Air Harbor Airport, FAA identifier W88, is an asphalt-strip runway located six miles north of Greensboro. This privately owned airfield has a runway that is 2460 feet long and 65 feet wide with an elevation of 822 feet. While the runway is too short for commercial airlines, it does accommodate twin engine planes; perfect for general aviation pilots. Flying lessons are also given there.

Open since the 1940’s, Air Harbor represents a slice of Americana that is quickly disappearing due to urban sprawl. Many of these rural landing strips are being sold for housing developments, strip malls, and other commercial ventures. As for now, Air Harbor appears to be safe from development. As a matter of fact, land is being cleared for upgrading hangars. In the above photo, a Piper Cherokee has just landed and the pilot is getting ready to park it on the turf.

Just to the left and beyond the photo, is the airport’s FBO (fixed based office) where you can pay for gas or just sit around and make hangar talk. Telling hangar tales comes with the territory and, in Greensboro as well as the south in general, we love to sit around talking to people with common interests. At the FBO, time stands still, as pilots spend the afternoon talking about life in the friendly skies.