- Hanscom Field
:"For other uses, see
Bed (disambiguation) .":"For the U. S. Air Force use of this facility, seeHanscom Air Force Base "Infobox Airport
name = Hanscom Field Hanscom Air Force Base
IATA = BED
ICAO = KBED
FAA = BED
type = Public / Military
owner =Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport)
operator =
city-served =
location =Bedford, Massachusetts
elevation-f = 133
elevation-m = 41
coordinates = coord|42|28|12|N|071|17|21|W|type:airport
website = [http://www.massport.com/hansc/ www.massport.com/hansc/]
r1-number = 5/23
r1-length-f = 5,106
r1-length-m = 1,556
r1-surface =Asphalt
r2-number = 11/29
r2-length-f = 7,001
r2-length-m = 2,134
r2-surface = Asphalt
stat-year = 2006
stat1-header = Aircraft operations
stat1-data = 117,792
stat2-header = Based aircraft
stat2-data = 411
footnotes = Source:Federal Aviation Administration FAA-airport|ID=BED|use=PU|own=PU|site=08750.*A, retrieved 2007-03-15]Hanscom Field Airport codes|BED|KBED|BED, also known by its full name Laurence G. Hanscom Field, is a public
airport located in Bedford, in Middlesex County,Massachusetts ,United States . It is operated by theMassachusetts Port Authority .Hanscom is primarily a
general aviation facility, the largest in New England. Both of the airport's two runways can accommodate jet aircraft, and are also used byHanscom Air Force Base , a defense-research facility located directly adjacent to Hanscom Field.It is a popular training airport, with more than 40 rental aircraft on the field. The Civil Air Terminal building is home to two flight schools, East Coast Aero Club and Executive Flyers. East Coast Aero Club offers helicopter and airplane instruction and rental. Executive Flyers offers airplane and aerobatics instruction. Transient general aviation planes are served by two FBOs:
Jet Aviation and Signature Flight Support.Hanscom is a critical part of the air transportation infrastructure for
Massachusetts and the rest ofNew England . AsT. F. Green Airport inWarwick, Rhode Island andManchester-Boston Regional Airport inNew Hampshire have become viable alternatives toLogan International Airport (the region's main commercial airport), Hanscom has emerged as one of the most important airports serving the region's business and general aviation needs.The field serves a wide diversity of aviation, from
Piper Cub s toGulfstream V jets. The events of September 11 caused a number of changes to general aviation in the US. Hanscom Field saw changes implemented by Massport that included large security fees, identification cards, and a requirement for propeller locks.The Massachusetts Air and Space Museum is looking at Hanscom Field as a future place to be located [ [http://www.massairspace.org/learn-about-MASM.html Massachusetts Air and Space Museum: Learn about the Massachusetts Air & Space Museum Concept ] ] .
Facilities and aircraft
Hanscom Field covers an area of 1,125
acre s (455 ha) which contains two pavedrunway s: 5/23 measuring 5,106 x 150 ft (1,556 x 46 m) and 11/29 measuring 7,001 x 150 ft (2,134 x 46 m).For 12-month period ending August 31, 2006, the airport had 117,792 aircraft operations, an average of 322 per day: 83%
general aviation , 14%air taxi , scheduled commercial and 1% military. There are 411 aircraft based at this airport: 66% single engine, 17% multi-engine, 13% jet aircraft and 3% helicopters.Former commercial service
From 1999 until 2003,
Shuttle America , a Connecticut-based regional airline, operated a scheduled business commuter service from the airfield, carrying more than 10,000 passengers each month to airports in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. While there was some community opposition, it created a media frenzy spreading awareness of both the airline and the airport's usefulness as a gateway for Boston-area travellers.Airlines and destinations
*
Linear Air -Nantucket andair taxi serviceGround transportation
Hanscom can be reached by car by following Route 2A west from exit 30B on I-95/Route 128. It is serviced by the MBTA's Route 76 bus from Alewife Station.
Notable events at Hanscom Field
In September 1964,
The Beatles arrived at Hanscom Field aboard a chartered aircraft during one of their American concert tours. They were making an appearance atBoston Garden the following day. It was felt that the immense popularity of the British singing group would cause congestion at Boston-Logan International Airport, so this alternative airport was selected.In April 1975, President
Gerald Ford used Hanscom Field after making a speech inConcord, Massachusetts to commemorate the 200th anniversary of theBattles of Lexington and Concord .A scene from the 2001 film
What's The Worst That Could Happen? was filmed on location at Hanscom Field.In February 2006, NBA player
Sebastian Telfair was questioned after a handgun registered to his girlfriend was found in his pillowcase aboard thePortland Trail Blazers team plane. [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/24/AR2007042401347.html Celtics Severing Ties With Telfair - washingtonpost.com ] ]In 2006,
Neil Entwistle was flown from London to Hanscom byU.S. Marshals to face murder charges. [http://wbztv.com/topstories/Neil.Entwistle.Hopkinton.2.576573.html]In December 2006, pitcher
Daisuke Matsuzaka held negotiations with theBoston Red Sox onboard a private jet owned by John Henry. The plane was seen landing at Hanscom by news channels from all over Boston as well as some Japanese news outlets.A scene from the 2009 film
The Pink Panther Deux was filmed on location at Hanscom Field.A scene from the 2009 film was filmed on location at Hanscom Field. [ [http://news.bostonherald.com/track/inside_track/view.bg?articleid=1093154&srvc=home&position=recent Tracked Down: - BostonHerald.com ] ]
References
External links
* [http://www.massport.com/hansc/ Massport: Hanscom Field]
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