History
Opened as a civil airport in April 1940 as Avon Park Municipal Airport. During World War II it was leased by the United States Army Air Forces on 4 October 1941. During the war, it was assigned to the Army Air Forces Training Command as a contract pilot training airfield. It was placed under the jurisdiction of the 61st Army Air Force Fight Training Detachment (Contract Flying).
Operated by the Lodwick Aviation Military Academy, it was used as a primary (level 1) pilot training airfield. Flying training was performed with Fairchild PT-19s as the primary trainer. Also had several PT-17 Stearmans assigned. The airfield had three 4'000 hard surfaced for landings and takeoffs. In addition, Avon Park MAP had four auxiliary airfields for emergency and overflow landings: .
- Avon Park Auxiliary Field #1 27°36′31″N 081°36′07″W / 27.60861°N 81.60194°W / 27.60861; -81.60194
- Avon Park Auxiliary Field #2 27°39′59″N 081°35′09″W / 27.66639°N 81.58583°W / 27.66639; -81.58583
- Avon Park Auxiliary Field #3 27°41′16″N 081°39′03″W / 27.68778°N 81.65083°W / 27.68778; -81.65083
- Avon Park Auxiliary Field #4 27°43′47″N 081°43′26″W / 27.72972°N 81.72389°W / 27.72972; -81.72389
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All of the Auxiliary airfields were grass all-way runways and not manned. After the war they were returned to their owners and today are indistinguishable from the surrounding landscape.
Read more about this topic: Avon Park Executive Airport
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