Woolsey Memorial Airport (FAA LID: 5D5) is a publicly owned, public use airport located 3 miles northeast of Northport, Michigan on the Leelanau Peninsula.[1]

Woolsey Memorial Airport
Single terminal building along County Hwy 629
Summary
Airport typePublic
Owner/OperatorLeelanau Township
ServesNorthport, Michigan
LocationLeelanau Peninsula
Built1935
Time zoneUTC−05:00 (-5)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−04:00 (-4)
Elevation AMSL628 ft / 191 m
Coordinates45°09′47″N 085°34′17″W / 45.16306°N 85.57139°W / 45.16306; -85.57139
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
9/27 3,663 1,116 Turf
16/34 2,670 814 Turf
Statistics (2015)
Aircraft Movements504
Woolsey Family Farm /
Clinton F. Woolsey Memorial Airport
Woolsey Memorial Airport is located in Michigan
Woolsey Memorial Airport
Location within the state of Michigan
Location13591 E. Woolsey Lake Rd.
Leelanau Township, Michigan
Coordinates45°09′45″N 85°34′15″W / 45.16250°N 85.57083°W / 45.16250; -85.57083
DesignatedJuly 14, 2021

History

The airport opened in 1935 in honor of Clinton Woolsey, an engineer for the U.S. Army Air Service[2] who died near Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1927 during the first Pan-American Goodwill Flight across Central and South America. Land for the airport was donated by Woolsey's father, and additional land was added by the township.[3][4][5][6]

The airport was converted from a farm by the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression as part of a "New Deal" public works project.[2][7]

The airport was registered as a historic site in 2021, and a marker stands to commemorate its history. The airport took three years to be approved as a site.[3][8][9][10]

Facilities and aircraft

Looking northwest at the dual runways

The airport has two runways, both made of turf. Runway 9/27 measures 3663 x 120 ft (1116 x 37 m). Runway 16/34 measures 2670 x 150 ft (814 x 46 m). For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2015, the airport had 504 aircraft operations per year, an average of 42 per month. It was entirely general aviation. For the same time period, 6 aircraft were based at the airport: 4 single-engine airplanes, 1 multi-engine airplane, and 1 ultralight.[1][11]

The airport has a terminal building with an observation deck. The terminal once hosted a creamery and milk transfer station. It was converted into the airport terminal as a Works Progress Administration. While the terminal building itself has been closed at different times throughout its history, the observation deck has remained open.[3][4]

Events

The airport hosts regular events such as fly-ins, historical tours, and road races.[11][12][13] The airport also hosts artistic groups, especially photographers that use the area to observe stars.[14] While the airport does not host a chapter, it is a regular host for pilots visiting for events and challenges sponsored by the Experimental Aircraft Association.[15]

One of the most popular events the airport hosts is a poker night, which also features competitions like a short takeoff-and-landing competition. The event is sponsored by the Eastern Michigan University flight school to introduce aviation students to different flight scenarios and challenges, such as weather conditions that require pilots to rely heavily on instruments, cross-country flight planning, mountainous terrain and night flying.[16]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "AirNav: 5D5 - Woolsey Memorial Airport". www.airnav.com. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
  2. 1 2 "Woolsey Family Farm / Clinton F. Woolsey Memorial Airport Historical Marker". www.hmdb.org. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
  3. 1 2 3 "Woolsey Memorial Airport". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
  4. 1 2 Katje, Jonathan (2020-08-10). "Michigan Roadside Attractions: Clinton F. Woolsey Memorial Airport, Leelanau County". Travel the Mitten. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
  5. ↑ Nelson, Tiffany (2021-01-27). "25 Interesting Destinations in 25 Years of PlaneSense History « PlaneSense". PlaneSense. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
  6. ↑ "From creamery to control room: The aviator that inspired the Woolsey Airport". Interlochen Public Radio. 2021-07-14. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
  7. ↑ "Michigan's Beautiful Woolsey Memorial Airport And the Tragedy that Created It". Lost In Michigan. 2021-05-30. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
  8. ↑ "Woolsey Memorial Airport". Leelanau News. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  9. ↑ Bricca, Heather (2021-07-15). "Historical marker placed at Woolsey Memorial Airport". WPBN. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
  10. ↑ Cepak, Tony (2020-03-20). "Leelanau County airport seeks historic designation". Spartan Newsroom. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
  11. 1 2 "Northport's Woolsey Airport gets Michigan Historical Marker". Glen Arbor Sun. 2021-07-14. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
  12. ↑ "Fly-In/Drive-In Breakfast". Northport Omena Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
  13. ↑ "Rock the Light 5K!". Grand Traverse Lighthouse. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
  14. ↑ "Enchanting Night Sky 2020". Northport Arts Association. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
  15. ↑ "EAGLE'S PROPWASH". Experimental Aircraft Association: 12. October 2021. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  16. ↑ Phelps, Jordan. "Local student pilot sticks landing to win EMU contest". Observer and Eccentric Newspapers and Hometown Weeklies. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
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