The airport has been in operation since 1936 thanks to the WPA. It was originally a square field which enabled the tail-wheel aircraft of that era to always land into the wind. The airport continued as grass until about 10 years ago. The grass field had evolved into two runways, 9-27 and 33-15. Later through some creative financing the airport installed a paved runway just south of the old 9-27 grass runway. This was all done with state funds, with the matching funds provided by PPL in the form of donated stable fill (power plant ashes). A group of dedicated pilots installed  a lighting system, so the airport now has pilot controlled lighting. Eighteen new pilot owned T-hangars were constructed in the last few years.

Danville has been a training facility and a recreational resource. An airport should also be an economic development tool. Most corporations would never locate in a community without a nearby airport. At the present time the Danville Airport is seeing and encouraging more business user activity.

clawler@ptd.net