The Laker/Lutz News

Happy Hangar Cafe

North Tampa Aero Park airport up for sale

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North Tampa Aero Park is on the market.

The sales price for the licensed public airport is $4 million, according to brokers with CBRE.

The company’s airport specialist group is in charge of marketing and selling the airport, located at 4241 Birdsong Blvd.

“We’ve had quite a bit of interest,” said Gary Bauler, broker and first vice president for industrial properties at CBRE in Tampa.

The North Tampa Aero Park airport is up for sale. The asking price is $4 million. (B.C. Manion)

The airport, which dates to the mid-1970s, covers 21 acres sandwiched between Wesley Chapel Boulevard and Interstate 75.

Compark 75, a business park with premier office, warehouse and manufacturing tenants, is adjacent to the airport.

The airport offers about 10,000 square feet of maintenance hangar space; 3,500 square feet of offices; three platted residential lots; office and hangar buildings; a fuel farm, 16 T-hangars; annual runway easement income fees; a licensed Lasergrade and PSI testing facility; and a licensed Federal Aviation Administration repair station.

While most local airports are regulated by municipalities or aviation authorities, Bauler said North Tampa Aero Park is unique in being privately owned.

The Brammer family has owned and operated North Tampa Aero Park for years. But, Bauler said, “They think it’s time to get out of the business, and do something else.”

The area has seen a lot of changes since the airport opened in 1975, Bauler said.

“When it was originally built, Pasco was a lot more undeveloped,” he said. “Now, you’ve got a lot of residential and more businesses, like Compark 75. We’re encouraged that this is the right time to sell. There are a lot more affluent owners in the area now.”

Tenants at the airport include Happy Hangar Café, American Balloons, and Tampa North Flight Center, which is the airport’s fixed-base operator (FBO).

The flight center offers a range of services, including flight instruction, aircraft sales, instrument proficiency checks, parts sales and biennial flight reviews.

It has been a training and teaching resource for the Wesley Chapel Civil Air Patrol.

Some hangars are leased, but others are condominium hangars, whose owners are represented by a condominium association.

For information, visit CBRE.com.

Published June 20, 2018

Festival shares joys of flight

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People who are drawn to hot air balloons and aircraft enthusiasts will have plenty to see and do at Festival of Flight 2015.

The event, which will take place from Sept. 11 through Sept. 13 at Tampa North Flight Center, features hot air balloon rides, tethered balloon rides, two balloon glows, two balloon launches, helicopters, planes, live music, a specialty car show and more.

Admission is free and parking is $5.

Inflated hot air balloons create a colorful spectacle during the balloon glow at last year’s Festival of Flight. (File Photos)
Inflated hot air balloons create a colorful spectacle during the balloon glow at last year’s Festival of Flight.
(File Photos)

The festival expects to have 30 balloons coming from Florida, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama, said Jessica Warren, the festival director. There may be even a balloon coming in from Colorado, she said.

Warren also expects about 30 other aircraft: biplanes, war birds, a glider, Cessna and others.

“We have a lot of planes coming in from Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, New Smyrna Beach,” Warren said. The festival is advertised through airports, to let pilots know what is happening.

“A lot of the Facebook advertising that we do targets aviation enthusiasts. There are different clubs on there that we’ve shared the information with, to let them know that it’s happening,” she said.

The festival also will have kites, radio-controlled aircraft, food vendors and entertainment.

There are some new features at the festival, too.

“We have bounce houses this year, which we didn’t have in years past. We have the balls that walk on water. You get inside of them and you walk,” Warren said. And, she added, “We’re trying to get a gyrosphere.”

A hefty dose of rain last year put a damper on attendance at the second annual Festival of Flight, but Jessica Warren, the festival director, is hoping that won’t be the case this year.
A hefty dose of rain last year put a damper on attendance at the second annual Festival of Flight, but Jessica Warren, the festival director, is hoping that won’t be the case this year.

This year’s food vendors include Happy Hangar Café, Salsa Slow Smoked BBQ, Collins Concessions, Heavenly Snow – New Orleans, The Bacon Boss Food Truck, Jimmy’s Slider Food Truck, Kona Ice of Wesley Chapel and Churroland.

There’s also going to be a car show, featuring BMWs and exotic cars.

Helicopter rides start at $25 and tethered balloon rides are $10. The hot air balloon rides are sold out, but a waiting list is being kept. The hot air balloon rides are $189.

There also will be a Quilt of Valor presentation on Friday night, to honor veterans who served in a war zone.

It’s a special presentation, Warren said. “You have to be nominated, and you only receive one in a lifetime.”

All together there are 56 vendors, 11 bands, 30 balloon pilots and at least 30 airplane pilots.

“We have about 20 volunteers coming from Grow Life Church. We have about 30 volunteers from the Civil Air Patrol,” Warren said.

Parking will be at the Compark 75 property, which is next door to the airport and shuttle service will be provided.

When the event started three years ago, Warren knew it would grow.

And, it is attracting widespread interest.

“We have people flying in just for the festival all of the way from Puerto Rico, Maryland, New York. I have people who have called me from all over the United States. These are people who are just coming to see the balloons,” Warren said.

“We still want to kind of keep it in the small-town feel that Wesley Chapel, is. But just like Wesley Chapel is growing, we are growing, too,” Warren said.

