1998 map of Floyd Bennett Field from the National Park Service.

Floyd Bennett Field, now again an active airport, was New York City's first municipal airport. Located in Brooklyn, originally on Barren Island, it is now physically part of Long Island due to the filling of a channel. A compacted dirt runway existed on the island prior to the municipal airport and was generously referred to as "Barren Island Airport", but was used primarily by only one pilot who took customers up for joy-rides. The modern municipal airport was named after the famed aviator and Medal of Honor recipient Floyd Bennett (a Brooklyn resident at the time of his dramatic death), dedicated on June 26, 1930, and officially opening on May 23, 1931. The IATA airport code was NOP but now uses the FAA Location Identifier NY22 for a heliport operated by the New York City Police Department. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2168x1666, 351 KB) w:Floyd Bennett Field; converted from this PDF file (reference page) File links The following pages link to this file: Floyd Bennett Field ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2168x1666, 351 KB) w:Floyd Bennett Field; converted from this PDF file (reference page) File links The following pages link to this file: Floyd Bennett Field ... Nickname: Big Apple, City that never Sleeps, Gotham Location in the state of New York Coordinates: Country United States State New York Boroughs The Bronx Manhattan Queens Brooklyn Staten Island Settled 1613 Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Area    - City 1,214. ... Brooklyn (named for the Dutch city Breukelen) is one of the five boroughs of New York City. ... Barren Island, originally an island off the southern end of Brooklyn NY, in Jamaica Bay just opposite Rockaway Peninsula in Queens NY. Today, owing to landfill, it is now connected to the Brooklyn mainland. ... Mercator projection of Long Island Long Island is an island in New York, USA. It has an area of 1,377 square miles (3567 km²) and a population of 7. ... An aviator is a person who flies aircraft for pleasure or as a profession. ... The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States. ... Floyd Bennett (25 October 1890 – 25 April 1928) was an aviator who flew with Richard E. Byrd to the North Pole in 1926. ... June 26 is the 177th day of the year (178th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 188 days remaining. ... 1930 (MCMXXX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link is to a full 1930 calendar). ... May 23 is the 143rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (144th in leap years). ... Year 1931 (MCMXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link is to a full 1931 calendar). ... An IATA airport code, also known an IATA location identifier or simply a location identifier [1], is a three-letter code designating many airports around the world, defined by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). ... A Location Identifier takes the place of the name and the location of an airport, navigation aid, weather station, and manned air traffic control facility in air traffic control, telecommunications, computer programming, weather reports, and related services. ... NYPD emblem NYPD redirects here. ...

Many of the earliest surviving original structures were included in an historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places because of their significance as among the largest collection and best representatives of commercial aviation architecture from the period, as well as the significant contributions to civil aviation made there. As such, it was included in 1972 as part of the Gateway National Recreation Area, managed by the National Park Service. In 2006 4 of the 8 original airport hangars were adapted for re-use and leased as a community-based sports and entertainment complex by Aviator Sports and Recreation. However, the historic integrity of some of the hangars have therefore been alleged to be compromised by this conversion, in contradiction to the protections supposedly in place by their inclusion on the National Register. The National Register of Historic Places is the USAs official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects worthy of preservation. ... A Boeing 747-400 of Virgin Atlantic Airways An airline provides air transport services for passengers or freight. ... General aviation (abbr. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Gateway National Recreation Area is a 26,607 acre (105 km²) recreation area owned by the United States government in the New York City metropolitan area. ... The National Park Service (NPS) is the United States federal agency that manages all National Parks, many National Monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ...

Aerial view of Bennett Field after taking off from JFK.

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 294 KB) I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 294 KB) I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ...

