Scottsdale Airport Arizona United States
Located 15 miles from Phoenix Sky Harbour International Airport 9 miles north of Scottsdale's downtown area and in close proximity to a wide range of world-class resorts hotels restaurants and golf courses Scottsdale Airport has become an ideal choice for vacationers and business travellers. With an average median temperature of 70 degrees and an average of 360 VFR days a year Scottsdale provides the country's best year-round flying conditions.
With approximately 130 000 operations in 2010 and home to 19 fixed based operators (FBOs) including Scottsdale Air Centre and Landmark Aviation Scottsdale Airport has become one of the busiest single runway facilities in the USA.
Scottsdale Airport began in June 1942 as Thunderbird Field II - a basic training facility for World War II Army Air Corps pilots. Since its inception Thunderbird II graduated more than 5 500 students which was a figure three times greater than the entire total contemplated by the Air Forces' original expansion program. In addition Thunderbird II pilots flew nearly 26 500 000 miles which is more than 3 000 times around the world at the equator. Two years three months and 24 days later it was deactivated.
After the WWII Arizona State Teachers College now Arizona State University in Tempe Arizona acquired the airport in order to implement its own aviation program. Distance from the college campus and cost of operating an aviation program soon convinced the college to abandon its plans.
The Arizona Conference of Seventh Day Adventists purchased the Airport in 1953 and established Thunderbird Academy. Former barracks became dormitories. Hangars were adapted to house a wood products industry and a vocation education centre offering training in mechanics woodworking and welding. The airfield itself became a training field for missionary pilots. In 1963 in order to finance renovation of its physical facilities the academy commissioned the first combined-use design of a clean industrial park surrounding an airport.
In 1966 The City of Scottsdale acquired the airfield portion of the academy's property and has continued to own and operate it since that time. The first fixed base operator (FBO) was selected in April 1967 and the first business jets landed at Scottsdale Airport in August 1967. The first airpark tenant Casa Precision broke ground for its first building unit in August 1968and by December 1969 127 aircraft and 20 helicopters were based at Scottsdale Airport (SDL).
Selection of images from Scottsdale Airport
Report by Steve Flint