North Las Vegas Airport
The North Las Vegas Airport is home to nearly 700 based aircraft (including Kerry’s Bonanza) and 25 commercial businesses, and is the second-busiest airport in Nevada based on total aircraft operations. 
The airfield, originally called Sky Haven Airport, opened on December 7, 1941. The opening celebration was interrupted by news of the attack on Pearl Harbor, and the scheduled flying demonstrations were cancelled. Despite that rocky start, the airport became successful during World War II, used by Las Vegas Army Air Base pilots for off-duty flying. The Sky Haven Airport was also frequented by legendary aviator Howard Hughes during those early years.
The airport was renamed Thunderbird Field in the 1950s, and paved runways, a new administration building and restaurant were added in the early 1960s.
The airport has seen considerable change since then, including receiving its current name, North Las Vegas Airport, in 1965, and more recently a new 15,600-square-foot terminal building completed in 1992.
North Las Vegas Airport is a great place to get a bite to eat, a tour of the air traffic control tower, or to catch Kerry tooling around the hangar doing a little airplane maintenance. A couple of tips: tours of the tower are free but you need an appointment, and don’t forget to bring cookies for the controllers (it’s the trad itional “payment” for the tour). And if you happen to catch Kerry, remember that flying is his favorite thing and Las Vegas is his favorite city. Talking him into giving you a bird’s-eye tour of the city is pretty easy (cookies wouldn’t hurt in this case, either).
For more information on the North Las Vegas Airport, visit www.vgt.aero.
If you are a pilot visit:
www.airnav.com/airport/vgt
For additional pictures click on:
picasaweb.google.com/coffmanteam/NorthLasVegasAirport#
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