History

New York mayor Fiorello LaGuardia pushed for Floyd Bennett field to replace Newark Airport in Newark, New Jersey as the city's de facto main air terminal. He was only able to persuade American Airlines to move its Newark operations to the new airport, and many passengers complained that travel from Bennett Field took longer to get to Manhattan than from Newark. In addition, particularly in the early days of commercial aviation, freight - not passengers - provided the bulk of profits. As airmail was among the largest amount of air freight at the time, airports having contracts with the US Postal Service attracted commercial airlines. As an industry norm airlines used their the cargo area available on aircraft making passenger routes to carry airmail, guaranteeing a profit on empty flights, and often providing more revenue than passenger ticket sales on under-booked flights. As LaGuardia was never able to convince the Postal Service to move its New York City operations from Newark to Floyd Bennett Field, neither did the airlines relocate. This significantly contributed to the eventual demise of commercial air activities at the airfield. As a general aviation airfield, however, it attracted the best record-breaking pilots of the Golden Age of Aviation because of its superior modern facilitites and excellent location for flying, hosting dozens of "firsts" and time records, as well as a number of air races (such as the Bendix Cup) in their hey-day.(Blakemore, 1981) Fiorello Henry LaGuardia (December 11, 1882–September 20, 1947) was the Mayor of New York from 1934 to 1945. ... Newark Liberty International Airport (IATA: EWR, ICAO: KEWR), formerly known as Newark International Airport, is an international airport within the city limits of both Newark and Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States. ... Nickname: The Brick City Map of Newark in Essex County Coordinates: County Essex Founded/Incorporated 1666/1836 Mayor Cory Booker, term of office 2006–2010 Area    - City 67. ... American Airlines and American Eagle aircraft at San Juan American Airlines (AA) is the largest airline in the world in terms of total passengers transported[] and fleet size[], and the second-largest airline in the world (behind Air France-KLM) in terms of total operating revenues[]. A wholly owned subsidiary... The Borough of Manhattan, highlighted in yellow, lies between the East River and the Hudson River. ... Airmail imprint on an envelope (Thailand) Airmail (or air mail) is mail that is transported by aircraft. ... FedEx DC-10 Cargo airlines (or airfreight carriers, and derivatives of these names) are airlines dedicated to the transport of cargo. ... A USPS Truck at Night A U.S. Post Office sign The United States Postal Service (USPS) is the United States government organization responsible for providing postal service in the United States and is generally referred to as the post office. ... The Golden Age of Aviation was the period between World War I and World War II in which civil aviation, fueled by many daring and dramatic record-breaking feats, became popularized. ... A pair of Sport Class racers passing the finish pylon at the Reno Air Races. ... The Bendix Trophy is an aeronautical racing trophy. ...

During World War II, the facility was first leased and then sold to the US Navy for use by the military's airlift network. The noted pilot Eddie Schneider died in a training crash on the tarmac in 1940. Naval Air Station Brooklyn was deactivated in 1971. Combatants Major Allied powers: United Kingdom Soviet Union United States Republic of China and others Major Axis powers: Nazi Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Harry Truman Chiang Kai-Shek Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tojo Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead... The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for naval operations. ... Eddie August Schneider (1911-1940) circa 1930 Eddie August Schneider (1911-1940) circa 1930 Eddie August Schneider (1911-1940) at Dickinson High School, Jersey City, New Jersey in 1927 Coshocton Tribune; Coshocton, Ohio, August 25, 1930 Eddie August Schneider (1911-1940) in The New York Times on January 16, 1937... A Naval Air Station is an airbase of the United States Navy. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ...

In the interim, commercial aviation in New York City moved to a new airport in Queens, which took advantage of the then-new Queens-Midtown Tunnel to Manhattan. That airport was quickly renamed LaGuardia Airport in recognition of the mayor's efforts to bring commercially-viable aviation to New York. Queens Borough in New York City, in yellow This article is about the New York City borough. ... The Queens Midtown Tunnel is a toll road in New York City crosses under the East River and connects the Borough of Queens at Long Island City terminus of I-495 with the Borough of Manhattan between the major crosstown thoroughfares of 34th and 42nd Streets in the Midtown Manhattan... FAA diagram of LaGuardia Airport (LGA) LaGuardia Airport (IATA: LGA, ICAO: KLGA) is an airport serving New York City, United States, located on the waterfront of Flushing in the borough of Queens. ...

A Sampling of Associated Famous Aviators and Flights

Floyd Bennett Field's most storied flight was probably that of Douglas "Wrong Way" Corrigan who in 1938, after repeatedly being denied permission by the authorities to attempt a non-stop flight to Ireland, "accidentally" crossed the Atlantic in a second-hand surplus aircraft on a flight registered to go to California. In the midst of the Great Depression a hero-starved nation hailed Corrigan for his "accident", even unto giving him a ticker-tape parade in Manhattan upon his return (the authorities had him sail back on a ship). Douglas Corrigan from the frontispiece of his 1938 autobiography Douglas Wrong Way Corrigan (January 22, 1907–December 9, 1995) was an American aviator born in Galveston, Texas. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... The Great Depression was an economic downturn which started in 1929 and lasted through most of the 1930s. ... Ticker-tape parade in New York City in honor of the Apollo 11 astronauts, August 1969 A ticker-tape parade is a parade event, held in a downtown urban setting, allowing the jettison of large amounts of shredded paper products from nearby office buildings onto the parade route, creating a...

