Waco Regional Airport is an airport in Waco, McLennan County, Texas. It is owned by the City of Waco.

In the year ending June 30, 2022, the airport had 66,191 aircraft operations, averaging 181 per day: 83% general aviation, 10% military, 7% air taxi, and <1% airline. 74 aircraft at that time were based at the airport: 52 single-engine, 13 multi-engine, 3 jet and 6 helicopter. The Aerodrome Cafe is located inside the terminal building.

Waco Regional Airport is host to one full service FBO: Texas Aero. Flight training at Waco Regional is provided by Chiota Aviation, Universal Flight Concepts which provides both helicopter and airplane training, and Waco Flight Training which specializes in initial tailwheel training and endorsements. The airport is also home to the Baylor University Flight Center, where flight training is conducted in support of the Baylor University Aviation Sciences Program.

History

thumb|Control tower and [[Beechcraft AT-10 Wichita trainer]]

thumb|parking ramp

thumb|cadets in formation

Waco Regional Airport's history begins in 1941 when some grazing farmland was chosen for the new Waco Municipal Airport. Construction began in late summer 1941.

In early 1942, the War Department leased the site and it was provided to the United States Army Air Forces for a training airfield. At the time, construction consisted of three runways partly completed. The Army Air Force began to rush the project to completion and changed the civil building plans to that of a military airfield and ground station. Barracks, mess halls, a hospital, church, theater, administrative buildings, aircraft hangars and a control tower were built. The facility was initially named China Spring Army Air Field and later Waco Army Air Field No. 2 before being renamed Blackland Army Airfield after the local black soil.

See also

  • List of airports in Texas
  • TSTC Waco Airport
  • Texas World War II Army Airfields
  • 33d Flying Training Wing (World War II)

References

  • Shaw, Frederick J. (2004), Locating Air Force Base Sites History's Legacy, Air Force History and Museums Program, United States Air Force, Washington, DC