Kissimmee Gateway Airport
Encyclopedia
Kissimmee Gateway Airport , formerly known as Kissimmee Municipal Airport, is a public airport
in Kissimmee
, a city in Osceola County
, Florida
, United States
. The airport is located 16 nautical miles (30 km) southwest of the central business district
of Orlando
. It is owned and operated by the City of Kissimmee.
paved runway
s: 6/24 measuring 5,000 x 150 ft (1,524 x 46 m) and 15/33 measuring 6,000 x 100 ft (1,829 x 30 m). Today it hosts a variety of general aviation aircraft operations, including a major facility for the restoration of classic military aircraft from the World War II era to flying condition. The airport has an operational control tower and a Category I instrument landing system
(ILS) on its main runway. It is considered a general aviation reliever airport to Orlando International Airport
.
For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2001, the airport had 150,388 aircraft operations, an average of 412 per day: 98% general aviation
, 2% air taxi
, <1% military and <1% scheduled commercial. There are 206 aircraft based at this airport: 71% single-engine, 22% multi-engine, 4% jet and 3% helicopter
.
Passenger Service:
. Known as Kissimmee Army Airfield, it was used as part of the Air University Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics (AAFSAT) tactical combat simulation school in Central and Northern Florida
.
Headquartered at Orlando Army Air Base, the school's mission was to develop tactics and techniques of aerial warfare and to establish technical and tactical proficiency requirements for combat units to effectively engage and defeat enemy air forces. This was done with a wide variety of aircraft, including heavy strategic bombers; tactical fighters; medium and light bombers; reconnaissance and dive bombers, based at different airfields of the school.
The 99th Bombardment Squadron flew B-25 Mitchell
s and B-26 Marauder
medium bombers from the airfield.
Beginning in January 1943, the mission of the airfield was changed to Night Fighter pilot training, the station coming under the jurisdiction of the AAFSAT Night Fighter Department (Dark). Newly-formed night fighter squadrons at Orlando Army Airfield were transferred to Kissimmee where the received instruction initially in modified Douglas A-20 Havocs for night fighter operations, designated P-70s. The operational training unit was the 349th Night Fighter Squadron
, which was reassigned to the airfield from Orlando AAF. Known Night Fighter units that trained at the airfield were:
In September 1943, the P-70s were replaced by the purpose-built Northrup YP-61 Black Widow night fighter and the 420th NFS was moved to Dunnellon Army Air Base in August 1943. The squadron was only at Dunnellon a brief time, being reassigned to IV Fighter Command
at Hammer Field, California on 18 January 1944.
Night fighter training was moved to southern California in January 1944, and the military use of the field was phased down. The airfield was closed on 7 July 1945 and returned to civilian use by the end of the year.
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...
in Kissimmee
Kissimmee, Florida
Kissimmee is a city in Osceola County, Florida, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 59,682. It is the county seat of Osceola County...
, a city in Osceola County
Osceola County, Florida
Osceola County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 172,493. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 244,045, making it the 17th fastest-growing county in the United States. Its county seat is Kissimmee.- History :Osceola County was...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The airport is located 16 nautical miles (30 km) southwest 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 Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
. It is owned and operated by the City of Kissimmee.
Facilities and aircraft
Kissimmee Gateway Airport covers an area of 892 acres (361 ha) which contains two 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: 6/24 measuring 5,000 x 150 ft (1,524 x 46 m) and 15/33 measuring 6,000 x 100 ft (1,829 x 30 m). Today it hosts a variety of general aviation aircraft operations, including a major facility for the restoration of classic military aircraft from the World War II era to flying condition. The airport has an operational control tower and a Category I instrument landing system
Instrument Landing System
An instrument landing system is a ground-based instrument approach system that provides precision guidance to an aircraft approaching and landing on a runway, using a combination of radio signals and, in many cases, high-intensity lighting arrays to enable a safe landing during instrument...
(ILS) on its main runway. It is considered a general aviation reliever airport to Orlando International Airport
Orlando International Airport
Orlando International Airport is a major international airport located southeast of the central business district of Orlando. It is the second busiest airport in Florida, after Miami International Airport...
.
For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2001, the airport had 150,388 aircraft operations, an average of 412 per day: 98% 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...
, 2% 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...
, <1% military and <1% scheduled commercial. There are 206 aircraft based at this airport: 71% single-engine, 22% multi-engine, 4% jet and 3% 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...
.
Passenger Service:
- None. DayJetDayJetDayJet was an American commercial aviation operation that provided on-demand jet travel using Eclipse 500 Very Light Jets. The company began operations in Florida in October 2007 and suspended operations on September 19, 2008....
provided "on-demand" service to 12 cities, but suspended all operations in September 2008.
