, a nice big airfeild... It was even used as a military flying club feild for awhile.

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