Smith Reynolds Airport
Encyclopedia
Smith Reynolds Airport is a public airport
located 3 miles (5 km) northeast of the city of Winston-Salem
in Forsyth County
, North Carolina
, USA
. The airport has two runway
s, and is used primarily for general aviation
and flight training, although some passenger operations take place there. In addition, it is home to the Winston-Salem air show, which is usually held in September, and draws about 20,000 spectators.
A portion of land positioned off Walkertown Avenue (present-day Liberty Street) was located and determined to be the perfect site for a new airport. Clint Miller pledged $17,000 for the development of facilities at the new airfield, so when the new Airport Corporation met for the first time, they decided the new airfield would be named Miller Municipal Airport. Reynolds Aviation would be the main activity at Miller Field for its first five years. There were commuter flights to New York, Detroit, Philadelphia and Baltimore, and weekend taxi service to Wrightsville and Myrtle Beach. In 1932, when Dick Reynolds disbanded Reynolds Aviation, a group of local businessmen formed Camel City Flying Service. Camel City renovated the existing structures, strengthened field lights and installed a grandstand for aerial shows.
In 1933, the Civil Works Administration, a program developed by The New Deal, began extending each runway by 500 feet (152.4 m), lining the main hangar floors with concrete and relocating the field lighting system. Throughout the 1930s, Miller Airport was the recipient of many projects supported by the New Deal including a new administration building, a third runway, and a new field lighting system. The airport land was expanded to 170 acre (0.6879662 km²) and a fourth runway was added by 1938.
In 1940, Charles Norfleet, the president of the Airport Commission, contacted Eastern Airlines, requesting them to begin servicing Miller Airport. When Eastern Airlines agreed to add Miller Airport to its North-South route, Dick Reynolds and his sisters, trustees of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, donated funds from the Foundation to further modernize and expand the airport. In 1942, Miller Municipal Airport was renamed and dedicated to Smith Reynolds, a pioneer in aviation before his untimely death at the age of 20.
From 1942 until 1945, Smith Reynolds Airport served as a training base for military pilots in addition to its commercial and private airline services. Camel City Flying Services had become Piedmont Aviation, Inc. in 1940 and spent the 1940s building a base in flight training and airline sales. The company grew to over 80 employees by 1947 when the Civil Aeronautics Board awarded Piedmont Airlines a temporary certificate for regional air service. The company split into two divisions in order to continue the fixed base services, and service four feeder line routes extending from Wilmington, NC to Cincinnati, Ohio, servicing twenty-two airports with one of three of the original DC-3's affectionately known as the Pacemakers.
By 1953 Piedmont Airlines
employed over 680 people and grossed over $5.3 million in gross revenue by covering almost 3000 miles (4,828 km) on its route system. It grew into one of the nation's major airlines when it was merged into USAir in 1989. Although Piedmont's largest operation was at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport
, they had maintained a significant presence at INT. USAir (later US Airways) closed its INT crew base in 1991. Their heavy maintenance base was closed in September 1998, leaving only specialty maintenance shops, the last of which was closed in 2005. US Airways still maintains its largest reservations center in Winston-Salem.
carrier CCAir ended service in January 2000. The airport maintains high volume and income with its private aircraft through Landmark Aviation
, or by emailing mernc082@gmail.com.
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
located 3 miles (5 km) northeast of the city of Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina, with a 2010 population of 229,617. Winston-Salem is the county seat and largest city of Forsyth County and the fourth-largest city in the state. Winston-Salem is the second largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region and is home to...
in Forsyth County
Forsyth County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 306,067 people, 123,851 households, and 81,741 families residing in the county. The population density was 747 people per square mile . There were 133,093 housing units at an average density of 325 per square mile...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The airport has two runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
s, and is used primarily for general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
and flight training, although some passenger operations take place there. In addition, it is home to the Winston-Salem air show, which is usually held in September, and draws about 20,000 spectators.
History
The question of an airmail route and an airport for Winston-Salem was decided in the 1920s when land west of Greensboro was selected over a Winston-Salem tract, and Winston-Salem withdrew from the Tri-city Airport Commission.A portion of land positioned off Walkertown Avenue (present-day Liberty Street) was located and determined to be the perfect site for a new airport. Clint Miller pledged $17,000 for the development of facilities at the new airfield, so when the new Airport Corporation met for the first time, they decided the new airfield would be named Miller Municipal Airport. Reynolds Aviation would be the main activity at Miller Field for its first five years. There were commuter flights to New York, Detroit, Philadelphia and Baltimore, and weekend taxi service to Wrightsville and Myrtle Beach. In 1932, when Dick Reynolds disbanded Reynolds Aviation, a group of local businessmen formed Camel City Flying Service. Camel City renovated the existing structures, strengthened field lights and installed a grandstand for aerial shows.
In 1933, the Civil Works Administration, a program developed by The New Deal, began extending each runway by 500 feet (152.4 m), lining the main hangar floors with concrete and relocating the field lighting system. Throughout the 1930s, Miller Airport was the recipient of many projects supported by the New Deal including a new administration building, a third runway, and a new field lighting system. The airport land was expanded to 170 acre (0.6879662 km²) and a fourth runway was added by 1938.