Festival of Flight 2015
What: American Balloons and Tampa North Flight Center host the Festival of Flight 2015
When: Sept. 11 to Sept. 13
Where: At the Tampa North Flight Center, 4241 Birdsong Blvd., in Lutz. The particulars: There will be hot air balloons, planes, kites, helicopters, live music, tethered balloon rides, a specialty car show, vendors and more. On Sept. 11 and Sept. 12, there will be an evening balloon glow. On Sept. 12 at and Sept. 13, there will be a hot air balloon launch. Admission is free. Parking is $5. For information and full schedule of events, visit FestivalOfFlightWesleyChapel.com.

Published September 2, 2015

Festival of Flight features a flying pig and a soaring clown

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The second annual Festival of Flight will offer event-goers the chance to see more than two dozen hot air balloons, to explore all types of aircraft, to grab a bite to eat, and to enjoy live music.

Admission is free, and parking is $2.

More than two dozen hot air balloons will take part in the second annual Festival of Flight, with evening balloon glows and sunrise mass ascensions. (Courtesy of American Balloons)
More than two dozen hot air balloons will take part in the second annual Festival of Flight, with evening balloon glows and sunrise mass ascensions.
(Courtesy of American Balloons)

This year, there will even be a flying pig and a giant clown among the hot air balloons, said festival director Jessica Warren of American Balloons. Ham-Let, the flying pig, will be operated by Doug Gantt, who is making a return trip from Taiwan to take part in the festival.

“Those are quite a treat to have,” said Warren, who began planning for the festival more than a year ago.

The idea is to celebrate all things flight, she said, including everything from bubbles and kites, to T-6 warbirds and helicopters.

Last year, more than 3,500 people attended the festival. This year, Warren expects somewhere between 7,000 and 10,000 to turn out.

Kenny Shumate, who will be operating the clown balloon, said he’s glad to be able to attend the festival. “I’ve heard so many good things about it,” he said. “Last year, I couldn’t make it.”

The balloon he flies is an unusual shape and can present some challenges when it’s windy – especially because of the protrusions of the nose and ears, he said.

But he’s glad he’ll be able to join the celebration. “I love to fly,” he said. “I absolutely love the sport (of ballooning).”

Those attending can purchase tickets to go for helicopter rides, plane rides and rides on a Revo – a flying contraption that looks like a combination motorcycle-hang glider. Balloon rides can be purchased ahead of the event, Warren said.

“We have tons of food that’s going to be out there this year because that’s what we ran out of last year,” Warren said. Vendors include Sweet Salsa BBQ, Texas Roadhouse, Collins Concessions, Ker’s Winghouse of Wesley Chapel, Black Dog Gourmet, Holy Cow Kettle and Organo Gold Coffee, with items for purchase including slow-smoked barbecue ribs, chicken and pork, deep-fried Oreo cookies, and funnel cakes.

The Happy Hangar Café at the Tampa North Aero Park also will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Gates open on the evening of Sept. 19, and the event concludes at 12:30 p.m. on Sept. 21. The opening evening features live music and a hot air balloon glow featuring numerous balloons lighting up the runway at the private airport.

A mass balloon launch is planned around 7 a.m. on Sept. 20, with balloons flying in or out of the airport, depending on the wind, Warren said. They will be either inflated at the private airport or will land there.

“We will have the Re/Max hot air balloon that will be tethering from the ground, for about an hour after sunrise, taking people up for as long as the weather permits,” Warren said. “The runway will be open at 9 o’clock in the morning, for fly-in and fly-out traffic. You can fly your plane in and stay for the day, and you’ll also see planes going in and out all day long.”

A helicopter company will offer rides, with tickets sold on a first-come basis, Warren said.

Live music will play throughout the day, and Kiting Tampa Bay will have a booth where kids can come and make kites and watch demonstrations. A T-6 warbird flyover is slated for around 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 20 and a balloon glow will again light the runway at 7 p.m.

Another sunrise balloon launch is planned for Sept. 21 around 7 a.m.

More airplane fly-ins and takeoffs, helicopter rides, live music and other festivities are slated until shortly after noon on Sept. 21.

Last year’s event was marred by the death of Mark Curto, a performer whose parachute did not deploy, according to local news reports.

Warren, whose Land O’ Lakes company has operated hot air balloon flights since 1998, said the tragic incident did not deter her from planning this year’s event because the area obviously has many aviation enthusiasts, and she wanted to help provide a forum to celebrate joys of flight.

For those who prefer staying closer to the ground, the event also features a Thunderbird car show.

American Balloons and the Tampa North Flight Center are presenting the festival. Key sponsors include The Hampton Inn & Suites in Wesley Chapel, Parks Fiat of Wesley Chapel, Ker’s Winghouse, Ierna’s Heating & Cooling, and Crockett’s Towing and Wraps.

The Wesley Chapel squadron of the Civil Air Patrol will direct traffic and handle parking duties, Warren said.

Those traveling to the area for the event can get special rates at the Hampton Suites in Wesley Chapel or the Residence Inn in Land O’ Lakes by letting the hotel staff know you are in the area for the festival.

To find out more, visit FestivalOfFlightWesleyChapel.com, or look for the Festival of Flight page on Facebook.

If you go …
WHAT: Second annual Festival of Flight 2014

WHEN: Sept. 19, 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Sept. 20, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sept. 21, 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

WHERE: Tampa North Aero Park, 4241 Birdsong Blvd., in Lutz

COST: Admission is free, but parking is $2

Tickets for airplane and helicopter rides are available on the day of the event. Balloon rides must be arranged in advance.

To book a balloon ride, call American Balloons (813) 243-9507. The cost is $189 per person.

Published September 17, 2014