History
The airport opened in April 1940 by the United States Army Air ForcesUnited States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
. Known as Kissimmee Army Airfield, it was used as part of the Air University Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics (AAFSAT) tactical combat simulation school in Central and Northern Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
.
Headquartered at Orlando Army Air Base, the school's mission was to develop tactics and techniques of aerial warfare and to establish technical and tactical proficiency requirements for combat units to effectively engage and defeat enemy air forces. This was done with a wide variety of aircraft, including heavy strategic bombers; tactical fighters; medium and light bombers; reconnaissance and dive bombers, based at different airfields of the school.
The 99th Bombardment Squadron flew B-25 Mitchell
B-25 Mitchell
The North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
s and B-26 Marauder
B-26 Marauder
The Martin B-26 Marauder was a World War II twin-engine medium bomber built by the Glenn L. Martin Company. First used in the Pacific Theater in early 1942, it was also used in the Mediterranean Theater and in Western Europe....
medium bombers from the airfield.
Beginning in January 1943, the mission of the airfield was changed to Night Fighter pilot training, the station coming under the jurisdiction of the AAFSAT Night Fighter Department (Dark). Newly-formed night fighter squadrons at Orlando Army Airfield were transferred to Kissimmee where the received instruction initially in modified Douglas A-20 Havocs for night fighter operations, designated P-70s. The operational training unit was the 349th Night Fighter Squadron
349th Night Fighter Squadron
The 349th Night Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force squadron. Its last assignment was with the 481st Night Fighter Operational Training Group, based at Hammer Field, California...
, which was reassigned to the airfield from Orlando AAF. Known Night Fighter units that trained at the airfield were:
- 414th Night Fighter Squadron, 8 February-21 April 1943 (P-70/A-20 Havoc)
- 415th Night Fighter Squadron415th Night Fighter SquadronThe 415th Tactical Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with 49th Fighter Wing stationed at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico...
, 8 February-21 April 1943 (P-70/A-20 Havoc)
- These two squadrons received only about two months of training in Florida before being assigned to Twelfth Air Force in North AfricaNorth AfricaNorth Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
, where they were equipped with British Bristol BeaufighterBristol BeaufighterThe Bristol Type 156 Beaufighter, often referred to as simply the Beau, was a British long-range heavy fighter modification of the Bristol Aeroplane Company's earlier Beaufort torpedo bomber design...
s for operations.- 418th Night Fighter Squadron418th Night Fighter SquadronThe 418th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 58th Tactical Fighter Training Wing, being inactivated at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona on 1 October 1976.-World War II:...
, 5 March-26 April 1943 (P-70/A-20 Havoc) - 419th Night Fighter Squadron419th Night Fighter SquadronThe 419th Night Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Thirteenth Air Force, being inactivated at Floridablanca, Luzon on February 20, 1947.-History:...
, 22 April-15 October 1943 (P-70/A-20 Havoc)
- 418th Night Fighter Squadron
- Moved to EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in late May 1943 to complete training under the RAF, where they were equipped with British Bristol Beaufighters for operations.
- 420th Night Fighter Squadron, 1 June-20 August 1943 (P-70/A-20 Havoc)
- Formed at Orlando AAF in June 1943, moved to Kissimmee as an Operational Training Unit (OTU). Part of the 481st Night Fighter Operational Training Group (NFOTG), under the Army Air Forces Tactical Center (AAFSAT), headquartered at Orlando AAF.
In September 1943, the P-70s were replaced by the purpose-built Northrup YP-61 Black Widow night fighter and the 420th NFS was moved to Dunnellon Army Air Base in August 1943. The squadron was only at Dunnellon a brief time, being reassigned to IV Fighter Command
IV Fighter Command
The IV Fighter Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to Fourth Air Force, based at Oakland Airport, California...
at Hammer Field, California on 18 January 1944.
- 349th Night Fighter Squadron609th Special Operations SquadronThe 609th Special Operations Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. The squadron was constituted on 1 October 1942, and was originally designated the 349th Night Fighter Squadron. Its last assignment was with the 56th Special Operations Wing based at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. ...
, 1 January 1943-15 January 1944 (DB-7/P-70 (A-20) Havoc), (B-25 Mitchell)
- 422d Night Fighter Squadron was the last squadron to be trained at Kissimmee AAF, 3 November 1943-6 January 1944 (P-70/A-20 Havoc) It then was moved back to Orlando for final training before being deployed to England
Night fighter training was moved to southern California in January 1944, and the military use of the field was phased down. The airfield was closed on 7 July 1945 and returned to civilian use by the end of the year.
See also
- Florida World War II Army Airfields
- Army Air Force School of Applied TacticsArmy Air Force School of Applied TacticsThe Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics was a military training organization of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II...