Where am I?

Chris Kennedy · December 20, 2011, 11:00:20 AM

Anybody recognize this airport the way it was in 1978? No prize, except the title of aerial photo interpreter extraordinaire, to the first one to figure it out.

Joe Copalman · December 20, 2011, 11:03:53 AM

Scottsdale, looking to the southwest.

Chris Kennedy · December 20, 2011, 11:22:36 AM

The guy's good. Joe gets the title.

Joe Copalman · December 20, 2011, 11:34:52 AM

Woo-Hoo!

Amazing how much that area has been built up in just the past fifteen years.

Rob Silliman · December 20, 2011, 12:01:44 PM

Quote from: Joe Copalman on December 20, 2011, 11:34:52 AM
Woo-Hoo!

Amazing how much that area has been built up in just the past fifteen years.

15 years? If the picture was 1978 - shouldn't it be 33 years?

Joe Copalman · December 20, 2011, 12:23:49 PM

Yes, but it was back in the 90s when development in this area (Airpark/Keirland) really started to boom.

Scott Youmans · December 20, 2011, 02:10:27 PM

Interesting. I worked at Scottsdale airport about that time at a place call Soarmaster that made power packs for hang gliders. The beginning of the ultralight industry.

Ryan Keough · December 21, 2011, 07:36:02 PM

It's interesting that the original WWII hangars in the far top left were completely disconnected from the rest of the airport even more so than they are today. It looks like there isn't even a basic taxiway over in that direction, where today there is at least that seldom-used, gated taxiway that crosses the road. Makes me wonder why the airport didn't consider developing the existing airfield structures after it was converted into a municipal airport after WWII.

Chris Kennedy · December 21, 2011, 07:54:26 PM

Here is an old aerial of the Thunderbird No. 2 airfield. The dark parts are all asphalt paved areas that were used as landing and takeoff areas that could be used in any direction. Typical of primary training fields in WW2.

This second photo where this was in relation to today's airport.

The site these came from is a good place to find information on WW2 and other airfields.

http://www.airfieldsdatabase.com/

Chris Kennedy · December 22, 2011, 11:20:17 AM

Okay, here's one that might not be so easy to identify.

Joe Copalman · December 22, 2011, 11:44:37 AM

Ooooh. What year was this?

Chris Kennedy · December 22, 2011, 12:44:50 PM

Quote from: Joe Copalman on December 22, 2011, 11:44:37 AM
Ooooh. What year was this?

1978

As far as I know, it's still there.

Scott Youmans · December 22, 2011, 01:12:25 PM

Here's a WAG. Buckeye?

Chris Kennedy · December 22, 2011, 01:21:38 PM

Quote from: Scott Youmans on December 22, 2011, 01:12:25 PM
Here's a WAG. Buckeye?

Not Buckeye.

Jeff D. Welker · December 22, 2011, 03:41:01 PM

I think it is Stanfield. Mostly because it appears to say that on the hanger roof - I cheated

I believe the airstrip is still in use for crop dusting work. I think it is called "Potters Field".

News:

Where am I?