| Stout Army Air Field Mars Hill Airport |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| IATA: none – ICAO: none | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Military: Army Air Field | ||
| Operator | United States Army | ||
| Location | Indianapolis, Indiana | ||
| Built | 1927 | ||
| In use | 1927-1960 | ||
| Occupants | Army | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 256 ft / 78 m | ||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| 14/32 | 4,642 | 1,415 | Asphalt |
| 2/20 | 2,971 | 905 | Asphalt |
| 9/27 | 2,691 | 819 | Asphalt |
| 13/31 | 150 | 46 | Asphalt |
| 0/18 | 150 | 46 | Asphalt |
| Closed | |||
Stout Army Air Field is located in Indianapolis, Indiana. It serves as the Joint Forces Headquarters of the Indiana National Guard.[1]
Contents |
Stout Field is located west of Holt Road, north and south of Minnesota Street in west Indianapolis. Established in 1926, the airport was a stop along a transcontinental route from New York City to Los Angeles. The airport was officially named for Lt. Richard Harding Stout, a decorated veteran of World War I who died in an airplane crash at Fort Benjamin Harrison.[2]
Curtiss Flying Service operated an air passenger service and flying school at Stout Field.[3] Curtiss' manager was Captain Harvey Weir Cook. By 1928, the city realized expansion possibilities were limited and began plans for the current Indianapolis International Airport two miles west.[4]. Captain Cook was among those who pushed for a larger municipal airport, which opened in 1931 as Weir-Cook Airport. Curtiss and Transcontinental Air Transport moved their passenger service and school to the new airport.[2]
The United States Army Air Corps leased Stout Field from Indiana for $1 per year during World War II,[2] and used it as a training base, and to conduct air transport operations.[3] The Indiana State Police used the airfield following the war and purchased more land in order to build extensions to the runways. The site proved inadequate for landing the new class of military jets, so much of the land was sold in 1953.[3] Commercial use of Stout Field is currently banned by Indiana law.[5]