Bowman Field | |||||||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||||||
| Operator | Louisville Regional Airport Authority (LRAA) | ||||||||||||||
| Serves | Louisville, Kentucky | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 546 ft / 166 m | ||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 38°13′41″N085°39′49″W / 38.22806°N 85.66361°W /38.22806; -85.66361 | ||||||||||||||
| Website | Airport webpage | ||||||||||||||
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Bowman Field (IATA:LOU,ICAO:KLOU,FAALID:LOU) is a publicairport five miles (8.0 km) southeast of downtownLouisville, inJefferson County, Kentucky. The airport covers 426 acres (172 ha) and has tworunways. TheFAA calls it areliever airport for nearbyLouisville Muhammad Ali International Airport.
Established in 1919, Bowman Field is Kentucky's first commercial airport and is the oldest continually operating commercial airfield inNorth America.[citation needed] It was founded byAbram H. Bowman, who was drawn to aviation by the interest generated duringWorld War I.
Bowman found an outlet for his enthusiasm after meeting and forming a brief partnership with Louisvillian Robert H. Gast, a pilot and World War I veteran of theRoyal Flying Corps. Bowman leased a parcel of land east of Louisville from theU.S. Government in 1919 to operate the airfield, which opened in 1921.
The first business ventures began with the aerial photography business in 1921, and the 465th Pursuit Squadron (Reserve) began operations at Bowman Field in 1922.
Charles Lindbergh landed theSpirit of St. Louis at the airport in 1927, viewed by 10,000 spectators.[2]
During theGreat Depression, Louisvillians would often come to theArt Decoterminal building to watch airplanes depart and land as a form of inexpensive entertainment.
During the 1930sEastern Air Lines andTrans World Airlines (TWA) carried passengers and mail in and out of Bowman Field. However, it could not be expanded due to its proximity to downtown.[citation needed] In 1947, the airlines moved toStandiford Field.
DuringWorld War II, Bowman Field was one of the nation's most important training bases and the nation's busiest airport. The facility became known as "Air Base City" when a bomber squadron moved in and more than 1,600 recruits underwent basic training in a three-month period. TheUnited States Army Air Forces' school forflight surgeons, medical technicians, and flight nurses also called Bowman Field home.
Bowman Field was used in theJames Bond filmGoldfinger as the base forPussy Galore's Flying Circus; principal photography of hangars, aircraft, etc., were done there in fall of 1963.[3]
Bowman Field Historic District | |
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| Location | Taylorsville Rd. and Peewee Reese Blvd.,Louisville, Kentucky |
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| Area | 15 acres (6.1 ha) |
| Built | 1929 |
| Architect | Wischmeyer & Arrasmith; Russell, J.F., & Co. |
| Architectural style | Moderne |
| NRHP reference No. | 88002616[4] |
| Added to NRHP | November 10, 1988 |
In 1988, three adjacent buildings at the airport were added to theNational Register of Historic Places as theBowman Field Historic District.[2] They are the airport Administration Building (1929; 1936–37), theCurtiss Flying Service Hangar (1929), and theArmy Air Corps Hangar (1931–32). Since many urban airports are located in industrial areas, this verdant setting is unusual and contributes to the ambience of the Bowman Field Historic District.[5]
The buildings of the Bowman Field Historic District are related not only by proximity and historical function, but by theirArt Deco/Art Moderne styling and use of masonry materials such as brick, stone and concrete.[5]
The dominant landmark of Bowman Field is its terminal, known as the Administration Building, styled in aerodynamicStreamline Moderne, and designed by the firm ofWischmeyer andArrasmith.[6] As built in 1929, it was a fairly modest two-story structure with one-story wings, housing administrative and communications offices,weather station, and restaurant. During 1936 and 1937, it nearly tripled in size. This was accomplished by demolishing the east wing and retaining the west and central sections as west wings of the new building. The Administration Building faces an elliptical landscaped island surrounded by a driveway and paved parking area.[5]
Today Bowman Field is home to hundreds of privately owned aircraft as well as several commercial operations, includingAero Club of Louisville, Inc., andLouisville Executive Aviation. Severalflight schools including Louisville Aviation, Kentucky Flight Training Center, Flight Club 502, and Cardinal Wings. operate there as well. The airport is home to multiple flight clubs.
In the year-long period ending June 20, 2022, the airport averaged 268 aircraft operations per day: 47% localgeneral aviation, 45% transient general aviation 7%air taxi and <1% military. 235 aircraft are based at this airport: 195 single-engine, 29 multi-engine, 6 jet, and 5helicopter.[7]
Bowman Field is operated by theLouisville Regional Airport Authority, which also operates Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport.
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