Responding to General Mitchell’s urgent call for construction of a temporary airfield, local Hatterasmen used shovels, hoes, and horse drawn carts alongside a tractor pulling a weighted pallet, to fill holes, tidal pools, and marshy areas and pack level a landing strip. Their quick work helped to insure the success of Mitchell’s demonstration.
The above is from an inscription at the Billy Mitchell Airport in Frisco, North Carolina. Today the field is paved and contains modern equipment like an AWOS.
This past long weekend (it was Victoria Day in Canada) was spent down south in Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Our camp site was a 5 minute bike ride from KHSE. In fact, our campsite was right under the final approach path for runway 25. The majority of the aircraft were single engine 4 seaters. However I did see what looked like a King Air and a few multi engined pistons.
The field is a nice little airport with a 3000′ runway. There is no terminal building per se, but just a covered area with seats and parking for about 5-6 cars. There is a large tie down area that can hold over a dozen aircraft. There is also an “overflow” section about half way down the runway where you could park more cars/airplanes.
Runway 25 seems to be used the most of the time. I suspect because it is on the opposite side of the terminal, so there is no need to backtrack. Every time I looked, the windsock always showed a 90° crosswind off the ocean.
I spent about 10 minutes talking to a local who was waiting for his son to arrive at the airport from Virginia. He was telling me how his son’s aircraft even has a parachute. I deduced that it must have been a Cirrus. A few minutes later I saw a cirrus fly over the field and I asked if that was who he was waiting for. He confirmed it was him.
The airport is uncontrolled and un manned. No fuel is available and really i just a place to literally land and park your aircraft. The Frisco campsite is a quick walk from the airport.
One of these days I will spend 8 hours in my airplane rather than 16 hours in my car to get here.
If I were flying from Fort Mers (RSW), Florida,, how would I fly into Billy Mitchell (HSE)airport?
Or what airport would I fly into and rent a car to get to Buxton, N.C.?
There is no place to rent a car on this part of Hatteras Island. I’m not sure if there is a car rental on the entire island.
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