Spencer, looking South
I fly from Spencer Airport (60M) in Spencer, Massachusetts. about 5 miles west of Worcester, MA.
Spencer is a 1950' field with trees on both ends (but not that close) oriented crosswise to the prevailing wind. It's good practice.
Here's the airplane I fly
I started flying in 2002 and currently hold a Airplane, Single Engine, Land rating. One of these days I'll get my Instrument Rating.
I learned to fly with Gregg Andrews, CFI, A&P, IA and owner of Spencer Airport. Gregg is an experienced pilot that has built almost all of his hours flying little airplanes. I *highly* recommend learning to fly from someone like him. You say "So, what about soft field landings" and he takes you to a grass strip for landing practice. Try to find that at big airports with time-building CFIs!
(A note about time-building CFI's: Many, perhaps most, of the young CFIs you'll find at most airports seem to be young folks who are teaching in order to build up enough time to get a "real" job in aviation. They can control the airplane and know the regs, and most of them that I've met seem to do a conscientious job teaching. However, there seems to be a difference between that type of CFI and the kind that's really *been* there and *done* that.)
I'm also a member of The Worcester Area Pilots Association. We do bi-monthly safety seminars. If you're near the Worcester area, drop by for one -- we'd love to have you!
WAPA is putting together an Aviation Scholarship to help high school age kids learn to fly. Please donate some if you can.