When Julie Clemens was a high school student, she went for a ride in a small airplane. “The pilot let me take the controls and fly. That was it for me,” she says.
Today, Clemens works as a pilot and owns the Benton Airpark, about 10 miles from Wichita. Her husband, Dwayne, and two other families are joint owners.
The airpark complex includes a runway, hangars, adjacent housing developments and a newly opened restaurant, and is one of few privately owned airports in the United States.
Life in the air
The airport first opened more than 50 years ago, and is now known as Lloyd Stearman Field. It was named in honor of the aviation pioneer, Lloyd Stearman, and for the fact that the airpark houses eight Stearman World War II era biplanes—including one flown by Clemens.
When not flying for fun, Clemens runs the airport and its restaurant, and works as a pilot for a local family. It’s a schedule that suits her family, which includes two teenage stepchildren, and a first-grade son, Austin.
“They all love to fly,” she says. “When Austin went to preschool, one of the first questions he asked was, ‘What kind of airplane does your daddy have?’”
Fly-in condos
Six years ago, the Clemens’ built a new house near the runway, and before long, bought their share of the runway as well. “It was a nice airport, but it needed improvements,” says Clemens. “We built more hangars, extended and widened the runway, and started a housing development.”
In an innovative move, the new owners also constructed fly-in condos right off the runway. The concept, popular in Arizona and Florida, is new to Kansas. Enthusiasts can park an airplane in the condo, well within view of its high-end living spaces.
Fly or drive, it’s worth the trip
A converted airplane hangar is now home to the airpark’s recently opened restaurant. The building, which also houses a private pilot lounge, offers a close look at the many airplanes that fly in and out of the airport—including a number of unique models like acrobatic and antique airplanes.
“When it’s a nice day, it’s amazing how many planes are flying out here,” Clemens says.
Although a fly-in every third Saturday attracts diners from surrounding states, the restaurant—and its scenery—are worth the drive, as well.
The restaurant serves steaks, burgers, sandwiches, salads, breakfasts and more. It includes a full bar, and is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, and from 7 a.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
When you go, look for Clemens, who—like the airport’s owners—seems to be there most of the time. “It’s something we enjoy,” she says. “We live here, we love it here. It makes all the work worthwhile.”
|
