Walnut Ridge Regional Airport Walnut Ridge Army Airfield Marine Corps Air Facility Walnut Ridge | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||||||||||
| Owner | City of Walnut Ridge | ||||||||||||||||||
| Serves | Walnut Ridge, Arkansas | ||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Campbell Township,Lawrence County | ||||||||||||||||||
| Built | June 20, 1942 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 279 ft / 85 m | ||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 36°07′29″N090°55′30″W / 36.12472°N 90.92500°W /36.12472; -90.92500 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Website | https://walnutridgeairport.com/ | ||||||||||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||||||||||
  KARG Location of Walnut Ridge Regional Airport Show map of Arkansas KARG KARG (the United States) Show map of the United States | |||||||||||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Statistics (2023) | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Source:Federal Aviation Administration[1] | |||||||||||||||||||
Walnut Ridge Regional Airport (IATA:ARG,ICAO:KARG,FAALID:ARG) is a city-owned public-useairport located four nautical miles (7 km) northeast of thecentral business district ofWalnut Ridge, a city inLawrence County,Arkansas, United States.[1] According to the FAA'sNational Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2009–2013, itsFAA airport category isgeneral aviation.[2]
On August 15, 1942, the US Army opened Walnut Ridge Army Airfield, a pilot training school on 3,000 acres north of the town. During World War II, Air Cadets flew the BT-13 to learn the basics of flying in combat situations. 4,641 pilots graduated from the "basic" school while the flight school was open. On September 1, 1944, the airfield was transferred to the Department of the Navy and operated as theMarine Corps Air Facility, Walnut Ridge. The facility was decommissioned on March 15, 1945.[3]
In 1956,Walnut Ridge Air Force Station was opened at the airfield. Part of Phase II of theAir Defense Command Mobile Radar program, this facilities' role was to guide interceptor aircraft toward unidentified intruders picked up on the unit's radar scopes. The radar station closed in 1963.[4]
In 1964,The Beatles briefly stopped at this airport on the way to and from a retreat in Missouri. This visit inspired a monument, a plaza, and a music festival in Walnut Ridge.[5][6]
In 1999, the a museum was opened at the airfield to interpret the history of the base. TheWings of Honor Museum has a collection of artifacts and airplanes including a BT-13 on display in the main exhibit hall.[7]
Walnut Ridge Regional Airport covers an area of 1,800acres (730 ha) at anelevation of 279 feet (85 m) abovemean sea level. It has threerunways: 4/22 is 6,001 by 150 feet (1,829 x 46 m) with anasphalt surface; 13/31 is 5,003 by 150 feet (1,525 x 46 m) with aconcrete surface; 18/36 is 5,001 by 150 feet (1,524 x 46 m) with a concrete surface.[1]
For the 12-month period ending March 31, 2023, the airport had 40,000 aircraft operations, an average of 110 per day: 93%general aviation, 6%military, and <1%air taxi. At that time there were 45 aircraft based at this airport: 36 single-engine, 4 multi-engine, 1jet and 4helicopter.[1]
