Roberta Aguirre
Wichita, Kansas is served by the Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport, located 7 miles west of the city center. The airport is the largest and busiest in Kansas and covers 3,248 acres, containing three runways. The airport was renamed in 2014 in honor of former US President, General, and Kansas native Dwight D. Eisenhower. The airport has a rich history, with the Wichita Municipal Airport first opening to general aviation traffic in 1953, and airline flights commencing in 1954.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport |
| Former Name | Wichita Mid-Continent Airport |
| Address | 2277 Airport Rd Wichita, KS 67209 |
| Distance from Downtown Wichita | 7 miles (11 km) |
| Area | 3,248 acres (1,314 ha) |
| Number of Runways | 3 |
| Nickname | ICT |
| Headquarters | Cessna |
| Manufacturing Plant | Bombardier service center for Learjet and other business jet aircraft |
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$6.72
What You'll Learn
Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport
The airport has a rich history, with the proposal for its construction arising from the successful hosting of the National Air Congress in October 1924, which attracted over 100,000 people. Groundbreaking ceremonies for the Wichita Municipal Airport took place in June 1929, and it officially opened in March 1935. During World War II, the airport played a strategic role, with the activation of the Kansas National Guard 127th Observation Squadron in August 1941 as the first military unit assigned to the airport.
In the following decades, the airport underwent several name changes and expansions. In 1954, civil and military flights shared the airport until a new airport was completed in the same year. The original airport was renamed Wichita Air Force Base and later, McConnell Air Force Base. The new airport, located in southwest Wichita, became Wichita Mid-Continent Airport in 1973 to distinguish it from Kansas City's airport.
On March 4, 2014, the Wichita City Council approved changing the name to Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport to honour former President, General, and Kansas native Dwight D. Eisenhower. Construction of the new terminal began in October 2012, and it opened in June 2015, featuring a modern architectural design that showcases Wichita's prominence in the aviation industry. The airport is also the site of the Cessna headquarters and the Bombardier service centre for Learjet and other business jet aircraft.
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ICT Airport code
Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport, located in Wichita, Kansas, is assigned the airport code ICT. The ICT designation is an abbreviation for Wichita, the city it is located in. The ICT code is also used as a nickname for the city of Wichita.
The airport is also referred to as Eisenhower National Airport or by its former name, Mid-Continent Airport. The airport was renamed in 2014 to honour former US President, General, and Kansas native, Dwight D. Eisenhower. The name change was approved by the City of Wichita and was made official by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on 13 November 2014.
Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport is a medium to large-sized, multi-use, metropolitan airport. It is located on the western edge of Wichita, approximately 7 miles (11 km) west of downtown Wichita. It is the largest and busiest airport in Kansas. The airport covers 3,248 acres (1,314 ha) and has three runways.
The airport serves air carrier, air taxi, cargo, corporate and general aviation, as well as military traffic. Wichita is considered the heart of general aviation in the United States, and the airport is home to several major general and corporate aircraft manufacturing facilities. The site is also the headquarters of Cessna and its main manufacturing plant. Additionally, there is a Bombardier service centre for Learjet and other business jet aircraft.
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Cessna headquarters
Cessna Aircraft Field is a public-use airport located four nautical miles southeast of Wichita, Kansas. The airport is privately owned by the Cessna Aircraft Company and covers 900 acres of land at an elevation of 1,378 feet above sea level. It has a single runway, 17/35, made of asphalt and measuring 3,873 by 40 feet. In the 12 months ending July 19, 2019, the airport recorded 100 general aviation aircraft operations, averaging 8 per month, with 16 aircraft based there.
The history of Cessna in Wichita goes back to its founder, Clyde Cessna, a farmer in Rago, Kansas. In June 1911, he built and flew his own aircraft, becoming the first person to do so between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains. Cessna initially started his aircraft ventures in Enid, Oklahoma, but later moved to Wichita. In 1927, he formed the Cessna Aircraft Company in partnership with Victor Roos. Roos resigned and sold his interest back to Cessna shortly after, leading to the company being renamed. The Cessna DC-6 earned its certification on the same day as the 1929 stock market crash. However, the company struggled during the Great Depression and closed in 1932, although the Cessna CR-3 custom racer took flight in 1933.
