Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (IWA) held its annual Open House on November 1, 2008. The open house featured static displays, fly-bys and aircraft rides along with aviation and business exhibits.

With three expansive runways (10,401 feet; 10,201 feet; and 9,301 feet) and a newly remodeled passenger terminal, Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport is positioned as a dynamic reliever airport to Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport. The airport is also developing as an international aerospace center with aircraft maintenance, modification, testing and pilot training facilities. Currently, more than 35 aviation companies operate at the airport.

Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport was formerly known as Williams Air Force Base (WAFB), or its nickname Willie, and played a strategic role in America's aviation history. Over a span of 52 years, more than 26,500 men and women earned their wings at Williams. WAFB was the U.S. Air Force's foremost pilot training facility, graduating more student pilots and instructors than any other base in the country and supplying 25 percent of the Air Force's pilots annually. WAFB provided training for a variety of fighter and bomber aircraft including the AT-9, AT-17, P-38, AT-6, B-17, B-24, P-51, P-47, F-86, F-100, T-37 and T-38. It was active as a training base for both the United States Army Air Forces, as well as the USAF from 1941 until its closure in 1993.

The Army Air Corps broke ground in Mesa, Arizona for its Advanced Flying School on July 16, 1941. In February 1942, the growing military base's name was changed to Williams Field in honor of Arizona native 1st Lt Charles Linton Williams (1898-1927). Lieutenant Williams died on July 6, 1927 when his Boeing PW-9A pursuit aircraft crashed near Fort DeRussy, Hawaii. The facility was redesignated as Williams Air Force Base (WAFB) in January 1948 and recently renamed Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.

All photos taken hand-held under ambient light using the Canon 16-35/f2.8L and 24-105/f4L IS lenses.

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Denny_D


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