Agua Dulce Airpark
Encyclopedia
Agua Dulce Airpark , also known as Agua Dulce Airport, is a public-use airport
located 2 miles (3.2 km) east of the central business district
of Agua Dulce
, in Los Angeles County
, California
, United States
.
The plans for an airport at Agua Dulce began in 1958. Aircraft modification engineer Robert W. Lillibridge and Northrup test pilot Errol Williams purchased the vacant acreage for the airport. The costs of subsequent improvements were financed by millionaire businessman Jim Annin. A special permit to begin building was required. On October 27, 1959, Special permit case No. 1404-(5) was granted by the Regional Planning Commission of Los Angeles County. In the 1990s, local residents fought an attempt by Los Angeles County to buy the airpark and convert it to a regional airport. In October 2005, former airport owner Barry Kirschner sold the property to Wayne and Connie Spears,Agua Dulce Airport: History owners of Spears Manufacturing and Spears Motorsports
.
paved runway
(4/22) measuring 4,600 x 50 ft (1,402 x 15 m). For the 12-month period ending May 15, 2006, the airport had 2,880 aircraft operations: 62% transient general aviation
and
38% local general aviation.
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 2 miles (3.2 km) east 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 Agua Dulce
Agua Dulce, California
Agua Dulce is a census-designated place located in Los Angeles County, California. It lies at an elevation of 2,526 feet . Agua Dulce is located just north of Santa Clarita. The town has a population of about 4,000. It is located at and covers a geographic area of about...
, 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 plans for an airport at Agua Dulce began in 1958. Aircraft modification engineer Robert W. Lillibridge and Northrup test pilot Errol Williams purchased the vacant acreage for the airport. The costs of subsequent improvements were financed by millionaire businessman Jim Annin. A special permit to begin building was required. On October 27, 1959, Special permit case No. 1404-(5) was granted by the Regional Planning Commission of Los Angeles County. In the 1990s, local residents fought an attempt by Los Angeles County to buy the airpark and convert it to a regional airport. In October 2005, former airport owner Barry Kirschner sold the property to Wayne and Connie Spears,Agua Dulce Airport: History owners of Spears Manufacturing and Spears Motorsports
Spears Motorsports
Spears Motorsports was a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team owned by Wayne and Connie Spears of Agua Dulce, California. The team is most notable for its longevity in the Truck Series, running all but two races before their closure, their commitment to running with Chevrolet and for always running...
.
Facilities and aircraft
Agua Dulce Airpark covers an area of 190 acres (76.9 ha) which contains one 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...
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...
(4/22) measuring 4,600 x 50 ft (1,402 x 15 m). For the 12-month period ending May 15, 2006, the airport had 2,880 aircraft operations: 62% transient 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
38% local general aviation.
Filming location
The airport has been used as a filming location for projects including:- The 1983 video for the "Weird Al" Yankovic"Weird Al" YankovicAlfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic is an American singer-songwriter, music producer, accordionist, actor, comedian, writer, satirist, and parodist. Yankovic is known for his humorous songs that make light of popular culture and that often parody specific songs by contemporary musical acts...
song, "I Love Rocky RoadI Love Rocky Road"I Love Rocky Road" is a song by "Weird Al" Yankovic about a man's obsession with rocky road ice cream. It is a parody of "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" by the band Arrows, which had recently been covered by Joan Jett.-Track listing:...
", was filmed at this airport. - The Macgyver TV series used the airport as the "Sparrow Ridge Airport", Arizona, in Season 1, episode 6, "Last Stand" (1985).
- For the 1997 film, Fire Down Below, a gas station/minimart set was built on the runway.
- The 2000 film, Space CowboysSpace CowboysSpace Cowboys is a 2000 science fiction film directed by Clint Eastwood. Eastwood also stars in the film alongside Tommy Lee Jones, Donald Sutherland, and James Garner as four older "ex-test pilots" who are sent into space to repair an old Soviet satellite...
, used this location as the fictional Bonneville Pass Airport. - The "Roswell" TV series used this in at least five episodes, over three seasons (1999–2002): The gas station and the Cafe exterior in season 1, the airport as a background and the interior of the Cafe in season 2, the hill that faces the runway in season 3. Also, the view in the distance is used as a distant shot of the town of "Roswell" in promotional materials.