Ask the residents of Northern Virginia who drive through the Springfield "mixing bowl" 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 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.
Our family moved to Springfield in 1955 and by then there were no traces of the airport visible in the area. By looking at the map that was included in the book "Abondoned and Little Known Airfields" 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 which was the proposed original site for Dulles International Airport, Springfield Airport was never designed to be more than a small airfield and only was in existence for seven years.
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 in Manassas
Stafford Regional Airport
Leesburg Executive Airport
If you are interested in learning more about getting around our area or need help finding your next home in Northern Virginia give me a call. As a native of the area I can show you not only your transportation options but great neighborhoods, shopping options and historical sites in our great area.
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As an Associate Broker with RE/MAX Allegiance in Northern Virginia and native of the area I can assist you whether you are buying, selling or renting a home anywhere in Northern Virginia. For more information about the area or my services you can check VaRealEstateTalk or my Northern Virginia website.
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