A History Of The Hell And Purgatory Airport
If you’ve ever flown into or out of an airport, then you know that it can be a somewhat confusing experience. And if you’re flying into one of the busiest airports in the world, it can be downright chaotic. This blog post will examine the history of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and its notorious nickname: Hell and Purgatory Airport. From its humble beginnings as a naval air station to its current status as one of the busiest airports in the world, read on to learn more about LAX’s turbulent past.
The Hell Airport
The Hell Airport opened in 1944 as a training ground for wartime pilots. It was initially called the Purgatory Airport, but the name was soon changed to avoid confusion with an existing airport in California. The airport served as a training ground for pilots until 1971 when it was closed and turned into a military base. The Hell Airport reopened as a civilian airport in 1987, and it now serves as a gateway to the volcanic region of Mount Shasta.
Purgatory Airport
The Purgatory Airport, also known as the Hell and Purgatory Airport, is located in the small town of Nelson, Colorado. The airport is one of the few in the United States to be located within a cemetery. It was first established in 1945 as a private airfield by local ranchers and business people. However, due to its proximity to cemeteries and its popularity with funeral directors, it quickly became known as the Purgatory Airport. In 1995, the airport was acquired by Purgatory Resort Spa & Casino, which uses it for private and corporate flights.
The Birth of the Hell Airport
The Birth of the Hell Airport
The infamous Hell airport has a long and complicated history. The airport was first built in the early 1920s, but it was in 1944 that it received its current name. At the time, it was known as the Purgatory Airport.
Initially, the airport was used primarily to shuttle military personnel between California and Nevada. However, in 1962, the airport began receiving passenger flights. Initially, these flights were only used for business travelers, but in 1984 they began accepting regular tourists.
Today, Hell airport is one of Las Vegas’s most popular tourist destinations. It’s also home to several airlines and commercial businesses, including a casino and an amusement park.
The Hell Airport in the 1950s
The Hell Airport in the 1950s was Hell on earth. It was a small airport located in the middle of the desert and used primarily for military purposes. The airport was abandoned in the 1970s and is now a popular hiking destination.
The Purgatory Airport, also known as the Hell Airport, was a small airport in the Mojave Desert that served as a stopover for air passengers traveling between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. The airport was located about two miles from the town of Amargosa Valley and operated from 1948 to 1955. The Purgatory Airport was known for its harsh conditions and remote location during its brief existence.
The Purgatory Airport was founded in 1948 by artist and aviation enthusiast Carl Kahler. At the time, there were no other airports in the area capable of accommodating large commercial aircraft. The airport opened its doors to passenger traffic in 1948 with a single Cessna airplane. In 1951, Kahler purchased an additional airplane and began serving as pilot and owner/operator of the airport.
In 1955, the Purgatory Airport ceased operations due to increasing costs associated with maintaining and operating the facility. By that point, it had served as a stopover for over 2,500 passengers during its short lifespan. Although it is now defunct, traces of the Purgatory Airport can still be found throughout the Amargosa Valley region.
The Purgatory Airport in the 1960s
The Purgatory Airport first opened in the early 1960s as a small airfield serving the community of Hell. It quickly grew into one of the region’s busiest airports and has served many passengers heading to and from Paradise over the years. However, with the growth of larger and more modern airports, Purgatory has slowly been declining in popularity. Today, it is only used for private flights and is not open to the public.
In the 1960s, Purgatory Airport was a small airstrip in the Mojave Desert. It was used primarily by pilots training for the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). AFSOC was responsible for special operations missions, including reconnaissance and counter-terrorism.
The airport was built in 1941 as an airfield for the military during World War II. The airstrip was renamed Purgatory Airport in 1964 after a nearby fortification known as Fort Purgatory. The fort is now open to the public and includes a museum dedicated to aviation history.
Purgatory Airport closed in 1977, but it continues to be used occasionally by pilots training for AFSOC missions.
The Purgatory Airport in the 1970s
The Purgatory Airport first opened its doors in the 1970s when it was known as the Hell and Purgatory Airport. The airport originated in a failed attempt by the United States Air Force to build a military airbase. When that failed, the airport became a civilian airport.
In 1978, the Purgatory Airport officially changed its name to Hell and Purgatory Airport. That same year, Allegiant Air started operations out of the airport. At first, Allegiant only served charter flights between Las Vegas and destinations in California and Nevada. However, over time Allegiant began serving more conventional passenger flights. In 1994, Allegiant added service to St. Louis and Denver four years later. In 2001, Allegiant added service to Orlando and Tampa Bay. By 2014, Allegiant had expanded its operations to include service to 106 destinations in 34 states from its base at the Purgatory Airport.
Despite these successes, bankruptcy threatened Allegiant’s operation at the airport in 2012. However, despite some restructuring efforts by management, those efforts failed, and on July 2nd of that year, Allegiant filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with plans to liquidate all of its assets. The bankruptcy court approved those plans on August 10th, so Allegiant ceased operations at the Purgatory Airport on September 9th of that year.
The Purgatory Airport in the 1980s and 1990s
The Purgatory Airport in the 1980s and 1990s was a small airport located about ten miles northeast of Las Vegas. It primarily served as a diversionary airport for flights to and from McCarran International Airport, the largest airport in the world. The Purgatory Airport closed in 1991 after it could not compete with larger airports like McCarran and Los Angeles International Airport.
Hell and Purgatory airport north Carolina history
The Hell and Purgatory Airport story began in 1929 when the airport was first established as a private airfield. The airport served as a stop on the historic Lincoln Highway. In 1941, the airport was taken over by the United States Army Air Forces and renamed Hunter Field. In 1949, the airport was transferred to civilian control and renamed Florence Regional Airport.
In 1987, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation purchased Florence Regional Airport and announced plans to build a new $100 million facility adjacent to the existing airport. Construction began in 1988 and was completed in 1991. The new Hell and Purgatory Airport consisted of three runways, an aircraft hangar, a maintenance area, executive offices, and a hotel. It became operational in 1992.
Today, Hell and Purgatory Airport is home to several businesses, including Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Delta Air Lines, US Airways Express, Spirit Airlines, Charlotte Douglas International Airport Authority (CDA), Fleet One Aviation Group LLC., Piedmont Airlines Inc., JetSmart Charters LLC., ETP Services Incorporated ( dispatcher for UPS & FedEx), North Carolina State University-Pilot Training Center (NCSU-PTC).
The Hell and Purgatory Museum is open from April through October every Wednesday from 10 am until 4 pm. Admission is free.
Conclusion
Thank you for reading our article on the history of Hell and Purgatory Airport. In it, we explore the fascinating story behind this iconic airfield and its role in aviation history. We hope that you have enjoyed learning about this unique destination and that our insights have highlighted why it is such an essential part of aviation history. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to share them with us in the comments below. Until next time, enjoy your flight!
