Summary
- Charleston International Airport is a dual-use civil and military airport located in Charleston.
- Francis S. Gabreski Airport in New York is home to the Air National Guard’s 160th Rescue Squadron with HC-130J and HH-60G aircraft.
- Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport in Massachusetts is home to the 104th Fighter Wing with F-15C/D Eagles.
It can be fun to land at a dual-use civilian and military airport and see the different types of military aircraft parked around the airport. Dual-use airports are found all over the country. While many of these dual-use airports are small civilian airports with no scheduled service, there are also some large airports such as Charleston International Airport and Richmond International Airport. Here are five of the notable military and civilian airports in the United States.
1 Charleston International Airport
Charleston is also home to Charleston Air Force Base.
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Condition: |
South Carolina |
|---|---|
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Stationed units: |
437th Airlift Wing, 628th Air Base Wing, 315th Airlift Wing, others |
|
Stationed military aircraft: |
Transports (e.g. C-17 Globemaster III) |
Charleston International Airport is also home to Charleston Air Force Base/Joint Base Charleston, which houses both Navy and Air Force units, including the 628th Air Base Wing and the 437th Airlift Wing. The 437th Airlift Wing flies and maintains one of the largest fleets of C-17 Globemaster III strategic transport aircraft.
Photo: EQRoy l Shutterstock
As a civilian airport, Charleston International Airport is the second busiest in South Carolina, handling approximately 6 passengers annually. The airport is also home to Boeing South Carolina’s aircraft assembly plant – the facility where final assembly of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner takes place.
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2 Francis S. Gabreski Airport
The Francis S. Gabreski Airport is also home to the Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard base.
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Condition: |
New York (Long Island) |
|---|---|
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Stationed units: |
160th Air National Guard Rescue Squadron |
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Stationed military aircraft: |
Transporter HC-130J Combat King II and helicopter HH-60G Pave Hawk |
Francis S. Gabreski Airport is located in Suffolk County on Long Island, about 80 miles east of New York City. It opened in 1943 as Suffolk County Air Force Base, and in 1969 Suffolk County Airport opened on the base (it was renamed in 1991). Today, the county airport is the hub for private civilian flights and air taxi services.
As a military airport, it is an Air National Guard base for the 160th Rescue Wing. The 160th operates HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, which are used for day and night combat search and rescue, and HC-130J Combat King II Hercules helicopters, which are used for transport and aerial refueling.
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3 Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport
Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport is also home to Barnes Municipal Airport.
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Condition: |
Massachusetts |
|---|---|
|
Stationed units: |
104th Fighter Squadron |
|
Stationed military aircraft: |
F-15C/D Eagles |
Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport is home to the 104th Fighter Wing (part of the Massachusetts Air National Guard) and is one of the largest military airports in Massachusetts. In 2022, the airport averaged 131 flight operations per day, 85% of which were general aviation and 12% military.
Photo: USAF
The 131st Fighter Wing of the 104th Fighter Wing operates F-15C/D Eagles – these aging fighter jets are gradually being replaced in the Air Force by new F-15EX Strike Eagle IIs and F-35 Lightning IIs. The 131st will eventually transition to F-35s. The Air Force wrote in April 2024: “(a) The 131st Fighter Wing pilot was recently selected as the first pilot from the 104th Fighter Wing to receive F-35A Lighting II training … to lead the squadron’s conversion from the F-15 Eagle to the F-35.”
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4 Duluth International Airport
Duluth International Airport is also home to the Duluth Air National Guard Base.
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Condition: |
Minnesota |
|---|---|
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Stationed units: |
148th Fighter Squadron |
|
Stationed military aircraft: |
F-16C Fighting Falcon |
Duluth International Airport is the international airport serving the city of Duluth, Minnesota, on the shores of Lake Superior, and is served by Delta, Sun Country Airlines, and United Express. It is also home to the Duluth Air National Guard Base, which houses the 148th Fighter Wing of the Minnesota Air National Guard.
Photo: Duluth International Airport
In May 2024, it was reported that the 148th Fighter Wing would deploy overseas, although it was not disclosed where. The 148th has deployed seven times since 2005 to Iraq, Afghanistan, South Korea, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The squadron was established in 1948 and is now home to over 1,000 airmen.
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5 Richmond International Airport
Richmond International Airport also serves as a military flight support facility
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Condition: |
Virginia |
|---|---|
|
United stationed: |
224. Aviation Region |
|
Stationed military aircraft: |
UH-60, HH-60 and UH-72 |
Richmond International Airport is the third-busiest airport in Virginia after Washington Reagan and Washington Dulles and the busiest in Central Virginia. It serves the state capital of Richmond (just 7 miles from downtown) and welcomes over 4 million passengers annually.
Photo: Lockheed Martin
Richmond Airport also serves as a flight support facility for the Virginia Army National Guard’s 224th Aviation Regiment. The 224th Regiment operates UH-60 Black Hawks, HH-60 Pave Hawks (a variant of the Black Hawk), and UH-72 Lakotas (a light military helicopter). The facility also houses a single C-12 Huron (the military designation for the military version of the Beechcraft Super King).
