Wandering around airports

Am I the only weirdo that will engage people who are randomly walking around on the ramp, and offer to show them around my planes if they express an interest? I just took a guy flying today, and only knew his first name.

My wrenches are huge, but I haven't found occasion to summon one in my defense yet.

Who are these criminals that you suspect are waiting to prey on us poor hapless plane owners?
 
I really think that location has a lot to do with this. I've spent a lot of time at a lot of different GA airports, and regardless of the security level which I'll get to in a moment, I've found most people very polite, open, welcoming, and conversational. Even those of you who say you'd be suspicious, in less than 15 seconds with a proper greeting and short explanation from a genuine individual, I'm sure you'd put your guard down to a fellow pilot or aviation lover.

As for the security aspect, what's funny to me is the amount of GA airports still without fences (in a good way). Also the number of GA airports that are fenced, with the exception of one or two entrances visible from the gate. The legality of this? I have no idea. Those that are on lock down, the FBO has always been more than helpful, with a few exceptions of GA airports I've visited in bigger cities on the west coast and some parts of the east coast.

Just my personal experience and opinion.
 
I have not been a pilot for long but one of the first things I noticed when training was a feeling of "Am I supposed to be here?" when walking around an FBO or on the ramp.

I'm way past that now but they are not very welcoming places.
 
To the OP, come on out to KCMA and I will be happy to give you the golf cart tour.
 
SixPapaCharlie said:
I have not been a pilot for long but one of the first things I noticed when training was a feeling of "Am I supposed to be here?" when walking around an FBO or on the ramp.

I'm way past that now but they are not very welcoming places.
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If you act like you have a purpose, and belong there generally nobody will bother you. But you probably already knew that.
 
dans2992 said:
If you act like you have a purpose, and belong there generally nobody will bother you. But you probably already knew that.
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A clipboard and a thermos bottle of coffee will get you pretty much anywhere.

Rich
 
It takes a card to get through the front gates of my airport at Cape Girardeau, Mo (KCGI) both coming and going. But you can drive right on to the property from the other three sides, no fences at all, and it's a 121 airport. I find it quite humorous.

It's quite easy to take a right turn off of southbound I-55 onto runway 28.

My previous two airports had no security whatsoever but they were smaller, GA only fields.
 
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MAKG1 said:
Don't try that at KPMD unless you like sniffing dirt and having automatic weapons pointed at you.
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Just tell them you got sent down to check the Fetzer valve.

"It's all ball bearings these days! Maybe you boys need a refresher course."
 
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