Bet you didn’t know that Dallas Executive Airport was once called Redbird Airport. It’s true. Today we’re exploring Dallas Executive Airport. This airport is more than just a place for planes to land. It’s a piece of Dallas history.
Originally, the City of Dallas bought 1,026 acres in 1944. The goal was to create a general aviation airport. Redbird Airport opened for business in August 1947. It quickly became a hub for various aviation activities. The name changed to Dallas Executive Airport on May 1, 2002.
Dallas Executive Airport has a rich past. In 2013, the Commemorative Air Force announced plans to build their National Airbase here. This included moving their headquarters and main museum from Midland. By 2016, the Commemorative Air Force had established its headquarters at the airport. They occupy a hangar on the southeast side.
The Dallas Police Department also operates its helicopter fleet from here. So, Dallas Executive Airport plays a crucial role in the city’s safety.
Improvements have been ongoing. In 2017, extensive work was done on the existing runway. Further work in 2018 extended runway 13/31. This was to improve safety areas around the airport.
Dallas Executive Airport covers a vast area of 1,070 acres. It features two runways. Runway 13/31 measures 7,136 x 100 feet. It is made of asphalt and concrete. The second runway, 17/35, is 3,800 x 150 feet. It too is asphalt and concrete.
For a brief period in 2011, Dallas Executive Airport even had scheduled commercial air service. Corporate Flight Management, operating as Branson Air Express, flew to Branson, Missouri. They used British Aerospace Jetstream 41 aircraft.
The airport is conveniently located just six miles southwest of Downtown Dallas. This makes it a vital reliever airport for Dallas Love Field.
The airport has had its share of incidents. Most notably, the 2022 Dallas airshow mid-air collision. A Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and a Bell P-63 Kingcobra collided. The crash occurred at the Wings Over Dallas airshow. Sadly, six people died. The cause is still under investigation.
Driving south on Hampton Road in the past, you could easily spot the “Piper” and “Airhaven” signs. These were part of Red Bird Airport.
From 1960 to 2003, the airport even housed a public restaurant called Casa Blanca. Also, Stevie Ray Vaughan left from Red Bird after his father’s funeral in 1986.
Many remember the Goodyear Blimp’s annual arrival. It was a major event. The blimp used Red Bird as its Dallas-Fort Worth base in the 1970s.
Today, Dallas Executive Airport stands as a testament to Dallas’s aviation history. It continues to grow. It enhances the business climate of Southwest Dallas and Oak Cliff. In 2004, it was named Reliever Airport of the Year by TxDOT.
Delta Charlie’s Restaurant, Bar and Grill offers a unique experience. You can watch airplanes arriving and departing while you dine.
So, whether you’re an aviation enthusiast or simply curious, Dallas Executive Airport offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of flight.