City center is located approximately 3 miles Southwest of the airport if a stretch of the legs is called for. Once safely on the ground and tied down on the transient ramp, call for an Uber, a Lyft or a taxi for a ride into town. The many farms in the area also host low-level crop-dusting flights and vigilance is necessary to see and avoid these aircraft. Plan to contact the tower on 127.75 and request an airspace transition prior to arrival. This field and associated Class D airspace lies almost exactly five miles South. Something else to remain cautious of is the nearby Gila Bend Air Force Aux Field, KGXF. Though FAA records show that E63 has only four based aircraft, the airport’s importance to training valley-area pilots is evidenced by the massive 36,000 annual operations! Though rather remote and having a sleepy appearance, remaining vigilant on UNICOM 122.8 while in the vicinity is a must. Like many Arizona runways, E63 has shrubs and brush surrounding the runway, so deviations from the asphalt may be costly. While no instrument procedures are in place for this airport, a VORTAC is located on the field. The single asphalt runway is in good condition and is used by a variety of GA and military aircraft regularly. AirNav indicates the airport was opened in 1966. The current Gila Bend Municipal Airport does not appear to be connected to any of the many wartime fields. Some have succumbed to development and some have simply become overgrown. Today, most of these airfields are mere aberrations on the landscape barely visible. Most were multi-runway facilities optimized for the tailwheel aircraft of the time. While many of the Army Air Force fields were poorly documented for public consumption, there were no less than seven fields in the Gila Bend area. All over the state, airfields popped up and were used to teach navigation, basic piloting and gunnery. Arizona’s perpetually wonderful weather and desolate landscape allowed for nearly unlimited options for the military. Shifting attention back to aviation, World War II created a massive demand for trained pilots. These are the kinds of things movies are made about! Even the late Burt Reynolds was filmed in Gila Bend, though it actually had nothing to do with a Spaghetti Western. ![]() ![]() The lore of the Old West still lies in Gila Bend, complete with a railroad story and Apache Raids. Father Kino, Juan Batista de Anza and Kit Carson are just a few of the early figures who laid their heads down in Gila Bend. It dates back to early explorers and settlers looking for a place to rest their weary bodies. Gila Bend’s history dates back to before the war. What isn’t so well known is that the Gila Bend area was instrumental in training pilots during World War II and was home to several airfields supporting the effort. Nearly all valley students have landed there. Many Phoenix-area pilots have heard of Gila Bend. ![]() This month’s focus airport served the latter. From Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earheart to being home to hundreds of military airfields during World War II. Arizona has a rich history with Aviation.
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