Destination Review – Augur Inn, Ogden Airport – KOGD
The Ogden airport in Utah is located in a beautiful area with several points of interest for a flight.
KOGD has most of the services that a pilot might want. It is a nice alternative to KSLC’s Bravo airspace. You won’t have to share runways with airliners, but Ogden does have a control tower during daylight hours. It is very important to be in contact with ATC and to be very alert and compliant, but the style of this airport is more relaxed than KSLC. Entering and departing from the north is ideal if you don’t need to travel through the KSLC Bravo airspace.
One of the world’s longest runways is clearly visible just to the west of KOGD. This is Hill Air Force Base, which has a 13,508 x 200 foot runway. Some of the largest aircraft in the world land here. You may also have the opportunity to see F-15s and F-16s departing and returning to Hill Air Force base.
One of my most memorable experiences as a student pilot is flying solo to KOGD near Hill Air Force Base. The tower told me that four F-16s would be coming over the top of the mountains and descending through my altitude. “Maintain your course and altitude” the ATC agent said. “Don’t worry, they know you’re there.” I am told that they must have been at least 1000 feet away from me, but they were huge and loud and very very fast.
Also of interest are the beautiful Wasatch mountains just east of the airport, making Ogden a gorgeous jumping-off point for mountain flying and fall foliage viewing. KLGU and Brigham City are also nearby mountain airports.
The FBO at Ogden is Leading Edge Aviation. It’s a friendly, full-service FBO with very western décor. They offer excellent maintenance services and instruction.
The nearest restaurant is the Augur Inn, which is an old-fashioned diner with the usual selection of breakfasts, hamburgers, sandwiches and fries, all moderately priced.
From a review of the Augur Inn from William White,
The Auger Inn open seven days a week from 7am to 3pm. From a table by the windows, visual entertainment is provided by landing traffic and a steady parade of planes taxing in front of the terminal. At certain times, the F-16s and C-130s pass overhead on their approach to Hill Air Force Base. The local aviation enthusiasts, some who flew in W.W.II, often fill one of the larger tables and can provide some great auditory entertainment. In spite of the cyclical busy moments, the service is good and the staff is friendly. The dining area is always spotless.
The owner comes from a family with 30 years experience in the food service business and it shows. He knows what he is doing. The menu is standard breakfast and lunch fare with a little twang of Southwest. The hot cakes cover a dinner plate. The sweet rolls are a meal by themselves. The house specialty is their Augeritta, a cross between a burrito and an enchilada. This little gem alone is worth the stop. Having spent a good bit of time in pursuit of the $100 Burger, I have found the prices to be nothing short of a bargain.
http://www.swaviator.com/html/issuejj01/AugerInn.html
If you’re staying the night (or longer) Ogden is a charming and historic Western town in the foothills of the beautiful Wasatch mountains with a variety of attractions and night life. Ogden Canyon is a beautiful place for mountain flying, as is nearby Logan Canyon. Be sure to check briefings carefully on PilotGEEK, and have it set up for alerts as weather systems can be vastly different from one valley to the next, and can change rapidly.
Be sure to approach any mountain range you intend to cross from a 45 degree angle, so that you maintain lots of options in event of downdrafts or turbulence.
The best things about the Ogden destination are
- Location as a fabulous base for mountain flying based in a great little city.
- A friendly, professional and efficient FBO.
Rating (0 to 10):
Airport KOGD – 10
Augur Inn – 9
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