6-20-2022 12:19am

Van Nuys Airport

Lorraine Mabbett Editor

October 1, 1928 - Mines Field is opened, with 640 acres leased, as an airport for the City of Los Angeles, it would become Los Angeles Airport.

Dec. 17, 1928 - Metropolitan Airport was opened, symbolically on the 25th anniversary of the Wright Brothers’ first flight. The airport was established by interested citizens incorporating what would decades later become Van Nuys Airport.

Nov. 22, 1929, Amelia Earhart takes off from Metropolitan Airport in Van Nuys with a recording setting speed of 184 mph.

1931 - Waterman Aircraft Company owned by Waldo Dean Waterman, a test pilot, designer and engineer for Bach Aircraft Co. becomes one of the owners and operator of the airport.

1933-1941 - The stock market crash, the Great Depression eventually impacted Waterman Aircraft and the airport was now owned by one person, Drusilla Daily Warner, until 1941. It was her son Dean Daily who actually ran the airport; and brought income to the airport from the movie industry using as a location for movies.

1945 - Metropolitan Airport was purchased by the U.S. government along with an additional 163 acres. The commercial airport was converted into a military base and along with a new airfield "Van Nuys Army Airfield". It was here P-38 Lightning pilots were trained; given the proximity to Lockheed. A fascinating photo demonstrates the before and after pictures of Colonel John F Ohmer's successful disguise of Lockheed; known as "a pioneer in camouflage, deception and misdirection techniques" he also successfully disguised numerous locations in Britain.

1949 - The airport became San Fernando Valley Airport upon the purchase by the City of Los Angeles from the U.S. War Assets Administration for $1, and contingent upon the California Air National Guard base continue their operation at the location. At this point the airport was 600 acres (203 acres less than the total 803 used by the military)

1957 - The airport in Van Nuys is now officially known as Van Nuys Airport VNY

1971 - 562,079 takeoffs & landings

1976 - Air National Guard base occupied 62 acres of land between the Van Nuys Airport Runways and Balboa Boulevard. Which consisted of 26 structures

3 large hangars
2 nose docks for aircraft maintenance
Administrative buildings
Supply buildings
Shops
Recreational areas

1988 - Observation area was opened to the public

2002 - >504,000 Takeoffs & Landings

2007 - The original hangar of Metropolitan Airport was scheduled to be destroyed but the quick actions of the owner of Airtel Plaza Hotel saved the historical building. The facade was moved to the hotel property. Original Van Nuys Airport hangar saved - LA Observed and Here's Looking at You, Van Nuys Airport of Old - Los Angeles Times (latimes.com)

2018 - 10,480 jobs are based out of the airport property

The airport has been owned by the City of Los Angeles since it's 1949 purchase. Los Angeles World Airports is managed by the Board of Airport Commissioners appointed by the Mayor of Los Angeles. LAWA also owns Los Angeles Airport LAX and manages aviation-related property near the Palmdale Regional Airport (PMD).

Movie based on the surroundings and planes of Van Nuys Airport One Six Right | Now on Blu-ray & Digital HD | Official Website

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