Postcards

Calling all coaster enthusiasts

If you're a fan of roller coasters and a general aviation pilot, a trip to Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, should be on your list of must-go places. Thanks to the friendly and accommodating folks who run the Griffing Sandusky Airport you can land a scant three miles from the park and be screaming your lungs out on world-class roller coasters in less than an hour.

Arriving by airplane to the Sandusky area, the first landmark you will likely see is the towering pinnacle of Cedar Point's latest roller coaster, the Millennium Force. This steel giant's first drop is 300 feet at a stomach-tickling 80-degree incline. At the bottom of the hill, the coaster hits an eyelid-peeling 92 mph — that's 80 knots! The one-minute, 40-second ride is the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the United States.

From that landmark, finding the Griffing Sandusky Airport is easy — just look to the southeast. The Sandusky VOR is on the field and provides instrument approach guidance to the airport, as does a GPS approach. There is also a grill at the airport that serves sandwiches and hamburgers at reasonable prices. Griffing Flying Service owns the airport and is the field's only FBO. The company runs a charter service and has been in business since 1937. For $8 per rider (round trip) the FBO will run you over to the park and drop you off at the gates to avoid the hassles and cost of parking.

Cedar Point is situated on the south shore of Lake Erie, about 50 nm west of Cleveland. The park is home to 14 roller coasters, five of which are ranked among the best in the world. There are a total of 68 rides at the park to satisfy visitors of all ages. There is also the Soak City water park for the warmer summer days and Challenge Park, which features go-carts, miniature golf, and the Ripcord skycoaster. Soak City and Challenge Park have separate fees and do not require Cedar Point admission.

There are four hotels on or very near the park: Hotel Breakers, Sandcastle Suites, Breakers Express, and the Radisson Harbour Inn. Many of the hotels are only open when the park is open, so be sure to call ahead. For those not into thrill rides, there are plenty of activities on or near the park. There is ample shopping to be done nearby, and both the Breakers and Sandcastle Suites hotels are located right on the beach. All hotels have swimming pools, too.

Depending on the weather, Saturday is the busiest day at Cedar Point. For those not into crowds Cedar Point's limited hours bracketing the main season can provide the maximum ride time without all of the hassle. Check out the park's Web site ( www.cedarpoint.com) for special deals and must-know information about the park. My wife and I were able to secure two tickets on the Web site for $19 each on a day when a limited number of adult rides and the better roller coasters were open to the first 2,000 takers. On this September day, the park was open from 4 to 10 p.m. and was a virtual ghost town. It wasn't unusual to be able to ride a roller coaster, stay in our seats, and ride again. Ticket rates during the main season run nearly $40 per person. Cedar Point also puts on quite a thrill show during Halloweekends in September and October.

When you combine the convenience and service of the Griffing Sandusky Airport with the world-class rides at Cedar Point, it becomes obvious that thrill-seeking pilots have a sanctuary awaiting them on the south shore of Lake Erie. To plan a Cedar Point vacation call 419/627-2350 or visit the Web site ( www.cedarpoint.com).

Peter A. Bedell, AOPA 1136339, is a regional airline pilot and former technical editor of AOPA Pilot.