Madison Airport: A Compact Gateway To The City

The closest major airport to Madison, Wisconsin, is the Dane County Regional Airport (DCRA), also known as Truax Field. It is located 6 miles northeast of downtown Madison and is categorised as a small-hub primary commercial service facility. The airport has undergone several expansion projects, including a $12 million project in 1986 that tripled its size and a $68 million expansion in 2006 that doubled the size of the terminal. Today, the airport offers a range of amenities, including jetways, WiFi, restaurants, retail vendors, an art court, and lounges. In addition to commercial flights, the airport also serves as a base for the Wisconsin Air National Guard and its 115th Fighter Wing.

The airport is 6 miles from Madison, WI

Dane County Regional Airport (DCRA), also known as Truax Field, is located 6 miles from Madison, WI. The airport is categorized as a small-hub primary commercial service facility and is the second busiest of eight commercial airports in Wisconsin in terms of passenger traffic.

The airport has undergone several expansions and developments over the years. In 1966, a 31,000-square-foot terminal building opened on the west side of the airfield, and the airport tripled in size in 1986 with a $12 million expansion. Another significant expansion was completed in 2006, doubling the size of the terminal and adding various amenities and services. The airport also offers both short and long-term parking options, with recent expansions in 2014.

Dane County Regional Airport has a rich history, serving as a U.S. Army Air Corps airfield during World War II. It was used for training radio operators, mechanics, and various communications fields. Today, it is home to the Wisconsin Air National Guard and its 115th Fighter Wing, operating the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.

The airport is conveniently accessible via Metro Transit Route D2, which provides direct service to Downtown Madison and other key locations in the city. With its proximity to Madison and efficient transportation options, Dane County Regional Airport offers a convenient travel option for residents and visitors alike.

It's also known as Truax Field

Dane County Regional Airport, also known as Truax Field, is located 6 nautical miles (11 km or 6.9 miles) northeast of downtown Madison, Wisconsin. The airport is named after Wisconsin native Lieutenant Thomas L. Truax, who was killed in a P-40 training accident in November 1941.

Truax Field was activated as a U.S. Army Air Corps airfield in June 1942 during World War II. During the war, the airfield was used by the Army Air Force Eastern Technical Training Center, which trained radio operators and mechanics. The airport later expanded its training to include radar operations, control tower operations, and other communications fields for the Army Airways Communication Service.

In 1943, a unit was established to specifically train radio operators and mechanics on B-29 Superfortress communications equipment. The airfield's mission changed on September 17, 1945, when it became a separation center, and it was closed as an active AAF airfield on November 30, 1945. The airport was then conveyed to local civil authorities, and the Madison Municipal Airport became the home of the 1st Battalion 147th Aviation Regiment, which operates the UH-60M Blackhawk Helicopter.

Today, Truax Field Air National Guard Base remains the home installation of the 115th Fighter Wing, an Air National Guard unit operationally gained by the Air Combat Command. The Air Force announced in April 2020 that the F-35A Lightning II would be based at Truax Field, with the unit receiving its first aircraft in 2023. The 115 FW has two distinct missions and is one of 14 operational air defense units responsible for the air defence of the eastern continental United States.

It's one of two small-hub primary commercial service facilities in Wisconsin

Dane County Regional Airport (DCRA), also known as Truax Field, is located 6 miles from downtown Madison, Wisconsin. It is one of two small-hub primary commercial service facilities in Wisconsin, the other being Appleton International Airport. DCRA is the second busiest of eight commercial airports in the state in terms of passenger numbers, after Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport.

The airport has undergone several expansions and developments since its construction. In 1966, a 31,000-square-foot terminal building was opened, and the airport received its first scheduled jets, the Northwest Orient 727s, in 1965. A significant expansion took place in 1986, with a $12 million project that tripled the terminal's size to 90,000 square feet, adding a second-level concourse with six boarding bridges.

Another major expansion was completed in 2006, with a $68 million project that doubled the terminal's size again, incorporating a design influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright's prairie style. This new terminal features 13 gates with jetways, WiFi, additional restaurant and retail options, an art court, and both business and family lounges. The airport has also consistently expanded its parking options, with the most recent addition in 2014.

In terms of military use, Dane County Regional Airport has been associated with the Wisconsin Air National Guard and its 115th Fighter Wing, which operates the Air National Guard's Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. The airport has a history dating back to World War II, when it served as a U.S. Army Air Corps airfield, providing training in various communications fields.

The airport has 13 gates

Dane County Regional Airport (DCRA), also known as Truax Field, is located 6 miles from the centre of Madison, Wisconsin. It is one of two airports in Wisconsin that is categorized as a small-hub primary commercial service facility. The airport has come a long way since its early days in 1927 when the City of Madison purchased 290 acres of land for $35,380. At the time, this land was a cabbage patch for a nearby sauerkraut factory.

The airport has undergone several expansions and developments over the years. In 1966, a 31,000-square-foot terminal building opened on the west side of the airfield. The airport tripled in size in 1986 with a $12 million project that expanded the terminal to 90,000 square feet and added a second-level concourse with six boarding bridges.

Another significant expansion took place in 2006, with a $68 million project that doubled the size of the terminal again. This new terminal was designed in a Frank Lloyd Wright-influenced prairie style and included several new features and amenities. This expansion also increased the number of gates to 13, providing more efficient and comfortable accommodations for passengers.

Today, Dane County Regional Airport continues to be an important transportation hub for the region, offering both short and long-term parking options and convenient public transport connections to downtown Madison and other areas. The airport's history, from its humble beginnings as a cabbage patch to its modern-day status as a busy small-hub airport, showcases the evolution of aviation and the region's development.

It's home to the Wisconsin Air National Guard's 115th Fighter Wing

Dane County Regional Airport (DCRA), also known as Truax Field, is located 6 nautical miles (11 km or 6.9 mi) northeast of downtown Madison, Wisconsin. The airport has undergone several expansion projects since its establishment, including a $12 million project in 1986 that tripled its size and a $68 million expansion in 2006 that doubled the size of the terminal.

Truax Field is also home to the Wisconsin Air National Guard's 115th Fighter Wing (115 FW). The 115th Fighter Wing is a unit of the Wisconsin Air National Guard, which is stationed at Truax Field Air National Guard Base. The Wing has a significant history, first activated as the 128th Fighter Wing in November 1950 during the Korean War. It was redesignated the 128th Tactical Fighter Wing in 1981 and later renamed the 115th Fighter Wing in October 1995.

The 115th Fighter Wing has seen deployments with various aircraft, including the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, or "Warthog," which earned the unit several awards in the early 1990s. The Wing's capabilities include air-to-air combat, close air support, and precision-guided bombing missions. It operates advanced munitions such as the JDAM series bombs and the AIM-9X air-to-air missile.

In December 2017, the Air Force selected the 115th Fighter Wing as one of two Air National Guard units to be equipped with the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, a fifth-generation jet fighter. The first four F-35 fighter jets arrived at the airfield in April 2023, with a total of 20 aircraft expected to be delivered by 2024.

The 115th Fighter Wing plays a crucial role in the defense of the eastern continental United States, being one of the 14 operational air defense units responsible for this region.

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