Ask the residents of Northern Virginia who drive through the Springfield interchange everyday and they may tell you that an airport would be preferable to the 50 ramps and 20 lanes they deal with everyday. Ask a tourist driving through the Springfield interchange and you can bet they would rather be flying over than trying to navigate their way through the maze. In 1945 this same area was the location of a 3,000 foot long unpaved runway as part of the Springfield Airport.
The tiny airport offered fuel and maintenance facilities for small aircraft. One of the mechanics at the airport in the late 1940's was Charlie Kulp who is best known in our area for his acrobatic flying in the Bealton Flying Circus which still operates today and is a great place to go and watch the amazing flying acrobatics.
According to the book Abondoned and Little Known Airfields the Springfield Airport was short lived. In fact it appears that it was only around for 7 years. Our family moved to Springfield in 1955 and by then there were no traces of the airport visible in the area. it was easy to see that the location of the airport is where the neighborhood of Springfield Estates was built.
Unlike the nearby community of Burke VA which was the original proposed site for Dulles International Airport, Springfield Airport was never designed to be more than a small airfield.
Today pilots who fly small aircraft have a choice of airfields scattered throughout Northern Virginia including four local public airports and another 64 throughout the state.
Manassas Airfield
Whitman Strip
Stafford Regional Airport
Leesburg Executive Airport
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Cindy
I have a real love of airplanes and aviation. I bet Springfield airport has an amazing history
I would never have known this about Springfield. An airport, huh? Hard to imagine that area having enough space for a runway the way it looks today.
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Cindy I didn't know about the Springfield airport. There was also a small airport in Bailey's Crossroads. It was replaced by about 6 huge condo buildings. One of the airplane hangers is still there, it is now used as a sports facility of some kind I believe.
Tom-thanks for stopping by. The airport has a short lived history in comparison to others in the area. It's location was to close to a highway that was already in existence.
Anee-Take our the Springfield interchange and you would have plent of room for some large airplanes to land.
Davdi-thanks for stopping by.
Michael-yes Bailey's Crossroads had an airport. Two of the runway lights are still on the Burke & Herbert Bank building. There was also an airport in the Woodbridge where Lake Ridge is built now as well.
It would be interesting to see a before and after photo of the airfield and the interchange.
Jim-I have google photos of the interchange today but don't want to violate copyright by posting a photo of the airfield. It is in the book though.