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From taildraggers to light twins - We are 31 nm SW of Peoria (KPIA) on a lighted E-W field with 2235 feet of the smoothest sod you’ll ever land on. EAA meetings are held on-field the first Thursday of every month at 6:30 PM.

Havana EAA Chapter 1420

and the Havana Regional Airport, Illinois - 9I0

MoGas and 100LL Now Available

Self-serve pumps are available 24/7. The mogas is ethanol-free 93 octane. Prices are competitive, lower than KSPI (Springfield) and KPIA (Peoria).

Hangers Available

T-hangers with electric doors, good lighting, concrete floors, and electricity included are available. Contact the airport manager at 217-899-3519 for information.

In spring, asphalt ramps will be installed to serve the sixteen hangers replacing the sod.

Date Set:

2012 Old Fashioned Pancake Breakfast Fly-In

June 23, 2012 will mark the sixth annual pancake breakfast fly-in/drive-in. Breakfast will be served from 7 am— 10:30. Young Eagles rides for kids 8—17 and Eagle Flights for adults interested in pursing aviation interests will be provided. A rain date has been set for June 30.

Airport History

Between 2000 and 2006, the airport was rescued by dedicated volunteers from Petersburg and Havana who had a vision of making it a down-home flying field, a community showcase, and a fun place just to hang out. There is a community center located at the airport with a full kitchen and large-tabled conference room.

In 2006, a modern eight-hanger building with electric doors was completed using local, state, and federal funding. It immediately filled with aircraft. The same year, EAA volunteers finished an interior renovation consisting of a modern conference room and a fully-equipped kitchen.

2007 Class B Airport of the Year

In 2007, the Illinois Aviation Division announced the Havana as the 2007 Class B Airport of the Year (for runways less than 4000 feet). We have 2235 feet of the smoothest sod this side of the Mississippi. However, check NOTAMS for water.

The renovated facility is used by community groups including Havana EAA Chapter 1420. Young Eagles flights are given one to two times a year.

An Interesting Past

In the 1950’s, what is now the airport grounds had been the National Bureau of Standards’ Long Branch Field Station where acres of antenna arrays were used for planetary radar astronomy employing pulsed transmissions of up to six million watts. This kind of radar astronomy wasn’t exactly an airplane-friendly technology, so the facility was surrounded by a 5nm radius restricted area. In fact, the equipment operated so hot that the main building wasn’t equipped with any kind of heating system. After the experiments had been concluded, the equipment was removed and the land and two buildings were donated to the city of Havana by the U.S. Government for the explicit use as an airport. It soon became the Havana Regional Airport.

A small FBO grew there in the mid 1980’s with eight to ten aircraft tied down. But after experiencing wind damage a few years later, the airport slowly fell into a state of disarray.

Airport Rediscovery

Harvey Tapscott and Tom Galassi of nearby Petersburg rediscovered the airport in the early 2000’s. On their own, using their own funds, they began to reclaim the airport from nature. Trees were cut, roofs were patched, raccoons were relocated, runway was groomed, and the buildings renovated inside and out. More volunteers arrived. Soon the Illinois Division of Aeronautics took notice.

In 2007, the airport was awarded the Class B Airport of the Year by the state of Illinois Department of Aviation.

The airport received tremendous cooperation from Scott Williams and Kent Johnson of the Havana Regional Port District and matching state and federal funds—it perked right up. Harvey Tapscott served as airport manager from 2006—2010, with Tom Galassi as his assistant. Today Ron Dace is the airport manager.

EAA Chapter 1420

Ken Smith—president

Bob Martin—vice president

John Komnick—treasurer

Mary Perkins—secretary

Mike Perkins—Young Eagles coordinator and newsletter editor

EAA 1420 Volunteers:

Ron Dace

John Eden

Curt Fox

Tom and Deb Galassi

John Komnick