One Of The Oldest Airports In The U.S., Merrill Field In Alaska Is Now 90 Years Old
Alaska has an incredible amount of history, and Merrill Field Airfield is a fascinating part of it. Located just east of downtown Anchorage, Alaska, this airport opened in 1930 and is still a busy hub to this day. Air travel is a significant part of life in many parts of Alaska, and this small airfield plays a big part as the oldest airport in Alaska, and one of the oldest airports in the United States.
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Merrill Field is an airport located one mile east of downtown Anchorage.
Sitting on 436 acres, this is a small airport at the base of the Chugach mountain range. The airport opened in 1930 and was named Anchorage Aviation Field.
Russel Hyde Merrill was an excellent pilot who flew many of the first routes throughout Alaska.
He was the first pilot to cross the Gulf of Alaska, among many other notable feats, working in Anchorage and expanding the aviation community. His plane was lost on a flight in 1929, and the Anchorage Women's Club petitioned to have Anchorage Aviation Field renamed Merrill Field in his honor.
By 1931, Merrill Field was the busiest airport in Alaska, and one of the busiest airports in the world.
There were six airlines operating out of this airport, and it conducted 25% of all of Alaska's air traffic. By 1947, the runways had been paved and lengthened to accommodate the larger and faster aircraft beginning to fly into Alaska.
Merrill Field couldn't keep up with the increase in air traffic coming into Alaska, and construction on Anchorage International Airport (now Ted Stevens International Airport) began.
Even now, Merrill Field is still one of the busiest airports in the country. There are currently three active runways at this airport, and it has been classified as one of the largest flying schools in America.
This airport is a testament to the power of aviation in the Alaskan community.
It's home to 844 aircraft, including single engine aircraft, multi engine, helicopters, and even one glider! There's also an unused Boeing 727 based in Merrill Field, but it is no longer air worthy. When it landed it was the largest aircraft to have landed at this airport.
Many people are surprised to learn that the airport still operates in winter.
Alaska winter doesn't stop air traffic, so they go to great measures to make sure the runways are clear. The airport is plowed all winter long so aircraft can to continue to land safely.
You can travel down Merrill Field Drive, a road that bisects the airport and is open to the public. Or you can stroll along a walkway that's set up with interpretive signs detailing historical information about the airport. It's a beautiful place to spend a couple hours exploring, especially as it is such a large part of Anchorage's history. This historic spot in Alaska is a must-see if you’re visiting the biggest city in our great state.
Have you ever visited or flown into Merrill Field in Alaska? What did you think? Would you recommend flying into this little hub? Let us know in the comments below!
Address: 800 Merrill Field Dr, Anchorage, AK 99501, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Merrill Field In Alaska
August 28, 2020
Megan McDonald
How many pilots are in Alaska?
This state is filled with people who love to fly. There are 7,933 active pilots in Alaska. There are also 9,346 registered aircraft in Alaska. Many Alaskans like to joke that more people have their pilot’s license than their driver’s license, but that isn’t true. However, Alaska’s stats about pilots are impressive. In a state of more than 600,000 people, there are 11,000 fliers who are registered to fly, even if they aren’t actively flying aircraft. In fact, the National Transportation Safety Board said that Alaskans were 76 times more likely fly than residents of the lower 48. We love to see our great, big state, and that’s hard to do in any other way besides travel via the power of flight.
Why are there so many pilots in Alaska?
The truth is much of this giant state is inaccessible by road. The only way to visit a majority of the small towns and villages is by air. There are 400 public use airports to attest to the fact that the people of Alaska love to fly. On top of that huge number, there are also 747 recorded landing areas that are private, public, or military. This doesn’t take into account the thousands of locations all across the state where daring pilots choose to land on lakes, glaciers, and gravel bars. They use their keen sense of intuition and knowledge about both the weather conditions and the state of the land in the area, and land their aircraft in these wild and awe inspiring spots. The pilots of the Last Frontier are truly one of a kind!
Megan McDonald is a writer, photographer, and owner of an Alaska-based media company. She spends her free time traveling with her husband and daughter, and loves to see and experience new things!
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