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Willow Run Airport (IATA: YIP, ICAO: KYIP, FAA LID: YIP) is an airport in Van Buren Charter Township and Ypsilanti Charter Township, near Ypsilanti, Michigan, United States. It is a general aviation airport located on the eastern edge of Ypsilanti, Michigan, and is approximately eight miles west of the Detroit Metro Wayne County Airport (DTW). The airport is categorized as a national reliever airport facility and serves freight, corporate, and general aviation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Willow Run Airport |
| IATA | YIP |
| ICAO | KYIP |
| FAA LID | YIP |
| Location | Van Buren Charter Township and Ypsilanti Charter Township, near Ypsilanti, Michigan, United States |
| Year opened | 1942 |
| Owner | University of Michigan |
| Operator | Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) |
| National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems | Included in the 2017-2021 plan |
| Category | National reliever airport facility |
| Area | 2,392 acres (968 ha) |
| Number of runways | 2 |
| Airspace | Class D |
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What You'll Learn
Willow Run Airport's location and history
Willow Run Airport (IATA: YIP, ICAO: KYIP, FAA LID: YIP) is located in Van Buren Charter Township and Ypsilanti Charter Township, near Ypsilanti, Michigan, United States. It is situated on the eastern edge of the city of Ypsilanti, approximately eight miles west of the Detroit Metro Wayne County Airport (DTW). The airport covers 2,392 acres (968 hectares) and features two runways, a continuously staffed FAA control tower, and US Customs operations.
The history of Willow Run Airport dates back to the early 20th century. In 1931, automobile pioneer Henry Ford purchased the property that would later become the airport's runways and taxiways. Initially, Ford used the land as farmland for a "social engineering" experiment, bringing inner-city boys to Willow Run Farm to learn about agriculture, nature, and rural life. The residents planted and harvested crops, ran a maple syrup operation, and sold their products at the farm market.
During World War II, the airport played a significant role in the American industrial effort. Operated by the Ford Motor Company, the Willow Run manufacturing plant produced a total of 8,685 B-24 Liberator heavy bombers before closing in June 1945. Willow Run was synonymous with the war effort and contributed greatly to the Allied victory.
In 1946, passenger airlines serving Detroit began using Willow Run Airport, but it was replaced as the major commercial airport for the region by Detroit Metropolitan Airport in 1958. The land was transferred from Henry Ford's control to the company in 1944 and later sold to the Reconstruction Finance Corporation's Defense Plant Corporation (RFC-DPC). The RFC then leased and later sold the bomber plant to the Kaiser-Frazer automobile company, and eventually, it became owned by General Motors.
In 1947, the RFC sold the airport to the University of Michigan for $1.00, with the condition that it be operated as a research facility. The Michigan Aeronautical Research Center, later renamed the Willow Run Research Center, took over several airport buildings for their work in national defense, including early antiballistic missile defense and remote sensing. This facility eventually became the Environmental Research Institute of Michigan (ERIM) after separating from the university in 1972.
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Airlines and flights
Willow Run Airport (IATA: YIP, ICAO: KYIP, FAA LID: YIP) is located in Van Buren Charter Township and Ypsilanti Charter Township, near Ypsilanti, Michigan. The airport is situated on the eastern edge of Ypsilanti and is approximately eight miles west of the Detroit Metro Wayne County Airport (DTW). Willow Run Airport covers 2,392 acres and features two runways, a fully-staffed FAA control tower, and US Customs operations.
The airport serves freight, corporate, and general aviation, including local and transient general aviation, business, air taxi, and military operations. It is also home to several flight schools, resulting in a diverse range of pilot experience and aircraft performance. The airport's two runways are designated as RWY 5/23 and RWY 9/27, converging at the northeast end of the field.
Willow Run Airport was established in 1942 and played a significant role during World War II. Operated by the Ford Motor Company, the Willow Run manufacturing plant produced 8,685 B-24 Liberator heavy bombers before closing in June 1945. The airport was named after a small stream that flowed through the area until the late 1930s. Henry Ford, the automobile pioneer, purchased the land in 1931 and initially used it for a "social engineering" experiment, bringing inner-city boys to Willow Run Farm to learn about nature, farming, and rural life.
In terms of airlines and flights, Willow Run Airport primarily serves freight and corporate aviation rather than major commercial passenger flights due to its proximity to Detroit Metropolitan Airport. Worldwide cargo airline Kalitta Air is headquartered at the airport. However, there have been notable incidents involving passenger flights. On February 21, 1973, a Learjet 24 operated by Air Taxis Inc. overran the runway during landing, resulting in two fatalities out of three occupants.
While some reviewers have criticised the airport for delays and a lack of services, others acknowledge its convenience for charter flights compared to alternative airports in the region.
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Incidents and accidents
Detroit Willow Run Airport, with the airport code YIP, has been reviewed by some passengers as an airport with minimal services and frequent delays. However, no major incidents or accidents have been reported.
