Of first importance is the selection of the airport site. Every city, as a part of its city plan, should early determine the most desirable sites and do everything possible to reserve them for eventual airfield use, by making sure that no costly construction is placed upon them or near them that would have to be removed when the field is wholly needed for aviation. Although buildings may be constructed only as needed, a general layout pian
should be made before any permanent buildings are erected, so that it will not be necessary to relocate them as the airport grows. In general, a quarter section, or 160 acres, is a good minimum size for an all-around airport. If, however, the field is made T-shaped or L-shaped, this acreage can be somewhat reduced. A field with an acreage of a square mile, with 3,000-5,000 foot runways in each direction, is most desirable.
An airport of importance must be located on a large open tract of ground as nearly level as possible, consistent with proper drainage. It should be unobstructed by buildings, wires, trees, rocks, marshes and water courses. The immediate surroundings of the field must also be taken into account. There should not be, nor should there be
any prospect of ever being, any high structures or even high trees or wires that would hamper low access in landing or create freak or gusty air currents. The noise of many airplanes makes the location of an airport closely bordering a residential district undesirable. The ideal environment is farm land, country clubs, playfiplds, cemeteries or bodies
of water. The latter are desirable as they permit the access of amphibian planes.
Weather conditions, too, must be considered. Any site where fogs or mists or bad winds predominate, is undesirable. The field must provide
LAYOtXXS GE-Ft-YING FtELDS-OF-VARIOUS SHAPES AND
SfZBS
(Courtesy of The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science)
PROPOSED NEW YORK UNIVERSITY AIRPORT
Gourtesy of The Annals of the American..-.Academy of Political and
Social Science)
PLAN OF AN AIRPORT ON A RECTANGULAR FIELD
DESIGNED BY WILLIAM E. ARTHUR
(Courtesy of The Annals of the American Academy of Political and
Social Science)
should be made before any permanent buildings are erected, so that it will not be necessary to relocate them as the airport grows. In general, a quarter section, or 160 acres, is a good minimum size for an all-around airport. If, however, the field is made T-shaped or L-shaped, this acreage can be somewhat reduced. A field with an acreage of a square mile, with 3,000-5,000 foot runways in each direction, is most desirable.
An airport of importance must be located on a large open tract of ground as nearly level as possible, consistent with proper drainage. It should be unobstructed by buildings, wires, trees, rocks, marshes and water courses. The immediate surroundings of the field must also be taken into account. There should not be, nor should there be
any prospect of ever being, any high structures or even high trees or wires that would hamper low access in landing or create freak or gusty air currents. The noise of many airplanes makes the location of an airport closely bordering a residential district undesirable. The ideal environment is farm land, country clubs, playfiplds, cemeteries or bodies
of water. The latter are desirable as they permit the access of amphibian planes.
Weather conditions, too, must be considered. Any site where fogs or mists or bad winds predominate, is undesirable. The field must provide
LAYOtXXS GE-Ft-YING FtELDS-OF-VARIOUS SHAPES AND
SfZBS
(Courtesy of The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science)
PROPOSED NEW YORK UNIVERSITY AIRPORT
Gourtesy of The Annals of the American..-.Academy of Political and
Social Science)
PLAN OF AN AIRPORT ON A RECTANGULAR FIELD
DESIGNED BY WILLIAM E. ARTHUR
(Courtesy of The Annals of the American Academy of Political and
Social Science)