Zamperini Field
Encyclopedia
Zamperini Field is a city-owned public-use airport
located three miles (5 km) southwest of the central business district
of Torrance
, in Los Angeles County
, California
, United States
.
The airport, one of the busiest general aviation
airports in the state and once known as Torrance Municipal Airport, was renamed in honor of local sports and war hero Louis Zamperini
.
and concrete
paved runway
s: 11L/29R measuring 5,000 x 150 ft (1,524 x 46 m) and 11R/29L measuring 3,000 x 75 ft (914 x 23 m). It also contain one asphalt
paved helipad
measuring 110 x 110 ft (34 x 34 m).
For the 12-month period ending May 31, 2005, the airport had 173,027 aircraft operations, an average of 474 per day: 99% general aviation
, 1% military and <1% air taxi
. There are 499 aircraft based at this airport: 89% single-engine, 8% multi-engine, 2% helicopter
and <1% glider
.
for a neighboring hospital, the Torrance Medical Center, is located at the north-west corner of the Zamperini Field airfield.
, which was previously in Hawthorne, California
.
, and was turned over for local government use by the War Assets Administration (WAA).
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 three miles (5 km) southwest of the central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
of Torrance
Torrance, California
Torrance is a city incorporated in 1921 and located in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County, California, United States. Torrance has of shore-front beaches on the Pacific Ocean, quieter and less well-known by tourists than others on the Santa Monica Bay, such as those of neighboring...
, in Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The airport, one of the busiest 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...
airports in the state and once known as Torrance Municipal Airport, was renamed in honor of local sports and war hero Louis Zamperini
Louis Zamperini
Louis Silvie Zamperini is a World War II prisoner of war survivor, inspirational speaker, and former American Olympic distance runner.-Early life:...
.
Facilities and aircraft
Zamperini Field covers an area of 506 acres (204.8 ha) which contains two asphaltAsphalt
Asphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
and concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
paved 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: 11L/29R measuring 5,000 x 150 ft (1,524 x 46 m) and 11R/29L measuring 3,000 x 75 ft (914 x 23 m). It also contain one asphalt
Asphalt
Asphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
paved helipad
Helipad
Helipad is a common abbreviation for helicopter landing pad, a landing area for helicopters. While helicopters are able to operate on a variety of relatively flat surfaces, a fabricated helipad provides a clearly marked hard surface away from obstacles where a helicopter can safely...
measuring 110 x 110 ft (34 x 34 m).
For the 12-month period ending May 31, 2005, the airport had 173,027 aircraft operations, an average of 474 per day: 99% 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...
, 1% military and <1% air taxi
Air taxi
An air taxi is an air charter passenger or cargo aircraft which operates on an on-demand basis.-Regulation:In the United States, air taxi and air charter operations are governed by Part 135 of the Federal Aviation Regulations , unlike the larger scheduled air carriers which are governed by more...
. There are 499 aircraft based at this airport: 89% single-engine, 8% multi-engine, 2% helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
and <1% glider
Glider aircraft
Glider aircraft are heavier-than-air craft that are supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of the air against their lifting surfaces, and whose free flight does not depend on an engine. Mostly these types of aircraft are intended for routine operation without engines, though engine failure can...
.
Terminal
Zamperini Field has a small terminal building equipped with a vending machine, conference room, bathroom, and flight planning room. Also, there is an outside patio which has small tables. Inside the main room of the terminal are historical papers related to the airport on the wall, and a security post.Helicopter operations
The helipadHelipad
Helipad is a common abbreviation for helicopter landing pad, a landing area for helicopters. While helicopters are able to operate on a variety of relatively flat surfaces, a fabricated helipad provides a clearly marked hard surface away from obstacles where a helicopter can safely...
for a neighboring hospital, the Torrance Medical Center, is located at the north-west corner of the Zamperini Field airfield.
Manufacturing
Zamperini Field is the home of Robinson Helicopter Company. Their entire production, assembly, and testing facilities are located on the southeast side of the airfield, and are the largest buildings at the airport.Museum
Zamperini Field is the new home of the Western Museum of FlightWestern Museum of Flight
The Western Museum of Flight is an aviation museum located at Zamperini Field, the municipal airport in Torrance, California. WMOF is operated by the Southern California Historical Aviation Foundation....
, which was previously in Hawthorne, California
Hawthorne, California
Hawthorne is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California. The city at the 2010 census had a population of 84,293, up from 84,112 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
.
Accidents and incidents
- The Aeroméxico Flight 498Aeroméxico Flight 498Aeroméxico Flight 498, registration , was a Douglas DC-9-32 on route from Mexico City, Mexico to Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles, California, United States on August 31, 1986. N4891F was a privately-operated Piper PA-28-181 Archer owned by the Kramer family en route from Torrance to...
or Cerritos air disaster happened in 1986, when a private Piper CherokeePiper CherokeeThe Piper PA-28 Cherokee is a family of light aircraft designed for flight training, air taxi, and personal use. It is built by Piper Aircraft....
owned by William Kramer en route from Torrance to Big Bear City AirportBig Bear City AirportBig Bear City Airport is a public airport located in Big Bear City, San Bernardino County, California, United States.- Arrival and Departure :...
near Big Bear LakeBig Bear Lake, CaliforniaBig Bear Lake is a city in San Bernardino County, California along the south shore of Big Bear Lake, located northeast of the city of San Bernardino. The population was 5,019 at the 2010 census, down from 5,438 at the 2000 census...
collided with a Douglas DC-9 owned by AeroméxicoAeroméxicoAirways of Mexico, SA de CV , operating as Aeroméxico, is the flag carrier airline of Mexico based in Colonia Cuauhtémoc, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City. It operates scheduled domestic and international services to North America, South America, Central America and the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia...
en route from various MexicanMexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
cities to Los Angeles International AirportLos Angeles International AirportLos Angeles International Airport is the primary airport serving the Greater Los Angeles Area, the second-most populated metropolitan area in the United States. It is most often referred to by its IATA airport code LAX, with the letters pronounced individually...
. Both planes crashed, causing all of the people on both planes to die and some residents in CerritosCerritos, CaliforniaCerritos is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, and is one of several cities that constitute the Gateway Cities of southeast Los Angeles County. It was incorporated on April 24, 1956...
to die or sustain injuries.
History
The airport was built by the United States Army Air Force about 1942, and was known as Lomita Flight Strip. It was an emergency landing airfield for military aircraft on training flights. It was closed after World War IIWorld 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...
, and was turned over for local government use by the War Assets Administration (WAA).
External links
- Zamperini Field page at city website
- Zamperini Field (unofficial information site)