🇺🇸 Bowman Field

Bowman Field (KLOU) is a public general aviation airport located approximately five miles southeast of downtown Louisville, in Jefferson County, Kentucky, US. It covers 426 acres and is operated by the Louisville Regional Airport Authority. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) designates it as a reliever airport for the nearby Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (KSDF).

Type of Facility and Operations: Bowman Field is primarily a general and corporate aviation airport. It is home to hundreds of privately owned aircraft and several commercial operations, including flight schools such as Louisville Aviation, Kentucky Flight Training Center, Flight Club 502, and Cardinal Wings. The airport has two asphalt runways: 6/24, measuring 4,326 feet (1,328 meters), and 15/33, measuring 3,579 feet (1,091 meters). In the year ending June 20, 2022, the airport averaged 268 aircraft operations per day, with 47% local general aviation and 45% transient general aviation.

Notable Features and History: Established in 1919, Bowman Field is recognized as Kentucky's first commercial airport and the oldest continually operating commercial airfield in North America. Its history includes hosting famed aviator Charles Lindbergh in 1927. During the Great Depression, the Art Deco terminal building served as an inexpensive form of entertainment for Louisvillians.

A significant landmark is its Art Deco-styled Administration Building, constructed in 1929 and expanded between 1936 and 1937, which is part of the Bowman Field Historic District designated by the National Park Service.

During World War II, Bowman Field was one of the nation's most important training bases and its busiest airport, earning the nickname "Air Base City." It also housed the United States Army Air Forces' school for flight surgeons, medical technicians, and flight nurses. The airport gained pop culture recognition when parts of the James Bond film *Goldfinger* were filmed there in 1963. Commercial airline service operated from Bowman Field until 1947 when it transferred to what is now Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport.

Current Status: Today, Bowman Field continues its role as an active general aviation airport. It operates with a control tower from 07:00 to 22:00 local time. The airport houses 235 based aircraft, including 195 single-engine, 29 multi-engine, 6 jet, and 5 helicopter aircraft. It offers fuel services (100LL and Jet-A), hangars, and tiedowns. It is also a popular arrival point for visitors attending the Kentucky Derby.