List of airports in Kern County, California facts for kids
Kern County, located in California, is a large area with many different types of airports. These airports are super important for travel, moving goods, and even for testing amazing new aircraft and spacecraft! From busy places where planes take off for far-off lands to special spots where rockets launch, Kern County has it all.
Contents
Major Airports in Kern County
Meadows Field: A Gateway to the World
Meadows Field is the main airport for people traveling by plane in Kern County. It's located about 5 miles northwest of Downtown Bakersfield. This airport is one of only two international airports in the whole San Joaquin Valley. This means you can fly from here to other countries, not just within the United States! It's a busy hub for both people and cargo.
Inyokern Airport: A Desert Connection
The Inyokern Airport is a smaller airport found in the Mojave Desert, close to the towns of Inyokern and Ridgecrest. While it's mostly used by smaller private planes today, it used to have regular flights for passengers. It still helps move important cargo around the region.
Spaceports: Where Space Travel Begins
Kern County is home to some truly unique airports, including places where spacecraft take off!
Mojave Air and Space Port: First of Its Kind
The Mojave Air and Space Port is super special because it was the very first inland spaceport in the United States! This means it's a place where spacecraft can launch and land, even though it's not near the ocean. In 2004, a famous spacecraft called SpaceShipOne made three successful trips into space from here with people on board.
Besides being a spaceport, it's also used for general aviation (smaller planes), and it's a major center for designing and testing new, experimental aircraft. You might even see old airplanes stored there. It's located in the town of Mojave, right in the Mojave Desert.
Military Airfields: Testing the Future of Flight
Kern County also plays a big role in testing advanced military and research aircraft.
Edwards Air Force Base: Home of Innovation
Edwards Air Force Base is a huge airfield used by the United States Air Force. It's famous for being a top spot for testing brand-new, experimental military aircraft. If a new jet or plane needs to be put through its paces, it often happens here!
NASA's Dryden Research Center is also located on this base. NASA uses it to test their own experimental aircraft, helping to push the boundaries of flight. Famous aircraft like the North American X-15 rocket plane and even the Space Shuttle used to land here after their missions. Edwards Air Force Base is located east of Rosamond and southeast of Mojave, in the Mojave Desert.
Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake is a key testing center for the United States Navy. This is where the Navy tests its airborne weapons, making sure they work perfectly. It's located just north of Ridgecrest and Inyokern.
General Aviation Airports: For Smaller Planes
Kern County has many smaller airports that are mostly used by private planes, flight schools, and local businesses. These are called general aviation airports. They are important for connecting smaller towns and allowing people to fly for fun or for work.
Some of these airports include:
- Bakersfield Municipal Airport in Southeast Bakersfield.
- California City Municipal Airport in California City.
- Delano Municipal Airport in Delano.
- Shafter Airport, also known as Minter Field, in Shafter.
- Tehachapi Municipal Airport in Tehachapi.
