With Haste and Goodwill

Self Victimization

Considering that I enjoy exploring new places by air, I have become a victim of my own success. Like an overgrazed pasture or an overfished region of the ocean, I have visited so many local airfields that, the more I explore, the farther I need to range to find new and interesting runways.

It's All in the Name

Goodspeed Airport (42B), East Haddam, CT.

"Goodspeed" is a great name for an airport. After all, as an airport, Goodspeed is associated with airplanes and airplanes are supposed to be fast. So "goodspeed" is well aligned with the aeronautical mission. Additionally, the name is close enough to "godspeed" to be tacitly imbued with well wishes for a safe and fulfilling journey. While these pleasant connotations give the airport character, they are not necessarily intentional. Goodspeed Airport (42B) actually takes its name from a prominent local family that directly shaped the adjacent town of East Haddam, CT. 

Tucked between rising terrain and a gentle bend of the Connecticut River, Goodspeed's grass roots charm stems from a scenic approach, placement next to a tiny but quintessential New England town, a paved runway that is short enough (2100') to demand attention, and 4500' of water to operate seaplanes. Once a vibrant aviation community, the distinctive airport was rescued by new owners and the Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) in 2020. Goodspeed is one of the East Coast's "it” airports.

Getting there from Sodus, NY would require a two hour one way flight. But I had all day to play in the sky. After all, who wouldn't want to visit a place like Goodspeed? 

The Catskills: Blame the Dutch

Date	Aircraft	Route of Flight	Time (hrs)	Total (hrs)
30 Sep 2022	N21481	SDC (Sodus, NY) - 42B (East Haddam, CT) - SDC	4.8	2540.0

Tom and I launched from Sodus in Warrior 481 with a planned lunchtime arrival at Goodspeed. As with other trips to the Connecticut shore, our voyage to Goodspeed involved flying over the Catskill Mountains.

Some sources indicate that the Catskills are not mountains at all, but merely the hardier remains of an eroded plateau shaped by ancient waterways. As for the curious name, it is believed to be of Dutch origin though multiple meanings are cited such as "wildcat creek” or “place where no one puts Baby in the corner." Still other sources point to a Native American origin. Thus, while there is some ambiguity in the etymology of the Catskills name, it is nonetheless better understood than the inception of "Hoosier".

A faint blush was just beginning to color the Catskills foliage. Autumn was coming.

Crossing into Connecticut, we found ourselves above a scattered cloud layer and pressed onward with the Atlantic Ocean visible in the distance.

STOL Not Exactly Required

Entering left downwind for runway 32 at Goodspeed.

There are considerations to make when landing at Goodspeed. In addition to possessing a shorter than usual paved runway, obstructions of note include the East Haddam Swing Bridge to the north and a significant ridgeline to the east.

My plan was to land on runway 32 toward the bridge, but we overheard departing traffic using runway 14. It occurred to me that choosing to depart on 14 might make strategic sense to avoid climbing over the bridge. I asked the departing traffic about the surface wind.

"That's a great question," came the response. "It depends on which windsock you look at."

I decided to land on 32 toward the bridge. On short final, while flying through a notch in the trees off the end of the runway, we experienced a significant downdraft from the nearby ridge. But the landing otherwise went as expected (airport # 249) and we parked on the grass near the administration building at the north end of the airport.

At the Edge of the Nineteenth Century

Goodspeed Airport's best recognized totem is the curiously proportioned red administration building bearing the airport identifier on its shingled roof. 

Warrior 481 parked at Goodspeed with the Connecticut River in the background.

Whoever designed Goodspeed's administration building worked with fewer right angles than one might ordinarily anticipate. But it makes for a distinctive look.

"We mean business!!"

Near the old pilings of an ex-dock, a boat ramp extends into the water from airport property.

Learn2Fly LLC bases a Cessna 172 on straight floats (above) and a J3 Cub (not observed) at Goodspeed for seaplane training. Non amphibious, the Cessna needs to be backed down the ramp into the river. When Tom and I returned to the airport after exploring East Haddam, we encountered a stymied flight student and an embarrassed flight instructor frantically looking for the truck keys.

