Barnes Municipal Airport

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Barnes Municipal Airport
IATA: BAF - ICAO: KBAF
Summary
Airport type		Public
Operator		City of Westfield
Serves		Westfield, Massachusetts
Elevation AMSL		271 ft (82.5 m)
Coordinates		42°09′27.83″N, 72°42′56.23″W
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
Direction	ft	m	Surface
2/20	9,000	2,743	Asphalt
15/33	5,000	1,524	Asphalt

Barnes Municipal Airport (IATA: BAF, ICAO: KBAF), also known as Westfield-Barnes Airport, is a public airport located in the city of Westfield in Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA. Barnes is one of Massachusetts' largest airports with a strong flight training and general aviation presence.

1 History
2 Flight school
3 Facilities
4 External links

[edit] History

July 13, 1914 can be the date where aviation in Westfield is traced back to. Jack McGee of Pawtucket, Rhode Island flew a Wright biplane over Westfield and the flight originated on a strip of land near Southampton Road and the Holyoke Rail Bridge. McGee was hired by local merchants to drop tickets from his airplane which could have been claimed for prizes.

During World War I however, the strip of land would become known as Camp Bartlett. This camp was used as the last stop for troops of the 26th division before leaving for France.

In 1923, citizens of Westfield, and nearby Holyoke set out to build an airport. A group of influential local businessmen was charged to convince the owner of the land where the airport is now, Vincent E. Barnes, to sell his land to the City of Westfield for an airport. Barnes agreed to give up his land and he didn't ask for a mere penny from the city or the businessmen. The 27 acre plot was named Westfield Aviation Field and was dedicated on October 12, 1923. However as the field gained in popularity, Vincent Barnes leased the city another 27 acre plot, with only a fee of $1 per year starting in 1927. In 1936, Mrs. Barnes and her daughter Saddie Knox donated an additional 297 acres to the city of Westfield. Shortly thereafter, the City Council voted to name the airport after the family who made it possible, Barnes.

Between 1939 and 1940, the administration building, hangar, and the beacon light were built with grant money totaling near $90,000. Soon, a passenger service was started out of the airport. on October 28, 1937, a 10 passenger Stinson Trimotor aircraft began flying between Westfield and Newark, New Jersey. Later American Airlines began to operate out of Westfield using DC-3 aircraft in 1938.

During World War II young men from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst received flight training at the airport before being shipped off to various war sites. Soon after, the Air National Guard was formed and its presence was soon established at Barnes. The Air National Guard first began using P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft, but soon began using the P-51 Mustang after Runway 2/20 was extended from 5,000 to 7,000 feet. Barnes received jet aircraft when the Air National Guard began to operate F-94 Starfire aircraft. Currently the 131st Fighter Squadron, 110th Fighter Wing, Massachusetts Air National Guard at Westfield operates the A-10 Thunderbolt II, commonly nicknamed the Warthog.

Over the last 50 years, the airport has added numerous infrastructure improvements including another runway, 15/33 which has a length of 5,000 feet. Also a VORTAC and an ILS system have been put in making the airport more attractive for General Aviation pilots as well. Most importantly in 1974, the airport's Air Traffic Control Tower was opened easing traffic congestion at the airport.

[edit] Flight school

Barnes has a flight school named Five Star Flight Academy which has 2 Cessna 172's, a Cessna 150, and 1 Cessna 172 Cutlass RG. It also is a full functioning FBO that also offers charter flights throughout the Northeast.