Visit Aeroflex-Andover Airport and Share the Fantasy

“I am made of blue sky and gold light and I will feel this way forever.”

This was a 1979 Chanel No 5 commercial that had the caption “Share the Fantasy”.  The TV commercial was of a women resting by a pool with a glider plane overhead.  There was something that caught my fascination about this serene body of water and a peaceful glider plane that struck its silhouette on the calm blue waters of the pool.   This ad really did capture my fantasy.  Could this image ever be replicated in real life? 

Decades later I would find this enchanting sight at Aeroflex-AndoverAirport. The airport resides among two tranquil pools of water where one can view these graceful machines take off and land among small fishing boats flush
against a very scenic backdrop of nature. 

Aeroflex-Andover Airport is nestled near Kittatinny Valley State Park and is also owned by the State of New Jersey. It is operated by the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. It is also serves as general aviation airport.   Airplane watching entertains many visitors who come for fishing, picnicking or hiking recreation to this state park.

The serenity of watching small air craft land and take off soon changes to a location for action adventure during the fire seasons.  This is when the airport serves as an air attack base to facilitate aerial attacks on forest fires.  Then, helicopters and commercial spray planes are ready for water drops on forest fires and this is their point of take off.  It is then that you realize that part of Aeroflex-Andover Airport is operated by the NJ Forest Fire Service.  A few months ago I had the opportunity to see a practice drill when a helicopter with a large vessel of water released it on its target. 

Scott Wallis, a Firewise Official from Hopatcong, was there to observe the inaugural drills of the new firefighting helicopter and I got to listen to some interesting information about the program.  I found the experience at Aeroflex to be real excitement for the day and wondered how fascinating it would be for some youngster visiting the park.  Not only would they get to watch the planes take off, they might get the chance to see a firefighting practice drill from the air.

So, I am sharing this real fantasy that is not in some far-flung exotic location, but in a neighboring town. Maybe you will feel that you are made of “blue sky and gold light” too when you pull into the parking lot driveway of Lake Aeroflex Road which is off Limecrest Road in Andover, NJ.  This park fills my fantasy of flush toilet restrooms too.

Where is your local fantasy location?  Why don’t you “Share the Fantasy” too?