Acampo Flying Club is a Part 61 membership-based flying club based at Lodi Airport (1O3) in Acampo, California, in San Joaquin County. The club operates on a straightforward model: members join, pay dues, and gain full access to the aircraft, facilities, fuel cards, and online scheduling system. There are no hidden fees, no minimum hours, and no large upfront academy commitments. The appeal is simple — affordable wet rates, well-maintained airplanes, and a genuine GA community atmosphere at an uncongested, privately owned rural airport.   The club is small and intentionally so. Aircraft are detailed monthly and maintained by Quality Aero Maintenance (Bob and Will), with squawk response described as available at all times. Online scheduling through Flight Schedule Pro gives members control over their calendars without needing to call ahead. The air-conditioned office on the field provides a study environment with DSL internet access for flight planning, weather briefings, and DUATS access. Instructors Rod Abbott (CFII) and Ryan Whirlow (CFI) are available for flight training from Private Pilot through Instrument Rating.   For students, the economics are particularly attractive. Aircraft are rented wet (fuel included), and block time rates reduce the hourly cost further — making this one of the more affordable primary training options in the Northern California Central Valley. Instruction rates start at $45 per hour, with the club estimating a minimum Private Pilot investment well below the current national average for equivalent training. The club markets itself specifically on value without sacrificing airplane quality or maintenance standards.  

Home Airport(s)

Lodi Airport No ICAO | No IATA | FAA LID: 1O3 | Pseudo-ICAO: K1O3   Privately owned, public-use airport located approximately four miles north of Lodi in Acampo, San Joaquin County, California. Owner and manager: Robert Kupka (P.O. Box 10, Acampo, CA 95220). The airport covers 163 acres at an elevation of approximately 59–60 ft MSL. No control tower; uncontrolled. CTAF: 122.900 MHz. Traffic pattern altitude: 800 ft AGL. Boundary ARTCC: Oakland Center (ZOA). 100LL available 24 hours via automated self-service credit card fueling. Major airframe and powerplant repair on field (Quality Aero Maintenance). No landing fees. Airport established 1940; predates 1958 Federal Aviation Act. Airport beacon: clear-green (lighted land airport).   Runways: Runway 08​/​26 — 3,735 ft × 42 ft (primary; asphalt, fair condition; LIRL edge lighting, non-standard positioned 30 ft from pavement edge; displaced threshold 615 ft on Runway 08, 476 ft on Runway 26; left traffic Runway 08, right traffic Runway 26; obstacle: 35 ft pole near Runway 08 end; frontage road and Highway 99 freeway near Runway 26 end) Runway 12​/​30 — 2,073 ft × 26 ft (secondary; asphalt, grooved; left traffic both ends; displaced thresholds both ends; tree obstructions noted on approach to both ends) Note: A parachute drop zone is located approximately 1,000 ft south of Runway 08​/​26. Pilots should monitor CTAF for jump aircraft and skydivers.   For flight training, Lodi Airport sits in the heart of California's Central Valley — a wide, flat agricultural basin with reliable VFR conditions for the majority of the year and exceptional visibility on clear days. The San Joaquin Valley's climate produces long stretches of stable flying weather in spring and fall, with summer density altitude becoming a practical training consideration given the daytime heat. Tule fog is a seasonal winter phenomenon that can close the valley floor for periods, but it also creates natural exposure to real IMC conditions that instructors can use for instrument awareness discussions. The airport's uncongested, uncontrolled environment is well-suited to primary students: traffic is light, pattern work is unhurried, and there's no tower to manage. The proximity to the Sacramento Executive VOR (approximately 19 nm northwest), the Linden VORTAC (approximately 14 nm), and the Manteca VORTAC (approximately 22 nm south) provides a solid VOR navigation environment for cross-country training. Stockton Metropolitan Airport (KSCK, Class D) and Sacramento Executive Airport (KSAC, Class D) are each within easy cross-country range, giving students accessible controlled airspace practice without leaving the valley.

Fleet and Facilities

Acampo Flying Club operates three aircraft, all rented wet: N19897 — 1975 Cessna 172M — Four-seat VFR​/​IFR trainer; $125​/​hr, $120​/​hr (10-hour block), $115​/​hr (20-hour block). The workhorse of the fleet and the primary aircraft for Private Pilot training and hour building. N704BM — 1976 Cessna 152M — Two-seat primary trainer; $120​/​hr, $115​/​hr (10-hour block), $110​/​hr (20-hour block). Economical solo and early dual training aircraft; lower operating cost makes it the most affordable option for high-frequency students. N68RA — Cessna T-41 (R172E) — Military-variant Cessna 172 with a 210 hp Continental IO-360 engine; $175​/​hr, $170​/​hr (10-hour block), $165​/​hr (20-hour block). The T-41 is the USAF primary trainer derivative of the 172, with a higher-powered engine that gives it notably better performance than the standard Skyhawk. Useful for students wanting high-performance exposure, cross-country range, or simply a faster, more capable four-seater.   Facility access is coded with keypad entry. Fuel cards are available in the club office. Scheduling is entirely online via Flight Schedule Pro. Maintenance is handled on-field by Quality Aero Maintenance with reported rapid squawk response. The air-conditioned office at 23987 N. Highway 99 provides a study room with DSL internet. Aircraft are detailed monthly.

Hours of Operation

The field and self-service 100LL fueling are accessible 24 hours via automated credit card. Club facilities operate sunrise to sunset (lighting schedule: SS–SR). Scheduling is handled online through Flight Schedule Pro.

Additional Notes

Acampo Flying Club represents the classic GA flying club model done well — low overhead, member access to well-maintained aircraft, and honest pricing that makes primary training and hour building financially accessible in a region where larger academies carry significantly higher cost structures.   The T-41 (R172E) in the fleet is worth specific mention for prospective students. The 210 hp engine and higher gross weight capacity give it meaningfully different performance characteristics than a standard 172M — notably better climb, cruise speed, and hot​/​high performance — making it useful for students who want exposure to a more capable four-seat aircraft before transitioning to complex or high-performance types. It's a somewhat rare find on a small club's flight line.   The parachute drop zone south of the primary runway is an operational consideration pilots should be aware of. Lodi's skydiving community is active, and 1O3 sees regular jump aircraft operations. Students training here develop real-world traffic awareness habits early — monitoring CTAF, scanning for jumpers, and coordinating with drop operations is simply part of the local flying culture, and it's genuinely good training for airspace awareness.