Siletz Bay State (S45)

[DanH]

A group of us stopped to camp at S45 while touring the west coast. Those of you who live in the region and want a place to fly for the weekend should check it out. The RAF gang has installed a few nice campsites in the forest on the north side of the tiedown ramp, with picnic tables, fire pits, firewood, etc. There is a very good restaurant (Side Door Cafe), a jumping local bar (Salishack Tavern), and a good breakfast place (the Munchery) all just a short walk away.

 

[JP4]

A group of us stopped to camp at S45 while touring the west coast. Those of you who live in the region and want a place to fly for the weekend should check it out. The RAF gang has installed a few nice campsites in the forest on the north side of the tiedown ramp, with picnic tables, fire pits, firewood, etc. There is a very good restaurant (Side Door Cafe), a jumping local bar (Salishack Tavern), and a good breakfast place (the Munchery) all just a short walk away.

View attachment 120426

I’m glad you got there with some good weather! Did you get up to Tillamook and check out the Blimp hangar? My grandfather put the last board in the roof when it was built in WWII.
The coast is frequently low ceilings or really windy, so it’s a treat when the conditions are favorable for flying. There are a lot of cool little airports up and down the coast with camping, and no doubt it’s easier to camp by your plane at one of the airports than it is to find a regular camping spot at one of the regular state campgrounds in the summer.
RAF has been doing great things at many of our local airports!

 

[JonJay]

I’m glad you got there with some good weather! Did you get up to Tillamook and check out the Blimp hangar? My grandfather put the last board in the roof when it was built in WWII.

That’s a great legacy. Sadly, a large section of the roof blew off in one of our many storms last winter. The Museum and Hangar are permanently closed and fenced off for public safety reasons. The estimate to repair the roof is $4-5M, which the Port does not have. Secondarily, the next storm may take another section. An entire reroof is needed and that was estimated at $40-50M many years ago. However, that still doesn’t cover the cost to repair the rotting structure, which may not even be repairable. Structural bolts have corroded from the inside out due to the treatment used to preserve the timbers. Every once in a while, a bolt just falls out.
My hangar looks directly at the Blimp Hangar. The Port is offering the building for sale for one dollar. Thus far, no takers.
Anyway, in addition to Siletz Bay,
nehalem Bay State is also a nice camping option. About a mile and a half into town for food, bars, etc….. We live 1 mile from this airport. Trickier than Siletz and more prone to wind as it is very close to the beach, but beach access is prime.

 

[scsmith]

Really sad about the hangar. They tore down one of the two at Moffett. Pretty soon, there won't be any more of these amazing structures left.

 

[JP4]

That’s a great legacy. Sadly, a large section of the roof blew off in one of our many storms last winter. The Museum and Hangar are permanently closed and fenced off for public safety reasons. The estimate to repair the roof is $4-5M, which the Port does not have. Secondarily, the next storm may take another section. An entire reroof is needed and that was estimated at $40-50M many years ago. However, that still doesn’t cover the cost to repair the rotting structure, which may not even be repairable. Structural bolts have corroded from the inside out due to the treatment used to preserve the timbers. Every once in a while, a bolt just falls out.
My hangar looks directly at the Blimp Hangar. The Port is offering the building for sale for one dollar. Thus far, no takers.
Anyway, in addition to Siletz Bay,
nehalem Bay State is also a nice camping option. About a mile and a half into town for food, bars, etc….. We live 1 mile from this airport. Trickier than Siletz and more prone to wind as it is very close to the beach, but beach access is prime. View attachment 120436

I was fortunate enough to visit again last fall and get a photo of my plane in front of the hangar. My grandfather moved the family from Iowa during the war to build the hangars, and then the Hanford nuclear plant, but they loved Tillamook so much they settled there, so my family is all from Tillamook.
I met your neighbor with the vintage avionics collection! He showed me all of that stuff. Super cool!

 

[DanH]

I’m glad you got there with some good weather! Did you get up to Tillamook and check out the Blimp hangar? My grandfather put the last board in the roof when it was built in WWII.

Missed that, and wish I would have thought of it. Marvin was going to be tied up for a few days replacing his crank seal, so I skedaddled down the coast to Simi Valley and spent some time with family. Glad I did too, as the kids are growing up fast and Old Uncle Dan lives at the other end of the country.

The coast is frequently low ceilings or really windy, so it’s a treat when the conditions are favorable for flying

It was low up at Arlington for a few days, but we lucked out big time all the way down the coast, clear or plenty of ceiling. Ya'll got some pretty scenery out there.

Rounding the far NW corner of the 48 states, Cape Flattery, looking south.



Life is good.



BTW, the red nosed RV-8 is Peter Coen, who had a really good week. In addition to the west coast tour, his little airplane project quietly broke the sound barrier.

 

[lr172]

Really sad about the hangar. They tore down one of the two at Moffett. Pretty soon, there won't be any more of these amazing structures left.

there were quite a few of them at el toro 25 years ago when we lived in Orang cty.