Shawnee Field
Shawnee Field
The Shawnee Airport, the only airport in Greene County, is located on State Highway 57, two miles northeast of Switz City. The grass runway, which is a 2,200-foot legal air strip, is for small airplanes. Both private and charter flights are provided to the public. The airport has a tower and three sets of hangers for housing twenty planes. The first set of hangers was built in the 1970s, the second set in the 1980s, and the third set in the 1990s.
The airport has been in operation for twenty-seven years. The airport was started by thirty people who purchased shares to provide the money to build the facility. It has always been known as the Shawnee Airport; the stockholders decided upon this name as an Indian tribe had a reservation at that location a long time ago.
Although the airport is privately owned, a member of its board of directors stated that it is a public airport and that any small airplane may land on the runway. The board has the responsibility of operating and maintaining the facility. No tax money has ever been used to keep the airport in operation.
The airport has an Annual Field Day, which is its major fund-raising activity. The air show is advertised in national aviation magazines. People come from all over the country to the event. During the Annual Field Day people may ride in airplanes, which allow them to see aerial views of houses and communities.
Some people gas up their airplanes and fly in to see the air crafts on exhibit and visit with others. One flier displayed a restored Beechcraft Staggerwing, which is a World War II liaison plane. Approximately 100 Staggerwings are left in the world. World War II fighter planes may also be seen at the airport during the show. People display ultralight aircraft, experimental, and antique airplanes. About 1,000 people attend the air show annually.
As the airport is located in a flood plain, heavy rain is always a potential problem. The airport may become inaccessible; however, this situation does not occur frequently.
This information was used with permission from the Linton-Stockton School Corporation.