Wichita has been a significant hub for aircraft manufacturing, with Boeing Co. being the largest private employer in Kansas for years. During World War II, Boeing's Wichita factory produced a significant number of aircraft, including 1,644 B-29 Superfortress bombers. One of these, named "Doc," is on display at Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport and can be explored by visitors.
Cessna has had a presence in Wichita beyond just its headquarters and airport. In 2009, Cessna's Wichita plant faced significant job cuts, with a total of 6,000 layoffs between 2009 and 2012. However, in 2014, Cessna ceased operations as a standalone company and became a brand of Textron Aviation. The Kansas Aviation Museum, located in Wichita, showcases the history of aviation in the state, including specific exhibits on Beech and Cessna aircraft.
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Former name: Mid-Continent Airport
Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport is the largest and busiest airport in Kansas. It is located 7 miles (or 11km) west of downtown Wichita. The airport covers 3,248 acres (1,314 ha) and has three runways. It is also known as Eisenhower National Airport or, formerly, as Mid-Continent Airport.
The airport was known as Wichita Mid-Continent Airport from 1973 until 2014. In 2014, it was renamed in honour of Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th President of the United States from 1953 to 1961. The name change was approved by the City of Wichita in May 2014 and was made official by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on 13 November 2014. The airport's ICT designation is an abbreviation for Wichita. At the time, the FCC prohibited airport codes from starting with the letters "K" or "W", which were commonly used as the starting letters for radio stations in the US. As such, naming conventions called for the airport to use the second letter of the city's name, followed by any phonetics to make it easier to identify.
The airport's history dates back to 1924 when Wichita hosted over 100,000 people for the National Air Congress. The event was a success, and funds were raised for the proposed Wichita Municipal Airport. Construction began in 1929, and the airport was dedicated on 31 March 1935. During World War II, the Kansas National Guard's 127th Observation Squadron was activated as the first military unit assigned to the Wichita airport. In 1951, the United States Air Force acquired the airport, renaming it the Wichita Air Force Base, and later, the McConnell Air Force Base.
The current Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport opened to general aviation traffic in 1953, and airline flights moved to the new airport on 1 April 1954. The airport was dedicated on 31 October 1954 and had two runways. The new terminal opened on 3 June 2015, and the previous terminal was demolished. The modern architectural design of the new terminal showcases Wichita's prominent position in the aviation industry.
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7 miles from downtown Wichita
Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport is located 7 miles (or 11 km) from downtown Wichita, Kansas. The airport is also referred to as Eisenhower National Airport or by its former name, Mid-Continent Airport. It is the largest and busiest airport in Kansas, covering 3,248 acres (1,314 ha) and featuring three runways. The airport code is ICT, which is also a nickname for the city itself.
The ICT designation is an abbreviation for Wichita, with the naming convention at the time calling for the airport to use the second letter of the city and any phonetics to make it easier to identify. The airport is located south of US-54 in southwest Wichita. Wichita Municipal Airport was the airport's original name when it opened in 1953, and airline flights began operating from the new airport in April 1954. It was renamed Wichita Air Force Base and then McConnell Air Force Base before acquiring its current name.
The airport was renamed in 2014 to honour Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th President of the United States from 1953 to 1961. The Wichita City Council approved the name change in March 2014, and it was made official by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on November 13, 2014. Eisenhower's boyhood home, museum, and Presidential Library are located at the Eisenhower Presidential Center in Abilene, Kansas.
The new terminal for the airport, located just west of the previous one, opened on June 3, 2015, and features a modern architectural design that showcases Wichita's prominent position in the aviation industry. The terminal covers 272,000 sq ft (25,300 m2) and was designed by HNTB, with other contractors including AECOM and Key/Walbridge Joint Venture. Aviation-themed exhibits are integrated into the terminal's design.
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Frequently asked questions
The name of the airport in Wichita, Kansas is Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport.
The airport code is ICT, which is also a nickname for the city.
The airport is located about 7 miles (11km) west of downtown Wichita.
