A & W Aircraft, LLC is the owner and operator of Sycamore Strip Airport (9F9), a privately owned, public-use general aviation airport located approximately eight miles south of downtown Fort Worth in Tarrant County, Texas. The company serves as both the airport operator and the host FBO, providing flight training, aircraft rental, maintenance services, hangar and tie-down rentals, fuel service, and pilot supplies to the local southwest Fort Worth general aviation community. Flight training at Sycamore Strip is conducted through Eaglet Flight Operations, the school operating out of the A & W Aircraft facility. The training curriculum covers the core certificate and rating pathway under Part 61, including Private Pilot, Instrument Rating, Complex endorsement, Multi-Engine rating, flight reviews, and the FAA Wings program. An FAA Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) is available on-site, which is a meaningful convenience for students completing checkrides without needing to travel to another facility or wait for external examiner scheduling. Sycamore Strip is a community-oriented, small-field operation with a strong emphasis on personal service. The airport's stated mission is to provide aerial access to the Fort Worth area for private aircraft and to support recreational and instructional flying — a reflection of the classic general aviation philosophy that shaped small private airports throughout Texas in the postwar era. The school and airport operate with a cash or check payment model and require two hours of prior permission notice for transient aircraft, underscoring its character as a community field rather than a commercial hub.

Home Airport(s)

Sycamore Strip Airport ICAO: (no ICAO designator assigned) | IATA: (none) | FAA LID: 9F9 Located in Fort Worth, Texas (ZIP 76134), approximately eight miles south of the Fort Worth central business district in Tarrant County. The airport covers approximately 15 to 16 acres and sits at an elevation of 760–762 ft MSL. It is privately owned by A & W Aircraft, LLC, and open to the public. Activated in 1967.   Runway: Runway 17​/​35 — 3,373 ft × (approximate 50 ft width; asphalt; basic visual markings; no instrument approaches; uncontrolled VFR field) No control tower. Uncontrolled airspace; CTAF​/​UNICOM 122.8. No AWOS on field. A 7-foot wall runs 76 feet east of the runway centerline, parallel to the runway for 730 feet from the north end of Runway 17 — a noted obstacle pilots must be aware of. Right traffic pattern for Runway 17. Airport is closed to transient aircraft except with two hours prior permission.   For flight training, 9F9 offers an intimate, low-pressure environment well suited to primary instruction. The 3,373-foot paved runway is adequate for the Cessna 152 and Cessna 172 used in training, with straightforward visual approaches and no ATC workload — allowing students to develop foundational aircraft control and pattern skills at their own pace. The uncontrolled environment keeps communications straightforward and gives students early ownership of traffic awareness and self-announce procedures on CTAF. North Texas weather is generally favorable for VFR flying throughout much of the year, with a long warm season and manageable winter weather, though spring thunderstorm season in the DFW area requires students to develop real situational awareness around convective activity. The proximity to the DFW Metroplex — including Class B and Class C airspace at Dallas​/​Fort Worth International and Dallas Love Field — means students transitioning beyond the home field will encounter complex airspace that enhances their training experience. The small size and private-airport character of 9F9 also means wildlife awareness is part of the operating environment, with birds, fox, deer, and coyotes noted on airport grounds.

Fleet and Facilities

Cessna 152 (N48848 ​/​ N49872) — Two-seat primary trainers used for Private Pilot VFR instruction. The C152 is the classic low-cost, low-complexity trainer well suited to early-stage students building foundational flying skills. Rental rate: $80​/​hr. Cessna 172 (N7638T) — Four-seat VFR trainer; used for Private Pilot training, cross-country work, and recreational flying. Rental rate: $100​/​hr. Cessna 172 (N2864Q) — Four-seat IFR-equipped trainer; used for Instrument Rating training. Rental rate: $115​/​hr.   Flight instruction is available at $50​/​hr. On-site maintenance services are available. Hangar rentals are offered at $190​/​month, with single-engine tie-down at $60​/​month and twin-engine tie-down at $90​/​month. A pilot supply shop is on-site. Fuel service is available on the field.

Additional Notes

A & W Aircraft ​/​ Sycamore Strip is one of the few remaining privately owned, public-use general aviation strips operating within the Fort Worth city limits. Its continued operation as a small, affordable training field in an urbanizing part of Tarrant County is notable given the development pressure that has pushed housing and commercial construction increasingly close to the runway over the decades — a tension the airport itself acknowledges in its published noise and community impact statement.   The school's rate structure, FAA examiner on-site, and no-frills operational model make it an accessible option for students seeking affordable primary training in the southwest Fort Worth area without the overhead of a larger academy. The fleet and website information is somewhat dated; prospective students are advised to confirm current aircraft availability, rates, and instructor scheduling directly before arrival, as the airport operates on a small-team model where conditions may change without notice on the web.   Worth noting: the airport is closed to transient aircraft except with two-hour prior permission — this is an important detail for visiting pilots planning to stop in, but does not affect resident students.