Woodbridge, Va: Airport Accessibility And Options

Woodbridge, Virginia, is serviced by 35 air carriers from at least 152 airports across the globe, with approximately 4,808 direct flights every week. The closest airport to Woodbridge is Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), which is located 17.6 miles or 28.4 kilometers from the city. Other nearby airports include Washington Dulles International Airport, Baltimore–Washington International Airport, Charlottesville–Albemarle Airport, and Stafford Regional Airport. Interestingly, Woodbridge used to have its own airport, which was operational from 1959 to 1987, but it closed due to suburban development in the area.

The closest airport to Woodbridge, VA is Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

Woodbridge, Virginia, is home to the now-defunct Woodbridge Airport, which was operational between 1959 and 1987. The closest airport to Woodbridge, VA, today, is the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA/ KDCA). This airport is located 17 miles from downtown Woodbridge, Virginia, and offers a reasonable commute into the city centre.

With a rich history, the Woodbridge Airport was built in the late 1950s by Steve Whitecoff, who bulldozed a straight path behind his house on Old Woodbridge Road. Personal aviation was gaining popularity at the time, and pilots were returning home after World War II, creating a perfect environment for local aviation to thrive. The airport flourished in the 1960s and 1970s, with over 100 small planes calling it home. However, by the late 1970s, residential development started encroaching on the airport, and it eventually closed in the late 1980s.

Today, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is the preferred choice for travellers flying into Woodbridge, VA. This airport, located a convenient 17 to 24 miles from the centre of Woodbridge, offers a mix of international and domestic flights, providing easy access to the city.

Woodbridge is also serviced by 35 air carriers, offering approximately 4,808 direct flights each week from at least 152 airports worldwide. Popular departure locations include New York, Chicago, and Boston, with average flight times of 1 hour and 24 minutes, 1 hour and 47 minutes, and 1 hour and 44 minutes, respectively.

When planning a trip to Woodbridge, VA, travellers can take advantage of flexible booking options and rewards programs offered by various airlines. Booking in advance can secure more choices and lower prices, while being flexible with travel dates can help identify the cheapest days to fly.

Other airports near Woodbridge include Washington Dulles International Airport and Baltimore–Washington International Airport

Woodbridge, Virginia, once had its own airport, which was operational from 1959 until 1987. The airport was constructed by the Whitecoff family as a "'dirt strip" on their property in 1959 and opened as a general aviation field in 1961. As air traffic increased, the airport was improved, and by 1966, it had a paved runway and a parallel taxiway. The Woodbridge Airport was a hub for local pilots in the 1960s and 1970s, and it served as a training ground for new pilots with dedicated on-site instructors and aircraft. However, due to suburban development in the area, the airport eventually closed in 1987, with many pilots relocating to airports in Manassas and Leesburg.

Today, Woodbridge is served by multiple airports in the region, offering various travel options for those flying in and out of the area. While the closest airport to Woodbridge is Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), approximately 17 miles from downtown Woodbridge, other airports in the vicinity provide additional connectivity.

In addition to these larger airports, there are smaller regional airports in the area, such as Manassas Regional Airport and Stafford Regional Airport, which cater to private planes and small military aircraft. With a significant number of airports within reach, Woodbridge is well-connected to the national and international aviation network, making it accessible for both business and leisure travellers.

Woodbridge Airport was operational between 1959 and 1987

Woodbridge Airport in Virginia was operational for almost three decades, from 1959 until 1987. The airport was constructed by Steve Whitecoff, who bulldozed a straight section of property behind his house on Old Woodbridge Road. The airport was built during a time when personal aviation was gaining popularity in the United States, thanks to a lack of regulations and an abundance of pilots returning home after World War II.

In its early days, the airport was a simple "dirt strip," but as air traffic increased, improvements were made. By 1966, the airport had a paved runway in operation, and a parallel taxiway was eventually added. The runway was 2200 feet long and had a distinctive dip at its southern end. Woodbridge Airport was a hub for local pilots in the 1960s and 1970s, and it served as a training ground for new pilots, with dedicated on-site instructors and aircraft.

In 1970, the Whitecoff family sold the airport to Charles Benn, an Army Air Force veteran who had previously operated the Washington-Virginia Airport. Despite the sale, the airport continued to operate among the growing residential development in the area. In the mid-1970s, a local real estate agent named Ed Stallknecht frequently flew out of Woodbridge Airport, and his collection of over 400 photographs includes several images of the airport during this time.

By the late 1980s, the airport had closed due to encroaching suburban development, a fate shared by many similar facilities during that period. Many of the pilots who had used Woodbridge Airport relocated to airports in Manassas and Leesburg. Today, there are no airports located directly in Woodbridge, Virginia, but the town is serviced by several nearby airports, including Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport, and Baltimore–Washington International Airport.

The airport was constructed as a dirt strip and later improved to include buildings and a paved runway

Woodbridge, Virginia, previously had an airport, known as the Woodbridge Airport, which was operational between 1959 and 1987. The airport was constructed in 1959 when Steve Whitecoff bulldozed a straight section of property behind his house on Old Woodbridge Road. Initially, the airport was just a dirt strip, but as aviation took off and air traffic increased, improvements were made.

In the early days of the airport, personal aviation was gaining popularity, and pilots were returning home after World War II, creating a perfect storm for a rise in flying. Within a couple of years, the first bank of hangars was built, and soon over 100 small planes called Woodbridge Airport home. The 1960s and 1970s were a golden age for local pilots.

The Whitecoff family, owners of the airport, opened it as a general aviation field in 1961. By 1966, the airport had been improved to include buildings and a paved runway, which was 2200 feet long with a distinctive dip at its southern end. A parallel taxiway was eventually added as well. Training new pilots was a significant function of the airport, and it had dedicated on-site instructors and aircraft.

In 1970, the Whitecoff family sold the airport to Charles Benn, an Army Air Force veteran who had previously operated the Washington-Virginia Airport near Bailey's Crossroads. Despite the sale of the airport, it continued to survive among the residential development in the area. However, in 1987, the airport closed due to encroaching suburban development, a common fate for similar facilities during that period. Many of the pilots who had used Woodbridge Airport relocated to airports in Manassas and Leesburg.

Over 400 photos of Woodbridge Airport were taken by local real estate agent Ed Stallknecht

Woodbridge, Virginia, is serviced by multiple airports, including Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), which is the most popular airport for travellers to Woodbridge, VA. However, Woodbridge did have its own airport, the Woodbridge Airport, which was operational between 1959 and 1987.

The photos show the airport at various stages of its operation, from the 1970s to the late 1980s, shortly after it closed. They provide a unique insight into the history of the airport and the local area. One of Stallknecht's photos, for example, shows the view of the airport in 1979, when neighbourhood development had begun to encroach on the airport. This development eventually led to the airport's closure in 1987.

The collection also includes photos of other local landmarks, such as Old Bridge Road, which runs near the airport, and a cemetery related to the actor Robert Duvall. Stallknecht's photos are a valuable resource for those interested in the history of Woodbridge and Prince William County. They provide a visual record of the area during a period of significant change and development.

In addition to Stallknecht's photos, there are other historical records of Woodbridge Airport, including maps and newspaper articles. For instance, an 1862 Union Army map shows a road and bridge crossing Hooes Run, which was likely the site of the wooden bridge that gave Woodbridge its name. A 1901 William Brown map also shows the same bridge, now simply labelled as "Bridge Road". These maps, along with Stallknecht's photos, help to piece together the history of the airport and the surrounding area.

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