Peach State Airport

Peach State Airport

American Airways hangar
IATA: none – ICAO: none – FAA LID: GA2
Summary
Airport type Public
Operator Peachstate Air Park Inc.
Location Williamson, Georgia, U.S.
Elevation AMSL 926 ft / 282 m
Coordinates 33°11′00″N 84°22′18″W / 33.18333°N 84.37167°W / 33.18333; -84.37167Coordinates: 33°11′00″N 84°22′18″W / 33.18333°N 84.37167°W / 33.18333; -84.37167
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
13/31 2,400 732 Sod

Peach State Airport (FAA LID: GA2), also known as Peach State Aerodrome or Candler Field, is a public grass strip located 1 mile (1.6 km) west of Williamson, Georgia, in the United States. Peach State Airport is located in picturesque rural Pike County, 27 nautical miles (50 km) south of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.[1]

According to flightaware.com, there are twenty-one aircraft based at Peach State Airport, including one multi-engine. Average operations per day is a total of nine, seven local flights and two transient flights.

In addition to hosting various annual fly-in events oriented towards vintage and unusual aircraft, Peach State Airport serves as home to the Barnstormer's Grill restaurant, popular with transient pilots and local residents. Adjoining the restaurant is the Candler Field Museum, home to 1920s era aircraft, vehicles, and memorabilia.

Peach State Airport also hosts EAA Chapter 468, Civil Air Patrol Griffin Composite Squadron, the Candler Field Flying Club, and the Barnstormer's Workshop. Adjacent to the airport is Peach State Airpark, a subdivision for pilots who share interest in experimental or antique aircraft.

History

Two Waco biplanes outside Barnstormer's Grill

In 1967, Carl Hoffman bought a peach tree orchard on the current location of Peach State Airport, with the intent of building an airfield from which he could easily reach Atlanta. By mid-1968, the field had been finished, and Antique Acres (original name of airfield) could soon support light aircraft with a 3,350 foot long grass runway.

In 1969, the runway was modified to accommodate gliders as well. Hoffman sold the airport operations in 1973, and, after the buyer ran into financial difficulties, re-acquired the airfield. Hoffman finally sold Antique Acres a short time afterwards.[2]

Pike County tax records show that Bobby Tisdale bought the airport March 14, 1979, and later sold it to Lynford and Brenda Sullivan on August 3, 1990. The Sullivans sold Peach State to David Harwell on March 31, 1994, and he held it until the April 7, 2005 sale to Ronald Alexander (Peach State Airport, LLC.).[3]

Peach State Airport was the original home for the Atlanta Soaring Club, founded October 4, 1986. In May 1988, the ASC moved to Etowah Bend Airport due to "increasing uncertainty of additional (and unworkable) air space restrictions around Atlanta's Hartsfield Airport, the proposed Mode C requirements, the shift of the demographics of potential club members more further north and the impending sale of Peach State by Bob Tisdale...."[4]

Candler Field Museum

View from museum balcony

Founded in March, 2005, the non-profit Candler Field Museum is a dedicated recreation of the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, as it appeared in the late 1920s and early 1930s, then known as Candler Field.[5] It is currently composed of the American Airways hangar, representing the original Candler Field terminal, and the adjacent Doug Davis hangar, housing the Candler Field Museum Youth Mentorship Program.

The Candler Field Museum features several vintage aircraft, including a 1917 Curtiss JN-4, a 1928 Curtiss Robin, a 1930 6L Stearman, a 1940 Douglas DC-3A, a 1941 PT-17 Stearman, and a Waco YMF-5. Some of these aircraft are on display in the American Airways hangar, as well as several era-specific vehicles and artifacts.[6]

The Museum sponsors several events throughout the year, including the Vintage Day Fly-In, held each summer. Most events emphasize aircraft and culture of the 1920s, and Vintage Day attracts a wide variety of old and unusual aircraft.[7][8][9]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.gcr1.com/5010web/airport.cfm?Site=GA2
  2. ↑ http://www.peachstateaero.com/history/
  3. ↑ http://qpublic7.qpublic.net/ga_display.php?county=ga_pike&KEY=050++++022
  4. ↑ http://www.soar-mgsa.org/GeorgiaHOF/Hallofame/ASC%20History.htm
  5. ↑ http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/kitspages/ron_alexander.php
  6. ↑ http://www.peachstateaero.com/museum/
  7. ↑ http://www.antiqueairfield.com/articles/show/773-vintage-days-at-candler-field
  8. ↑ http://www.peachstateaero.com/files/2314/0448/0808/JUNE_2014.pdf
  9. ↑ http://www.rockdalenews.com/archives/15814/
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