Jazmin Li
Palmdale Regional Airport (PMD) is a public airport located in Palmdale, California, USA. It is situated approximately three miles east of downtown Palmdale, in the Antelope Valley region of Southern California. The airport has a long history, dating back to its establishment as a small airstrip in the early 1930s, and later as Palmdale Air Force Base in the 1950s. Today, it offers modern passenger terminals and cargo facilities, serving several domestic airlines and providing flights to various destinations across the United States.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Palmdale Regional Airport |
| Location | Palmdale, California, USA |
| Distance from downtown Palmdale | 3 miles |
| Nearby airports | Burbank (BUR) Airport, Ontario/San Bernardino (ONT), Los Angeles (LAX), Long Beach (LGB), Santa Ana (SNA) |
| Distance from Los Angeles (LAX) Airport | 47.3 miles |
| Time to travel from Los Angeles (LAX) to Palmdale by bus and train | 4 hours 2 minutes |
| Hotels in Palmdale | 71+ hotels, with prices starting at $54 USD per night |
| History | Established in the early 1930s as a small airstrip in the desert; purchased by Los Angeles County in 1946 for use as a municipal airport |
| Museums | Blackbird Airpark Museum, Joe Davies Heritage Airpark |
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What You'll Learn
Palmdale Regional Airport (PMD)
The airport has modern passenger terminals and cargo facilities, offering a range of services such as check-in counters, baggage services, and rental car facilities. Several domestic airlines operate from the airport, providing flights to various destinations across the United States. In the past, commuter air carriers such as Cable Commuter Airlines and Golden West Airlines offered nonstop flights to Los Angeles (LAX) from the late 1960s to the early 1980s.
Palmdale Regional Airport has also been used for projects and partnerships with educational institutions. In 2018, the City finalized a lease agreement with the United States Air Force to preserve the existing Palmdale air terminal for use by Antelope Valley College to conduct the Aircraft Fabrication and Assembly workforce training program.
The airport has been the subject of proposals for further development and transportation initiatives. In 2024, a proposal was announced for a $1.6 billion, two million-square-foot bus and passenger rail car hub on the eastern section of the airport's land holdings. Additionally, the Blackbird Airpark Museum and the adjacent Joe Davies Heritage Airpark, located on Plant 42 property, offer free access to displays of various aircraft.
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Blackbird Airpark Museum
The Blackbird Airpark Museum, located in Palmdale, California, is an aviation museum dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of the Blackbird family of military aircraft. The museum is situated within the Palmdale Regional Airport, which has served as an important aviation facility in the Antelope Valley region of Southern California.
The Blackbird Airpark Museum was established as an annex of the Air Force Flight Test (AFFT) Museum at Edwards Air Force Base and was officially dedicated on September 27, 1991. It is the only airpark in the world that showcases top-secret US spy aircraft from the Cold War era. Among the notable exhibits on display are:
- Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird: The world's fastest jet aircraft, capable of Mach 3+ speeds.
- Lockheed A-12: The first A-12 ever built, serving as the prototype for the Blackbird family.
- Lockheed U-2 Dragon Lady: A high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft, originally built as a U-2A model and later upgraded to a U-2D version.
- Pratt & Whitney J57 and J58 Engines: These engines were used in various aircraft, including the U-2 and A-12 planes.
- Supersonic Reconnaissance Drone: Known as the Lockheed D-21, it was designed to be launched from the back of another aircraft.
The Blackbird Airpark Museum offers a unique educational experience, allowing visitors to get up close to these historic aircraft. It is located adjacent to the Joe Davies Heritage Airpark (formerly known as the Palmdale Plant 42 Heritage Airpark), which also displays aircraft designed and tested at Plant 42, including the Century Series fighters. Both museums are free to the public and provide a fascinating glimpse into the world of aviation and aerospace engineering.
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History of the airport
Palmdale Regional Airport (PMD) is a public airport located in Palmdale, California, USA. The airport is situated approximately three miles east of downtown Palmdale, in the Antelope Valley region of Southern California.
The history of Palmdale Regional Airport dates back to the early 1930s when a small airstrip was built in the desert. In 1935, it was listed as CAA Intermediate #5, established by the Bureau of Air Commerce as an emergency landing field for pilots in distress.
In 1940, the airstrip was activated as the Palmdale Army Airfield, serving as an emergency landing strip and providing support for B-25 Mitchell medium bomber training during World War II. After the war, in 1946, the airfield was declared surplus and purchased by Los Angeles County.
With the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, the Air Force reactivated the property for military aviation and aircraft testing, including final assembly and flight testing of military jet aircraft. The location was ideal as it was away from major population centres but still close to aircraft design and production hubs, with excellent flying weather year-round.