Famed aviator Wiley Post twice used the field for record-breaking round-the-world flights, and developed or adapted technology (such as the Sperry autopilot) there to aid him. Famous aviatrixes of the era such as Jackie Cochran, Laura Ingalls, and even Amelia Earhart broke records at this airfield. Howard Hughes also used Floyd Bennett Field as the start and finish of his record-setting circumnavigation of the globe in ninety-one hours in July 1938. Media-savvy pilot Roscoe Turner was also a frequent visitor at this airfield, often in conjunction with record-breaking flights. Wiley Hardeman Post (November 22, 1898 – August 15, 1935) was the first pilot to fly solo around the world. ... A simple detachable autopilot on a sailboat. ... Aviators are people who fly aircraft either for pleasure or for a job. ... Jacqueline Cochran Jacqueline Cochran (born Bessie Lee Pittman on May 11, 1906, died August 7, 1980), was a pioneer American aviatrix. ... Laura Ingalls Newark Advocate, Newark, Ohio, August 14, 1930 Laura Ingalls (1901-1967) was a female pilot of the 1930s. ... Amelia Earhart (1897-1937?) Amelia Mary Earhart (July 24, 1897 – missing as of July 2, 1937), daughter of Edwin and Amy Earhart, was an American aviator and noted early female pilot who mysteriously disappeared over the Pacific Ocean during a circumnavigational flight in 1937. ... Howard Robard Hughes, Jr. ... 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... Roscoe Turner, was a US Army Colonel who set a transcontinental airspeed record. ...

Current Day

Untill recently The runways have been long closed, but they are very occasionally reopened for air shows. As of a few months ago, the airfield has been recommissioned. The NYPD has some divisions located on the historic former airfield. The Department's aviation base, with its fleet of Bell Jet Ranger helicopters, is housed in space leased from the National Park Service that was once the United States Coast Guard Air Station Brooklyn, and is also now the headquarters for the NYPD Special Operations Division. The Driver Training Unit is also located there, using a section of former runway to teach new and veteran officers on the operation of the many different vehicles used by the department. A runway is a strip of land on an airport, on which aircraft can take off and land. ... The Utterly Butterly wing_walking display team flying Boeing Stearman PT_17 biplanes An airshow is an event at which aviators display their flying skills, normally to the public, but occasionally to invited guests, or employees and their families only. ... The New York City Police Department (NYPD) , the largest police department in the United States, has primary responsibility for law enforcement and investigation within the five boroughs of New York City. ... The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is a branch of the United States armed forces involved in maritime law enforcement, mariner assistance, search and rescue, and national defense, among other duties of coast guards elsewhere. ...

Since 1995, Floyd Bennett Field has often been the site of the annual Gateway to the Nations - New York City Native American Heritage Celebration organized by the Redhawk Native American Arts Council. 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Far from many of the brightest of nearby city lights, the former airfield offers among the best dark sky sites in the five boroughs. The Amateur Astronomers Association of New York meets there one night a month from May to December for observing sessions. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Skygazing. ...

As the acreage of natural grasslands in the region has declined from their historic range in the area (see: Hempstead Plains) due to urban sprawl, the Grasslands Restoration Management Project (GRAMP) was created to maintain a majority of the large expanse of open grassland in the middle of the historic former airfield. The purpose of the project is to in a small way compensate for some of the impact to the native flora and fauna that depend on such habitat lost on Long Island. The program is a joint venture of the National Park Service as the land manager agency, and the Audubon Society. THe Hempstead Plains is a region of central Long Island in New York State in what is now Nassau County. ... Urban sprawl (also: suburban sprawl), a term with pejorative implication, refers to the unplanned, rapid and expansive growth of a greater metropolitan area, traditionally suburbs (or exurbs) over a large area. ... The National Audubon Society is an American non-profit environmental organization dedicated to nature conservancy. ...

