John Wayne Airport (SNA/KSNA)

USA / California / Costa Mesa / Airport Way, 18601
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18601 Airport Way
Santa Ana, CA 92707
(949) 252-5200
www.ocair.com

John Wayne Airport (IATA: SNA, ICAO: KSNA, FAA LID: SNA) is located in Orange County, California, between the cities of Santa Ana, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, and Irvine. The Associated Press calls it John Wayne International Airport, although it does not offer international destinations. Originally named Orange County Airport, the county Board of Supervisors renamed it in 1979 to honor the actor John Wayne, who resided on Lido Island in nearby Newport Harbor and died that year. The airport serves both general and commercial aviation needs for the area. The main runway, at 5,701 feet, is one of the shortest of any major airport in the United States, effectively restricting use to aircraft no larger than a Boeing 757. Thus, the short runway, coupled with local noise restrictions, requires a takeoff at or near full power while holding the brakes then releasing the brakes, followed by a steep climb, a sudden reduction in power, and two turns closely following the Upper Newport Bay. Some of the aircraft following the braking and powering procedure enables take off using only a quarter to a half of the runway. Landings almost always include the use of reverse thrust, though every aircraft that lands at the airport must be certified to do a brake-only stop within the confines of the runway.

The airport was also the site of a 1/4-mile dragstrip from 1950 through 1959. It was the first official dragstrip in the United States.

Airport Info - www.airnav.com/airport/KSNA
Flight Info - flightaware.com/live/airport/KSNA
Dragstrip - www.na-motorsports.com/Tracks/CA/SantaAnaAirport.html
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wayne_Airport
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   33°40'27"N   117°52'7"W

Comments

  • Photo #3, from the Orange County Public Library, shows the airport as it looked in 1933.
  • again , schnei shouldwve commented , here , former Glenn Martin corp Aspace
This article was last modified 7 years ago