From 1968 to 1984, Lockheed assembled 250 new TriStar wide-body jetliners at their manufacturing plant at the airport, with the first L-1011 TriStar entering service in 1972. During the late 1960s and early 1980s, commuter air carriers operated flights from the airport, offering several nonstop trips to Los Angeles (LAX) each day.
In 1970, the Los Angeles Department of Airports (now LAWA) acquired land east and south of the airport to develop the "Palmdale Intercontinental Airport" as an alternative to LAX. However, the land has not been developed beyond the small airport terminal.
In May 2018, the City of Palmdale finalised a lease agreement with the United States Air Force to preserve the existing Palmdale air terminal for use by Antelope Valley College for workforce training until a suitable facility is constructed near the college.
In January 2024, a proposal was announced for a $1.6 billion project, tentatively named the "Center for Transportation Excellence", to be located on the eastern section of the airport's land holdings. The project aims to create a hub for manufacturing and innovation in bus and passenger rail car technology.
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Nearby airports
Palmdale Regional Airport (PMD) is a public airport located in Palmdale, California, USA. It is situated approximately three miles east of downtown Palmdale, making it easily accessible to residents and visitors to the region. The airport has a rich history, dating back to the early 1930s when it was a small airstrip in the desert. It was later established as an emergency landing strip and used for bomber support training during World War II. Today, Palmdale Regional Airport serves as an important aviation facility in the Antelope Valley region of Southern California.
There are several other nearby airports to Palmdale, offering alternative options for travellers in the region. Burbank Airport (BUR) is the closest, located just 29.8 miles from Palmdale. Other convenient airports include Ontario/San Bernardino (ONT), approximately 46.7 miles away, and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), which is 47.3 miles from Palmdale. These airports provide additional connectivity to the area, with LAX being a major international hub.
In addition, travellers can consider Long Beach Airport (LGB), situated 52.9 miles from Palmdale, and Santa Ana Airport (SNA), which is a little further at 64.2 miles away. These airports offer alternative options for those travelling to or from different directions and provide flexibility in terms of flight choices and destinations served.
While Palmdale Regional Airport itself offers convenient access to Palmdale and the surrounding areas, these nearby airports provide a range of choices for travellers, depending on their specific needs and destinations. Each airport has its own unique features and amenities, catering to a diverse range of travellers and ensuring efficient air travel in and around Southern California.
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LAX as an alternative to Palmdale Intercontinental Airport
Palmdale Regional Airport is a public airport located in Palmdale, California, USA. The airport is situated approximately three miles east of downtown Palmdale, making it easily accessible to residents and visitors in the Antelope Valley region of Southern California. The airport currently does not have any scheduled passenger airline service.
In the 1960s, there was a push for a new international airport to ease congestion around LAX. The Los Angeles Department of Airports selected Palmdale as the best site for a secondary airport, acquiring about 17,750 acres of land to be developed into the future "Palmdale Intercontinental Airport." However, the project never came to fruition due to inadequate transportation systems between LA and Palmdale.
Despite several attempts by airlines to operate flights from Palmdale Regional Airport to LAX, these services were ultimately unsuccessful due to a lack of passengers and poorly selected destinations. The communities around LAX and Burbank also opposed the noise of additional flights.
LAX, on the other hand, has undergone significant expansion plans, including a $14 billion effort to overhaul its aging airport's road network and terminals. The expansion includes adding land east of Sepulveda Boulevard, just 3,500 acres, a fraction of the land acquired for the proposed Palmdale Intercontinental Airport.
While Palmdale Regional Airport has not developed beyond a small airport terminal, it continues to serve as an important aviation facility in the Antelope Valley region. The airport has three runways, with one built to withstand an 8.3 Richter Scale earthquake, making it one of the world's strongest runways.
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Frequently asked questions
Palmdale Regional Airport (PMD) is located in Palmdale, California, USA. It is approximately three miles east of downtown Palmdale.
The airport's origins date back to the early 1930s when a small airstrip was built in the desert. In 1940, it became the Palmdale Army Airfield, serving as an emergency landing strip and for B-25 Mitchell medium bomber support training during World War II. After being declared surplus in 1946, it was purchased by Los Angeles County and later reacquired by the Air Force during the Korean War for military jet aircraft assembly and flight testing.
Yes, the Blackbird Airpark Museum and the adjacent Joe Davies Heritage Airpark are located on Plant 42 property along Avenue P. These museums feature displays of aircraft designed, engineered, and manufactured at Plant 42, including the SR-71, U-2, and Century Series fighters. Both museums are free to the public.
The nearest airport to Palmdale is Burbank (BUR) Airport, approximately 29.8 miles away. Other nearby airports include Ontario/San Bernardino (ONT) (46.7 miles), Los Angeles (LAX) (47.3 miles), Long Beach (LGB) (52.9 miles), and Santa Ana (SNA) (64.2 miles).
