Purdue University Airport: A Sprawling Aviation Hub

Purdue University Airport (IATA: LAF, ICAO: KLAF, FAA LID: LAF) is a public-use airport in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, United States. Covering an area of 527 acres, it is the first university-owned airport in the country and is one of the busiest airports in Indiana, second only to the Indianapolis International Airport. The airport has a rich history in aviation, having been used by Amelia Earhart and serving as an emergency landing strip during World War II. Today, it offers daily round-trip flights to Chicago and serves commercial airline passengers, passenger and cargo charters, and military operators.

Purdue University Airport is 527 acres

Purdue University Airport (LAF) is a public-use airport in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, United States. Covering an area of 527 acres (213 hectares), it is the first university-owned airport in the country. The airport is located 2 nautical miles (3.7 km or 2.3 miles) southwest of Lafayette, Indiana, in West Lafayette. With an elevation of 606 feet (185 metres) above mean sea level, Purdue University Airport is one of the busiest airports in Indiana.

The airport has a rich history in aviation and has witnessed several significant events. Inventor-industrialist David E. Ross donated the land for the airport in 1930, and it became the first university-owned airport in the US. The airport was designated as an emergency landing strip in the same year, and Amelia Earhart prepared her plane for her around-the-world flight attempt in Hangar 1. During World War II, the airport trained hundreds of US Army, Navy, and War Training Service personnel, as well as several commercial pilots from Latin America.

Purdue University Airport has two asphalt-paved runways: 10/28, which is 6,600 by 150 feet (2,012 x 46 metres), and 5/23, which is 4,225 by 100 feet (1,288 x 30 metres). Runway 10 has a Category 1 ILS approach, and both runways are served by GPS WAAS approaches. The airport also offers a VOR-A approach. Runway 10 occasionally employs a land and hold short operation (LAHSO) procedure, allowing simultaneous use of both runways.

Today, the airport serves commercial airline passengers, passenger and cargo charters, and military operators. It is a vital part of Purdue University's aviation legacy and provides daily round-trip flights to Chicago, connecting the local community to the world. With its convenient location and services, the Purdue University Airport offers significant savings on parking and transportation compared to other airports in the region.

It's the first university-owned airport in the US

Purdue University Airport (IATA: LAF, ICAO: KLAF, FAA LID: LAF) is the first university-owned airport in the United States. The airport is located in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, and is owned by Purdue University. It is situated 2 nautical miles (3.7 km or 2.3 mi) southwest of the central business district of Lafayette, Indiana, in West Lafayette.

The history of Purdue University Airport dates back to 1930 when inventor-industrialist David E. Ross donated a tract of land to be used for aeronautical education and research at Purdue University. This donation paved the way for the establishment of the airport, and it was designated as an emergency landing strip on November 1, 1930. Runway 5/23 was added later in the 1930s, and the airport continued to expand and play a significant role in aviation.

Amelia Earhart, an adjunct faculty member at Purdue University, prepared her famous around-the-world flight attempt in Hangar 1 at the airport. The Lockheed Model 10 Electra aircraft she flew was purchased for her by the Purdue Research Foundation. During World War II, the airport took on a new purpose, training hundreds of members of the U.S. Army, Navy, and War Training Service, as well as several commercial pilots from Latin America.

Purdue University Airport has a rich history of innovation in aviation. It was home to the first Reserve Officers' Training Corps flight training program in 1955, and it received regularly scheduled commercial air service from the 1950s until the mid-2000s. The airport has also been a base for various airlines over the years, including Purdue Airlines and Indiana Airways. Today, the airport continues to serve as a vital hub for the university and the local community, offering daily round-trip flights to Chicago and numerous connecting destinations.

It's 2 nautical miles from Lafayette, Indiana

Purdue University Airport is located 2 nautical miles (3.7 km or 2.3 miles) southwest of Lafayette, Indiana, in West Lafayette. It is a public-use airport owned by Purdue University and was the first university-owned airport in the United States. The airport has a rich history in aviation and is known for its role in pushing forward innovation in the field.

The airport covers an area of 527 acres (213 hectares) and sits at an elevation of 606 feet (185 meters) above mean sea level. It has two asphalt runways: 10/28, which is 6,600 feet by 150 feet (2,012 meters by 46 meters), and 5/23, which is 4,225 feet by 100 feet (1,288 meters by 30 meters). Runway 10 has a Category 1 ILS approach, and both runways are served by GPS WAAS approaches. The airport also offers a VOR-A approach.