Free bicycles are available to transient pilots. Although no formal landing fee exists, there is a suggested donation of $10 for single engine aircraft ($20 if staying overnight). The airport is unattended and does not currently sell fuel, though it once did. We enclosed our donation in a provided envelope, wrote the Warrior's registration number on the outside, and deposited it through a slot in this building.

The Gelston House is a 19th century inn sited a mere 0.1 nautical miles north of the airport. Tom and I dined on the large patio overlooking the Connecticut river. He got the fish and chips and I had the grilled mahi mahi tacos. We were both very pleased with our lunches.

The site was originally home to a 1736 tavern called The Riverside Inn built by Jabez Chapman. It was purchased by the Gelston family in the auspicious year of 1776. In 1825, the Gelstons sold the structure to Joseph Goodspeed who ultimately replaced the original building with the current structure in 1853 and named it for the Gelston family. It currently serves as both an inn and a restaurant.

A view of Gelston House from the river. Tom and I dined under the green and white awning.

Another dining option across the street from Gelston House is La Vita specializing in Italian cuisine. Above the main entrance was a banner that read, "Now pouring beer by the family that inspired The Sound of Music." I sincerely hope that the von Trapps are not into IPAs. This inspired me to do some digging and I learned that Von Trapp Brewing is based in Stowe, VT and was founded by the youngest son of Maria and the Baron.

Next door to Gelston House is the famous (at least in theater circles) Goodspeed Opera House. Built by

William Henry Goodspeed in 1877, the tall structure has a commanding view of the river. Despite the name, it was actually intended to host plays rather than anything so highfalutin as operas.

After Goodspeed’s death in 1882, the building was used for various less-glamorous purposes before

the state of Connecticut condemned it in 1959. A group of residents bought the property for one dollar and spent four years renovating it. Since 1963, Goodspeed Musicals has hosted acclaimed theatrical productions and launched 19 different home grown shows to Broadway that include Annie and Man of La Mancha.

Goodspeed Opera House.

Goodspeed Opera House.

Christmas in Connecticut is a world premiere musical at the Goodspeed based on a 1945 Warner Brothers film of the same title.

Kristy and I will have to monitor the Goodspeed Opera House’s offerings in the future as East Haddam looks like a great destination for an overnight flying trip; land at the airport, take in a show, and enjoy dinner and overnight lodging at Gelston House. Seems kind of perfect for a couple’s weekend.

The East Haddam Swing Bridge is immediately north of Goodspeed Opera House. Built in 1913 to replace a ferry crossing, it features a fixed span to the west and a movable swing truss portion to the east.

As Tom and I ate lunch, a very New England looking old-timey ship sailed toward the bridge. (I tend to call anything that looks like this a schooner, but that is probably about as astute as calling anything smaller than a Boeing 747 a “Cezzna”). Before long, road traffic halted, claxons alarmed, and the bridge rotated partially open to pass the old sailing vessel.

The East Haddam Swing Bridge swung partially open.

Honestly, I was utterly fascinated by this bridge as I have never lived near anything quite like it. We watched it swing open a couple of times while we were in East Haddam.

A Cessna on approach to runway 14 at Goodspeed.

Flying Courteously

Back at Goodspeed Airport, Warrior 481 had been joined by a pair of vintage Cessna taildraggers, a 120 and a 140.

"Rochester, NY!" exclaimed one of the pilots. "That's a long way to fly!" I took a moment to explain how I was a victim of my own success in exploring new places. 

Cessna 120 taxiing for departure.

Cessna 140 taxiing for departure.

All three of us departed runway 14. On climb-out, Tom and I experienced a continued downdraft from the nearby ridge and our climb rate was commensurately diminished. Departing pilots are encouraged to remain over the Connecticut River until reaching 1000' in order to minimize the impact of noise on the surrounding community.

The ridge east of the airport is very prominent at this angle.

Climbing above pattern altitude, Tom and I flew a counter clockwise circle over the airport for photos.

From over East Haddam, the Gelston House, Goodspeed Opera House, and swing bridge are prominent landmarks. East Haddam is the antithesis of urban sprawl.

The Cessna 120 pilot was correct. Goodspeed is quite a haul from Rochester, NY. But a visit to a unique airport, a journey by air on a beautiful day, and company of a great friend made the whole venture completely worthwhile.