This historic former airport should not be confused with Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport (ICAO code KGFL), which is an active airport located in Queensbury, New York about fifty miles north of Albany. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), an agency of the United Nations, develops the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth. ... Queensbury is a town located in Warren County, New York, USA. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 25,441. ... Location in Albany County and the State of New York Coordinates: Country United States State New York County Albany Founded 1614 Incorporated 1686 Mayor Gerald D. Jennings Area    - City 56. ...

One of the Concorde airplanes is slated to be on display at Bennett Field for 18 months, while the airplane's regular exhibit, the USS Intrepid, is moving out of its regular West Side dock to be rehabilitated. The Concorde's owner, British Airways, wishes to see that their historic plane stay on public display in New York City until the Intrepid reopens. The modern supersonic Concorde has no historic connection to the airfield however, which may make justifying its display at Floyd Bennett Field difficult, as the former airfield is a historic site and not strictly an "air museum." Longstanding NPS regulations, policies and procedures may require that the aircraft and exhibits on display be only be those that interpret the airfield's specific role in the development of aviation. British Airways Concorde G-BOAB. Concorde G-BOAD on a barge beneath Verrazano Narrows Bridge in New York City in November 2003, bound for the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum. ... The deck of USS Intrepid The USS Intrepid The Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum is a museum in New York City located at Pier 86 on the West Side of Manhattan. ... British Airways (LSE: BAY, NYSE: BAB) is the largest airline of the United Kingdom and the third largest in Europe (behind Air France-KLM and Lufthansa), with more flights from Europe across the Atlantic than any other operator. ... A historic site is a location where pieces of history have been preserved. ... An avitation museum or air museum is a museum to do with aviation and/or flight. ...

The Floyd Bennett Field has also been named as a likely location for limited-overs cricket matches between Australia and India currently being discussed for Summer 2007. ^{[citation needed]}

The Concorde that was next to the Intrepid was moved to Floyd Bennett Field. It will stay untill renovations are finished at the Intrepid's pier. British Airways Concorde G-BOAB. Concorde G-BOAD on a barge beneath Verrazano Narrows Bridge in New York City in November 2003, bound for the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum. ... Look up Intrepid in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Timeline

• 1931 Airport dedication on May 23.
• 1932 Transcontinental air speed record on November 14 by Roscoe Turner who flew a Weddell-Williams, powered by a Pratt & Whitney Wasp Junior engine, to Burbank, California, in 12:33 hours, establishing a new East-West record on November 14.
• 1933 Crash and death of Francisco de Pinedo during takeoff on September 2.

May 23 is the 143rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (144th in leap years). ... Transcontinental air speed record In-flight and on-ground time is counted 1929 Frank Hawks 1937 Howard Hughes Junior transcontinental air speed record For the junior record only in-flight time is counted 1929 Richard James 1930 Stanley Boynton East to West, 24 hours, 2 minutes in 6 days 1930... November 14 is the 318th day of the year (319th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 47 days remaining until the end of the year. ... Roscoe Turner, was a US Army Colonel who set a transcontinental airspeed record. ... This article is about the U.S. company Pratt & Whitney. ... Founded May 1, 1887 Incorporated July 8, 1911 General Information County Los Angeles County, California Latitude Longitude 34°1049 N 118°1942 W Area  - Total  - Water 45 km² (17. ... November 14 is the 318th day of the year (319th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 47 days remaining until the end of the year. ... September 2 is the 245th day of the year (246th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• Transportation in New York City

A cycle rickshaw at rest in Manhattan. ...

References

• Blakemore, Porter R. Historic structures report, Floyd Bennett Field, Gateway National Recreation Area. U.S. Dept. of the Interior, National Park Service, Denver Service Center, Mid-Atlantic/North Atlantic Team, Branch of Historic Preservation (1981) ASIN: B0006E797W

External links

• The Floyd Bennett Field Task Force
• Historic Floyd Bennett Field
• National Park Service: Floyd Bennett Field Historic District
• National Park Service: Gateway National Recreation Area
• Concorde to Travel to Brooklyn, but Not by Air - New York Times 5 November 2006
• AirNav information for NY22: NYPD Air Operations Heliport (Floyd Bennett Field)
• Maps and aerial photos Coordinates: 40.591° -73.891°
  • Street map from Google Maps or Yahoo! Maps
  • Topographic map from TopoZone
  • Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
  • Satellite image from Google Maps or Microsoft Virtual Earth