Due to its proximity to Purdue University and the heavy traffic generated by its flight programs, the airport is one of the busiest in Indiana, second only to the Indianapolis International Airport. It offers daily round-trip flights to Chicago and over 240 connecting destinations. Flying through the Purdue University Airport provides significant savings on parking and transportation compared to other airports in the region.

The airport has a long history of aeronautical education and research. Inventor-industrialist David E. Ross donated the land for the airport in 1930, and it was designated as an emergency landing strip that same year. The airport has trained hundreds of members of the US Army, Navy, and War Training Service during World War II, as well as several commercial pilots from Latin America. Purdue University also had its own airline based at the airport from 1942 to 1971, operating various aircraft, including Douglas DC-3, DC-6, and McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 jet aircraft.

It's the second-busiest airport in Indiana

Purdue University Airport (IATA: LAF, ICAO: KLAF, FAA LID: LAF) is a public-use airport in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, United States. It is owned by Purdue University and is located 2 nautical miles (3.7 km or 2.3 mi) southwest of the central business district of Lafayette, Indiana, in West Lafayette. Purdue University Airport is the second busiest airport in Indiana, with 3,161 passenger boardings in 2022 according to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records. It is only surpassed by the Indianapolis International Airport.

The airport covers an area of 527 acres (213 ha) and sits at an elevation of 606 feet (185 m) above mean sea level. It has two asphalt runways: 10/28, which is 6,600 ft (2,012 m) by 150 ft (46 m), and 5/23, which is 4,225 ft (1,288 m) by 100 ft (30 m). Runway 10 has a Category 1 ILS approach, and both runways 10 and 28 are served by GPS WAAS approaches. Additionally, a VOR-A approach is available. Runway 10 occasionally employs a land and hold short operation (LAHSO) procedure, where aircraft land at the beginning of the runway but do not use its full length, allowing both runways to be utilised simultaneously.

Purdue University Airport has a rich history in aviation. It was the first university-owned airport in the United States, established in 1930 when inventor-industrialist David E. Ross donated land for aeronautical education and research at Purdue University. The airport was designated as an emergency landing strip by the US government in the same year. Notable figures like Amelia Earhart, who prepared her plane for her around-the-world flight attempt at the airport, and Hugh Hefner, who based his private jet "The Big Bunny" at the airport, have connections to the airport's history. During World War II, the airport trained hundreds of members of the US Army, Navy, and War Training Service, as well as commercial pilots from Latin America.

Today, the airport offers 24 weekly round-trip flights from West Lafayette to Chicago and over 240 connecting destinations. It provides significant savings on parking and transportation compared to other airports in the region. Southern Airways Express operates daily passenger flights to O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. The airport is included in the FAA National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2021-2025, classified as a regional general aviation facility.

It offers 24 weekly flights to Chicago

Purdue University Airport (LAF) is a public-use airport in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, United States. It is owned by Purdue University and is located 2 nautical miles (3.7 km or 2.3 mi) southwest of the central business district of Lafayette, Indiana, in West Lafayette. Purdue University Airport was the first university-owned airport in the United States. It was established in 1930 when inventor-industrialist David E. Ross donated a tract of land to be used as an aeronautical education and research facility at Purdue University.

Today, Purdue University Airport offers 24 weekly round-trip flights from West Lafayette to Chicago, providing a local gateway to the world for the Greater Lafayette community. These flights are operated by Southern Airways Express, which offers daily flights to O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. One-way prices for these direct flights start from $95, including taxes and charges.

Flights from Purdue University Airport to Chicago provide significant savings in cost and time compared to flying from other airports in the region. Local businesses can also benefit from the Discount Travel Solutions program when flying with Southern Airways Express. Additionally, flying from Purdue University Airport means lower parking rates than other airports in the region.

The Purdue University Airport covers an area of 527 acres (213 hectares) and has two asphalt-paved runways. It is the second busiest airport in Indiana, with heavy traffic generated by Purdue University and its flight programs. The airport is known for its rich aviation legacy, having played a significant role in pushing forward the boundaries of aviation.

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