Bowman Field (Kentucky) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bowman Field
IATA: LOU ICAO: KLOU FAA LID: LOU
Summary
Airport type	Public
Operator	Louisville Regional Airport Authority (LRAA)
Serves	Louisville, Kentucky
Elevation AMSL	546 ft / 166 m
Coordinates	38°13′41″N 085°39′49″W / 38.22806°N 85.66361°W / 38.22806; -85.66361
Map
LOU Location in Kentucky Show map of Kentucky LOU Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Runway
Runway Length Surface ft m 6/24 4,326 1,328 Asphalt 15/33 3,579 1,091 Asphalt
Source: Federal Aviation Administration

Bowman Field (IATA: LOU, ICAO: KLOU, FAA LID: LOU) is a public airport located about 5 miles (8 km) southeast of downtown Louisville. It is in Jefferson County, Kentucky. The airport covers 426 acres (172 hectares) and has two runways. The FAA considers it a "reliever airport." This means it helps take some air traffic away from the larger Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport nearby.

History of Bowman Field

Bowman Field was started in 1919. It is Kentucky's very first commercial airport. It is also the oldest airport in North America that has been open and operating non-stop. Abram H. Bowman founded the airport. He became very interested in aviation during World War I.

How the Airport Started

Abram Bowman met Robert H. Gast, a pilot and World War I veteran. They formed a short partnership. In 1919, Bowman leased land east of Louisville from the U.S. Government. The airfield officially opened in 1921.

The first businesses at the airport began in 1921. These included aerial photography. A military air squadron, the 465th Pursuit Squadron (Reserve), also started operations there in 1922.

Famous Visitors and Events

In 1927, the famous pilot Charles Lindbergh landed his plane, the Spirit of St. Louis, at Bowman Field. About 10,000 people came to watch him land!

During the Great Depression in the 1930s, many people in Louisville would visit the Art Deco terminal building. They would watch airplanes take off and land. It was a fun and inexpensive way to spend time.

In the 1930s, airlines like Eastern Air Lines and Trans World Airlines (TWA) used Bowman Field. They carried passengers and mail. However, in 1947, these airlines moved to Standiford Field.

Bowman Field During World War II

During World War II, Bowman Field became a very important training base. It was one of the busiest airports in the entire nation. It was even called "Air Base City." A bomber squadron moved in, and over 1,600 new recruits were trained there in just three months.

The United States Army Air Forces also had a special school at Bowman Field. This school trained flight surgeons, medical technicians, and flight nurses.

Bowman Field in Movies

Bowman Field was even used in a famous movie! It appeared in the James Bond film Goldfinger. The airport was used as the base for Pussy Galore's Flying Circus. Scenes with hangars and aircraft were filmed there in 1963.

Historic Buildings at the Airport

In 1988, three buildings at Bowman Field were added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites. They are known as the Bowman Field Historic District.

The Historic Buildings

The three buildings are:

• The airport Administration Building (built in 1929, expanded in 1936–37).
• The Curtiss Flying Service Hangar (built in 1929).
• The Army Air Corps Hangar (built in 1931–32).

Many city airports are in industrial areas. But Bowman Field has a lot of green space around it. This makes the historic district feel special.

Building Style and Materials

The buildings in the Bowman Field Historic District share a similar style. They use Art Deco and Art Moderne designs. They are also built with strong materials like brick, stone, and concrete.

The main building is the terminal, called the Administration Building. It has a smooth, aerodynamic look, typical of the Streamline Moderne style. It was designed by the firm Wischmeyer and Arrasmith.

When it was first built in 1929, it was a modest two-story building. It had offices, a weather station, and a restaurant. In 1936 and 1937, it became almost three times bigger. The Administration Building faces a landscaped island with a driveway and parking area.

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  Bowman Field, Louisville c. 1940

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  Postcard showing Bowman Field, Kentucky. Administration Building and Hangar c. 1939

Current Operations at Bowman Field

Bowman Field

Today, Bowman Field is home to hundreds of private planes. It also has several businesses that offer aviation services. These include Aero Club of Louisville, Inc. and Louisville Executive Aviation.

Flight Training and Clubs

Many flight schools operate at Bowman Field. Some of these are Louisville Aviation, Kentucky Flight Training Center, Flight Club 502, and Cardinal Wings. The airport is also a base for multiple flight clubs.

Airport Activity

In the year leading up to June 20, 2022, the airport had about 268 aircraft operations each day.

• 47% were local general aviation flights (planes staying in the area).
• 45% were transient general aviation (planes flying to or from other places).
• 7% were air taxi flights (small planes for hire).
• Less than 1% were military flights.

There are 235 aircraft based at Bowman Field. Most are single-engine planes (195). There are also 29 multi-engine planes, 6 jets, and 5 helicopters.

The Louisville Regional Airport Authority manages Bowman Field. This same group also runs the larger Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport.

See also

• List of airports in Kentucky
• History of Louisville, Kentucky
• Kentucky World War II Army Airfields
• I Troop Carrier Command
• Transportation in Louisville, Kentucky
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Jefferson County, Kentucky