Although there have been no reports of significant incidents or accidents at Detroit Willow Run Airport (YIP), aviation accidents and incidents are not uncommon. Here are some examples of accidents and incidents at other airports:
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK):
- TWA Flight 800, a Boeing 747-100, exploded and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near East Moriches, New York, 12 minutes after taking off from JFK. All 230 people on board perished, making it the third-deadliest aviation accident in US history.
- American Airlines Flight 587, an Airbus A300 en route to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, crashed a few kilometres away from JFK due to the first officer's overuse of rudder controls in response to wake turbulence. The crash killed all 260 people on the plane and five people on the ground.
- Scandinavian Airlines System Flight 901, a McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 with 163 passengers and 14 crew on board, overran runway 4R on landing due to low visibility. The plane ended up in shallow water 200 meters from the runway, injuring 12 passengers.
Other Airports:
- A Cessna 210 crashed near Houma-Terrebonne Airport in Louisiana. Two people were on board, and the incident was investigated by the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board.
- United Airlines Flight 1513 landed safely at Washington Dulles International Airport after the crew reported a fire in the cabin. The FAA conducted an investigation.
- American Airlines Flight 5457 landed safely at Charlotte Douglas International Airport after the crew reported a nose gear issue. The FAA investigated the incident.
- A skydiving accident occurred near Eloy Municipal Airport in Arizona. The FAA investigated the incident, focusing on the packing of parachutes and flight rules.
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Layout and facilities
Willow Run Airport (IATA: YIP, ICAO: KYIP, FAA LID: YIP) is located on the eastern edge of Ypsilanti, Michigan, approximately eight miles west of the Detroit Metro Wayne County Airport. The airport covers 2,392 acres and has two runways, a continuously staffed FAA control tower, and US Customs operations. The airspace at YIP is Class D and underlies Detroit Class B airspace.
The airport is one of two facilities operated by the Wayne County Airport Authority, the other being Detroit Metropolitan Airport, which replaced Willow Run as the major commercial airport for the region in 1958. Due to its proximity to Detroit Metropolitan Airport, no major airlines schedule passenger flights to or from Willow Run Airport. However, it serves freight, corporate, and general aviation, including local and transient general aviation, business, air taxi, and military operations. Several flight schools are also located on the airport, contributing to a wide range of pilot experience and aircraft performance.
The airport's layout consists of two runways, designated RWY 5/23 and RWY 9/27, which converge at the northeast end of the field. RWY 9/27 has a grooved centre portion measuring 80 feet. A complex taxiway system provides access to all businesses on the field, including the FBO and ramp areas located in all four quadrants of the airport.
The history of Willow Run Airport dates back to the 1930s when automobile pioneer Henry Ford bought the property. Initially, Ford used the land for a "social engineering" experiment that brought inner-city boys to Willow Run Farm to learn about nature, farming, and rural life. During World War II, the Ford Motor Company operated a manufacturing plant at Willow Run, producing B-24 Liberator heavy bombers. After the war, in 1947, the airport was sold to the University of Michigan for $1.00, with the university operating it as a research facility. The university housed students in the apartments previously used by plant workers, and its physicists and engineers conducted research in various buildings at the airport.
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Ownership and management
Willow Run Airport (IATA: YIP, ICAO: KYIP, FAA LID: YIP) is a general aviation airport located in Van Buren Charter Township and Ypsilanti Charter Township, near Ypsilanti, Michigan. The airport is one of two facilities operated by the Wayne County Airport Authority, the other being Detroit Metropolitan Airport, which is located about 10 miles (16 km) closer to Detroit than Willow Run.
The airport was opened in 1942 and was operated by the Ford Motor Company. The land that became the airport's runways and taxiways was bought by automobile pioneer Henry Ford in 1931. It was used as farmland for a "social engineering" experiment that brought inner-city boys to Willow Run Farm to learn about nature, farming tasks, and the rural way of life.
In 1944, the land was transferred from Henry Ford's control to the company, and it was sold to the Reconstruction Finance Corporation's Defense Plant Corporation (RFC-DPC), which leased it back to Ford during the war. After the war, in 1947, the RFC sold the airport to the University of Michigan for $1.00. The university operated the airport as a research facility, with many of the buildings used by physicists and engineers for research in national defense.
The airport covers 2,392 acres (968 ha) and has two runways, a continuously staffed FAA control tower, and US Customs operations. It serves freight, corporate, and general aviation, including local and transient general aviation, business, air taxi, and military operations. Several flight schools are also located at the airport, contributing to a wide range of pilot experience and aircraft performance.
The Wayne County Airport Authority manages the airport's infrastructure and operations, including the demolition of Hangar 1 in May 2024 to make way for the Tech Park for the American Center for Mobility.
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Frequently asked questions
YIP stands for Willow Run Airport, an airport in Van Buren Charter Township and Ypsilanti Charter Township, near Ypsilanti, Michigan.
Willow Run Airport was named for a small stream that meandered through pastureland and woods until the late 1930s. In 1931, automobile pioneer Henry Ford bought the property that later became the airport's runways and taxiways.
The airport code for Willow Run Airport is YIP/KYIP. The airspace at YIP is Class D and underlies Detroit Class B airspace.
