Model Airplane Field

Most grass strips feel temporary, yet Model Airplane Field has been a fixture on the local map for decades. In Forest Hills, NY 11375, this 40-acre rectangle holds more than just turf; it’s where propellers hum and small wings cut the breeze. No tower, no jet-fuel scent—just clear skies above a modest plot that pilots return to every weekend.

Open dawn to dusk, they land, launch, and practice takeoffs without towers or fees. The turf stays short enough for tail-draggers, the windsocks never lie, and pilots swap tips between flights. You’ll hear clicks of program mixers over distant lawnmowers; scale fliers circle in silence while giant foam gliders cruise lazily overhead.

Plug the coordinates into your map before you head east on the Grand Central Parkway—Model Airplane Field sits behind the ball fields near the 70th Avenue overpass; 718-555-0199 will get you a quick answer if you need last-minute runway info. Directions are at the link below so you don’t overshoot the small gravel pull-off.