Gillespie Field
Encyclopedia
Gillespie Field is a county-owned public-use airport
located 10 miles (16 km) northeast of the central business district
of San Diego
, in El Cajon
, San Diego County
, California
, United States
.
In 1942 the United States Marine Corps
chose a 688 acres (2.8 km²) site east of San Diego to conduct parachute training for the newly forming Parachute battalions
. In September 1942 Camp Gillespie was completed and named in honor of Lieutenant Archibald H. Gillespie
, a Marine officer who played a prominent role in the effort to separate California from Mexico
in the 1840s.
In February 1944, the camp was commissioned as Marine Corps Auxiliary Airfield Gillespie falling under the command of Marine Corps Air Station El Toro
. MCAAF Gillespie soon became responsible for Camp Pendleton Outlying Air Field
. Among the units that transited and trained at MCCAF Gillespie were VMSB-141, Air Warning Squadron 10 and the Navy's
VT-37.
In 1946, the airfield was turned over to San Diego County and was turned into a general aviation facility.
In 1952, the County granted ownership of the facility by the federal government.
In 1971, the County Sheriff stationed ASTREA
, a helicopter law enforcement base at the airport.
And in 1993, the San Diego Aerospace Museum located its restoration operations and a special exhibit at the field.
paved runway
s:
For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2005, the airport had 244,475 aircraft operations, an average of 669 per day: 99.9% general aviation
, <1% air taxi
and <1% military. There are 739 aircraft based at this airport: 90% single-engine, 4% multi-engine, 4% helicopter
, 1% jet and 1% glider
.
(formerly San Diego Aerospace Museum). It is open to the public and has on display many vintage and modern aircraft; and has an Atlas ICBM rocket as its gate guard, replica of the Spirit of St. Louis
, and a recently restored F-102A Delta Dagger
with drop tanks.
32.828421°N 116.966146°W
According to the FAA, in 2010 Gillespie Field was the 44th busiest airport in terms of traffic in the United States.
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
located 10 miles (16 km) northeast of the central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
of San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, in El Cajon
El Cajon, California
-History:El Cajon is located on the Rancho El Cajon Mexican land grant made in 1845 to María Antonia Estudillo, wife of Miguel Pedrorena. In 1876 Amaziah Lord Knox , a New Englander who had recently moved to California, established a hotel there to serve the growing number of people traveling...
, San Diego County
San Diego County, California
San Diego County is a large county located in the southwestern corner of the US state of California. Hence, San Diego County is also located in the southwestern corner of the 48 contiguous United States. Its county seat and largest city is San Diego. Its population was about 2,813,835 in the 2000...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
History
- Section reference dates.
In 1942 the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
chose a 688 acres (2.8 km²) site east of San Diego to conduct parachute training for the newly forming Parachute battalions
Paramarines
The Paramarines was a short-lived specialized unit of the United States Marine Corps, trained to be dropped by parachute. The first Paramarines were trained in October 1940, but the unit was disbanded in 1944...
. In September 1942 Camp Gillespie was completed and named in honor of Lieutenant Archibald H. Gillespie
Archibald H. Gillespie
Major Archibald H. Gillespie was an officer in the United States Marine Corps during the Mexican-American War....
, a Marine officer who played a prominent role in the effort to separate California from Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
in the 1840s.
In February 1944, the camp was commissioned as Marine Corps Auxiliary Airfield Gillespie falling under the command of Marine Corps Air Station El Toro
Marine Corps Air Station El Toro
Marine Corps Air Station El Toro was a United States Marine Corps Air Station located near Irvine, California.Before it was decommissioned in 1999, it was the home of Marine Corps aviation on the West Coast. Designated as a Master Jet Station, its four runways could handle the largest aircraft...
. MCAAF Gillespie soon became responsible for Camp Pendleton Outlying Air Field
Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton
Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton or MCAS Camp Pendleton is a United States Marine Corps airfield located within Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. It was commissioned in 1942 and is currently home to Marine Aircraft Group 39. The airfield is also known as Munn Field in honor of...
. Among the units that transited and trained at MCCAF Gillespie were VMSB-141, Air Warning Squadron 10 and the Navy's
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
VT-37.
In 1946, the airfield was turned over to San Diego County and was turned into a general aviation facility.
In 1952, the County granted ownership of the facility by the federal government.
In 1971, the County Sheriff stationed ASTREA
ASTREA (air support unit)
ASTREA is an acronym for Aerial Support To Regional Enforcement Agencies, the air support unit of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. Each airship is designated by the name ASTREA and a number, for example: "ASTREA 1"...
, a helicopter law enforcement base at the airport.
And in 1993, the San Diego Aerospace Museum located its restoration operations and a special exhibit at the field.
Facilities and aircraft
Gillespie Field covers an area of 852 acres (344.8 ha) which contains three asphaltAsphalt
Asphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
paved runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
s:
- Runway 9L/27R: 5,342 x 100 ft (1,628 x 30 m)
- Runway 9R/27L: 2,738 x 60 ft (835 x 18 m)
- Runway 17/35: 4,145 x 100 ft (1,263 x 30 m)
For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2005, the airport had 244,475 aircraft operations, an average of 669 per day: 99.9% general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
, <1% air taxi
Air taxi
An air taxi is an air charter passenger or cargo aircraft which operates on an on-demand basis.-Regulation:In the United States, air taxi and air charter operations are governed by Part 135 of the Federal Aviation Regulations , unlike the larger scheduled air carriers which are governed by more...
and <1% military. There are 739 aircraft based at this airport: 90% single-engine, 4% multi-engine, 4% helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
, 1% jet and 1% glider
Glider aircraft
Glider aircraft are heavier-than-air craft that are supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of the air against their lifting surfaces, and whose free flight does not depend on an engine. Mostly these types of aircraft are intended for routine operation without engines, though engine failure can...
.
San Diego Air & Space Museum Gillespie Field Annex
Gillespie is also the home of the restoration facility Gillespie Field Annex for the San Diego Air and Space MuseumSan Diego Aerospace Museum
San Diego Air & Space Museum is an aviation and space exploration museum in San Diego, California, USA...
(formerly San Diego Aerospace Museum). It is open to the public and has on display many vintage and modern aircraft; and has an Atlas ICBM rocket as its gate guard, replica of the Spirit of St. Louis
Spirit of St. Louis
The Spirit of St. Louis is the custom-built, single engine, single-seat monoplane that was flown solo by Charles Lindbergh on May 20–21, 1927, on the first non-stop flight from New York to Paris for which Lindbergh won the $25,000 Orteig Prize.Lindbergh took off in the Spirit from Roosevelt...
, and a recently restored F-102A Delta Dagger
F-102 Delta Dagger
The Convair F-102 Delta Dagger was a US interceptor aircraft built as part of the backbone of the United States Air Force's air defenses in the late 1950s. Entering service in 1956, its main purpose was to intercept invading Soviet bomber fleets...
with drop tanks.
32.828421°N 116.966146°W
According to the FAA, in 2010 Gillespie Field was the 44th busiest airport in terms of traffic in the United States.
See also
External links
- Gillespie Pilots Association
- Gillespie Field at County of San Diego website
- Unofficial Gillespie Field with a complete list of Gillespie Field Businesses, Museums, and Weather
- San Diego Air & Space Museum Gillespie Field Annex
- Administrators Fact Book