Shannon Airport (Virginia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shannon Airport
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| Summary | |||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||||||
| Owner/Operator | Private | ||||||||||||||
| Location | Fredericksburg, Virginia | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 85 ft / 26 m | ||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 38°15′58″N 077°26′57″W / 38.26611°N 77.44917°W | ||||||||||||||
| Website | http://www.shannonezf.com/ | ||||||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||||||
 EZF
Location in Virginia
EZF
Location in the United States
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Shannon Airport (ICAO: KEZF, FAA LID: EZF) is a public airport found about two miles south of Fredericksburg, Virginia, in the United States. It opened in October 1950. Sidney L. Shannon Jr started it to honor his father, Sidney Shannon Sr, who was an early investor in Eastern Air Lines.
Airport Features
Shannon Airport covers 62 acres of land. It is right next to the American Civil War battlefield at Slaughter Pen Farm. As of 2019, many different aircraft are based here. This includes 85 single-engine planes and 5 multi-engine planes. There are also 2 helicopters, 2 ultralights, and one glider.
The airport has two runways. One is grass (runway 15/33) and is 1,300 feet long. The other is asphalt (runway 06/24) and is 2,999 feet long. Shannon Airport offers full fuel services. You can also get self-serve fuel like Jet A and 100LL. The airport also has courtesy cars, a restaurant, and a gift shop. There is even a flight school where you can learn to fly!
Civil War History at the Airport
A big part of the Battle of Fredericksburg happened where the airport is today. A ditch at the end of what is now runway 24 was very important in the battle. Soldiers fought hand-to-hand there before the Federal troops left. Artillery, which are large guns, were placed where the airport terminal is now.
When the taxiway was replaced, workers found many old items. These included buttons, musket balls, and artillery shells. Many of these historical items are now on display. You can see them at the Shannon Air Museum.
Shannon Air Museum
Shannon Airport is home to the Shannon Air Museum. This museum first opened in 1976. It shows off special aircraft from the "Golden Age of Aviation". This was a time when aviation made big advances.
The museum currently displays the last remaining Vultee V-1 aircraft. You can also see other famous planes. These include the Pitcairn Mailwing and the Curtiss Robin.
After Sid Shannon Jr. passed away in 1981, the collection moved. It went to the Virginia Aviation Museum in Richmond. The Shannon Air Museum reopened in June 2017. Volunteers worked hard to bring the planes back. This happened after the Virginia Aviation Museum closed. Its building was getting old and falling apart.
A famous person who helped manage the museum was Dick Merrill.