In 1940, Charles Norfleet, the president of the Airport Commission, contacted Eastern Airlines, requesting them to begin servicing Miller Airport. When Eastern Airlines agreed to add Miller Airport to its North-South route, Dick Reynolds and his sisters, trustees of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, donated funds from the Foundation to further modernize and expand the airport. In 1942, Miller Municipal Airport was renamed and dedicated to Smith Reynolds, a pioneer in aviation before his untimely death at the age of 20.
From 1942 until 1945, Smith Reynolds Airport served as a training base for military pilots in addition to its commercial and private airline services. Camel City Flying Services had become Piedmont Aviation, Inc. in 1940 and spent the 1940s building a base in flight training and airline sales. The company grew to over 80 employees by 1947 when the Civil Aeronautics Board awarded Piedmont Airlines a temporary certificate for regional air service. The company split into two divisions in order to continue the fixed base services, and service four feeder line routes extending from Wilmington, NC to Cincinnati, Ohio, servicing twenty-two airports with one of three of the original DC-3's affectionately known as the Pacemakers.
By 1953 Piedmont Airlines
Piedmont Airlines (1948-1989)
Piedmont Airlines was a major airline in the United States which operated from 1948 until its operations were merged into USAir in 1989. Its headquarters were located at One Piedmont Plaza in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, a building which is now part of Wake Forest University.As of April 1989,...
employed over 680 people and grossed over $5.3 million in gross revenue by covering almost 3000 miles (4,828 km) on its route system. It grew into one of the nation's major airlines when it was merged into USAir in 1989. Although Piedmont's largest operation was at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport
Charlotte/Douglas International Airport
Charlotte Douglas International Airport is a joint civil-military public international airport located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Established in 1935 as Charlotte Municipal Airport, in 1954 the airport was renamed Douglas Municipal Airport after former Charlotte mayor Ben Elbert Douglas, Sr...
, they had maintained a significant presence at INT. USAir (later US Airways) closed its INT crew base in 1991. Their heavy maintenance base was closed in September 1998, leaving only specialty maintenance shops, the last of which was closed in 2005. US Airways still maintains its largest reservations center in Winston-Salem.
Prior Service
Winston-Salem has not had commercial service since US Airways ExpressUS Airways Express
US Airways Express is an airline brand name, rather than a fully certified airline, and as such, the US Airways Express name is used by several individually owned airlines or airline holding companies which provide regional airline and commuter service for US Airways.Operations are conducted from...
carrier CCAir ended service in January 2000. The airport maintains high volume and income with its private aircraft through Landmark Aviation
Landmark Aviation
Landmark Aviation is an aviation services company that offers a wide variety of services at MRO repair centers, at 41 FBOs across the United States and Canada, with 1 in Ireland & 2 in France and within its aircraft sales, charter and management business...
Civil Air Patrol
The Smith Reynolds Airport is home to the Winston Salem Composite Squadron of Civil Air Patrol. The squadron meets weekly on Thursdays. Cadets (ages 12-21) meet at the Smith Reynolds Airport from 6:25 to 8:30. Senior Members (ages 18+) meet at the Winston Salem Rescue Squad building from 7:00 to 8:30. Civil Air Patrol is a non-profit organization and the official auxiliary of the United States Air Force whose three missions are Cadet Programs, Emergency Services, and Aerospace Education. CAP is for youth ages 12-21 and for adults ages 18 and up.Cadet Programs
Cadet Programs will involve things like teaching leadership, followership , discipline, integrity, responsibility, and respect to the youth of today. These things are taught in a variety of ways. Some highlights would be encampment, where cadets go to camp for a week and get to do a variety of activities while learning in a safe environment. Another activity to highlight would be the International Air Cadet Exchange (IACE) where a few select cadets out of the country are offered the chance to travel to another country and live with a family there for two and a half weeks, and you will only be required to pay a small amount considering the cost of the whole trip.Emergency Services
Emergency Services has a wide range of meanings. It can involve something like searching for a missing aircraft in the middle of the woods to something like taking aerial photos of disaster sites for the government and other agencies to use. CAP members learn valuable field survival and searching skills. Through Emergency Services, Civil Air Patrol saves real lives across the country.Aerospace Education
Finally Aerospace Education. CAP is chartered by the US Congress to teach Aerospace Education to the general public and specifically to members of CAP. This can sometimes involve a hands-on approach such as building a small rocket that you will be allowed to launch into the air or it could involve a hands-off approach in the classroom where you can still learn a lot but in a controlled environment! Another perk that comes with being a member of CAP is they are allowed to fly with one of CAP’s many certified pilots 5 times at no cost to them outside of the annual membership fee which is paid each year.More Information
More information on CAP can be found at NC082.com, gocivilairpatrol.com, Civil Air PatrolCivil Air Patrol
Civil Air Patrol is a Congressionally chartered, federally supported, non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force . CAP is a volunteer organization with an aviation-minded membership that includes people from all backgrounds, lifestyles, and...
, or by emailing mernc082@gmail.com.
External links
- NCDOT Airport Information: