Parafield Airport facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Parafield Airport
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| Summary | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Owner | Government of Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operator | Parafield Airport Ltd. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Serves | Adelaide | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Parafield, South Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 57 ft / 17 m | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 34°47′36″S 138°37′59″E / 34.79333°S 138.63306°E | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 YPPF
Location in Greater Adelaide
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| Runway | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Statistics (2010/11) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sources: Australian AIP and aerodrome chart, Movements from Airservices Australia
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Parafield Airport is located in Parafield, South Australia, about 18 kilometers north of Adelaide city centre. It's right next to the University of South Australia's Mawson Lakes campus. This airport is Adelaide's second busiest and ranks third in Australia for the number of aircraft movements (take-offs and landings).
Even though the Government of Australia owns Parafield Airport, it's run by a company called Parafield Airport Ltd. This company is part of Adelaide Airport Limited.
Parafield was Adelaide's main airport until Adelaide Airport opened in 1955. Today, Parafield Airport is mostly used for smaller planes, pilot training, and fun flying. It's home to the University of South Australia Aviation Academy and several other flight schools. You can also find the Parafield Squadron of the Australian Air League here, which helps young people learn about aviation. The airport also has a museum with cool jet fighters and old planes.
Contents
A Look Back: Parafield Airport's History
The very first powered flight in South Australia happened on March 13, 1910. It was a Blériot Aéronautique monoplane, and the flight was nicknamed the "Wittber hop."
In the 1920s, people started looking for a good spot to build an airport in Adelaide. After some searching, the government bought land at Parafield in 1927. This area used to be a farm for sheep. The airport grew bigger in 1942, reaching the Gawler railway line.
On October 1, 1927, a pilot named H. C. "Horrie" Miller was the first to land a plane at the Parafield site. Flights officially began on November 26, and the airport was formally opened in August 1929. The control tower was built just before World War II.
Parafield During World War II
During World War II, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) used Parafield as a base for training pilots. It was home to No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School RAAF from 1939 to 1944.
Another group, No. 34 Squadron RAAF, used Parafield to deliver important supplies to other airbases between 1943 and 1945. Also, No. 238 Squadron RAF was based here in 1945, flying planes to support the British Pacific Fleet.
After the war, big airlines like Australian National Airways and Trans Australia Airlines used Parafield. But in 1955, they all moved to the new Adelaide Airport, which now handles all regular passenger flights.
The Parafield Airport Air Traffic Control Tower is a special building listed on the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List.
Classic Jets Fighter Museum
Parafield Airport is home to the Classic Jets Fighter Museum. This museum started in the 1980s and has a collection of amazing planes. Some of the cool aircraft you can see include a Lockheed P-38 Lightning and a Bell P-39 Airacobra.
Airshow Accident
On March 17, 2013, a replica of a Supermarine Spitfire plane crashed during an airshow at Parafield. The pilot sadly passed away in the accident.
Parafield on TV
The airport was even featured on TV! The Hong Kong TV show Triumph in the Skies filmed some of its flight training scenes right here at Parafield Airport.
Noise and Community
Sometimes, people living near the airport have complained about noise from the planes. This became more noticeable after a new flight school opened, leading to more planes flying around for training.
Plane Incidents
- In 2018, a small plane (a Cessna 172) crashed into a field near Parafield Airport. The plane had problems right after taking off. Luckily, no one was hurt in this incident.
Images for kids
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The control tower at Parafield Airport.
See also
- List of airports in South Australia
- Transport in Australia
