Dorado Airport
Encyclopedia
Dorado Airport or Dorado Beach Airport was a small single runway airport in Dorado
, Puerto Rico
.
Clara Livingston
, at the time owner of the property, had order the strip to be built, and her friend, Amelia Earhart
, may have used the facility as well. Later on, the United States
military, during World War II
, paved the runway.
Much later on, a large airline named Caribair
(later overtaken by Eastern Air Lines
), began flights there. When Caribair became part of Eastern, flights to Dorado Airport were suspended.
During the early 1980s, Dorado was served by Dorado Wings
, a small airline that operated commuter flights between Dorado Airport and Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport
in San Juan
. The airline operated propeller airplanes.
In the early 1990s, the airport was officially closed. In 1996, the parcel was rezoned and construction commenced of a master planned community: Dorado Beach East. In memory of Dorado Airport and its founder, Ms. Clara Livingston, the developers built a children's playground themed with unique play airplanes, a hangar for activities, and a runway plaza.
Dorado, Puerto Rico
Dorado is a small tourist town in the northern coast of Puerto Rico, west of San Juan and is located in the northern region of the island, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, north of Toa Alta, east of Vega Alta, and west of Toa Baja. Dorado is spread over five barrios and Dorado Pueblo...
, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
.
Clara Livingston
Clara Livingston
Clara Livingston was the 200th licensed female pilot and 11th female helicopter pilot in the world. Clara made her first airplane trip in 1927. She was the daughter of Alfred Livingston. At the age of 25, her father died and she managed his property for the next two decades. She built her own...
, at the time owner of the property, had order the strip to be built, and her friend, Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart
Amelia Mary Earhart was a noted American aviation pioneer and author. Earhart was the first woman to receive the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross, awarded for becoming the first aviatrix to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean...
, may have used the facility as well. Later on, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
military, during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, paved the runway.
Much later on, a large airline named Caribair
Caribair (Puerto Rico)
Caribair was a major airline that flew out of San Juan, Puerto Rico. It was the first Puerto Rican airline to use jet aircraft for their services.-History:...
(later overtaken by Eastern Air Lines
Eastern Air Lines
Eastern Air Lines was a major United States airline that existed from 1926 to 1991. Before its dissolution it was headquartered at Miami International Airport in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida.-History:...
), began flights there. When Caribair became part of Eastern, flights to Dorado Airport were suspended.
During the early 1980s, Dorado was served by Dorado Wings
Dorado Wings
Dorado Wings was a small airline that operated from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico to Dorado Airport in the tourist center of Dorado. Dorado Wings was the only commercial operator at Dorado Airport. Dorado Wings existed from 1964 to 1982. In early 1982, the airline...
, a small airline that operated commuter flights between Dorado Airport and Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport
Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport
Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located in Carolina, Puerto Rico, three miles southeast of San Juan. Over 4 million passengers board a plane at the airport per year according to FAA reports . It is owned and managed by the Puerto Rico Ports...
in San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
. The airline operated propeller airplanes.
In the early 1990s, the airport was officially closed. In 1996, the parcel was rezoned and construction commenced of a master planned community: Dorado Beach East. In memory of Dorado Airport and its founder, Ms. Clara Livingston, the developers built a children's playground themed with unique play airplanes, a hangar for activities, and a runway plaza.
External links
- MSR Maps: Dorado Airport (USGS aerial photo dated 24 November 1994 showing closed runway with X's).
- World Airport Codes: Dorado Beach Airport (DDP).